Response to Course Material: Satisfaction

This week.

Wow.

For the first time in my entire English career, I got satisfaction, I was satisfied. Go ahead, laugh. Are we good? Done laughing? Okay. :)

In terms of actually going through and reading into each and every single line and figuring out the ambiguities of it; I was more than happy to let it happen. Although I was sorta disappointed that we didn't get into hot and heavy  heated discussions since I was so ready for two people go at each other with their theories and whatnots. But thats just because of my sadistic self and the fact that I enjoy the drama. Overall, the amount of class discussion we did and the amount of participation was a nice change than the average two or three people  talking back and forth in a regular Lit class. Some ideas are still blurry to me since I haven't finished annotating the entire play, still, I agree with lots of ideas that has been thrown out during class. which was really helpful as well. I'd go over the details of the characters and symbolism and motifs and ambiguity of Albee's play but that would take forever and who wants to read through that?

Also. Rewriting the Eros essay was a major help and I actually saw improvements in my work, not only in meaning and interpretation but also in the thought process and sophistication of my writing techniques. Those huge Diction and Syntax packets are doing their jobs!
Ohh and I really enjoyed and appreciated the terms games we played last Friday. It really helped refresh and learn some new vocab words.

So, we didn't learn much substance in terms of techniques/vocab/thingsweneedtoknow but I think with the forums and discussions, its opened my eyes to what others think.

Alast, this is the end of my response. So, I say to all a farewell and goodnight and SUCK. IT. CHEETAH. (5th hr inside joke haha.)

Closed Reading: 'You'

Okay. I read this article, actually it was an essay, a long, long time ago. You know its a long time ago because I didn't even site the date or URL that I copied and pasted the post from, which is something I always do nowadays. Still, its a very moving article/written piece of work and I'd like to really break it apart. So I'll just quote it here. (its the last paragraphs of it since the entire piece is really long)

"Occasionally you imagine her fights and her arguments- catch yourself quarreling a point to the air as you read a newspaper, just in case she thinks badly of you. But then you remember that if she can read your thoughts she probably knows their justifications and talking to no one is probably a sign of old age anyway.


You want her to talk back to you, just to let you know that she's ok.

But you know that she is.

You've been there before.

Faith was rude, and obsessive, and difficult, and adored by… most people she met. But people don't fall in love with perfection, they fall in love with flaws, with humanity, because we're all egotistical enough to believe that we'll be the one to make them change.

Did she change? Perhaps.

Or perhaps you just adjusted around her; that charming, immovable force.

You've changed.

She came back to you once, after an argument on a street corner in some god-forsaken small town you'd been sent to. It was raining and you'd earlier tried to help her stay dry while she hadn't even noticed the rain. Later, of course, she didn't take kindly to being reminded of her earlier weakness.

But she'd sprinted back and stopped abruptly, as if coming to the realisation that what she had wanted to say was completely stupid. "Sorry, I- I just meant… that I really did appreciate it. I might not have at the time but I really did."

Is that a silly thing to remember?

Her presence dances among the roses- not the way she was but the way she should have been.

You leave her in the olive grove, unblemished, unscarred, whole- a happy sixteen-year-old.

Happy endings can be drastically different- who's to say what makes 'happiness'? This is a happy ending, as different and unconventional as it may be.

Faith fought while she was alive; against demons, against you, against herself.

Now she lies at rest, content. She might no longer be with you but it's selfish to think of that as bad. There's no more struggle. And though your heart aches and your eyes are all cried out, it'll be ok. There was no map, no plan of your lives together- it had never been your intention to love her. You just do. Yet even without the map you still found ways back to each other. No matter how far she slipped she always came home.

One day you will follow her, find your way back home."

________The Actual Close Reading_______

There comes a moment in all our lives that we've looked back at all we've lost, all the gain, success, sacrifices, all those moments of could haves, would haves, should haves, did and did nots, when we are able to stand like Scout on Boo Radley's doorstep and see all the world for what it is and realize the beauty of it all. In Roses Left Behind by Jessica Kellgren-Hayes, the obscure narrator describes her life after a great loss, dealing with it and eventually coming to peace. Kellgren-Hayes uses language, diction and syntax to show the reader the mental thought process going on inside the narrator's mind, show the reader the grief, the pain and eventual enlightenment of the narrator finding what true happiness is. 

The first and most noticeable element to Kellgren-Hayes' style of writing is the second person point of view that she uses, most likely to allow the reader to step into the shoes of the narrator through the use of this type of language. When the narrator states "You want her to talk back to you, just to let you know that she's ok.", Kellgren-Hayes wants the reader to be able to feel the feeling of lost, the lost of a life that will never exist again and does this by deliberately using the 'you' to direct it to both the narrator and the audience. Another technique of language that the author uses is the "stream of consciousness" where the narration shifts between 'you' directing to herself and 'we' as well as spruces of thoughts put in mid-sentence. This is made clear when the narrator questions "Did she change? Perhaps...You've changed". During that time, it was the thoughts of the narrator coming out, asking herself then answering herself as well. Kellgren-Hayes does this to show progress and continued pain that the narrator is going through. 


Futhermore, the lost, depression, adoration, frustration and hate is reinforced by the diction. The narrator describes Faith as a person who was "rude, obsessive and difficult, and adored by....most people she met." and then goes on to say that "people don't fall in love with perfection, they fall in love with flaws, with humanity...". The contrasting word choices and sudden change from negative to positive words shows the amount of feelings between the narrator and Faith, showing the struggle and love.  The diction works to reinforce the established mood of lost and loneliness, especially when Kellgren-Hayes chooses to describe the narrator "quarreling a point to the air", it shows how much the narrator is missing and grieving, even to argue with a person when they are already dead. 


Finally, the mood and tone established by the language and diction comes together in the last paragraphs. Here, the syntax is the technique of choice, the narrator first stating "There was no map, no plan of your lives together- it had never been your intention to love her. You just do." putting emphasis on the last part of the first sentence, defining the fact that things just came together, and the second sentence coming off almost as a command. This technique is used again to establish the meaning of the piece by saying "Happy endings can be drastically different- who's to say what makes 'happiness'?" by putting emphasis on the last part, we see the narrator come to an enlightenment, realizing what happiness can be and going even further by questioning the social connotation of happiness. Then, she answers her own question, saying that happiness is different for each person, and for her; "This is a happy ending.".


Happiness can be a long arduous road, filled with love, grief, hate, desperation, the Kellgren-Hayes shows it beautifully in her piece. The life of others and our own cross, separate, criss-cross, tangle, and through diction, language and syntax, shows that happiness is simply from a person's point of view. Its not the people, place, money, time, it comes from the peace that has to be established from within. There is a map, no compass, just you finding "your way back home."
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Open Prompt 3: The American Dream

2002. Morally ambiguous characters -- characters whose behavior discourages readers from identifying them as purely evil or purely good -- are at the heart of many works of literature. Choose a novel or play in which a morally ambiguous character plays a pivotal role. Then write an essay in which you explain how the character can be viewed as morally ambiguous and why his or her moral ambiguity is significant to the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

______

I once read that 'Only crazy people see things in black and white'; that the reality exists in all shades of grey, that for every good there is also a bad. In Edward Albee's play The American Dream, exists a character named Mommy, a figure of a scheming, witty, impatient woman. Though, with all her bad qualities, the reader never identifies her as 'evil' nor 'good', because, through a litany of literary techniques, Albee was able to characterize Mommy so that she comes to life, where, in her, resides both the good and bad of humanity.

Albee's play showed a classic dysfunctional American family, one where no one in the household can have satisfaction, where the past plays not role in the present and every moment could act independently from the moment before. Albee writes a play based on the idea of The Theater of the Absurd, bringing into light the consumerism of the American society. 

A key player in Albee's play is Mommy, who is shown to be childish and scheming yet kind, sometimes mean yet humanizing all at the same time; much of this characterization is shown through his use of language and detail. Mommy's initial characterization comes in the first couple pages of the text where she throws a very childish temper tantrum over a wheat/beige colored hat. That language that Albee uses to show Mommy's personality is very distinct; there are many 'ands' and 'she said/he said' characteristic of how a child would tell a story. Furthermore, the contrasting language between how she treats Grandma are very contrasting, at one moment she pitys Grandma, in another she is telling her to "Shut up", however she cries when Grandma is taken by the 'van man'. The varying reactions to Grandma is characteristic of any child throughout their lives, carrying a love-hate relationship to their care givers. Finally, Albee details the readers into Mommy's childhood, showing how guile Mommy can be, deceiving other children that she does not have a lunch so that she could save food. All in all, Albee uses various techniques to show the shades of grays in Mommy's personality and characters, both the good and bad.

In The American Play, one of the biggest reveals is the fact that Mommy and Daddy had an adopted son in which they disemboweled and murdered, however, even then Mommy is not shown the be evil or antagonistic. Part of this comes from Mommy's symbolic nature, representative of the materialistic and shallow America, where Mommy isn't an individual entity, she is one part of a whole society that Albee is representing through her. Because she is representing the nature of humans, Albee knows that humans are inherently childish, scheming, unsatisfactory creatures and draws from it. 

Through his portrayal of Mommy, The American Dream is further heighten because it fits into the imagery the playwrite has created; Grandma as the old American Dream, the Young Man as the current American Dream and Mommy as the changing character who picks and chooses which dream she wants. Albee is showing the reader what could become because naturally, being humans, everyone is at one time or another, childish and hateful, kind yet resentful and hopeful.

Response to Course Material 2: Breasts!

Did i grab your attention with that? Breasts! In school! This is why i love this class. I believe that Lit. just naturally attracts a plethora of diverse people and you get this wonderful amalgamation of ideas that can all be handled maturely (hopefully) by my fellow peers. For those who don't know, the person who read as Grandma said 'Breasts' presumably because of the sexual subtext rather than 'Beast'.

Now, onto the actual response.

DIDLS!  This stuff is gold. The syntax worksheets did wonders, along with that packet over what exactly *was* syntax. It is the way the words are arranged and the choice of when to put the verbs, nouns and subjects, it actually makes sense! I actually feel competent with syntax now. Usually i try to shy away from the syntax and divert the attention to how awesome i can write on diction or detail but now, it feels like i'm on familiar grounds, maybe a little shaky ground, really, but I can atleast manage.

Along with DIDLS we along practiced the introductions and techniques, effect and meaning. Honestly, it makes sense. In my highs chool career, just separating DIDLS into two or three paragraphs and using enough good examples will get you and A but here, here is a more efficient and mature to handle writing about some literary work. By learning this, it opens up a whole new possibility for how to arrange my paper most efficiently.

Finally, The American Dream by Albee. I've never read of his plays. I rarely ever read plays outside of school because its just not my thing. But there is beauty in it. I mean, I'm sure we all caught the sexual subtext but reading that was like peeling an onion; there was just so many layers to it. Although it didn't make me cry, (there was a lack of emotional appeal to it)  it did hit home on the topics of the American consumerism and such. There was just SO MUCH in that book that could be read into. Also, I like how short it as. And maybe Albee made it short to leave the play open ended and free for the reader to read into it. I guess thats what Ms. Holmes was talking about when she said that a Classic work should change as you change because it leaves holes open for interpretations by the reader.

Thats all. I hope to hear what other people think about The American Dream since we haven't discussed it. ;)

Goodnight ya'll.

Closed Prompts: 8 Zombie Apocalypse Survival Strategies (For Zombies)

To Ms. Holmes and the three people who are going to be reviewing this article; you will probably stifle a laugh, chuckle or maybe roll your eyes. But come on! When i read some of my peer's articles about the economy in Europe or a play or something that makes me *feel* like a zombie is gnawing on my brain, it kills me. You can tell how painful it was for them. It shows in the writing. So, i figured, maybe I'd write about something that I find interesting so that it doesn't seem like I was having a bone rebroken as I was writing it.

And lets face it, you'd rather read my article talking about zombies than the BP oil spill or gay marriage.

__________________________

There are several times in our lives when we go through it thinking about ourselves, how we feel while neglecting the views of others. In the article 8 Zombie Apocalypse Survival Strategies (For Zombies) by Chris Bucholz, we get the classical extinction via cannibalism from the zombie's side of the story. Bucholz shows the everyday zombie how to survive in a very entertaining way, using diction, language and detail to grab the (decaying) reader's attention and bring home the point that it is not impossible when the whole world is falling apart. Additionally, Bucholz also relates the life of a zombie to the everyday livings of the average human.   

The diction of the article is very distinct; it lacks a certain sympathetic tone, instead, it is replaced by a technical and objective inevitability. The article begins with “The first thing you'll notice after zombification is the Hunger.” Firstly, the term ‘zombification’ is used very casually like the word puberty. By using this term, it gives a certainty to the possibility of becoming a zombie. Additionally, the term “Hunger” is personified. Bucholz chooses this word and makes it something like the first stage of “zombification” causes the reader to realize how absolute the reality is and makes the reader feel like a zombie. There are no pitiful reasoning, no apologies or condolences about being turned into the undead, Bucholz attacks the survival of the zombie head on. By using technicality of the wording, the writer is able to put seriousness in a rather larger than life fantasy.

Bucholz uses language to bring the reader into the zombie apocalypse by choosing a second person point of view. Again, this reiterates the technicality of the article. Along with the point of view, the continuous usage of methodological and mundane language, however, there is an underlying humorous tone to the make believe article. There is much juxtaposition in the language and detail of Bucholz’s article like “The rich zombies will get richer, and if you can't be one of them, you'll want to at least be working for one of them.” He often choses two very contrasting details and uses it to bring to light the ‘humanity’ of being a zombie.  You would think that in an apocalypse, being rich or poor does not matter because it is survival that does but by bringing the two contrasting ideas, Bucholz shows the irony of it all thereby creating humor.

In this article, Bucholz uses diction, language and detail to enrich the writing by showing the seriousness of the situation thereby creating a funny and amusing article.

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Again. The time constraints are killing me. The third paragraph was rushed, can you tell?

Open Prompt 2

2005, Form B. One of the strongest human drives seems to be a desire for power. Write an essay in which you discuss how a character in a novel or a drama struggles to free himself or herself from the power of others or seeks to gain power over others. Be sure to demonstrate in your essay how the author uses this power struggle to enhance the meaning of the work.

The desire for power and control has motivated humanity since recorded history where men and women rally for power between each other. This reoccuring phenomenon shows itself in the play MacBeth by William Shakespeare, where Lady MacBeth seeks to gain power through MacBeth. Shakespeare uses detail and imagery to create a character who is willing to do anything to gain power and through her search to gain control, Shakespeare ultimately uses Lady MachBeth's character to show the consequences of guilt and the subconsciousness as well as the ability in woman that is hindered by the patriarchal society.

Lady MacBeth is the wife to MacBeth, a wealthy general who has recently seen many victories in battle. He then meets three witches that predict he will be King of Scotland, thereby instigating that he must murder Duncan, the current king, to do so. MacBeth is first reluctant to kill for power but is motivated and manipulated by Lady MacBeth who puts his manhood at stake for not being headstrong at getting what he wants. After killing the king and the father of future kings, both MacBeth and Lady Macbeth slide into insanity and paranoia. In the end, Lady MacBeth kills herself and MacBeth is beheaded by his rival, Macduff and all peace is restored. 

Lady Macbeth is well aware of her gender and its status during her time period, one which is seen as a lesser and more subordinate to men. She uses MacBeth is gain more power since it is the only way she can. When MacBeth hesitates to kill King Duncan, she uses her cunningly challenges MacBeth's manhood, forcing him to kill the king to prove himself.From this detail, the reader can conclude that Lady MacBeth is willing to do anything to gain power for herself and her husband, motivating him to kill the King, calming him afterwards and even saying that if she were a man, she would have done so too in order to gain the throne. This relevation is even further exploited and consecrated when Lady MacBeth again keeps MacBeth's composure when he sees Banquo's ghost. 

Shakespeare also uses imagery to describe Lady MacBeth's struggle for power and its consequences. Shortly after killing the King and Banquo, Lady MacBeth begins to sleepwalk. During her fits of sleepwalk, she talks incessantly about her bloodstain hands, describing the scene in which one can cover up even with the finest silks of Arabia. This is the turning point in Lady MacBeth's character, as much need as she felt to gain power for herself, she also feels a great deal of guilt for causing the deaths of now more than several people, including innocent women and children. 

Through all of this, Shakespeare uses Lady MacBeth as a conflicted character, striving for power, manipulating to get it and then having her consciousnesses turn on her.
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Arrggg. I ended up not finishing because of the time constraints, which is sad since the conclusion is my strong point on character essays. :(