Blog Post #42

Answer.
That you are here- that life exists and identity,
That the power play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

Oh Me! Oh Life!
Walt Whitman

6th hour, room 547, Mr. Allen. I was greeted everyday, always welcomed with an awesome atmosphere. This year in all honesty has been the most signifgant growth in English. When Ap test time rolled around Lit was the only class I felt truly prepared for. Every single day in English I felt as if I have prepared just a bit more for May 4th, even if yes it was a mere improvement, every class was indeed for my benefit of learning and preparing for the test. Ap Lit was the first class that pushed me to do work outside, although I fell short numerous of times on that aspect I now know what it takes in college. I really do believe that Ap Lit was the class that can be best compared to a college course. I am forever thankful that I have Ap Lit under my belt, it was a good little taste of college.

I can come out and say that truthfully when asked to read novels in previous classes I did not take it as seriously as I did an Lit. Lit required deep thought, analysis, and we were tested if we if we actually did that. We were asked to write and talk about everything, and that cannot be done if I didnt truthfully comprehended the work. Jane Eyre for sure was my favorite read. Although at some points long and tedious, a deeper understanding could also shine through from Bronte's work. I also kind of have a soft spot for cheesy happy endings.

In terms of the essays we wrote I learned about myself that it is easier to write striaght from my brain and heart rather than from reading and research. My college essay of course was more of a fun and easier essay to complete than the critical lens. Although yes I am thankful for the critical lens again because I feel as if college will offer more essays similar to that.

Ap smarty pants challenges were always my favorite days in 547. The atmosphere and game and costume and noise. But little did us students know Allen's master evil plan was still education driven. Ap smarty pants prepared me like no other for the multiple choice. During the test my mindset was confident, without the 10 challenges I know it would of been different. I still need to work on my speed however because I had to "C it out" on the last couple :( In terms of the essays on the test. I.C.E although somewhat dreaded was completely helpful. My average was always around 6 or 7 and very hopeful for that to continue to my test score!

Overall I have grown as a reader and a writer immensly. I have learned to appriecate books I would of judged as "boring". I plan to read over the summer which honestly is scary because that is just not me! As a writer I learned my strengths and weaknesses. While I read this summer I plan to continue jounaling, yes I have indeed started journalling. So I mean all I can say is thanks. Thanks for preparing me, entertaining me, pushing me, and helping me grow. Three power claps on three.

Blog Post #41

Rochester and St. John Rivers are both extremely interesting characters. They have deep personalities so that it requires some thought to fully understand their actions. They can both do the same thing, under the same circumstances, with different motivations and in different ways. Rochester was born into a wealthy family, of high rank. The Rivers name was also well spoken of and highly respected. Both men had highly intellectual minds. Each, in their own way, thought themselves superior over other people. Rochester bluntly behaved in a proud manner, whereas St. John quietly held himself above others Rochester is an unkempt bachelor, owner of several estates. He is a globetrotter who rarely stays in one place long. He has a tendency to be loud and demanding. St. John Rivers is a well-kept minister in a small town who feels called to work as a missionary in India. He is quiet, if he says anything it is to the point and very clear.

Bronte associates Rochester with fire and passion whereas she associates St. John Rivers with cold and detachment. I think Bronte does this basically to display Jane's feelings toward each. Simply put Rochester is associated with passion because Jane is passionate toward him, "I think it is a glorious thing to have the hope of living with you, Edward, because I love you." (Brontë, 264). In contrast St. John is juxaposed with ice and cold. "the cloak that covered his tall figure all white as a glacier." (Brontë, 353). This ice and cold compared to fire and passion are comparsions between the two men who asked for her hand in marriage. It's only up to Jane to chose which route to take.

Blog Post #40

Jane Eyre... Such an interesting gal for sure!  She challenges the class structure of British society in various ways such as, switching of gender roles and defying the proper Victorian woman's attitude and way of life. Victorian women are expected to keep to themselves and be very proper. Jane challenges these roles because she is a powerful character, she defies these expectations. The switching of gender roles becomes apparent when Jane is accosiated with Mr. Rochester. When there is a fire in Rochesters room Jane is the one who saves him, which somewhat represents a gender switch between the two because generally speaking the male comes to a heroic rescue for the "helpless female".(Bronte 120) Again, Jane takes on the masculine role when Rochestor and Jane are to be married, Rochestor becomes the wedding and wardrobe planner while Jane stays unworried about it and wants simplicity. (Bronte 268)

The use of a governess as a protagonist allows the novel to criticize class structures because it challenges the traditional thinking of what a women's role was in society during this era. In the book Jane receives an education and later on goes to teach. She has grown from a broken household to become independent. Bronte's use of this strong independent interpretation of Jane challenges traditional thinking about the social role of Victorian women, and creates a thought in the audiences head about rethinking the role of women in this time era.

Blog Post #39

Foil characters are alike in someways however differ in a very critical way. Shakespeare portrays Glouster and Lear as foil characters toward one another. The main reason for their similarities is because both of these characters participate in a downfall. Lear and Glouster both lose power in their kingdoms. Lear has gone mad, as Kent states, "..his wits are gone" (Shakespeare 155) Lear loses the respect everyone had for him and it was replaced with a crazy old man. Glouster loses his power and sight. Both attacked by people they trusted. Their difference is expressed figurtively. When Glouster loses his power he is also blinded. His blinding actually causes him to see the insight Lear lacks. Although Lear has full sight he lacks insight, understanding and direction. It is evident that these two characters that clear vison is not derived solely from physical sight. Lear's failure to understand this is the principal of his demise. While Glouster learns to achieve clear vison, and consequently avoids a fate similar to Lear's. Glouster's character undergoes more of a physical change he discovers truth; Lear goes through more if a physoclogical change, from fantasy to reality and from insanity to sanity. The similarity is that both men are obviously not mentally stable from their downfalls.

Blog Post #38

What Do I Notice?

Hm, well a lot is occuring in this painting. It seems as if everyone is doing their own thing, a fisherman, a hiker, a merchant? Many ships traveling, other towns and mountains in the distance, yet no one seems concerned about the drowning person? 

What is the artist trying to portray? 

The artist along with Williams and Auden try and display how nobody notices Incarus' fall. 

Upon comparing the two poems and the painting, I have found that they each are in a way about Icarus' famous fall. The first poem by William Carlos Williams specifically focuses on Icarus and his story and the second poem by W. H. Auden uses Icarus' fall to contribute to their overall message. Most importantly, each of the poets talk about how nobody notices Icarus. Upon first looking at the painting, you don't even notice Icarus until you look a little closer and see two legs in the water. The painter and poets did this on purpose and from this we can see that the important theme of the tree pieces is "the ignorance of the comfortable many when faced with the obvious suffering and peril of the helpless few".

But how does this all relate to King Lear? The answer to that can best be found in the poem by W. H. Auden when he says,"The old Masters: how well they understood its human position: how it takes place while someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along;.." This line is very powerful because it emphasizes how in the painting and the poems that the death of Icarus goes unnoticed. People don't realize the value of a moment until its gone and even though the Flight of Daedalus and Icarus is the most well known greek story, it is ironic that nobody in the poems or the painting seem to care or notice that it happened at all. This is similar to King Lear because  as the play goes on Lear slowly realizes the mistakes he has made and how he could have and should have done things differently because it would have prevented the chaos that has consumed their lives. Irony also plays a big part in this Shakespearian play as it does in these three works as well. People can be ignorant at times especially in King Lear when the audience sees or notices something that the other characters do not when they are faced with hard decisions or suffering and peril of the helpless few.

Blog Post #37

"Among iconic images from King Lear, the portrayal of Lear in this scene, an elderly isolate angrily and determinedly shaking his fist at the heavens, is certainly the most famous.
The famous shaking the fist at the gods, oh Lear you crazy ole fart. This scene is famous because Lear has offically lost it, he's sad, but wow oh wow he is so angry. His anger reigns on more than his sadness for sure, he is sad his daughters betrayed him but he is more angry about it. He believes its the Gods fault.. "Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, fire! Spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters. I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness. I never gave you kingdom. called you children; You owe me no subscription. Then let fall your horrible pleasure..." (Shakespeare, 128) He doesn't understand why his daughters are so vile to him. A higher power must be in charge of why they do the things they do. Fate is very prominent in Shakespeare Lear is furious that his Fate has lead him here. Lear expresses, "I am a man more sinned against than sinning." (Shakespeare, 131) He believes more bad things happen to him than bad things he commits. He's angry that that is the way it is for him. He confused, he confusion leads to a very angry outburst on the Gods because he reflects on his life.

Blog Post #34

A soliloquy occurs purely for the audience's benefit to know and learn what a certain character is thinking. Edmund, the bastard son of King Lear's close friend Gloucester, is not allowed to speak unless spoken to do so by somebody else. Edmund resents the fact that he is unable to inherit anything from his father because he is not his legitimate son. He also resents his brother Edgar because he recieves everything when his father dies and he respected unlike himself. Edmunds soliloquy is as follows:


Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound. Wherefore should I Stand in the plague of custom, and permit The curiosity of nations to deprive me, For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base? When my dimensions are as well compact, My mind as generous, and my shape as true, As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base? Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take More composition and fierce quality Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed, Go to th' creating a whole tribe of fops Got 'tween asleep and wake? Well then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund As to th' legitimate. Fine word- 'legitimate'! Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, And my invention thrive, Edmund the base Shall top th' legitimate. I grow; I prosper. Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

Edmund's soliloquy is a true reflection of all his built up internal anger. He is not allowed to speak and his soliloquy releases this anger at once. Compared to the scene his speech is very similar in the way where it shows his intentions, in the scene he writes a fake letter and is plotting an evil plan. Both his speech and his scheming show the hatred he has in his heart for his brother and father. The difference is in the scene he stands in the back quiet, everyone unaware, in his soliloquy he does not hold back. 

Blog Post #33

In Act 1 scene 1 of King Lear the audience is introduced to Lear's daughters; Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. The King is awaiting to hear each of his daughters speeches for the land they seek to inherit. The King motions Goneril, the eldest to speak first. She replies, "I love you more than word can wield the manner, dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty." (Shakespeare 11) Next up in this little session to impress their father for their own personal gaining is Regan the next eldest. Regan is thinking she must somehow one up Goneril's speech. Which seems pretty hard to beat after, "dearer than eyesight, space and liberty." But yes somehow she does. "I am made of that self mettle as my sister and prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find she names my very deed of love; only she comes up too short." (Shakespeare 11) So here we see the younger sister who somewhat follows into Goneril's footsteps, basically say, "everything big sis said, but more, even more than my husband who is standing right next to me." That leaves Cordelia left to speak her love for her father. Cordelia is favorable from the King so he awaits her speech very excitedly.. only to be let down. Cordelia speaks, "Nothing my Lord."and tells her father she is the only one who actually cares for him, she also explains how she cannot love him as much as her sisters say they do because she must love other people in her life as well. Just from these three responses we can see the similarities and differences of the daughters. Goneril and Regan of course are very similar in the way of greed and lies. They lie to their father to receive land. This of course shows Cornelias difference in where she values the truth, she is the only one who actually cares for her father and shows her actual morals in which she knows she will love others. Goneril and Regan both have motivation to lie, they want land of course! But Cordelia have no motivation to lie, and quite frankly she doesn't need to lie, she loves her father the most she is the most loyal to him by far, but the fact that she does not lie however not fluff him either shows she has motivation for morals. She kind of comes off as stubborn as well. So the sisters share motivation for what they say to their father, however Cordelia again differs from her sisters. So far we see the bad guys winning :(

Blog Post #34

Soliloquy. What is this medium sized cool sounding word? It is often used in Shakespeare when a character is alone on stage expressing ones feelings to the audience. We see here in Act 1 Scene ii that Edmund, the bastard son receives a soliloquy. Before his soliloquy the audience sees Edmund cannot speak unless spoken too, because of course he is the illegitimate son. His soliloquy is as follows:

Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law 
My services are bound. Wherefore should I 
Stand in the plague of custom, and permit 
The curiosity of nations to deprive me, 
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines 
Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base? 
When my dimensions are as well compact, 
My mind as generous, and my shape as true, 
As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us 
With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base? 
Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take 
More composition and fierce quality 
Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed, 
Go to th' creating a whole tribe of fops 
Got 'tween asleep and wake? Well then, 
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. 
Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund 
As to th' legitimate. Fine word- 'legitimate'! 
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, 
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base 
Shall top th' legitimate. I grow; I prosper. 
Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

The audience feels and sees the anger within the bastard son. He is so hateful toward Edgar, and he is so hateful towards his father. I think a lot of his anger also comes from the fact he is looked down upon, sit in the background, only speak when spoken too. All this built up anger is released in his soliloquy. Anger can be described but a more well put word to describe his speech is evil. He is evil. Because of his evil spirit he fakes a letter from his brother Edgar that says he is going to kill his father. Edmund of course wants Edgar to downfall, but not only that, he plots to erase his title of a bastard son. 

Blog Post #32

"[The great Shakespearean Tragedies] are not primarily treatments of characters with a so-called 'fatal flaw', whose downfall is brought about by the decree of just if inscrutable powers... the fundamental flaw is not in them but in the world they inhabit: in the political state, the social order it upholds, and likewise, by projection, in the cosmic state of shifting arbitrary phenomena called 'Fortune.'" -J.W. Lever (1987)

From the quote of scholar J.W. Lever I can predict that in King Lear a downfall of a major character will occur, not because of self infliction, but because of their environment. Lever states a 'fatal flaw' will cause this downfall. Lever continues and says, "the fundamental flaw is not in them but in the world they inhabit" In class we talk a lot about how Shakespearean characters have a strong belief in fate. All these tragedies occur simple because they are "supposed to" its fate! Fate is clearly portrayed when Lever states "brought about by the decree of just if inscrutable powers..." These inscrutable, meaning impossible to understand or interpret, powers take down a character in the play. Indescribable powers lead me to believe it comes from a source of fate or the source of a higher power (God). Now is there a different between God and Fate? Maybe I will learn so in the reading of King Lear!

Blog Post #31

Lily Sale

The Collar By: George Herbert

The Collar by George Herbert is known as a metaphysical poem. The poem have incentive for concepts such as love or religion. In George Herbert's’ case, The Collar is a religious  poem, dramatic rebellion is portrayed as well.  The poem begins with a dramatic statement of refusal—“I struck the board, and cried, No more”—and the following lines give examples of the kind of life that the speaker wants to leave behind. He is a person of ambition and desire, yet everything in life seems to conspire to frustrate or torment him. His life is one of “sighs” and “tears,” a situation he finds particularly distressing because he can readily imagine the joys and glories, the wine, fruit, and flowers, that are withheld from him. “The Collar” gives full expression to the speaker’s resentment of the pain and rigor of leading a life that is moral and holy. Only after these complaints are freely, almost hysterically voiced is the speaker taught how quickly they can be banished by a patient God who ultimately gives more than he asks. One of the most interesting aspects of “The Collar” is the way the form of the poem helps to convey not only the dramatic rebelliousness of the speaker but also the concluding resolution. The speaker’s anger and nervousness are underscored in several ways. His speech pattern is halting and constantly interrupted. Many of the statements are short, and the frequent punctuation in the lines gives them a clipped, adding to the impression of uneasiness. Any sense that this is the speech of a confident and determined man is also undermined by the fact that much of it takes the form of questions. These are meant to be rhetorical questions, but still they suggest that the speaker is plagued with doubts.

Blog Post #30: Critical Lens Final Draft

Here is a link to my final draft if you are oh so curious to learn about The Dead by James Joyce in a New Historical lens view point: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gi60HVZ-QMO2Sjz0hFkdMcsTOZLcDClpvSfbBxMXV1E/edit

Exploring my process of writing this essay is somewhat like the schooling system. At first it was like preschool, I knew nothing, I was confused as to why I was here, and all I wanted to hear was "nap time!" But as the process continued, I was more knowledgeable, I knew where I wanted my piece to go and what I wanted to do with it. Of course the good first chunk of time was spent researching, i'd call my researching to writing ratio a 60:40. It took a lot! The more I researched I felt the easier it would be to write my essay. I think a lot of my peers struggled because they tried to jump right into the writing process. I researched in every single lab day. Of course yes, I was scared to look at the folder of the class and see paragraphs written on other peoples essays, and to see my sad little document blank. But, I didn't let it get to me too much, as I did all my writing fairly quickly outside of class with the strong research in front of me. Now here is recess. A time to forget about what just happened in school. Not a care in the world, running free, hair in the wind, BBBRRRRIINNGGG. Recess is over. And the critical lens essay is back into play. Comments are made and final drafts are being made. The final draft process was a lot of back and forth work. Rubric, essay, rubric, essay, repeat. Changes were made to not so strong sentences, but my main point of the essay remained. Now here I am in my cap and gown. I have learned all about the many lens' in the critical lens world, and I have learned that all the lens' can be applied to the littlest of details in a book. Once I receive my diploma (my final grade) I will have officially graduated the critical lens schooling system. I may or may not apply my learning of these lens' into the real world.

Blog Post #28: Reflection

So, the process of drafting my Critical Lens essay..

First off looking at the process as a whole I would say the majority of the drafting occurred in one day. Now, don't fret. The other days I spent reading and researching. While it was quite scary seeing many of my other classmates getting paragraphs done during class, I knew that my solid research days would call for a pretty smooth draft day.

Was it difficult?
In all honesty YES. I was struggling to find evidence and even what to write about! I think I switched lens about 3 times! The writing process was easier than the research process for sure.

All the questions I have are with regard to the essay as a whole. Did I back up my thesis, did I write it correctly? No questions fall under the category of comprehension of the project, my only questions are if I successfully wrote the essay.

I think I enjoyed my topic! Haha, I mean I found it quite interesting and I like how I just focused in on two particular parts of the piece of work to write a whole essay. The Dead was my favorite read of all the options so I definitely do believe I would of enjoyed it better than if I were to choose a different book!

Overall, I mean, it was just a draft. Ill get back to you when the final product is done! ;)

Blog Post 27 Parados

The significance of Dirce's Stream is that it was named after a woman, whose two grandnephews killed by tying her to the horns of a bull. Dirce's stream runs near Thebes, and another family on family killing is occurring with Antigone's brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices.

I think "windy phrases" means phrases that somewhat "pumps up" or inspires maybe his soldiers? The use of them is confusing to whom Polyneices is rousing, but the fact that Choragos is speaking not the chorus makes me think it is not the townspeople to whom Polyneices is rousing, or exciting.

"His wings their shields of snow"- Metaphor
"Rose like a dragon behind him shouting war" -Simile

As I mentioned above I think "them" is Polyneices army. Polyneices is rousing them, exciting them for war. And the use of "their" for example, "His wings their shield of snow" shows that Polyneices is their leader, their commander like stated in line 92.

Personification
"Against our seven gates in yawning ring"
"The frown of his thunder blasted"

"His" refers to Polyneices because the Chorus is now speaking.

I think we are suppose to think that bray means bad. "God hates utterly the bray of our bragging tongues" I looked it up and it means a loud harsh cry of a donkey or mule. So i guess bray might suggest ignorance, or unimportant.

"His" is God. It is mentioned in line one and Charagos is speaking so it is not Polyneices. "Their first man from our walls" "Their" is Polynieces army once again.

In lines 119 to 122, I think what is occurring is the fighting of the armies ceased, and what was left was only the brothers fighting. "Mirrored death"- They killed each other.

I do not think line 124 can be personification because it states "chariots sing for joy" however people are what are in chariots therefore it is not personifying an object it is describing the people.

Blog Post #26- Mentor Text #3 Read Along

Before reading the text, I would like to point out the layout. Double spaced, block quotes, bold and creative title. I notice these things because I of course will find myself writing my own critical lens essay here in a few weeks.

"For a novella teeming with a masterful use of literary elements, looking through a biographical or post colonial lens limits the reader's experience and understanding of Conrad's work." -I find this sentence intriguing because the author is somewhat explaining why a formalist lens is the best lens to view the Heart of Darkness with. I find that interesting, and I did not see that in any other mentor text we have read.

"Through a formalist lens, Heart of Darkness is no longer just a story of Marlow's journey through the Congo; it becomes a story about Marlow's affinity, even obsession, for truth and his frustration at language's limitations for conveying the truth" - I find this to be the authors claim. Again noticing it is written toward the end of the first paragraph much like the other mentor texts. I am not sure if "The most obvious structural element in the novella that develops this concern for the truth is the fact that the novella is written in frame narrative.", the next line, would be considered apart of the thesis, or even if that merely is the thesis disregarding the sentence before?

I notice that after the author claims the most important structural element used is frame narrative, he goes on to show were the frame narrative is set up early on in the story.

The author uses lots of quotes embedded in his paragraphs and explains why they are important directly after the quote.

The authors diction is above average id say!

The authors conclusion ties back into the intro, and is very simple and understandable. All of his points he chose to argue for mentioned in the conclusion were appointed in the body paragraphs thoroughly and shown through evidence in the text.

Works Cited

Overall a very useful mentor text.

Blog #25: Poetry Response #5

Lily Sale

Sort Of A Song By: William Carlos Williams

The first stanza of Williams work is a comparison. He compares a snake waiting for prey, to writing. But Williams does not use the usual “like or as” or even really your basic metaphor to compare. He states, “Let the snake wait under his weed and the writing be of words, slow and quick, sharp to strike, quiet to wait sleepless.” He describes all the characteristics of a snake ready to prey, but says, “Let the snake wait under his weed.” He somewhat pushes the snake aside and gives all the snakes qualities to a piece of writing.  The second stanza I had to read several times. It starts with a dash, and contains parenthesis within, a different complexity than the first stanza. This incomplete structure and strange punctuation helps me understand the title of the poem. It’s  like notes in  a song. All of the words in this poem sort of flow of the tongue pretty easily as well just like a song! The meaning of the second stanza I believe Williams is trying to portray is simply the connection between nature and the creative process of writing, this meaning was apparent in the first stanza as well. “-through the metaphor to reconcile the people and the stones. Compose.” this is very clear to the reader. Consider similarities between people and stones, and write about it! “(No ideas but in things) Invent!” Williams is pushing his audience to see and think more about nature and people. And Williams last line, my favorite line, “Saxifrage is my flower that splits the rocks.” Now I had to look up saxifrage, but it is a flower that only grows in rocky alpine areas and still looks delicate. But nothing grows through rocks without being strong. He compares a flower (nature) to himself (person), again his underlying theme. This theme of comparing nature to man, or even comparing nature to the process of writing seems quite clear to me now. And my mind goes a million directions with all the comparisons that could potentially be made. I think Williams wanted us to think that, again especially when he says, “(No ideas but in things) Invent!”