Hi Honey, You are so sweet!!!
Your loving Wife,
Pam
Friday, May 15, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
On the Late Massacre in Piedmont by John Milton
1. The age and sex of the speaker cannot be determined but it must be someone that is cognitive of the events that took place. They are very aware of the incident which is written about and have a keen sense of the injustice that was dealt to the Waldenses.
2. The speaker is addressing God.
3. I respond very favorably to the speaker. Not only because I am a Christian but also because I am sad to know that these types of injustices are meted out. The English Catholic Church persecuted then slaughtered the Waldenses, a group of dissenters from the Catholic Church. The Church thought them to be heretics because they taught that the Catholic Church was idolatrous and a number of other issues. The Church persecuted them then in April 1655, they slaughtered the Waldeneses. The speaker was shocked by this tragedy that a church could commit such a heinous deed.
4. The specific setting is Pra del Torno in northwest Italy and the date was Easter, (April) 1655.
5. Reading the poem aloud does help with the understanding of it.
6. Yes, a paraphrase does reveal the basic purpose of the poem.
7. The title of the poem emphasizes the actual event.
8. The theme, I believe, is presented directly.
9. Yes, the poem is full of allusions and each of them enriches the poem.
10. The diction is a mix of Middle and Informal I would say. The language of the time was relatively formal however it is clear that the speaker is pouring out his heart to God as one would plead with a Father. No words were repeated but there are several words that carry evocative connotative meaning. For example, when the speaker says “when all our fathers worshipped rocks and stones” that implies that they worshipped idols made with hands, representing a form of worship practiced by the Catholic Church.
11. There are figures of speech used by the speaker such as, “Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old” refers to the Waldenses.
12. The “triple Tyrant” refers to the Pope. Many Puritans believed that the Pope was the Anti-Christ and the referral to Babylon was a direct Scriptural referral to wickedness and the Puritans also believed that the Roman Catholic Church was “the whore of Babylon” as noted in our text.
13. I did not find any irony in this poem
14. The tone of the poem is serious and sad.
15. The poem does not use onomatopoeia, assonance, consonance or alliteration.
16. I did not recognize any repeated sounds or rhymes.
17. The lines in the poem do not have regular meter and the rhythm does seem appropriate for the poem.
18. The poem’s form does not follow an established pattern and it is suitable for the poem because it is about chaos and a severe tragedy.
19. The language is intense and definitely warrants more than one reading.
20. I enjoyed the poem because it is a historical poem and I love History.
21. The Historical Strategy, maybe cultural criticism, would be especially appropriate for this poem.
22. The biographical information about the author absolutely reveals the poem’s central concerns.
23. The historical information about the poem provides a useful context for the poem because we feel even more drawn in when we can see that the poem is written about an actual very tragic event in history.
24. My own values and beliefs inform my interpretation because I am a Christian and feel deeply saddened to see this kind of mistreatment among brethren.
25. The evidence from the poem I focus on to support my interpretation is the poem itself because it describes an actual event. I do not think my interpretation leaves out any important elements that may undercut or qualify my interpretation.
26. I interpreted this poem in a literal sense given the fact that it is a recollection of an actual event in which I do not think anyone would find justification for the slaughter.
2. The speaker is addressing God.
3. I respond very favorably to the speaker. Not only because I am a Christian but also because I am sad to know that these types of injustices are meted out. The English Catholic Church persecuted then slaughtered the Waldenses, a group of dissenters from the Catholic Church. The Church thought them to be heretics because they taught that the Catholic Church was idolatrous and a number of other issues. The Church persecuted them then in April 1655, they slaughtered the Waldeneses. The speaker was shocked by this tragedy that a church could commit such a heinous deed.
4. The specific setting is Pra del Torno in northwest Italy and the date was Easter, (April) 1655.
5. Reading the poem aloud does help with the understanding of it.
6. Yes, a paraphrase does reveal the basic purpose of the poem.
7. The title of the poem emphasizes the actual event.
8. The theme, I believe, is presented directly.
9. Yes, the poem is full of allusions and each of them enriches the poem.
10. The diction is a mix of Middle and Informal I would say. The language of the time was relatively formal however it is clear that the speaker is pouring out his heart to God as one would plead with a Father. No words were repeated but there are several words that carry evocative connotative meaning. For example, when the speaker says “when all our fathers worshipped rocks and stones” that implies that they worshipped idols made with hands, representing a form of worship practiced by the Catholic Church.
11. There are figures of speech used by the speaker such as, “Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old” refers to the Waldenses.
12. The “triple Tyrant” refers to the Pope. Many Puritans believed that the Pope was the Anti-Christ and the referral to Babylon was a direct Scriptural referral to wickedness and the Puritans also believed that the Roman Catholic Church was “the whore of Babylon” as noted in our text.
13. I did not find any irony in this poem
14. The tone of the poem is serious and sad.
15. The poem does not use onomatopoeia, assonance, consonance or alliteration.
16. I did not recognize any repeated sounds or rhymes.
17. The lines in the poem do not have regular meter and the rhythm does seem appropriate for the poem.
18. The poem’s form does not follow an established pattern and it is suitable for the poem because it is about chaos and a severe tragedy.
19. The language is intense and definitely warrants more than one reading.
20. I enjoyed the poem because it is a historical poem and I love History.
21. The Historical Strategy, maybe cultural criticism, would be especially appropriate for this poem.
22. The biographical information about the author absolutely reveals the poem’s central concerns.
23. The historical information about the poem provides a useful context for the poem because we feel even more drawn in when we can see that the poem is written about an actual very tragic event in history.
24. My own values and beliefs inform my interpretation because I am a Christian and feel deeply saddened to see this kind of mistreatment among brethren.
25. The evidence from the poem I focus on to support my interpretation is the poem itself because it describes an actual event. I do not think my interpretation leaves out any important elements that may undercut or qualify my interpretation.
26. I interpreted this poem in a literal sense given the fact that it is a recollection of an actual event in which I do not think anyone would find justification for the slaughter.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Oops!
Well, I posted Novel Journal 1 and 2 together because I have been ill and did not do any thing. I got the Type A flu and have never been so sick in my life! I finally went to the Doctor and found that I was on the downhill side of it but bot what a ride! The only one in my family that would come near me was my little dog, Missy. Just kidding but the moral of this story is, maybe those flu shots are worth it after all!!! I thought I was dying.
Anyway, I also just realized today that I actually had TWO Blogs going! I always thought they were the same Blog. Anyway there they are. It's nice to be back in touch with everyone!
Pam
Anyway, I also just realized today that I actually had TWO Blogs going! I always thought they were the same Blog. Anyway there they are. It's nice to be back in touch with everyone!
Pam
NRJ #1 and #2
NRJ #1
Light and Dark
Heart of Darkness is novel that is full of all the implications and consequences of corruption that can take over a man’s heart. This was a very interesting story to me however I must admit that on first reading I did not find it anywhere near as interesting as I did after the second time through. Joseph Conrad presents us with so much imagery that it is hard to wrap your mind around it all in a once over reading. On further reading the light and dark theme throughout the story begin to reveal and distinguish them as much as day and night. Marlow starts out full of life and a youthful exuberance for adventure. He saw an opportunity to go see Africa which was represented on a map he saw as a boy as “a blank space of delightful mystery- a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over,” (Page 8). Then he notes that “it had become a place of darkness,” (page 8).
In this passage of the story on page 17, Conrad so succinctly describes the stark contrasts, as well similarities of the light and darkness. “Then, glancing down, I saw a face near my hand. The black bones reclined at full length with one shoulder against the tree, and slowly the eyelids rose and the sunken eyes looked up at me, enormous and vacant, a kind of blind, white flicker in the depths of the orbs, which died out slowly. The man seemed young -- almost a boy -- but you know with them it's hard to tell. I found nothing else to do but to offer him one of my good Swede's ship's biscuits I had in my pocket. The fingers closed slowly on it and held -- there was no other movement and no other glance. He had tied a bit of white worsted round his neck -- Why? Where did he get it? Was it a badge -- an ornament -- a charm -- a propitiatory act? Was there any idea at all connected with it? It looked startling round his black neck, this bit of white thread from beyond the seas.” The flicker of white in the orbs of his eyes represents the flicker of hope he had for his very life, then they die out slowly. The white worsted from afar around his neck, white with hope and idealism of colonialism yet tied around his neck like a stock of bondage.
So much imagery, I have to stop or I will rewrite this book!
NRJ #2
Power of the Feminine
In this story, the women carry a significant role but are viewed by many as powerless and weak. I did not find this to be the case for any of the women that Conrad wrote about. The first woman that I recollect in the story is the Aunt. She is an agreeable woman who is referred to by Marlow as “a dear enthusiastic soul!” (Page 8). She knows people in high places and is able to pull strings for her nephew by influence. This tells me she is not just some frail little weak woman holed up in her parlor. The Aunt symbolizes everything happy, jolly and of good intention. She sees for her nephew an wonderful opportunity, an adventure for her young nephew. She symbolizes the idealism of colonization.
The second time we are exposed to women in the novella is when Marlow goes to the Company Office to take care of his paperwork and runs into the two women who sat knitting. They did not engage in conversation with him but they had the power to make him feel uneasy. (Pages 9-11). These women symbolize the evil to which Marlow will be exposed as he signs his life over to the Company. There will be danger and all manner of evil that he will not only witness but even to the point of almost taking his very life.
Light and Dark
Heart of Darkness is novel that is full of all the implications and consequences of corruption that can take over a man’s heart. This was a very interesting story to me however I must admit that on first reading I did not find it anywhere near as interesting as I did after the second time through. Joseph Conrad presents us with so much imagery that it is hard to wrap your mind around it all in a once over reading. On further reading the light and dark theme throughout the story begin to reveal and distinguish them as much as day and night. Marlow starts out full of life and a youthful exuberance for adventure. He saw an opportunity to go see Africa which was represented on a map he saw as a boy as “a blank space of delightful mystery- a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over,” (Page 8). Then he notes that “it had become a place of darkness,” (page 8).
In this passage of the story on page 17, Conrad so succinctly describes the stark contrasts, as well similarities of the light and darkness. “Then, glancing down, I saw a face near my hand. The black bones reclined at full length with one shoulder against the tree, and slowly the eyelids rose and the sunken eyes looked up at me, enormous and vacant, a kind of blind, white flicker in the depths of the orbs, which died out slowly. The man seemed young -- almost a boy -- but you know with them it's hard to tell. I found nothing else to do but to offer him one of my good Swede's ship's biscuits I had in my pocket. The fingers closed slowly on it and held -- there was no other movement and no other glance. He had tied a bit of white worsted round his neck -- Why? Where did he get it? Was it a badge -- an ornament -- a charm -- a propitiatory act? Was there any idea at all connected with it? It looked startling round his black neck, this bit of white thread from beyond the seas.” The flicker of white in the orbs of his eyes represents the flicker of hope he had for his very life, then they die out slowly. The white worsted from afar around his neck, white with hope and idealism of colonialism yet tied around his neck like a stock of bondage.
So much imagery, I have to stop or I will rewrite this book!
NRJ #2
Power of the Feminine
In this story, the women carry a significant role but are viewed by many as powerless and weak. I did not find this to be the case for any of the women that Conrad wrote about. The first woman that I recollect in the story is the Aunt. She is an agreeable woman who is referred to by Marlow as “a dear enthusiastic soul!” (Page 8). She knows people in high places and is able to pull strings for her nephew by influence. This tells me she is not just some frail little weak woman holed up in her parlor. The Aunt symbolizes everything happy, jolly and of good intention. She sees for her nephew an wonderful opportunity, an adventure for her young nephew. She symbolizes the idealism of colonization.
The second time we are exposed to women in the novella is when Marlow goes to the Company Office to take care of his paperwork and runs into the two women who sat knitting. They did not engage in conversation with him but they had the power to make him feel uneasy. (Pages 9-11). These women symbolize the evil to which Marlow will be exposed as he signs his life over to the Company. There will be danger and all manner of evil that he will not only witness but even to the point of almost taking his very life.
Friday, March 13, 2009
DRJ #3 - Hamlet, Act 3
Act 3 is the pivot point and the jelling of the whole play. This is the Act that reveals to me that it is not Hamlet that is mad, it is everyone around him and that he and Horatio are likely the only sane people in his circle of people. In Scene 1 it becomes evident that there is no sense of guilt or sensitivity toward Hamlet or his father’s memory by his family or friends. Hamlet is likely feeling crazy because frankly, it seems as though everyone around him is living in an altered reality. What kind of mother would not feel any sense of propriety toward the memory of her child’s father or the son’s mourning the loss of his father much less his mother forgetting her husband so soon that she was able to remarry?
Hamlet presents the play to try to see if his uncle is guilty by portraying the story of his father’s killing that the ghost had told him. Sure enough, the King’s guilt leads him to leave in anger confirming for Hamlet that he is indeed guilty. Now Hamlet knows that he is bound by the love and memory of his beloved father to avenge his death. He also uses the occasion to convey to Ophelia his angst toward his mother for her apparent disregard for her husband’s memory by marrying so soon after his death. By this it seems that he is pondering in his mind whether love is real or not.
Additionally, Ophelia is indifferent to his gestures and returns the things Hamlet has given her yet, she “loves” him. Through this Hamlet realizes that a women’s love is fickle and therefore does a woman really have the capacity to truly love or is love even real? Again, he is confused about the reality of love.
When he comes upon Claudius he finds him praying and decides not to kill him because he wants to kill him when he is unable to repent first just the way Claudius robbed Hamlet’s father of his ability to repent of his sins before his death. This shows that Hamlet’s sense of compassion for anyone is waning and he is turning more toward vengeance and his anger and distrust is building.
As Act 3 moves through Scene 4 we see very plainly his bitterness toward his mother. He is now voicing to her directly how he angry he is at her for marrying so soon after his father’s death. Also, he is trying to explain to her that Claudius killed her husband. It is as if he is trying one last time to bring her along in a way while rebuking her for her behavior.
Overall, this Act revealed the nature of the first two scenes and built the excitement and set the tone for the remainder of the play, especially with the killing of Polonius. Do you think Hamlet or most everyone around him is crazy, or both?
Hamlet presents the play to try to see if his uncle is guilty by portraying the story of his father’s killing that the ghost had told him. Sure enough, the King’s guilt leads him to leave in anger confirming for Hamlet that he is indeed guilty. Now Hamlet knows that he is bound by the love and memory of his beloved father to avenge his death. He also uses the occasion to convey to Ophelia his angst toward his mother for her apparent disregard for her husband’s memory by marrying so soon after his death. By this it seems that he is pondering in his mind whether love is real or not.
Additionally, Ophelia is indifferent to his gestures and returns the things Hamlet has given her yet, she “loves” him. Through this Hamlet realizes that a women’s love is fickle and therefore does a woman really have the capacity to truly love or is love even real? Again, he is confused about the reality of love.
When he comes upon Claudius he finds him praying and decides not to kill him because he wants to kill him when he is unable to repent first just the way Claudius robbed Hamlet’s father of his ability to repent of his sins before his death. This shows that Hamlet’s sense of compassion for anyone is waning and he is turning more toward vengeance and his anger and distrust is building.
As Act 3 moves through Scene 4 we see very plainly his bitterness toward his mother. He is now voicing to her directly how he angry he is at her for marrying so soon after his father’s death. Also, he is trying to explain to her that Claudius killed her husband. It is as if he is trying one last time to bring her along in a way while rebuking her for her behavior.
Overall, this Act revealed the nature of the first two scenes and built the excitement and set the tone for the remainder of the play, especially with the killing of Polonius. Do you think Hamlet or most everyone around him is crazy, or both?
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Drama Reading Journal #2 - Hamlet, Act II
This act is very short but it is also the most telling and insightful into the main characters is the play. It reveals the dynamics at work in Hamlet’s family as well as Ophelia’s. In this Act we see two different sets of parents working behind the scenes to direct their children’s lives. In scene 1 we see Polonius directing Reynaldo to go and spy on his son, Laertes, and see how he is doing. Then he expounds and wants Reynaldo to spread false and vicious rumors because he thinks his son is boring. In scene 2 we see the King and Queen calling some of Hamlet’s friends to come to keep watch over Hamlet to see if they can find out why he is acting so crazy. Why do they not go to him themselves?
While the Queen is likely self centered and needy of male attention, the King is wicked but Polonius is conniving, controlling and manipulative. A father that directs his aid to slander his son’s good name and destroy his impeccable reputation is a wicked as well. Additionally, he tells his daughter to play games with Hamlet by returning his letters and gifts to the point that she also becomes the object of Hamlet’s doubt and supposed insanity. We see at the close of the act a glimpse or the increasing insanity of Hamlet as he meets with his friends then his speech at the end where he doubts everything he has ever known.
I think that foreshadowing is the most prominent literary theme in this Act. In both cases, the parents seem concerned for their children but they may or may not realize that they are really the cause of the ills that will befall their children. The concern is superficial and self centered. The actions of each parent leads to the eventual demise of both families. The King and Queen by their own manipulation of the lives of others by killing Hamlet’s father and Polonius by manipulating his daughters behavior toward Hamlet as well as his sneaky, slanderous gossip about his son.
Do you think that the parents are in any way really caring and concerned for their children?
While the Queen is likely self centered and needy of male attention, the King is wicked but Polonius is conniving, controlling and manipulative. A father that directs his aid to slander his son’s good name and destroy his impeccable reputation is a wicked as well. Additionally, he tells his daughter to play games with Hamlet by returning his letters and gifts to the point that she also becomes the object of Hamlet’s doubt and supposed insanity. We see at the close of the act a glimpse or the increasing insanity of Hamlet as he meets with his friends then his speech at the end where he doubts everything he has ever known.
I think that foreshadowing is the most prominent literary theme in this Act. In both cases, the parents seem concerned for their children but they may or may not realize that they are really the cause of the ills that will befall their children. The concern is superficial and self centered. The actions of each parent leads to the eventual demise of both families. The King and Queen by their own manipulation of the lives of others by killing Hamlet’s father and Polonius by manipulating his daughters behavior toward Hamlet as well as his sneaky, slanderous gossip about his son.
Do you think that the parents are in any way really caring and concerned for their children?
Monday, March 2, 2009
DRJ - Hamlet Act 1
DRJ - Hamlet, Act 1
In the first act of the play all of the characters remind me of people that I Know! It is surprising to me that characters created in the mind of a play write could reflect very pointed character types through the annals of time. As Solomon said in the Bible, “there is nothing new under the sun”. Hamlet is a typical angsty teenager that reacts to the terrible circumstances that come his way in a short period of time.
Claudius is a man that is more concerned with his own lust for power and prestige that his country. He speaks eloquently and likely won over Gertrude and convinced her to marry him so soon because of this. He is not a likeable character in any way. It is obvious that he intentionally caused the conflict in the story.
The theme that most impressed upon me in this first act was the platform before the castle where the ghost of King Hamlet was seen in two scenes. The imagery of the dark, middle of the night in Scene 1 and then the opening of Scene where Hamlet enters and says, “The air bites shrewdly, it is very cold”. It sets the tone for the frightening experience of seeing the ghost. He is first seen by Bernardo and Marcellus in Scene 1 and then by Hamlet in Scene 4. You can sense the chill of the ghostly figure get drawn into the scene.
Why do you think the ghost came each night about midnight?
In the first act of the play all of the characters remind me of people that I Know! It is surprising to me that characters created in the mind of a play write could reflect very pointed character types through the annals of time. As Solomon said in the Bible, “there is nothing new under the sun”. Hamlet is a typical angsty teenager that reacts to the terrible circumstances that come his way in a short period of time.
Claudius is a man that is more concerned with his own lust for power and prestige that his country. He speaks eloquently and likely won over Gertrude and convinced her to marry him so soon because of this. He is not a likeable character in any way. It is obvious that he intentionally caused the conflict in the story.
The theme that most impressed upon me in this first act was the platform before the castle where the ghost of King Hamlet was seen in two scenes. The imagery of the dark, middle of the night in Scene 1 and then the opening of Scene where Hamlet enters and says, “The air bites shrewdly, it is very cold”. It sets the tone for the frightening experience of seeing the ghost. He is first seen by Bernardo and Marcellus in Scene 1 and then by Hamlet in Scene 4. You can sense the chill of the ghostly figure get drawn into the scene.
Why do you think the ghost came each night about midnight?
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