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

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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

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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!”