The story starts out with Dunstable, who lives in a quaint village in Canada. He starts telling his story because he is writing to the headmaster at Colborne College. He and his friend Percy Boyd Stanton get into a fight and Percy throws a snowball at Dunstable. Dunstable dodges, but the snowball hits Mrs. Dempster. This causes her to go into labor, giving birth to Paul. Dunstable talks about how this made him feel. Awful. He hated that he was involved with the premature birth of Paul. Dunstable becomes friends with Mrs. Dempster, who ends up messed up in the head because of what Percy did. Dunstable and a chunk of the town later find Mary having sex with a hobo. Her justification was that "he wanted it so badly." Dunstable goes off to war. He charges a German machine gun nest. Right be fore he passes out due to a flare, he sees the Virgin Mary. He wakes up six months later in a hospital. There, he meets Diana, a nurse. He has his first sexual encounter with her, but then dumps her. Before he leaves, she rechristens him Dunstan. He goes and gets his MA at the University of Toronto. He finds out that Percy now goes by Boy. He's also married to Leola, who he treats like trash. Leola gives birth to totally-Percy's child, Edward. He runs into the man Mary was having sex with earlier, Joel Surgeoner. Boy is making a fortune during the great depression. Leola dies of "pneumonia." Dunstan then goes down to Mexico City. There he watches a magic show. The head magician is none other than Paul. Dunstan meets Liesl, the circus' bearded lady. He catches a glimpse of Liesl kissing his new found love, Faustina. This makes him pretty frickin' sad. Liesl tries to rape Dunstan. His actions with Faustina were awful. He then consents and has sex with her. Liesl tell his then about the role of "Fifth Business." Mary Dempster dies. Boy is found dead in a car "accident." A small rock is found in his mouth. Lastly, Dunstan finishes his letter to the headmaster.
Our class's theme statement was in today's society, people are so self-centered that they cannot recognize or appreciate truth. This is supported by Liesl telling Dunstan that he has "never led a full life." Liesl is a Jungian hermaphrodite. She is a whole character, unlike Dunstan who is an animus. Liesl understands the world and Dunstan does not. He never accepts his role at "Fifth Business." Dunstan never realizes his role as the sidekick in the story. He is fixated on the idea that he is the reason all of these weird events occur. In other words he is self-centered. He thinks his role is a lot larger than it actually is. This is why Dunstan is never able to accept truth.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Summary and Analysis
This month we started gearing into AP mode. We went through a lot more practice with essays. I needed some serious help with this. Thankfully, I have been slowly getting better with essays.
We finished discussing Frankenstein as well. I felt that our discussions were very unproductive and did not lead to a theme that the class agreed on. I for one hated it. We completely left out prejudice and man's predisposition to hate. We kept talking about the natural order and predestination. Yes, there are elements in there, but we forgot to talk about the people's determination to hate the monster. They all judged him. That says a lot about society. However, I was not willing to get into a large argument with the class, especially when only the input of a select few is respected.
We read Fifth Business as our last book this year. I personally did not like it. Dunstable's writings just annoyed me. I thought he was a interesting character, but the way the book was executed was a little poor, like in Frankenstein. I like the themes, but they didn't stick with me the way Frankenstein's did. Maybe once we do some more digging, I'll come around.
We finished discussing Frankenstein as well. I felt that our discussions were very unproductive and did not lead to a theme that the class agreed on. I for one hated it. We completely left out prejudice and man's predisposition to hate. We kept talking about the natural order and predestination. Yes, there are elements in there, but we forgot to talk about the people's determination to hate the monster. They all judged him. That says a lot about society. However, I was not willing to get into a large argument with the class, especially when only the input of a select few is respected.
We read Fifth Business as our last book this year. I personally did not like it. Dunstable's writings just annoyed me. I thought he was a interesting character, but the way the book was executed was a little poor, like in Frankenstein. I like the themes, but they didn't stick with me the way Frankenstein's did. Maybe once we do some more digging, I'll come around.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Frankenstein Summary and Analysis
The story starts with a man named Walton traveling in the Arctic Circle. He meets Victor Frankenstein, who begins to tell him his life story. Victor lived a good life with his family and his adopted sister Elizabeth. In his college years, he creates a "monster" out of human remains. The Monster is hideous, so Frankenstein does what he does best and runs away from his problem. He continues to live his life until he hears about the death of his cousin. Curious, he goes back home and is met by the Monster. The Monster, who is now articulate and intelligent, tells Victor about his life, like the family in the cottage and his readings of books like Paradise Lost. At the end of his story, he commands Victor to make him a female companion so they can live a life away from society. Victor agrees, but then soon goes back on his word. He refuses and faces the wrath of the Monster. The Monster kills his wife. Victor chases him all the way to the Arctic Circle. Victor meets Walton, tells Walton his story and then dies. The Monster shows up and tells Walton that he will be committing suicide.
Frankenstein tries to play God, but it ultimately fails. He lacks the charisma and the power to fill that role. When he sees the Monster he runs away, being a classic deadbeat dad. He does this because he created the Monster in his own image, and his own image is so horrifying, all he can do is run away. The Monster represents something scary to the people of the world, the result of breaking the natural order. This frightens them so the Monster is then ostracized. He is also the direct result of people judging a book by its cover. People jump to conclusions, thus missing out on a great mind in their society.
Frankenstein tries to play God, but it ultimately fails. He lacks the charisma and the power to fill that role. When he sees the Monster he runs away, being a classic deadbeat dad. He does this because he created the Monster in his own image, and his own image is so horrifying, all he can do is run away. The Monster represents something scary to the people of the world, the result of breaking the natural order. This frightens them so the Monster is then ostracized. He is also the direct result of people judging a book by its cover. People jump to conclusions, thus missing out on a great mind in their society.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
2005 Part B: Free Response
Students must pick a character that conforms outwardly while questioning inwardly and analyze how this tension contributes to the meaning of the work.
In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, characters must deal with conformity to their surroundings. No character better exemplifies this than Victor Frankenstein's own creation, the Monster. The Monster lives in a world that despises him. He eventually conforms to society's wishes, taking his own life, showing that people who do not fit with the majority or who are different, are cast offs.
The Monster was unwillingly brought into the world. Like a child, he discovers and enjoys life. He only gets upset when he finds out that his "father," Victor Frankenstein, abandoned him. Victor is the first one to cast off his own Monster. He runs at the sight of the Monster. This abandonment is only the first of many for the Monster. Even his own creator saw him as an ugly, hulking beast. Here, the Monster questions why he was brought into the world with no father figure to look after him.
The people in the world hate the Monster and only for his looks. The blind old man has no problems with the Monster. He treats him like a human. However once the son comes back, the Monster is chased out of the house. The Monster does not even have time to explain himself. He realizes that he is different earlier when looking at his reflection, however, he realizes that society will never accept him from his encounter with the family. The Monster asks why society must hate him for his appearance.
After all of this rejection, the Monster finally realizes that the world will not accept him, so he asks his creator to make a female companion for him. Victor Frankenstein won't even help him there; damning him to a life of solitude. After witnessing Victor's death, the Monster does exactly what society wants him to; kill himself. The Monster realizes that he does not belong in society because of his difference in appearance. Society cast off the monster and would like to think that he does not exist. He conforms to society's wishes, his own suicide. His questions lead him to the only solution.
The Monster lives in a judgmental society where conformity can lead to rejection. The Monster eventually conforms by killing himself. He questions inwardly as to why society must hate him, and why he was brought into a world just to suffer. The Monster questions and then finds that the only solution is suicide.
In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, characters must deal with conformity to their surroundings. No character better exemplifies this than Victor Frankenstein's own creation, the Monster. The Monster lives in a world that despises him. He eventually conforms to society's wishes, taking his own life, showing that people who do not fit with the majority or who are different, are cast offs.
The Monster was unwillingly brought into the world. Like a child, he discovers and enjoys life. He only gets upset when he finds out that his "father," Victor Frankenstein, abandoned him. Victor is the first one to cast off his own Monster. He runs at the sight of the Monster. This abandonment is only the first of many for the Monster. Even his own creator saw him as an ugly, hulking beast. Here, the Monster questions why he was brought into the world with no father figure to look after him.
The people in the world hate the Monster and only for his looks. The blind old man has no problems with the Monster. He treats him like a human. However once the son comes back, the Monster is chased out of the house. The Monster does not even have time to explain himself. He realizes that he is different earlier when looking at his reflection, however, he realizes that society will never accept him from his encounter with the family. The Monster asks why society must hate him for his appearance.
After all of this rejection, the Monster finally realizes that the world will not accept him, so he asks his creator to make a female companion for him. Victor Frankenstein won't even help him there; damning him to a life of solitude. After witnessing Victor's death, the Monster does exactly what society wants him to; kill himself. The Monster realizes that he does not belong in society because of his difference in appearance. Society cast off the monster and would like to think that he does not exist. He conforms to society's wishes, his own suicide. His questions lead him to the only solution.
The Monster lives in a judgmental society where conformity can lead to rejection. The Monster eventually conforms by killing himself. He questions inwardly as to why society must hate him, and why he was brought into a world just to suffer. The Monster questions and then finds that the only solution is suicide.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Open Prompt Part 1: 2005
Student 3A
This essay gets the job done. Granted, its handwriting is equivalent to a three year old amped up on Monster but the words on the page say otherwise. I have not read The Scarlet Letter After a not so great thesis paragraph, everything else is spot on, from the author's voice, to the examples and lack of plot regurgitation. Sure a lot is said, but none of it is filler. All of it is used to talk about, and support the thesis at hand. Congrats Student 3A you get an eight. Bet you couldn't wait to get that score back from me.
Student 3B
I have also not read A Doll's House. I liked this essay, although not as concise as it could be. Some of the middle paragraphs have some plot summary that is not needed, but it does not detract from the overall essay. It flows well between ideas, but falls short of a nine for lack of concision. Don't worry Student 3B, I'd lose point there too. I'd give this essay a seven.
Student 3C
Surprise, I never read Their Eyes Were Watching God, but I felt like I didn't need to while reading the essay. It is bogged down with unnecessary fluff. The thesis paragraph is too long. It does not get to the point fast enough. The conclusion has some of the same problems, but is not to the extent of the thesis paragraph. While not part of the AP grading, this writer took huge indents between paragraphs. I would have given this a five.
This essay gets the job done. Granted, its handwriting is equivalent to a three year old amped up on Monster but the words on the page say otherwise. I have not read The Scarlet Letter After a not so great thesis paragraph, everything else is spot on, from the author's voice, to the examples and lack of plot regurgitation. Sure a lot is said, but none of it is filler. All of it is used to talk about, and support the thesis at hand. Congrats Student 3A you get an eight. Bet you couldn't wait to get that score back from me.
Student 3B
I have also not read A Doll's House. I liked this essay, although not as concise as it could be. Some of the middle paragraphs have some plot summary that is not needed, but it does not detract from the overall essay. It flows well between ideas, but falls short of a nine for lack of concision. Don't worry Student 3B, I'd lose point there too. I'd give this essay a seven.
Student 3C
Surprise, I never read Their Eyes Were Watching God, but I felt like I didn't need to while reading the essay. It is bogged down with unnecessary fluff. The thesis paragraph is too long. It does not get to the point fast enough. The conclusion has some of the same problems, but is not to the extent of the thesis paragraph. While not part of the AP grading, this writer took huge indents between paragraphs. I would have given this a five.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Response to Course Materials
This month we finished Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. I enjoyed this play, but I couldn't really tell you why. I just enjoyed it. It was unlike anything else I had read before. From the breaking of the fourth wall, to the expansion on a play I knew and love, and the humor in the play, I loved every word of it.
We had some more practice writing essays as well. I need a lot of help, although I do not feel like I'm wallowing in a sea of incompetence anymore. Only a pond. I think that my best writing was done in my Open Prompt Part 2: 2004, although that is not for me to decide.
Lastly, we finished Frankenstein. I love this book, and it is definitely one of my favorite books. It reveals some unsettling conclusions about the nature of man. I would be lying if I said that I have never judged anyone by their looks. I probably would have judged the monster for what he looked like, not for who he was.
All in all, it was a good month. I can't wait to do more.
We had some more practice writing essays as well. I need a lot of help, although I do not feel like I'm wallowing in a sea of incompetence anymore. Only a pond. I think that my best writing was done in my Open Prompt Part 2: 2004, although that is not for me to decide.
Lastly, we finished Frankenstein. I love this book, and it is definitely one of my favorite books. It reveals some unsettling conclusions about the nature of man. I would be lying if I said that I have never judged anyone by their looks. I probably would have judged the monster for what he looked like, not for who he was.
All in all, it was a good month. I can't wait to do more.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Open Prompt Part 2: 2004
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein asks "Is it better to be alive and damned, or never to have lived at all?" Shelley offers an answer to this: no. She shows her answer through Frankenstein's Monster. The monster lives a life ostracized by society, eventually choosing to end his own life rather than suffer in a society that hates and fears him.
Frankenstein's Monster lives his life with people fearing him just by his looks. For instance, the blind old man accepts him, but then he is chased out when people who are not blind see him. Why live in a society that cannot move past your looks? Shelley makes a point about his intelligence as well. The Monster read classics such as Paradise Lost and is articulate, forming mature thoughts and ideas about the world.
The Monster also loves the world that he lives in, but the world will not love him back. He has a childlike curiosity about the world around him. He explores and learns by trial and error, like when he learns about fire. He has nothing but love to give. But then, he realizes that he has been abandoned by his creator and that the world is too closed minded for him to be accepted. His own creator would not even give him a companion to live with to lessen his pain.
The Monster eventually chooses to commit suicide by self-immolation so that no trace of his existence will plague the world. He lived a damned life that was so terrible, he saw no other way to stop the pain other than his own suicide. The Monster's life was nothing but pain. His damned life was horrendous in every way possible with constant suffering. Shelley says no to the aforementioned question, it is better to have never lived.
Shelley's Frankenstein displays a frightening image of the nature of man. The Monster's suffering was so much so that he took his own life to make the suffering stop. The Monster would have been better of if he had never been alive in the first place.
Frankenstein's Monster lives his life with people fearing him just by his looks. For instance, the blind old man accepts him, but then he is chased out when people who are not blind see him. Why live in a society that cannot move past your looks? Shelley makes a point about his intelligence as well. The Monster read classics such as Paradise Lost and is articulate, forming mature thoughts and ideas about the world.
The Monster also loves the world that he lives in, but the world will not love him back. He has a childlike curiosity about the world around him. He explores and learns by trial and error, like when he learns about fire. He has nothing but love to give. But then, he realizes that he has been abandoned by his creator and that the world is too closed minded for him to be accepted. His own creator would not even give him a companion to live with to lessen his pain.
The Monster eventually chooses to commit suicide by self-immolation so that no trace of his existence will plague the world. He lived a damned life that was so terrible, he saw no other way to stop the pain other than his own suicide. The Monster's life was nothing but pain. His damned life was horrendous in every way possible with constant suffering. Shelley says no to the aforementioned question, it is better to have never lived.
Shelley's Frankenstein displays a frightening image of the nature of man. The Monster's suffering was so much so that he took his own life to make the suffering stop. The Monster would have been better of if he had never been alive in the first place.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Open Prompt 2: 2004
Student N
This student's intro is a little longer than I would have liked. However, it works well because Student N is thorough throughout. The writer lays out exactly what they are writing a they hope to answer in their thesis paragraph. I personally think that this writer had a fully developed argument, and that this essay was sufficient to get a 9, but I'm no AP grader.
Student J
The AP graders said that Student J's writing was too reliant on the plot, and I would agree. The entire essay built off of its own plot summary. The essay was more of a summary than anything else. I have not read Huckleberry Finn, but I did not need to to fully understand this essay. All summary aside, the writer made some valid points.
Student U
The first sentence made me not want to read the essay. It was bad. I may not be the best writer, but even I know not to write a lead like that. The thesis paragraph never ends too. If the reader cannot be grabbed by an intro, the writer has ultimately failed. Plot summary is prevalent as well, but not too much, only because there is not much to this essay. This essay seems half formed.
This student's intro is a little longer than I would have liked. However, it works well because Student N is thorough throughout. The writer lays out exactly what they are writing a they hope to answer in their thesis paragraph. I personally think that this writer had a fully developed argument, and that this essay was sufficient to get a 9, but I'm no AP grader.
Student J
The AP graders said that Student J's writing was too reliant on the plot, and I would agree. The entire essay built off of its own plot summary. The essay was more of a summary than anything else. I have not read Huckleberry Finn, but I did not need to to fully understand this essay. All summary aside, the writer made some valid points.
Student U
The first sentence made me not want to read the essay. It was bad. I may not be the best writer, but even I know not to write a lead like that. The thesis paragraph never ends too. If the reader cannot be grabbed by an intro, the writer has ultimately failed. Plot summary is prevalent as well, but not too much, only because there is not much to this essay. This essay seems half formed.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
The play begins with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern flipping coins. The coins continue to land heads. Rosencrantz wins everywhere it lands heads. They run into the actors from Hamlet on their way to Elsinore. They find out that the actors have become prostitutes. The actors and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have a bet. There, the actors pack up and leave. The coin is revealed to be tails. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are suddenly thrown into a scene in Hamlet where Hamlet is chasing Ophelia, who abruptly. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern meet with Claudius and my main squeeze Gertrude. They are tasked with figuring out what ails Hamlet. They then pretend to be Hamlet to find a good approach to find out what is bothering him. They meet with Hamlet, but discern nothing of value. The players return, and perform the play Hamlet wanted them to perform. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern try to trap Hamlet when they find out that he killed Polonius. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern then tell Hamlet that they have to escort Hamlet to England. It then cuts to them on a boat. They see Hamlet sleeping by them. They open up their orders from the king and find out that Hamlet will be executed in England. Then, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern fall asleep Hamlet switches out the letter with a letter ordering the king of England to execute Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The tragedians from earlier pop out of some barrels on deck just as the pirates attack the ship. Everyone jumps into a barrel and the tragedians and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern pop out afterwards, without Hamlet or the pirates. When they realize that Hamlet is no longer with them the Guildenstern says, "We've travelled too far, and our momentum has taken over; we move idly towards eternity, without possibility of reprieve or hope of explanation." (121). To this, Rosencrantz responds, "Be happy - if you're not even happy about surviving? We'll be alright. I suppose we just go on." (121). Here, the pair realize they have no point without Hamlet. The tragedians then talk about different forms of death, and they all perform them. The disappear, leaving Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to contemplate their fate. Then, there is a cut revealing the end of Hamlet where everyone has died.
Sixth hour's theme statement was, the way we perceive our circumstances affects the way we perceive our free will. This plagues Rosencrantz and Guildenstern throughout the play. They are constantly trying to push the boundaries of their free will, like trying to climb out of the set, and by breaking the fourth wall. They never succeed because they are not fully aware of their entrapment. Also, when Rosencrantz giving his box monologue. He believes that living in a box would be worse than living at all. He believes that he is not living in a box, even though he is. We as the audience see that he is enclosed in a box, the stage. He is just not aware of this. He believes that he has complete free will, while we know he does not.
Sixth hour's theme statement was, the way we perceive our circumstances affects the way we perceive our free will. This plagues Rosencrantz and Guildenstern throughout the play. They are constantly trying to push the boundaries of their free will, like trying to climb out of the set, and by breaking the fourth wall. They never succeed because they are not fully aware of their entrapment. Also, when Rosencrantz giving his box monologue. He believes that living in a box would be worse than living at all. He believes that he is not living in a box, even though he is. We as the audience see that he is enclosed in a box, the stage. He is just not aware of this. He believes that he has complete free will, while we know he does not.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Response to Course Materials
Thanks to breaks, snow days and finals wrapping up, this month was pretty short. We read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard. I enjoyed this piece, although I couldn't tell you why. Maybe it had to do with its self-aware humor. Maybe it was its like-able, relatable leads. Or maybe the layers of control present. Whatever it was, I loved it.
Our class began working on our theme statement. We knew we had to include control, split personalities between Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and the cyclical nature of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
This month has been a little low on events. Hopefully next month we won't have a ton of breaks and snow days to stop us.
Our class began working on our theme statement. We knew we had to include control, split personalities between Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and the cyclical nature of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
This month has been a little low on events. Hopefully next month we won't have a ton of breaks and snow days to stop us.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Open Prompt 2: 1970a
In Edward Albee's The American Dream, a parallel society is present in our society's stead. In this society, desire for power, materialism and selfishness are emphasized. This causes Grandma to leave and kill the problem.
Power is emphasized by characters like Mommy. She is the dominant figure in the household, compared to the stereotypical male-lead American household. This is because she forces Daddy to get a sex change so she can assert her dominance. She wants more and more power causing Grandma, who represents the old world ideals of pulling oneself up by their own bootstraps, to leave hire the Young Man to kill Mommy and Daddy. Mommy tries to control Grandma, but this causes Grandma to hide her belongings and eventually leave.
Materialism forces Grandma to leave and kill Mommy and Daddy. Mommy and her desire for more goods is present from birth. Grandma talks about how Mommy only cared about the outside of the way Grandma packed her lunches. She would not even open her lunch because it would ruin its shape. She did not look deeper. This is why she cannot find Grandma's stuff when she hides it. Grandma leaves because of this materialism.
Lastly, selfishness causes Grandma to leave. No one in the family cares for each other. Daddy is a puppet of Mommy, and Mommy takes everything that she can. She taunts the characters like Daddy, and cannot even be bothered to remember Ms. Barker's name. Grandma does not jive well with this and gets the Young Man to kill Mommy and Daddy so she does not have to deal with it anymore.
Desire for power, materialism and selfishness cause Grandma to leave the society created by the likes of Mommy and Daddy. The American Dream's society is so unlike the old one, that Grandma leaves, and purges the household.
Power is emphasized by characters like Mommy. She is the dominant figure in the household, compared to the stereotypical male-lead American household. This is because she forces Daddy to get a sex change so she can assert her dominance. She wants more and more power causing Grandma, who represents the old world ideals of pulling oneself up by their own bootstraps, to leave hire the Young Man to kill Mommy and Daddy. Mommy tries to control Grandma, but this causes Grandma to hide her belongings and eventually leave.
Materialism forces Grandma to leave and kill Mommy and Daddy. Mommy and her desire for more goods is present from birth. Grandma talks about how Mommy only cared about the outside of the way Grandma packed her lunches. She would not even open her lunch because it would ruin its shape. She did not look deeper. This is why she cannot find Grandma's stuff when she hides it. Grandma leaves because of this materialism.
Lastly, selfishness causes Grandma to leave. No one in the family cares for each other. Daddy is a puppet of Mommy, and Mommy takes everything that she can. She taunts the characters like Daddy, and cannot even be bothered to remember Ms. Barker's name. Grandma does not jive well with this and gets the Young Man to kill Mommy and Daddy so she does not have to deal with it anymore.
Desire for power, materialism and selfishness cause Grandma to leave the society created by the likes of Mommy and Daddy. The American Dream's society is so unlike the old one, that Grandma leaves, and purges the household.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Open Prompt Part 1: 2003
Essay #1
Student LLLL did wrote a fine essay. LLLL used a myriad of quotes to back up his points, more than I would have remembered for the AP exam. The quotes were not just there to be quotes. They added depth to LLLL' analysis. Each paragraph had one to help LLLL's points. LLLL summarized the plot but only to get his points across. It brought some out some less-thought off analysis of The Great Gatsby. LLLL went off the beaten path. The thesis paragraph is concise and well-written, however, I would have rather have more sentences instead of one short and one long, almost run on, sentence. LLLL lays out his supporting points very clearly, just by listing the three. I like this. It makes it easier to know exactly what the writer is trying to say. Lastly, LLLL brings in evidence that supports the points not only from the text, but also from the time period.
Essay #2
The thesis paragraph has valid points, but it drags on for too long. A thesis paragraph should be concise and get to the point. The title of the play, King Lear, is not even used, except to describe the King Lear as a person. William Shakespeare is not named either. However, the thesis statement at the end is good. I have no problems with the way it was written, other than maybe it is a little wordy. The conclusion shares some of the same problems of the thesis paragraph, it is too lengthy. It should just say what it needs to say, and then stop. Also, the first paragraph has a little too much summarization in it. For someone who has not read King Lear, this is appreciated, except that I should not even be reading this analysis unless I have read King Lear. AP graders may not want as much summarization of the plot.
Essay #3
Student FF does a lot of Student C did. They both summarized the plot a little too much. The thesis paragraph is the opposite of Student C's however. It shoves the reader into a plot summarization without very much about how McMurphy is a tragic hero. It just defines tragic hero. The paragraphs do not have much semblance of arguments for the plot, it just summarizes. A majority of the paragraphs just summarize the plot and then say very little about how McMurphy is a tragic hero. The essay is saying that McMurphy is a tragic hero because others got hurt along the way, but does go beyond that. That is also the only argument. With only one support, an essay like this could have many holes. Student FF has one point tacked on the end, the part with the narrator, haphazardly. It's like the writer forgot to add on a point, but only had five minutes to add it.
Student LLLL did wrote a fine essay. LLLL used a myriad of quotes to back up his points, more than I would have remembered for the AP exam. The quotes were not just there to be quotes. They added depth to LLLL' analysis. Each paragraph had one to help LLLL's points. LLLL summarized the plot but only to get his points across. It brought some out some less-thought off analysis of The Great Gatsby. LLLL went off the beaten path. The thesis paragraph is concise and well-written, however, I would have rather have more sentences instead of one short and one long, almost run on, sentence. LLLL lays out his supporting points very clearly, just by listing the three. I like this. It makes it easier to know exactly what the writer is trying to say. Lastly, LLLL brings in evidence that supports the points not only from the text, but also from the time period.
Essay #2
The thesis paragraph has valid points, but it drags on for too long. A thesis paragraph should be concise and get to the point. The title of the play, King Lear, is not even used, except to describe the King Lear as a person. William Shakespeare is not named either. However, the thesis statement at the end is good. I have no problems with the way it was written, other than maybe it is a little wordy. The conclusion shares some of the same problems of the thesis paragraph, it is too lengthy. It should just say what it needs to say, and then stop. Also, the first paragraph has a little too much summarization in it. For someone who has not read King Lear, this is appreciated, except that I should not even be reading this analysis unless I have read King Lear. AP graders may not want as much summarization of the plot.
Essay #3
Student FF does a lot of Student C did. They both summarized the plot a little too much. The thesis paragraph is the opposite of Student C's however. It shoves the reader into a plot summarization without very much about how McMurphy is a tragic hero. It just defines tragic hero. The paragraphs do not have much semblance of arguments for the plot, it just summarizes. A majority of the paragraphs just summarize the plot and then say very little about how McMurphy is a tragic hero. The essay is saying that McMurphy is a tragic hero because others got hurt along the way, but does go beyond that. That is also the only argument. With only one support, an essay like this could have many holes. Student FF has one point tacked on the end, the part with the narrator, haphazardly. It's like the writer forgot to add on a point, but only had five minutes to add it.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Hamlet Summary and Analysis
A ghost appears to some people guarding Elsinore castle. One of the people is Hamlet's friend, Horatio. Horatio goes to tell Hamlet. The man is his father, King Hamlet. King Hamlet tells his son that he was murdered by the newly-crowned king, King Hamlet's brother, Claudius. Claudius has also married King Hamlet's wife, Gertrude. Hamlet then seeks vengeance from Claudius. Hamlet begins to feign madness to help his long, drawn out plot to kill his uncle, Claudius. Claudius gets Hamlet's friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet. In addition, Polonius and Claudius decide to spy on Hamlet when he is speaking to Polonius's daughter, Ophelia. Hamlet flips out in his conversation with Ophelia. He tells her "Get thee to a nunnery" (131). A troupe of actors come to visit Elsinore. Hamlet gets the actors to act in a play where a usurper kills the king and marries the queen. Hamlet is using this to make sure that Claudius killed King Hamlet. He'll base his judgement off of his reaction. Claudius gets distraught and leaves halfway through the play. Hamlet then goes off to murk Claudius. However, Hamlet decides against killing Claudius because he is at prayer. While praying, Claudius admits to killing King Hamlet. Hamlet goes off to talk to his mother about all of this. Polonius is hiding in the bedroom and Hamlet hears him, so he stabs the tapestry Polonius is hiding behind, killing him. Hamlet is then sent off to England for his misdeeds. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are given direct orders from Claudius to have the king of England execute Hamlet. Ophelia "drowns" because of her father's death. Laertes catches wind of his father's and sister's death. Claudius tells him that it was all Hamlet's doing. Claudius comes up with a two part plan to kill Hamlet. Step one: have Laertes challenge Hamlet to a fencing match. Laertes will use a poisoned blade. Step two: Claudius will poison Hamlet. Hamlet is abducted by pirates and brought back. Hamlet comes back and is informed by Osric of the upcoming duel. Hamlet accepts and proceeds to the fight. Gertrude drinks from the poisoned drink. Then, Hamlet gets stabbed. Laertes gets stabbed with the poisoned sword and tells Hamlet about the king's plan. Hamlet then proceeds to stab Claudius. Hamlet dies. Fortinbras enters and orders a hero's burial for Hamlet.
Hamlet is a play about power, and the acquisition of power. The play would not have started unless Claudius had his power grab against King Hamlet. Claudius tries to change his fate by killing the king. He tries to speed up the process as to how he gets power. Hamlet is also interested in disposing of the power by killing Claudius. Hamlet also takes fate into his own hands by trying to kill Claudius. Also, having the power concentrated in Elsinore creates a very incestuous environment. The power in the castle causes characters to die from the power grabs of others.
Hamlet is a play about power, and the acquisition of power. The play would not have started unless Claudius had his power grab against King Hamlet. Claudius tries to change his fate by killing the king. He tries to speed up the process as to how he gets power. Hamlet is also interested in disposing of the power by killing Claudius. Hamlet also takes fate into his own hands by trying to kill Claudius. Also, having the power concentrated in Elsinore creates a very incestuous environment. The power in the castle causes characters to die from the power grabs of others.
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