Passage Analysis: Practice IOC

This is Water - David Foster Wallace

David Foster Wallace’s essay, “This is Water” explores the significant relationship between education and one’s ability to be sympathetic, conscious and adjusted in their everyday lives. This general thesis statement is supported and further developed throughout the essay as he describes the “day-to-day trenches of adult existence” that a couple of university students, to whom the essay is addressed to, will face as they enter new alternate realities. Foster suggests that us individuals, are naturally quite self centered as we consider ourselves to be the “center of the universe” and of the utmost importance in our everyday lives. In our everyday lives, we tend to ignore the people around us and fail to consider, understand, and empathize what they might be experiencing. To support this, Wallace implies that this is imply our “default setting”, allowing us to be “deeply and literally self-centered”. Although this “default setting” seems to be inevitable and is considered to be “well adjusted”, we do have the option to deviate from this setting and become conscious of our surroundings.

A very relevant example that David Foster Wallace uses to support his thesis, is an in depth description of one’s everyday life, as an adult of course. Wallace describes the supermarket, more specifically the line up to check out, and the annoying experience that we each go through as we await to leave the store after a long, tiring day at the office. This "stupid and infuriating" brings us back to our default setting. Now, being aware of this allows us to acknowledge the choices that we can make in that moment of anger; we can either view the world as self centered human being, susceptible by our emotions in the moment, or we can go on to be empathetic and open-minded. An interesting connection that Wallace makes to our "default setting", is one linked to religion and forms of worship. Similar to forms of worship in religion, we gradually slip into our default settings, getting more and more selective about what we see and we measure the value of things without ever really being fully aware that that's what were doing. This brings us to our enquiry question, "How can literature develop empathy and emotional intelligence?".

"How can literature develop empathy and emotional intelligence?".

"This is Water" and it's significant contents brings up many relatable links to this question. The essay itself brings up the question on how we, as individuals living amongst many other individuals, can find ways to be more empathetic. As Literature does, we become more open to being able to possibly relate or find empathy in the works of others. When learning how to empathize with others, we are developing our ability to open our minds to others who might be experiencing the world with a completely different vision than our own. In conclusion, a conscious decision must be made when pushing ourselves to look beyond our own little "bubble" and empathize with those around us.

Munro Literature Reflection

That's so Munro!

Literature is an expressive art form, allowing individuals from all areas of the world to share a common bond through the works of talented writers. Some may refer to literature as an alternative escape from the real world and into one with much more depth, and detail that permits the reader to dive into an ocean of experience, discovery, and evaluation. As literature for the most part has remained to be international, those with access to it are never short of an opportunity to analyze the world around them in broader, more universal terms. You could say that those that study literature, or for the least part are exposed to it, this serves as an advantage for one to understand the meaning of conflict, resolution, and various analytical skills allowing them to potentially gain a higher level of empathy.

In the world today, many types of literature are prominent in society; one of the most significant being women's literature. Women's literature is for the most part, written by women and tends to explore themes of oppression, first and second wave feminism, along with societal expectations and portrayed images of gender roles. Studying this particular kind of literature in depth allows us to gain a higher level of thinking and a more developed sense of understanding of society over the years. Successful authors such as Alice Munro clearly demonstrates women's literature's values and themes through the use of social realism. Bringing her own experience to the table, and allowing others to enter a new world of her own has served as an inspiration to many to breakthrough societal norms and constrictions. Although Munro does not identify herself as a feminist writer, her work contributes to the general idea of "gender equality" as most of her short stories are looked at and written from a feminist lens.

Personally, one of the elements of Munro's work that I enjoyed the most was her ability to really connect with the reader on an emotional and intellectual level through her writing. Her realistic characters, themes, and general plots are relevant to many, allowing readers to interpret her stories in whichever way they want.

"I wanna sing, I wanna shout"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaAVByGaON0

Nowadays, a lot of us seem to be supposedly defined by what society makes of us. The rules are basically set for every human being that comes into the world; what they should say, what they should look like, how they should behave, and who we are. These societal ideals can either make you or break you; tear you apart or move you forward, it’s all up to you. Emeli Sandés “Read All About It” aims towards breaking through those societal norms and boundaries that constrict those from being who they really are.

The didactic narration carried out by Sandé throughout the song suggests that the readers are suppose to learn a specific heartfelt message or lesson about what it means to be an individual constricted by society. Recurring themes that drive the song forward  are those of internal conflict between man and everyday societal norms along with breaking boundaries. Sandé sings to the audience, “You’ve got the words to change a nation, but you’re biting your tongue”, suggesting that Sandé views an individual from an outside perspective and is internally speaking to them, encouraging them to speak their thoughts. Following this, a hyperbole is used to dramatize the effects of an  idealistic society, supposedly the antagonist leaving some with “ a lifetime stuck in silence, afraid you’ll say something wrong.” Finishing up the first verse, Sandé asks an open question to the audience, asking them “If no one ever hears it how we gonna learn your song?” . This use of an allegory further emphasizes the main symbolic narrative of the song; speaking up for yourself and not being afraid of societal judgement. In a sense, Emeli Sandé leads the reader to believe that everyone has a song of their own that needs to be shared with others.

The use of several metaphors are used to create an significant image of the haunting lyrics. When Sandé sings, “You’ve got a heart as loud as lions” she quickly responds with a question, “So why let your voice be tamed?”. This use of an antithesis manages to further enhance the meaning of this metaphor as these two contrasting ideas of boldness and timidness are deliberately used, creating effective imagery. Emeli Sandé chants, “Come on Come On” consecutively throughout the song, as a means of encouraging people to stand up and be who they truly are, thus supporting themes of power and confidence.

The overall tone of the song is set during the chorus as Emeli Sandé delivers short but simply statements. Sandé sings, “I wanna sing, I wanna shout, I wanna scream till the words dry out” as a means of empowering the audience, hence presenting a compassionate tone accompanying the lyrics through the use of anaphora. She states, “So put it in all the papers, I’m not afraid, they can read all about it.” suggesting that once one’s story is “sold to the public, you are delivering confidence and standing strong against oppression. The lyrics in the chorus deliver a compassionate, yet strong tone as Sandé defines what it means to be yourself through her sensational and emotional lyrics.

Literary devices that contribute to the success of Emeli Sandé’s work is her repeated use of allegory, used to convey messages of freedom and strength. The entire song itself surrounds itself around this idea of freedom of criticism and getting one’s voice out there (i.e.: “making sure that we’re remembered, yeah cause we all matter too.”).

While Emeli Sandé presents an individual’s struggle to breakthrough social norms, the problems are thoroughly recognized throughout the song leading up to the rising action when she sings, “Yeah, we’re all wonderful wonderful people. So when did we all get so fearful?”. At this point in the plot of the song itself, Emeli Sandé presents a solution/resolution and the true morals of the song. In addition to this, Sandé’s powerful words (i.e. : “So take a chance, come help me sing this”) encourage people to join together and sing their hearts out.

In conclusion, Emeli Sandé’s “Read all about it” defines what it means to be human and presents one’s worst fear, vulnerability to change and perfection. Many of the literary devices used enhance her powerful lyrics, thus supporting hidden moral lessons delivered within the track itself. Sandé’s words are enjoyable, painful, and heartbreakingly true.