Blog Entry 10

Alaskan/Yukon Literature is as unique as the individuals who compose it. There are myths, short stories, novels, and poems that all contain a piece of Alaska. Whether the work is describing a landscape, family life, religious beliefs, or Alaskan recourses, each one has the ability to convey images and meanings that are not necessarily expressed through words. Over the course of this semester, we have read a large body of work that has spanned many centuries, from the oral stories of tribes to the contemporary poems of writers who are still living in Alaska today. Which has presented us with the opportunity to see the sights that the writers envisioned, live through the eras they did, and enjoy the Alaskan wilderness as they had.

This week, I really enjoyed John Straley's "Every Single Day" poem. The ability to evoke so many memories and thoughts with just the words "Springtime" or "King Salmon" speaks volumes to the wealth of experiences Alaskans can have. Just from reading the poem I began to think about my first spring after winter and my first time seeing a king salmon. Alaska is full of many seemingly insignificant events that turn out to be the memories we reflect on most.

It would be difficult to go through each and every thing I have learned about Alaskan Literature from this class. However, I will sum it up by saying, I have gained a greater appreciation for the state of Alaska that I did not have before taking this course. As an English major, I like to know what inspires people to write. I have usually looked at British authors and authors from the lower-48, but I never really paid attention to Alaskan authors. Reading some of the works this semester has taught me to look at my surroundings to find the inspiration the authors we've read felt.

(http://wikitravel.org/en/Alaska)