Searching the Harold B. Lee Library

 

Watching Dr. Burton maneuver through BYU Library’s web site, I just knew it would be interesting and help me find some information for my thesis paper.  What I did not know is how long it was going to take me to find any information at all.  I spent hours trying to find something  about “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.                                  
I   f  i  n  a  l  l  y  was successful in finding Poetry Criticism by Ed. Michelle Lee. Bol. 71. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2006. 

BYU Library

I think I found what I had been searching for—an explanation for how Frost was able to craft his poem so as to create personal reactions in readers that caused them to interpret the poem in their own way. 


I also found Emily Dickinsons Lexicon that had Noah Webster's 1844 American Dictionary of the English Language (ADEL) that is right from BYU.  I found much of the site difficult to manage, and it took a long time.  I'm sure it has everything to do with my computer skills.

The main thing is that I was successful in finding help with what I was searching for and I emailed the site to myself, so I can access it easier.  I have been reading it to see how I can use the information to help me prove the thesis in my paper.

BYU’s Harold B. Lee Library is an amazing resource for all who are privileged enough to have access to it.  I just need to get better at using it on line.

Claiming a Thesis!

Mmkay.  Just because I feel like my argument isn't that abstract, and doesn't require too much explanation, I'll jump right into the different claims I could make.  Though I'm almost certain I want to make a policy claim (for obvious reasons). However, I do think it would be, yes, fun, to force my mind to think in different ways about this topic.

So here it goes! And thank you, Charly, for the formatting idea.... :///

1. POLICY     Though some may see it as an imposition of religion or a violation of its sanctity, the Bible should be objectively studied in American public schools for its literary merit and historical context, because it would help the coming generations have a better understanding of biblical allusions made in popular culture, give greater insight to the history of a foundational civilization, as well as illustrate literary devices taught in language arts classes.                 Phew.  I know it's a fatty.  Help me whittle it down.    

2. DEFINITION  This is where I start agreeing with Kirsten about driving the "struggle bus" trying to crank these out.  I'm convinced it'll be worth it....              Though the Bible is recognized as a religious and sacred text, it also contains history that's foundational to our modern culture, as well as exemplifies literary devices worth studying in an academic setting.  Thus, the Bible cannot singularly be categorized as a religious text, but as a tool for otherwise secular study. 

3.  COMPARISON    (Perhaps number two could be....a comparison, also?)  I'm stuck on this one.  I could compare the works of Shakespeare, and studying them literarily, vs. studying the Bible in the same way.  What more could be gleaned, what less?

4.  EVALUATION  Though the works of Shakespeare have greatly influenced the course of literature in the western civilization, the Bible has contributed more to the style and history of literature in the same, and has a greater role to play in the future of language study, if we allow it.         Hahahaa. I don't even know if I believe that.  But it was good practice(?), and would make for an interesting paper.

5.  CAUSE/EFFECT Studying the Bible in American public schools may lead to a minor violation of its sanctity by those who disregard it as a religious text, but greater academic benefits can be gleaned from its literary merit, history of Christian and European civilizations, as well as help future generations of students understand frequent biblical allusions made in popular western culture. 

A Raw Thesis!

The emphasis made in most of my posts has been on the real and the raw. That's why I chose non-fiction for my group, and have enjoyed being a part of it.  Issues that have real application, connections between sub genres that are relevant to now.  

Memoirs, confessions, histories, biographies, "how to" books, moral sermons and the like....    What is it about this genre and the realness of it that peaks my interest?   I like to think that I'm drawn to truth.  To honesty.  I'm drawn to the idea that I'm making a real-time discovery, albeit vicarious.  

Topics That Tickled My Fancy

Gotta love weird post titles. 

Following the model of Dawn's post, I've decided to answer all of Dr. Burton's questions concerning the process of literary analysis and developing a thesis.  

1.  Review your recent writing, notes, discussions, etc. to find topics and issues that have intrigued you.

        

 I've found that all of the topics that have caught my interest have to do with either the internal thinking     process and/or thoughts of certain characters, social issues present in era/plot, and authors' intentions.  

2. Review your recent reading-- perhaps looking at passages you have annotated or notes you made in the margins. What are the ideas, characters, or issues that most interested you?

I really enjoyed reading "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid because it raises social issues and I feel that there is a lot to be discussed there.  As I mentioned in another post, I really like Petrarch's work and brought to attention his interest in his feelings for Laura and not necessarily Laura herself.