Friday, May 20, 2011

Why I Write


George Orwell said he wrote for many reasons such as pride, aesthetics, and history. Despite this, he claimed that politics were definitely the driving motive that produced satisfying results for him. I write to convey thoughts or messages. Even though Orwell gave four reasons that he thinks people write, I do not really see myself writing for those reasons. But, I guess if I had to choose a category, it would be most like aesthetics and historical motives. I learned about different motivations for people to write. I thought that it was interesting that he shared his journey in figuring out his motive to write and that he said that it is important to look at a writer’s life and experience with writing when figuring out his motive. Orwell presented one controversial statement in his explanation. He said, “all writers are vain, selfish, and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives there lies a mystery.” It is the best grounds for an argument because it a personal opinion. Personal opinions can usually spark some arguments. Also, it is an offensive and collective statement.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Tolkien Quotes

"The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out."

"A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities." 

 -J.R.R. Tolkien


I like the first quote because it is a good reminder of reality. I think sometimes we become so absorbed with our own life that we become disconnected with what’s going on around us. Despite this, we cannot completely separate ourselves from the world and its realities. Though the second quote seems contradictory to my first quote, I like it because it is kind of like a hope, aside from Christ who is the one true hope. Dreaming and acting on your dreams allow you to change your reality and the realities of those around you. It is good to be reminded of how powerful dreams can be. 

Another J.R.R. Tolkien Link

Coronation Address and Truisms


Graves, Robert. “Coronation Address.” British Literature. Ed. Ronald A. Horton. Greenville, SC: BJU Press 2003. 713-714. Print.
MacNeice, Louis. “The Truisms.” British Literature. Ed. Ronald A. Horton. Greenville, SC: BJU Press 2003. 716-717. Print.