Okay: IB Junior English
First off, I slept less in this class compared to Freshman and Sophomore English. Congratulations, I'd say that's a huge achievement on your part considering the primary reason I did in the past was was complete boredom (It's more due to a lack of sleep now). Hooray! An English class that was consistently fun!
Now, as to what I learned this semester:
For one, I am going to enjoy watching the next 'batch' of juniors that have to go through this class. I will enjoy it very much.
But on a more serious note, I am now quite worried about the state of the English curriculum freshman and sophomores are going through. Coming into this class was a huge shock. Ask just about anyone else who went through the advanced tract and took this class, and I believe you will hear the same thing. A lot of us came into this class with a mindset similar to this:
Okay, it's going to be hard. I can guess that much, but I did great in previous English classes, probably just have to put in a little more work.
To extent, that is true. We did have to do more work, but we weren't prepared for the level of analysis necessary to survive the class. It's a shame that so much material needs to be covered in one semester, as a bunch of us could really have used more time in the beginning of the class to really understand what was expected of our essays and IOPs.
If it makes any sense, we were all trying to figure out the 'formula for a good essay'. I mean, we had the what, how and effect lesson, but we just didn't get it. We needed more practice figuring that kind of stuff out.
Not counting the IOP, I've gradually gotten better at essays throughout the course of the year. The feedback you give is critical, as it is part of the clues and evidence we need to crack that formula. For me at least, a lack of feedback is what really killed me near the beginning. I needed someone to tell me either 'yes' you're doing this right, or 'no' you've got it all wrong.
That's pretty much all there is to it. Once you see what's right and what's wrong a few times, you start to piece it all together.
In fact, it wasn't until I received my graded Anouilh essay earlier this week that I honestly felt confidence in my ability to write essays for this class. It's the 'this is proof you can write'. I would have felt much less stressed out this year if I went into the World Lit and IOPs with even a smidgen of confidence.
So overall, great job Mrs. Townzen. I'm hoping IB Senior English isn't as much of a shock to the system. Also hoping I don't regress on the sleeping issue upon arrival.
Oh yes, consider hiring a babysitter. And bring Dash into class more often; we could have all used stress alleviating moments like that more often
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
World Lit Topic
I think I'd like to write my World Lit on The Wild Duck. I would like to focus on Ibsen's concept of 'summons to the ideal', and how he seems to be arguing that ignorance can be beneficial to many people, and knowing the truth can often be much more harmful than not.
Had Gregers not attempted to 'help' Hjalmar, Hedvig may not have died, and the Ekdal family may have been just fine. Although he insists that since Hjalmar knows the truth, he is on the path to being a better man, I more agree with Rellings who believes that Gregers tore apart Hjalmar's life.
Had Gregers not attempted to 'help' Hjalmar, Hedvig may not have died, and the Ekdal family may have been just fine. Although he insists that since Hjalmar knows the truth, he is on the path to being a better man, I more agree with Rellings who believes that Gregers tore apart Hjalmar's life.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Blood Wedding - Journal #5
Theme
It is better to have had passion and died, than have none and live.
(To be honest, that's all I can come up with without listing off stuff like 'Death or Honor')
1. Symbolism
Woodcutters
I think these guys are like a variation of the Chorus. They know things that other characters do not, such as the coming of Death and the Moon.
First Woodcutter: Death! Death is coming, Beneath the giant leaves!
Second Woodcutter: Don't start the flow of blood!
First Woodcutter: Death, lonely death, Beneath the withered leaves.
(Lorca 88)
The repetition of the lines makes me think of a large Chorus, where many people are saying the same thing. Maybe at the same time, maybe not.
Beggar Woman
Ok, the stage directions make this one blatantly obvious. The Beggar Women is Death in disguise and directly influencing events in the play. Why Death chose to be a Beggar Woman intrigues me.
Beggar Woman: (At the door) A piece of bread, girls! (97)
As a Beggar Woman, Death can walk around and say whatever it wishes because no one really cares.
Moon
The moon is creepy. I mean, seriously. He/she/it WANTS blood to feel warm and wanted. The moon speaks with the Beggar Woman often, and both want people to die, so would it be a stretch to say both symbolize different twists on the concept of Death? I'll have to look into that later and do some comparisons between the Moon and the Beggar Woman.
2. When they are caught, Leonardo and the Bridegroom die. This leaves the Bride with both of her lovers dead and the blame on her. She had her fun with Leonardo, her moment of 'passion', and now it seems to be a good time to die (which in fact she wants to do anyway).
3. The mother is quite upset, but not in a 'tear my hair out' kind of way. She is trying her best to be strong, refusing to kill the Bride despite the requests to do so.
4.
"I was a woman consumed by fire, covered with open sores inside and out, and your son was a little bit of water from whom I hoped for children, land, health! But the other was a dark river filled with branches that brought close to me the whisper of its rushes and its murmuring song." (101)
Lorca used symbolism here to reveal the Bride's motivations.
"What do I care about your honor? What do I care about your death? What do I care about anything at all? Blessed be the fields of wheat, because my sons lie under them. Blessed be the rain, because it wets the faces of the dead. Blessed be God who lays us down together to rest." (102)
This section is mostly repeated from earlier, and it uses the symbols of wheat and water, as well as God to express the Mother's grief.
"The bridegroom will find them - with the moon or without the moon! I saw him start off - like a raging star! His face, the color of ashes, revealed the fate of his whole family." (80)
This line from the woodcutter kinda tipped me off that the woodcutters were not normal characters and could possibly serving a 'Chorus' role. He seems certain that the bridegroom will find the runaways, and seems to know more than he should about the whole sitaution.
5. I think a big one is sympathy for both sides. On one hand I feel bad for the Bride, who may have acted selfishly, but it was because of passion. Then there is the mother who suffers so much through the entire play and even some before the play!
It is better to have had passion and died, than have none and live.
(To be honest, that's all I can come up with without listing off stuff like 'Death or Honor')
1. Symbolism
Woodcutters
I think these guys are like a variation of the Chorus. They know things that other characters do not, such as the coming of Death and the Moon.
First Woodcutter: Death! Death is coming, Beneath the giant leaves!
Second Woodcutter: Don't start the flow of blood!
First Woodcutter: Death, lonely death, Beneath the withered leaves.
(Lorca 88)
The repetition of the lines makes me think of a large Chorus, where many people are saying the same thing. Maybe at the same time, maybe not.
Beggar Woman
Ok, the stage directions make this one blatantly obvious. The Beggar Women is Death in disguise and directly influencing events in the play. Why Death chose to be a Beggar Woman intrigues me.
Beggar Woman: (At the door) A piece of bread, girls! (97)
As a Beggar Woman, Death can walk around and say whatever it wishes because no one really cares.
Moon
The moon is creepy. I mean, seriously. He/she/it WANTS blood to feel warm and wanted. The moon speaks with the Beggar Woman often, and both want people to die, so would it be a stretch to say both symbolize different twists on the concept of Death? I'll have to look into that later and do some comparisons between the Moon and the Beggar Woman.
2. When they are caught, Leonardo and the Bridegroom die. This leaves the Bride with both of her lovers dead and the blame on her. She had her fun with Leonardo, her moment of 'passion', and now it seems to be a good time to die (which in fact she wants to do anyway).
3. The mother is quite upset, but not in a 'tear my hair out' kind of way. She is trying her best to be strong, refusing to kill the Bride despite the requests to do so.
4.
"I was a woman consumed by fire, covered with open sores inside and out, and your son was a little bit of water from whom I hoped for children, land, health! But the other was a dark river filled with branches that brought close to me the whisper of its rushes and its murmuring song." (101)
Lorca used symbolism here to reveal the Bride's motivations.
"What do I care about your honor? What do I care about your death? What do I care about anything at all? Blessed be the fields of wheat, because my sons lie under them. Blessed be the rain, because it wets the faces of the dead. Blessed be God who lays us down together to rest." (102)
This section is mostly repeated from earlier, and it uses the symbols of wheat and water, as well as God to express the Mother's grief.
"The bridegroom will find them - with the moon or without the moon! I saw him start off - like a raging star! His face, the color of ashes, revealed the fate of his whole family." (80)
This line from the woodcutter kinda tipped me off that the woodcutters were not normal characters and could possibly serving a 'Chorus' role. He seems certain that the bridegroom will find the runaways, and seems to know more than he should about the whole sitaution.
5. I think a big one is sympathy for both sides. On one hand I feel bad for the Bride, who may have acted selfishly, but it was because of passion. Then there is the mother who suffers so much through the entire play and even some before the play!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Blood Wedding - Journal #4
The Bride and Mother stand out to me as the most miserable characters in the play.
Bride's Misery
Throughout Act Two, she acts quite rude despite claims that everything around her is alright. A line that stood out to me was "They are dark clouds - an ill wind inside me. Who hasn't felt that?" (Lorca 41) A rather ominous line, as it suggests that something isn't right within the Bride's mind. Compared to the Bridegroom who seems rather shallow and just follows orders from his mother.
Mother's Misery
Ok, the mother really started to disturb me here. She's already been going on and on about death and hatred, but I think this line really put a new perspective on the depth of her sorrow and maybe even slight madness: "I got to see my son, he was lying in the middle of the street. I wet my hands with blood, and I licked them with my tongue. Because it was mine!" (61)
Well, to be honest, she seems quite happy about her son getting married, just not the people involved in it.
Bride's Misery
Throughout Act Two, she acts quite rude despite claims that everything around her is alright. A line that stood out to me was "They are dark clouds - an ill wind inside me. Who hasn't felt that?" (Lorca 41) A rather ominous line, as it suggests that something isn't right within the Bride's mind. Compared to the Bridegroom who seems rather shallow and just follows orders from his mother.
Mother's Misery
Ok, the mother really started to disturb me here. She's already been going on and on about death and hatred, but I think this line really put a new perspective on the depth of her sorrow and maybe even slight madness: "I got to see my son, he was lying in the middle of the street. I wet my hands with blood, and I licked them with my tongue. Because it was mine!" (61)
Well, to be honest, she seems quite happy about her son getting married, just not the people involved in it.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Blood Wedding - Journal #3
Symbol Significance:
Cutting tools (scythes, knifes etc.):
I've already seen some mentions of death and killing, so it makes sense that sharp pointy objects would come into play later. Killing tools like this symbolize the ending of life, but if you tie scythes into the symbol of cutting wheat, you get life sustaining food. I thought that was a pretty interesting double meaning.
Water:
Another one of those life giving things that is really critical for farming. Also the entire play thus far is filled with references to dryness and whatnot, making water really stand out when it appears. We discussed this in class, but the fluid motion of water might be really important in understanding the cultural aspects of this play. Flowing clothes, smooth movements, latin dance (flamenco being quite sharp and fiery though, but some dances are quite smooth and danced in couples.)
Horse:
I remember looking at the horse and focusing on it's status as a beast of burden. Looking at the descriptions of "His wounded hooves, His frozen mane," led me to believe the horse was being overworked, and perhaps his refusal to drink the water for lack of better words, was to commit suicide. But at the end, the horse reluctantly chooses to drink the nasty water, which I mentioned was a symbol for life, and continued to live even with all the hardships.
Based on that, I believe the horse is a symbol for perseverance.
Courtney's Blog:
Nicely done comparing the knifes and the flowers together. Could you elaborate the 'beauty' analysis for flowers though? I think there is something a little more to it actually
Katey's Blog:
Yes, the mother does seem rather bent on hurting someone. My question is whether or not the knife only symbolizes death and anger. If used properly, for example farming purposes, couldn't it also be a symbol of sustaining life?
Cutting tools (scythes, knifes etc.):
I've already seen some mentions of death and killing, so it makes sense that sharp pointy objects would come into play later. Killing tools like this symbolize the ending of life, but if you tie scythes into the symbol of cutting wheat, you get life sustaining food. I thought that was a pretty interesting double meaning.
Water:
Another one of those life giving things that is really critical for farming. Also the entire play thus far is filled with references to dryness and whatnot, making water really stand out when it appears. We discussed this in class, but the fluid motion of water might be really important in understanding the cultural aspects of this play. Flowing clothes, smooth movements, latin dance (flamenco being quite sharp and fiery though, but some dances are quite smooth and danced in couples.)
Horse:
I remember looking at the horse and focusing on it's status as a beast of burden. Looking at the descriptions of "His wounded hooves, His frozen mane," led me to believe the horse was being overworked, and perhaps his refusal to drink the water for lack of better words, was to commit suicide. But at the end, the horse reluctantly chooses to drink the nasty water, which I mentioned was a symbol for life, and continued to live even with all the hardships.
Based on that, I believe the horse is a symbol for perseverance.
Courtney's Blog:
Nicely done comparing the knifes and the flowers together. Could you elaborate the 'beauty' analysis for flowers though? I think there is something a little more to it actually
Katey's Blog:
Yes, the mother does seem rather bent on hurting someone. My question is whether or not the knife only symbolizes death and anger. If used properly, for example farming purposes, couldn't it also be a symbol of sustaining life?
Blood Wedding - Journal #2
Symbols:
Knife
Vineyard
Farming
Horse
Water
Wheat
Characterization of Archetypes:
Mother:
Well so far I'd say Lorca hasn't strayed too much. The mother cares about her child. Although her disdain towards marriage has my attention, and I think it's something worth looking at later. I'm not quite sure what to say about the bridegroom and bride though.
Bridegroom:
Can't say much about him yet, but he's a good son and cares for his mom too.
Bride:
Ok, one line in particular caught my attention:
Bride: (gravely) I know.
Ok wait, about to get married and she seems to dislike the concept?! Nor does she seem very excited about it, so Lorca might be breaking away a bit here.
In general, I think Lorca has done a pretty good job keeping the archetypes intact. Whether or not that remains true is yet to be seen.
Knife
Vineyard
Farming
Horse
Water
Wheat
Characterization of Archetypes:
Mother:
Well so far I'd say Lorca hasn't strayed too much. The mother cares about her child. Although her disdain towards marriage has my attention, and I think it's something worth looking at later. I'm not quite sure what to say about the bridegroom and bride though.
Bridegroom:
Can't say much about him yet, but he's a good son and cares for his mom too.
Bride:
Ok, one line in particular caught my attention:
Bride: (gravely) I know.
Ok wait, about to get married and she seems to dislike the concept?! Nor does she seem very excited about it, so Lorca might be breaking away a bit here.
In general, I think Lorca has done a pretty good job keeping the archetypes intact. Whether or not that remains true is yet to be seen.
Blood Wedding - Journal #1
Anouilh Pastiche:
Honestly, is there more you could demand of me? When Father felled the tree, he was exhausted, utterly so. There are men of his sort who slave to their death when they've reached their limits, and they never recover again. Trust me, sir; I've chosen the best replacement I can, short of uprooting every tree in the county and portraying myself as a lunatic by doing so.
Ibsen Pastiche:
Well, what is your opinion of this simple fisherman going out to sea to catch whales? There isn't a more joyful tradesman in the world than the mad old man when he's gliding across the ocean tides. Those two or three rusty pipes he brings with him - to him they're like mighty harpoons of olden times.
Reflection:
For my pastiches, I chose long excerpts spoken by single characters. Ibsen compared to Anouilh, tends to have conversations between characters use shorter sentences and I tried to keep mine short. I also liked using formal words such as 'sir' or 'Father' in Anouilh's pastiche, and figuring out how to use the semicolon was a fun challenge. Anouilh likes to make ideas blend together smoothly with his sentence structure, but Ibsen uses stuff like '-' to cut off ideas mid-sentence. I tried observing that too while writing.
Honestly, is there more you could demand of me? When Father felled the tree, he was exhausted, utterly so. There are men of his sort who slave to their death when they've reached their limits, and they never recover again. Trust me, sir; I've chosen the best replacement I can, short of uprooting every tree in the county and portraying myself as a lunatic by doing so.
Ibsen Pastiche:
Well, what is your opinion of this simple fisherman going out to sea to catch whales? There isn't a more joyful tradesman in the world than the mad old man when he's gliding across the ocean tides. Those two or three rusty pipes he brings with him - to him they're like mighty harpoons of olden times.
Reflection:
For my pastiches, I chose long excerpts spoken by single characters. Ibsen compared to Anouilh, tends to have conversations between characters use shorter sentences and I tried to keep mine short. I also liked using formal words such as 'sir' or 'Father' in Anouilh's pastiche, and figuring out how to use the semicolon was a fun challenge. Anouilh likes to make ideas blend together smoothly with his sentence structure, but Ibsen uses stuff like '-' to cut off ideas mid-sentence. I tried observing that too while writing.
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