Sunday, September 30, 2012

Hamlet Resources

 This has a bunch of information on it. It breaks the different parts of the play up by section, and dissects each part and uses easy to understand language. It goes over the different themes and controversies and is really a good website all and all.

http://www.pathguy.com/hamlet.htm

A basic study guide with characters, analysis, and essays on Hamlet

http://absoluteshakespeare.com/guides/hamlet/hamlet.htm

The last one is a page of links dedicated to Hamlet

http://www.tk421.net/hamlet/hamlet.html

Thursday, September 27, 2012

a) What do you know about Hamlet, the "Melancholy Dane"? 
Hamlet is a play by Shakespeare, a tragedy at that. I believe most of the main character die at the end due to a poisoned sword. It is a classic and one of Shakespeare's most famous pieces. Also, the main characters name is Hamlet. And yahoo answers tells me that Hamlet himself was a Danish king famous for his melancholy humor.

b) What do you know about Shakespeare?
Shakespeare was an old English writer. Limited to few words he was able to reach the general public through very poetic, and sometimes lewd language. Often writing in iambic pentameter his plays such as Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth entices audiences for centuries.

 c) Why do so many students involuntarily frown when they hear the name "Shakespeare"? 
Shakespeare's language does not seem to flow in today's youth. Already reluctant to read, having a much more difficult to understand format leaves dread in the students his work awaits. 

 d) What can we do to make studying this play an amazing experience we'll never forget?
The more involved the experience the better. Never truly a Shakespeare fan in the past we'll see if we can indeed make this an unforgettable experience. 

Monday, September 24, 2012

Vocabulary List #7


aberration - (noun) an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image; a disorder in one's mental state; a state or condition markedly different from the norm

Ad hoc- (adverb) for the special purpose or end presently under consideration

bane - (noun) something causes misery or death

bathos - (noun) triteness or triviality of style; a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one; insincere pathos

cantankerous - (adj.) having a difficult and contrary disposition; stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate

casuistry - (noun) moral philosophy based on the application of general ethical principles to resolve moral dilemmas; argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading

de facto - (noun) in fact; in reality

depredation - (noun) an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding; (usually plural) a destructive action

empathy - (noun) understanding and entering into another's feelings

harbinger - (noun) an indication of the approach of something or someone; verb foreshadow or presage

hedonism - (noun) an ethical system that evaluates the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good; the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle

lackluster - (adj.) lacking luster or shine; lacking brilliance or vitality

malcontent - (adj.) discontented as toward authority; noun a person who is discontented or disgusted

mellifluous - (adj.) pleasing to the ear
nepotism - noun favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs)

pander - (noun) someone who procures customers for whores (in England they call a pimp a ponce); verb arrange for sexual partners for others; yield (to); give satisfaction to

peccadillo - (noun) a petty misdeed

piece de resistance - (noun) the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction.

remand - (noun) the act of sending an accused person back into custody to await trial (or the continuation of the trial); verb refer (a matter or legal case) to another committee or authority or court for decision; lock up or confine, in or as in a jail

syndrome - (noun) a complex of concurrent things; a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease

Friday, September 21, 2012

Literature Analysis: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein: Literature Analysis Questions
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose.
The story opens on a man sending letters to his sister. He is on a trip in the Pacific Ocean for research when he finds a man among the ice in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. This mysterious man captures the explorer's fascination, and this man seems very troubled, very mysterious, and very ill. This stranger, Victor Frankenstein, soon tells his life story to the explorer ( Robert Walton). Victor tells of his parents and childhood, especially of growing up with the lovely Elizabeth. Interested in science and alchemy from an early age he becomes deeply involved in learning about life and how it works. How to create it in fact. He isolates himself and creates a living being from his work after two years. However his creation turns out grotesque to a point he can't stand it, and runs away from the "monster" which he created. Victor is haunted by his creation, and eventually, the monster comes to kill his younger brother William. Another (Justine) takes the blame and is executed, further driving guilt into Victor. Victor and the monster finally meet and the monster tells his side of the story. The monster was very gentle at his core, not meaning any harm. He worked to understand English and to understand the troubles of the village folk, while understanding that they shunned him due to his physical appearance. Soon after he becomes literate and begins reading and understanding life. He finds a note from Victor left behind describing the content and horror in which he holds the monster. He simply asks for a mate and to be left in isolation. Victor agrees, but still disgusted  by the monster destroys the making for his monster's mate leading the monster to vow revenge. A few more deaths pass by. On his wedding day the monster murders Victor's wife, leading Victor to vow revenge on the monster. Victor dies on the trip with Walton several days after telling the story, and Frankenstein comes to weep the loss of his creator.

I researched the meaning of writing this book, and it was in a horror story contest it was compiled. It is a wonderful horror story, as well as talks about the true humanity of people in a deep way.

2. The theme of the story was the true monstrosity of human nature. All the monster ever wanted was to be loved and to care for those around him and important to him. However, he is shunned by all, especially the one who he loves most, Victor. Victor becomes consumed in the thought of the horror of the creation, and leaves it alone out of spite. Victor grows iller and iller throughout the book and it leaves it to be seen who the true monster was in this story, Victor or his creation.

3. The author had an extremely dark mood to the story considering it was a horror story. This helped set up the monstrosity of Victor, and the decadence of morale seen in the book.
Some examples are:
Like one, on a lonesome road who,
Doth walk in fear and dread,
And, having once turned round, walks on,
And turns no more his head;
Because he knows a frightful fiend
Doth close behind him tread

"This was then the reward of my benevolence! I had saved a human being from destruction, and as a recompense I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound which shattered the flash and bone. The feelings of kindness and gentleness, which I had entertained but a few moments before, gave place to hellish rage and gnashing of teeth. Inflamed by pain, I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind. But the agony of my wound overcame me; my pulses paused, and i fainted."

"Why did I not die? More miserable than man ever was before, why did I not sink into forgetfulness and rest? Death snatches away many blooming children, the only hopes of their doating parents: how many brides and youthful lovers have been one day in the bloom of health and hope, and the next a prey for worms and the decay of the tomb! Of what materials was I made, that I could thus resist so many shocks, which, like the turning of the wheel, continually renewed the torture?

4. Ten literary elements: Edition: Republication of a standard text of the 1831 edition. Dover Thrift Edition

1. Direct characterization: "His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips." Page 35 in chapter 5
2. Prologue: Robert Walton's four letters concerning his discovery of Victor Frankenstein, setting up the tone of the story. Page 1-14
3. Personification: "Sleep fled from my eyes." "Yet my heart overflowed with kindness, and the love of virtue." Both Page 61, start of chapter 6
4. Foil: Justine's innocence and taking the blame for the murder she did not commit contrasted with Victor's inability to face the injustice he has committed. Page 60 end of chapter 8.
5. Juxtaposition: When the monster kills William he says: "As I fixed my eyes on the child, I saw something glittering on his breast. I took it; it was a portrait of a most lovely woman. In spite of my malignity, it softened and attracted me."
6. Point of View: The author changes the point of view from Victor to Frankenstein in chapter eleven in order to show the monster's side of the story. To show how innocent the monster truly was at its core.
7. Simile: "Sometimes he commanded his countenance and tones, and related the most horrible incident with a tranquil voice, suppressing every mark of agitation; then, like a volcano bursting forth, his face would suddenly change to an expression of the wildest rage, as he shrieked out imprecations on his persecutor.
8. Situational Irony: When Frankenstein's monster comes to weep over his creators grave at the end of the story, even though it is thought all he wanted to do was destroy Victor in the first place. Chapter 24 page 163
9. Setting: Mary Shelley used vast open landscapes for much of the story to help create the mournful tone. Walton sails on the freezing Pacific, Victor isolates himself in his castle, and eventually Frankenstein isolates himself there, along with in the forest. Seen throughout the book.
10. Stream of Consciousness: Frankenstein's monster actually ends up being a very complex thoughtful character, and very literate. This vastly contrasts from the views on him in society today. He anguishes just a a human would, and has very complex feelings. Example: Page 97 chapter 16



Monday, September 17, 2012

Vocabulary Week #6

beatitude- Supreme blessedness
bete noire- a detested person (disliked or avoided)
bode- Be an omen of a particular outcome
dank- Disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold
ecumenical- Promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian churches
fervid- Intensely enthusiastic or passionate
fetid- Smelling extremely unpleasant
gargantuan- of great mass
heyday- The period of a person's or thing's greatest success or popularity
incubus- A cause of distress or anxiety like a nightmare
infrastructure- The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation
inveigle- Persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery
kudos- Praise and honor received for an achievement
lagniappe- Something given as a bonus or extra gift
prolix- Using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
protege- a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career
prototype- A first or preliminary model of something, esp. a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied
sycophant- A person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer
tautology- The saying of the same thing twice in different words
truckle- Submit or behave obsequiously

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

AP Rubric Notes

All essays are on a nine point scale


9-8: Persuasive analysis with a range of interpretations. Convincing, complex, and appropriate. Demonstrate clear and sophisticated writing. All bright  : D

7-6: Reasonable analysis. Still complex, but less convincing. Clearly express ideas. Developed analysis and effective composition on the bright side.

5:  Use some analysis, but more superficial. Misinterpret some parts. Minimal support. Still show control of language however, on the bright side

4-3: Fail to offer adequate analysis. Unconvincing, possibly even irrelevant. Only slight or misused evidence. Lack of control of composition. Significant misreading or inept writing.  But still not a 0-2 on the bright side.

2-1: Well...compound weakness. Some effort made, but little success in organization, grammar, or mechanics. Little coherent discussion of the topic. But some points still earned.

0: Make an effort to make a reference to the task. An effort. On the bright side, at least you get a number of some sort.

----: Blank or completely off topic. Do not earn a score of 0. Do not pass go, do not get AP exam credit.



Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Notes: Page 64-82

The Epic:
- Long narrative poem that celebrated the adventures of legendary heroes. Heroes were role models.

Gilgamesh and the Iliad:
-Gilgamesh Near Eastern poem about 4,000 years old
-Iliad a Greek poem almost 3,000 years old

Gilgamesh: The Prologue
-The Story
  • Built Uruk (City of Gilgamesh) and keeping place of Anu and Ishtar (Father of the Babylonian gods, Babylonian goddess of love). He vanquished evil, knew great secrets beyond Utnapishtim (Mesopotamia), two-thirds a god, one-third a man, and a king.
From the Iliad:
Fight over Helen of Troy. Achilleus-greatest Greek warrior, Hecktor- the best Trojan warrior. Hecktor kill Achilleus' friend Patroklos
 -Athene: Protects the Greeks (Achaians) and Achilleus, and gives him his spear when lost
-Achilleus challenges Hecktor to fight. They fight, Achilleus stabs Hecktor and kills him.
-Hecktor with his dying breath asks Achilleus to give his body back to the Trojans for a proper burial, yet Achilleus denies him

Bede-
Born in Wearmouth in northeastern England. Wrote A History of the English Church and People.
-Britain was formerly known as Albion
-Scarlet dye is extracted from Cockles and is more beautiful the older it is.
-Ireland is seen as a rather unhelpful nation with a better climate, with more natural resources

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:
-Anglo-Saxons had to protect large spans of coast against invaders
-Giving the list of deceased members Anglo-Saxons gave the people common threads to tie back to their evolving country, such as America did with presidents such as Abe Lincoln and George Washington.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Vocabulary Fall List #5


acumen (noun)-
 keen insight.
Spiderman's spidey senses gave him an acumen to where danger would strike next

adjudicate (verb)-
 to settle or determine.
Unfortunately Spiderman's insight lead him to attack a young lad holding scissors upside down, and breaking his leg, leading him to pay his salary to the young man's parents after they adjudicated the matter in court.

anachronism (noun)-
something or someone that is not in its correct historical time.
This lead Spiderman to try to find a more effective way of finding danger, such as video cameras, but being in his original comics, to find technology like that would be an anachronism.

apocryphal (adj)-
of doubtful authorship or authenticity.
So he continued harassing the public over minor situations, which lead people to find his "heroic deeds" of apocryphal value.

disparity (noun)-
inequality
Thor however was saving maidens in distress, and Captain America had once again saved his beloved town, causing quite a disparity between Spiderman and the other super heroes.

dissimulate (verb)-
 to disguise or conceal under a false appearance.
It wasn't long until instead of Peter Parker dissimulating as Spiderman, it was Spiderman dissimulating as Peter Parker.

empirical (adj)-
 derived from or guided by experience or experiment
Spiderman comics took a huge hit in sales, and the comic book author created an empirical plan to sell comic cooks as he once had.

flamboyant (adj)-
He started by giving Spiderman a flamboyant new outfit, in order to attract the female audience.

fulsome (adj)- offensive to good taste, especially as being excessive;overdone or gross
Next, he took out Spiderman's fulsome attacks on the innocent.

immolate (verb)-
to sacrifice
In order to get a larger audience, he had to immolate Spiderman's flaws and make him into the perfect superhero.

imperceptible (adj)-
 very slight, gradual, or subtle.
Spiderman's new flaws were imperceptible to the audience, and profits flowed.

lackey (noun)-
a servile follower
The series once again had lackeys who would buy the next edition of the comic no matter the quality, just to follow Spiderman's great deeds.

liaison (noun)-
a person who initiates and maintains such a contact or connection.
The comics grew so popular the public hired a liaison  as a reporter into the author's life.

monolithic (adj)-
consisting of one piece; solid or unbroken
Although Spiderman's legacy was not monolithic, it had flourished in this new remake of the series.

mot juste (noun)-
 the exact, appropriate word
However, other superheroes started to become jealous, as a recent poll had shown Spiderman to be the mot juste for hero.

nihilism (noun)-
total rejection of established laws and institutions.
 They knew the new Avengers movie was coming up, and in complete nihilism, prevented Spiderman from being in the movie due to their jealousy.

patrician (noun)-
 a person of noble or high rank; aristocrat.
With their earnings, the heroes paid of patrician Nick Fury to ban him from their endeavor. 

propitiate (verb)-
 to make favorably inclined; appease; conciliate.

Nick Fury thought at first Spiderman could be a great help to his cause, quickly changed his mind after Black Widdow propitiated to him to ban Spiderman.

sic (verb)-
to incite to attack, or to attack
The other heroes had  sicced Spiderman's reputation in this action, but Spiderman choose to be the bigger superhero.

sublimate(adj)-
(adjective/ verb with object) to divert the energy of (a sexual or other biological impulse) from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use
In fact, in not replying to these attacks on his reputation,  Spiderman sublimated this negative energy to help him become the most noble of all of the Marvel superheroes.










Sunday, September 9, 2012

Beowulf and Godsylla

Beowulf ond Godsylla

Meanehwæl, baccat meaddehæle, monstær lurccen;
Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht.
Ðen Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl,
Æsccen æwful jeork to steop outsyd. Þhud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! Ðe bigge gye
Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe;
Wicced Godsylla wæld on his asse.
Monstær moppe fleor wyþ eallum men in hælle.
Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bamaccen wæs;
Hearen sond of ruccus sæd, "Hwæt ðe helle?"
Graben sheold strang ond swich-blæd scharp
Stond feorth to fyht ðe grimlic foe. "Me," Godsylla sæd, "mac ðe minsemete."
Heoro cwyc geten heold wiþ fæmed half-nelson
Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen
Beowulf belly up to meaddehæle bar,
Sæd, "Ne foe beaten mie færsom cung-fu."
Eorderen cocca-cohla yce-coeld, ðe reol þyng.

Translation:
 Meanwhile, back at the mead-hall, the monster lurked
Full few too many drinks, he was looking for a fight
Then Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hreorfneorhtðhwr asked the awful jerk to step outside
Thud, Bash, Crash, boom, the big guy
All of his bones broke, bit his nose off;
Wicked Godzilla wailed on his ass
Monster mopped the floor with all the men in the hall
Beowulf in the backroom making a phone call
Hearing sounds of ruckus said, "What the hell?"
Grabbed his strong shield and sharp switch blade
Stood forth to fight the grimlic foe
"Me," Godzilla said, "Make the mince-meat"
Hero ? quickly got (getting) held with the famed half-nelson
And flying him like a frisbee back and forth
Beowulf belly up to the mead-hall's bar,
said, "No foe has beaten my fearsome kung-fu."
He ordered coca-cola, ice cold, the real thing

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Hero's Journey

  The hero that I chose was that of Link from the game the Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
Departure.
  1. Link is first called to action by his grandmother who gives him hero garb. On his birthday he became of age to help protect the people and at that point his journey has begun as the protagonist. His sister is soon after captured and he is called to leave his quaint life and save her.
  2. Link is afraid to leave him grandmother behind in order to save his sister, but she urges him to go, and he sets off on the open sea on his quest.
  3. The captain of the pirates who take Link with them is named Tetra, and she becomes Link's guide on his journey, leaving him a charm in order to talk with him.
  4. Link sets off to the Forsaken Fortress, with his sister at the top, in order to save her. His adventure officially starts here.
  5. Once at the top of the tower, a giant bird picks him up and tosses him across the land, ending any hope of a small adventure. He now leaves everything he has, and must forage and slay his way back to his sister in order to bring her back safely.
Inititation
  1.  Link now goes through a series of quests in order to help the villagers around him accomplish different tasks. He slays a dragon, a large giant killer plant, moths, statues, and various other beasts. There are tons of things that come in threes in his journey, three pearls of wisdom just being one example.
  2. Tetra and Link are reunited when Link goes back to the tower and saves his sister as well as Tetra. She is shocked to see he has the master sword. He thinks he may be the hero of legend, but dismisses the idea. It is presumed that Link likes her.
  3. Having just saved his sister he could have just stopped right there in his quest. Instead he pushes on to do what is right, to fight for all that is good in the world.
  4. Once Link is able to reconstruct the Triforce he must take his final step on his journey. There is no going back now, and after a talk with Zelda he becomes the hero he was made to be, and sails off into the light at the Tower of the Gods.
  5. Link has become the hero of legend. He has lived up to the standards set by society. He has grown through he journey, and at this point has done all but defeat the ultimate evil, Ganondorf.
  6. Link teams up with Zelda and ultimately destroys Ganondorf, completing his journey.
C  Return
 
  1. Link returns back to his family as his is very attached to them. The king of Hyrule convinces him to live a life of hope.
  2. There is no adventure back, but just a pleasant cruise...at least until the second time through, but that's a different journey.
  3. Simply having Tetra by his side and returning to his family lets Link integrate back into regular life.
  4. He does not share his wisdom with the world, but rather uses it to protect it.
  5. Link is able to be confident, to believe in good, and to protect that of which he loves most.
  6. His return back gives him peace, and that peace stays within him. The after journey is not very elaborate in this story.

Vocabulary Week 4

apostate: a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.
effusive: unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve.
impasse: a position or situation from which there is no escape.
euphoria: a state of intense happiness and self-confidence.
lugubrious: mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner.
bravado: a pretentious, swaggering display of courage.
consensus: majority of opinion
dichotomy: division into two parts
constrict: to slow or stop the natural course or to contract or shrink
gothic: noting or pertaining to a style of architecture, originating in France in the middle of the 12th century and existing in the western half of Europe through the middle of the 16th century, characterized by the use of the pointed arch and the ribbed vault, by the use of fine woodwork and stonework, by a progressive lightening of structure, and by the use of such features as flying buttresses, ornamental gables, crockets, and foils.
punctilio: a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or procedure.
metamorphosis: a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation
raconteur to tell
sine qua non: an indispensable condition, element, or factor; something essential
quixotic: extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable
vendetta: any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, contention
non sequitur: an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises.
mystique: a framework of doctrines, ideas, beliefs, or the like, constructed around a person or object, endowing the person or object with enhanced value or profound meaning
quagmire: anything soft or flabby
parlous: perilous; dangerous

Monday, September 3, 2012

Literary Analysis Choice

The book that I choose for my literary analysis is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I chose this book because bought it a few months ago in order to read it, but never got to it. I personally enjoy the dark overcast of the tone for Frankenstein, and I also enjoy the horror that comes along with it. It seems like a suspenseful book, and one that I look forward to reading.