(Nov. 2004) "My characters are contradictory, not only in their language but in their behavior as well." Discuss thw ways in which you see contradictions within individual characters as adding to the interest of fiction you have studied.
In own words: Characters are contradictory in language and behavior. Discuss where you see contradictions within characters and how this makes the novel interesting.
EOF: Character
Two Part Three Works: Metamorphosis & Darkness At Noon
(Nov. 2006) " The real purpose of fiction is to give pleasure by satisfying the reader's love of the uncommon in human experience. . .but the uncommonness must be in the events, not in the characters." Discuss how far this 'recipe' for fiction-- combining unusual events with recognizable characters--is relevant to two or three works you have studied.
In my own words: The purpose of fiction is to satisfy the reader's love for new and atypical events, with recognizable characters. Discuss how this combination of unusual events with recognizable is shown in two or three works.
EOF: Style of uncommonness
Two Part Three Works: The Bluest Eye & Metamorphosis
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Paper 1- Rita Dove
In Rita Dove's Adolescence II, Rita demonstrates the life of a young woman who is dealing with and tryin to maintain her innocence, yet during this peak in her life, she is targeted and looked at as food. Rita does this through the use of diction and similes.
II. Innocence
a) Baby Breast
b)quiver
c)pale
d)licorice
e)chuckle
f)glittering
III. Seen as food
a) dinner plates
b)slice
c)tines
d)strips
e)baby breasts
IV. Similes
a) eyes as round as dinner plates... (as if the young woman is seen as a piece of food and is ready to be devoured.)
b) eyelashes like sharpened tines ( as if ready to pick at her)
c) licorice- symbol of innocence and childhood
V. Conclusion
II. Innocence
a) Baby Breast
b)quiver
c)pale
d)licorice
e)chuckle
f)glittering
III. Seen as food
a) dinner plates
b)slice
c)tines
d)strips
e)baby breasts
IV. Similes
a) eyes as round as dinner plates... (as if the young woman is seen as a piece of food and is ready to be devoured.)
b) eyelashes like sharpened tines ( as if ready to pick at her)
c) licorice- symbol of innocence and childhood
V. Conclusion
Friday, March 27, 2009
Vardaman....The Youngin
Vardaman. The Youngest, and deemed the most uneducated. Varda meaning Orphan, and in that sense he is "lost" because he doesnt have anywhere to go. Moreover, his name relates to prison, which also demonstrates how Vardaman is trapped or emprisoned in his own family, and this is shown through his dialect. Since he is so uneducated, young, confused, lost, etc, his state of mind of all over the place, he cant articulate himself well, and he cant express himself the way he wants too. In relation of trapped, i feel that his mind is trapped in a sense because not only can he not express himself, but he cant escape the reality around him, which causes him to be lost.
With the reading last night ( River Crossing), i feel that Vardaman demonstrates innocence, vulnerability, and how lack of education can mentally alter someone. Specifically, I feel that the river crossing represents grief or a test of character, and since Vardaman is so young, he is not only able to comprehend his surroundings, but he isnt able to express himself, which goes back to his lost and confused mind, and his innocence. Since the death of Addie and other issues, he isnt able to fully grasp the information, he becomes lost and confused, and then his innocence is altered because he is so caught up in all of what surrounds him. Vardaman's situation also demonstrates his vulnerability as a young child and how he is easily caught into the realilty around him, which also alters his mental state. His lack of education also relates to how he is unable to express himself clearly and how his situation has greatly affected him and trapped him.
All in all, I feel that Vardaman as the youngest character was susceptible to being trapped, vulnerable, and unable to express himself, due to the fact that he is young and uneducated, so he doesnt fully comprehend things well, and he becomes confused and lost, which his name symbolizes.
With the reading last night ( River Crossing), i feel that Vardaman demonstrates innocence, vulnerability, and how lack of education can mentally alter someone. Specifically, I feel that the river crossing represents grief or a test of character, and since Vardaman is so young, he is not only able to comprehend his surroundings, but he isnt able to express himself, which goes back to his lost and confused mind, and his innocence. Since the death of Addie and other issues, he isnt able to fully grasp the information, he becomes lost and confused, and then his innocence is altered because he is so caught up in all of what surrounds him. Vardaman's situation also demonstrates his vulnerability as a young child and how he is easily caught into the realilty around him, which also alters his mental state. His lack of education also relates to how he is unable to express himself clearly and how his situation has greatly affected him and trapped him.
All in all, I feel that Vardaman as the youngest character was susceptible to being trapped, vulnerable, and unable to express himself, due to the fact that he is young and uneducated, so he doesnt fully comprehend things well, and he becomes confused and lost, which his name symbolizes.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Plog-o Numero Cinco ( five) .....Siren Song
In Margaret Atwood's Siren Song, Atwood uses the metaphors of a bird suit and siren, and diction in order to expose the stereotype of women and the negative depiction of beautiful women.
Atwood uses the metaphor of bird suit to represent the negative depiction of women because it compares woem to birds, and how they are dangerous. The bird suit connotes a trapped or enclosed feeling, which describes how the speaker feels, and wants to get out, shown by the statement "out of this bird suit". The metaphor of bird suit also depicts and stereotypes women because it demonstrates women to be deceptive and sneaky, and the men to be vain and egotistical because they caused these stereotypes of the women.
Siren, another metaphor used by Atwood, is a symbol of women and how they attract people. "Irresistable: the song that forces men to leap overboard..." illustrates the negative depiction of women because it states that they are beautiful, irresistable, and about how they cause men to kill themselves, or "jump overboard". This demonstrates a negative depiction of women because it says that they are dangerous and that they can't fend for themselves. Siren also connotes danger, which furthers the metaphor as women being sirens, because they are dangerous, yet beautiful.
Overall, Atwood uses these metaphors and diction in order to expose men as vain and egotistical people who stereotype beautiful women as dangerous creatures.
Atwood uses the metaphor of bird suit to represent the negative depiction of women because it compares woem to birds, and how they are dangerous. The bird suit connotes a trapped or enclosed feeling, which describes how the speaker feels, and wants to get out, shown by the statement "out of this bird suit". The metaphor of bird suit also depicts and stereotypes women because it demonstrates women to be deceptive and sneaky, and the men to be vain and egotistical because they caused these stereotypes of the women.
Siren, another metaphor used by Atwood, is a symbol of women and how they attract people. "Irresistable: the song that forces men to leap overboard..." illustrates the negative depiction of women because it states that they are beautiful, irresistable, and about how they cause men to kill themselves, or "jump overboard". This demonstrates a negative depiction of women because it says that they are dangerous and that they can't fend for themselves. Siren also connotes danger, which furthers the metaphor as women being sirens, because they are dangerous, yet beautiful.
Overall, Atwood uses these metaphors and diction in order to expose men as vain and egotistical people who stereotype beautiful women as dangerous creatures.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Plog # idk.....4. i think......From The Frontier Of Writing
In Seamus Heaney's From the Frontier of Writing, Heaney uses the conceit of soldiers and inspection in order to create the theme of interrogation of writing. Heaney also uses positive and negative diction to illustrate how writing breaks one down as they go through all of the "interrogation", yet after the struggle and the inspection, they arise a new person and become stronger.
As I stated, Heaney uses the conceit of soldiers and inspection in order to create the theme of interrogation of writing. An example of this is "posted soldiers" in the 8th stanza. This quote illustrates how the soldiers were on constant guard and never left their grounds, and relates to the interrogation of writing because the soldiers can be seen as critics, so according to this, since the soldiers are posted and never go anywhere, that implies that critics never go anywhere and they will always be there to "inspect" one's writing. Another similar example is in the first stanza with " the troops inspect its make and number and, as one bends his face towards your window,". This example not only illustrate the conceit of inspection, but it contributes to the theme of interrogation because the troops can be seen as an editor and as they "inspect its make and number", its demonstrates how they always make corrections and have to inspect the work in order to make sure that the work is sufficient. These two prime examples illustrate the use of conceit, which creates the theme of interrogation because the speaker's writing is being inspected.
Heaney also uses positive and negative diction in order to demonstrate interrogation causes one to break down, yet they arise and become free. An example of transition is in the first four stanzas, the speaker uses words such as " stops", "inspect", "eyeing", "Pure interrogation", "quiver in the self", and ..."repeating data about you". These words/phrases illustrate how the speaker feels at that moment, and how all the interrogation is affecting him and his writing. However, in the last two stanzas, the speaker's diction changes and begins to use words such as "...you're through, arraigned yet freed", "past armor-plated vehicles, and "between the posted soldiers flowing and receding", which all illustrate the fact that the speaker has gone through all of the pressures of interrogation and inspection, has gone through all of the ups and downs, critism, judgment, and pure interrogation, but the speaker has made it through. So from that, the speaker has become stronger and a better writer.
Overall, Heaney uses conceit and positive/negative diction in order to create the theme of interrogation and to illustrate how one's writing is broken down and torn apart from such interrogation, yet one can arise and make it through.
As I stated, Heaney uses the conceit of soldiers and inspection in order to create the theme of interrogation of writing. An example of this is "posted soldiers" in the 8th stanza. This quote illustrates how the soldiers were on constant guard and never left their grounds, and relates to the interrogation of writing because the soldiers can be seen as critics, so according to this, since the soldiers are posted and never go anywhere, that implies that critics never go anywhere and they will always be there to "inspect" one's writing. Another similar example is in the first stanza with " the troops inspect its make and number and, as one bends his face towards your window,". This example not only illustrate the conceit of inspection, but it contributes to the theme of interrogation because the troops can be seen as an editor and as they "inspect its make and number", its demonstrates how they always make corrections and have to inspect the work in order to make sure that the work is sufficient. These two prime examples illustrate the use of conceit, which creates the theme of interrogation because the speaker's writing is being inspected.
Heaney also uses positive and negative diction in order to demonstrate interrogation causes one to break down, yet they arise and become free. An example of transition is in the first four stanzas, the speaker uses words such as " stops", "inspect", "eyeing", "Pure interrogation", "quiver in the self", and ..."repeating data about you". These words/phrases illustrate how the speaker feels at that moment, and how all the interrogation is affecting him and his writing. However, in the last two stanzas, the speaker's diction changes and begins to use words such as "...you're through, arraigned yet freed", "past armor-plated vehicles, and "between the posted soldiers flowing and receding", which all illustrate the fact that the speaker has gone through all of the pressures of interrogation and inspection, has gone through all of the ups and downs, critism, judgment, and pure interrogation, but the speaker has made it through. So from that, the speaker has become stronger and a better writer.
Overall, Heaney uses conceit and positive/negative diction in order to create the theme of interrogation and to illustrate how one's writing is broken down and torn apart from such interrogation, yet one can arise and make it through.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Mid-Term Break Commentary
In Seamus Heaney's Mid-Term Break, Heaney uses pauses in his speaking and emotional diction in order to not only create an depressing and/or sad tone, but to demostrate the break down and gender roles and the break down of the speaker himself during such a tragic time.
In the second Stanza, Heaney uses the dashes at the end of the first two lines. This could imply that he begins to feel emotional and may be a little caught up in his words due to the fact that someone close to him just passed away. The expression " choked up" could be used to describe this pause in the speaking. Moreover, the specific words of "my father crying" and " he had always taken funerals in his stride" demontrate the breakdown of gender roles due to the fact that the father was crying, while the mother "coughed out angry tearless sighs". Usually, the mother is typically the more emotional and more sensitive character during a time of tragedy, while the father usually holds the family together, and keeps them strong, with little to no emotion shown. However, in this case, those "typical" roles are broken because the men and the women "roles" switch and the mother becomes the stronger figure.
Another example, which I briefly mentioned, is when the mother "coughed out angry tearless sighs". This shows that the mother was not only angry, but maybe a little disoriented due to the fact that she is sighing, angry, yet not crying. Nevertheless, this and the previous example both create a sad and depressing tone, and cause the breakdown of the speaker because the speaker sees that his parents are grieving, which in turn makes him breakdown because the feelings are too strong. Other emotional diction that he uses includes" crying", "funerals", "hard blow", "sorry for my trouble", "corpse", and "four-foot box", which all illustrate how sad and depressing the situation was for the family and how the breakdown of the family occured.
In the second Stanza, Heaney uses the dashes at the end of the first two lines. This could imply that he begins to feel emotional and may be a little caught up in his words due to the fact that someone close to him just passed away. The expression " choked up" could be used to describe this pause in the speaking. Moreover, the specific words of "my father crying" and " he had always taken funerals in his stride" demontrate the breakdown of gender roles due to the fact that the father was crying, while the mother "coughed out angry tearless sighs". Usually, the mother is typically the more emotional and more sensitive character during a time of tragedy, while the father usually holds the family together, and keeps them strong, with little to no emotion shown. However, in this case, those "typical" roles are broken because the men and the women "roles" switch and the mother becomes the stronger figure.
Another example, which I briefly mentioned, is when the mother "coughed out angry tearless sighs". This shows that the mother was not only angry, but maybe a little disoriented due to the fact that she is sighing, angry, yet not crying. Nevertheless, this and the previous example both create a sad and depressing tone, and cause the breakdown of the speaker because the speaker sees that his parents are grieving, which in turn makes him breakdown because the feelings are too strong. Other emotional diction that he uses includes" crying", "funerals", "hard blow", "sorry for my trouble", "corpse", and "four-foot box", which all illustrate how sad and depressing the situation was for the family and how the breakdown of the family occured.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
In John Donne's Forbidding Mourning, Donne uses the conceit of circles and compasses to illustrate the perfection and the eternal part of the relationship, and the repetition of "two" and "one" or "two becoming one" to express the dependency of the relationship and the eternal factor as well. These two literary techniques come together and create a romantic tone due to the fact that they show how he truly feels about her and how he wants her to become one with him.
Donne uses the conceit of circles and compasses to illustrate the perfection and the eternal factor of their relationship. "Spheres, throught greater far, is innocent" , and "twin compasses are two; thy soul, makes no show to move, but doth, if the other do" are two examples of the conceit which demonstrates the fact that circles complete one and are perfect, and that the compass ( person) moves only if the other does. Basically, Donne is implying that he wants her to complete him , just as a circle. Another example of how Donne wants her to complete him is "Thy firmness makes my circle just,". This shows the interdependency in the relastionship because he wants her to complete and become one with him. This interdependency and perfection them creates a romantic tone because it causes the speaker to express his true love and true passion for his lover.
Lover nonetheless, Donne uses the repetiton of "two becoming one" to illustrate the dependency in the relationship, but also the eternal connection between the two. "Our two souls therefore, which are one", "If they be two, they are two so as stiff twin compasses are two" are two perfect examples which Donne uses to illustrate his passion for two becoming one. The word twin connotes same or identical, which relates to his love because not only does he want to become one with her or same, but he won't do anything without her or won't do anything unless she does. "Two becoming one" connotes that he wants to be with her eternally, not just physically. The effect of this repetiton is that it causes the speaker to reveal that his world revolves around her. She is the center of his universe and that becoming one with him will result in everlasting love. Nevertheless, repetition creates a romantic tone because it shows how deepy he feels about her and her becoming one with him.
Overall, Donne uses the techniques of repetition and conceit to create a romantic tone and to express his feeings towards his over, in which he wants to create a perfect, eternal relationship. And in the end result, will bring him back to where he begun, with her.
Donne uses the conceit of circles and compasses to illustrate the perfection and the eternal factor of their relationship. "Spheres, throught greater far, is innocent" , and "twin compasses are two; thy soul, makes no show to move, but doth, if the other do" are two examples of the conceit which demonstrates the fact that circles complete one and are perfect, and that the compass ( person) moves only if the other does. Basically, Donne is implying that he wants her to complete him , just as a circle. Another example of how Donne wants her to complete him is "Thy firmness makes my circle just,". This shows the interdependency in the relastionship because he wants her to complete and become one with him. This interdependency and perfection them creates a romantic tone because it causes the speaker to express his true love and true passion for his lover.
Lover nonetheless, Donne uses the repetiton of "two becoming one" to illustrate the dependency in the relationship, but also the eternal connection between the two. "Our two souls therefore, which are one", "If they be two, they are two so as stiff twin compasses are two" are two perfect examples which Donne uses to illustrate his passion for two becoming one. The word twin connotes same or identical, which relates to his love because not only does he want to become one with her or same, but he won't do anything without her or won't do anything unless she does. "Two becoming one" connotes that he wants to be with her eternally, not just physically. The effect of this repetiton is that it causes the speaker to reveal that his world revolves around her. She is the center of his universe and that becoming one with him will result in everlasting love. Nevertheless, repetition creates a romantic tone because it shows how deepy he feels about her and her becoming one with him.
Overall, Donne uses the techniques of repetition and conceit to create a romantic tone and to express his feeings towards his over, in which he wants to create a perfect, eternal relationship. And in the end result, will bring him back to where he begun, with her.
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