恭喜以下三位優秀同學得到99學年度第一學期第二次英文讀書心得徵文比賽
特優: 經濟系2B 張文瑄 "The Devil and Miss Prym" (獎金 2,000元)
優等: 法律四 杜郁芳 "The Last Song" (獎金 1,500元)
佳作: 應外二 熊舒陽 "The Kite Runner" (獎金 1,000元)
評審老師:
東吳大學英語系 馬健君教授
台中教育大學英語系 廖美玲教授
※得獎作品將公告在專屬BLOG:http://lc-guide.blogspot.com
※得獎同學會另行通知
語言中心將擇日舉行頒獎
Monday, December 27, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Bluest Eye - 張婉儀
The marigolds are nowhere to be found in Lorain, Ohio in 1941, not because the seeds were planted too deeply but something terrible happened to Pecola Breedlove. The land is being hostile to certain kinds of flowers to keep them from being alive, just like the society to certain kinds of peoples.
Pecola, an 11-year-old African American girl, is living a hard life. Pecola’s father, Cholly, is a man of drunkenness and violence. Her mother, Pauline, looks down on and feels ashamed of her own family. Sam, Pecola’s brother, keeps running away from home in response to the disharmony in the house. The Breedlove family are labelled as the ugly one. Being neglected and humiliated, Pecola, who lives without self-esteem, fervently longs for a pair of blue eyes, blue enough to run away from unfairness, to raise affection, and to embrace the happiness.
Looking into Pecola’s haunted eyes, eyes haunted by the blue eyes, Cholly feels helpless. Racism deprives Pecola of the happiness she deserves as a child. Cholly himself is impotent as a father. He rapes her own daughter out of a combination of love and hate. After he rapes her for the secod time, Pecola is pregnant and moves to the edge of the town. No one shows compassion for Pecola except for Claudia and Frieda. They try to look for eyes creased with concern, but in vain. At last, they decide to make a miracle, planting flower seeds. If the flowers bloom, the miracle will happen, and Pecola's baby will survive. However, the marigolds never bloom.
Everyone is born with his/her own unique beauty. However, people are always obssesed with fashion and internalized by some kinds of popular ideology of the society, for example, the grade school reading primer Dick and Jane, decribing an model bourgeois family, contrasted to Pecola’s existence; in Pecola’s case, the blue eyes of the white people, or simply whiteness. For Pauline, whiteness is beauty, which is why she loves the white girl more than her own girl, revealing her earnest assimilation to the white bourgeios culture. And for Pecola, blue eyes mean acceptance. Both of them are internalized and huanted by the white-oriented ideology. They are the victims of racism.
However, not every sin comes from the outside world. Claudia’s self-assertion is a perfect contrast to Pecola’s self-abhorrence. Claudia’s parents are stern but loving. Her mother takes good care of her when she is ill. Her father stands out for her when she is in difficulty. Familial, or more specifically, parental support, that Pecola lacks of, still counts. Claudia is well-raised. She does not follow like a sheep, and she approves and accepts her own culture by showing her severe loathing for Shirley Temple and white baby dolls. It seems that Pecola’s tragedy could be predictable from the very beginning.
In The Bluest Eye, prejudice of skin colors has ruined the fairness. Everyone is created equal and should not judged by their colors. People are not supposed to depreciate themselves because the bluest eyes may not see the fairest world.
Pecola, an 11-year-old African American girl, is living a hard life. Pecola’s father, Cholly, is a man of drunkenness and violence. Her mother, Pauline, looks down on and feels ashamed of her own family. Sam, Pecola’s brother, keeps running away from home in response to the disharmony in the house. The Breedlove family are labelled as the ugly one. Being neglected and humiliated, Pecola, who lives without self-esteem, fervently longs for a pair of blue eyes, blue enough to run away from unfairness, to raise affection, and to embrace the happiness.
Looking into Pecola’s haunted eyes, eyes haunted by the blue eyes, Cholly feels helpless. Racism deprives Pecola of the happiness she deserves as a child. Cholly himself is impotent as a father. He rapes her own daughter out of a combination of love and hate. After he rapes her for the secod time, Pecola is pregnant and moves to the edge of the town. No one shows compassion for Pecola except for Claudia and Frieda. They try to look for eyes creased with concern, but in vain. At last, they decide to make a miracle, planting flower seeds. If the flowers bloom, the miracle will happen, and Pecola's baby will survive. However, the marigolds never bloom.
Everyone is born with his/her own unique beauty. However, people are always obssesed with fashion and internalized by some kinds of popular ideology of the society, for example, the grade school reading primer Dick and Jane, decribing an model bourgeois family, contrasted to Pecola’s existence; in Pecola’s case, the blue eyes of the white people, or simply whiteness. For Pauline, whiteness is beauty, which is why she loves the white girl more than her own girl, revealing her earnest assimilation to the white bourgeios culture. And for Pecola, blue eyes mean acceptance. Both of them are internalized and huanted by the white-oriented ideology. They are the victims of racism.
However, not every sin comes from the outside world. Claudia’s self-assertion is a perfect contrast to Pecola’s self-abhorrence. Claudia’s parents are stern but loving. Her mother takes good care of her when she is ill. Her father stands out for her when she is in difficulty. Familial, or more specifically, parental support, that Pecola lacks of, still counts. Claudia is well-raised. She does not follow like a sheep, and she approves and accepts her own culture by showing her severe loathing for Shirley Temple and white baby dolls. It seems that Pecola’s tragedy could be predictable from the very beginning.
In The Bluest Eye, prejudice of skin colors has ruined the fairness. Everyone is created equal and should not judged by their colors. People are not supposed to depreciate themselves because the bluest eyes may not see the fairest world.
Harvest - 張儀安
A very good friend of mine had strongly suggested that I read this book, “ Harvest” by Tess Gerritsen, ever since she started the book. She told me that it was the first book in so many years that made her felt that she would rather die of exhaustion than put the book down. I just had to see for myself. And after the first few chapters, I can tell that my friend is not exaggerating at all.
This book revolves around a second-year medical resident, Abby Matteo, who seemed to have a bright future because she was just tapped as a potential recruit for the hospital’s cardiac transplant team. But all dreams for a great future popped like a bubble when she made the decision to give the only available heart to a poor fourteen-year-old boy who was the first alternative rather than a rich old lady whose husband has seemingly all the power in the world. This move started all her troubles, and the dirty truth behind the whole system is unveiled. Abby and her friend vowed to discover the truth. However, just like every dirty system in the world, this doesn’t allow anyone disturbing its existence either. And as the main characters dig deeper and deeper into the core, they’re also digging their tombs bigger and bigger. Finally, they’ve uncovered the shocking truth, all the people that they trusted, even the husband of Abby, are the masterminds behind the whole scheme. Even though both of the main characters survived at the end of the day, it still leaves me panting and gasping at every turn of a page.
After reading this book, it leaves me thinking. Is it really true that rich people can get away with everything just as long as they chuck in stashes of cash? Although in the very end, the rich wrongdoers were rounded up, but if it wasn’t for Abby Matteo and her friend’s determination to dig up the truth, it wouldn’t have happened. What if in real life, there really are places where dirty activities is happening and there is nobody there to speak up for us? Will we, people who are less financially powerful, become sitting ducks when we accidentally get in the rich and wealthy’s way? These are all very scary thoughts, however, it is very likely that these things really are going on around the world, and yet, there’s hardly anything we can do to change it. After reading this book, I’ve grown more certain of my decision to major in law, and I’ve vowed to dedicate my career to uncovering the deepest and darkest secrets of mankind.
All in all, this book is definitely a wonderful read. It didn’t become “the phenomenal New York Times bestseller” for nothing. I would most certainly recommend it to anyone who has a lot of time on his or her hands. Why? Well, this book isn’t one that you can stop whenever you want. You would stop only when you finish it, plus, there is no guarantee that you would read it only once. Trust me, this book, is just that good!
This book revolves around a second-year medical resident, Abby Matteo, who seemed to have a bright future because she was just tapped as a potential recruit for the hospital’s cardiac transplant team. But all dreams for a great future popped like a bubble when she made the decision to give the only available heart to a poor fourteen-year-old boy who was the first alternative rather than a rich old lady whose husband has seemingly all the power in the world. This move started all her troubles, and the dirty truth behind the whole system is unveiled. Abby and her friend vowed to discover the truth. However, just like every dirty system in the world, this doesn’t allow anyone disturbing its existence either. And as the main characters dig deeper and deeper into the core, they’re also digging their tombs bigger and bigger. Finally, they’ve uncovered the shocking truth, all the people that they trusted, even the husband of Abby, are the masterminds behind the whole scheme. Even though both of the main characters survived at the end of the day, it still leaves me panting and gasping at every turn of a page.
After reading this book, it leaves me thinking. Is it really true that rich people can get away with everything just as long as they chuck in stashes of cash? Although in the very end, the rich wrongdoers were rounded up, but if it wasn’t for Abby Matteo and her friend’s determination to dig up the truth, it wouldn’t have happened. What if in real life, there really are places where dirty activities is happening and there is nobody there to speak up for us? Will we, people who are less financially powerful, become sitting ducks when we accidentally get in the rich and wealthy’s way? These are all very scary thoughts, however, it is very likely that these things really are going on around the world, and yet, there’s hardly anything we can do to change it. After reading this book, I’ve grown more certain of my decision to major in law, and I’ve vowed to dedicate my career to uncovering the deepest and darkest secrets of mankind.
All in all, this book is definitely a wonderful read. It didn’t become “the phenomenal New York Times bestseller” for nothing. I would most certainly recommend it to anyone who has a lot of time on his or her hands. Why? Well, this book isn’t one that you can stop whenever you want. You would stop only when you finish it, plus, there is no guarantee that you would read it only once. Trust me, this book, is just that good!
The Fall of the House of Usher - 鍾錦樑
The Fall of the House of Usher is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe, and it sees from the first point of view, the Narrator. The Narrator surprisingly got a letter from his boyhood mate, Roderick Usher, invited him to accompany him. As the Narrator arrived the House, strange things started to creep out. Roderick's sister Madeline was severely sick and died at the first few days of the Narrator's visit. Soon he found out Roderick was suffering from unknown mental illness. After buried Madeline in the family vault under the House. Roderick kept fearing that they buried her alive. One day, when the Narrator tried to read a story to calm Roderick, spooky noises echoed around the House and push the whole storyline to the climax. They were horrified to see Madeline stood there at the threshold, with a freshly bloodied white gown. She cried and rushed toward her brother and then the Narrator saw two corpses on the ground. He dashed out the House and witnessed the House felt apart and devoured by the tarn.
After reading Poe's works, I fall in love with his delicate depictions of human mental process, mostly madness. The horror elements in his stories are mysterious and fascinating. We can never tell what is actually right but everyone can have his own interpretation. In this one, Poe uses mirror to create the ambiguity between life and death, sanity and madness, man and woman. When Madeline was alive, the description was ghost-like. After Madeline was dead, the description became vividly alive. It seems like death brought her strength to fight back. And the Narrator entered the House with awe as well as fear. Roderick's illness somehow frightened him as well as inspire him. Maybe the Narrator was undergoing psychological change. I cannot tell whether he was mad or not. It has many possibilities await to be uncovered. As twins, the Roderick and Madeline somehow shared a connection, both alike and different. Roderick's self-fulfilling prophecy gave Madeline the power to break the tomb. They cannot be separated as individuals. The traditional identity of man and woman chained both of them. Roderick was talented while Madeline was weak and self-closing.
At the same time, the title can refer to the actual collapse of the House and also the “fall” means the fall to the evil. In the middle of the story, a verse called “The Haunted Palace” indicated the evil things penetrated the palace like a ghastly river. And the king – Thought was decayed by the evil. The final story which the Narrator told Roderick was a foreshadow of the ending. The fall of the shield refers to the fall of the House. Poe's depiction foreshadowed the fate of the House and the people who lived in. He created dreary but interesting elements to support his story. Although many critics criticize Poe's similarity plot designs in every work but still, he is one of the greatest American writer in history. Poe opened a window to the dark but he didn't block the light. He left us to explore its wonders.
After reading Poe's works, I fall in love with his delicate depictions of human mental process, mostly madness. The horror elements in his stories are mysterious and fascinating. We can never tell what is actually right but everyone can have his own interpretation. In this one, Poe uses mirror to create the ambiguity between life and death, sanity and madness, man and woman. When Madeline was alive, the description was ghost-like. After Madeline was dead, the description became vividly alive. It seems like death brought her strength to fight back. And the Narrator entered the House with awe as well as fear. Roderick's illness somehow frightened him as well as inspire him. Maybe the Narrator was undergoing psychological change. I cannot tell whether he was mad or not. It has many possibilities await to be uncovered. As twins, the Roderick and Madeline somehow shared a connection, both alike and different. Roderick's self-fulfilling prophecy gave Madeline the power to break the tomb. They cannot be separated as individuals. The traditional identity of man and woman chained both of them. Roderick was talented while Madeline was weak and self-closing.
At the same time, the title can refer to the actual collapse of the House and also the “fall” means the fall to the evil. In the middle of the story, a verse called “The Haunted Palace” indicated the evil things penetrated the palace like a ghastly river. And the king – Thought was decayed by the evil. The final story which the Narrator told Roderick was a foreshadow of the ending. The fall of the shield refers to the fall of the House. Poe's depiction foreshadowed the fate of the House and the people who lived in. He created dreary but interesting elements to support his story. Although many critics criticize Poe's similarity plot designs in every work but still, he is one of the greatest American writer in history. Poe opened a window to the dark but he didn't block the light. He left us to explore its wonders.
Pride and Prejudice - 張文瑄
There is nothing quite like reading a novel that draws upon the slow growth of affection between two people while encountering the obstacles that fall in their way. Obstacles such as money, social class, reputation, and parental agreement were common barriers in Victorian-day marriage. These problems can be identified in Jane Austen’s six literary works: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Emma, and Mansfield Park. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy encounter obstacles of prejudice, social class, and arrogance. Although Jane Austen led a quiet life, her observant eyes recorded down in her novels even the most intricate events that happened to her. Jane Austen’s most celebrated work, Pride and Prejudice, provides a glimpse of social concerns in eighteenth century England and themes that still apply today in our daily lives.
Living in a time of change and revolutions, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice dealt with social concerns of the upper class and lower class people in England. Women’s education in eighteenth century England was limited and was not organized (www.pemberly.com). There were three jobs women could have: become a wife, a governess, or a spinster. Jane Austen, who was mostly self- educated, had “little respect for formal education” (Todd 3). Schools and universities such as Eton, Oxford and Cambridge did not welcome women, and took in only men as students (www.pemberly.com). Since women had no real careers, and were expected to take on domestic responsibilities, there was little movement for a formal female education system. Yet, domestic responsibilities were the job for the servants in Pride and Prejudice, where Mrs. Bennet states her daughters are too “genteel” to be working in the kitchen (www.pemberly.com). Drawing, playing music and singing were considered to be women’s primary accomplishments (www.pemberly.com). Elizabeth Bennet is represented as a woman who is well-read, not very skilled at the piano, but has good taste in music; yet, she is not pictured as a woman with formal education. Elizabeth, without a governess was self- educated (MacDonagh 94). Elizabeth’s sister Mary, however, did not represent intelligence even though she was a profound reader. She represented “false accomplishment” having no talent in playing the piano or singing as well as trying to impress others to an unnecessary extent (MacDonagh 95). Jane intended to say that even the educated are fools if they do not use information with aptitude (Todd 3).
Other social concerns, such as marriage and courtship, resonated in Victorian England of the eighteenth century, where social gatherings took place on the dance floor (Nicolson 26). In Pride and Prejudice, dances were held regularly where the protagonist and antagonist would meet and become acquainted. Caroline Bingley once stated: "A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word" (Austen 35). Illustrating that accomplishments, reputation, and also wealth were factors that were considered for eligibility (www.pemberly.com). Mr. Wickham, a poor soldier, started to show attention to Miss King when he heard she had just inherited 5000 pounds from her uncle. Wickham’s lust for money pressed him into marrying her just for her wealth. In addition, reputation was important when a lady was considered for marriage. When Lydia eloped with Mr. Wickham, illegitimate marriage was considered to be serious in England. Lydia’s elopement tarnished the Bennet family’s reputation and disgraced them, preventing them from finding good husbands in the future. “Lydia- the humiliation, the misery, she was bringing on them all” (Austen 231). Jane Austen often commented in her novels about events that were happening to her about the informal education for women and marriage.
Along with the social concerns of the Victorian era, in Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen incorporated the theme of first impressions and love. Judging people based on first impressions leaded to many misunderstandings. Fitzwilliam Darcy, a proud man, made judgments on people the second he meets them: “My good opinion once lost is lost forever” (Austen 50). When Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth met for the first time, he refused to dance with her because he felt she was “slighted by other men” (Austen 12). Since Elizabeth was not dancing, it meant she was not wanted by any other men. Elizabeth, however, was not dancing because there was a scarcity of men in the room (Austen 11). As time progressed, Mr. Darcy, overlooked his prejudice, and found Elizabeth attractive due to her intelligence and the beauty in her “fine eyes” (Austen 25). Mr. Darcy realized that his affections for Elizabeth were growing stronger, which resulted in his marriage proposal later on. Mr. Darcy’s good opinion may not always be lost forever.
Elizabeth was quick to judge others or bear immediate dislike upon first impressions of others. Similarly, at the ball, Elizabeth set down her first impressions against Mr. Darcy based on what she has seen and heard. Elizabeth overheard Mr. Bingley suggesting that Darcy should dance with Elizabeth, whom he comments to be “very pretty” (Austen 12). Mr. Darcy refused, saying “she is tolerable, but not enough to tempt [him]” (Austen 12). At this point, Elizabeth, unimpressed and piqued, declared Mr. Darcy to be a proud and disagreeable man. Mr. Darcy’s refusal to dance with anyone he considered to be low class caused Elizabeth to dislike Mr. Darcy. As a result, she bore a grudge from this ‘first impression’. Elizabeth’s dislike for Mr. Darcy heightens at the arrival of Mr. Wickham who related to her about his past misfortunes with Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth’s prejudice blinded her which made her vulnerable and accepted any comments spoken about Mr. Darcy. When Mr. Darcy had a chance to explain himself against all the lies that were spoken against him, Elizabeth’s prejudice was erased. Elizabeth, who prided herself at her skillful judgment of others, realized how mistaken she was.
In Pride and Prejudice, the theme of love is dealt in two different ways. Love, resonating throughout the whole book, is powerful and can overcome all obstacles that fall in the way. The biggest obstacle is the separation of the upper class and the middle class is evident. The Darcys, Bingleys, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh are part of the upper class while the Bennets belong to the middle class. From the beginning of the book, Austen emphasized the prejudices and the tensions that go on between these two classes. The upper class, especially Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley, treated the middle class with inferiority. Mr. Darcy gave the impression he wants nothing to do with the lower class people having once declared at a dance: “There is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with” (Austen 12). He was a proud man, and constantly aware of whom he socialized with. For the Bennets, associating with the upper class is their dream in hopes of obtaining a marriage proposal. Though there are many obstacles between these two classes, Austen showed how true love can surmount any pride, prejudices, and any other tensions. At the end of the book, she ended off with two happy marriages of Elizabeth and Darcy, and Jane and Mr. Bingley.
True love can be forsaken if there is money involved in the process. The middle class, Bennet girls have a mindset of marrying a wealthy man. In eighteenth century England, daughters of the family had no share of the inheritance at all. Hence, it was imperative that the daughter be married into a wealthy man to secure a home and her future. An example of this mindset is Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins. Charlotte Lucas has no affection or love for Mr. Collins: “I ask only for a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collin’s character, connections, and situations in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair…” (Austen 108). She sacrificed true love in exchange for reassurance that she will not live in poverty. Mr. Wickham is another example of marrying for wealth. When Miss King inherited 5000 pounds from her uncle, Mr. Wickham started to pay close attention to her in hopes of obtaining her affection (Austen 132). Mr. Wickham did not love her; he just wanted to be the master of that money when he is married to her. He was willing to do anything just to obtain those 5000 pounds. Love, when spoken on terms with money, cannot be regarded as genuine.
To fully appreciate Pride and Prejudice, it is imperative to understand the life of the author, Jane Austen, the social concerns of eighteenth century England, and themes that still exist today. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have a change in character as they realize their past mistakes. Elizabeth started to notice positive attributes Mr. Darcy possessed while Mr. Darcy became friendlier. Elizabeth affections grew for Mr. Darcy and she accepted his second proposal. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy as well as Jane and Mr. Bingley both find happiness in their marriages because of true love existing between them. Therefore, it is universally acknowledged that even though obstacles fall in the way of a relationship, love is so powerful it can overcome anything.
Living in a time of change and revolutions, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice dealt with social concerns of the upper class and lower class people in England. Women’s education in eighteenth century England was limited and was not organized (www.pemberly.com). There were three jobs women could have: become a wife, a governess, or a spinster. Jane Austen, who was mostly self- educated, had “little respect for formal education” (Todd 3). Schools and universities such as Eton, Oxford and Cambridge did not welcome women, and took in only men as students (www.pemberly.com). Since women had no real careers, and were expected to take on domestic responsibilities, there was little movement for a formal female education system. Yet, domestic responsibilities were the job for the servants in Pride and Prejudice, where Mrs. Bennet states her daughters are too “genteel” to be working in the kitchen (www.pemberly.com). Drawing, playing music and singing were considered to be women’s primary accomplishments (www.pemberly.com). Elizabeth Bennet is represented as a woman who is well-read, not very skilled at the piano, but has good taste in music; yet, she is not pictured as a woman with formal education. Elizabeth, without a governess was self- educated (MacDonagh 94). Elizabeth’s sister Mary, however, did not represent intelligence even though she was a profound reader. She represented “false accomplishment” having no talent in playing the piano or singing as well as trying to impress others to an unnecessary extent (MacDonagh 95). Jane intended to say that even the educated are fools if they do not use information with aptitude (Todd 3).
Other social concerns, such as marriage and courtship, resonated in Victorian England of the eighteenth century, where social gatherings took place on the dance floor (Nicolson 26). In Pride and Prejudice, dances were held regularly where the protagonist and antagonist would meet and become acquainted. Caroline Bingley once stated: "A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word" (Austen 35). Illustrating that accomplishments, reputation, and also wealth were factors that were considered for eligibility (www.pemberly.com). Mr. Wickham, a poor soldier, started to show attention to Miss King when he heard she had just inherited 5000 pounds from her uncle. Wickham’s lust for money pressed him into marrying her just for her wealth. In addition, reputation was important when a lady was considered for marriage. When Lydia eloped with Mr. Wickham, illegitimate marriage was considered to be serious in England. Lydia’s elopement tarnished the Bennet family’s reputation and disgraced them, preventing them from finding good husbands in the future. “Lydia- the humiliation, the misery, she was bringing on them all” (Austen 231). Jane Austen often commented in her novels about events that were happening to her about the informal education for women and marriage.
Along with the social concerns of the Victorian era, in Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen incorporated the theme of first impressions and love. Judging people based on first impressions leaded to many misunderstandings. Fitzwilliam Darcy, a proud man, made judgments on people the second he meets them: “My good opinion once lost is lost forever” (Austen 50). When Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth met for the first time, he refused to dance with her because he felt she was “slighted by other men” (Austen 12). Since Elizabeth was not dancing, it meant she was not wanted by any other men. Elizabeth, however, was not dancing because there was a scarcity of men in the room (Austen 11). As time progressed, Mr. Darcy, overlooked his prejudice, and found Elizabeth attractive due to her intelligence and the beauty in her “fine eyes” (Austen 25). Mr. Darcy realized that his affections for Elizabeth were growing stronger, which resulted in his marriage proposal later on. Mr. Darcy’s good opinion may not always be lost forever.
Elizabeth was quick to judge others or bear immediate dislike upon first impressions of others. Similarly, at the ball, Elizabeth set down her first impressions against Mr. Darcy based on what she has seen and heard. Elizabeth overheard Mr. Bingley suggesting that Darcy should dance with Elizabeth, whom he comments to be “very pretty” (Austen 12). Mr. Darcy refused, saying “she is tolerable, but not enough to tempt [him]” (Austen 12). At this point, Elizabeth, unimpressed and piqued, declared Mr. Darcy to be a proud and disagreeable man. Mr. Darcy’s refusal to dance with anyone he considered to be low class caused Elizabeth to dislike Mr. Darcy. As a result, she bore a grudge from this ‘first impression’. Elizabeth’s dislike for Mr. Darcy heightens at the arrival of Mr. Wickham who related to her about his past misfortunes with Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth’s prejudice blinded her which made her vulnerable and accepted any comments spoken about Mr. Darcy. When Mr. Darcy had a chance to explain himself against all the lies that were spoken against him, Elizabeth’s prejudice was erased. Elizabeth, who prided herself at her skillful judgment of others, realized how mistaken she was.
In Pride and Prejudice, the theme of love is dealt in two different ways. Love, resonating throughout the whole book, is powerful and can overcome all obstacles that fall in the way. The biggest obstacle is the separation of the upper class and the middle class is evident. The Darcys, Bingleys, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh are part of the upper class while the Bennets belong to the middle class. From the beginning of the book, Austen emphasized the prejudices and the tensions that go on between these two classes. The upper class, especially Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley, treated the middle class with inferiority. Mr. Darcy gave the impression he wants nothing to do with the lower class people having once declared at a dance: “There is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with” (Austen 12). He was a proud man, and constantly aware of whom he socialized with. For the Bennets, associating with the upper class is their dream in hopes of obtaining a marriage proposal. Though there are many obstacles between these two classes, Austen showed how true love can surmount any pride, prejudices, and any other tensions. At the end of the book, she ended off with two happy marriages of Elizabeth and Darcy, and Jane and Mr. Bingley.
True love can be forsaken if there is money involved in the process. The middle class, Bennet girls have a mindset of marrying a wealthy man. In eighteenth century England, daughters of the family had no share of the inheritance at all. Hence, it was imperative that the daughter be married into a wealthy man to secure a home and her future. An example of this mindset is Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins. Charlotte Lucas has no affection or love for Mr. Collins: “I ask only for a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collin’s character, connections, and situations in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair…” (Austen 108). She sacrificed true love in exchange for reassurance that she will not live in poverty. Mr. Wickham is another example of marrying for wealth. When Miss King inherited 5000 pounds from her uncle, Mr. Wickham started to pay close attention to her in hopes of obtaining her affection (Austen 132). Mr. Wickham did not love her; he just wanted to be the master of that money when he is married to her. He was willing to do anything just to obtain those 5000 pounds. Love, when spoken on terms with money, cannot be regarded as genuine.
To fully appreciate Pride and Prejudice, it is imperative to understand the life of the author, Jane Austen, the social concerns of eighteenth century England, and themes that still exist today. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have a change in character as they realize their past mistakes. Elizabeth started to notice positive attributes Mr. Darcy possessed while Mr. Darcy became friendlier. Elizabeth affections grew for Mr. Darcy and she accepted his second proposal. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy as well as Jane and Mr. Bingley both find happiness in their marriages because of true love existing between them. Therefore, it is universally acknowledged that even though obstacles fall in the way of a relationship, love is so powerful it can overcome anything.
【教學卓越計畫 2-2】英文讀書心得徵文比賽得獎名單
恭喜以下四位優秀同學得到99學年度第一學期第一次英文讀書心得徵文比賽
特優：經濟2B 張文瑄 “Pride and Prejudice” (獎金 2,000元)
優等：應外4 鍾錦樑 “The Fall of the House of Usher” (獎金 1,500元)
佳作：法學1 張儀安 “Harvest” (獎金 1,000元)
佳作：應外3 張婉儀 “The Bluest Eyes” (獎金 1,000元)
※得獎作品將公告在專屬BLOG:http://lc-guide.blogspot.com
※得獎同學會另行通知
語言中心將擇日舉行頒獎
特優：經濟2B 張文瑄 “Pride and Prejudice” (獎金 2,000元)
優等：應外4 鍾錦樑 “The Fall of the House of Usher” (獎金 1,500元)
佳作：法學1 張儀安 “Harvest” (獎金 1,000元)
佳作：應外3 張婉儀 “The Bluest Eyes” (獎金 1,000元)
※得獎作品將公告在專屬BLOG:http://lc-guide.blogspot.com
※得獎同學會另行通知
語言中心將擇日舉行頒獎
Thursday, December 2, 2010
『教學卓越計畫 2-2』英文讀書心得徵文(2)
主辦單位：台北大學語言中心
參加資格：台北大學在學生
內容：任挑一本英文書籍，類型長短不限
字數：500字以上
批改辦法
1. 內容 40% (同分參酌"內容")
2. 結構 25%
3. 文法 25%
4. 修辭 10%
截稿日期：2010/12/15(三) 中午12：00
參加辦法：有興趣者請在期限內把英文讀書心得電子檔(word 03版)寄到
s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw， 標明
“英文讀書心得徵文—系級學號姓名” 即可。
截稿後將會請評審老師逐一批改，
並擇期公布優選讀書心得，張貼在各大網站及專屬部落格。
英文著作導讀會&英文讀書心得徵文專屬BLOG：
http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
特優：2000 元 (一名)
優等：1500 元 (一名)
佳作：1000 元 (一名)
#有任何問題，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室)
參加資格：台北大學在學生
內容：任挑一本英文書籍，類型長短不限
字數：500字以上
批改辦法
1. 內容 40% (同分參酌"內容")
2. 結構 25%
3. 文法 25%
4. 修辭 10%
截稿日期：2010/12/15(三) 中午12：00
參加辦法：有興趣者請在期限內把英文讀書心得電子檔(word 03版)寄到
s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw， 標明
“英文讀書心得徵文—系級學號姓名” 即可。
截稿後將會請評審老師逐一批改，
並擇期公布優選讀書心得，張貼在各大網站及專屬部落格。
英文著作導讀會&英文讀書心得徵文專屬BLOG：
http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
特優：2000 元 (一名)
優等：1500 元 (一名)
佳作：1000 元 (一名)
#有任何問題，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室)
『教學卓越計畫 2-2』英文著作導讀會 - 時時刻刻
一起體會分秒直擊人心深處的美妙
12/8(三) 中午12:10-13:30
地點：文院506
主題：The Hours
東吳英文系 馬健君教授
當天備有點心和飲料，請同學踴躍報名。
導讀會&徵文專屬BLOG: http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
有任何問題&報名，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室) or來信s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw
12/8(三) 中午12:10-13:30
地點：文院506
主題：The Hours
東吳英文系 馬健君教授
當天備有點心和飲料，請同學踴躍報名。
導讀會&徵文專屬BLOG: http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
有任何問題&報名，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室) or來信s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Reading Shel Silverstein 導讀資料下載
今天很高興能邀請到師大莊坤良老師 來導讀Silverstein的作品
相信同學們都獲益良多， 也看到不同於一般文學的作品!
大家如果對今天內容有興趣， 所有的文字檔和聲音檔都可以去下載喔!
(包含一些老師沒放的檔案都有~)
點我下載資料
本學期第一次徵文比賽11/19(五)前截止喔!
歡迎踴躍報名參加!
『教學卓越計畫 2-2』英文讀書心得徵文
主辦單位：台北大學語言中心
參加資格：台北大學在學生
內容：任挑一本英文書籍，類型長短不限
字數：500字以上
截稿日期：2010/11/19(五) 中午12：00
參加辦法：有興趣者請在期限內把英文讀書心得電子檔(word 03版)寄到
s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw， 標明
“英文讀書心得徵文—系級學號姓名” 即可。
截稿後將會請評審老師逐一批改，
並擇期公布優選讀書心得，張貼在各大網站及專屬部落格。
英文著作導讀會&英文讀書心得徵文專屬BLOG：
http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
特優：2000 元 (一名)
優等：1500 元 (一名)
佳作：1000 元 (一名)
#有任何問題，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室)
參加資格：台北大學在學生
內容：任挑一本英文書籍，類型長短不限
字數：500字以上
截稿日期：2010/11/19(五) 中午12：00
參加辦法：有興趣者請在期限內把英文讀書心得電子檔(word 03版)寄到
s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw， 標明
“英文讀書心得徵文—系級學號姓名” 即可。
截稿後將會請評審老師逐一批改，
並擇期公布優選讀書心得，張貼在各大網站及專屬部落格。
英文著作導讀會&英文讀書心得徵文專屬BLOG：
http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
特優：2000 元 (一名)
優等：1500 元 (一名)
佳作：1000 元 (一名)
#有任何問題，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室)
Sunday, October 10, 2010
『教學卓越計畫 2-2』繪本大師Shel Silverstein作品導讀會
想要了解享譽文壇的繪本大師嗎?
一起跟著他簡單的插圖
發現自己最單純的感動
找回失落已久的自己吧!
10/27(三) 12:30 文院506
師大英語系 莊坤良教授
導讀會&徵文專屬BLOG: http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
有任何問題&報名，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室) or來信s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw
一起跟著他簡單的插圖
發現自己最單純的感動
找回失落已久的自己吧!
10/27(三) 12:30 文院506
師大英語系 莊坤良教授
導讀會&徵文專屬BLOG: http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
有任何問題&報名，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室) or來信s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw
Saturday, September 25, 2010
『教學卓越計畫 2-2』英文讀書心得徵文比賽得獎名單
恭喜以下三位優秀同學得到98年度第二學期第二次英文讀書心得徵文比賽
特優：企管3B 陳綺雯“The Lovely Bones”by Alice Sebold
優等：行政2B 宋艾玲 “The Gift”by Danielle Steel
佳作：應外三 鍾錦樑 “Reflection on Doctor Faustus”
特優：企管3B 陳綺雯“The Lovely Bones”by Alice Sebold
優等：行政2B 宋艾玲 “The Gift”by Danielle Steel
佳作：應外三 鍾錦樑 “Reflection on Doctor Faustus”
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
5/17截止之英文讀書心得報告得獎名單
名單如下:
特優: 金融五 49480056 蔡怡然
優等: 企管系4A 49579025 李自軒
佳作: 應外三 49682024 曾佳彥
請以上得獎者請於6/18(五)12:10 到文418(ENGLISH CORNER)接受頒獎。
特優: 金融五 49480056 蔡怡然
優等: 企管系4A 49579025 李自軒
佳作: 應外三 49682024 曾佳彥
請以上得獎者請於6/18(五)12:10 到文418(ENGLISH CORNER)接受頒獎。
Saturday, June 5, 2010
英文讀書心得徵文(6/14截稿!)
主辦單位：台北大學語言中心
參加資格：台北大學在學生
內容：任挑一本英文書籍，類型長短不限
字數：500字以上，英文書寫
截稿日期：2010/6/14(一) 中午12：00
參加辦法：有興趣者請在期限內把英文讀書心得電子檔寄到
s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw， 標明
“英文讀書心得徵文—系級學號姓名” 即可。
截稿後將會請評審老師逐一批改，
並擇期公布優選讀書心得，張貼在各大網站及專屬部落格。
英文著作導讀會&英文讀書心得徵文專屬BLOG：
http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
特優：2000 元 (一名)
優等：1500 元 (一名)
佳作：1000 元 (一名)
#有任何問題，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室)
參加資格：台北大學在學生
內容：任挑一本英文書籍，類型長短不限
字數：500字以上，英文書寫
截稿日期：2010/6/14(一) 中午12：00
參加辦法：有興趣者請在期限內把英文讀書心得電子檔寄到
s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw， 標明
“英文讀書心得徵文—系級學號姓名” 即可。
截稿後將會請評審老師逐一批改，
並擇期公布優選讀書心得，張貼在各大網站及專屬部落格。
英文著作導讀會&英文讀書心得徵文專屬BLOG：
http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
特優：2000 元 (一名)
優等：1500 元 (一名)
佳作：1000 元 (一名)
#有任何問題，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
英文讀書心得徵文!
主辦單位：台北大學語言中心
參加資格：台北大學在學生
內容：任挑一本英文書籍，類型長短不限
字數：500字以上
截稿日期：2010/5/17(一) 中午12：00
參加辦法：有興趣者請在期限內把英文讀書心得電子檔寄到
s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw， 標明
“英文讀書心得徵文—系級學號姓名” 即可。
截稿後將會請評審老師逐一批改，
並擇期公布優選讀書心得，張貼在各大網站及專屬部落格。
英文著作導讀會&英文讀書心得徵文專屬BLOG：
http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
特優：2000 元 (一名)
優等：1500 元 (一名)
佳作：1000 元 (一名)
#有任何問題，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室)
參加資格：台北大學在學生
內容：任挑一本英文書籍，類型長短不限
字數：500字以上
截稿日期：2010/5/17(一) 中午12：00
參加辦法：有興趣者請在期限內把英文讀書心得電子檔寄到
s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw， 標明
“英文讀書心得徵文—系級學號姓名” 即可。
截稿後將會請評審老師逐一批改，
並擇期公布優選讀書心得，張貼在各大網站及專屬部落格。
英文著作導讀會&英文讀書心得徵文專屬BLOG：
http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
特優：2000 元 (一名)
優等：1500 元 (一名)
佳作：1000 元 (一名)
#有任何問題，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室)
Thursday, March 18, 2010
英文著作導讀會--英國文化大揭秘
Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behavior
Kate Fox精準洞悉英國人的性格行為
將其怪僻、習性、缺點逐一點出
在幽默文字中揭露英國人鮮為人知的一面
3/22(一) 中午12:10
台中教育大學英語系
廖美玲教授
地點: 文4F18 English Corner
導讀會&徵文專屬BLOG: http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
有任何問題&報名，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室) or來信s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw
Kate Fox精準洞悉英國人的性格行為
將其怪僻、習性、缺點逐一點出
在幽默文字中揭露英國人鮮為人知的一面
3/22(一) 中午12:10
台中教育大學英語系
廖美玲教授
地點: 文4F18 English Corner
導讀會&徵文專屬BLOG: http://lc-guide.blogspot.com/
有任何問題&報名，歡迎洽詢語言中心 02-26748189轉66477~66481
(人文大樓307教室) or來信s49682033@webmail.ntpu.edu.tw
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The End of Ancient Christianity - 邱信翰
Let me know Thee, O Lord, who knowest me: let me know Thee, as I am known.
(St. Augustine of Hippo: Confessions X, 1)
I have ever been a Christian; to speak precisely, a Presbyterian, for more than ten years. However, I cannot help but confess that I have never believed in Christian creeds completely, and for a long time my religious inclination was near to Deism, a theological system of natural religion, opposed to s the orthodox dogmata, i.e., creeds of all revealed religions, and therefore condemned by both Roman Catholic and Protestant churches as heresy, or more radically as Atheism. In fact, Deism, as David Hume attacked in his Dialogue, has several philosophical defects, and more dangerously may reduce Providence into being predicable. Faced with this dilemma, what I ought to do is to make certain what religion is at bottom not through scriptural investigate, but through historical. I, albeit no longer a Christian, believe that examining the development of Christendom is tantamount to studying what religion is, because the Christian theological issues reveals the nature of religion profoundly. For the sake, I chose this book ‘The End of Ancient Christianity’ to study.
‘The End of Ancient Christianity’, written by R. A. Markus, is a research of shifts in Western Christendom from 4th through 6th centuries, wherein Christians experienced a monumental event. Emperor Constantine converted into Christianity; scilicet, Christianity ceased to be the religion of a persecuted minority, and was regarded as the official religion of Roman Empire. For Christians cogitating who would be redeemed in the Last Judgment, nonetheless, this change is not an event to be worth commemorating. Martyrs were considered to be distinguished from others when Christians was persecuted and slain by the Roman government. Once Roman Emperor converted into Christianity, however, who would be persecuted? Ironically enough, Christian governors now began to persecute paganism and heresy. Whereupon, in this period, Christians must think more and more about what the boundary between Christianity and paganism is, and what the doctrines of Christianity are.
This book can also be considered as an essay concerning Latin Fathers’ theology, in particular Augustine’s. In the following paragraph, then, I would like to discuss about some theological debates that attract my attention vastly. First of all, as mentioned above, the so-called ‘Constantine Revolution’ made quite an impact upon Christians; consequently, they were forced to find new ways of distinguishing themselves. For instance, as Augustine put it, a converted rhetorician replied to his Christian friend who did not believe he was a Christian until he came to the church, by asking him whether the walls of the church made Christians. From some aspects at least, Christianity, though claiming that God is love, is essentially elitism. The French word ‘elite’, in fact, is originally taken from ‘to elect’; that is to say, the noblest amidst men, and women, are the chosen people. If so, what to be noble is for God becomes the problem. The Fathers in this period did not find the answer at all, nor did their followers. Methinks, the problem in Christians’ minds would be the permanent, probably also the paramount, question for ever.
Furthermore, another debate amidst late 4th century Fathers which interests me, and meanwhile forces me to consider more, is whether or not a Christian should be an ascetic. Some leading Christian thinkers, e.g. St. Jerome and Pelagius, maintained that to be a pious Christian must be an ascetic, denying one's own desire for anything except divine grace. On the other hand, unlike Jerome, Augustine, although placing high value on virginity, made room for marriage. Thus he said that good was marriage, but virginity better. According to the interpretation of Fathers, our sexual desire originates from the original sin; therefore, to preserve virginity is the way in which we can pursuit the spiritual perfection. However, we cannot ignore the fact that human lust after sexual acts is an unavoidable situation, also a state of eagerly wanting, for human beings. When I reflect on this question, as Augustine, faced with the perplexity, I wonder whether to satisfy one’s lust would be sinful. For this, I conclude as below. Man is doomed to want, and thus to err, but, as Alexander Pope put it, to err is human, to forgive divine. We, even though destined to be mistaken, can do good deeds to make expiation for our guilty; on the other hand, to avoid erring, we may lose opportunity to do our best, and exactly it is also guilt. We cannot forget that human being is born to be defective and never be perfect, but to overcome his plights, he, even failed, can preserve his nobility and dignity. This is my reflection.
In the era, some people, pretending to own a ‘scientific’ or ‘positivist’ mind, do not have any interest and belief in religious considerations or ideas about Deity and immortality, namely future life, yet once they begin to reflect as to whether or not human life has meaning, they cannot avoid raising some essential questions seriously. For instance, if there were no Deity as the absolute principle, what would be the criterion we should follow? If there were no criterion we should follow, could we do anything we desire to do, however evil? Therefore, we cannot help but conclude that if we deny religion, we will be mistaken greatly. As mentioned above, on the other hand, to study the development of Christianity, for my part, is to inquire into what religion is, because Christianity is concerned with significant theologian questions, e.g. the problem of free will, much more than other two main revealed religions, Judaism and Islamism. The epoch between the convert of Constantine and early medieval time, i.e. so-called Late Antique, is the crucial period shaping medieval Christianity, and even what it appears today, as far as I am concerned, and thus I recommend this book ‘The End of Ancient Christianity’ for the study of the area. Now, to put a coda to this essay, I would like to say, the more we study about the period following the convert of Constantine, the less unreasonable and unassailable it seems to us; the more we investigate what theologian issues the Fathers did controvert, the more profoundly we, albeit not everyone is a Christian, become aware of strong anxiety in the hearts of foresighted Christians.
(St. Augustine of Hippo: Confessions X, 1)
I have ever been a Christian; to speak precisely, a Presbyterian, for more than ten years. However, I cannot help but confess that I have never believed in Christian creeds completely, and for a long time my religious inclination was near to Deism, a theological system of natural religion, opposed to s the orthodox dogmata, i.e., creeds of all revealed religions, and therefore condemned by both Roman Catholic and Protestant churches as heresy, or more radically as Atheism. In fact, Deism, as David Hume attacked in his Dialogue, has several philosophical defects, and more dangerously may reduce Providence into being predicable. Faced with this dilemma, what I ought to do is to make certain what religion is at bottom not through scriptural investigate, but through historical. I, albeit no longer a Christian, believe that examining the development of Christendom is tantamount to studying what religion is, because the Christian theological issues reveals the nature of religion profoundly. For the sake, I chose this book ‘The End of Ancient Christianity’ to study.
‘The End of Ancient Christianity’, written by R. A. Markus, is a research of shifts in Western Christendom from 4th through 6th centuries, wherein Christians experienced a monumental event. Emperor Constantine converted into Christianity; scilicet, Christianity ceased to be the religion of a persecuted minority, and was regarded as the official religion of Roman Empire. For Christians cogitating who would be redeemed in the Last Judgment, nonetheless, this change is not an event to be worth commemorating. Martyrs were considered to be distinguished from others when Christians was persecuted and slain by the Roman government. Once Roman Emperor converted into Christianity, however, who would be persecuted? Ironically enough, Christian governors now began to persecute paganism and heresy. Whereupon, in this period, Christians must think more and more about what the boundary between Christianity and paganism is, and what the doctrines of Christianity are.
This book can also be considered as an essay concerning Latin Fathers’ theology, in particular Augustine’s. In the following paragraph, then, I would like to discuss about some theological debates that attract my attention vastly. First of all, as mentioned above, the so-called ‘Constantine Revolution’ made quite an impact upon Christians; consequently, they were forced to find new ways of distinguishing themselves. For instance, as Augustine put it, a converted rhetorician replied to his Christian friend who did not believe he was a Christian until he came to the church, by asking him whether the walls of the church made Christians. From some aspects at least, Christianity, though claiming that God is love, is essentially elitism. The French word ‘elite’, in fact, is originally taken from ‘to elect’; that is to say, the noblest amidst men, and women, are the chosen people. If so, what to be noble is for God becomes the problem. The Fathers in this period did not find the answer at all, nor did their followers. Methinks, the problem in Christians’ minds would be the permanent, probably also the paramount, question for ever.
Furthermore, another debate amidst late 4th century Fathers which interests me, and meanwhile forces me to consider more, is whether or not a Christian should be an ascetic. Some leading Christian thinkers, e.g. St. Jerome and Pelagius, maintained that to be a pious Christian must be an ascetic, denying one's own desire for anything except divine grace. On the other hand, unlike Jerome, Augustine, although placing high value on virginity, made room for marriage. Thus he said that good was marriage, but virginity better. According to the interpretation of Fathers, our sexual desire originates from the original sin; therefore, to preserve virginity is the way in which we can pursuit the spiritual perfection. However, we cannot ignore the fact that human lust after sexual acts is an unavoidable situation, also a state of eagerly wanting, for human beings. When I reflect on this question, as Augustine, faced with the perplexity, I wonder whether to satisfy one’s lust would be sinful. For this, I conclude as below. Man is doomed to want, and thus to err, but, as Alexander Pope put it, to err is human, to forgive divine. We, even though destined to be mistaken, can do good deeds to make expiation for our guilty; on the other hand, to avoid erring, we may lose opportunity to do our best, and exactly it is also guilt. We cannot forget that human being is born to be defective and never be perfect, but to overcome his plights, he, even failed, can preserve his nobility and dignity. This is my reflection.
In the era, some people, pretending to own a ‘scientific’ or ‘positivist’ mind, do not have any interest and belief in religious considerations or ideas about Deity and immortality, namely future life, yet once they begin to reflect as to whether or not human life has meaning, they cannot avoid raising some essential questions seriously. For instance, if there were no Deity as the absolute principle, what would be the criterion we should follow? If there were no criterion we should follow, could we do anything we desire to do, however evil? Therefore, we cannot help but conclude that if we deny religion, we will be mistaken greatly. As mentioned above, on the other hand, to study the development of Christianity, for my part, is to inquire into what religion is, because Christianity is concerned with significant theologian questions, e.g. the problem of free will, much more than other two main revealed religions, Judaism and Islamism. The epoch between the convert of Constantine and early medieval time, i.e. so-called Late Antique, is the crucial period shaping medieval Christianity, and even what it appears today, as far as I am concerned, and thus I recommend this book ‘The End of Ancient Christianity’ for the study of the area. Now, to put a coda to this essay, I would like to say, the more we study about the period following the convert of Constantine, the less unreasonable and unassailable it seems to us; the more we investigate what theologian issues the Fathers did controvert, the more profoundly we, albeit not everyone is a Christian, become aware of strong anxiety in the hearts of foresighted Christians.
Perfume, the story of a muderer - 林鈺鈴
The fleeting realm of scent- reflection and analysis on “Perfume, the story of a murderer”
Mesmerized, trapped, and eventually captured…
These are the very destined paths for those who have once stepped into the curious, yet tempting land created by Patrick Suskind: the fleeting realm of scent.
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, the notorious murderer who committed numerous crimes was sophisticatedly illustrated by the author as a man lacking of all senses which normal people seem to possess, but incredibly endowed with the unparalleled sense of smelling. “I have the best nose in Paris” declared he with confidence as if other people did not believe him.
Born on 7, 17 1700, he was a cancer in terms of contemporary constellation, and was ought to be “sentimental” with great need of love. However, he was totally against from what we think he supposed to be. Was it a scheme set by the author or a pure coincidence? No matter what it was, it had already spiced the story to excellence and from which I found great pleasure (for it became more ironic and interesting.). Then, what drove him to commit murder? Since he was a man without any feeling (that is to say, there wouldn’t have been people who he hated to death.), what else could possibly lead him to the horrible deed? Well, in my personal interpretation, sometimes one’s extreme fear toward something might afterwards transform into motivation of things one wish to achieve. Realizing that he had no odor of his own, Grenouille doubted whether he truly ever existed or not. The fear of self-unknown gave birth to his ambition (grave and cruel): to create his own perfume so as to prove his being in this world.
At last, he had accomplished his task but it also brought him to death penalty, for he took almost thirty young women’s souls. On the day of execution, Grenouille sprinkled a little perfume on himself and soon he was all covered with his “achievement”. Well, indeed, something queer did happen again (you will never stop overcoming surprises when reading this masterpiece.): people no longer hated him any more, but instead, they loved him, wanted to touch him, and thought him an angel sent from god. The flattery, the intense change from people disgusted Grenouille. Grenouille felt no satisfaction or a tiny bliss on what the perfume had given him. What worse, he wanted to abandon it, to end it, or more precisely, to abandon himself, to end himself.
Patrick Suskind had undoubtedly made a surprise to every reader, but he also had made some fun of people (or criticism to be exact?): human are being so easily fooled or cheated by the only masked fact they saw.
The story began and ended with the birth and death of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, and it seemed to have no sequence following. Just like his odorlessness, once he disappeared and he meant to disappear. I won’t say that Grenouille’s life stands for tragedy, but I will say he was a lucky guy. Although it was only after his death did he received “true love” (which he desired the most from others but he could not tell, I suppose.). After all, he had succeeded in all what he aspired and died with no regret, but his own will.
Mesmerized, trapped, and eventually captured…
These are the very destined paths for those who have once stepped into the curious, yet tempting land created by Patrick Suskind: the fleeting realm of scent.
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, the notorious murderer who committed numerous crimes was sophisticatedly illustrated by the author as a man lacking of all senses which normal people seem to possess, but incredibly endowed with the unparalleled sense of smelling. “I have the best nose in Paris” declared he with confidence as if other people did not believe him.
Born on 7, 17 1700, he was a cancer in terms of contemporary constellation, and was ought to be “sentimental” with great need of love. However, he was totally against from what we think he supposed to be. Was it a scheme set by the author or a pure coincidence? No matter what it was, it had already spiced the story to excellence and from which I found great pleasure (for it became more ironic and interesting.). Then, what drove him to commit murder? Since he was a man without any feeling (that is to say, there wouldn’t have been people who he hated to death.), what else could possibly lead him to the horrible deed? Well, in my personal interpretation, sometimes one’s extreme fear toward something might afterwards transform into motivation of things one wish to achieve. Realizing that he had no odor of his own, Grenouille doubted whether he truly ever existed or not. The fear of self-unknown gave birth to his ambition (grave and cruel): to create his own perfume so as to prove his being in this world.
At last, he had accomplished his task but it also brought him to death penalty, for he took almost thirty young women’s souls. On the day of execution, Grenouille sprinkled a little perfume on himself and soon he was all covered with his “achievement”. Well, indeed, something queer did happen again (you will never stop overcoming surprises when reading this masterpiece.): people no longer hated him any more, but instead, they loved him, wanted to touch him, and thought him an angel sent from god. The flattery, the intense change from people disgusted Grenouille. Grenouille felt no satisfaction or a tiny bliss on what the perfume had given him. What worse, he wanted to abandon it, to end it, or more precisely, to abandon himself, to end himself.
Patrick Suskind had undoubtedly made a surprise to every reader, but he also had made some fun of people (or criticism to be exact?): human are being so easily fooled or cheated by the only masked fact they saw.
The story began and ended with the birth and death of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, and it seemed to have no sequence following. Just like his odorlessness, once he disappeared and he meant to disappear. I won’t say that Grenouille’s life stands for tragedy, but I will say he was a lucky guy. Although it was only after his death did he received “true love” (which he desired the most from others but he could not tell, I suppose.). After all, he had succeeded in all what he aspired and died with no regret, but his own will.
Siddhartha - 晉羚莉
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
The novel is based on a historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived 25 centuries ago in northern India. He was born into wealth and privilege, but chose to relinquish the luxurious palace life and seek enlightenment. Buddhism is both a philosophical and religious teaching in India. In the novel, by Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha is known as the “Illustrious One.” He is a well-known enlightener that all people admired. His countenance is fulfilled with intellectual knowledge of wisdom and his inner self is possessed with invulnerable peace.
Siddhartha was a young priestly caste fellow with high vocation and status. He was enclosed with features of intellects, fervent thoughts, and strong wills in his beliefs of karma and the Four Noble Truth in Buddhism. In the novel, Siddhartha is described as ‘strong, handsome man with lofty brow and king like eyes.’ The author uses the adjective modifiers to describe his high standard of status and reputation in people’s eyes. However, with his entire well being, Siddhartha is not pleased with the worldly life he owns. He thirsts for more knowledge of wisdom to improve his maturity. He wants to be enlightened with the teaching of wisdoms from Buddhism. There are a variety of wealthy and high status people in a society, often times, they feel that money does not own everything in this world such as health and love. This is when people start to believe in religion and want to find the true meaning of existence in life.
Siddhartha’s dissatisfied life is full of restlessness; he does not feel valued for his existence in the world, so his soul wonders for true meaning of reality. The “seeds of discontent” lies in his inner soul. Thus, he wishes to start a self-denial journey to search for his innermost beliefs. The usage of figurative language as in a metaphoric content is applied when Siddhartha’s “seeds to discontent” is compared to his unsatisfying prosperous life. I believe the “seeds of discontent” directly links to the materialistic society, in which the discontentment is the feeling of insecurity and loneliness of people. Meanwhile, as their desires of greed are built up, they start to shop for goods such as bags, clothing, luxurious car, jewelries, and etc in order to fulfill and mend our holes of insecurity. In order to escape from the money-oriented world, some people may choose to meditate and join religious practices to help them understand the real purposes of being in this world.
In the novel, Siddhartha’s insatiable thirst for knowledge has led him to join the ascetics. Siddhartha discovers that ‘the world tasted bitter, life was pain,’ in which his only way to alleviate pain is to become ‘empty.’ Siddhartha wants to ‘let the self die’ in order to experience purity. Both ‘empty’ and ‘let the self die’ imply Siddhartha’s wish for absence of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure, and sorrow. By taking the path of self-denial, the mind will be appeased. Agonies will be absent when Siddhartha reaches the Nirvana. Many Buddhism practices in modern days such as mindfulness meditation has allowed us to free from all desires, wishes, and pleasures. It is a palliative way to release pain, agony and suffering in life. Other religious practices like community services projects have helped us realize how fortunate we are. By looking at an abundance of unfortunate people in this world, we learn to cherish and appreciate things and people around us. Being able to give is not what everyone can do; therefore we should feel good about having the chance to help.
When the soul and the religion overlap with each other, the inner self can experience values for life. “Your soul is the whole world,” it is vital quote that signifies the importance of connection between our internality and the world. The author creates this spiritual effect of the soul to encourage Siddhartha to be enlightened and make influences to the world. Once the soul and the self has reach Nirvana with absence of worries and sufferings, Siddhartha will be able to realize that the social issues like poverty and disasters are caused by the desires’ from every individual in the community. If we can reduce our desires, we can prevent countless social issues and natural disasters.
The novel is based on a historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived 25 centuries ago in northern India. He was born into wealth and privilege, but chose to relinquish the luxurious palace life and seek enlightenment. Buddhism is both a philosophical and religious teaching in India. In the novel, by Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha is known as the “Illustrious One.” He is a well-known enlightener that all people admired. His countenance is fulfilled with intellectual knowledge of wisdom and his inner self is possessed with invulnerable peace.
Siddhartha was a young priestly caste fellow with high vocation and status. He was enclosed with features of intellects, fervent thoughts, and strong wills in his beliefs of karma and the Four Noble Truth in Buddhism. In the novel, Siddhartha is described as ‘strong, handsome man with lofty brow and king like eyes.’ The author uses the adjective modifiers to describe his high standard of status and reputation in people’s eyes. However, with his entire well being, Siddhartha is not pleased with the worldly life he owns. He thirsts for more knowledge of wisdom to improve his maturity. He wants to be enlightened with the teaching of wisdoms from Buddhism. There are a variety of wealthy and high status people in a society, often times, they feel that money does not own everything in this world such as health and love. This is when people start to believe in religion and want to find the true meaning of existence in life.
Siddhartha’s dissatisfied life is full of restlessness; he does not feel valued for his existence in the world, so his soul wonders for true meaning of reality. The “seeds of discontent” lies in his inner soul. Thus, he wishes to start a self-denial journey to search for his innermost beliefs. The usage of figurative language as in a metaphoric content is applied when Siddhartha’s “seeds to discontent” is compared to his unsatisfying prosperous life. I believe the “seeds of discontent” directly links to the materialistic society, in which the discontentment is the feeling of insecurity and loneliness of people. Meanwhile, as their desires of greed are built up, they start to shop for goods such as bags, clothing, luxurious car, jewelries, and etc in order to fulfill and mend our holes of insecurity. In order to escape from the money-oriented world, some people may choose to meditate and join religious practices to help them understand the real purposes of being in this world.
In the novel, Siddhartha’s insatiable thirst for knowledge has led him to join the ascetics. Siddhartha discovers that ‘the world tasted bitter, life was pain,’ in which his only way to alleviate pain is to become ‘empty.’ Siddhartha wants to ‘let the self die’ in order to experience purity. Both ‘empty’ and ‘let the self die’ imply Siddhartha’s wish for absence of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure, and sorrow. By taking the path of self-denial, the mind will be appeased. Agonies will be absent when Siddhartha reaches the Nirvana. Many Buddhism practices in modern days such as mindfulness meditation has allowed us to free from all desires, wishes, and pleasures. It is a palliative way to release pain, agony and suffering in life. Other religious practices like community services projects have helped us realize how fortunate we are. By looking at an abundance of unfortunate people in this world, we learn to cherish and appreciate things and people around us. Being able to give is not what everyone can do; therefore we should feel good about having the chance to help.
When the soul and the religion overlap with each other, the inner self can experience values for life. “Your soul is the whole world,” it is vital quote that signifies the importance of connection between our internality and the world. The author creates this spiritual effect of the soul to encourage Siddhartha to be enlightened and make influences to the world. Once the soul and the self has reach Nirvana with absence of worries and sufferings, Siddhartha will be able to realize that the social issues like poverty and disasters are caused by the desires’ from every individual in the community. If we can reduce our desires, we can prevent countless social issues and natural disasters.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - 紀佳妤
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Introduction:
Berlin 1942
When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance.
But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.
(sources: official website)
I was wondering how a story about the boy in the striped pyjamas can be when I first saw this book. It sounds like a children book but its cover, with only three plain colors which are far from bright, seems to convey the idea that it’s not going to end up happily ever after. It was not until I finished the reading did I realize it is about a serious topic.
The striped pyjamas in this book are symbolic of criminals who did nothing wrong but just were born to be. Those criminals are the Jew. Shmuel, nine-year-old, is one of those in the striped pyjamas. He was found by Bruno, who was on his exploring journey around his new home ‘Out-With.’ Bruno’s father, a general, was promoted to be in charge of the concentration camp and that’s why Bruno’s family moved to near the camp and why Bruno would ever have a chance to meet Shmuel. With an electric fence which emblems a barrier between two ethnic groups in between, the two little boys became good friends, though. Bruno, a Christian, and Shmuel, a Jew, treat each other with true heart and pure spirit, which is the very part that brings about the most conflicting point.
When Bruno put on the striped pyjamas and crept through the small hole under the fence for the purpose of seeking Shmuel’s missing father, he became a member of the concentration camp unexpectedly. Bruno’s sincerity toward his best friend is somehow a gradual process to death. The identity of Bruno, in essence, didn’t shift, but in the striped pyjamas Bruno is no longer a german general’s son but an innocent victim under the prevailing racism at that time as the same case in which Shmuel was turned into a criminal from a guiltless Polish little boy.
I felt an excruciatingly pain when I read the last paragraph of chapter nineteen: ...Bruno found that he was still holding Shmuel’s hand in his own and nothing in the world would have persuaded him to let it go. My eyes were flooded with tears since I was touched deeply within, especially when I saw the movie adapted from The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Bruno and Shmuel held hands tightly and in their hands were faith in each other. It’s certainly a sorrowful image that in the dark were two pairs of eyes of naivete and fearlessness and the next second two little boys vanished from this world along with numerous lives. Simultaneously the horrifying, brutal and atrocious execution was gnawing away my conscience. I felt guilty for what germans did in the duration of world war. However, Bruto’s father, a blind patriot, is another kind of victim of the time. A father himself caused the death of his son, which is absolutely of great agony for a parent.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a powerful story but is simply told. It’s strange that while the sentences are seemingly effortless, it’s difficult to read. Still, I’d like to recommend this book to everyone. It’s even far more sarcastic to look at the event that happened back in the period of world war two through children’s pure eyes.
Introduction:
Berlin 1942
When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance.
But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.
(sources: official website)
I was wondering how a story about the boy in the striped pyjamas can be when I first saw this book. It sounds like a children book but its cover, with only three plain colors which are far from bright, seems to convey the idea that it’s not going to end up happily ever after. It was not until I finished the reading did I realize it is about a serious topic.
The striped pyjamas in this book are symbolic of criminals who did nothing wrong but just were born to be. Those criminals are the Jew. Shmuel, nine-year-old, is one of those in the striped pyjamas. He was found by Bruno, who was on his exploring journey around his new home ‘Out-With.’ Bruno’s father, a general, was promoted to be in charge of the concentration camp and that’s why Bruno’s family moved to near the camp and why Bruno would ever have a chance to meet Shmuel. With an electric fence which emblems a barrier between two ethnic groups in between, the two little boys became good friends, though. Bruno, a Christian, and Shmuel, a Jew, treat each other with true heart and pure spirit, which is the very part that brings about the most conflicting point.
When Bruno put on the striped pyjamas and crept through the small hole under the fence for the purpose of seeking Shmuel’s missing father, he became a member of the concentration camp unexpectedly. Bruno’s sincerity toward his best friend is somehow a gradual process to death. The identity of Bruno, in essence, didn’t shift, but in the striped pyjamas Bruno is no longer a german general’s son but an innocent victim under the prevailing racism at that time as the same case in which Shmuel was turned into a criminal from a guiltless Polish little boy.
I felt an excruciatingly pain when I read the last paragraph of chapter nineteen: ...Bruno found that he was still holding Shmuel’s hand in his own and nothing in the world would have persuaded him to let it go. My eyes were flooded with tears since I was touched deeply within, especially when I saw the movie adapted from The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Bruno and Shmuel held hands tightly and in their hands were faith in each other. It’s certainly a sorrowful image that in the dark were two pairs of eyes of naivete and fearlessness and the next second two little boys vanished from this world along with numerous lives. Simultaneously the horrifying, brutal and atrocious execution was gnawing away my conscience. I felt guilty for what germans did in the duration of world war. However, Bruto’s father, a blind patriot, is another kind of victim of the time. A father himself caused the death of his son, which is absolutely of great agony for a parent.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a powerful story but is simply told. It’s strange that while the sentences are seemingly effortless, it’s difficult to read. Still, I’d like to recommend this book to everyone. It’s even far more sarcastic to look at the event that happened back in the period of world war two through children’s pure eyes.
Friday, January 8, 2010
英文讀書心得徵文比賽結果
恭喜以下同學獲獎!
特優 應外一 紀佳妤 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (獎金2000元)
優等 應外一 晉羚莉 Siddhartha (獎金1500元)
佳作 1. 應外一 林鈺鈴 Perfume, the story of a muderer (獎金1000元)
2. 歷史二 邱信翰 The End of Ancient Christianity (獎金1000元)
語言中心將於二月開學後第一場導讀會進行頒獎!
特優 應外一 紀佳妤 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (獎金2000元)
優等 應外一 晉羚莉 Siddhartha (獎金1500元)
佳作 1. 應外一 林鈺鈴 Perfume, the story of a muderer (獎金1000元)
2. 歷史二 邱信翰 The End of Ancient Christianity (獎金1000元)
語言中心將於二月開學後第一場導讀會進行頒獎!
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