Young Love in "Three Girls" by Joyce Carol Oates -- Critical Response

In the short story, "Three Girls" by Joyce Carol Oates, two young females, both lovers and aspiring poets, reminisce the night of their first kiss. The story is rich with romance and dream-like air, taking place in Strand Used Books in New York, where the girls encounter Marilyn Monroe in the "warehouse of treasure as through an enchanted forest". Oates emphasizes the precious feeling of young love and the girls' sexuality through romantic dialogue and incorporating the famous feminine figure, Marilyn Monroe into her story of romance. 

 Throughout the story, the reader senses the characters' excitement as a new couple through the fairy-tale like language Oates uses. "We were enchanted with the Strand and with each other in the Strand." Also, Oates often has the narrator openly express her feelings for her girlfriend, revealing the deeply emotional character of the unnamed girl. "In an agony of unspoken young love I watched you." To further highlight the girls' sexuality and focus on femininity, Marilyn Monroe is brought into the story, symbolizing and stressing the story's prime concern for women. Furthermore, Marilyn Monroe represents an icon of desire and sexuality, which is stressed between the two girls. Ultimately, with colorful language, the story concludes with the girls encountering their first kiss, "That magical evening of Marilyn Monroe, when I kissed you for the first time", when the reader can be absolutely sure of the girls' feelings for each other.

Only I Can Define Myself

Week Two: 8/23-8/27

This week, Mr. Burke asked us to define ourselves by trying our best to stick to one-worded phrases. Any word would work; my perspective, others' perspectives, or anything that comes to mind when I think of how to define myself. So, I came up with this list: growing, changed, curious, observative, conflicted, emotional, adaptive, friendly, stubborn, hard-working, smart, awkward, funny. The words listed here are what I jotted down in my journal, but they're not all necessarily in my point of view. I realized that although I am the only person in the world that knows myself best, others may not see me in the same light. So what is a definition? "The condition of being definite, distinct, or clearly outlined." Simply living is by means a way of defining myself with every action, every word, and every look that comes from my heart. Ironically, as I was in the process of writing this blog, my dad got in an argument with me about how he is upset with how I am as a person at times. I responded by telling him that I am exactly like him: extremely reasonable and able to hold in my emotions at the right times, but stubborn and not afraid to tell the truth. Unfortunately, he exploded when I responded with that answer, because like all human beings, he just couldn't stand to hear the truth about himself. I realized that by defining myself, I also indirectly (but also purposely) slapped my dad in the face with my answer. But most of all, to define yourself is to learn about yourself while you make the most out of what you do every day of your life. I am my own person, therefore I decide who I am.

Week One (8/16-8/20)

I was intrigued by the way Mr. Burke started our lesson on the first day of school by asking our thoughts on the painting, "The Wanderer", by Caspar David Friedrich. It had never occurred to me that studying artwork can be a form of literature, but now I know it can be so because art involves a lot of interpretation and imagination. Like authors, artists create art because they want to convey a message or idea in their work and publish it to the public for others to see.
I'm not sure if Mr. Burke had a reason in mind to introduce this particular painting to the class on the first day of class. However, when I looked at the painting, I saw a possibly troubled man who might have been climbing his land to clear his thoughts. He is at the top of a peak, looking down at an unknown object, and there is plenty of fog that could be obscuring his vision. As I recall the painting, I wonder whether it can apply to us, as beginner AP Literature students. Because taking AP Literature may seem intimidating to many students, we are not sure what to expect by signing up for the class. Like the Wanderer, we are looking down at something, but it is not yet clear to us. Our just starting out of the course is yet unclear, and for some of us, the path to success might still be "foggy". Therefore, I believe the painting in a way describes our journey on becoming AP Literature students, and marks the beginning of what is yet to come.

Academic and Intellectual Profile

Reading:
1. 1984 by George Orwell, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
2. The San Francisco Chronicle
3. None
4. I read by first looking at the cover and reading the contents of the back cover. Usually, I have to read the first few pages multiple times before continuing with the story. In order to understand the characters and plot, I highlight lines that seem important and make notes in the margins. Once in a while, I read the ending of the book, just to know how the story ends. After completing the story, I skim the entire book to refresh my memory.

Writing:
As a writer, I am good at knowing what I want to say, but sometimes I have trouble putting my thoughts to words. I have come to realize that last year in English Honors, I had some trouble with grasping the concept of themes. This weakness is something I need to improve on in order to become a better student.

Thinking and Reflect:
Weakness: Challenge one's own beliefs
Challenging my own beliefs is a weakness of mine because I tend to go along and stick with what comes to mind as I read a particular text. I realize that I do not often ask myself questions that contradict what I think. This is a weakness because I may not be able to view a story or idea in a different light, which hinders any possibilities of creative thinking.

Strength: Read with awareness of self and others
I think I am pretty good at this because when I read, I keep in mind that there are many different point of views in a story's characters and its readers. Knowing this, I am able to acknowledge a character's conflict and that a reader may see it differently than I do. This way, I can respect my peer's ideas and outlook on literature.

Academic Literacy
"Do entering students reflect such habits of mind?" Main ideas:

• Students are less concerned with anything that is not related to what sparks their interest.
• If students are troubled, they have a hard time seeking help with academic work.
• In order for a student to succeed, he or she must be diligent in critical thinking skills.

Response: I somewhat agree with the excerpt, because I see myself slightly reflected in what the professor had to say. I do get impatient with work that is not interesting; meaning I take a while to complete a boring assignment. 

"What is meant by 'critical thinking'?" Main ideas:

• How a student thinks and understands is crucial to his or her level of critical thinking.
• Successful critical thinking results from hard work and diligence spent on understanding a piece of work.
• Rhetorical strategies should be used by students to help boost their academic performance.

Response: I agree with the excerpt, because I myself have to work on critical thinking and acquiring better rhetorical strategies to improve my thinking and writing. If students do not bother exploring different ways of approaching new ideas, they will not be able to challenge themselves and improve their writing.

Comments on Summer Reading

How To Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster:
I found Foster's novel enlightening because it helped open my perspective towards reading literature. I learned many tricks and ideas I had not known before. I read this book before starting 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale; the two novels were much easier to understand with knowledge of Foster's teachings in mind.

1984 by George Orwell:
When I first started 1984, I was already sure Winston would not prevail in his struggle with the Party, because of foreshadow in the beginning of the novel. However, I was fascinated by Orwell's seemingly attentive observation of human nature. I got the impression that the author spent much time putting together his ideas to create his novel that describes his worry of society going corrupt and ignoring concerns of humanity.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood:
Of the two stories, I liked The Handmaid's Tale the best. Although I thought this novel did not have as much suspense as that in 1984, I liked reading the story in Offred's perspective, because it let me feel connected with the narrator. I wish the reader is told what happened to Offred in the end of the story, but unfortunately, he or she will never know.