Reflective Essay
In my revisions, I have realized that I have achieved a lot in the semester as a writer. In my first essay, on Daisy and the ogre, I realize that I made several mistakes in my first attempt. However, on revising at the end of the semester, I have been able to develop the characters I had better, good description and use of the right adjectives. The plot has also been well developed and thus a good flow in the entire essay. It is evident that the semester has been successful, and the primary objectives have been achieved. As a writer, I have developed my essay writing skills and got a better understanding of fairy tales and other stories.
My research question has also been addressed well in the second essay about the little red riding hood. The essay talks about a young girl sent to her grandmother’s house to take food from her mother. The mother had given precise instructions on why the girl should stay on the path without any diversions. However, the little girl was not obedient enough, and she ended up meeting with the wolf that wanted to eat her up. Through such an essay, we can understand the importance of letting the children have good exposure to fairy tales at a young age. Kids are also in a position to learn various virtues and thus grow to have a good character.
In the little red riding hood, the author has used symbolic language correctly. The little girl is wearing a hood that is said to be covering her hair. In most cultures, even in modern times, women’s hair is one of the most sensitive aspects that are said to be attracting the opposite gender. Thus in this story, the girl had been given the hood to cover her hair so that it could not attract strangers to her, thus ensuring her safety by covering her hair, which meant that she was still not available either for marriage or engagements. The other aspect of symbolism that has been used is the color red. Her grandmother gives the little girl a red hood. This hood could be symbolizing the transition of forces and power from the grandmother to the girl. The girl is young, and she is growing. Also, the color red, in most cases, refers to blood or even life; the grandmother giving her a red hood could probably be referring to the menstrual blood, thus showing the young girl is already reaching adolescence age.
As a norm in most stories, the protagonist must go to the forest. In the two essays here, both daisy and the young girl all went to the forest. Daisy met the ogres there, while the little girl met the wolf in the forest. By mentioning forests, we get to know that there are trees, and thus trees can be said to be an endless source of the folklores. In the old days, it is said that people lived in the forests, and this could be the main reason why most stories have the mentioning of forests in them.
In both essays, I did several revisions on the plots. Also, I developed some characters to bring out the intended symbol so that the reader can better understand. The changes help ensure there is a perfect flow of ideas, and thus the reader will like the essays and want to read further. In the story about daisy, she can now be seen as more substantial than in the unrevised essay. Also, in the revisions, women’s position in the tales and society has been more emphasized.
Among my strengths as a writer is the ability to pay attention to details. I have been able to develop these essays through the power of observation, through taking mental notes, among other ways. The other strength I possess has immense creativity. To write a good essay, one ought to be very creative to come up with characters, develop the characters, have the best plot, an excellent and chronological flow of ideas and events. The other strength I possess as a writer is an openness to changes. A writer should be able to twist the plot of an essay to take any route of their wish to get the best essay ever. I also have a good command of grammar and a strong vocabulary, and thus is being able to do a great essay. Clarity is also in my list of strengths as all my tales are apparent and easy to read and internalize.
On the other side, everything that has a right side also possesses the wrong side. I have some weaknesses, though very minimal. One of the major weaknesses is the low transition between paragraphs. Redundancy is also my weakness though I have tried so much to overcome it. Through this course on fairy tales, I have enjoyed every bit of the course and would thus want to continue reading the folktales as in almost all situations they are a source of entertainment when one is reading or watching them. I would like to one time ensure that all the tales that have only been written and yet to be converted to films are done, to ensure that we are at par with the developing technological world.