Nina Marchetto
Understanding Literature
Literary Analysis

In Phillis Levin’s “End of April” and Rudolfo A. Anaya’s “B. Traven Is Alive and well in Cuernavaca” both analyze the theme that as a person and as a place you do not imagine what else can be held inside of you other than the social norms. Through both of these stories and poems you can find other external and internal factors that lend themselves to the composition of the whole person, or place. There are also some literary terms throughout the works that can form a bond between both, such as the vivid imagery.
In Phillis Levin’s poem “Ends of April” there are many imagery’s that lend itself to the theme of spring and hatching to a new beginning. Throughout the whole story there are clear connections to spring, “cherry tree…robins’egg”. These vivid imageries add to the tone of the poem, the new birth and bright new days. The two ending stanza’s are the main points that tie themselves to Rudolfo A. Anaya’s story. The thought that something is within a person, without meaning to be is represented in the last two stanzas. It’s as if that person is holding on to a form of life that is awakened through specific stimuli. In Rudolfo A. Anaya’s story there are many varying variables that are different from the hatching new birth theme of Phillis Levin’s poem. Those differences make it difficult to find some similar meaning, but one is found when looking at the two works as a whole. In Rudolfo A. Anaya’s story he goes through the process of telling the story of how B.Traven’s books influence his time spent in Mexico, and how his stories are alive in Cuernavaca. Throughout the story one character, Justino, to me is portrayed as the living proof that B.Traven’s stories live in the people of Mexico and Cuernavaca. Through his experiences shared to the narrator, aids in the thoughts of B. Travens. His cool composure, and popularity with women can be portrayed throughout the stories.
With both of these works displayed a different level of how each writer is able to portray a mysterious part of people. Through the characters in each, you can see the long lasting impression that experiences and books have on them.

Michael Waskiewicz Reading Analysis

In the article "Serving Up Hope" and the story "B. Tavern Is Alive and Well in Cuernavaca" share a similar theme.  Both of these stories share the same theme of unity with the surrounding community.

"Serving Up Hope" is an article about a husband and wife, the Sampsons, who have gone above and beyond in order to help recovering drug addicts.  They opened up a deli and used it as a training ground to help a few people who they had met get rid of their drug habit.  Jennifer Brock and Tyrone Lewis, who met the Sampsons through contacts at a local recovery program, were hired to work at their deli.  Lewis met the Sampsons right after he relapsed in his effort to kick his drug habit.  He had previously had a love of cooking, which he developed from his great-grandmother.  He had worked in a few restaurants previously but his drug habit had held him back from getting a better job.  The Sampsons gave Lewis the final push to stay clean by giving him a second chance.  Jennifer Brock is another former drug addict who has a similar story.  The Sampsons use the Dogwood Deli as a place to train former drug users and convicts in skills that will give them all a second chance, and help them launch careers of their own.  This goes hand in hand with the Jesuit values of being men and women for others.  The Sampsons are giving up a lot in order to take the time to train former drug users and convicts to give them the skills in order to start careers on their own.  They show a close connection with their community by offering this service to people who have made so many mistakes in their lives.

"B. Traven Is Alive and Well in Cuernavaca" is a story about the author, Rudolfo A. Anaya, who travels to Mexico to look for inspiration to write a story.  He is having a lot of trouble finding inspiration for his book, but is looking very hard to find a good story to write.  He spends a lot of his time with Justino, the jardinero of his friends garden where he is staying.  He looks around, almost too hard, for a story to write, until the end of the story when he is at a gathering that is being held in his honor.  He ran into a man who he could not tell was German or Norwegian.  He was talking to the man about the story that he was trying to write.  The man said to him "a writer's job is to find and follow people like Justino.  They're the source of life.  The ones you have to keep away from are the dilettantes like the ones in there" (pg 66).  He was referring to all of the literary men.  He said that it is important to stay with the people who understand the decent of their culture because they have stories to tell about it, not to just listen to the people who have studied the culture over and over again in books.  This shows a unity with the surrounding community that characters like Justino have.  He may not be the smartest man in Mexico, but he knows a lot about the culture because that is what is important to him, and he pays attention to that.

Both of these stories share the similar theme of being united with the community.  "Serving Up Hope" shows the closeness that the Sampsons had with their surrounding community by how they gave former drug addicts and convicts a second chance at being successful in life.  "B. Tavern is Alive and Well in Cuernavaca" shows the oneness that many Mexicans, no matter how little educated they are, still are very connected with their culture.  Both of these stories connect to the Jesuit values of being connected with the community that surrounds us, and giving back to it at the same time.

Peter Leuthold

Dr. Ellis

Reading Analysis

11/7/07

Reading Analysis

In the story “B. Traven Is Alive and Well In Cuernavaca”, the article Serving Up Hope, and the poem “End of April”, the themes of inspiration, hope, and loneliness are portrayed.

“B. Traven Is Alive and Well In Cuernavaca”, tells the story about the author, Rudolfo A. Anaya, who travels to Cuernavaca, Mexico in order to write this very fiction story. He feels lost upon arriving there until he encounters Justino, the “jardinero” who took care of his friend’s garden. Justino gives the narrator in the story inspiration and motivation to write a great story about “el Pozo de Mendoza.” The fortune left there was what Justino was particularly interested in; however, the narrator simply follows him in order to get a sense of the culture in a different country in order to present an interesting piece of writing. When the narrator decides not to go to “el Pozo de Mendoza”, he attends a convention for writers, artists, and critics in order to interact and learn from their experiences in an attempt to come up with a good story. The narrator meets an old man and learns that the changing cultures in Mexico are a story alone. The old man states, “A writer’s job is to find and follow people like Justino. They’re the source of life.” Therefore, the inspiration found in the culture of Mexico and the story told by Justino, gives the narrator determination in order to write an interesting, and overflowing story about his experience in Cuernavaca.

In the article Serving Up Hope, Galen, and Bridget Sampson overcome their drug and crime addiction with much hope to change their lives around for the better. Galen Sampson, a food fanatic, decides to open a Deli, in order to help others learn how to cook and provide them with food. Not only do the Sampson’s overcome their serious problems in life, but use their Jesuit values in order to give back to the community, with the hope of becoming role models for others to follow. Galen Sampson says, “You need to make a difference in your Community.” This shows how much the Sampson’s care about others. It also shows why they want to stay active in their community through serving others, demonstrating Jesuit values whether they realize it or not!

Phillis Levin’s “End of April”, uses lots of imagery to show the loneliness in the speaker of the poem. I feel as if the speaker is lonely and has lost someone in their life. When the author says, “I found a robin’s egg, broken, but not shattered”, Levin is using the robin’s broken egg as an image of being alone, empty, and lost inside. When the author states, “I had been thinking of you”, it tells the reader that the speaker is depressed and sad because of their loneliness. “What had been there is gone now and lives in my heart” claims that the speaker is heartbroken and can’t stop thinking about the person who is not a part of their life anymore.

Thus, “B. Traven Is Alive and Well In Cuernavaca”, the article Serving Up Hope, and the poem “End of April”, all demonstrate the qualities of hope, inspiration, and loneliness as a everyday part of life. Serving Up Hope and “B. Traven Is Alive and Well In Cuernavaca”, both portray the importance of how hard work pays off while also contributing to others by using Jesuit Values. “End of April” shows the loneliness inside of the speaker of the poem, demonstrating that he or she were happier before losing a special someone.

Will Appelt
Reading Analysis
11/7/07


In the story “B. Tavern is Alive and Well in Cuernavaca” and the article “Serving up Hope,” I found this connection with community. I feel that they use the community in different ways, but they use it for inspiration and to accomplish what they want. The poem “End of April” by Phillis Levin tells of loneliness and about the lost of something or someone.
In the “B. tavern is Alive and Well in Cuernavaca,” there is a man who goes to a place in Mexico to find inspiration to write. He hangs around the people of this village called Cuernavaca and experience the culture they have to offer. He follows around Justino who is a local and seems to love his life. The man is not educated, but he represents what real life is. The man who is finding inspiration recognizes that the people around him are all story tellers and it seems to be part of there tradition in this village. Toward the end of the story, the man goes to a party in celebration of him and sees critic and other authors in his line of business. He meets a man that tells him that the inspiration and the real meaning of life and truth is out in the village with the natives. These are the people that you get your writing from and they are the source of life. The man tells him that he should stay away from the people who not real such as the critics and the press.
In the article “Serving up Hope,” a couple starts a program with those in the community who have problems with drugs or the law. They leave there other promising jobs and become activist in the community. They started a deli where they give people jobs who have had there downfalls. They teach them to how to cook and start them through cooking programs. This couple has given up everything to devote their life to helping others. This is the ideal Jesuit way of giving back to the community and helping those in need. These people show a good example of the people that are still out there who think about more themselves.
In the poem “End of April” by Phillis Levin, there was a tone of regret and loneliness. This person is has lost a special person or has let them go. The robin’s egg represents the emptiness inside the person who has lost this special somone. The person still has this feeling in there heart, and every time they think about them they seem to fall apart. This deals with the regret that some people have in a relationship. These feeling of sorrow and loneliness are all to common in many peoples lives and relationships.

What am I doing with my life?

Yesterday I went to St. Mary’s like I do every Wednesday for Homework Help. I picked up the girls I love to see once a week and we take a five minute drive down York road to see the little ones. Every week we usually have the same group but this week we had a few additions. Due to the weather or whatever reason a few tutors could not come so another tutor and I had seven children at our table ranging from second to third grade. I found myself traveling around the table to each child making sure they were ok with what they were working on. From second grade math to eighth grade grammar I was doing it all, and all the while enjoying myself. I tutored there last year and not because I have to but because I want to. I was really having a great time with the students. I’m sure they were happy because I helped them with there homework but I think I got more out of it than they did.
One of the new little boys who sat at my table looked me straight in the eye and told me that he thought I should be a teacher. I was taken aback. I thought to myself, what a nice thing to say. And then after Homework Help was over I was telling one of the parents what we had accomplished and what the student still needed to work on. The mother told me that she was glad I come and wished I could come more afternoons to help. Both of those statements really meant a lot to me. They helped me to realize something very important as well. I am in the wrong major. I knew when I came in that I wanted to be a teacher but I thought they really don’t make a lot of money and I like Public Relations, so I will do that. What a mistake.
When I got home I flicked on the television for an assignment to look at commercials and analyze them. Regularly I do not have time to watch TV, but since I was already doing so, I decided to watch a program. On the program Hip Hop Mogul P-Diddy was on talking about how he got in the music business. One thing he said stood out to me, he said he did it because he loved it and not for the money. After having the experience at the school and then having this man I look up to tell me it is not about the money, I felt it was a sign from God. I honestly do not know what I am going to do. I am a junior who has already registered for her second semester classes and is on track to graduate with her class. I should be a teacher and I know it.
One thing that the Jesuit ideal teaches us is discernment. Although very necessary I think almost impractical at Loyola. This institution encourages us to be leaders but wants us to have time for academics and discernment. I am sure some students have figured it out. I am not one of those students. If I had took the time to really think about what I wanted and what I needed as a person I would have seen my vocation a while ago. God tells us to be patient, so I will. I will be patient. I am not starting over again but I may have to do an extra year of school or work by day and try to get my teaching certification by night. Somehow, someway I will do what I need to do and become a teacher. I will be inspired by little people everyday; I will have the love and desire to inspire them as well. I may not make a ton of money but my husband will and I will be happy. Who knew that going down the street to a little broken elementary school would repair my soul. I know what I am passionate about now.

Theme for Choice Tutoring

Janine Harouni This past week I continued work with Choice Tutoring which helps educate juvenile offenders in the Baltimore area. I found this night especially fulfilling because I was on the planning committee to help with the events of the evening. Because the age and grade level of all of the youths vary greatly, coming up with a fun and exciting way to stimulate their minds while catering to each of their individual needs was especially challenging. We decided that we would give the youths a journal question and twenty minutes to write about it. When I interviewed for the program I was asked the question “How can I relate to youths who lead live that are so different from mine?” This question echoed in my mind this week. Because the Choice Program works with a number of different groups that rotate periodically I am able me to meet all kinds of youths from all kinds of backgrounds. This ensures that no two College Nights will be the same. As I looked around the room this week I noticed that our newest group could not be any more different. The majority of youths were black, raised by single parents, and have a low economic status. How could I relate to these people or even try to begin to see things through their world lens when are lives are so overtly different? When it came time for our educational event, we handed out notebooks and asked the students to write out the ten most important, people, things, or ideas in their lives. The tutors themselves were also asked to complete this assignment. After we had finished we were all asked to share what we had written. The moment we began to do this the answer to the burning question in my mind became painfully obvious. It was clear how similar we really were. I could not help but be reminded of “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes. Despite obvious racial and economic differences, these youths are just like me. We both care about friends, family, music and, yes, even our cell phones. Although we might not look it, we are similar in ways that are much more significant than our external disparity. Just like in the Hughes poem a cliché assignment helped to free our group from the constraints of our differences and allowed us to see each other for who we truly are; people. This simple fact is something I think we all need to be reminded of from time to time. No matter what the external differences may be we all share the same hopes and fears and can relate to each other because we are all people. Whether we know it or not our lives are intrinsically intertwined just by the fact that we are human beings who have interacted with each other. These interactions are enough for us tutors to influence our tutees in a positive way. It is even enough for our tutees to influence us, and teach us a thing or two about real human connection.

Meggie Girardi
Event Oct. 24

The theme of racism and equality in Walt Whitman’s poems From “I Sing the boy Electric” and One’s Self I Sing and the theme of music as a power of beauty in the short story “Lush Life” by McCluskey both were perfect readings for my reflection of service at Care-a-van.

Care-a-van is my weekly experience that I always look forward to as a Tuesday challenge. Last night at Care-a-van someone counted the number of people we served. More or less there were around sixty-five people who I served drinks to. Out of the sixty-five, there were two white people. I have never counted the number of friends down in the park, nor have I counted the number of races I encounter at the park. I have never put a number on the amount of sandwiches served, drinks poured, or snacks distributed. I have only noticed the numerous smiles greeting me weekly at the park. I do notice when it is the end of the month because it becomes more crowed due to diminishing food stamps. The change in weather also effects how many friends I interact with at the park. I realized after last night that putting a number on sandwiches and drink makes no difference to me. I would go to the park if there was one friend that needed something to eat.

Another way in which Care-a-van has really made me think about the underappreciated things in life is the gratitude that people show for appreciation of respect. The men and women who are homeless show genuine thanks to the Loyola students who bring more than just food and drinks but conversation and love. Many times a gentleman in the park will break out into song. It might be a religious song, it might be a made up song, it might be an oldie but no matter what the words, the real content of the song is thanksgiving. People can express their gratitude and inner emotions or thoughts through music. The music I hear in the park is like the beautiful music composed in “Lush Life.” The intimacy and energy I get from Pops and Mike when they sing is truly incredible. Music can affect a human being from deep within the soul all the way to their fingertips.

The theme of the poem Form “I Sing the Body Electric” is the equality of all things, not just external an internal body parts but equality in a general sense. Our society today can not function without diversity and the mixing of cultures and people. Society would be extremely boring and uneventful if humans were all the same race. The rhythm and rhyme of Walt Whitman’s poem From “I Sing the Body Electric” really connects to the issue that are prevalent to Baltimore and the issue of equality and race. The patter of the poem is really fast pace and constant. The words and the repetition just keep going which mirrors the fast pace city life of constantly ignoring the under appreciated things in life. We can be traveling the same route every day into the city to do service work and not be noticing the streets names we take, the buildings we pass, and the people we see. Paying attention to the details that surround us and connecting the micro with the macro unveils the true Baltimore.

In From “I Sing the Body Electric” this poem made it clear that the two: body and soul don’t have to be separate and they shouldn’t be separate. It is also important to talk about things we deliberately exclude or separate in Baltimore. We should be pealing back the layers of Baltimore one by one whether if by going to a museum, conversing with a Baltimorean, or working at a service site we choose. We know and love Baltimore from an external perspective. In relating to the Whitman poem, first he supplies the descriptive analysis of the body but then he uncovers the functions which make a person tick. What makes Baltimore tick? Popular views of Baltimore are things such as the Orioles, Inner Harbor, and Fells Point but there is more under the surface that we need to reveal it in order to better understand some of the inequality that exists today.