Making an AP Lit Poetry Essay Question

The Fallen Will Forever Stand (Cameron Moll)

Prompt: Read carefully the following poem by Cameron Moll. Then write a well developed essay in which you analyze how the poet uses various literary devices to give meaning to the poem. Pay close attention to form.

Fallen.

In silence we ponder

Momentarily.

Years fail to wash away

Memories that stain the walls of yesterday.

What are They but those we revere?

Indelible is the pain

Yet greater is the courage

Of those who gave the incalculable bequest.

What are we but guardians of the legacy now ours?

Written in our hearts the memories

In perpetuity remain.

Forever

Will the Fallen

Stand.

This poem has a certain thing about it that I wanted to experiment with. I wonder if someone can figure out what that something is, and what it is called.

The thing no1 likes but we still have to do...no its not taxes...

The Senior Project....why art thou such a demon? I do not understand the purpose of half the things that occurred. However, I do know that portions of the project did have a reason. The resume, Mr. B's version of the presentation, and that stuff I understand. I also understand requiring people to bring in proof of applying for college or jobs. This shows that students are taking action to move on in life, past high school. The bib cards were tedious, but they did ending up being helpful to me with my topic. They worked for me after I was able to group them by topic. Everything else that was in the binder that I haven't mentioned, were tedious and often very childish tasks people did for the grade. What I think could make this better is to not make it one big thing but lots of little things. Make the project ubiquitous with classwork throughout the year and have the students place it in their in class folders. This will constantly keep the students mind ready and up for the task, whether they like it or not. It would also be cool if students were given all the guidelines and criteria and things to accomplished the beginning of the year so that they have it all when they need it the most. That time is College Application season. The research and presentation portions of the project should remain the same, however, I think it would make it easier and more efficient on the students part if they practiced it more often, than for it to be one big event. It would help with the nerves and also with consistency of understanding the material. Especially for an AP class or for students that will be taking the SAT or ACT. Being able to quickly read and analyze passages that are as boring as the hair on a meerkat's back, will enable the student to be able analyze and SAT ACT passage and formulate answers to questions faster, rather than getting confused, wasting time, and then not doing so well. This is where research and reading scholarly articles really comes in handy. There are lots of things that can be done to make this a better experience for next years students. So in conclusion, I think that the work for the senior project should be provided to the students at the beginning and be made ubiquitous with the curriculum of the class, throughout the year, and that students have the opportunities to write research papers, learn how to do them, practice, and also be able to learn how to make presentations, do presentations, etc... so that they may be more efficient at doing so when the main one, the actual senior project presentation, comes.

Dear Pip

Dear Pip,
I am a student reading your story. Honestly, I admire all the trouble that you have gone through in your life. You have worked so hard to achieve. You have reaped the rewards of an honest days work, or years rather. I do have some questions though. Why did you continue to ignore Ms. Havisham's  constant babble about breaking hearts to Estella? It makes no sense to me. The actions that you have taken quite confuse me. For money you allowed yourself to be taken away from Joe and Biddy and all the other people. That was wrong. However I do understand that it would be possible at a young age. On the other hand it is also notable how you have matured into the man that you are. I am not saying that I agree with the actions that you have taken, but rather i'm saying that you have made the choice that is deemed best for your situation. In my opinion, the basis of your life, and your life goal, seems to be the beginning of something I deem very important in the history of England itself. That one thing, was the industrial revolution. Yes, I've said it. Did not expect that did you? The journey that takes a young boy from average life, to becoming a man with a bustling life, in a bustling trade, in a bustling city. That drive right there is what makes me look up to what you have accomplished. Way to go Pip, career wise. You could have done better social wise. Fo' reel, Estella.... rlly bro? Shawty must be trippin on some hammers.
Nice meeting you, sort of. Thank you for your time, and I hope you have a good day and time, with your beloved, Estella...

Sincerely,
 A student that read what seemed like your diary...


P.S. Next time, when you hear someone telling someone else to break your heart, just walk away...
P.S.S. Don't mind the slang. It shall come into existence several decades if not centuries after your time.

The Diagnostic C FAILURE!!!

The majority of the class got 16 questions wrong. This is their story why...

10. This was a theme question. The word choice of the question asked for the BEST of the choices provided, which adds a bias to the question. This increased the difficulty in answering the question.

22. This was a question on vocabulary. The reason that most people got this question wrong was NOT because if misinterpreted literary vocabulary, by misunderstanding of the meanings of certain synonyms that were provided as answer choices.

29. This was a question that pertained to literary terms. It has been a long long time since we used or went over all the literary devices ans vocabulary that we spent so much time learning last semester, that we forgot what certain things were.

30. This was a theme question. Most people answered a choice that was general for the prose, but theme is universal, so we misunderstood and ignored the broad and most general of answer choices, which just happened to be the answer.

33. This was a question about main idea. The question asked to find the theme of each paragraph and then pick the best two paragraphs this fit under what the question was asking. Under a limited time environment this is difficult.

35. This was a question on tone that asked for the best of all answer choices. The answer choices were synonymous with each other and confusing to differentiate from. Also, it has been a long time since we visited tone, so we may need to be remind ourselves the many tones that there could be.

38. This was a question that pertained to literary terms. It has been a long long time since we used or went over all the literary devices ans vocabulary that we spent so much time learning last semester, that we forgot what certain things were.

39. This was a question on tone that asked for the best of all answer choices. The answer choices were synonymous with each other and confusing to differentiate from. Also, it has been a long time since we visited tone, so we may need to be remind ourselves the many tones that there could be.

40. This was a question asking to infer on what the narrator of the passage was attempting to communicate, and then summarizing it. This was also a difficult passage.

42. This question asks for the best choice. First one has to figure what paragraph the narrator expressed feelings about mankind, and then pick the best of those. This questions asserts slight bias.

47. In this question the reader is asked to infer about the narrator after going through the entire passage. The answers provided are also twisted forms of what is provided in the poem. So there could also be an issue in translating/interpreting.

48. This is a question about the diction of the narrator. The reason that people got this question is because it is an inference question about the narrator and not the poem.

50. This is a diction question. Most people probably got it wrong because of the diction used in the passage could have referenced different answer choices. One has to go back quite a bit to find the correct answer, as it is not presented right next to where the question directs our attention.

51. This is a question about attitude of the narrator. The reason that people got this question wrong because the answer choices were very synonymous with each other.

52. This a question about the effects of the stanzas on the poem in its entirety. One has to notice how it starts and how it ends, and the subject matter of the entire thing to figure out the correct answer.

53. This is a question about literary devices. The question is worded deviously. The question asks for at least two examples of the literary devices in the last stanza. There could be only one example of the devices and that would be the distraction. This was a very deviously written question.

So basically....the test sucks and it is a bad representation of what we know because it is biased and is worded really really deviously for a timed test. 

Diagnostic C

Well I guess the diognostic went well today. It was pretty chill. I think it was easier than the past diognostics, but I do also think that the words caught me like cuffs. The only issues I had were with the passage about the man that was about to get his freedom and a little difficulty with the seasons one. These took me a while to complete. I regret to say that I did not completely finish the prose about the man getting his freedom. However, I had also kept that one for last. The resin I had difficulty with that one was because the questions involved picking, out of the unidentifiable paragraphs, which paragraph or which two paragraphs best accomplished something. This was time consuming. I think we should learn new tactics for approaching questions like these. Also, I think a review of the words we used last semester and tone words is in need. This is what I think about the diognostics and how I did on it.

Beloved: creepy book vs. confusing creepy movie

Dhruval Darji

03/12/12

Mr.Beddingfield

AP Literature & Composition

Beloved: Book vs. Movie

            The book Beloved, by Toni Morrison, and the movie adaptation of it have their own way of expressing the thoughts and ideas that Toni Morrison wished to convey to her readers. The book is written with constant transitions from past and the present. Also it transitions from the point of views of varying characters. The movie also attempts to do this.  However, the movie does this through flashbacks. There are some things that cannot be included in flashbacks or in the order they are intended, because of the way the book is written.

            One thing that I have noticed that is different about the book and the movie adaptation is how the book puts emphasis on the archetype of water. The movie cannot emphasize water as well as Toni Morrison did in her book. The hardest thing for a movie is to represent the thoughts of a character. It is almost impossible to do so, unless the director makes the actor say the character’s thoughts. Like how Sethe thinks of memories or remembering as the word “rememory.” Just like that there are things that the movie can do that can’t be emphasized as well by the book. Like facial expression, emotions, imagery, etc. An example of this is the scene when Sethe saw Beloved’s scar.

            Sometimes movie adaptations sometimes have to cut parts out so that the movie may fit in a time frame. One thing that I noticed was the great big feast that occurred right before the four men came to 124 to retrieve Sethe and her children. In fact, entire portions of Stamp Paid’s and Baby Sugg’s stories aren’t even included in the movie. The movie is centered on Sethe, Beloved, and occasionally Paul D and Denver. Another thing that is ignored in the movie is the stories of the Sweet Home men. The movie also chooses to ignore all the imagery and specific details that Toni Morrison chose to include. Like all that the back ground story and imagery that Bodwin’s added to the story. Like their little “piggy bank” statue.

            The movie did however enable me to understand several things about the story. Watching the movie, I understand Paul D’s role in the story. Also more importantly I understand Denver’s and Baby Sugg’s roles in the story. This is mainly because I get the questions that I got wrong on all of my quizzes. The movie allows me to see the development of Denver’s character and how she goes from being a wuss to taking initiative and growing up. It is kind of like a bildungs roman.

            At the end of the movie Mr. Bodwin’s excerpt is also ignored. However the movie does go and show how Sethe went on to attack Mr. Bodwin, though she did not get close to doing so, without the crazy confusing flash forwards and flash backs. During this scene, we, the audience and readers, can see how the director chose to play Beloved as a ghost, by having her literally disappear.

            If someone saw this movie without reading the book, then they would hate it, because they would not understand the depth of the movie. They wouldn’t understand the themes or the purpose of the story and all that Toni Morrison put into it. I just barely understood it, and I did read the book. I still think that the book creeps me out. However, the movie creeps me out even more, with its stance on the main points of horror and the love a mother has for her children. It is my belief that if the movie had provided more focus in the areas of how things came to be, slavery, and the past of the characters, further than their pain, then people would be able to understand the movie much, much, better. This is what I think of Beloved, the book and its movie adaptation. 

Why debate about prejudice? Everyone noes the answer...

The question for this debate was, " Is prejudice a problem in today's society?"
I believe that my group, "Prejudice is not a problem in today's society," won the debate. I have several reasons for this. Our opponents failed to understand that we were not arguing the nonexistence of prejudice, we were arguing that it does NOT affect society and the everyday life of people. Our opponents also failed to realize one of our essential points and forced us to have to repeat it several times, because they kept constantly bringing it up as if they had nothing else to talk about, which they in fact did. They had a plethora of ideas which made lots of logical sense too. However, their choice to consistently go back to our point about "Obama, and such people," shows how they lacked a proper rebuttal to the many many facts that we had laid out towards them to show that prejudice may exist but it is not a problem. Most of their rebuttals consisted of questioning us, or rather, interrogating us about our claims. That scared me...no seriously, it did.
Our society and government is a democratic republic. So the people in power are chosen by the voters. Thus the highly known individuals are but representatives of a mass majority. If they show prejudice of some sorts then it is only because the voters showed that same prejudice and voted or supported them to power. This shows how people have a choice and can choose to avoid negative prejudices which also shows how though prejudice exists in society, it is not really a problem.
One main concrete example that I would like to provide is how everyone parent raises their child on some sort of prejudice against certain people. This could be positive prejudice. For example, parents tell their children to stay away from strangers that say they will give them some candy. This builds prejudice against strangers and pedophiles, in this case, by the hand of parents. The parents do so for the protection of their children. This shows how prejudice is present, but effectively used to protect children.
These were the points that we attempted to get across to our opponents. I agree that they had good facts and stands, and effective rebuttals. This includes stone faces and scary glares. :P
Alhough, for some of these points stated there just wasn't enough time, I still believe that my group won the debate for sticking to our argument for what we were arguing for with facts and adherence to the topic.

Wa-tah' in Beloved and otha stuff too

Beloved by Toni Morrison has extensive use of the archetype of water. A prime example of this is Beloved's rise from the water. Water is archetypal of life. When children are born, its is from water (fluid) that they are released. In this same way, Beloved is "born" out of the water. We soon thereafter realize that she is in fact the ghost of the baby, Beloved, and that she is just in the form that she would have been if she hadn't died.
In the article "The archetype of water," the idea of a vengeful female ghost is discussed. The ghost either emerges of or from water, or has power through her mastery of water. The article also discusses the archetype of water through mythology, like the myth of Perseus and the Medusa, and plays such as Hamlet, where the woman is drowned in water. Additionally discussed is the cleansing power of water and its juxtaposing destructive side. These are things discussed in this article and how they relate to the archetype of water in the novel, Beloved.


http://www2.hawaii.edu/~davink/MYTHOLOGY%20CLASS/WATER/waterindex.html

The archetype of water

Water is the most primal of all archetypes. Seventy-percent of your body is comprised of this vital element. Sufferers from arthritis are said to be able to feel subtle changes in the weather due to the fluctuations of water within the synovial fluids of the affected joints. Across cultures, water is seen as the driving element behind creation; as an archetype, water seems to possess a cleansing, renewing power that is equalled only by its raw power to destroy, as shown in the recent Asian tsunami and hurricanes affecting the Gulf Region of the United States. Flood myths seem to be a powerful metaphor for water's duality as creator and destroyer.

On a scientific level, biologists are still engaged in studies about the primordial soup from which all life arose; forensic anthropologists are investigating ways to provide evidence for a great cataclysmic flood that ties into Noah's account in the book of Genesis. On the political front, the privatization of water in areas such as South America and in the Middle East seems posed to become a global issue as more and more areas across the globe may become affected by long periods of drought--water will become more precious a natural resource than ever.

The water myth in this class:

This semester, I'd like to investigate the primacy of water as embodied by a central myth: The myth of Medusa and Perseus. Modern visions of Medusa seem to harp on her status as a horrible, snake-like abomination, shunned and reviled by the Greeks so much so that her very visage stultified speech and rendered living men into stone. Ovid's version of this myth may not essentially reveal Medusa's strong connections to water, but our reading of Evslin's text may underscore Medusa's complexities as a mythic figure. Intrestingly enough, I'm not all that interested in Perseus, portrayed in Clash of the Titans by L.A. Law's Harry Hamlin--he just seems incidental to the tale, a buff pretty-boy hero hired to take down yet another monster.

Transmission into literature and into pop-culture:

Arguably, the most famous archetype of the drowned woman exists in Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Ophelia, presumably distraught over the death of her father Polonius, and possibly suffering the 'pangs of disprized love' regarding Hamlet, falls into a stream. Literary scholars have always debated whether or not this act was an accident or a suicide. Decide for yourself.

The other famous woman with water-bound associations is Tennyson's Lady of Shallot. The poor lady is cursed; she cannot see the world directly, but is always forced to look at the world via a gigantic mirror (also a potent symbol). On the day that she sees the gallant Sir Lancelot, however, she feels compelled to break the curse and to stare at him directly, which breaks the mirror, and sets about the conditions of her demise. She ends up drifting down the river to Camelot in a water-drenched bier.

In modern film, the drowned woman archetype unifies a central aspect of this course: the archetype of the monstrous woman/the rational woman. Ever since Hideo Nakata released his film Ringu,countless films have explored the idea of a vengeful female ghost whose primary powers stem from her mastery of water. I am fascinated by this concept.

As such, we can raise the following questions about the archetype as it has made its way into pop-culture:

Why are women the vengeful ghosts, and not men?

Why do images of mirrors abound?

Why is the mirror central to many of these myths?

Why are distorted images prevalent in the myth (cameras, videos, etc.?)

What does the well symbolize in these myths?

Why have the central protagonists fighting the evil specter been transposed from men into women?

What are the implications of technology as it has been posited into the films?

Why has the age of Sadako been reduced in the American version?

What are the fundamental differences between American and Japanese versions of these films?

LINKS:

The Ringworld (the Internet's most comprehensive site on the Japanese and English films about Sadako and Samara, and the cursed videotape.

Ju-OnThe Grudge Website (the official website for the film)

Dark Water (the official website for the film)

What Lies Beneath (fansite for the film)

The Past....

"Can the past ever truly die?
Or, is the past always with us?"

The past cannot die, however there are exceptions to that rule. When the event of the past are forgotten, unrecorded, and evidence obliterated, then the past can be killed, but even that is near to impossible to do.
People know there is a past because there is evidence of it's existence. For example, they say the Dark Ages are the worst time in human history because there is no written record of its existence and slight evidence of it existing. However, we do have evidence, so we know of it's existence, and that it was our past.
In "Beloved" the past never disappears either. It continues to exist, even if the physical proof is destroyed, the "rememory" of it from one person remains in that place to flow into the minds of others. Another way that the past cannot die is because it clings to people. For example, Sethe, from "Beloved," cannot escape her past because of the physical proof that it existed on her body. In fact the state of her body n itself is the proof of the existence of her past. What is worse is that Sethe, similar to Bernice, from The Piano Lesson, clings to the past. Here we can apply a little physics. A person drags their past behind them, because the past never lets go, but how can a person cling to something that is being dragged behind them? Dragging is the act of pulling. So clinging to that which the person is pulling requires the person to stop pulling and stand where they are and then cling to the past. Thus, a person is "stuck in the past," like Sethe and Berniece are. (This lesson of physics sounded better in my head.)  This shows how no matter how hard one tries, they cannot leave behind their past, but they can move toward the future, because the past cannot control that.
Recently I have been reading this manga called "Dengeki Daisy" in my leisure time. This manga is about a boy, names Kurosaki, Tasuku (last name, first name, as is customary of Japanese names) who's father died being called a traitor to the Japanese government. So, after learning this truth, the Kurosaki went on to become a criminal hacker who created the perfect virus to use against Japanese governments own secret code. Soon he was caught, but being a minor he couldn't be punished, and then was saved by a giant business and a friend of his father who pulled some strings to help out the Kurosaki, even though he had been the one to brand the Kurosaki's father a traitor. Throughout the manga the Kurosaki grows up and the story takes on a different plot, since he is not the main character of the story, but second to the main character. However, for the entirety of the manga, which is still continuing, Kurosaki cannot forget the crime he committed in his past. He lives in regret and in pain of having committed that crime. He blamed himself for the death of his best friend and the man who saved him from his past as well. They died to protect him, and he cannot forget that. On the other hand, Kurosaki lives on looking at his future and the road ahead. He realizes that dwelling in the past would bring him only sorry and pain. He cannot escape his past, but he sure can move forward. In conclusion, I repeat the the past cannot die, and will always be present, but it cannot affect the future.

Buzzzzz....Incorrect Questions and my Future in AP Lit

Students missed numbers 4, 7, 9, 13, 21, 24, and 54. This is an assumption f their story...
The reason why students missed number 4 is because the diction used and the phrase were complicated to d3c!ph3r (decipher). The reason that people missed number 7 is because the answer choices were mostly similar to each other. For example, A, B, and D could possibly have been used interchangeably, where A is vague, B is slightly more specific, and D serves only to answer the rhetorical function of the passage, though not the question itself. C was the opposite of A and B, and E was kind of random. The reason I got it wrong is because I forgot that the question was asking about the line now Oxford. and the street. This question also has answer choices that are really similar to each other. For number 13, either B, C, or D, could have been answers because of how similar they were where D sums up B and C in a broader aspect. In this way, this is also like the last 2 questions. That and I just didn't understand how it was funny.The reason that a lot of students got number 21 incorrect is because we haven't had questions about the grammatical function of anything for a while, if at all. For number 24, I believe the word idiosyncratic took us for a spin and confused us. There are two reasons that a lot of people got number 54 wrong. The first is that though it looks similar to an SAT styled question, the vocabulary was "interesting," as in they answer choices could have been used interchangeably. A prime example of this are answer choices A and E whose first words say the same thing pretty much, but the second words are opposites. The second reason is that students might have randomly answered when pressed for time.

My goals are to refine my essay writing. I wish to practice on special strategies to increase my efficiency in writing the AP prompts. I plan to do this by following the following strategy.

• Indentifying literary devices
• Clumping and picking specific ones that I can write about
• Asking myself why the author incorporated these literary devices and what effect it has on the piece
• Making an outline of what to write for each paragraph
• and then writing an awesome essay.

These are my goals.

P.S. Mr. Beddingfield, my statistical strategy did work. I had gotten 2/9 questions that I guessed on correct XP

Test Taking Tips 101

Statistics and Probability SWAG ^_^

That debate...

The class won. That's all there is to it. We may have had scrambled thoughts, but that is because we weren't able to converse on the ideas we had completely. All we were able to share were main topics and such ideas. However, even so, we presented much more factual information on the reasons that Huck Finn is a book of quality to be taught in school, with the right guidance. Mr. Beddingfield had very good points as well. He is a very well versed speaker. However, right after the 2nd and around the 3rd rebuttal, his statements just seemed to repeat with additional opinions and details. Where we were able to present a great deal of factual information and details to support our ideas. I end this on a note stating that, if we able to gather and organize our notes, ideas, and information more efficiently, then we would have done infinitely better in the debate.

Arguments on Huck

Jane Smiley,
Say It ain't so, Huck

I agree with Jane Smiley on a few topics. I agree with her on the subject of why people think Huck Finn is a great novel. She says that people only think it is a great novel because the great writers and poets say it is so. The people who have argued against it have gotten stampeded back because of the mainstream thoughts that the book is a masterpiece, because people like T.S. Elliot say so. She goes on to note that T.S. cannot sympathize with Huck because he never played around like Huck and other children did. Thus reasoning that a book is good, just because some famous guy said so, is flawed.
She brings several things to light. She says that there is more to be learned from how the novel is written than from the novel itself. Also she says that Mark Twain didn't realize that his story went from a story for boys, to a novel for men because of the long pause that was taken in writing the book. I agree a little bit on this part because it could have happened. Twain could have been scrapping for ideas and forgot about certain details about the book. This is also why she says that the last 12 chapters of the book were failures. Also at this point, Jim apparently stops developing as a character. All the things depicted in the book seem, to me, to be ideas that seemed to be popular at the time,  and appealing to the readers of that time.
I don't quite agree with the other stuff that she says. For example. she argues a lot about how race plays into the text. In addition to that, she focuses on the development and also the underdevelopment of Jim, "the slave." She seem's to show bias towards Uncle Tom's Cabin and the subject thereof. This is kind of an unfair comparison because the book being discussed is Huck Finn, where Uncle Tom's Cabin is a random book that she likes. It serves no purpose. I believe that back in the day, what Twain wrote is just what people talked about, and what people were thinking, or at least what Twain was thinking. The only thing that I agree with her on is her view on the definition of racism as a definition convenient for the oppressors but not the victims. This is what I think about Jane Smiley's article, and the things I do and do not agree with. 

Irony

http://roosterteeth.com/archive/?id=3763&v=more

This video is called Video Game President. The reason that I know that the video is not serious, is because there is no such thing as a video game president. That and because some topics discussed in the video, simply do not exist and can not occur. It begins making fun of Herman Cain and certain policies he's proposes. The voice in the video makes the scene dramatic, and then calls Herman Cain a Socialist after launching a series of claims against him. Then the sponsoring candidate popes up. He says that he supports 2nd amendment and thing such as that. Then he adds that he will protect video game rights. The man calls himself Chit Cramney, which is a knock off of Mitt Romney. The name mocks Senator Romney. "Chit Cramney" starts off with something simple such as border security, free speech, etc.. Then he exaggerates the statements by adding a comment about video games in after it. Presenting thoughts in this way appeals to the audience that are gamers, and they won't get called out for making political comments, knowing that they are a comedy company. Also just coming out and saying things might make them lose supporters. This is how I know that this video has irony, how, and why the people use it in the video.

Mark Twain found Huck's Berries, and then he gave them to Ah Mary!

Chapters 26- 30
So far in the novel a lot of stuff has happened. Joanna Wilkes questions Huck. Then Huck feels bad about "tricking" such nice women. So he sneaks into the room of the con men and takes the money and takes all $6000 with him. Then Huck hides the money inside Peter Wilkes coffin. It is then, by strange circumstances buried with Wilkes. The con men split up a slave family and liquidate the land. Mary Jane is crying about the separation of the slave family. Huck feels sad for her so he tells her the entire truth on accident. Huck makes her "go to a sick friend's house" for the night. We can tell that Huck has a little crush here. He even reminisces that he still thinks about her. Then the coolest thing happens, the real Wilkes brothers arrive from England. The whole time afterwards the 2 Wilkes brothers and the 2 con men attempt to prove to the lawyer who is who, but in the end everyone goes after all the men. When they get to the grave of Peter Wilkes, they find the money hidden there. With all the ruckus, Huck and Jim sneak away. However, the 2 cons find Huck and Jim. The old con man is pissed at Huck for leaving them and almost chokes Huck. Then the 2 con men argue saying the other left the money in the grave, but they get over their quarrel and sleep.

Dear Mark Twain,
     In class we are reading your novel Huckleberry Finn. In these times there are many people that say that the book is controversial and insulting to some people. They wish it banned. Others respect your work and say that any changes to it would deprive students of what you wanted them to notice. Your intricate writing and use of symbolism, the concept of racism, journey, etc... help shed light at the times at hand. I like how you show the world through the eyes of a semi-innocent young boy and show how he matures through out the story. Another thing I like is how you build up the conscience of Huck slowly throughout the story, and then have him take action following his morals, logic, and conscience to do what is right. This is seen when he notices that humanity is despicable, when the con artists trick the townspeople for the play and the townspeople trick the rest of the town into getting tricked by the con artist. Then his morals kick in when he decides to help out the nice ladies in getting what they deserve back again. This coming of age story, along with the explanation of existence in that time period, are what I believe makes your novel, Huckleberry Finn, a great American classic.

Sincerely an AP LIT Student,
 Dhruval Darji


P.S. The use of the crazy dialects overworking my brain cells. OMG holmes!!!!

Huck "Dragonberry" Finn

The novel "Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain expresses many impressions of people through the eyes of a child. Huck is a kid around the age of 10 or 11. He has some education and has considerable background settled through Mark Twain's, " The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." The things that play a major role in the novel  are education, racism, and the river which represents the journey that Huck and Jim, who is the slave that is running from his rightful master to work in the North so that he may buy his family from slavery, take up the river.

The journey tests Huck's intellect as he learns new things and applies that which he knows. Throughout their travels we see Huck mature and grow up from his childish ways as he learns the morals of society. Huck makes decisions from his experiences, sense of logic, and his developing sense of morality. 

Another thing we notice is how Huck treats Jim and Jim's character in the novel. Huck treats Jim as he was raised too, which is pretty stereotypical and racist. However, as he continues to hurt Jim, Huck realizes the errors of his ways. As the novel progresses. Huck's treatment of Jim  shifts from stereotypical to full of moral sense when they meet the con artists on their journey. The action by the con artists, through Huck's eyes, make Huck feel ashamed of humans. This mainly refers to white people. As a contrast to this, Twain makes Jim, the black runaway slave, seem as if he with his knowledge and superstitions, is more caring and "human" than all the controversial and hypocritical white people. This is shown especially when Jim cries over beating his daughter for no reason when she had actually gone deaf of scarlet fever and he thought she was ignoring him. 

The reason that both Huck and Jim runaway is to get freedom. Huck wants to escape his abusive father, and Jim wanted to be free. However, they realize that even though they are on the path to freedom, the world around them is anything but safe. What with floods, robbers, murders, con artists, etc.. they learn that the world is anything but safe. In fact, they are ironically still surrounded by the dangers that they are attempting to escape. 

These are things that I have picked up while reading Huck Finn. Though, I believe that the kid is crazy, he has a great deal more intellect than most of the people. I can't say that I look forward to the rest of the book, but I do look forward to Huck's antics. 

Othello Questions

Answer questions 1-3 and 5-6 of act IV and questions 1 and 4-6 of act V on
pgs. 1601-1602. 

Act IV:

Othello finds out that Cassio had apparently given the handkerchief that he had given to Desdemona to the prostitute Bianca. I think it is ironic and stupid that Bianca comes out of nowhere crying to Cassio about why he gave her that handkerchief. Like it can't not be ironic that she comes running right when Othello is hiding nearby. The reason that Othello wasn't moved by Desdemona's appeal is because Iago's accusations and the "proof" he brought stood stronger in Othello's mind than anything his wife could say. The conversation between Desdemona and Emilia shows us that Emilia believes that if she is cheated on then she will cheat back, but Desdemona believes that if she was cheated on then she would mend the issue. Desdemona says,"Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend!" In act 4 the scene between Othello and Desdemona contains massive amounts of dramatic irony because the audience knows the truth of the situation, but neither Othello nor Desdemona know the truth that they are being played by Iago.

Act V:

To summarize the events of Iago's unmasking, Cassio kills Roderigo, Iago cuts open Cassio's leg, Othello murders Desdemona, Emilia finds out and then the truth is revealed about Iago. I believe the reason that Othello kills Desdemona is because he realizes that no one would want Othello. Thus he says only the whore of Venice would marry Othello. (something like that :P) His self-esteem and his trust is hurt. When Othello says "one that loved not wisely but too well" he realizes his own faults. He realizes the things that led to his downfall. I think that his speech in act 5 seems to restore his dignity and his nobility, at least in heart if not in deeds. I still think he was stupid to fall for Iago's tricks in not even checking things out for himself. He let his faults get to him and then suffered. So Cassio was right when he said that Othello was "great of heart." However it in no doubt that his heart was his death. Thus was the tragedy of Othello.

The Tragedy of Othello

This is a play written by Shakespeare. That's all that needs to be said. Good night..........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Nah, i'm just pulling your leg. The Tragedy of Othello is quite the interesting play. Being a tragedy, it also holds elements of comedy and romance. Shakespeare really brings puns, sly sayings, and comedy over all to life. Basically, he's really slick, but he's also very smart. By putting comedy in a tragedy, especially after serious scenes, he relieves the audience from the intensity of the scenes. He does this quite often in the Tragedy Othello. For example Iago spends a lot of time making fun of women. Namely he makes fun of his wife. Its funny, but rude, but still funny, slightly. Another thing he does is deploy the use of symbolism and extensive use of foreshadowing. For example, at Cyprus, one thing that causes a great stir is the giant storm going on, and the winds. The tempest was very symbolic. What is represents it the tragic event to occur in the life of Othello, who happens to be lost in the tempest. This foreshadows the coming of a tempest into the life of Othello. The scene is meant to effect the audience. All the while, Iago, the backstabbing 2-faced jealous wanna-be Lieutenant, is still connivingly planning for the downfall of Roderigo, Cassius, Desdemona, and ultimately Othello. He has several aside's to tell the audience what is on his mind. Through these we find his true intentions.Thus he begins to execute his plan to fulfill his desires. Oh and Othello finally consummates his marriage. We can't leave that part out. After all it only leads to Shakespeare's ever comedic jokes between Cassius and Iago the jester. They go sing-song. Maybe that's where Bollywood gets it from. The only difference is that Bollywood songs have to be super long and have some good dancing in it to be a hit. :P Iago is very sly, and "a great adviser," to Cassius at least. So far his plan is going to his liking. Cassius has lost his position, Othello is mad at him, and Cassius is going to get on his knees for Desdemona....to beg for assistance of course. It also seems that every act ends with more plotting by the mind of Iago. That guy... tch tch tch...This is stuff about Othello and stuff that happened in act 2 as I read it.
☺☻

A. E. Haigh - (1855-1905) The Irony Of Sophocles...excerpt

So the author of this article basically talks about tragic irony being present in Sophocles's works. The author heavily leans on Oedipus Rex for his/her examples. I find this article compelling because it reiterates something that I have noticed while reading Oedipus Rex. For every line that comes out of his mouth he is foreshadowing his own doom. We know what is going to happen and even his audience partially knows what is going to happen, but he is totally oblivious to it till the end. Constantly through out the entire play, Sophocles makes the characters spout things about there mothers. This is odd and usually meant to be criticizing, but ironically foreshadowing of the events. They conversations even lead to the concepts of lust. Though by dialogue they are talking about conspiracies, Sophocles has thrown that in for the irony of the use of the word and the sin called lust. In fact Tiresias even shouted the entire prophecy and everything that is known to Oedipus and to Jocasta. Still no one realized anything. The irony of the truth being made aware and then the main character suffering the fate that was assigned to him, practically, by the oracles is simply tragic and nothing else. Oedipus curses himself for the murder of King Laius, his father, and curses himself of the murderer be found to be in his family. The irony that he is found to be the murderer is also tragic. This makes it seem like he brought the suffering on himself by pursuing everything so much. By pursuing the search for the murderer, he found that he killed his father, and by pursuing the search for his mother, he found that he has made love to, has had children (referred to as monsters as well), and has fulfilled the prophecy that he has been running from (and forced to make distance from) since even before he was born. This article compelled to me because it confirmed my thoughts as I read the play myself. 

Oedipus Wrap - Up In a Toga and a burrito....Dinosaur burrito...Dorito...its all the same

     Tiresias is extremely explicit in revealing the guilt of Oedipus. He specifically declares him he murderer and then goes on to say that the murderer had killed his father and coupled his mother. However, Oedipus denied all of that, even though he knew that prophecy. It was why he left Corinth after all, thinking that that was his birth home. I believe that it is Oedipus's own ignorance that makes it hard for him to see the truth and admit to it. Oedipus is also very selfish and thinks of himself above others.
     I partially agree with the interpretation that hay may be blameless for his actions. However, he killed several men and his father, unknowingly, simply because he was angered because they were going to push him off of the road. Why would one kill all those men just because of that? That is senseless and ignorant.
     Jocasta is genuine queen figure. She is also a character with genuine traits though. She respects her husband and her brother. At the same time she leads her people. In a sense she is the ideal female role model. For example, in line 773 she attempts to settle the quarrel between Creon and Oedipus. This is something a queen would do. On the other hand, she is her own person with genuine traits in that she believes that the prophecies of the gods are wrong because she had to "kill" her child, and because she committed suicide in shock of the news that she coupled and had children with the murderer of her husband, her son.
     Dramatic Irony is when the audience knows something that the character does not. We know that Oedipus is the murderer and his prophecy has come true. We know everything, but he doesn't. It's seems to be a play of reaction. How the character(s) react to the knowledge that we already know. Even with all the hints and clues that make them look really really slow...
     It is an advantage for the play because all the characters have to do is go offstage and change masks or something. It does leave us to imagine what really happened. It leaves us to whether we believe the words of the messenger that is in shock as they are, or suspect that something else happened. For all we know, Oedipus in rage could have attacked Jocasta who could have retaliated by stabbing him wit the first weapon that she could grab, her brooches.
     Oedipus says that be blinds himself because he says he wouldn't be able to look into his mother and father's eyes when he died. He had done them to wrong to face the guilt. He can't look at his children who are also his siblings. Also he cannot look upon the city of Thebes because it is the sacred glittering image of the gods. Mainly because of his guilt though. He uses Jocasta's brooch because it represents her. His mother metaphorically blinds him.
     Oedipus really brought the things on to himself. If he hadn't gotten angry and killed his father and all those men like an idiot he wouldn't have married his mother after saving Thebes from the Sphinx that apparently only harmed if u answered it's questions wrong. I would make a zoo around it and let it have fun. Throw some steak in, a ball, and let it have fun. Why bother it if it's gonna kill you if you get it's question wrong. Then it goes and kills itself when it's question is answered. I bet it was real depressed that it was out smarted. So sure Oedipus did have a sad fate, but his faults led to his demise. Along with the stupidity of everyone else in his world.
     The gods really must have been bored if they gave him a fate like that. Why destine a child who has no faults of his own, to commit such atrocious acts? Then the gods even commanded to kill the murderer of the king, which they knew was Oedipus of course. How could they not? They are the gods. Apollo must have especially been bored or enraged by something if he went through all the trouble for that. It would have been even more sad if the whole cause of this was the people at Delphi telling everyone about the "word of god." Also since the prophecies did come true, it makes the gods look all powerful. One must never try to outsmart them and stuff like that or they will get served. The people all revere the gods and their power. Jocasta and Oedipus don't like their prophecies much though.
     The play does seem to end in total gloom. It's all depressing and sad. The only bright thing, though not necessarily good, is that Creon is in power now. Besides the everything is downhill.
     One thing or theme statement that would actively describe this text is that Ignorance breeds blindness. These are my views of Oedipus Rex. 

Oedipus the dinosaur...part 1...(he wasn't in Jurassic park though :/)

     In comparison to other texts that we have read so far, Oedipus Rex is more talkative. While other texts have descriptions and side information, this text mainly provides the reader information through dialogue between two or more characters, the chorus, or the narration done by the italicized statements after the end of ever other "speech" by the characters. One can also see how the punctuation used really shows how emotion is used throughout the text. An outstanding use of exclamation points usually signifies Oedipus's anger when accused or being a murderer. Another thing that is noteworthy is how everyone takes a god's name for every other thing that is said. Oh Apollo this, oh Dionysus that, blah, blah, blah. Like really, the god's must get tired of that.

     Hamartia or the "fatal flaw" has appeared in the text already. Creon talks of Oedipus's stubbornness while Oedipus talks of him being stubborn. Also, Oedipus thinks that he is smarter than he actually may be. His reasoning is that because he has been able to outsmart the Oracle's of Delphi's prophecy, and because he was able to solve the Spinx's riddle. Oedipus is also proud of his intelligence and of his power to reign justly as king. Also, most of all the dude is really ignorant. With his pride, his ignorance is only boosted. He is ignorant of the truth and he blames Tiresias and Creon of plotting. However by the end of the assigned reading, Oedipus's fears have begun to grow, and the truth is about to come out. I believe that Oedipus's hamartia, or "fatal flaw," is one of these things: stubbornness, pride/hubris, or ignorance.

Catharsis has been seen in the diologue between Tiresias, Oedipus, and Creon. All three of these people have gone through the process of releasing strong emotions. This in turn pushes a pathos filled speech toward the audience which is the Leader, and the Chorus, which consists of the people of Thebes. Also Creon gives an emotion filled speech to Oedipus to try and convince him that he is not plotting anything. Oedipus gives a speech that seemed to make Jacosta pity him. He told her that he had been prophesized to kill his father and couple his mother. Jocasta told him of how her son had been "murdered" so that he did not fulfill the prophecy that her husband would die by the hands of her son.  If that conversation didn't inspire emotions of pity and sadness, or pathos, then I don't know what can. That is just plain sad, and wrong. Who makes these prophecies anyway? The god's were probably really bored and decided to play a joke. It was probably Dionysus... Just Kidding... XP ... This is how this text compares to others, hamartia, catharsis, and pathos present in Oedipus Rex.