Sunday, December 4, 2011
Literature Analysis: The House on Mango Street
1. The plot of "The House on Mango Street" seemed quite chaotic to me. It describes the life of the main character, Esperanza, while she lived on Mango Street. It talks about how she matured from a little girl into a young woman. It focused in on how much she hated living on Mango Street. At one point it talks about how much she looked up to a girl that she met named Sally, but how she was at a carnival and Sally left her alone. While Sally was gone Esperanza was raped by clowns. In the end Esperanza realizes that she can never leave Mango Street because she has to help those who really can't leave.
2. I believe that the theme of "The House on Mango Street" is that it is impossible to escape your past and the place that you came from.
3. The author's tone seemed to be one mostly of hate and even disgust. She seemed to despise the place where Esperanza was brought up. Esperanza is frequently saying how she will someday escape Mango Street, and you only try to escape things that you hate. She says in the beginning how she always dreamed of her family having their own house, and yet she doesn't see the house as a true home. In the very end she says that she remembers the house on mango street because it was a sad little house that she belonged to, but did not belong to.
4. The author used characterization as one literary technique. The way that she described Sally was interesting. She made the reader understand how Sally was as a person and a "friend". Another technique was imagery. The way that she described Mango Street makes the reader see how Esperanza was unable to abandon her neighbors when she had the opportunity to create a better life for herself as a writer. Cisneros also used similies. In one passage Esmeralda and her sister are comparing a house to Mexico. They say "Look at that house, it looks like Mexico." Cisneros also used syntax and diction. She was very careful in the words that she chose to use and how to use them.
2. I believe that the theme of "The House on Mango Street" is that it is impossible to escape your past and the place that you came from.
3. The author's tone seemed to be one mostly of hate and even disgust. She seemed to despise the place where Esperanza was brought up. Esperanza is frequently saying how she will someday escape Mango Street, and you only try to escape things that you hate. She says in the beginning how she always dreamed of her family having their own house, and yet she doesn't see the house as a true home. In the very end she says that she remembers the house on mango street because it was a sad little house that she belonged to, but did not belong to.
4. The author used characterization as one literary technique. The way that she described Sally was interesting. She made the reader understand how Sally was as a person and a "friend". Another technique was imagery. The way that she described Mango Street makes the reader see how Esperanza was unable to abandon her neighbors when she had the opportunity to create a better life for herself as a writer. Cisneros also used similies. In one passage Esmeralda and her sister are comparing a house to Mexico. They say "Look at that house, it looks like Mexico." Cisneros also used syntax and diction. She was very careful in the words that she chose to use and how to use them.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Antagonist
Antagonist - a person or force opposing the protagonist in a drama or narrative
An example of antagonist is Voldemort in the Harry Potter series or the Joker in Batman. Voldemort is trying to kill Harry Potter and since Harry is the protagonist then Voldemort must be the antagonist. In Batman the Joker is a villain who Batman fights, so he is the antagonist. Here is a clip from The Dark Knight:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/hnb8wOBE8cs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
An example of antagonist is Voldemort in the Harry Potter series or the Joker in Batman. Voldemort is trying to kill Harry Potter and since Harry is the protagonist then Voldemort must be the antagonist. In Batman the Joker is a villain who Batman fights, so he is the antagonist. Here is a clip from The Dark Knight:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/hnb8wOBE8cs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Big Question
My big question is what are the effects of music on the body and mind, how did it originate, and how it has managed to evolve into so many different genres?
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Nov. 8, 2011
Language, much like action, has always been key in determining what kind of character someone is in literature. Two examples are Beowulf and Hamlet. Beowulf seemed to be very proud in the way that he spoke while Hamlet was always whining and just very annoying, nothing like a hero should be. Also, Beowulf was always confident and while Hamlet had his moments he just seemed to be following his father's orders. There are plenty of examples throughout both stories that helps determine what kind of character each Hamlet and Beowulf are.
Beowulf is a good example of how language can determine if a character is an epic hero or not. He was always so sure of himself in the way that he not only spoke, but in the way that he carried himself as well. In one of his speeches he says "...that your country is cursed with some strange, vicious creature that hunts only at night and that no one has seen." He is goes on to say that him and his men will slay the beast. The fact that he has the courage to say this and offer his assistance shows that he is courageous, a sign of a hero.
Beowulf is not only brave in youth, but as he grows old and weak he continues to be a hero to his followers. In the last battle, Beowulf says, "I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me." Beowulf does not let age bring him down, a quality of a true hero. In the end Beowulf kills the dragon, but he himself dies. This is the ultimate act of heroism.
Hamlet's language on the other hand was not heroic in the clightest. On the contrary, Hamlet's language almost always had a confused tone to it. He seemed to be very unsure about what to at all times. In his "to be, or not to be" soliloquy he seemed to be debating whether or not to kill his uncle and avenge his father's death. A hero shouldn't really ever be unsure of what actions to take, at least he should not speak as if he is unsure, he should just know what to do.
Hamlet and Beowulf are two different characters not only because of the plot differences, but by the way that they speak. Beowulf is strong and confident in the way that he not only carries himself, but in the way that he speaks. Hamlet on the other hand is weak and unsure in both his actions and language. As you can see language plays a huge role in differentiating an epic hero from someone who is only following orders.
Beowulf is a good example of how language can determine if a character is an epic hero or not. He was always so sure of himself in the way that he not only spoke, but in the way that he carried himself as well. In one of his speeches he says "...that your country is cursed with some strange, vicious creature that hunts only at night and that no one has seen." He is goes on to say that him and his men will slay the beast. The fact that he has the courage to say this and offer his assistance shows that he is courageous, a sign of a hero.
Beowulf is not only brave in youth, but as he grows old and weak he continues to be a hero to his followers. In the last battle, Beowulf says, "I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me." Beowulf does not let age bring him down, a quality of a true hero. In the end Beowulf kills the dragon, but he himself dies. This is the ultimate act of heroism.
Hamlet's language on the other hand was not heroic in the clightest. On the contrary, Hamlet's language almost always had a confused tone to it. He seemed to be very unsure about what to at all times. In his "to be, or not to be" soliloquy he seemed to be debating whether or not to kill his uncle and avenge his father's death. A hero shouldn't really ever be unsure of what actions to take, at least he should not speak as if he is unsure, he should just know what to do.
Hamlet and Beowulf are two different characters not only because of the plot differences, but by the way that they speak. Beowulf is strong and confident in the way that he not only carries himself, but in the way that he speaks. Hamlet on the other hand is weak and unsure in both his actions and language. As you can see language plays a huge role in differentiating an epic hero from someone who is only following orders.
Nov. 7, 2011
One major concept that I have learned in this class is the importance of understanding something in order to memorize it. When we were memorizing Hamlet's "to be, or not to be..." soliloquy I was having trouble until I understood what he was talking about. After I understood it, I was able to memorize it all within a few hours. It made me realize that despite the fact that I typically don't have to understand something in order to memorize it, it really does help and make it that much easier.
<iframe width="550" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/H0QnWToh3Eg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="550" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/H0QnWToh3Eg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Who Was Shakespeare?
Things that we know about Shakespeare are that he was English poet and that he wrote plays. He is often known as the greatest writer and comes up often in English literature. One of his most popular plays is Romeo and Juliet. Some things that we don't know are his religious beliefs and sexuality. There is also speculations about his physical appearance and whether or not others wrote some og his plays for him. When a teacher says that the class will be reading something by Shakespeare an audible groan can be heard from all corners of the classroom. Not many teenagers enjoy reading the works of Shakespeare, and it is reasonable considering that it takes a lot of patience to decipher what Shakespeare was trying to say. I don't need to tell you that English has changed quiet a bit since Shakespeare's time. I can understand just a little more of Shakespeare's plays, but just barely. I still get a quizzical look on my face when I am reading his plays and I get frustrated quickly. Pretty muh everything in his plays still causes me to struggle, so there isn't much progress going on, I am just a little more willing to try to figure out what he is saying.
To Facebook or Not to Facebook
My first impression of Facebook was "this is just like Myspace". I was not all that impressed and went on my account so rarely that it was deleted. The only reason that I have a Facebook now is because some friends kept telling me to make one. I rarely use my current Facebook, but I do use it at times. I just have to be careful what I say consideing my mom also has one and we are friends on Facebook. Some benefits of using Facebook are being able to keep in touch with family that live in different countries, states, or cities. Some risks are cyberbullying. The article and discussion in class didn't really inform me because I already knew what they were talking about. I already knew that some Facebook users were under 13. I'm not going to lie, but I've been over 18 since I was about 13, so I figured if I was saying I was 18 at the age of 13, then saying you were 13 when you were actually 12 doesn't seem like that big a difference.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Bless Me, Ultima
1. Bless Me, Ultima is the story of a young boy named Antonio whose family takes in an old woman named Ultima. Antonio and Ultima bond while she stays with his family and she teaches him about medicinal plants and what each one can be used to heal. Antonio must deal with witnessing death and losing his innocence, but Ultima helps guide him through it all. In the end a man named Tenorio who has a burning hatred for Ultima ends up shooting her owl, which leads to her death. The owl was Ultima's spirit and with the death of the owl, she could no longer live.
2. I belive that the theme of this story was that innocence can only be held onto for so long. Another theme could be to do what you want and not what others want for you.
3. The tone of Bless Me, Ultima is a sad and serious one. One example of how it is sad is how Antonio saw Lupito being shot to death when he was out at night. It was even more of a sad moment for Antonio because Lupito then asks Antonio for his blessings. An example of how the tone is a serious one is how seriously Antonio takes his religious classes. He wants to take the Communion so that things might start to make sense like his mother told him, so he takes the classes serious. One last example of how the tone is sad is when Ultima's owl is shot at the end by Tenorio. The reader can't help but feel a little sad that Ultima's owl is killed meaning that Ultima will die because the owl was her spirit.
4. One literary element that I noticed was how Anaya used dreams to help further an understanding on certain subjects. One example is how when Antonio dreams of his brother's going into the brothel. Andrew stays and tells Antonio that he will not go into the brothel until Antonio loses his innocnce. This helps the reader to understand that Antonio has lost innocence one Andrew does go into the brothel. Another element is how Anaya uses the owl as an extension of Ultima. When Tenorio is accusing Ultima, the owl comes and attacks him. When he kills the owl, Ultima dies along with it. When Samuel tells Antonio the story of the golden carp, he says that if man cannot stop sinning then the carp will get rid of them by flooding the land, Anaya is simply using a technique to help the reader understand the extent to which mankind sins. Two more techniques that Anaya used to help strengthen the theme are charcterization and diction.
2. I belive that the theme of this story was that innocence can only be held onto for so long. Another theme could be to do what you want and not what others want for you.
3. The tone of Bless Me, Ultima is a sad and serious one. One example of how it is sad is how Antonio saw Lupito being shot to death when he was out at night. It was even more of a sad moment for Antonio because Lupito then asks Antonio for his blessings. An example of how the tone is a serious one is how seriously Antonio takes his religious classes. He wants to take the Communion so that things might start to make sense like his mother told him, so he takes the classes serious. One last example of how the tone is sad is when Ultima's owl is shot at the end by Tenorio. The reader can't help but feel a little sad that Ultima's owl is killed meaning that Ultima will die because the owl was her spirit.
4. One literary element that I noticed was how Anaya used dreams to help further an understanding on certain subjects. One example is how when Antonio dreams of his brother's going into the brothel. Andrew stays and tells Antonio that he will not go into the brothel until Antonio loses his innocnce. This helps the reader to understand that Antonio has lost innocence one Andrew does go into the brothel. Another element is how Anaya uses the owl as an extension of Ultima. When Tenorio is accusing Ultima, the owl comes and attacks him. When he kills the owl, Ultima dies along with it. When Samuel tells Antonio the story of the golden carp, he says that if man cannot stop sinning then the carp will get rid of them by flooding the land, Anaya is simply using a technique to help the reader understand the extent to which mankind sins. Two more techniques that Anaya used to help strengthen the theme are charcterization and diction.
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