december 11

JOURNAL TOPIC:

This morning I ran across a letter from a famous poet by e.e. cummings (a man who hated capital letters as much as he hated fear).  The letter is called "Advice to Students," and this part got my attention:

To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.

This sounds a lot like Emerson, and it reminds me of Montag.  It's a powerful, inspiring idea-- partly because it can be so damned difficult.

In today's journal entry, please describe how you interpret these ideas.  These authors -- cummings, Emerson, Bradbury -- are acknowledged as giants of American literature, and their philosophies on individuality is one reason why they are so widely respected.  That doesn't mean they're right, so explain whether you agree or disagree with them.  Is it important to be yourself, is it important to be the person others expect you to be, or both, or do you have a different perspective?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Prepare for essay final
3. Lit terms final