Final Blog Post

http://tylerabbott21.blogspot.com/2011/09/yahweh-flood.html I like this post because I think I did a good job comparing, and contrasting multiple stories in a coherrent manner. I think I tie in both personal opinion, along with factual information, giving my reader room to make their own assumptions based on my ideas.

http://tylerabbott21.blogspot.com/2011/09/flood-story-revisited.html I like the Flood Story post because I believe I did an good job yet again, comparing, and contrasting multiple literary pieces we read in class. I like reading my older posts, and still get the same meaning, and opinions out of them. Some of my posts I can go back and analyze, and I find myself disagreeing with myself, HA, and wishing I could rewrite a few of them. This one however, does not fit that genre. I still agree with every word I wrote here.

http://tylerabbott21.blogspot.com/2011/11/comitatas.html I suppose I just liked this one so much, because I was a huge fan of Beowulf, and the idea of comitatas really intrigues my imagination. I enjoyed writing this post, and I think my writing style reflects my enjoyment of the subject matter. I find that when I enjoy what i am writing about, a whole different side of me comes out on paper, or in this case online.

Like I've stated above, I'm particularly fond of these posts for many reasons. I feel I do an excellent job answering questions I had about our reading assignments, while also exploring other ideas, and themes at he same time. I also think that when one is truly interested in a subject, it is painfully obvious the difference between what is good writing, and what is just speculation, and rambling. Often times I found myself coming up with a central idea or theme to write about, but after doing more research the theme in which I was writing about, sort of lost it's power. These posts I think were resilient enough to escape my opinionated hand, and address the idea at hand with utter clarity. Often times personal opinion can cloud my writer's vision, and over shadow the idea, or theme at hand. It some cases I am absolutly disgusted with some of my over opinionated bullshit, and in other cases I see no evidence of such over wordy bullshit. These posts in particular, stood out in my mind as personal highlights of mental clarity. I am proud of them, and stand behind what I said in them with pride, and dignity.

I would have to say that my ideas about literature have drastically changed this semester, and I'd like to say for the better. I came into your class as always, with an open mind, and an open heart. However, often times my past, and personal experiences can influence my thoughts so much so, that I end up screwing myself out of a good piece of writing. The most valuable lesson I think you have taught me about literature this semester Scott, is to leave my personal opinion aside, and just look at the text by itself, as a whole. You've taught me to simply analyze the piece of literature at hand, nothing more, and nothing less. It sounds unbelievably simple, but for me it was anything but simple to come to this conclusion myself. I had to separate what was fact, and what was personal opinion. I loved learning about the idea of Analyze vs. Interpret. It forced me to step out of my literary comfort zone, and explore the ideas of others, leaving my own personal baggage at the door. Often times we as students feel it makes us better writers, and readers to form as many opinions about the literature at hand, in order to have a better understanding of it. However, I've learned that the text itself holds all the answers to the questions that arise in one's head, and perhaps it's not up to me to try and figure out what the authors state of mind was when they composed said piece. Perhaps the text just is what it is, nothing more, and nothing less. I'm not saying my opinion doesn't matter at all, but sometimes I think it's best to shut up, and just continue reading. Often times the answers to questions we may have about a text, are hidden in the text somewhere, I just have to be a good enough student to identify them, and understand them.

So far as my performance is concerned academically speaking, I'll be the first to say that I am in no way a prime example of a model student. I am tardy, I do not have perfect attendance, and I'm absolutely guilty of missing assignments. However, this is not synonymous to your class, I have always been a scatter brained individual, and I am sure everyone of my professors, in every class I am taking would agree with that. However, I am not failing any of my classes, and I do the mass majority of my work on time. Trying to find a balance, or having to choose what class is more important then another, is about the most difficult thing for me as your student to do. When it's a debate over studying for a Geology exam, over finnishing a reading assingment you've given us, often times I've had to read the material in my car in the parking lot right before class, because I was studying all night for a Geology test I barely passed anyway. It sucks the way college works like that, but I am not complaining. I have done about 85% of the work assigned in your class with pride, and diligence. Whatever I lacked, I can not make an excuse for, so I will just take my loss of points as a reminder of my short comings. I am proud to have passed all my classes, and at this point in my life, I cant ask for much more of myself right now. Present circumstances often times throw my mind into a whole other world, and I have to fight to keep my feet on the ground, and from losing myself inside my head. However, in recent months I think I've done an extraordinary job of holding my academic life together, despite the evils, and temptations that surround me on a daily basis. I suppose no one is perfect, and by God I am no where even near perfect. Perhaps someday I'll be able to boast about and A+ in a literary class, but for now I have to just be satisfied in passing.

I think I have many strengths, and many weaknesses both as a writer, and as a reader. I think my biggest strength as a writer, and a reader is my attention to detail, and my acute ability to put myself in characters shoes, and see things from their point of view. As a reader, I feel I am far too opinionated, and am activily working to remedy this personal problem. As a thinker...I dont even know where the hell to begin. Most of the things I think, and see in my minds eye are in no way fit for anyone to hear about, or think about. So as a thinker, I dont know what to tell you. I analyze, interpret, and think about things all day, everyday, but those thoughts shall always remain locked, deep within the back of my mind. No one needs to hear them but me. So we will leave it at that for the thinking talk. Sometimes I wish I could turn of my ability to think, and just exist sometimes...but i suppose thats what they make beer for.

If I had to give myself a grade in your class, it'd be a C+. Nothing more, nothing less. I dont deserve anymore then that, because I didnt put out any more than 75-80%. It's that simple. I did what I had to do to pass, and meet the expected requirments. When I had the time, and the ability, I put out more effort then normal, but certainly not as often as I should have, could have, and would have if I had the chance.

Your a great teacher, and I aspire to be lie you someday. For now however, I got a long ass road ahead of me. It's been a great semester. You really have taught me more then you'll ever know.

Dante's Inferno Today?

I think after reading both of these pieces, the decision as to what book I was going to choose as more applicable to modern day society became painfully obvious. Beowulf despite demonstrating wonderful character traits of courage, bravery, friendship, loyalty; and heroism, is not something I feel applies to our everyday lives as much as the lessons in Dante's Inferno. I say this because although the inferno doesn't reference karma directly, it reflects the principal of karma almost perfectly. It is the belief that for every action, there will be an equal, and opposing reaction. However karma doesn't just stop there it takes the idea one step further, by adding the fact that for every bad deed we commit in this life, we will pay for it in the next life.

This idea of being accountable for our actions presently, so as not to suffer the repercussions in the after life is a very old Principal indeed. We see modern examples of karma in society, in a much more severe degree in countries that have adopted an eye for an eye justice system, such as Saudi Arabia, or Singapore. Such as if a man steals, whatever hand he stole said item with gets cut off as a form of justice. This is a stretch of an example, but not without merit.

Consequently, countries that have such harsh laws record a dramatically lower crime rate, than other thriving economies worldwide. Why do these countries boast lower crime rates you ask? Well it's quite simple, and goes right back to this age old idea of karma, being held responsible for your actions whether they be noble endeavors, or evil acts of violence. Despite the overwhelming examples of the same principals in Dante's Inferno being reflected worldwide, I believe there is more to this story then simple parallels between crime, and punishment.

I believe justice systems around the world try and come up with some form of crime vs. punishment system, where the punishment fits the crime/crime fits the punisment..In my final essay I want to examine the circles of hell, which sort of people are each section of hell, and why theyre there. I then would like to compare, and analyze modern days figures such as Saddam Huessein, Adolf Hitler, Lee harvey Oswald, Richard Nixon, Frank Lucas, and compare them to characters in Dantes Inferno. I think would like to classify them to a specific circle of hell represented in Dantes Inferno. This is a simple version of my idea, but I think it would be a very intresting one to explore, and expand upon in my final essay.