Here are some exemplars of final personal reflections. Once again, examine the rubric you have been given and decide the good and the bad of the posts below. Fashion your own after the GOOD.
Student A
Ms. Raleigh
ENG 3UE
11 May 2011
Student A
Ms. Raleigh
ENG 3UE
11 May 2011
Personal Reflection – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Overall, I found Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, though very tragic and unfortunate, to be inspiring. This novel, I felt, inspired me to love and appreciate what is in front of me more than anything else I’ve ever experienced. It made me realize just how good I have it in life, and how I should just embrace all the good things I have. This novel really made me think actually about one of the themes in the novel- human initiative vs. fate. It really made me consider how much of the story – and how much of our lives in general – are determined by our actions and how much of what is left is truly inevitable. In addition, I often found myself feeling a great amount of pity for not only Quasimodo and Esmeralda (as I’m sure was Hugo’s intention) because they could not be with whom they wanted, but also I found myself feeling pity for Frollo, because he was just truly in a terrible situation and nothing could have really been helped much.
One quotation that resounded in me for minutes after reading it is when Quasimodo, after all of his futile attempts to save La Esmeralda , finds her hanging, dead,
"Quasimodo then lifted his eye to look upon the gypsy girl, whose body, suspended from the gibbet, he beheld quivering afar, under its white robes, in the last struggles of death; then again he dropped it upon the archdeacon, stretched a shapeless mass at the foot of the tower, and he said with a sob that heaved his deep breast to the bottom, 'Oh-all that I've ever loved!" (Hugo 455).
I felt this quotation truly exemplified the tragedy of this story, because it demonstrated how good of a heart Quasimodo had, all he wanted to do is care for the people he loved. He tried to serve his master Frollo, but also to protect Esmeralda, and once the two conflicted with one another, he was literally helpless. The passage fully exemplifies the sorrow that I can imagine would have filled Quasimodo at that moment, because he tried to protect both of the people he loved and in the end both were sacrificed and he lost both of them.
I am truly grateful that I had the opportunity to read The Hunchback of Notre Dame, it was wonderful yet sad, but I found it still had great meaning. It has inspired me now to pursue Les Miserables, Hugo’s other major work of literature, as well as to look into some of his poetry, which I’ve heard is quite beautiful.
Student B:
Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse greatly expanded my mind to the topics discussed in the book, but also started my interest in other books I have not yet read. I can say that this was my first book that captured the ideas that only come up in philosophy, and other intellectual genres. I usually read fantasy and historical fiction and this book was quite a change, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. One quote that remains in my head is one of the more popular lines from the book:
Because of reading this book, and even now from reading Frankenstein, I can definitely see myself this summer, and perhaps for the rest of my life in pursuit of other great books, classic or not. I would like reading to become a deeper part of my life.
Student B:
Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse greatly expanded my mind to the topics discussed in the book, but also started my interest in other books I have not yet read. I can say that this was my first book that captured the ideas that only come up in philosophy, and other intellectual genres. I usually read fantasy and historical fiction and this book was quite a change, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. One quote that remains in my head is one of the more popular lines from the book:
"Again I looked into the mirror. I had been mad. I must have been mad. There was no wolf in the mirror, lolling his tongue in his maw. It was I, Harry. My face was grey, forsaken of all fancies, wearied by all vice, horribly pale. Still it was a human being, someone one could speak to.
'Harry,' I said, 'what are you doing there?'
'Nothing,' said he in the mirror, 'I am only waiting. I am waiting for death.'
'Where is death then?'
'Coming.'"
This quote, along with many others embedded throughout the book, is what sparked my now burning desire to read more great pieces of literature. This quote makes me think, and I surely want to experience many moments by reading others books of the same calibre. 'Harry,' I said, 'what are you doing there?'
'Nothing,' said he in the mirror, 'I am only waiting. I am waiting for death.'
'Where is death then?'
'Coming.'"
Because of reading this book, and even now from reading Frankenstein, I can definitely see myself this summer, and perhaps for the rest of my life in pursuit of other great books, classic or not. I would like reading to become a deeper part of my life.
STUDENT C:
After reading the book I didn't really feel entirely different intellectually at all. As an academic I felt like I had finally grown old because I remember coming to central in the gifted program and overhearing the big kids grumble about similar projects. It drained the remaining glimmer of youth from my eyes. I honestly don't feel like a stronger reader or writer either. As a student I've done a thousand book reports and I'll probably do a thousand more in days to come.
However, to be fair, I've managed to grasp a better concept of the term "classic". I have been a huge fan of the 1931 Bela Legosi film, a classic in it's own right, and in the amazement of how the film with stood the test of time I had almost completely overlooked the fact that it came from a novel that outlasted that. I have also discovered that humans have always been sexually driven and interested in lust. I had almost figured it to be a more modern day type of thing, but seeing that the vampire has been a sex symbol since before the term sex symbol was even invented has opened my eyes to the truth and redundancy of human sexual impulses through out history.
In my last closing statement for this summitive, I would like to acknowledge that this project was painful as any work can sometimes be, but at the same time insightful to many things I never would have expected Dracula to be related to until now.
However, to be fair, I've managed to grasp a better concept of the term "classic". I have been a huge fan of the 1931 Bela Legosi film, a classic in it's own right, and in the amazement of how the film with stood the test of time I had almost completely overlooked the fact that it came from a novel that outlasted that. I have also discovered that humans have always been sexually driven and interested in lust. I had almost figured it to be a more modern day type of thing, but seeing that the vampire has been a sex symbol since before the term sex symbol was even invented has opened my eyes to the truth and redundancy of human sexual impulses through out history.
In my last closing statement for this summitive, I would like to acknowledge that this project was painful as any work can sometimes be, but at the same time insightful to many things I never would have expected Dracula to be related to until now.
