Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Something about poetry
I used to write poetry, or try to, but I don't anymore because honestly most of it wasn't that good. It's relaxing to write it though, and it feels good to get something off your chest. No one has to read it, but you can still keep it to find a few years later when you've forgotten all about it. I prefer reading it, and I like ones that tell stories, like "The Highwayman." "Gunga Din" is a good one, too. And if music is poetry, which it pretty much is, then I like listening to poetry, too. I think that writing something or singing something is the most powerful way to get a message across, especially if it has to do with something controversial and if the lyrics are impactful.
Intro to Poetry
The title of the poem "Where the Sidewalk Ends" gives us an idea about where the poem will be set/what it will be about. There is something there, where the sidewalk ends, but we don't know what it is yet.
The author is thoughtful, and likes the place that he is talking about. He says that the children "know the place where the sidewalk ends" so he probably likes children and knows that they can see things adults can't. The way he talks to the audience is informative, like he has a secret and he wants to share it because it might benefit someone.
The poem makes me feel curious, like I want to know more about the place that he's talking about because it sounds nice. It sounds relaxing, so I guess my mood would be happy.
The shift comes when he talks about the place, then goes on to talk about the dank city. The mood gets darker, it goes from being happy and peaceful to being unfriendly and sad.
The theme of the poem could be youth, because it talks about how the kids know where the place is and the adults follow the arrows that the children have drawn. He says they'll walk slowly, meaning the adults, maybe because the children are already there and they want to catch up without running, because they're not young anymore.
The author is thoughtful, and likes the place that he is talking about. He says that the children "know the place where the sidewalk ends" so he probably likes children and knows that they can see things adults can't. The way he talks to the audience is informative, like he has a secret and he wants to share it because it might benefit someone.
The poem makes me feel curious, like I want to know more about the place that he's talking about because it sounds nice. It sounds relaxing, so I guess my mood would be happy.
The shift comes when he talks about the place, then goes on to talk about the dank city. The mood gets darker, it goes from being happy and peaceful to being unfriendly and sad.
The theme of the poem could be youth, because it talks about how the kids know where the place is and the adults follow the arrows that the children have drawn. He says they'll walk slowly, meaning the adults, maybe because the children are already there and they want to catch up without running, because they're not young anymore.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Hamlet Quote Essay
"O! That this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew."
Hamlet cries these dramatic words in the wake of recent events that have rocked the foundation of his life, and this quote, more so than any other in the play, demonstrates the theme: mortality. Whether r not Hamlet is truly suicidal or just doesn't want to exist, he brings up a topic that doesn't go away throughout the rest of the play. Since Hamlet cannot trust anyone to tell his true feelings to, the audience is trusted with a big secret and is able to come up with feelings about Hamlet that none of the other characters can. The audience can the see the theme in action as later events unfold.
Shakespeare's tone could be described as sympathetic to the longing for death. He understands what Hamlet is going through, and thus is able to create a convincing monologue for the character. The fact that the monologue begin with the line "O! That this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew" suggests that Shakespeare was trying to shock the audience, as it was unexpected from lack of mortality being mentioned earlier.
Hamlet cries these dramatic words in the wake of recent events that have rocked the foundation of his life, and this quote, more so than any other in the play, demonstrates the theme: mortality. Whether r not Hamlet is truly suicidal or just doesn't want to exist, he brings up a topic that doesn't go away throughout the rest of the play. Since Hamlet cannot trust anyone to tell his true feelings to, the audience is trusted with a big secret and is able to come up with feelings about Hamlet that none of the other characters can. The audience can the see the theme in action as later events unfold.
Shakespeare's tone could be described as sympathetic to the longing for death. He understands what Hamlet is going through, and thus is able to create a convincing monologue for the character. The fact that the monologue begin with the line "O! That this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew" suggests that Shakespeare was trying to shock the audience, as it was unexpected from lack of mortality being mentioned earlier.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Hamlet Essay (incomplete)
Hamlet has always been looked at as a confused teenage boy who gradually goes insane by the prospect of killing his murderous uncle. It's fair to say that he is. "The Performative Utterance" provides some insight into how Hamlet may have become disillusioned with himself through the process of "self-overhearing," or listening to oneself speak and discovering knowledge about themselves. While Hamlet may have started out as a normal teenage boy, a part of him that the reader doesn't see much of as Hamlet is given his revenge assignment early on, by the end of the play he has changed drastically--more than he's told his friends he will.
The Performative Utterance
Honestly, I thought that "The Performative Utterance" was really boring. It had some interesting things in it but as a whole it was way too long and the guy who wrote it could put his time to better use. The analyzing of how Shakespeare wrote felt like it was overanalyzed and like they were trying to look for meaning where there maybe was none. It felt too complicated.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Today's Discussion
Today we talked about the conservativeness of American culture versus Europe and the first amendment. I thought it was interesting. We talked about how certain speech is not protected under the first amendment, like hate speech or speech that calls on people to do bad things. But what if someone says something that, when people hear it, they think, "They're getting arrested for sure" but no one physically reacts in anyway to what was said. Then they can't be arrested. So, technically, all speech is okay unless you're threatening someone with their life or unless someone is stupid enough to do whatever they were told. Also, on the topic of American conservativeness in the media, in particular, if you watch European commercials they are way more explicit than what is allowed here. I don't have any idea why that is, and I don't know if that has anything to do with Shakespeare having his characters make dirty jokes.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Literary Fiction and Empathy
Reading fiction can help you to understand others because you're imagining people's facial expressions as a situation is happening. Because so much is left up to the readers to figure out, we can apply those skills to real life. If you go people watching, you can sometimes come up with a pretty good idea of what's going on with the person over there who doesn't look very happy, even if you can't hear what they're saying. People give away a lot with their facial expressions even though they aren't trying to.
But when a piece of lit doesn't give you clues as to someone's facial expressions like in...oh, say.. Hamlet, for example, it's up to the actor (if it's a play) to interpret it as they will. If it's a book, then again, it's up to the reader to imagine what the character looks like given the details of the situation. Reading the dialogue and understanding the situation can give us an idea of what the character is feeling, so that's when we start to understand other people in real life. We see things from their point of view. In Hamlet, we may never understand why Gertrude hastily married Claudius after a happy union with Hamlet, but we can definitely see why Hamlet Jr. isn't happy about it.
But when a piece of lit doesn't give you clues as to someone's facial expressions like in...oh, say.. Hamlet, for example, it's up to the actor (if it's a play) to interpret it as they will. If it's a book, then again, it's up to the reader to imagine what the character looks like given the details of the situation. Reading the dialogue and understanding the situation can give us an idea of what the character is feeling, so that's when we start to understand other people in real life. We see things from their point of view. In Hamlet, we may never understand why Gertrude hastily married Claudius after a happy union with Hamlet, but we can definitely see why Hamlet Jr. isn't happy about it.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Act I Scene I
- Starts out with two guards outside the palace. Then two more guards show up and they start talking about how one of them saw a ghost.
- The ghost shows up, and it turns out to be the late King Hamlet. They try to get him to talk to them, but he goes away.
- They think that the ghost is there to warn of an impending attack
- Not much really happens in the first scene. The guards decide to tell Hamlet of what they saw because they think it'll talk to him
Act I Scene II
- Claudius talks about the recent death of his brother. He says that despite how sad it is, they should be thinking of themselves and get through it together. (cognitive dissonance used--putting two things together to make you wonder). Claudius is trying to distract everyone by saying "Focus on Fortinbras, not what's going on with me."
- "A little more than kin, and less than kind."
- Hamlet says in his own way "You don't know what I'm feeling" and he doesn't approve of the marriage
- Claudius tells Hamlet that it's unnatural for him to be grieving for so long. He doesn't trust Hamlet because he won't let him go to university
- Hamlet gives his long monologue thing and it allows us to see how angry he is. He's suicidal in a way, but not because he's depressed. He just doesn't want to have to see what's going on in his family. He doesn't want to be a part of it in any way. He curses his mom
- Horatio and Marcellus show up and tell Hamlet about how they saw his dad. Hamlet tells them to say nothing about it to anyone else.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Blog experiences (Hamlet)
Shakespeare Geek Blog-- This blog talks a lot about Shakespeare (obviously) so I posted a comment saying something about wanting to discuss Hamlet with whoever would be willing to, but my comment can't post until my comment is okay'd by the person running the blog. Or something.
I found a high school blog kind of like the one we use for this class and I was going to post on it but I felt like the students who saw it would think I was just some pervert so I didn't post anything. I looked around for some more Hamlet/Shakespeare blogs but there aren't too many around.
I found a high school blog kind of like the one we use for this class and I was going to post on it but I felt like the students who saw it would think I was just some pervert so I didn't post anything. I looked around for some more Hamlet/Shakespeare blogs but there aren't too many around.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Vocabulary #6
abase--behave in a way so as to belittle or degrade (someone)
abdicate--voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up
abomination--a thing that causes disgust or hatred
brusque--abrupt or offhand in speech or manner
saboteur--a person who engages in sabotage
debauchery--excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
proliferate--increase rapidly in numbers; multiply
anachronism--a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned
nomenclature--the devising or choosing of names for things, especially in a science or other discipline
expurgate--remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a book or account)
bellicose--demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
gauche--lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward
rapacious--aggressively greedy or grasping
paradox--a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory
conundrum--a confusing and difficult problem or question
anomaly--something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected
ephemeral--lasting for a very short time
rancorous--characterized by bitterness or resentment
churlish--rude in a mean-spirited and surly way
precipitous-- dangerously high or steep
abdicate--voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up
abomination--a thing that causes disgust or hatred
brusque--abrupt or offhand in speech or manner
saboteur--a person who engages in sabotage
debauchery--excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
proliferate--increase rapidly in numbers; multiply
anachronism--a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned
nomenclature--the devising or choosing of names for things, especially in a science or other discipline
expurgate--remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a book or account)
bellicose--demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
gauche--lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward
rapacious--aggressively greedy or grasping
paradox--a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory
conundrum--a confusing and difficult problem or question
anomaly--something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected
ephemeral--lasting for a very short time
rancorous--characterized by bitterness or resentment
churlish--rude in a mean-spirited and surly way
precipitous-- dangerously high or steep
Phonar "Unphotgraphable"
The first time I experienced a "wow" moment that I didn't take a picture of was the first time I went on the ride Goliath at Six Flags. It's the tallest coaster in the park, (23 stories) and it takes its sweet time getting you to the top...and then it keeps you there for a good five seconds which, in the open air at that height, feels like a lifetime. I couldn't take a picture, obviously, but taking a picture wouldn't have been able to capture exactly what I was seeing anyway. I thought for sure I was going to die. I was sooo scared. A picture wouldn't be able to capture that feeling, either.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Canterbury Outline
Introduction
-Thesis
- introduce chosen tale
Body paragraphs
-compare to Dante's Inferno
-dante's inferno and Canterbury are actually pretty similar
-show similarities
-use of language
Conclusion
-Thesis
- introduce chosen tale
Body paragraphs
-compare to Dante's Inferno
-dante's inferno and Canterbury are actually pretty similar
-show similarities
-use of language
Conclusion
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
The Point of Canterbury Tales is...
Canterbury Tales is different from other stories of its time by its use of ___, ___, and ___.
Green Eggs and Hamlet
1. I saw Hamlet at PCPA last year, so I know the basics of the storyline.(Spoiler alert: If you don't want to know what (kind of) happens, stop reading now.) It's about a prince whose father suddenly died and less than a month later his mom marries his dad's brother, and Hamlet thinks that his uncle poisoned his father in order to become king so he decides to kill him. Then he kind of has a thing with Ophelia whose father Hamlet kills on accident and she goes crazy and commits suicide (or something along those lines) and that's all I remember. It's pretty much typical Shakespeare.
2. I know that Shakespeare devoted his life to writing his plays and sort of abandoned his family in order to pursue his dream of being a playwright (at least that's what I learned at OA freshman year). Also, he was married to a woman named Anne Hathaway and she was way older than him.
3. Students "involuntarily frown" when they hear his name because despite how great he's considered to be, the fact is that his work is very old and hard to understand and boring. Freshman year we went over Romeo and Juliet in detail and it made me realize that Shakespeare was actually pretty funny, but you would never catch his jokes today if you saw it in a theater or read it because it requires in- depth analysis.
4. I don't know about making it an "amazing experience" but if we could read it in completely modern English it would be more interesting for everyone, but then that kind of defeats the purpose of how he wrote it because it was in iambic pentameter and all that. I just like it when we read something like Shakespeare and then we have in-class discussions about it because I think it helps everyone to understand it better.
2. I know that Shakespeare devoted his life to writing his plays and sort of abandoned his family in order to pursue his dream of being a playwright (at least that's what I learned at OA freshman year). Also, he was married to a woman named Anne Hathaway and she was way older than him.
3. Students "involuntarily frown" when they hear his name because despite how great he's considered to be, the fact is that his work is very old and hard to understand and boring. Freshman year we went over Romeo and Juliet in detail and it made me realize that Shakespeare was actually pretty funny, but you would never catch his jokes today if you saw it in a theater or read it because it requires in- depth analysis.
4. I don't know about making it an "amazing experience" but if we could read it in completely modern English it would be more interesting for everyone, but then that kind of defeats the purpose of how he wrote it because it was in iambic pentameter and all that. I just like it when we read something like Shakespeare and then we have in-class discussions about it because I think it helps everyone to understand it better.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Vocabulary #5
shenanigans--secret or dishonest activity or maneuvering
ricochet--a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.
schism--a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.
eschew--deliberately avoid using; abstain from
plethora--a large or excessive amount of (something)
ebullient--cheerful and full of energy
garrulous--excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters
harangue--a lengthy and aggressive speech.
interdependence--depending on each other: unable to exist or survive without each other
capricious--given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
loquacious--tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
ephemeral--lasting for a very short time
inchoate--just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary
juxtapose--place or deal with close together for contrasting effect
perspicacious--having a ready insight into and understanding of things
codswallop--nonsense
mungo--cloth made from recycled woven or felted material.
sesquipedalian--characterized by long words; long-winded
wonky--crooked; off-center; askew
diphthong--a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound begins as one vowel and moves toward another (as in coin, loud, and side). Often contrasted with monophthong, triphthong.
ricochet--a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.
schism--a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.
eschew--deliberately avoid using; abstain from
plethora--a large or excessive amount of (something)
ebullient--cheerful and full of energy
garrulous--excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters
harangue--a lengthy and aggressive speech.
interdependence--depending on each other: unable to exist or survive without each other
capricious--given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
loquacious--tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
ephemeral--lasting for a very short time
inchoate--just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary
juxtapose--place or deal with close together for contrasting effect
perspicacious--having a ready insight into and understanding of things
codswallop--nonsense
mungo--cloth made from recycled woven or felted material.
sesquipedalian--characterized by long words; long-winded
wonky--crooked; off-center; askew
diphthong--a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound begins as one vowel and moves toward another (as in coin, loud, and side). Often contrasted with monophthong, triphthong.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Canterbury Tales (II) What A Character
Pages 106--115 focusing on Chaucer's use of humor
The wife of Bath has had five husbands and despite the failed marriages, she believes herself to be quite proficient in the matter of relationships. Chaucer gives her a humorous description and says she is an ugly woman where looks and personality are concerned yet men seem to like her, as she landed five husbands and multiple lovers when she was younger.
The miller's tale uses farce (a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations) as the main form of humor. He gives the miller a ridiculous and exaggerated description, saying that he is like an ox. He is described as being strong, and claims he can break down a door completely by running at it. He's also a thief.
The summoner is also given a funny and rather unattractive description. He has pimples and gross eyebrows and he's boisterous. He's a "kind" man who'd let any young man keep a whore for a year as long as he received a quart of wine, despite the fact that there's "no better fellow" than he. He seems easily persuaded by alcohol.
The pardoner likes to swindle people out of their money and doesn't feel bad, though he is very good at seeming like a person with morals. He would imitate someone who was a churchgoing person and yet he was the complete opposite. One of the reasons why he was happy to sing a church song was because he could easily get money from all of the people there.
The wife of Bath has had five husbands and despite the failed marriages, she believes herself to be quite proficient in the matter of relationships. Chaucer gives her a humorous description and says she is an ugly woman where looks and personality are concerned yet men seem to like her, as she landed five husbands and multiple lovers when she was younger.
The miller's tale uses farce (a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations) as the main form of humor. He gives the miller a ridiculous and exaggerated description, saying that he is like an ox. He is described as being strong, and claims he can break down a door completely by running at it. He's also a thief.
The summoner is also given a funny and rather unattractive description. He has pimples and gross eyebrows and he's boisterous. He's a "kind" man who'd let any young man keep a whore for a year as long as he received a quart of wine, despite the fact that there's "no better fellow" than he. He seems easily persuaded by alcohol.
The pardoner likes to swindle people out of their money and doesn't feel bad, though he is very good at seeming like a person with morals. He would imitate someone who was a churchgoing person and yet he was the complete opposite. One of the reasons why he was happy to sing a church song was because he could easily get money from all of the people there.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Canterbury Tales (I)
Chaucer spends a lot of time talking about how the nun has excellent table manners. I don't know why that matters. The nun would cry when an animal was hurt or dead but the monk liked to hunt them, and he lived richly while she really didn't. The monks, priests etc. were some of the most educated back then, yet this monk doesn't believe in education. Despite being a "holy man", he hunts even though that's considered unholy. He's just a total hypocrite. The merchant is in debt which is ironic because he handles money for a living, but can't seem to manage his own. The Oxford student is broke lol. He talks about how amazing the cook is, then says he has an ulcer on his knee then goes back to food. Why? He doesn't spend a lot of time talking about the lower class people, I guess he considered them less important? which seems strange for a man who should have better beliefs than that based on his life experiences. The character's story that I most want to read is the nun's, mainly because she loves animals and so do I but honestly I didn't find any of them very interesting. Maybe the Oxford student.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Character Study (I)
So here I am, utterly lost and helpless among the sea of people also trying to find their new classes. I'm at UC Irvine, my first choice university, and I've never wanted to go home more than I do right now. I miss sitting on the couch watching TV and doing nothing. I miss my dogs. And I'll definitely miss my own bed more than a little. I wonder if I'll make any new friends anytime soon, but somehow I don't really care at the moment.
I finally find my classroom, and gawk at the amount of chairs in this room. The air is filled with the nervous buzz of the other kids trying to make pointless conversation to calm themselves down. Everyone seems so dressed up; I'm wearing an old sweatshirt and jeans. Oops. Well, I couldn't really decide what to wear this morning. Instead, I'd just told myself it didn't matter.
One year ago, I'd been a senior in high school, slacking off and more concerned with when I would be able to sleep and for how many hours if I fell asleep right now (this is the only time I ever did well with math). Then all of a sudden, I realized that I might need to do better than just "Okay" if I wanted to get where I wanted to go. I picked myself up, finished all of my work when it was due and got better grades on everything. As a result of that (or maybe the admissions people at UC Irvine could feel me willing them incessantly), I was accepted. I remember feeling shocked, then warm and fuzzy, and finally nervous as I actually thought about it. Oh my God, what am I getting myself into? A university and I'm only eighteen? I felt so young all of a sudden. I'll be by myself for the first time. I don't know if they'll let me bring my rabbit. I'll have to make my own dinner. *shudder*.
But then I was in the car with my parents, and we were driving and trying to talk about other things, and then we were on campus, and that was it. My mom cried and my dad smiled for her, and then they were gone.
My professor, who looks a little too young for this job, smiles and greets us. I go to sit in a seat nearby, but this jerk who totally knew I wanted it sits there instead. I glare and find a different seat. I guess there are worse ways to start the year.
Some girl runs into the classroom and hands a slip of paper to my professor, then quickly runs out. He looks at it, puzzled, then looks up and says, "Is there a Lillie Edmondson here?" Everyone looks around and a low buzz starts. I raise my hand. "This is for you. Looks like someone has a job for you."
I stand up and wind my way over to him, through all of the carelessly placed backpacks. I take the slip of paper and read the message, then follow the instructions. I take all of my things and make my way to the front courtyard. But who could want to talk to me?
I finally find my classroom, and gawk at the amount of chairs in this room. The air is filled with the nervous buzz of the other kids trying to make pointless conversation to calm themselves down. Everyone seems so dressed up; I'm wearing an old sweatshirt and jeans. Oops. Well, I couldn't really decide what to wear this morning. Instead, I'd just told myself it didn't matter.
One year ago, I'd been a senior in high school, slacking off and more concerned with when I would be able to sleep and for how many hours if I fell asleep right now (this is the only time I ever did well with math). Then all of a sudden, I realized that I might need to do better than just "Okay" if I wanted to get where I wanted to go. I picked myself up, finished all of my work when it was due and got better grades on everything. As a result of that (or maybe the admissions people at UC Irvine could feel me willing them incessantly), I was accepted. I remember feeling shocked, then warm and fuzzy, and finally nervous as I actually thought about it. Oh my God, what am I getting myself into? A university and I'm only eighteen? I felt so young all of a sudden. I'll be by myself for the first time. I don't know if they'll let me bring my rabbit. I'll have to make my own dinner. *shudder*.
But then I was in the car with my parents, and we were driving and trying to talk about other things, and then we were on campus, and that was it. My mom cried and my dad smiled for her, and then they were gone.
My professor, who looks a little too young for this job, smiles and greets us. I go to sit in a seat nearby, but this jerk who totally knew I wanted it sits there instead. I glare and find a different seat. I guess there are worse ways to start the year.
Some girl runs into the classroom and hands a slip of paper to my professor, then quickly runs out. He looks at it, puzzled, then looks up and says, "Is there a Lillie Edmondson here?" Everyone looks around and a low buzz starts. I raise my hand. "This is for you. Looks like someone has a job for you."
I stand up and wind my way over to him, through all of the carelessly placed backpacks. I take the slip of paper and read the message, then follow the instructions. I take all of my things and make my way to the front courtyard. But who could want to talk to me?
Mastepiece in Progress
I changed my masterpiece idea. Now, I want it to do with history. I guess. I find history really interesting, especially the era of time having to do with the ancient Egyptians/Greeks/Romans and the 1500-1800s A.D. I would like to be a museum curator somewhere like the Getty Museum in Malibu because the ancients are what that museum focuses on. That's pretty much all I've come up with.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Vocabulary #4
obsequious-obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
beatitude-supreme blessedness
bete noire-a person or thing that one particularly dislikes
bode-to be an omen of a particular outcome
dank-disagreeably damp, musty, typically cold
ecumenical-representing a number of different Christian churches
fervid-intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an excessive degree
fetid-smelling extremely unpleasant
gargantuan-enormous
heyday-the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor
incubus-a cause of distress or anxiety
infrastructure-the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
inveigle-persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery
kudos-praise and honor received for an achievement
lagniappe-something given as a bonus or extra gift
prolix-(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
protégé- a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced or influential person
prototype-a first, typical or preliminary model of something, especially a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied:
sycophant-a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
tautology-the saying of the same thing twice in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style (e.g., they arrived one after the other in succession).
truckle-a small barrel-shaped cheese, especially cheddar
beatitude-supreme blessedness
bete noire-a person or thing that one particularly dislikes
bode-to be an omen of a particular outcome
dank-disagreeably damp, musty, typically cold
ecumenical-representing a number of different Christian churches
fervid-intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an excessive degree
fetid-smelling extremely unpleasant
gargantuan-enormous
heyday-the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor
incubus-a cause of distress or anxiety
infrastructure-the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
inveigle-persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery
kudos-praise and honor received for an achievement
lagniappe-something given as a bonus or extra gift
prolix-(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
protégé- a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced or influential person
prototype-a first, typical or preliminary model of something, especially a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied:
sycophant-a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
tautology-the saying of the same thing twice in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style (e.g., they arrived one after the other in succession).
truckle-a small barrel-shaped cheese, especially cheddar
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Literature Analysis #1
1. Forever Amber starts out in Marygreen in the 17th century, a humdrum little village that hasn't changed much in the hundreds of years that it has been there. Amber St. Claire feels very bored with where she lives, until she meets a group of cavaliers, falls in love with Bruce Carlton, and goes with them to London--confirming her belief that she was always meant for something more. This is the inciting incident that sets the stage for the rest of the book. The rising action consists of most of her life in London; where she goes, who she meets, hitting rock bottom, surviving the plague and rising to be the favorite mistress of King Charles II. Then she gets into a fight with Bruce, which leaves him with a bloody scratch on his face and her with cracked vertebrae, making up the climax of the story. The falling action follows with Amber trying to figure out how she'll keep Bruce in love with her (despite his having a wife) and how she'll make him forgive her. It ends when someone tricks her into believing that his wife has died, and she boards the first ship to America she can get on to follow him there and, she thinks, get Bruce to marry her.
2. One theme throughout the novel is how important youth is. The women back then, just as the women today, were terrified of growing old and were also rather naïve in thinking that it wouldn't happen to them. Men shared the common ideal that women started to "decay" after the age of 22. A woman's "prime" was considered to be in her late teens. That was seen especially through the life of Barbara Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine. Though she was the favorite mistress of the king before Amber came along, others began to take her place over the years. As she grew older, the king fell out of love with her slowly, and began to look for someone who could make him feel as she once did. Though Amber does, once, become conscious that she has aged ten years since she first came to London, she realizes that she hasn't aged outwardly a day and that keeps her able to be the King's mistress (though he does grow tired of her eventually. She doesn't notice because she's so focused on Bruce).
3. There are many tones throughout the novel as Amber grows and becomes less of a naïve girl and more of a deviant woman. At first, the tone is innocence: (trying on a pair of earrings) "And Amber leaned forward, tossing her hair back from her face so that her ears would show, her eyes shining with pleasure. They made her feel very grand, and also a little wicked. She gave Lord Carlton a sideways smile to see what he thought about it, longing to have them but afraid of making him think something bad about her if she seemed too eager." As a sixteen year old girl, the effect a new pair of earrings can have on her is rather childish--though appropriate, for where she lived no one wore earrings unless they were married. Still, to think that how she felt about earrings would have any particular effect on a man is incredibly silly. As time moves on, the author alters the tone so that Amber is still naïve where men are concerned, but is also cunningly clever in deceiving them. She starts living with a man named Rex Morgan who gets very jealous, but despite this she still sees Bruce behind his back. "Don't trouble yourself about Rex. I'll take care of him, I warrant you. I know just what I'm going to tell him--and he'll never suspect a thing." Amber takes Rex for a fool, which he's not, and uses the skills she's learned in London to deceive him over and over. Towards the end of the novel, when Bruce has a wife, Corinna, Amber tries to make sure his wife won't get her way if she can help it. It doesn't matter how small it may be--if it will make Corinna happy, Amber must quash her happiness. "Amber's voice rang through the room, loud and clear and defiant; she was half startled herself to hear it. For certainly she had no use for that calico--pretty as it was; it was printed in colors she never wore and would not have considered wearing. But Corinna had bid for it, wanted it--and must not have it." The tone here is maliciousness at its finest. Stopping the wife of the man Amber loved from being happy knew no bounds, even over a piece of material that she knew she would never wear.
4. omniscient third-person narrative -- Forever Amber is written in third person omniscient which helps the reader know what is going on in the story. It provides an in-depth look at the characters as well as helps the storyline move along. "Amber shuddered at the sight of them and looked swiftly away for fear her own baby would be marked before birth because she had seen them. She felt that living here she had left the world--the only world that mattered to her, the world where she might see Lord Carlton again." (pg. 181) Her country superstitions had not yet left her, and they influenced how she thought she might lose the only thing she had left of Carlton.
imagery- Winsor uses loads of imagery throughout the novel. There is so much description where scenery is concerned as well as characters. It helps to understand her writing style. "The small room was warm and moist. Furious blasts of thunder made the window panes rattle and lightning seemed to streak through the room itself." (pg. 3)
dramatic irony- We find out at the end of the novel that Buckhurst's note to Amber about Carlton's wife being dead is fake, which Amber doesn't know. He is simply trying to get her out of England. This moves along the plot to the end of the novel, as the reader realizes that once Amber has gone to America, she won't return to England out of shame, and will have to build a new life elsewhere. "Buckingham looked around over his shoulder, Arlington did not look back, but they exchanged smiles. "Good riddance," muttered the Duke. Then suddenly he laughed. "Gad, but I wish I could see her face when she arrives in Virginia and finds Lady Carlton in good health! I congratulate you, sir. Your plot worked better than I hoped. We've put that troublesome jade out of our way." " (pg. 971)
hamartia- Hamartia is a big part of the book--it shows how Amber is conceited, and how she often gets in her own way. It ultimately brings her down in the royal court, as the people there only want to see her fail. Her ambition and determination to have Bruce for herself makes it easy for her to believe Buckhurst's false note. Her love for Carlton ultimately drives away Almsbury, one of her dearest friends and the most good natured man in the book. "...Won't you help me, plese? I won't say a word--I just want to look at him. And I don't know where to findhim now--he never comes to Court. Oh, Almsbury! I must see him again!" The Earl set his mouth grimly and turned away. "Not with my help you won't." " (pg. 964)
backstory- The backstory is in the form of a prologue and shows how Amber wound up in Marygreen, a small village, instead of heiress to Rosswood. Her mother was a "lady of quality", originally residing at an estate called Rose Lawn. It explains why the story begins in Marygreen. "The decision was hers to make, and there could be no explanation once she had made it. With only one extra gown and her few jewels, she left Rose Lawn. All that night she and the servant travelled and by mid-morning of the following day had come to a farmhouse in Essex which was well within the borders of Parliamentary domination." (pg. 13)
eucatastrophe- Throughout the novel, Amber passionately hopes that Carlton will marry her. When Carlton gets the plague, she nurses him back to health, and when she gets it he cares for her. After this, they go off on a sort of "vacation"on a yacht for a few months, and Amber is certain that he will marry her. After all they went through, how could he not? But he explains that he won't be marrying her, keeping the plot on the same track it was before though it may have looked like it might change. "But not all her brave assurances could still the doubts and torment that grew more insistent with each day that passed. She began to realize that, after all, nothing had changed--he still intended to go on with his life just as he had planned it, as though there had never been a plague."
framing device- There is a little bit of a framing device used toward the beginning of the novel, when Almsbury, Carlton's friend, is explaining to Amber about Carlton's past and financial issues. Through telling her, the reader also learns that Carlton is not as rich as Amber first thought him to be, though that doesn't matter to her. "Then she remembered what Almsbury had told her about Bruce's parents and added: "My father and mother are both dead. My father was killed at Marston Moor and my mother died in Paris ten years ago." " (pg. 112)
ticking clock scenario- The whole book is a waiting game--reluctantly waiting for Carlton to leave on his travels, anxiously waiting for him to come back. It seems that the whole story revolves around that with Amber's life thrown in, as he never entirely leaves her mind. Especially the first time he is set toleaveafter meeting her, Amber s counting the months nd weeks and days before he is set togo. It gives the story a feel of intensity and helplessness.
dramatic visualization- Similar to imagery, but much more descriptive. Winsor describes every detail of every character in every scene, giving the reader an exact mental image of what is going on. This is typical of Winsor's style of witing.
bildungsroman- Usually applied to genre, it means that a book shows the education or growing up of a character. This is used in Forever Amber as it shows the maturation of her mind as she grows older and the way that living in a place like London corrpts her mind--she learns to think like a Londoner so she won't be cuckolded and adapts to the way of life which would have warranted severe punishment in Marygreen.
Characterization
1. Direct- "There was about her a kind of warm luxuriance, something immediately suggestive to the men of pleasurable fulfillment--something for which she was not responsible but of which she was acutely conscious. It was that, more than her beauty, which the other girls resented." (pg. 23) Direct characterization is used mainly in the beginning so that the reader can get a feel for the personalities of the characters. Right away the reader knows that Amber is aware of her looks and uses them to her advantage.
Indirect- "His voice answered her quietly. "Leah died a year ago, in childbirth." She looked up at him swiftly, saw that he was serious and a little angry. "Oh, I'm sorry," she lied. But she turned to another subject." Amber doesn't care that one of Carlton's mistresses is dead. In fact, she's probably rather happy--less competition. Indirect characterization is used later in the book because we already know the type of person Amber is, it just indirectly verifies that.
2. The diction and syntax of the author toward Amber and other characters don't really change, besides the fact that what she writes reflects the hostility towards Amber of the other characters. "She saw other smiles too, all around her, mocking jeering faces that seemed to close in upon her, to swim and dance all about her head." When Amber loses the piece of material to Lady Carlton at the auction, everyone else is pleased to see her humiliated.
3. Amber goes through major character changes throughout the book, so she is a dynamic character. She faces a lot of conflict as well, so she is a round character. After Carlton leaves her in London while he goes to America, Amber gets herself into some trouble and lands herself in Newgate for debt. It was one of the worst prisons at the time. She gets involved with a man named Black Jack, who's basically a con man, and he gets caught one day while she gets away. He is hanged while she lives. This thought hits her hard and she has a hard time coming to grips with it. Surviving the plague changed her as well, and for the first time the reader realizes how strong she really is. She has to deal with things that may have driven anyone else insane, or at least stay with them for the rest of their lives. Conflicts with other people often arise that shape who she becomes at Court (namely making a lot of enemies) and internal conflicts, such as loving Carlton and hating him at the same time, contribute to the actions that she takes because of those feelings.
4. After reading Forever Amber, I definitely felt like I knew her. She reminds me of me in the way that we think is exactly the same, and I probably would have made the same decisions as her. I did feel like I met her and I can pretty much tell what would have happened upon her going to America and finding Lady Carlton alive and well.
2. One theme throughout the novel is how important youth is. The women back then, just as the women today, were terrified of growing old and were also rather naïve in thinking that it wouldn't happen to them. Men shared the common ideal that women started to "decay" after the age of 22. A woman's "prime" was considered to be in her late teens. That was seen especially through the life of Barbara Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine. Though she was the favorite mistress of the king before Amber came along, others began to take her place over the years. As she grew older, the king fell out of love with her slowly, and began to look for someone who could make him feel as she once did. Though Amber does, once, become conscious that she has aged ten years since she first came to London, she realizes that she hasn't aged outwardly a day and that keeps her able to be the King's mistress (though he does grow tired of her eventually. She doesn't notice because she's so focused on Bruce).
3. There are many tones throughout the novel as Amber grows and becomes less of a naïve girl and more of a deviant woman. At first, the tone is innocence: (trying on a pair of earrings) "And Amber leaned forward, tossing her hair back from her face so that her ears would show, her eyes shining with pleasure. They made her feel very grand, and also a little wicked. She gave Lord Carlton a sideways smile to see what he thought about it, longing to have them but afraid of making him think something bad about her if she seemed too eager." As a sixteen year old girl, the effect a new pair of earrings can have on her is rather childish--though appropriate, for where she lived no one wore earrings unless they were married. Still, to think that how she felt about earrings would have any particular effect on a man is incredibly silly. As time moves on, the author alters the tone so that Amber is still naïve where men are concerned, but is also cunningly clever in deceiving them. She starts living with a man named Rex Morgan who gets very jealous, but despite this she still sees Bruce behind his back. "Don't trouble yourself about Rex. I'll take care of him, I warrant you. I know just what I'm going to tell him--and he'll never suspect a thing." Amber takes Rex for a fool, which he's not, and uses the skills she's learned in London to deceive him over and over. Towards the end of the novel, when Bruce has a wife, Corinna, Amber tries to make sure his wife won't get her way if she can help it. It doesn't matter how small it may be--if it will make Corinna happy, Amber must quash her happiness. "Amber's voice rang through the room, loud and clear and defiant; she was half startled herself to hear it. For certainly she had no use for that calico--pretty as it was; it was printed in colors she never wore and would not have considered wearing. But Corinna had bid for it, wanted it--and must not have it." The tone here is maliciousness at its finest. Stopping the wife of the man Amber loved from being happy knew no bounds, even over a piece of material that she knew she would never wear.
4. omniscient third-person narrative -- Forever Amber is written in third person omniscient which helps the reader know what is going on in the story. It provides an in-depth look at the characters as well as helps the storyline move along. "Amber shuddered at the sight of them and looked swiftly away for fear her own baby would be marked before birth because she had seen them. She felt that living here she had left the world--the only world that mattered to her, the world where she might see Lord Carlton again." (pg. 181) Her country superstitions had not yet left her, and they influenced how she thought she might lose the only thing she had left of Carlton.
imagery- Winsor uses loads of imagery throughout the novel. There is so much description where scenery is concerned as well as characters. It helps to understand her writing style. "The small room was warm and moist. Furious blasts of thunder made the window panes rattle and lightning seemed to streak through the room itself." (pg. 3)
dramatic irony- We find out at the end of the novel that Buckhurst's note to Amber about Carlton's wife being dead is fake, which Amber doesn't know. He is simply trying to get her out of England. This moves along the plot to the end of the novel, as the reader realizes that once Amber has gone to America, she won't return to England out of shame, and will have to build a new life elsewhere. "Buckingham looked around over his shoulder, Arlington did not look back, but they exchanged smiles. "Good riddance," muttered the Duke. Then suddenly he laughed. "Gad, but I wish I could see her face when she arrives in Virginia and finds Lady Carlton in good health! I congratulate you, sir. Your plot worked better than I hoped. We've put that troublesome jade out of our way." " (pg. 971)
hamartia- Hamartia is a big part of the book--it shows how Amber is conceited, and how she often gets in her own way. It ultimately brings her down in the royal court, as the people there only want to see her fail. Her ambition and determination to have Bruce for herself makes it easy for her to believe Buckhurst's false note. Her love for Carlton ultimately drives away Almsbury, one of her dearest friends and the most good natured man in the book. "...Won't you help me, plese? I won't say a word--I just want to look at him. And I don't know where to findhim now--he never comes to Court. Oh, Almsbury! I must see him again!" The Earl set his mouth grimly and turned away. "Not with my help you won't." " (pg. 964)
backstory- The backstory is in the form of a prologue and shows how Amber wound up in Marygreen, a small village, instead of heiress to Rosswood. Her mother was a "lady of quality", originally residing at an estate called Rose Lawn. It explains why the story begins in Marygreen. "The decision was hers to make, and there could be no explanation once she had made it. With only one extra gown and her few jewels, she left Rose Lawn. All that night she and the servant travelled and by mid-morning of the following day had come to a farmhouse in Essex which was well within the borders of Parliamentary domination." (pg. 13)
eucatastrophe- Throughout the novel, Amber passionately hopes that Carlton will marry her. When Carlton gets the plague, she nurses him back to health, and when she gets it he cares for her. After this, they go off on a sort of "vacation"on a yacht for a few months, and Amber is certain that he will marry her. After all they went through, how could he not? But he explains that he won't be marrying her, keeping the plot on the same track it was before though it may have looked like it might change. "But not all her brave assurances could still the doubts and torment that grew more insistent with each day that passed. She began to realize that, after all, nothing had changed--he still intended to go on with his life just as he had planned it, as though there had never been a plague."
framing device- There is a little bit of a framing device used toward the beginning of the novel, when Almsbury, Carlton's friend, is explaining to Amber about Carlton's past and financial issues. Through telling her, the reader also learns that Carlton is not as rich as Amber first thought him to be, though that doesn't matter to her. "Then she remembered what Almsbury had told her about Bruce's parents and added: "My father and mother are both dead. My father was killed at Marston Moor and my mother died in Paris ten years ago." " (pg. 112)
ticking clock scenario- The whole book is a waiting game--reluctantly waiting for Carlton to leave on his travels, anxiously waiting for him to come back. It seems that the whole story revolves around that with Amber's life thrown in, as he never entirely leaves her mind. Especially the first time he is set toleaveafter meeting her, Amber s counting the months nd weeks and days before he is set togo. It gives the story a feel of intensity and helplessness.
dramatic visualization- Similar to imagery, but much more descriptive. Winsor describes every detail of every character in every scene, giving the reader an exact mental image of what is going on. This is typical of Winsor's style of witing.
bildungsroman- Usually applied to genre, it means that a book shows the education or growing up of a character. This is used in Forever Amber as it shows the maturation of her mind as she grows older and the way that living in a place like London corrpts her mind--she learns to think like a Londoner so she won't be cuckolded and adapts to the way of life which would have warranted severe punishment in Marygreen.
Characterization
1. Direct- "There was about her a kind of warm luxuriance, something immediately suggestive to the men of pleasurable fulfillment--something for which she was not responsible but of which she was acutely conscious. It was that, more than her beauty, which the other girls resented." (pg. 23) Direct characterization is used mainly in the beginning so that the reader can get a feel for the personalities of the characters. Right away the reader knows that Amber is aware of her looks and uses them to her advantage.
Indirect- "His voice answered her quietly. "Leah died a year ago, in childbirth." She looked up at him swiftly, saw that he was serious and a little angry. "Oh, I'm sorry," she lied. But she turned to another subject." Amber doesn't care that one of Carlton's mistresses is dead. In fact, she's probably rather happy--less competition. Indirect characterization is used later in the book because we already know the type of person Amber is, it just indirectly verifies that.
2. The diction and syntax of the author toward Amber and other characters don't really change, besides the fact that what she writes reflects the hostility towards Amber of the other characters. "She saw other smiles too, all around her, mocking jeering faces that seemed to close in upon her, to swim and dance all about her head." When Amber loses the piece of material to Lady Carlton at the auction, everyone else is pleased to see her humiliated.
3. Amber goes through major character changes throughout the book, so she is a dynamic character. She faces a lot of conflict as well, so she is a round character. After Carlton leaves her in London while he goes to America, Amber gets herself into some trouble and lands herself in Newgate for debt. It was one of the worst prisons at the time. She gets involved with a man named Black Jack, who's basically a con man, and he gets caught one day while she gets away. He is hanged while she lives. This thought hits her hard and she has a hard time coming to grips with it. Surviving the plague changed her as well, and for the first time the reader realizes how strong she really is. She has to deal with things that may have driven anyone else insane, or at least stay with them for the rest of their lives. Conflicts with other people often arise that shape who she becomes at Court (namely making a lot of enemies) and internal conflicts, such as loving Carlton and hating him at the same time, contribute to the actions that she takes because of those feelings.
4. After reading Forever Amber, I definitely felt like I knew her. She reminds me of me in the way that we think is exactly the same, and I probably would have made the same decisions as her. I did feel like I met her and I can pretty much tell what would have happened upon her going to America and finding Lady Carlton alive and well.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Vocabulary #3
accolade-an award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit
The girl scout was given an accolade as a reward for her bravery.
acerbity-bitterness or sharpness in tone, taste, or manner
He talked to his father with acerbity during their argument.
attrition-the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure
bromide-a trite and unoriginal idea or remark, typically intended to soothe or placate
chauvinist-a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism
Chauvinists contributed to the rising of the Nazi regime.
chronic-(of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring
She had chronic bronchitis.
expound-present and explain (a theory or idea) systematically and in detail
The sergeant sat his soldiers down and began to expound the plan of action.
factionalism-the existence of or conflict between groups within a larger group
There is a lot of factionalism within this country right now.
immaculate-(especially of a person or their clothes) perfectly clean, neat, or tidy
She made sure her clothes and shoes were immaculate for her first day at her new job.
imprecation-a spoken curse
ineluctable-unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable
In the Twilight series, the smell that the vampires had was said to be ineluctable.
mercurial-(of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind
People with bipolar disorder are mercurial.
palliate-make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause
Doctors administer morphine to someone to palliate the pain they are in, though it does not treat the cause of the pain.
protocol-the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions
resplendent-attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous
stigmatize-describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval
sub rosa-happening or done in secret
vainglory-inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements; excessive vanity.
vestige-a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
volition-the faculty or power of using one's will
The girl scout was given an accolade as a reward for her bravery.
acerbity-bitterness or sharpness in tone, taste, or manner
He talked to his father with acerbity during their argument.
attrition-the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure
bromide-a trite and unoriginal idea or remark, typically intended to soothe or placate
chauvinist-a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism
Chauvinists contributed to the rising of the Nazi regime.
chronic-(of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring
She had chronic bronchitis.
expound-present and explain (a theory or idea) systematically and in detail
The sergeant sat his soldiers down and began to expound the plan of action.
factionalism-the existence of or conflict between groups within a larger group
There is a lot of factionalism within this country right now.
immaculate-(especially of a person or their clothes) perfectly clean, neat, or tidy
She made sure her clothes and shoes were immaculate for her first day at her new job.
imprecation-a spoken curse
ineluctable-unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable
In the Twilight series, the smell that the vampires had was said to be ineluctable.
mercurial-(of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind
People with bipolar disorder are mercurial.
palliate-make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause
Doctors administer morphine to someone to palliate the pain they are in, though it does not treat the cause of the pain.
protocol-the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions
resplendent-attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous
stigmatize-describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval
sub rosa-happening or done in secret
vainglory-inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements; excessive vanity.
vestige-a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
volition-the faculty or power of using one's will
Monday, September 8, 2014
Beowulf Essay
Beowulf has, for centuries, been accepted as the story of a valiant hero who slain three monsters. In doing so, Beowulf saves the lives of the Geats and becomes king. However compelling the story of Beowulf's success may be, told from a feminist perspective, it would be a tragedy. Very little is told of the monster Grendel or of his mother--and what of Beowulf himself? Grendel is said to be a descendant of Cain, who murdered his brother Abel, so Grendel is exiled and lives in misery by himself. The love of a "beast" mother for her son drove her to avenge his death. And the dragon, who was also wronged, killed for his treasure that drove Beowulf's greed. Beowulf may not truly be the gallant figure that all but eludes death.
Grendel lives underneath the great hall and can hear all of the festivities that take place there. He feels angry that he should be condemned to live all by himself, miserable while everyone else is happy. Truthfully, he did nothing to deserve it. He is not a heartless beast, he does feel emotion. He is being punished for the crime of his ancestor, which is as unfair as it is cruel. It is only natural that someone kept away from others never to enjoy the joyful music or the kind words of others would feel as though they need to seek out revenge. While Grendel does not do the right thing by killing people, being treated wretchedly his whole life contributed to his actions. There is no one to talk to him about how he feels; he is an intelligent beast, and being treated better or at least being able to see his mother might have avoided his murderous rampage.
During Grendel's fight with Beowulf, which he ultimately loses, Grendel knows he has lost when his claws are tied together. No longer a powerful monster, he resigns himself to the fact that he is going to die, and he does not try to fight it. After his suffering a brutal death, Grendel's mother goes to the great hall to get her revenge. A mother losing her son is a catastrophe for anyone, and beasts are no exception. Not being able to see her son would have caused pain enough for any mother, on top of being exiled and living in a swamp. Now, Grendel's mother does not kill the man who killed her son--which may have been justified--but instead kills some innocent bystander. Blinded by both rage and sadness, Grendel's mother commits the same act as that of whom she is descended from. For this, she pays with her life at the hands of the very man that caused her the pain she felt before committing murder.
Beowulf is portrayed as the hero that everyone wants to be: strong, courageous, with only good intentions. However, his actions throughout the story speak otherwise. He is, in fact, rather greedy and full of himself, hanging up Grendel's severed arm from the rafters in the great hall as a trophy. After defeating Grendel's mother, he beheads Grendel's dead body and takes the head as a thing to be shown off, as well. At the end of his life, Beowulf instructs Wiglaf to show him the treasure for which he is going to die, then tells Wiglaf to build him a barrow and name it after him. While Beowulf's actions during life were indeed brave, whether they were for the right reason or not is debatable. He saved the lives of many Geats after killing Grendel, but did he do it for the purpose of saving lives or to win personal glory and immortality? The same question can be posed for the death of the dragon. Beowulf shows signs that he is not the great man he is always thought to be. Perhaps the dragon did not need to die--had his goblet been returned, he may have been satisfied enough to leave the people alone. Beowulf's pride ultimately leads to his death; he would not amass a large army against the dragon as he remembered how he defeated Grendel, alone, when he was younger.
The epic of Beowulf is not nearly as simple as one lone hero defeating malicious monsters; there are many ways to look at the characters, all of whom are complex. The traditional view of the "hero" is one of a role model for those hearing the story for the first time. Despite the admirable qualities that he seems to possess, there are also less desirable characteristics that should be taken into consideration, as well as the reasons behind the actions of the villains. From a less masculine perspective, the characters morph completely into misunderstood beings that are not completely given a fair trail in life. Beowulf will forever be seen as it always has been, that of a hero that saves a slew of people. But it is truly so much more than that, one just has to dig a little deeper and approach it at a different angle than everyone else.
Grendel lives underneath the great hall and can hear all of the festivities that take place there. He feels angry that he should be condemned to live all by himself, miserable while everyone else is happy. Truthfully, he did nothing to deserve it. He is not a heartless beast, he does feel emotion. He is being punished for the crime of his ancestor, which is as unfair as it is cruel. It is only natural that someone kept away from others never to enjoy the joyful music or the kind words of others would feel as though they need to seek out revenge. While Grendel does not do the right thing by killing people, being treated wretchedly his whole life contributed to his actions. There is no one to talk to him about how he feels; he is an intelligent beast, and being treated better or at least being able to see his mother might have avoided his murderous rampage.
During Grendel's fight with Beowulf, which he ultimately loses, Grendel knows he has lost when his claws are tied together. No longer a powerful monster, he resigns himself to the fact that he is going to die, and he does not try to fight it. After his suffering a brutal death, Grendel's mother goes to the great hall to get her revenge. A mother losing her son is a catastrophe for anyone, and beasts are no exception. Not being able to see her son would have caused pain enough for any mother, on top of being exiled and living in a swamp. Now, Grendel's mother does not kill the man who killed her son--which may have been justified--but instead kills some innocent bystander. Blinded by both rage and sadness, Grendel's mother commits the same act as that of whom she is descended from. For this, she pays with her life at the hands of the very man that caused her the pain she felt before committing murder.
Beowulf is portrayed as the hero that everyone wants to be: strong, courageous, with only good intentions. However, his actions throughout the story speak otherwise. He is, in fact, rather greedy and full of himself, hanging up Grendel's severed arm from the rafters in the great hall as a trophy. After defeating Grendel's mother, he beheads Grendel's dead body and takes the head as a thing to be shown off, as well. At the end of his life, Beowulf instructs Wiglaf to show him the treasure for which he is going to die, then tells Wiglaf to build him a barrow and name it after him. While Beowulf's actions during life were indeed brave, whether they were for the right reason or not is debatable. He saved the lives of many Geats after killing Grendel, but did he do it for the purpose of saving lives or to win personal glory and immortality? The same question can be posed for the death of the dragon. Beowulf shows signs that he is not the great man he is always thought to be. Perhaps the dragon did not need to die--had his goblet been returned, he may have been satisfied enough to leave the people alone. Beowulf's pride ultimately leads to his death; he would not amass a large army against the dragon as he remembered how he defeated Grendel, alone, when he was younger.
The epic of Beowulf is not nearly as simple as one lone hero defeating malicious monsters; there are many ways to look at the characters, all of whom are complex. The traditional view of the "hero" is one of a role model for those hearing the story for the first time. Despite the admirable qualities that he seems to possess, there are also less desirable characteristics that should be taken into consideration, as well as the reasons behind the actions of the villains. From a less masculine perspective, the characters morph completely into misunderstood beings that are not completely given a fair trail in life. Beowulf will forever be seen as it always has been, that of a hero that saves a slew of people. But it is truly so much more than that, one just has to dig a little deeper and approach it at a different angle than everyone else.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Vocabulary #2
accoutrements-a piece of clothing or equipment that is used in a particular place or for a particular activity
The soldier went off to war with all of the accoutrements that he needed.
apogee-culmination: the best or greatest point
The apogee of her achievements was when she won the spelling bee.
apropos-just right: appropriate in a specific situation
The article in the newspaper was apropos for the worldly events at the time.
bicker- to argue in a bad-tempered way about something unimportant
My brother and I bicker all the time.
coalesce- to merge or cause things to merge into a single body or group
The political parties will have to learn how to coalesce if they want to accomplish anything.
contretemps-an unfortunate occurrence, especially an awkward or embarrassing one
I was in the store and witnessed the contretemps of a mother trying to control her child.
convolution-twisted shape: a curve, coil, or twist
The book had a lot of convolutions in its plot.
cull-remove somebody or something as worthless: to remove an inferior person or thing from a group
They had to cull him from their country club because he didn't make as much money as he initially said.
disparate-very different: describes people or things so completely unlike one another that they cannot be compared
The two sisters were so disparate from each other in their looks that everyone suspected one of them of being adopted.
dogmatic-expressing rigid opinions: prone to expressing strongly held beliefs and opinions
He was dogmatic about some topics, whereas in others he was completely uninformed.
licentious- pursuing desires aggressively and selfishly, unchecked by morality, especially in sexual matters
He was a licentious man.
mete-to distribute or apportion by measure; allot; dole
The mother was careful to mete out punishment only when her children deserved it.
noxious-harmful to life or health, especially by being poisonous
My dog has noxious gas.
polemic-passionate argument: a passionate, strongly worded, and often controversial argument against or, less often, in favor of somebody or something
There are often polemics between people of opposite political parties.
populous-densely populated
California is very populous.
probity- absolute moral correctness
When she was growing up, the girl's aspiration in life was to become a nun as she was raised in total probity.
repartee- conversation consisting of witty remarks
The two chess geeks had a repartee regarding the rules of the game.
supervene- to follow or come about unexpectedly, usually interrupting or changing what is going on
The announcement regarding the change in plans surprised everyone, as it supervened what everyone thought was going on.
truncate-shorten something by removing part
The car was truncated when the wannabe hoodlums altered it so it sat almost touching the ground.
unimpeachable- impossible to discredit or challenge
People like to believe that certain politicians are unimpeachable, but that isn't true.
The soldier went off to war with all of the accoutrements that he needed.
apogee-culmination: the best or greatest point
The apogee of her achievements was when she won the spelling bee.
apropos-just right: appropriate in a specific situation
The article in the newspaper was apropos for the worldly events at the time.
bicker- to argue in a bad-tempered way about something unimportant
My brother and I bicker all the time.
coalesce- to merge or cause things to merge into a single body or group
The political parties will have to learn how to coalesce if they want to accomplish anything.
contretemps-an unfortunate occurrence, especially an awkward or embarrassing one
I was in the store and witnessed the contretemps of a mother trying to control her child.
convolution-twisted shape: a curve, coil, or twist
The book had a lot of convolutions in its plot.
cull-remove somebody or something as worthless: to remove an inferior person or thing from a group
They had to cull him from their country club because he didn't make as much money as he initially said.
disparate-very different: describes people or things so completely unlike one another that they cannot be compared
The two sisters were so disparate from each other in their looks that everyone suspected one of them of being adopted.
dogmatic-expressing rigid opinions: prone to expressing strongly held beliefs and opinions
He was dogmatic about some topics, whereas in others he was completely uninformed.
licentious- pursuing desires aggressively and selfishly, unchecked by morality, especially in sexual matters
He was a licentious man.
mete-to distribute or apportion by measure; allot; dole
The mother was careful to mete out punishment only when her children deserved it.
noxious-harmful to life or health, especially by being poisonous
My dog has noxious gas.
polemic-passionate argument: a passionate, strongly worded, and often controversial argument against or, less often, in favor of somebody or something
There are often polemics between people of opposite political parties.
populous-densely populated
California is very populous.
probity- absolute moral correctness
When she was growing up, the girl's aspiration in life was to become a nun as she was raised in total probity.
repartee- conversation consisting of witty remarks
The two chess geeks had a repartee regarding the rules of the game.
supervene- to follow or come about unexpectedly, usually interrupting or changing what is going on
The announcement regarding the change in plans surprised everyone, as it supervened what everyone thought was going on.
truncate-shorten something by removing part
The car was truncated when the wannabe hoodlums altered it so it sat almost touching the ground.
unimpeachable- impossible to discredit or challenge
People like to believe that certain politicians are unimpeachable, but that isn't true.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
1987 AP exam
I thought the easier questions were 1-15 because the passage that we had to read from was easy to understand, not written like it was the first century. I missed 4 out of those. The last two sets of questions (33-46 don't seem to exist) were way more difficult because the language was more advanced and I didn't understand the last one. That one was the hardest.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
My Opinion Isn't (A) Right
Reading notes:
The idea that you don't have the right to your opinion is really weird. Most people would probably disagree, and if I tried to explain it to my mom she'd look at me like I was crazy and say "That doesn't make any sense" because it's kind of a crazy thought. I don't think it makes much sense, either. I get what the author of the passage was trying to say, but the example about a car and someone walking into the street was really bad and another example should have been used. No one in that situation is going to be mad about being pulled back from getting hit by a car and say, "Well, I have a right to my opinion." That will never ever ever ever ever ever happen. A more realistic example should have been used. The one about the Bush and Iraq or whatever it was about was good, I guess, but honestly I think the author was totally wasting his time writing a stupid piece about something that most people won't understand or will disagree with anyway. Furthermore, why having an obligation to let someone have their opinion is a bad thing, is beyond me. It's an opinion. It can't be wrong, and it can't really be right, either. Getting hit by a car, for example, is rarely a matter of opinion. Am I missing something? I feel like there's something to get, but the fact that I don't understand it should tell you that it's really a crappy idea anyway. It shouldn't be so hard to understand if it's in any way plausible.
Seminar notes:
We didn't seem to cover any ground in our seminar, we pretty much just talked about religion and racism. But if someone is religious and that's their opinion that they have a right to, then that means, by definition of that stupid article, that we have an obligation to let them have it. The Constitution of the U.S. would agree, since we have freedom of religion. So.. what's the point he was trying to make, again?
The idea that you don't have the right to your opinion is really weird. Most people would probably disagree, and if I tried to explain it to my mom she'd look at me like I was crazy and say "That doesn't make any sense" because it's kind of a crazy thought. I don't think it makes much sense, either. I get what the author of the passage was trying to say, but the example about a car and someone walking into the street was really bad and another example should have been used. No one in that situation is going to be mad about being pulled back from getting hit by a car and say, "Well, I have a right to my opinion." That will never ever ever ever ever ever happen. A more realistic example should have been used. The one about the Bush and Iraq or whatever it was about was good, I guess, but honestly I think the author was totally wasting his time writing a stupid piece about something that most people won't understand or will disagree with anyway. Furthermore, why having an obligation to let someone have their opinion is a bad thing, is beyond me. It's an opinion. It can't be wrong, and it can't really be right, either. Getting hit by a car, for example, is rarely a matter of opinion. Am I missing something? I feel like there's something to get, but the fact that I don't understand it should tell you that it's really a crappy idea anyway. It shouldn't be so hard to understand if it's in any way plausible.
Seminar notes:
We didn't seem to cover any ground in our seminar, we pretty much just talked about religion and racism. But if someone is religious and that's their opinion that they have a right to, then that means, by definition of that stupid article, that we have an obligation to let them have it. The Constitution of the U.S. would agree, since we have freedom of religion. So.. what's the point he was trying to make, again?
Monday, August 18, 2014
Vocabulary #1
adumbrate-sketchily indicate something; to give an incomplete or faint outline
She adumbrated the plans for the construction of the new school.
apotheosis-highest level of glory or power
In order to reach apotheosis, he had to complete the missions he was given.
ascetic-choosing or reflecting austerity and self-denial as personal or religious discipline
The monk chose to live an ascetic life.
bauble-something that is small and decorative but of little real value
Baubles were given out at the wedding as mementos.
beguile-charm someone; win and hold someone's attention
He was able to beguile her and achieve his goal of asking her to prom.
burgeon-produce new growth
With the upcoming spring, flowers are expected to burgeon.
complement-something that completes or perfects something else
In geometry, there are complementary and supplementary angles.
contumacious-very resistant to authority
Some protestors these days are very contumacious.
curmudgeon-someone who's irritable or stubborn
After the death of her husband, she became a curmudgeon and went out of her way to avoid others.
didactic-with message; containing a political or moral message
Many fables from the Native American culture are didactic, meant to teach a moral to those who hear it.
disingenuous-withholding or not taking account of known information
She was disingenuous in saying she didn't understand what they meant.
exculpate-prove somebody innocent; to free someone from blame
The jury exculpated the defendant.
faux pas-social blunder; an embarrassing mistake that breaks a social convention
Getting drunk at the annual company Christmas Party was a faux pas.
fulminate-speak scathingly; to express forceful criticism of someone or something
The teacher fulminated the student that never did their work and failed all their tests.
fustian-bombastic
The congressman displayed fustian at the meeting.
hauteur-arrogance
The king displayed great hauteur.
inhibit-to stop something from continuing
The great flood of rain inhibited the draught.
jeremiad-lengthy complaint; a long recitation of mournful complaints
The plaintiff had a great jeremiad against the defendant.
opportunist-unprincipled resourceful person: somebody who takes advantage of something, especially somebody who does so in a devious, unscrupulous, or unprincipled way
He was a known opportunist who took good situations for other people and got from them what he could for himself.
unconscionable-morally unacceptable; shocking
The treatment of Jews in the Holocaust was unconscionable.
She adumbrated the plans for the construction of the new school.
apotheosis-highest level of glory or power
In order to reach apotheosis, he had to complete the missions he was given.
ascetic-choosing or reflecting austerity and self-denial as personal or religious discipline
The monk chose to live an ascetic life.
bauble-something that is small and decorative but of little real value
Baubles were given out at the wedding as mementos.
beguile-charm someone; win and hold someone's attention
He was able to beguile her and achieve his goal of asking her to prom.
burgeon-produce new growth
With the upcoming spring, flowers are expected to burgeon.
complement-something that completes or perfects something else
In geometry, there are complementary and supplementary angles.
contumacious-very resistant to authority
Some protestors these days are very contumacious.
curmudgeon-someone who's irritable or stubborn
After the death of her husband, she became a curmudgeon and went out of her way to avoid others.
didactic-with message; containing a political or moral message
Many fables from the Native American culture are didactic, meant to teach a moral to those who hear it.
disingenuous-withholding or not taking account of known information
She was disingenuous in saying she didn't understand what they meant.
exculpate-prove somebody innocent; to free someone from blame
The jury exculpated the defendant.
faux pas-social blunder; an embarrassing mistake that breaks a social convention
Getting drunk at the annual company Christmas Party was a faux pas.
fulminate-speak scathingly; to express forceful criticism of someone or something
The teacher fulminated the student that never did their work and failed all their tests.
fustian-bombastic
The congressman displayed fustian at the meeting.
hauteur-arrogance
The king displayed great hauteur.
inhibit-to stop something from continuing
The great flood of rain inhibited the draught.
jeremiad-lengthy complaint; a long recitation of mournful complaints
The plaintiff had a great jeremiad against the defendant.
opportunist-unprincipled resourceful person: somebody who takes advantage of something, especially somebody who does so in a devious, unscrupulous, or unprincipled way
He was a known opportunist who took good situations for other people and got from them what he could for himself.
unconscionable-morally unacceptable; shocking
The treatment of Jews in the Holocaust was unconscionable.
Reflections on week 1
1. There is nothing preventing me from doing a good job in this class, except for maybe the fact that I never use computers because I don't understand them and they're kind of scary
2. An awesome teaching experience would be my freshman year English class. My teacher was really funny and used personal stories to get us to relate to what he was teaching. The main thing I remember from that class was how he told us that your thesis in an essay is your "roadmap". I think his way of teaching worked for most of his students because he was just super friendly and everyone loved him.
3. I'm a little concerned about how 90% of this class is online because it means I'll have to learn to use computers for more than just typing an essay, but it's a useful skill to have nowadays anyway. I didn't come into this class with any expectations other than it would be more difficult than a college prep class. I want to be challenged, and I hope that I'll learn something that will help me in the future at some point.
2. An awesome teaching experience would be my freshman year English class. My teacher was really funny and used personal stories to get us to relate to what he was teaching. The main thing I remember from that class was how he told us that your thesis in an essay is your "roadmap". I think his way of teaching worked for most of his students because he was just super friendly and everyone loved him.
3. I'm a little concerned about how 90% of this class is online because it means I'll have to learn to use computers for more than just typing an essay, but it's a useful skill to have nowadays anyway. I didn't come into this class with any expectations other than it would be more difficult than a college prep class. I want to be challenged, and I hope that I'll learn something that will help me in the future at some point.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Poetry #1
1. The Levi's commercial took the poem "The Laughing Heart" by Charles Bukowski, without credit.
2. It might be ironic because the poem talks about taking control of your life and being free with it, and corporations are sometimes known for taking things over.
3. The poem is the opposite of what Bukowski was in some ways, but the same in others. He was isolated and withdrawn, and a lot of things in his dark past contributed to this. His poem mentions darkness and finding a light, which may relate to a struggle he once felt in his life. At the same time, it is a poem about freeing yourself and living your life the way you want to, but it seems like he never did.
4. I found the answer to #1 by Googling the first line of the poem, which took me to a Charles Bukowski fan group, basically. To find #3, I looked up Bukowski on Wikipedia.
2. It might be ironic because the poem talks about taking control of your life and being free with it, and corporations are sometimes known for taking things over.
3. The poem is the opposite of what Bukowski was in some ways, but the same in others. He was isolated and withdrawn, and a lot of things in his dark past contributed to this. His poem mentions darkness and finding a light, which may relate to a struggle he once felt in his life. At the same time, it is a poem about freeing yourself and living your life the way you want to, but it seems like he never did.
4. I found the answer to #1 by Googling the first line of the poem, which took me to a Charles Bukowski fan group, basically. To find #3, I looked up Bukowski on Wikipedia.
Summer Reading Notes, Pride and Prejudice
Plot: Mrs. Bennet is occupied with finding her five daughters all wonderfully rich husbands. When Mr. Bennet dies, the nearest male relative will inherit all of the Bennets' money and property, and can throw the rest of the family out of the house. The husbands are to insure the entire family's well being after Mr. Bennet's death, and two of the daughters are lucky enough to marry for love. Lizzy meets Mr. Darcy, who is rather stuck up and they don't like each other at first. Jane meets Mr. Bingley, who is a kind man and falls in love with her easily.
Mr. Bennet: He's sensible and funny and doesn't care much for his wife, who is the complete opposite of himself. He loves his oldest daughters very much, particularly Lizzy, because of how level headed they are. He wants his daughters' happiness but doesn't seem too concerned over the prospect of them losing the house and money after his death.
Mrs. Bennet: She can be really rude. She's very over dramatic and too nosy and likes to insult other people's daughters, and sometimes her own. Looks matter the most to her, so she's happy that her daughters were, mostly, very pretty. She's the driving force between the daughters getting husbands, and she's the reason why Bingley and Jane ever met.
Jane: She's very quiet and timid and not nearly as strong willed as her mother or Lizzy, who's her best friend. She's inclined to think the best of everybody, including Bingley's sisters, who kind of like her at first but don't later on. It was easy for her to fall for Bingley and she had her heart broken by him and found it rather difficult to get over.
Lizzy: Very strong willed, and sensible, like her father. She sees no reason to think of Darcy in a romantic way after his first rude proposal, whereas most women might still be really flattered by the fact that a very rich man wanted to marry them. She can hold a grudge, too, as she wasn't really wiling to forgive him and wouldn't have if he hadn't been so nice the next few times she saw him. Instead of knowing instantly that she loved him, like Jane did with Bingley, it crept up on her until she finally realized that she may have feelings for him.
Kitty and Lydia: They are "two of the silliest girls in England", absent minded and all that matters to them is soldiers. They're annoying.
Mary: Really smart. She doesn't excel in the things that ladies are supposed to be accomplished in. She can't sing, and she's smarter than most girls her age, and she has no interest in boys.
Jane Austen's writing style is a little dry, mainly because of how old it is. There's a lot of higher level vocabulary in it. There are a lot of long boring passages.
Summer Reading Notes
The Poisonwood Bible
Plot: The Price family goes to the Congo because the dad is a preacher and they are going to be a missionary family. They learn the hard way that Africa is much more different than their comfortable life in Georgia, and failure to adapt well enough results in the death of a daughter, which isn't an uncommon occurrence there, anyway.
Nathan: He's a selfish man who doesn't love his family or anyone else. He doesn't even seem to love himself. I don't think he loves God, either, he fears him. Nathan's past is a big factor in the way he acts and that plays a moderate role in the book. As time goes on, he becomes disillusioned with everything that happens, especially with he death of Ruth May, and stays long after his family leaves him so that he can continue to bring salvation to societies that didn't grow up with a religion.
Orleanna: She cares about her children, and her husband (until he goes totally wacko). She hurts for Nathan, because she knew him when he was different and loved her, so she sees him from a completely different point of view than her children. She's very timid, it seems like, because she won't really stand up to her husband and do what's best for her kids.
Rachel: She reminds me of me. She's very materialistic and wants things that remind her of home, and honestly I think she has more common sense than the rest of the family. She doesn't want to be in Africa at all, she wants to go home which is a good way of thinking because of how dangerous the Congo was, even before it was in a war. I don't really know why she decided to stay in Africa after all they went through, even if she was in Johannesburg, because I would've been on the first flight back to America.
Leah: Leah is way too attached to her dad. She doesn't realize that he doesn't love her and probably never will, so she's a total suck up and only wants to make him happy and proud of her. She's the most open minded in the family, next to Adah, because she stuck it out in Africa and learned to live there for the rest of her life and even married a black man, which was weird back then. Leah's a good person but I really don't like her character and I'm not sure why.
Adah: Adah is my favorite character. She makes fun of people in her own way and they have no idea, which is hilarious. She's good at seeing things the way no one else does, and she sort of plays mind games with herself. I think it has to do with her disability. She takes her experiences in Africa to heart and goes on to become a doctor, and studies some of the diseases that are common in Africa.
Ruth May: She sees everything with the simplicity of a child. Nothing is complicated to her, she even got to the African children to play with her, something her sisters had a lot of trouble with. I think she resembles the only innocent thing in a country that is entirely corrupt and dangerous. Death is a normality there, no matter who it is that dies, and she provides a break from that reality.
Kingsolver uses very colorful language and descriptive passages to show the reader what the land looks like. It is as beautiful as it is deadly, and she did a good job conveying that. She uses symbolism, too. I think the snake that bit Ruth May symbolized all of the bad people trying to take over the Congo and Ruth May was the symbol for the good people who got run over by those who were rising up to take control of the country.
The Poisonwood Bible
Plot: The Price family goes to the Congo because the dad is a preacher and they are going to be a missionary family. They learn the hard way that Africa is much more different than their comfortable life in Georgia, and failure to adapt well enough results in the death of a daughter, which isn't an uncommon occurrence there, anyway.
Nathan: He's a selfish man who doesn't love his family or anyone else. He doesn't even seem to love himself. I don't think he loves God, either, he fears him. Nathan's past is a big factor in the way he acts and that plays a moderate role in the book. As time goes on, he becomes disillusioned with everything that happens, especially with he death of Ruth May, and stays long after his family leaves him so that he can continue to bring salvation to societies that didn't grow up with a religion.
Orleanna: She cares about her children, and her husband (until he goes totally wacko). She hurts for Nathan, because she knew him when he was different and loved her, so she sees him from a completely different point of view than her children. She's very timid, it seems like, because she won't really stand up to her husband and do what's best for her kids.
Rachel: She reminds me of me. She's very materialistic and wants things that remind her of home, and honestly I think she has more common sense than the rest of the family. She doesn't want to be in Africa at all, she wants to go home which is a good way of thinking because of how dangerous the Congo was, even before it was in a war. I don't really know why she decided to stay in Africa after all they went through, even if she was in Johannesburg, because I would've been on the first flight back to America.
Leah: Leah is way too attached to her dad. She doesn't realize that he doesn't love her and probably never will, so she's a total suck up and only wants to make him happy and proud of her. She's the most open minded in the family, next to Adah, because she stuck it out in Africa and learned to live there for the rest of her life and even married a black man, which was weird back then. Leah's a good person but I really don't like her character and I'm not sure why.
Adah: Adah is my favorite character. She makes fun of people in her own way and they have no idea, which is hilarious. She's good at seeing things the way no one else does, and she sort of plays mind games with herself. I think it has to do with her disability. She takes her experiences in Africa to heart and goes on to become a doctor, and studies some of the diseases that are common in Africa.
Ruth May: She sees everything with the simplicity of a child. Nothing is complicated to her, she even got to the African children to play with her, something her sisters had a lot of trouble with. I think she resembles the only innocent thing in a country that is entirely corrupt and dangerous. Death is a normality there, no matter who it is that dies, and she provides a break from that reality.
Kingsolver uses very colorful language and descriptive passages to show the reader what the land looks like. It is as beautiful as it is deadly, and she did a good job conveying that. She uses symbolism, too. I think the snake that bit Ruth May symbolized all of the bad people trying to take over the Congo and Ruth May was the symbol for the good people who got run over by those who were rising up to take control of the country.
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