Reflection

One of the pieces I am most proud of is my American Drama Project. I am proud of this because of the amount of effort that went in to making. I always hate group projects, and really this was no exception, but I was able to successfully work with others to create a product I could be proud of. It took a lot of combined effort and ideas but eventually we were able to figure things out. I believe that one of the strengths of our project was our thesis because that was something we really wanted to be successful. I helped make it up and revise it until we thought it was perfect. One of our weaknesses was our transitions throughout the video. I don't think our group fully grasped that our transitions were supposed to be used for so we didn't put many plot points within, which, in retrospect is something I would change. The other piece I am really proud of is the Hamlet Blog post number three. Unlike many others who read it, I thoroughly enjoyed Hamlet. I found the story extremely compelling and was very invested in it and I specifically love the "To Be or Not To Be" soliloquy. As a theater kid I have always heard that saying but this was the first time I actually paid attention to the complexity in it. I actually loved analyzing it as deep as I did in this post, and was amazed that I could enjoy analyzing something to this extent. I think my strong points was comparing and contrasting the differences between the film adaptations of it. A weakness is certainly still my ability to comprehend literary elements enhancing the meaning which is something I will continue to work on! I felt that I put a fair amount of participation in this class. In terms of myself in the class as a whole I never really talked out to the whole of the group (but I don't really feel like there was much of that, anyways) but whenever we worked in smaller units of the classroom I feel as though I always had a lot to say and input and I loved discussing different opinions with others! I feel that I put a lot of effort into my own individual papers because those are what I personally excel at. The reason that I enjoy individual papers versus group projects is because when I get a grade back on an individual paper, I know that the grade I receive is 100% my doing (whether it's good or bad). when I do well on a paper I wrote myself I am always very proud of my own work and when I get a bad grade I accept that it was my doing. In a group environment if I get a good grade I tend to question whether or not I had any impact on the grade or not. When we do poorly I always think "maybe if they would have taken my idea we would have done better". With this in mind, I would say that I did far better with a group of people than I usually do. Typically in a group I do all of the work but this time I worked with individual who nearly all had a yearning to help in some way, shape, or form. On goal I have for the future is to receive an A in the next trimester of AP Lit I have. I felt as though this trimester I started off on the wrong foot with missing a week for having mono and a ton of crazy unexpected things that got in the way of life in general. I hate feeling like I'm behind in class and so I try as I can to not miss school but for the first group powerpoint I felt so out of the loop. Slowly I feel like I've made my way back to my hardworking self but I would surely like to see my grade improve by a letter grade. I hope in third tri, when I have this class again, that I will begin to feel more prepared for the AP exam. I still don't really feel the most comfortable with my skills as an AP lit student so I dearly hope that that changes. This change will be marked by (hopefully) an increase in test scores in the class and maybe not starting with a D and moving my way back up to an A! I look forward to see the knowledge that this class brings me in the future and hopes that it makes me a better, more watchful reader and even member of society!

Blog Post 6

Blog Post 10 and 11

AP Literature & Composition: Blog Post #10 & #11: American Drama Project

Rumpletstiltskin

All You Have To Do Is Listen: Rumpelstiltskin
Here is our group powerpoint for the fairy tale powerpoint!

Modernist PowerPoint

All You Have To Do Is Listen: Modernist PowerPoint Here is our group powerpoint for the Modernist Period.

Hamlet Blog Post #3

Soliloquy Analysis: Imagery that refers to the uncertainty of death- "who would these fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death,— The undiscover’d country, from whose bourn No traveller returns,—puzzles the will" (3.1.78-82) Imagery that refers to the negative experiences of life- "For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely, The pangs of despis’d love, the law’s delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin?" (3.1.71-78) Appeals- One appeal in which Hamlet uses to convince/motivate the audience is through ethos, or an appeal to logic. This is done in the most famous of all lines in the play- "To be or not to be-That is the question"(3.1.58) is a logical question in terms of killing oneself. This is a major theme that is shown in the world of despair that Hamlet finds himself in. Another appeal is the appeal to the emotions or the interests of the audience, or pathos. Hamlet is questioning life and I think this is something everybody goes through (at least I hope so for my sanity's sake). This existentially fraught soliloquy is one that many can connect to, what with the dull workings of everyday life that Hamlet discusses (see last question for exact quote). Literary Devices- paradox: To die is to end the suffering, yet there is the possibility of dreaming? Isn't dreaming a part of living? "For in that sleep of death what dreams may come," (3.1.68) infinitive: "To be or not to be" (3.1.58) Synecdoche: "When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin?" (3.1.78) Tone: I would describe the tone as desperate or urgent because this is an incredibly important question for Hamlet and he is absolutely desperate for the answer to a question that he knows he will not receive until he faces it himself. Dark as well. Two Primary Metaphors: 1."To die,—to sleep" (3.1.60) 2. "But that the dread of something after death,— The undiscover’d country, from whose bourn No traveller returns," (3.1.81-82) Evidence of- Life on earth:"For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely, The pangs of despis’d love, the law’s delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin?" (3.1.71-78) Afterlife:"The undiscover’d country, from whose bourn No traveller returns," (3.1.81-82) Death: "No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to,—’tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish’d." (3.1.63-66) Thinking: "Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought;" (3.1.84-86) "Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer" (3.1.59) Three Oppositions- 1. Why Be Alive? 2. Comparison of Death to Sleep 3. The Afterlife Eternal Philosophical Questions- Moral Dilemmas of Suicide What is the difference between Sleeping and Death? What is the afterlife? Conclusions Drawn- Hamlet decides that the hope/ mere thought of a religious afterlife is what prevents the majority of humans from killing themselves. People do not want to find a worse existence waiting for them out there. These conclusions make Hamlet realize why so little gets done in the world. Acting Analysis: (sound, setting, props, costume, make up, camera angles) Kenneth Barnagh- Sound: Diegetic: Just the sound of Hamlet's grainy voice being the sole focus, with the little clatter of the knife hitting the mirror at the end. Non: The music setting the mood halfway through the monologue to affect the mood of the audience. Setting: Inside the castle in that room with a bunch of mirrors. Big, open room. Props: knife, mirror. Costume: Hamlet in his uniform. Make Up: Light, classic Shakespearean theater. Camera Angles: I really enjoyed the camera angle of focusing on the back of Hamlet with the focus being on his face in the reflection of the mirror. Laurence Oliver- Sound: Diegetic: The actor talking, the sound of the wind in the background. Non: The voiceover in which it looked as if he was contemplating actual suicide with the knife- making it more internal. The "mood music" just seemed super cheesy to me. Setting: outside, windy, water around. Sitting on a rock much like Ariel... Props: his knife. Costume: a loose fitting shirt with tying vest thing (very sailor like) Make Up: Couldn't really tell due to black and white Camera Angles: Basically a medium shot throughout the entirety until the very end in which he stands up and leaves, showing the end of the speech and moral dilemma for the moment. Mel Gibson- Sound: Diegetic: Just the sound of his voice and his movements as he moves. Setting: Inside a crypt/catacombs...? There are mummies Props: Mummies Costume: dark, and I'm not exactly sure what time period it is but I'm assuming it's in Egypt because of the mummies? Make Up: natural. Camera Angles: Many close ups on Hamlet's face to better see emotions. Also cool shots of dead mummies with Hamlet- emphasizing the point of life and death side by side in this scene. Ethan Hawke- Sound: Diegetic: Hamlet talking in the latter half of the soliloquy. The sound of the videos of blockbuster televisions making explosion noises (brilliant)Non: Voiceover at the beginning of soliloquy as Hamlet wanders through the aisles. The beautiful orchestral music playing in the background as he goes further and further. Setting: Blockbuster- the action aisle, specifically (brilliant) Props: lots, and lots of DVD's. Costume: A beanie-ish hat. Casual modern clothes. Make Up: Very Natural Camera Angles: Pan of him walking (following him throughout the store, waist up) Most Effective (Gertrude)- In my humble opinion I believe that the Kenneth Barnagh version is the most effective in conveying what the soliloquy is truly saying. This monologue is about Life and death and is showing the madness is which my son has been driven too. Watching this madness unfold is frightening. That mirror reflection was almost to much too handle. It showed the twisted warped view my son has shielding his eyes from the ways of reality. The knife is used in a way that is not obnoxious but makes me worry for his sanity and his moral legitimacy. Suicide is hiding within his eyes and very clearly within that dreadful reflection. What I Would Have Changed- I really enjoyed each of these renditions (albeit the Laurence Oliver one had a few moments that I would denote as cringe worthy) and if it were up to me to direct/act out this scene I would maybe combine some of these ideas to create something different. I would also include one other noteworthy performance of this soliloquy, by David Tennant. I have always been a fan of Tennant's acting and was already familiar with his version of Hamlet and so I have been watching that outside of class as well and I really enjoyed the "To be or not to be" in it. There is no background music, as the majority of the others have. In fact, the only sound is Hamlet speaking. There are shadows on his face at first, but the camera turns to just to do a close up of his face the whole rest of the soliloquy. I find this very engaging for the audience to see each painstaking detail of emotion written on his face. I would also use the idea of a really modern setting, like Ethan Hawke's version, so as to remind that the theme of this soliloquy is universal and (so far) timeless. I would certainly keep the knife, and use that moment in the Oliver version in which he stops for a moment and somewhat places the knife over his chest. This action has a certain intensity to it that I believe enhances the words.

Hamlet Blog Post #2 (Part 2)

4. Claudius has been quite odd lately. He is awfully suspicious of Hamlet's actions as of late. I must agree that something is off and his suspicions are justified. I knew Claudius needed to figure it out so I suggested that Hamlet's old friends could come and maybe get something out of him. I told them about my "too much changed son" (2.2.36) and how we wished for them to go find him. They seemed like lovely gentlemen for the job for that delightful Guildenstern told us he would do our command with the utmost degree of their mental capacity in his words "And here give up ourselves, in the full bent" (2.2.30). It was very upsetting to hear Polonius outright say that Hamlet "is mad, tis true, tis true, tis pity' and pity tis tis true: a foolish fiture" (2.2.97). Oh, how I wonder what Polonius is discussing with him now with his swift dismissal of us, "Away I do beseech you both" (2.2.169). I know of his daughter's relationship with Hamlet. Ophelia is sweet and does not deserve the madness that "it may be, very like" (2.2.151) my son has. As Polonius said, we must "find out the cause of this defect"(2.2.101). 5. In Hamlet, Hamlet is constantly trying to think of reasons to kill Claudius for killing his father but he struggles with it and it eventually makes him madThe spirit that I have seen "May be the devil: and the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds More relative than this: the play 's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king." (2.2.58) This is contrasting to Troy where Achilles, the very moment he hears of the death his cousin, goes to kill Hector without any caution whatsoever "Achilles: There are no pacts between lions and men. [stabs spear into ground, and takes off helmet, throwing it to the side] Achilles: Now you know who you're fighting. Hector: [takes off helmet and throws it aside] I thought it was you I was fighting yesterday. And I wish it had been, but I gave the dead boy the honor he deserved. Achilles: You gave him the honor of your sword. You won't have eyes tonight; you won't have ears or a tongue. You will wander the underworld blind, deaf, and dumb, and all the dead will know: This is Hector. The fool who thought he killed Achilles."

Troy (Director's Cut) - Hamlet Blog Post 2

http://www.youtube.com/v/ekshABiptOY?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=2_lNCCkOb51TWlpy1W_YpQ&autohide=1&autoplay=1&feature=share&showinfo=1
"Menelaus: Prince? What prince? What son of a king would accept a man's hospitality, eat his food, drink his wine, embrace him in friendship, and then steal his wife in the middle of the night?

Paris: The sun was shining when your wife left you.

Menelaus: She's up there, watching, isn't she? Good. I want her to watch you die." -Troy

In the film Troy, based upon the Trojan War, Prince Paris of Troy falls in love and takes Helen of Sparta, the (supposedly) most beautiful woman in the world back home with him. Helen's husband, Menelaus, is most displeased and declares war as revenge towards Paris. Later in the film, Achilles kills Hector in revenge for killing his cousin and student, Patroclus. Even later in the film, Paris kills Achilles in revenge for killing his brother, Hector. Essentially this entire plot of this movie is based upon the idea of revenge.

Hamlet Blog Post #1

Oh, how I am worried about my son, Hamlet. He has not quite been himself lately. It seems that his mood has been dwindling down, faster and faster, into what appears to be a fit of depression. I hope that isn't cross with me. However, I am feeling that he is. When he looks up at me all I see is anger in his eyes. It flares even more when I am with Claudius. He might be upset about my new marriage. Marrying Claudius was the best thing I could have done given the horrible circumstances we were put under with his father's, God rest his soul, untimely departure. I know he thinks I have moved on a little quicker than he expected, but it was necessary to do so. "Keep calm and carry on" they say. I needed to be happy and went with a safe choice. Being happy is one of the most important thing to be.

Hamlet Character Discussion Board

I have chosen to take the perspective of Gertrude in this Hamlet unit. Originally I thought I would take to Opehlia, but Gertrude seems far less flat than Ophelia. Gertrude seems to be an incredibly interesting character because although she seems to be incredibly self serving and looking for her own pleasure, she is faithful to those she cares about and truly does care of others inside. I see a bit of myself in Gertrude, even if it is just a little bit, when saying that she is "trusting as a new-born babe". This quote describes me as well, and I am also incredibly curious in things that could make me happy and I could see myself dying from something as silly as wanting to try something from a cup and it turning out to be lethal.

Mrs. Sisyphus

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Post Colonialism.

Coat of Arms

Blog Post 3

Group assignments. Even the casual mentioning of them make my fingers clench in apprehension. It just seems that so often group projects never seem to work out- you either get a group where everyone is incredibly headstrong and not willing to compromise or you get stuck doing all the work. Neither situation is a fun one and a lot of times all it does is lead to me being more mad about school and projects in general. However, when a group is just right it can be a great experience!
While I was reading the folk tales one story that I felt particularly taken to was "The Magic Brocade: A Tale of China". Despite the magical qualities to it, I felt some similarities to me and the main character Chen, which can be translated into traits I have in groups. Chen was incredibly devoted to his mother, and went through horrible conditions for her without complaint in order to return her brocade she worked so hard on so that she wouldn't die from the loss of it. Similarly, when I'm in a group I am always super invested into the fate of the group and try to keep it from, for lack of a better word, dying. I also always try to help out the group and even though I share my opinions I also try to incorporate other's into what I'm trying to say, and so a lot of times my ideas are squashed out, and a lot of times I handle that without complaint- making me the elaborator/clarifier of the group.
I also connected a lot with Princess Savitri. I found her wit endearing and found similarities in the way we think. She is a problem solver and determined- which are two ways I like to describe myself. She uses her wit in order to achieve what she wants from Yama and gets away with it. This is something I do from time to time- which probably isn't the best thing, but hey, it works when you absolutely need it. Savirtri is an initiator- she proposes a witty solution to her problem and it works. I'm an initiator as well and in a group setting I propose many ideas and I also like bring back old ideas others have said and incorporate them with mine.

Blog Post 2:

Believe it or not, I was actually kind of impressed with myself and my results in the practice AP test we took today. I was expecting something around a 40-50%-I know, I set super high standards for myself. But somehow, maybe through some sort of witchcraft, I managed to score a 65%. I was pretty darn excited about it. Yes, I was excited about a solid D. But it was more than a D to me. That D was a symbol- A symbol for how far I have to come this trimester, and I'm pumped to do it.

After reading through the first chapter of our Literature textbook, I was able to recognize some strengths and weaknesses I have in analyzing literature. I think one of my greatest strengths during reading is my ability to find and point out literary tools like metaphors, similes, irony, and paradoxes. Sometimes whilst I'm reading, not even a book for school, I'll write down a creative literary tool that the author has used. So, I think I have the experiencing the novel part down. I also, once I figure out the symbolism and analytical parts of texts, I think I am good at interpreting and making real world relations- that is one of the big reasons I enjoy reading.

I think that one of my weaknesses in analyzing literature is that a lot of times I get so emotionally invested into the story I tend to miss big things- like symbolism. This is something that I've actually been trying to overcome. I love understanding things while reading and I get a kick out of that "A-ha" moment when things make sense in what you're reading. I'm also kind of judgmental of things I read- if it doesn't interest me within the first five chapters I basically like to call it quits, so I would like to become more patient and subjective whilst reading.

Three Goals I would like to set for myself throughout this trimester and the next are 1.) I want to be able to pinpoint symbolism within a text quicker and easier. 2.) I am hoping with all of my heart to score at least a four in the AP test- but I honestly, truly, am going to strive for a 5 by the end of this trimester. And 3.) I have set the goal to myself to allow this class to shape me into a better worker- basically I'm tired of being "Procrastination Girl". It's time for me to step up and prepare for college and I sincerely believe this class can do that for me!

Blog Post 1: My Design

I have enjoyed creating a blog for this class thus far because I think it's not only incredibly helpful to have a professional blog, but it's also fun to create something that represents you in a formal manner. Careful thought and consideration has been used in the template, color and other special features of my blog in order to ensure that what I'm presenting is a good representation of me.

While searching through the templates offered for the blog, I was immediately captured by the one called "Ethereal" because of the birds bordering the sides. Even though I might be terrified of birds whenever I see them in real life, the theoretical idea of them has always fascinated me. I think that they're amazing in the sense that they can just spread their wings and bring them anywhere they want in the world. I like to think that I can do that too- that if I have enough determination I could land anywhere it is that I want myself to be.

I do not have a favorite color, a fact that makes many who know me mad. I think that all colors have the potential to be beautiful and wonderful- you just have to be open to it. I do, however, think that warm, light colors are representative of the kind of person I am. Pink, yellow, and the gentle blue that I use on my blog are all colors that make me happy when I see them, and so by sharing them on my blog I hope that it affects others in the same way.