Amidst the Chaos and Confusion

We were asked in class to select and respond to a question that would develop our understanding of what it means for a novel to have "literary merit." I chose question five which asked for a quote from a novel that I find beautiful or poignant. In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland I vividly remember Alice's encounter with the caterpillar. This part of the story stayed with me because of the caterpillar's question for Alice: "Who are you?"

As a little girl I would watch the Disney version of Alice in Wonderland over and over again, but I never captured the deeper meaning of the caterpillar's question. Ten years later, as a senior in high school, I finally understand that before Alice could leave Wonderland she had to find who she really was. Amidst all of the chaos and confusion surrounding her, this was a pretty difficult task, but it was these things that encouraged her growth.

Senior year is filled with chaos, confusion, and wonder as we fill out college applications, study to keep up our grades in school, and for some of us, trying to balance a job as well. Ultimately, it is during all of this craziness that we discover who we are as a person and who we want to become.  Writing essay after essay about ourselves and how we relate to the literature we read, I have definitely learn new things about myself.

In my opinion, a novel that has literary merit makes the reader question themselves, their beliefs and understandings. It is after this process that personal development and growth is found. A novel that has literary merit adds substance and positively changes the life of its reader.

-Lauren B.

Philosophy

As we are beginning to talk about different philosophies in class, I have come to realize how values, ethics, and reason can be so different among people. Also, I found that various philosophers have different views on government, social status, as well as the meaning of life.

After taking the philosophy quizzes and everyone discussing their results, I don't think most of us knew what they meant. But do we really know exactly what our values and philosophical beliefs are at this age? We are at the age when we are truly beginning to understand who we are, and going away to college in 6 months may also give a new perspective on life that will change our views. Gaining more independence and freedom will also help figure out what is important and what isn't, such as school, work, or a social life.

Learning different forms of philosophy could be beneficial, because it is opening new ideas that could help determine what we think, whether we agree or disagree with various philosophical ideas.