In going to the Lantern Theater and seeing Hamlet performed, I was surprised. Mostly in the way they used the stage. It was small, but they used it well. I couldn’t pull myself away from the play personally. I was very captivated because the actors seemed to love what they were doing and when the actors love it, it is so much easier to pull the audience in. If I had the chance to, I would love to go back and see another play performed by the Lantern Theater.
My favorite part of the play was the set. I’ve never seen a play that had no separate set for each scene and the way that they made it work, amazed me. Even without props you could still tell where they were for each scene. And I feel that because they didn’t have any types of painted backgrounds, it made the play more fun to watch because you could use your imagination to picture the scenery so I’m sure every person had a different picture of where the scenes took place.
The actor’s interactivity with the audience helped to move an otherwise long play, very quickly. The fact that actors tried to bring in audience members seemed to keep everyone awake even through the long boring monologues and soliloquies. I think that the actor who played Hamlet seemed the most interesting. He was very funny and acrobatic. I loved just watching him because of how much he seemed to love what he was doing. When someone has that much passion about their work, it’s hard to not be interested.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Hamlet Act II
In Act II, I think typical Shakespeare comes out. The whole, I love you, but it can’t happen storyline. We all know it, and we know it well. I feel that even though this is a repeated theme through many Shakespeare plays, and can get a little well, dry at times, it can hold your interest. Usually at some point in your life, you can relate to this theme. If it’s because your parents don’t like the person you’re dating, or due to surroundings, or living far from each other. Almost everyone deals with caring for a person and it just doesn’t work out.
That’s part of the reason why I think Shakespeare has been able to withstand such time changes. Shakespeare is always relevant. Love is always a factor of life. Hamlet and Ophelia are in love. Anyone can see that; including their parents. But Polonius tries to keep them from each other. Everyone knows that since King Hamlet’s death, young Hamlet has been a little less than, well, normal. He’s basically been off the wall since the death of his father. Which in some ways should have been expected, but back to my point, Polonius feels they should not be together I think because he fears for his daughters safety. Which I think is a valid reason, but Hamlet loves Ophelia so I really doubt he would hurt her, intentionally.
That’s part of the reason why I think Shakespeare has been able to withstand such time changes. Shakespeare is always relevant. Love is always a factor of life. Hamlet and Ophelia are in love. Anyone can see that; including their parents. But Polonius tries to keep them from each other. Everyone knows that since King Hamlet’s death, young Hamlet has been a little less than, well, normal. He’s basically been off the wall since the death of his father. Which in some ways should have been expected, but back to my point, Polonius feels they should not be together I think because he fears for his daughters safety. Which I think is a valid reason, but Hamlet loves Ophelia so I really doubt he would hurt her, intentionally.
Hamlet Act I
After I read Act I of Hamlet, I felt sorry for Hamlet. Within the first couple scenes, you learn of his father’s death which takes a great toll on any person. Then on top of that, his mother married no more than 2 months afterwards to his uncle! It just seems like Hamlet had no time to grieve for his father’s passing. He had to automatically welcome and accept someone else as his father. It seems unfair to me.
Also, Claudius, Hamlets uncle or “new father” as some may say, constantly talks of King Hamlet, young Hamlets deceased father, and how similar they are. When young Hamlet knows this is not true in any way. King Hamlet was a great man; very giving, kind, fair, loving, and most of all trustworthy. King Claudius is a snake, and to compare a snake to something so virtuous is just an insult and that is how young Hamlet takes these comparisons. Claudius says to Hamlet, I guess in some ways trying to ease the pain “But you must know, your father lost a father; that father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound in filial obligation for some term to obsequious sorrow” (I,ii,89-92). While this is true, most children outlive their parents, the way in which King Hamlet died, we all know, it was far before his time. King Claudius is the man who killed King Hamlet and then took his wife, Queen Gertrud. It just does not seem fair for Hamlet to lose his father not only so young, but so viciously.
Then, Hamlet begins to see the Ghost of his father, who tells him he was murdered. This news greatly affects Hamlet. Imagine what it would be like to find out that your own uncle, someone who is related to you, killed your father, his own BROTHER to gain power. I just feel that Hamlets life is basically one big train wreck. Hamlet feels he must get revenge. He must show Claudius he cannot get away with such a horrible crime.
Also, Claudius, Hamlets uncle or “new father” as some may say, constantly talks of King Hamlet, young Hamlets deceased father, and how similar they are. When young Hamlet knows this is not true in any way. King Hamlet was a great man; very giving, kind, fair, loving, and most of all trustworthy. King Claudius is a snake, and to compare a snake to something so virtuous is just an insult and that is how young Hamlet takes these comparisons. Claudius says to Hamlet, I guess in some ways trying to ease the pain “But you must know, your father lost a father; that father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound in filial obligation for some term to obsequious sorrow” (I,ii,89-92). While this is true, most children outlive their parents, the way in which King Hamlet died, we all know, it was far before his time. King Claudius is the man who killed King Hamlet and then took his wife, Queen Gertrud. It just does not seem fair for Hamlet to lose his father not only so young, but so viciously.
Then, Hamlet begins to see the Ghost of his father, who tells him he was murdered. This news greatly affects Hamlet. Imagine what it would be like to find out that your own uncle, someone who is related to you, killed your father, his own BROTHER to gain power. I just feel that Hamlets life is basically one big train wreck. Hamlet feels he must get revenge. He must show Claudius he cannot get away with such a horrible crime.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Coleridge & Shelley
I think that "Kubla Khan" cautions against it's indulgences, but also celebrates them. "Kubla Khan" uses words like bright & blossom to describe a beautiful place. "Kubla Khan" also uses words such as savage & haunted to describe a woman's love. In "Kubla Khan" Coleridge gives the example of how beauty can blind a person of the flaws underneath a seemingly perfect exterior.
In "Ozymandias", by Shelley, I can identify 3 main speakers. Ozymandias, the traveler, and the narrator. The narrator first tells the sonnet to the traveler with a political meaning behind it.The traveler than tells the sonnet to Ozymandias, a leader, who is very much like a dictator. The sonnet is mainly telling of the downfall of seemingly evil government.
In "Ozymandias", by Shelley, I can identify 3 main speakers. Ozymandias, the traveler, and the narrator. The narrator first tells the sonnet to the traveler with a political meaning behind it.The traveler than tells the sonnet to Ozymandias, a leader, who is very much like a dictator. The sonnet is mainly telling of the downfall of seemingly evil government.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
1984 Final
In 1984, by George Orwell, the doctrine that O’brien proclaims to Winston plays a major role in maintaining the system of oligarchical collectivism upon which the INGSOC is based, and plays a huge role in Winston’s ultimate fate at the close of the novel.
First I will discuss what oligarchical collectivism is. It is in which mind control is used by a group to rule over another group of people. Mind control is effective because it gives those in power the control to rule over what people see, hear, and even feel. As the doctrine states, “What-ever the Party holds to be the truth is truth.” 205. This shows that the party knows their power and they use it. For what the party says is always right and will never be questioned. Also, fear is a great part in forcing people to believe what you say. The party has the power to just make people simply, disappear. To have this power is very intimidating. Also, the party leave many things unknown, and most people fear the unknown.
The doctrine plays a large role in Winston’s ultimate fate at the end of the novel because, Winston finally gives in. He stop’s rebelling, and just simply gives in. He lives the way he is told to live. His own curiosity led him to his one biggest fear and because of this fear, he just bowed out. He realized that he cared too much for himself to keep rebelling. Especially against something that scared him so. In the end Winston just gave in to Big Brother because it showed that Big Brother always wins. If they would have killed him, it would show a flaw in their way of life, but by being able to conform him, it shows that they can change any person if need be.
First I will discuss what oligarchical collectivism is. It is in which mind control is used by a group to rule over another group of people. Mind control is effective because it gives those in power the control to rule over what people see, hear, and even feel. As the doctrine states, “What-ever the Party holds to be the truth is truth.” 205. This shows that the party knows their power and they use it. For what the party says is always right and will never be questioned. Also, fear is a great part in forcing people to believe what you say. The party has the power to just make people simply, disappear. To have this power is very intimidating. Also, the party leave many things unknown, and most people fear the unknown.
The doctrine plays a large role in Winston’s ultimate fate at the end of the novel because, Winston finally gives in. He stop’s rebelling, and just simply gives in. He lives the way he is told to live. His own curiosity led him to his one biggest fear and because of this fear, he just bowed out. He realized that he cared too much for himself to keep rebelling. Especially against something that scared him so. In the end Winston just gave in to Big Brother because it showed that Big Brother always wins. If they would have killed him, it would show a flaw in their way of life, but by being able to conform him, it shows that they can change any person if need be.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Chimney Sweeper
1.) I do agree with the editors of the textbook. I feel Blake's poetry has the power to enact social change by appealing to the imagination of the reader. I feel this is true mainly because of the strong language, or loaded words that Blake has used in poems. I feel that his diction helped to get his point across very strongly. Such as when he says,
“And because I am happy, and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King,
Who make up a heaven of our misery.”
I feel that part of the poem is appeals to the imagination because all I picture when I read that stanza is a young boy putting on a show for his mother and father to think he is happy working non-stop just so they can have a chance to pray; but to this boy, the reality is that this is not his heaven, it is his hell.
2.) I feel that editors may have included the Parliament transcript as a primary source document because it gives you the possible reasons as the why the Factory Act of 1833 was passed. This made my reading of Blake's work a lot harsher. I was very shocked when reading these transcripts.
“And because I am happy, and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King,
Who make up a heaven of our misery.”
I feel that part of the poem is appeals to the imagination because all I picture when I read that stanza is a young boy putting on a show for his mother and father to think he is happy working non-stop just so they can have a chance to pray; but to this boy, the reality is that this is not his heaven, it is his hell.
2.) I feel that editors may have included the Parliament transcript as a primary source document because it gives you the possible reasons as the why the Factory Act of 1833 was passed. This made my reading of Blake's work a lot harsher. I was very shocked when reading these transcripts.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Johnathon Swift
A.) Questions -
What is the significance of the language barrier between Gulliver and the Lilliputians?
Is Gulliver a giant among normal people? Or are the lilliputians dwarfs among Gulliver?
Who has the right to say what normality truly is?
Is Gulliver truly awake, is this all simply a dream?
Excerpt- Pg 555
"I confess I was often tempted, while they were passing backward and forward on my body, to seize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash them against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of honor I made them, for so I interpreted my submissive behavior, soon drove out those imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself as bound by the laws of hospitality to a people who had treated me with so much expense and magnificence."
-This quote holds importance because it shows that Gulliver thought he had opportunity's
to defeat these people simply because of his size. Also, because he felt he was smarter than the Lillputians.
B.) Working In Groups-
I feel that the small teacher groups were very effective. I felt much more comfortable with working with a smaller group rather than in front of the whole class, but I still got the conflicting opinions of other people which helped me to see the text in a different view. It helped me to see several aspects of the text that I had not really thought about. Such as, was Gulliver really experiencing this, or was he still asleep in the meadow?
C.) Ways Of Teaching-
My group and I have decided to break up how we will teach the text. Through discussion questions first, and then clarification questions. The discussion questions will allow others to listen to our opinion as a group and give theirs as well. The clarification questions are questions that we had about the text, and felt that others may have had and what answers we came up with.
What is the significance of the language barrier between Gulliver and the Lilliputians?
Is Gulliver a giant among normal people? Or are the lilliputians dwarfs among Gulliver?
Who has the right to say what normality truly is?
Is Gulliver truly awake, is this all simply a dream?
Excerpt- Pg 555
"I confess I was often tempted, while they were passing backward and forward on my body, to seize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash them against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of honor I made them, for so I interpreted my submissive behavior, soon drove out those imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself as bound by the laws of hospitality to a people who had treated me with so much expense and magnificence."
-This quote holds importance because it shows that Gulliver thought he had opportunity's
to defeat these people simply because of his size. Also, because he felt he was smarter than the Lillputians.
B.) Working In Groups-
I feel that the small teacher groups were very effective. I felt much more comfortable with working with a smaller group rather than in front of the whole class, but I still got the conflicting opinions of other people which helped me to see the text in a different view. It helped me to see several aspects of the text that I had not really thought about. Such as, was Gulliver really experiencing this, or was he still asleep in the meadow?
C.) Ways Of Teaching-
My group and I have decided to break up how we will teach the text. Through discussion questions first, and then clarification questions. The discussion questions will allow others to listen to our opinion as a group and give theirs as well. The clarification questions are questions that we had about the text, and felt that others may have had and what answers we came up with.
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