Reading Analysis 2
CHAPTER 3
1. Read the following poem and contemplate what it says about human origin, nature, purpose, or destiny:
Truth is within ourselves; it takes no rise
From outward things, whate’er you may believe.
There is an inmost centre in us all,
Where truth abides in fullness; and around,
Wall upon wall, the gross flesh hems it in,
This perfect, clear perception—which is truth.
A baffling and perverting carnal mesh
Binds it, and makes all error: and, to know,
Rather consists in opening out a way
Whence the imprisoned splendour may escape,
Than in effecting entry for a light
Supposed to be without.1
—Robert Browning (1812–1889)
Browning’s poem can be described as a worldview statement in my opinion. I say this because the thesis in this poem highlights that all individuals attain a center or level of truth that lies within all individuals and the response to this truth seems to inform their realities as well as their perceptions and their actions. I believe that this poem also expresses some what of theocentric thoughts because it places emphasis on important characteristics such as mindfulness, humility, moderation, respect and selflessness in its depiction of truth (Alban, 2012.) Browning, through this poem, embraced the natural standards of truth because he utilized sense of information, testing, induction and deduction and experience all as driving forces. As a reader, I was able to conclude that all values an individual cares to attain are within themselves. The sheer truth is that when a person ignores the responsibility of choosing “truth”, there after their steps will most likely fail causing the individual to experience more bouts of confusion and all grip on reality.
CHAPTER 4
1. See the Apostle’s Creed or the Nicene Creed in Appendix 1, on pages 536–537, toward the end of the Alban textbook. Analyze their individual statements. Then, compose a 150–250-word response in which you explain how the wording in these historic
1. Read the following poem and contemplate what it says about human origin, nature, purpose, or destiny:
Truth is within ourselves; it takes no rise
From outward things, whate’er you may believe.
There is an inmost centre in us all,
Where truth abides in fullness; and around,
Wall upon wall, the gross flesh hems it in,
This perfect, clear perception—which is truth.
A baffling and perverting carnal mesh
Binds it, and makes all error: and, to know,
Rather consists in opening out a way
Whence the imprisoned splendour may escape,
Than in effecting entry for a light
Supposed to be without.1
—Robert Browning (1812–1889)
Browning’s poem can be described as a worldview statement in my opinion. I say this because the thesis in this poem highlights that all individuals attain a center or level of truth that lies within all individuals and the response to this truth seems to inform their realities as well as their perceptions and their actions. I believe that this poem also expresses some what of theocentric thoughts because it places emphasis on important characteristics such as mindfulness, humility, moderation, respect and selflessness in its depiction of truth (Alban, 2012.) Browning, through this poem, embraced the natural standards of truth because he utilized sense of information, testing, induction and deduction and experience all as driving forces. As a reader, I was able to conclude that all values an individual cares to attain are within themselves. The sheer truth is that when a person ignores the responsibility of choosing “truth”, there after their steps will most likely fail causing the individual to experience more bouts of confusion and all grip on reality.
CHAPTER 4
1. See the Apostle’s Creed or the Nicene Creed in Appendix 1, on pages 536–537, toward the end of the Alban textbook. Analyze their individual statements. Then, compose a 150–250-word response in which you explain how the wording in these historic
References: Alban, D. H. Jr. (2011, 2012). Speech Communication: A Redemptive Introduction, Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.