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:

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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.

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.



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