Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Macbeth

Conflicting forces drive the plot of most works of literature. There may be the need to do what is right but the character needing to do what they want is also an option or maybe there is the choice between doing one thing but losing either way or maybe wining both ways. There are many combinations of choices characters in works of literature can be designed by the writer to take. In Macbeth Shakespeare gives Macbeth to paths form which to choose form and the path he ends up choosing is only chosen because of outside influence.
Macbeth way an honorable soldier up until he was given a choice. Of course, the outside influence was only a biased addition to his choice and the very base of it. Lady Macbeth influenced Macbeth's decision to kill King Duncan who had already promised to make Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. Lady Macbeth's ambition and insecurity as well as her evil nature pushed her into forcing Macbeth to kill King Duncan. She never physically forced him but did threaten his manhood and on more than one occasion made him view himself as weak and unworthy of power. And, so Macbeth made his tragic choice which only led to more tragedy and dead as is often seen in Shakespeare's plays.
Macbeth's fatal decision made the play the tragedy it was intended to be. His decision and the influence of Lady Macbeth gave the play its' entire meaning. Killing Duncan made a paranoid man of Macbeth. Slowly all men began to fall. Banquo, whom he had triumphed in war with, was killed and the killings went on until the masterminds of the massacre fell as well. Macbeth was a stupid and gullible victim but a victim nonetheless. Lady Macbeth was the disturbed antagonist.
Macbeth was torn between losing his place as a man in his marriage and Killing the King who was about to give him all he could dream of having. He had to have it all and with Lady Macbeth's help he killed the Duncan. He was given choices and the choice he picked helped give the entire play its' tragic theme.

"Clocks and Lovers"

1983 Poem: “Clocks and Lovers” (W. H. Auden)

Prompt: Write a well-organized essay in which you contrast the attitude of the clocks with that of the lover. Through careful analysis of the language and imagery, show how this contrast is important to the meaning of the poem.

As when two different poets may contrast their thoughts on a subject, a single poet can contrast ideas in one work. Opposition to love and hope in the same is seen in W. H. Auden's poem "Clocks and Lovers". In the poem he gives insight into both sides of love, the fantasy romance love and the limited and stressful love. He accomplishes this contrast through his use of language and imagery throughout the poem.

Auden begins by praising love and the wonders it brings with it, "Love had no ending." He finds "love" and is instantly hypnotized. He had a feeling of invisibility and continues describing his feelings, "I'll love you till the ocean is folded and hung up to dry, And the seven stars go squeaking, Like geese about the sky." AT this point all that is discussed is how magnificent and everlasting love is. He feels he controls time and he is the one who decided how long he will love.

There is a sudden shift in the poem where time becomes the foe. Time becomes the enemy. A quiet one. One that "watches from the shadows, And coughs when you would kiss." Time is now threatening his love and love is no longer as wonderful as it used to be. In the end love is lost for the clocks have ticked and time has gone yet all remains the same and the river continues to flow. There is resignation yet still a trace of frustration in his tone. He has just gone from thinking love lasts forever to being hit by reality and realizing love, like all else, will end.

Contrast of main ideas in poetry give those contrasting ideas more value and help give the audience a greater understanding of both. In the poem "Clocks and Lovers" by W. H. Auden we see two contrasting views on love using both love and time in the form of clocks. Auden's use of language and imagery helps make the comparison possible.

"To Helen" and "Helen"

Contrasting views on the the same subject bring a greater understanding of that same subject. While one source of literature may emphasize the virtues of the subject the other may makes these same descriptions stronger through contrast views. It't similar to their having to be evil for there to be good and there must be white for there to be black. The contrast in the works often help make each other stronger such as in the comparison of Helen in Edgar Allen Poe's "To Helen" and H.D.'s "Helen." These two poems use elements such as speaker, imagery and tone to help give different view points on the same subject, Helen of Troy.
Right form the beginning the audience can see a difference in the titles of both works. Poe's is directly written "for Helen" while H.D. talks to a larger audience. Poe is intimate and romantic while H.D. is full of disgust and blames Helen for the Trojan War. The speaker in the "To Helen" praises Helen, "How statue-like I see thee stand." The speaker in "Helen" is all but soft on Helen, "the wan face when she smiles, hating it deeper still."
The imagery in "To Helen" is gentle and filled with love. The images are soft and appeal to the senses, "That gently, o'er a perfumed sea." The imagery in "To Helen" makes her a victim to the Trojan War but in "Helen" she is the enemy. H.D. sees her as the cause of their grief which is why he takes on such a hateful tone. Poe is sweet and romantic. He uses a calm and thoughtful tone when he speaks of Helen because he is trying to make the audience feel that same appreciation for her. Helen is perceived as both the problem and the victim. This contrast help the audience understand to different view points on both Helen and her involvement in the Trojan War.
A contrast in works of literature, both in them and between them, helps give the subject greater depth and meaning. In Poe's "To Helen" and H.D.'s "Helen" Helen is viewed form two different angles. In one she is praised and in the other she is despised but this is only possible with the help of supporting literary elements.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Girdlock

Title :
Annabele Lee is the name of the lost love.

Paraphrase:
A long time ago in a kingdom by the sea lived Anabel Lee. A woman I loved and a woman who loved me

We were young and we loved each other with a passion that was envied by the heavens

Because we loved each other she became sick and her brother came and took her away form our kingdom by the sea

The Angles themselves killed Annabel Lee for they were jealous of the love she had for me

Our love was stronger and not even the angles could keep us apart

I see her at night in the stars and I lay by her tomb there by the sea

Connotations:
When referring to the angels he was actually generalizing. He new the angels had not actually killed her but her relatives didn't want them apart. the angels were actually all those that opposed their love.

Attitudes:
This is definitely a tragic love poem. It's a poem about lost love that is gained once again only through death. Death was the only answer and the only way the two lovers could be happy. I love this poem. It's dark yet holds so much passion and love.

Shift:
At the beginning of the poem the poet is upset at his recent lost. He is angered at the jealousy of the angles and how his love was selfishly taken away from him. He begins to fell better toward the middle off the poem and is resolved at the end. He is happy that at least he gets to stay with his love in death.

Title Revised:
The title remains the same. It is just the name of the lost love although at the end we see how tragic her life ended up being.

Theme:
Resignation. It is about love but it's the tragic side of love. It's learning to settle with what you are able to keep of that person who owns your heart even if all that you can keep is their tomb.

Seventh Reading

We grow accustomed to the Dark by Emily Dickinson

We grow accustomed to the Dark --
When light is put away --
As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp
To witness her Goodbye --

A Moment -- We uncertain step
For newness of the night --
Then -- fit our Vision to the Dark --
And meet the Road -- erect --

And so of larger -- Darkness --
Those Evenings of the Brain --
When not a Moon disclose a sign --
Or Star -- come out -- within --

The Bravest -- grope a little --
And sometimes hit a Tree
Directly in the Forehead --
But as they learn to see --

Either the Darkness alters --
Or something in the sight
Adjusts itself to Midnight --
And Life steps almost straight.

Group Poems

Annabel Lee

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Edgar Allan Poe

A Song Of Life

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

In the rapture of life and of living,
I lift up my head and rejoice,
And I thank the great Giver for giving
The soul of my gladness a voice.
In the glow of the glorious weather,
In the sweet-scented, sensuous air,
My burdens seem light as a feather
They are nothing to bear.

In the strength and the glory of power,
In the pride and the pleasure of wealth
(For who dares dispute me my dower
Of talents and youth-time and health?) ,
I can laugh at the world and its sages
I am greater than seers who are sad,
For he is most wise in all ages
Who knows how to be glad.

I lift up my eyes to Apollo,
The god of the beautiful days,
And my spirit soars off like a swallow,
And is lost in the light of its rays.
Are tou troubled and sad? I beseech you
Come out of the shadows of strife
Come out in the sun while I teach you
The secret of life.

Come out of the world – come above it
Up over its crosses and graves,
Though the green earth is fair and I love it,
We must love it as masters, not slaves.
Come up where the dust never rises
But only the perfume of flowers
And your life shall be glad with surprises
Of beautiful hours.
Come up where the rare golden wine is
Apollo distills in my sight,
And your life shall be happy as mine is,
And as full of delight.

We grow accustomed to the Dark by Emily Dickinson

Friday, April 19, 2013

Stephen King's Carrie - Prose Essay Prompts

Novel: Carrie

Author: Stephen King

Year: 1974

Prompt 1:

American horror writer Stephen King is known for his ghastly novels most of which are filled with gore, outcasts and eventual tragedy. His novel, Carrie is no different with its vengeful teenage girl who at one point explodes and creates havoc in the town of Chamberlin. Analyze how King uses imagery and diction in order to make such a vivid horror story come to life in his audience’s mind and how his theme in Carrie helps maintain that sense of horror and suspense throughout the novel.

Prompt 2:

"People don't get better, they just get smarter. When you get smarter you don't stop pulling the wings off flies, you just think of better reasons for doing it."

- Stephen King, Carrie

This quote reflects Stephen King’s cynical views on the mentality and nature of humans. Analyze how the concept behind this quote is played out in the King’s novel Carrie (1974).

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Act 2 notes

Macbeth is not in doubt. Macbeth had made up his mind and will please his wife. He will kill Duncan. It is no longer a matter of making up his mind. It never really was. He was pressured into having to make the decision of killing Duncan by Lady Macbeth
He goes back to Macbeth now with a troubled conscience
Lady Macbeth accuses him of being a coward and plans on blaming the guards for the murder of Duncan.
A knocking at their door scares Macbeth but simply startles Lady Macbeth
Porter opens to Macduff and Lennox
Macduff finds the dead king and alarms everyone
Macbeth killed the guards who were blamed for the murder of Duncan
Duncan's two sons flee and so suspects of ordering their father's death
Macbeth has gone to Scone to be crowned

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Macbeth Active Reading Notes Act 1

King James fascinated with witchcraft
three witches don't play an "evil" role in the play
they don't lie to Macbeth they are actually truthful when telling him about his fortune
King Duncan king of Scotland and wants to make give Macbeth the title that had belonged to the thane of Cawdor
Macbeth along with Banquo had fought bravely which led to Duncan's decision and gratitude
Macbeth thrilled to learn about Duncan's decision and tells his wife Lady Macbeth the good news through a letter
Lady Macbeth is not thrilled
she is angry and craves power/wealth so creates a plan
once Macbeth is home with his wife she tells him how much of a pansy he is
Lady Macbeth is a cruel women, beyond cruel actually
she is merciless and instead of asking for characteristics such as patience and strength she asks for her conscience not to get in the way of her sinister plan to kill Duncan with the help of Macbeth
Macbeth agrees to her plan

AP English Practice Test

Part 1
1. C
2. E
3. E
4. E
5. C
6. B
7. A
8. B
9. A
10. A
11. D
12. C
13. E
14. C
15. B

Part 2
16. E
17. C
18. A
19. A
20. B
21. A
22. C
23. B
24. A
25. A
26. E
27. B
28. B

Part 3
29. D
30. D
31. C
32. E
33. D
34. E
35. A
36. B
37. E
38. A
39. D
40. C
41. E

Part 4
42. B
43. B
44. A
45. B
46. C
47. A
48. C
49. C
50. A

Part 5
51. C
52. C
53. D
54. E

Saturday, March 9, 2013

BNW Ch. 7

Lenina experiences violence on the young and is horrified
isn't this normal for her? for everyone?
its a sacrifice
through this Bernard meets the directors son (John)
he introduces his mother to Lenina and Bernard
Linda tells Bernard and Lenina about having been pregnant on accident and not being able to back the World State
She became part of the reservation with her child
She was unable to rid herself of her child and that's why she actually stayed
she slept with many men at the reservation including some that were taken by other women in the reservation
savage? animals?
directors lost "love"
Bernardo knew about the connection to the director but kept quiet

BNW Ch. 6

see Bernard's resistance to "the norm" when he resists taking soma
Bernard confesses to Lenina that the silence of the Channel makes him feel like an individual but his only startles Lenina who is accustomed the life and rules on the Brave New World
Bernard does give in to the soma and has sex with Lenina
sex to him has no sentimental value but is a way of release
no love, no passion, no desire, numbed by the soma
Bernard does back to the director and asks for a permit to the Reservation
the director ends up telling him about a woman he traveled with once who was lost in a storm but is soon brought back to reality and threatens with exiling Bernard
Bernard has new pride in himself
the director felt weak with what he confessed to Bernard and covers himself with the threat placed in Bernard for being an outcast

BNW Ch. 4 and 5

Lenina accepts going out with Bernard
Bernard caught off guard? confused? surprised by her response?
Bernard an outcast
Proud of being so
Feels a bit superior (a rebel)
is soon brought back to earth
He visits the bright Helmholtz
Helmholtz is an Alpha
not any Alpha, to intelligent, more than he should be
both Bernard and Helmholtz are outcasts for opposite reasons
Helmholtz isnt satisfied with his work
He could be putting his mind to better use, Bernard freaked out

Soma an addiction to happiness
Lenina and Henry become so drugged up they loose there senses
its normal for this is happiness
they live off of sex and drugs
Bernardo disagrees?
more to life makes him an outcast?
Bernard attends a type of sex ceremony with other men and women but feels even more alone after the experience
Strange ritual
this is their religion, sex and drugs
this is their idea of a god and of self-fulfillment

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

BNW Ch. 2 and 3

director leads students to the nurseries where they witness babies baring electric mind shock and loud noises that is supposed to teach them to stay away form books and flowers
this process will keep members from the lower caste away from books and any danger of changing their set nature
nature bad because gave a sense of useless freedom and transportation not wanted for the lower caste
got rid of love for nature but kept transportation since its needed by the World State
lower caste lovers of sports but haters of nature
the term parent, mother, father and any of the sort have become word references to sex
Reuben learned through being fed information in his sleep
HYPNOPAEDIA: process of learning in your sleep
he had no understanding of what he was speaking but could still be used to embed morals into the minds of people
nurses whisper into the ears of the lower caste that they are that, inferior

children and teems engage on erotic play
in the World State it is a normal act where as in the past it was seen as unmoral
students meet Mond who speaks to the astonished students
Mond manages to make the director uncomfortable with his remarks to the children but means no harm
Mond goes on o explain the importance of stability in the World State
he explains how the instability of older times led to things like war and disease
after the nine years' war iconic figures like Shakespeare and ideas about religion and such were destroyed
this is what they viewed as happiness- complete perfection
Bernard overhears a discussion about Lenina going on with Henry taking part in it and is disgusted by his remarks
Fanny suggests that Lenina is more open to more partners
Lenina mentions Bernard as being a possible partner but Bernard is in even lower Alpha than the rest of them because of an accident
Lenina still considers it and decides to give him a chance since she would also enjoy a trip to the reservation with him

Monday, March 4, 2013

BNW Foreword and CH. 1

foreword added 1946 when BNW reprinted
one regret is limiting Savage to only two kinds: that of the Utopia and the Indian village
sanity o insanity?
novel wan't designed to serve as some advancement in science but rather the science behind individuals themselves
how do humans use their knowledge of the world around them to have control over each other through means of science
people in the novel not human at all but subjects of experimentation and control

time of opening 632 after ford
ford represents the industrial age of growth and expansion
tour of factory to students (London) in which people are manufactures and prepared for their roles in the real world
no longer the act of natural reproduction is existent
been replaced by man made techniques of reproduction
formation of more subjects and preparing them for their roles in the World State is a fully developed and intricate process
they become clones "community, identity, and stability"
Podsnap Technique serves to catalyze the eggs creation process
thousands of humans are made from a single ovary
chapter focused on explaining the details behind the madness that is genetically engineered humans
irrational methods such as oxygen deprivation and alcohol treatment are applied on the fetuses to shape them according to the caste they will inhabit
human creations have no shot at escaping the plans their creators have for them
Lenina works immunizing fetuses to suit their future tropic environment
Henry speaks of future fetus enhancements

Sunday, March 3, 2013

First Quarter Review

a) I haven't been on top of things with my blog this semester because my load of things I have to get done just keeps on growing and growing but I have caught up. I forget to update my blog sometimes but I do end up putting it all up. Some work takes more time and effort than others and it can be time consuming. Still I have to manage to finish it all for the grade matters on that final report. My senior project has been planned out but my group just needs to film and gather the information for the second part of our project.

b) I have to stay up to date in my blog while still keeping up with my other classes and scholarships as well. I have to also keep up with my reading and studying. I have procrastinated on some things but I have managed to turn them in on time not just regarding this class but other things going on right now.

c) I think we haven't been practicing enough for the AP test. I would just like to see it all tie up for that purpose. I know we are trying new things but in the end the AP test will be just as it has always been and right now I don't feel prepared for it at all.

I AM HERE

Yes, my SMART goal is in in progress. Results of my efforts and sacrifices will be seen until March and April when UC's send out their admissions decisions. This is also the time in which scholarship awards will be given out and other scholarships are due. Regarding this class I have bee having trouble trying to memorize all the lit terms or at least keep them in my mind long enough but that is also in progress. I haven't officially begun my senior project but I have planned it out with my group. All we need to do is film and edit our video as well as gather the information for the second part of our project. I think our idea is great and should be easy to complete. There are five members in my group so completing our project should take a short amount of time.

LAR The Catcher in the Rye

Ill mannered boy Holden was. Bad mouthed and careless. Cynical as can be and full of "anger" or what seemed to be such. Maybe confusion disguised as the anger perceived by the reader. In need of direction...or love. The complexity of the character gives the freedom a reader needs to understand the character and read the story through their eyes. The connection between Holden and the reader was a strange one though for rare is the soul who identifies with his peculiar being of fiction.

Yet still the strange boy had a story much like all other teenage boys. A story not pleasantly told by Holden. A younger brother whose death at the hands of leukemia haunts Holden. Allie's mit with the poems written on it is a memory told by Holden.

Not satisfied with the mundane, Holden decides to leave his former school Pencey after a fight with another student of which he wasn't exactly victorious. Bags packed and mind resolved he spends a few days in New York while winter break passes. On a train he meets the mother of one of his "phony bastard" classmates and talks wonders of him to her. Reason for pleasing her isn't clear but the mind of Holden can only be deciphered if the mind of the reader is open and creative.

Holden stays at a hotel in Manhattan and is intrigued by the doings of people he can see from him room window. He sees a man dressing up as a woman and is both disgusted and aroused at the sight of a man and woman engaging in what he thinks is foreplay. With this in mind he calls up a woman he believes to be a stripper and soon changes his mind. Holden's mind is filled with strange yearnings and to a certain point is looking for love with a preference on the sexual side if it.

Holden thinks back to the old days when him and Jane were together. They used to go out to the movies and held hands but it never went anywhere from there. Again, Holden was denied love from Jane. She didn't think much of Holden other than them being friends. Holden was used for comfort but he was never given any. He grew up with a feel of indifference towards those who couldn't give him what he was looking for.

Holden goes to a bar but leaves soon after finding one of his brothers former girlfriends. He has a prostitute sent up to his room but can't carry out the deed. He pays her but ends up beat up and stolen from. He is once again alone and neglected. Holden wakes up and goes in search of his sister Phoebe in Central Park. When he has no success finding her he decided to go back to the hotel and meet up with Sally. Holden's life at this point is completely convoluted. He doesn't know what his life will turn out to be nor does he care because right now he doesn't even understand who he is. All he knows is has been kicked out of school and want to make time pass while his parents get the news.

Holden meets up with Sally but upsets her when he offends her for not wanting to run away with him. Holden passes the time watching a movie while he waits to meet up with a counselor, Luce that has gone on to Columbia University. They start discussing sexual issues but Holden soon upsets Luce as well and Luce leaves promptly laving Holden alone once again. Holden has a tendency or need to push those who come close to him away. He is cynical about it and pushes them away in the most offensive of ways. He continues to call Jane but can't get a hold of her.

Holden sneaks into his house and tells his sister what has happened. She nags at him and he leaves once again. He goes to a former teachers house but thinks he is trying to make a homosexual move on him and leaves soon after. He lets his sister know that he is leaving forever and she packs her things and wants to leave with him. He says no and takes her to a carousel. He stands there watching her while rain pours and he tells the audience of his optimistic view of his future. Holden finds the love he has been searching for in the most unexpected of places, his sister. He had love close all along but was blinded by his strange way of thinking and went off to look for love in all the wrong places.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Lit Terms

Realism

Refrain

Requiem

Resolution

Restatement

Rhetoric

Rising Action

Romanticism

Satire

Scansion

Setting

Simile

Soliloquy

Spiritual

Speaker

Stereotype

Structure

Style

Subordination

Surrealism

Symbol

Synesthesia

Syntax

Theme

Thesis

Tone

Tragedy

Understatement

Vernacular

Voice

Zeitgeist

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

The Time of My Life

I spent most of my time in class discussing scholarship information and updates with Pablo. Sometimes it's good to know you are not alone. It's nice to have some time to discuss concerns with other students who are going through the tedious process of scholarships and then the dreaded wait. No only do we have scholarships to apply for, but we also have to keep up with school and forget about our social life. At least I have. I used to spend my weekends with my family or just watching t.v. but now I spend my weekends and weekdays working on college stuff and stressing.

What's The Story

Dickens wrote this novel aimed at people of our age. This is seen through the ideas presented in the novel. It's a novel about finding oneself. It's about being afraid to face what we are and having to create a person that doesn't exist but to us is our true identity. It's about being harmed by people you love and being in love with people that hate you. Dickens uses contrast when attempting to compare characters and their affects on Pip. Pip is stuck in a wold in which things aren't what they appear to be and it's his job to understand and decipher the true meaning of people and himself.

Dickens Map

1) I don't really have a reading schedule. I read on the go or whenever I have time. I'm a slow reader but I get it done. I read most of my books on the weekends because I have a greater amount of time. I also read when I go to bed because it helps me fall asleep quicker.

2)

In this novel, things are often not what they seem. Discuss how the theme of "expectations" is illustrated by and through the major characters in this book. How are Pip's expectations different from and similar to those of Joe Gargery, Miss Havisham, Estella and Magwitch?
Share your thoughts

Why do you think it is one of Magwitch's principal conditions that Pip "always bear the name of Pip" (which is actually his childhood nickname) in order to receive his financial support?
Share your thoughts

If Pip had not received his "great expectations" and never left Joe's forge, how do you think his life would have been different? Are the lessons he learns during his physical and emotional journey necessary for him to arrive at the wisdom he displays as the middle-aged narrator of this tale? In what ways?
Share your thoughts

Why do you think Miss Havisham manipulates and misleads Pip into thinking she is his secret benefactor? What, if anything, does she derive from this action?
Share your thoughts

Given Dickens' portrayal of Estella, what do you think attracts Pip to her in the first place, and what, when he learns of her cold-blooded manipulation of men, keeps Pip devoted to her until the end, loving her, as he says, "against reason, against promise, against peace"? (page 594)
Share your thoughts

http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/Great-Expectations-by-Charles-Dickens-Reading-Questions#ixzz2K5RNkhJR

3) The best way to test our knowledge would be through an essay but that can be tedious work so i would prefer a multiple choice test. If an essay is absolutely necessary then it should be a take home essay that way we don't feel pressured by time causing us to preform at a lower level than if we were to take it home.