In the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens the young character Pip says "Pause as you read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns and flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day". In this quote he is indefinitely referring to the time when he lied to his sister and Joe. This is because it was one particular event that greatly effected him in all aspects of his life. Its apparent that this had an extremely emotional affect on Pip because he felt so completely guilty about his dishonesty. He had a special relationship with Joe which was very strong friendship, and too see how sad he was when Pips story was all made up was something he wouldn't forget. When Joe shares his younger life with Pip about his difficulties with his own father it made Pip become a more grown up version of himself and to start appreciating everything that life has to offer. From this same event, he learned that he should stay away from lying because he feels extreme guilt from it and also to respect Mr. and Mrs. Joe more.
Personally, an event in my life that had a "chain" effect was my first ballet lesson at Johansens. From this moment dance became the hugest part of everything I did, and still participate in. For a total of ten years I successfully participated in classes doing a yearly recital. However in the middle of all this is when the "chain" began. After dancing for so long, by fourth grade I was able to participate in my first year of The Nutcracker, and by seventh grade I could also do the spring productions. Once I began high school, Drill Team became my largest involvement, causing me to have to choose my activities. Choosing drill was something I did because I think it is extremely important to be involved in school. I know that one of the main reasons I was able to make the team was because of my past dance experiences, therefore, showing the effect my first dance classes had on my life until now.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Group Writing of the Importance of Being Earnest
Thesis Statement: Throughout the play, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde portrays the many aspects of marriage in the Victorian Era using satire because he wants to show that marriage wasn't all about romance, and was more of a business deal.
In my paragraph, I am writing about how Algernon changes his views of marriage throughout the book, so that by the end he completely contradicts everything he had previously said. The first concrete detail I used is on page 10 when Algernon says, "Well, in the first place, girls never marry the men they flirt with." I chose this because it is specifically referring to Jack and Gwendolen's relationship, but in a broader spectrum, Algernon is also saying in general he is disapproving of marriage. In the middle part of my paragraph the concrete detail I used is the beginning of Act 2. Algernon decides to go and meet Cecily, basically for the pursuit of pleasure, but then ends up proposing to her. This is a good example because it is starting to show Algernon's opinion transitioning from one view to another. The last point that I make in my paragraph is on page 90 at the very end of Act 3. This is when Algernon and Cecily shout and hold on to each other and Algernon acts as if he planned for that to happen all along. The fact that Algernon ends up marrying in the end of Act 3 is the most blatant example of the contradictions between his pursuit of pleasure and anti-marriage attitudes continuously shown before. My conclusion will end up bringing together the idea of Algernon's transitioning ideals and morals throughout the story. I am not exactly sure which paragraph mine will be preceding, so does anyone have an idea about which thought I could maybe include to create a smooth transition into the next paragraph?
In my paragraph, I am writing about how Algernon changes his views of marriage throughout the book, so that by the end he completely contradicts everything he had previously said. The first concrete detail I used is on page 10 when Algernon says, "Well, in the first place, girls never marry the men they flirt with." I chose this because it is specifically referring to Jack and Gwendolen's relationship, but in a broader spectrum, Algernon is also saying in general he is disapproving of marriage. In the middle part of my paragraph the concrete detail I used is the beginning of Act 2. Algernon decides to go and meet Cecily, basically for the pursuit of pleasure, but then ends up proposing to her. This is a good example because it is starting to show Algernon's opinion transitioning from one view to another. The last point that I make in my paragraph is on page 90 at the very end of Act 3. This is when Algernon and Cecily shout and hold on to each other and Algernon acts as if he planned for that to happen all along. The fact that Algernon ends up marrying in the end of Act 3 is the most blatant example of the contradictions between his pursuit of pleasure and anti-marriage attitudes continuously shown before. My conclusion will end up bringing together the idea of Algernon's transitioning ideals and morals throughout the story. I am not exactly sure which paragraph mine will be preceding, so does anyone have an idea about which thought I could maybe include to create a smooth transition into the next paragraph?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Importance of Being Earnest
After conducting research on the Victorian Era, I can easily say that this gave me a much greater understanding of the lifestyle people in that time period lived. Also, after beginning to read The Importance of Being Earnest, it was extremely noticeable of the relations between my research and the events that occurred throughout the play. Specifically, the research helped me understand social classes, gender status, schooling, and marriage. Related to the play, it is apparent on several occasions that social class had a huge impact on the way everything worked. One example is when Lady Bracknell talks with Jack to see if he is acceptable to marry Gwendolen. After speaking with him, she disapproves because he began in a lower class atmosphere. This same example also proves to show what marriages were based off of. Both Gwendolen and Jack feel like they are suitable for each other, and their feelings tell them to get married, however this isn't feasible because of Jack's past, which is an issue to Lady Bracknell.
Throughout the play, it is also gives some examples of the gender stereotypes that I covered in my research. In the Victorian Era, it was meant for women to be quiet, and basically overruled by the men. The character Cecily shows this because she acts ditsy and allows her thoughts to be taken over by the idea of marrying Ernest (Algernon). Another example of this same idea is when Gwendolen says "How absurd to talk of the equality of the sexes! Where questions of self sacrifice are concerned, men are infinitely beyond us" (pg. 75) Here Gwendolen blatantly states that in this era, men just were thought of as better. The research that I did on the Victorian Era definitely enhanced my understanding of all aspects during this period, and not only this, but it helped me to be more aware of the examples of social class, genders, and marriage that were all used throughout the play.
Throughout the play, it is also gives some examples of the gender stereotypes that I covered in my research. In the Victorian Era, it was meant for women to be quiet, and basically overruled by the men. The character Cecily shows this because she acts ditsy and allows her thoughts to be taken over by the idea of marrying Ernest (Algernon). Another example of this same idea is when Gwendolen says "How absurd to talk of the equality of the sexes! Where questions of self sacrifice are concerned, men are infinitely beyond us" (pg. 75) Here Gwendolen blatantly states that in this era, men just were thought of as better. The research that I did on the Victorian Era definitely enhanced my understanding of all aspects during this period, and not only this, but it helped me to be more aware of the examples of social class, genders, and marriage that were all used throughout the play.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Poetry Out Loud
After watching several performances off of the Poetry Out Loud website, the one that grabbed my attention the most was Allison Strong, reciting "Sonnet CXXX My Mistress' Eyes Are Nothing Like the Sun", by William Shakespeare. The most prominent aspect of this performance was her voice and articulation. Throughout the entire poem, Allison had a loud and clear voice which completely grabbed the listener in. With the challenging rhyme scheme in this poem, she also did an excellent job of keeping everything smooth, and not reciting in a song like way. Also, Allison had a fantastic physical presence, because she constantly had confidence.
Personally, I believe this poem is trying to show that poetry usually has false comparisons which sugar-coats everything, completely skipping out on reality. By comparing his mistress's lips to coral and saying the coral is redder, and saying her hair is like black wires, Shakespeare is showing that she simply isn't perfect, however this isn't necessarily a bad thing to him. By the end, he says "And yet, by heaven, I think my love is rare, As any she belied with false compare". In my opinion this is saying that no matter what he says about his mistress, it doesn't affect the way he loves her. From his poem, I believe he wants to convey that false comparisons aren't necessary in poetry. Allison helps to show this meaning by changing the dramtization level in her voice during certain parts of the poem. For example, at the beginning she had a loud, and almost mocking tone in her voice, but by the end she became thoughtful, showing the contemplation of why anyone would create unrealistic comparisons.
Personally, I believe this poem is trying to show that poetry usually has false comparisons which sugar-coats everything, completely skipping out on reality. By comparing his mistress's lips to coral and saying the coral is redder, and saying her hair is like black wires, Shakespeare is showing that she simply isn't perfect, however this isn't necessarily a bad thing to him. By the end, he says "And yet, by heaven, I think my love is rare, As any she belied with false compare". In my opinion this is saying that no matter what he says about his mistress, it doesn't affect the way he loves her. From his poem, I believe he wants to convey that false comparisons aren't necessary in poetry. Allison helps to show this meaning by changing the dramtization level in her voice during certain parts of the poem. For example, at the beginning she had a loud, and almost mocking tone in her voice, but by the end she became thoughtful, showing the contemplation of why anyone would create unrealistic comparisons.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Motif
After learning the term motif for the summer assignment, I had an extremely basic understanding of the word but I didn't necessarily know of specific examples. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird has an obvious motif, and one that most definitely gave me a better idea of how much motif can enhance a novels theme and meaning. In this book, it would have been impossible to completely understand the theme of innocence, which was something that many of the characters had, and ended up being one of the main components of the story.
In the novel, the mockingbird was the motif, and it was that killing a mockingbird is a sin because it is such an innocent creature. Tom Robinson was an example, because he didn't rape Mayella Ewell, but was convicted of it anyways. This enriched both the theme of innocence and prejudice. Another example was of Boo Radley, on the night of Halloween, Bob Ewell attacked Jem and Scout, and because they were young children they had little defense. Boo Radley stabbed Bob Ewell, saving both Jem and Scouts lives. After this, Atticus didnt want to lie to the justice system and wanted to turn in Boo, but Scout understood that taking Boo Radley to court was the equivalent to killing a mockingbird. This use of motif demonstrated the idea of the maturity theme, and obviously innocence.
In the novel, the mockingbird was the motif, and it was that killing a mockingbird is a sin because it is such an innocent creature. Tom Robinson was an example, because he didn't rape Mayella Ewell, but was convicted of it anyways. This enriched both the theme of innocence and prejudice. Another example was of Boo Radley, on the night of Halloween, Bob Ewell attacked Jem and Scout, and because they were young children they had little defense. Boo Radley stabbed Bob Ewell, saving both Jem and Scouts lives. After this, Atticus didnt want to lie to the justice system and wanted to turn in Boo, but Scout understood that taking Boo Radley to court was the equivalent to killing a mockingbird. This use of motif demonstrated the idea of the maturity theme, and obviously innocence.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Symbolism
These overalls represent that the main character Scout is not a typical girl. Throughout the story, she always runs around with her older brother Jem and friend Dill. Scout is a young girl, and usually people have the sterotype that all little girls are quiet and play with dolls, but Scout is quite the opposite and is always active and curious.
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