Journal 8: Thinking True Thoughts

1. We boil at different degrees.

The aphorism that “we boil at different degrees” is about the difference of people.  Each person was created differently than the one beside them; therefore, that means we all get angry or upset about different things.  Someone might get furious about a little mistake another person caused, while someone else might be able to look past that mistake without being mad at all.  I believe Emerson’s aphorism is completely correct because I have many friends that seem to get upset about various situations.  I think this aphorism is also a warning because it is saying to be careful with what you do depending on whom you are with. 

2. To be great is to be misunderstood.

           The aphorism “To be great is to be misunderstood” means that if you are a genius, no one else is able to understand your ways because they are not as smart as you.  Emerson is saying that it would only make sense that if you are greater than everyone, no one would be able to follow your ways.  This is understandable because you would not be as great if the person beside you could act, speak, and think in the same way you could.  That means that you are no better than they are.  “To be great is to be misunderstood” is saying that you have your own unique process of thinking or acting or speaking that no one else can copy.  It is also stating that you should be your own person because there is not another exact duplicate of you, and no one could be better at being you then yourself.  I agree with Emerson’s aphorism 100 percent because he is correct.  Everyone is different in his or her own ways, which makes us all great because each and every one of us are misunderstood at least one time in our lives.     

3) All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.

The aphorism “All life is an experiment, the more experiments you make the better” means that everyone should live life to the fullest extent.  You only get to live life once, so make life worth living.  Do crazy and exciting things that will make life long memories.  Instead of saying the word “experiments” in the aphorism, use other terms such as risks and adventures.  In other words, life would be a lot more fun to live and exciting to be active in if it was full of crazy adventure that took you to amazing places.  Emerson’s aphorism is very powerful and wise; therefore, I absolutely love it.  I believe he is absolutely right.  Life is an experiment because you do not know how it is going to turn out.  Therefore, why wait around to meet your fate when you could create different turns and twists till fate meets you.      

Journal 7: Signs from Nature

In both poems, “To a Waterfowl” and “The Raven”, there are many similarities as there are differences.  Both involve a similar overview of watching nature and describing their reaction as they watch birds fly in the distance.  However, the significant difference between each poem is the meaning given by the author.  William Bryant  gives his poem, “To a Waterfowl”, a very optimistic and peaceful view of life, making the reader believe the idea that there is always light in every darkness.  This poem chose to leave the audience in a happy and graceful mood, while “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe, would leave them shaking in fear.  “The Raven” is thought to be a very dark and dreary poem that captivates the idea of being haunted by the death of a loved one.  In this poem, it is the death of Lenore that comes back to haunt her husband by having a raven crow “Nevermore”.  The poems use either emotions or logic to help persuade the reader to realize that the most important decisions in life as based from the heart.  While “The Waterfowl” uses rationality to balance and make logical choices, “The Raven” uses emotion and depicted images to make a more sudden and heartfelt choice.

Each author writes his poem with a different style of writing.  “The Waterfowl” was written in a more plain and straightforward style.  There was no confusion on what the author was trying to depict throughout the poem.  “The Raven” was different because it was very detailed and ornate.  Although, it was a little trickier to understand and did not have a resolution, it was still enjoyable to read.  For a similarity, both poems were written in a first person point of view.  However, this does not mean that their setting were any bit similar.  “The Waterfowl” took place at dusk to create a romantic nature scene of a sunset to bring beauty to his writing.  “The Raven’s” setting was at midnight when a bird would enter a dark house to terrorize a human being.  This created a feeling of suspicion and obscurity.   

Finally, they both deal with internal conflict.  “The Raven” was written to help deal with an internal problem of losing a loved one and grieving over their death.  “The Waterfowl” ends the poem stating the fact that if you follow your heart, God will lead you in the right direction.  This is still an internal conflict because you have to believe in his guidance to take you to heaven.  “The Raven” is more depressing because it symbolizes that there is no afterlife while “The Waterfowl” is written to describe the joy there is in eternal life with God even after you die.  While both of these poems are written for different reason, the idea that a bird is delivering a message of either happiness or sadness is similar.