Mariazuzena Medrano

Eng 231
Prof. Laing
Reading Journal 2
First and After Thoughts
The key element I noticed in book II, was the consistent relations to nature. The writing was
vivid and colorful, painting light visuals of great landscapes that provide peace and Zen. The
reads were very clear and concise, very rarely did I have to look up a word. I enjoy reading
uplifting poems that are absent in fluff and fillers.
The land is abundant and wise, we must learn to apply simple observations seen every day that
often go unnoticed, to our lives.

Notable Quotes
All things have an origin. (LII)
Referring back to Book I, this can be also described as root, whether it be a scientific start of
creation (Big Bang Theory). Or spiritual (God Almighty).
One who possesses true virtue, Is like a new-born infant. (LV)
Another biblical reference, as seen throughout the two books. In this quote, it goes against the
bible claiming a new-born is in fact, pure in virtue, whereas the bible implies that a new-born is
born with sin.

Questions and Attempted Answers

Who are the wise?
Many poems address a wise. Wise man? Wise woman? Is God the wise? What I have extracted
was that all the above are possible, but, the wise is one that practices the books teachings and
absorbs the information to benefit their humanity.
Why are material objects not flaunted or addressed?
Material objects fall under a temporary category, something that may only cause temporary
happiness. The poems are targeted towards a persons morality and value rather than appearance.
Vocabulary
Realm: kingdom/ empire
I know what realm defines but what I found interesting was the difference of an actual structure
of a kingdom, and a mental state. (Building an empire of wisdom)
Wise: full of knowledge.
What attracted me towards this word was the questions that arose when I defined someone as
wise. Did their intelligence and great judgement shape them to be wise? Or was it due to past
experience, since we look to the elder for advice because they are wise.

Metaphor/Allegory
Virtue, is seen to go hand in hand with multiple metaphors throughout the poems, virtue is
power. Virtue is not a physical object, but it is depicted as an object and even a living thing.
Psychoanalytic and Marxist criticisms
The idea that absorbing all the good teachings in the poems to live life in benevolence, with a
kind heart is a process that must be done through the mind, in our way of thinking. We must train
our thoughts to narrow in on important values.
Insights
By shaping our mind every day, we are advancing towards a better community and life. Both
books show different paths that we may all take but must not lose sight of the goals. In the end,
uniqueness is what defines us from the next one, our never ending ideas that come to surface
when we set a drive. A lot is taken from these simple poems, although some may seem very
similar in words, on can depict its meaning in different ways and surely more than once.
Works cited
Tzu, Lao. Tao Te Ching. Milano: Mondadori, 2001. Print.