The Hollow Men

"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot is an intriguing poem that perfectly exemplifies modernist thought. I believe the poem is about men during the 20th century post war era. The author explicitly shows the thought of men during the time, by referring to the men as hollow and violent. I think the writer refers to the men as violent because of their agressive role in the war, and that's how they will forever be remembered by the community. However, the men do no want to retain this image is the idea that I get in the line "." The speaker of this poem seems to be addressing the readers from hell. This poem illustrates the thoughts of post world war 1 veterans well, and clearly relates these thoughts to religion and modernism.

The Yellow Wallpaper

"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, is a grievous story about an insane woman imprisoned by her husband. The story begins by illustrating the woman was on vacation with her husband, John, in a lavish home. Throughout the story, John seems to be very controlling and harsh toward the woman. I think it is obsurd how he locked the woman into a room for days, despite her efforts to get out; no matter what the doctor says. Writing is the activity that fuels this woman's being, she feels as if she is set free and becomes relaxed when she writes, and she is forced to sneak and do this because of her overprotective husband. I think her inability to write is what drove her more insane, she was then forced to stare at walls and partake in know acticity whatsoever. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' in her room becomes vaguely important, she describes it so vividly, not missing a single detail. In the end, John breaks into the room where his wife is imprisoned, and finds that she has gone madly insane and he quickly faints. I believe it is John's fault, and that asll he did was make his wife's mental condition even worse, by locking her up in a room by herself.

My Research Experience

Transcendentalism was an enlightening research topic for me. The lives and works of great thinkers such as Emerson and Thoreau, encouraged me to expand my mental outlook on nineteenth century America. During this time period, the majority of Americans were bound to organized religion, which transcendentalists are basically against. As I was introduced to transcendentalism earlier in the year in class, I always pondered on the question, 'what central thought makes a transcendentalist?' I was pleased to come up with the answer, transcendentalists acknowledge and are humble towards a divine figure, but do not know who this figure is, and this divine mystery is what guided the transcendentalists.
I think I spent far too much time researching the topic, and waited too long to begin the writing process. This late start is what I believe lead to simple mistakes and stress. Developing a thesis was most definitely the most tedious part of the writing process for me, and absorbed the most time. In the future, I believe I should ask for assistance early in the writing process, or attack the thesis first.
My research definitely helped me better understand transcendentalism, and the people that participated in it. Studying transcendentalism also helped to better understand the necessary isms, such as individualism and realism. Seeing that we studied transcendentalism in class and it will probably be on the final, I certainly see this research experience as a plus.