Due to the absent parents in the first story “The Sisters,” the young boy was raised by his aunt and uncle. Not having the first-hand father and motherly love, can create tension in the lives of the children. Although the people that cared for him were close relatives there is nothing like being cared for by the biological parents. We (the reader) can conclude that the child was also "raised"(in a way) by Father Flynn. His uncle said that Father Flynn taught the young boy a great deal. From Mr. Cotter’s point of view, he does not believe that letting him talk and spend time with the father is not healthy for a young child.
Joyce uses ellipses in every paragraph which creates a lot of questions. Specifically, the absence of the “ghost” or paralytic at the end of the story leaves the reader wondering who the ghost was or what the role of the ghost was. Also, why did he want to see this ghost? Was this ghost, Father Flynn?
The story about the chalice was also a big mystery. The sister said that it was the chalice he was the beginning of it. That affected his mind. When Father O’Rourke, the father and the clerk found him in the chapel sitting up by himself in the dark in his confession-box, wide awake and laughing-like softly to himself. At the end of the story Eliza resumed with the same phrase: “wide awake and laughing-like softly to himself….” and an ellipse followed by that made them think that there was something wrong with him…… and an ellipse at the end of the story. That left the reader with a greater question in mind. What really happened to the father?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Setting the Shakespearean Stage
Act 1, Scene 1
Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy,
And by my father's love and leave am armed
With his goodwill and thy good company.
My trusty servant well approved in all,
Here let us breathe and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Gave me my being, and my father first,
A merchant of great traffic through the world,
(Vicentio,)come of the Bentivolii.
Vicentio's son, brought up in Florence,
It shall become to serve all hopes conceived
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds.
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study
Virtue, and that part of philosophy
Will I apply that treats of happiness
By virtue specially to be achieved.
Tell me thy mind, for I have Pisa left
And am to Padua come, as he that leaves
A shall plash to plunge him in the deep
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.
I will discuss the language that is used to set the stage in Act - Scene 1, specifically; I will like to look very closely at Lucentio's speech. Lucentio's opening speech in Act 1-Scene 1 includes descriptive details for almost every city or person named. I believe that the use of interruptions is intended to add extra detail to the text. Since we are not able to "see" the scene being played by the actors, Shakespeare portrays this scene through the extensive use of details. For example, when Lucentio mentions the fair Padua, he continues to explain that the city of Padua is a nursery of arts. He also explains the fruitful Lombardy, which is a pleasant garden of great Italy. From the text and the use of adjectives we conclude that Lombardy is a garden that is very fruitful located in great Italy. Lucentio also adds details about the people. When he mentions his trusty servant, he adds that he is well approved in all. Descriptions of the city of Pisa are also included in the text. He states that it is renowned for grave citizens. Details about his father-who was a merchant of great traffic through the world-are also included in the text. The text states that Vicentio came from the Bentivolii and Vicentio's son was brought up in Florence. All this descriptions allow us to be aware of the setting and context of the play. Although we cannot see it with our own eyes, these details add an image that our imagination can create. The language that Lucentio uses helps us set the stage for what will happen next in the play and what is happening now and where the story is located.
Other examples that are not as clear and straightforward as the ones mentioned above, but that help us (the reader) understand what is happing in the play are when Lucentio says, "Tranio, at once/ Uncase tee. Take my colored hat and cloak,” it is clear that they exchanged clothes. When Hortensio says, "Rise, Grumio, rise," we can conclude that at some point Grumio has fallen.
Shakespeare's use of language is very different from our language today. He places the verb before the subject. For example in Act 1-Scene 1, Hortensio says, "Sorry am I that our goodwill effects/ Bianca's grief.” Also, he sometimes he places the object before the verb. In Act 1-Scene 1, Tranio says, "Music and poesy use to quicken you." Baptista also says, "Schoolmasters will I keep." Lucentio says, "Vincentio's son.../It shall become." Petruchio says, "Crowns in my purse I have." It is also not uncommon that Shakespeare inverts the sequence of the subject-verb-object. In Act 1-Scene 1, Baptista's says "For how I firmly am resolved you know." These inversions in the language are what I have found to make it more difficult to concentrate on the reading. This type of language does not really set the stage. Shakespeare has a mix of language the first example helped set the stage and these examples do not.
Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy,
And by my father's love and leave am armed
With his goodwill and thy good company.
My trusty servant well approved in all,
Here let us breathe and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Gave me my being, and my father first,
A merchant of great traffic through the world,
(Vicentio,)come of the Bentivolii.
Vicentio's son, brought up in Florence,
It shall become to serve all hopes conceived
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds.
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study
Virtue, and that part of philosophy
Will I apply that treats of happiness
By virtue specially to be achieved.
Tell me thy mind, for I have Pisa left
And am to Padua come, as he that leaves
A shall plash to plunge him in the deep
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.
I will discuss the language that is used to set the stage in Act - Scene 1, specifically; I will like to look very closely at Lucentio's speech. Lucentio's opening speech in Act 1-Scene 1 includes descriptive details for almost every city or person named. I believe that the use of interruptions is intended to add extra detail to the text. Since we are not able to "see" the scene being played by the actors, Shakespeare portrays this scene through the extensive use of details. For example, when Lucentio mentions the fair Padua, he continues to explain that the city of Padua is a nursery of arts. He also explains the fruitful Lombardy, which is a pleasant garden of great Italy. From the text and the use of adjectives we conclude that Lombardy is a garden that is very fruitful located in great Italy. Lucentio also adds details about the people. When he mentions his trusty servant, he adds that he is well approved in all. Descriptions of the city of Pisa are also included in the text. He states that it is renowned for grave citizens. Details about his father-who was a merchant of great traffic through the world-are also included in the text. The text states that Vicentio came from the Bentivolii and Vicentio's son was brought up in Florence. All this descriptions allow us to be aware of the setting and context of the play. Although we cannot see it with our own eyes, these details add an image that our imagination can create. The language that Lucentio uses helps us set the stage for what will happen next in the play and what is happening now and where the story is located.
Other examples that are not as clear and straightforward as the ones mentioned above, but that help us (the reader) understand what is happing in the play are when Lucentio says, "Tranio, at once/ Uncase tee. Take my colored hat and cloak,” it is clear that they exchanged clothes. When Hortensio says, "Rise, Grumio, rise," we can conclude that at some point Grumio has fallen.
Shakespeare's use of language is very different from our language today. He places the verb before the subject. For example in Act 1-Scene 1, Hortensio says, "Sorry am I that our goodwill effects/ Bianca's grief.” Also, he sometimes he places the object before the verb. In Act 1-Scene 1, Tranio says, "Music and poesy use to quicken you." Baptista also says, "Schoolmasters will I keep." Lucentio says, "Vincentio's son.../It shall become." Petruchio says, "Crowns in my purse I have." It is also not uncommon that Shakespeare inverts the sequence of the subject-verb-object. In Act 1-Scene 1, Baptista's says "For how I firmly am resolved you know." These inversions in the language are what I have found to make it more difficult to concentrate on the reading. This type of language does not really set the stage. Shakespeare has a mix of language the first example helped set the stage and these examples do not.
Symphathy or not?
Symphathy?
I do not believe that Kafka was trying to get the reader to sympathize with Gregor. I believe that Kafka was using the “metaphor effect” to show something greater, a greater message. Perhaps the most wonderful thing about literature is that an author has unlimited possibilities in the ways they express their ideas. It was as though the metamorphosis was an allegory or a metaphor to teach Gregor and the people around him (his family) that they needed to do something greater with their lives. Gregor soon realized this in the second part of The Metamorphosis. “Now his father was still hale enough but an old man, and he had done no work for the past five years and could not be expected to do much. Gregor’s old mother how was she to earn a living with her asthma, which troubled her even when she walked through the flat and kept her laying on a sofa every other day painting for breath beside an open window. The only thing his sister did to earn her bread was only dress herself nicely, sleep long, help in the housekeeping, go out to a few modest entertainments, and above all playing the violin.”
His metamorphosis was a way that Kafka showed Gregor and his family that the way they were living life was not the way to live life. Although the story never mocks the transformation it does use the metaphor to teach a moral. Through the transformation Gregor was realizing that his family needed him, but it also taught him that he is not indispensable. At the end of the story, the three members of his family left the apartment and went by tram into the open country outside the town. Each member of the family found a way to survive without Gregor. His father attacked him with an apple, his mother lost faith in his recovery, and his sister became too busy to care for his father.
Gregor was always more concerned with others’ feelings and their well being other than himself. He is responsible for all the revenue of his family. In the first part of the story he says, “If the were horrified then the responsibility was no longer his.” He hopes that after the chief clerk and his family sees his conversion, they will have compassion towards him. He was hoping for encouragement when he was opening the door but instead he received nothing, no encouragement, no help, and no compassion. Through the metaphor we learn to appreciate ourselves in all forms and then appreciate others around you. We need to appreciate ourselves spiritually, physically, and mentally. You must always find the balance within yourself and then you can take care of everyone else. Since Gregor did not care for him, a phenomenon occurred and he turned into a "monstrous vermin."
I do not believe that Kafka was trying to get the reader to sympathize with Gregor. I believe that Kafka was using the “metaphor effect” to show something greater, a greater message. Perhaps the most wonderful thing about literature is that an author has unlimited possibilities in the ways they express their ideas. It was as though the metamorphosis was an allegory or a metaphor to teach Gregor and the people around him (his family) that they needed to do something greater with their lives. Gregor soon realized this in the second part of The Metamorphosis. “Now his father was still hale enough but an old man, and he had done no work for the past five years and could not be expected to do much. Gregor’s old mother how was she to earn a living with her asthma, which troubled her even when she walked through the flat and kept her laying on a sofa every other day painting for breath beside an open window. The only thing his sister did to earn her bread was only dress herself nicely, sleep long, help in the housekeeping, go out to a few modest entertainments, and above all playing the violin.”
His metamorphosis was a way that Kafka showed Gregor and his family that the way they were living life was not the way to live life. Although the story never mocks the transformation it does use the metaphor to teach a moral. Through the transformation Gregor was realizing that his family needed him, but it also taught him that he is not indispensable. At the end of the story, the three members of his family left the apartment and went by tram into the open country outside the town. Each member of the family found a way to survive without Gregor. His father attacked him with an apple, his mother lost faith in his recovery, and his sister became too busy to care for his father.
Gregor was always more concerned with others’ feelings and their well being other than himself. He is responsible for all the revenue of his family. In the first part of the story he says, “If the were horrified then the responsibility was no longer his.” He hopes that after the chief clerk and his family sees his conversion, they will have compassion towards him. He was hoping for encouragement when he was opening the door but instead he received nothing, no encouragement, no help, and no compassion. Through the metaphor we learn to appreciate ourselves in all forms and then appreciate others around you. We need to appreciate ourselves spiritually, physically, and mentally. You must always find the balance within yourself and then you can take care of everyone else. Since Gregor did not care for him, a phenomenon occurred and he turned into a "monstrous vermin."
Friday, November 21, 2008
Cit@tions
Surprisingly, Gregor’s bizarre new state is not the central transformation in the novel. Instead, Kafka uses Gregor’s surreal change as a catalyst for an almost more shocking metamorphosis: that of Gregor’s family, as they move from helplessness and sympathetic fear to emancipation and hostile rejection. A hostile rejection that was caused some five years before, old Samsa lost most of his money, whereupon his son Gregor took a job with one of his father's creditors and became a traveling salesman in cloth. His father then stopped working altogether, his sister Grete was too young to work, his mother was ill with asthma; thus young Gregor not only supported the whole family but also found for them the apartment they are now living in. This apartment, a flat in an apartment house, in Charlotte Street to be exact, is divided into segments as he will be divided himself.
It’s a telling detail that neither Gregor nor his family wonder why or how he’s turned into an insect. Upon discovering his state, Gregor’s mother sobs and later faints, while his father reacts with great anger. However, they make no attempt to change him back. Gregor does want to find a “cure”, but must give up almost from the start, when he loses his ability to speak.Also, he saw tremendous irony in the fact that our human lives are so transitory and our fortunes so subject to the whims of fate, and yet most people act as if we will live forever with ultimate control over the progress of their existence. In his story "The Metamorphosis," Kafka presents a conventional, respectable protagonist whose life is suddenly and permanently changed by a physical disability -- a "metamorphosis," or transformation -- which catapults him out of his efficacious complacency into a sudden confrontation with the greater questions of existence. This transformation, because it affects the way society looks at the protagonist, also effects a telling effect upon his self-image and spiritual identity. The ambiguities of Kafka's language do not suggest that Gregor becomes more spiritual or that Grete gets anywhere once she replaces her brother. his metamorphosis also marks Gregor's freedom as an individual. Throughout his entire life, he has let other people make his decisions for him (Greenburg 274). This is the first occurrence in his life over which no one (including he) had any control. This metamorphosis allows his hidden self to emerge, the self that had been stifled for so many years (Friedman 270). Gregor is no longer the head of the household or the working man, but a creature representing his true personality (Parry 263). Gregor was never really "alive" as the head of the house. Even if he had eventually paid off his family's debt, by that time his life would have been wasted (Friedman 272). But in actuality, Gregor's death comes not as a human but as an insect, when the family he once support and came to rely upon completely neglects him (Parry 264).In the labyrinth of exchanges that dominates the text, exchange of powers may replicate exchange of identity and exchange of gender but not imply, in the exchange of sister for brother, the spiritual transformation of either.Look at where his values were anchored: servant to the needs of an oppressive boss in order to meet the needs of an exploitative family. So, he ceases to serve. With new values opposing those of the family, the employer, and society at large, Gregor emerges as a deviant. He has entered the world of the despised.
It’s a telling detail that neither Gregor nor his family wonder why or how he’s turned into an insect. Upon discovering his state, Gregor’s mother sobs and later faints, while his father reacts with great anger. However, they make no attempt to change him back. Gregor does want to find a “cure”, but must give up almost from the start, when he loses his ability to speak.Also, he saw tremendous irony in the fact that our human lives are so transitory and our fortunes so subject to the whims of fate, and yet most people act as if we will live forever with ultimate control over the progress of their existence. In his story "The Metamorphosis," Kafka presents a conventional, respectable protagonist whose life is suddenly and permanently changed by a physical disability -- a "metamorphosis," or transformation -- which catapults him out of his efficacious complacency into a sudden confrontation with the greater questions of existence. This transformation, because it affects the way society looks at the protagonist, also effects a telling effect upon his self-image and spiritual identity. The ambiguities of Kafka's language do not suggest that Gregor becomes more spiritual or that Grete gets anywhere once she replaces her brother. his metamorphosis also marks Gregor's freedom as an individual. Throughout his entire life, he has let other people make his decisions for him (Greenburg 274). This is the first occurrence in his life over which no one (including he) had any control. This metamorphosis allows his hidden self to emerge, the self that had been stifled for so many years (Friedman 270). Gregor is no longer the head of the household or the working man, but a creature representing his true personality (Parry 263). Gregor was never really "alive" as the head of the house. Even if he had eventually paid off his family's debt, by that time his life would have been wasted (Friedman 272). But in actuality, Gregor's death comes not as a human but as an insect, when the family he once support and came to rely upon completely neglects him (Parry 264).In the labyrinth of exchanges that dominates the text, exchange of powers may replicate exchange of identity and exchange of gender but not imply, in the exchange of sister for brother, the spiritual transformation of either.Look at where his values were anchored: servant to the needs of an oppressive boss in order to meet the needs of an exploitative family. So, he ceases to serve. With new values opposing those of the family, the employer, and society at large, Gregor emerges as a deviant. He has entered the world of the despised.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Revised
In the poem “Digging” by Seamus Heaney, the idea of culture and heritage is explored through the use of figurative language such as simile, metaphor, and alliteration.
He is exploring his ancestry and roots. This is a poetic memorial to those who came before him. It is also a new form (his generation), written tradition, replaces the old-fashioned (father and grandfathers generation), oral tradition. He “digs” up all the story of his ancestors by recalling and remembering his grandfathers and fathers responsibility. Although he is no longer able to follow the family’s tradition to be potato farmer, he is creating a new, better way to follow the family’s legacy. Heaney uses a lot of figurative language in his poem to illustrate his view. In the first stanza, Heaney uses a strong simile where he describes the pen snug as a gun. In the first stanza, Heaney uses a strong simile in where he describes the pen snug as a gun. Between my finger and my thumb/The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.” In the next stanza, “Under my window, a clean rasping sound/When the spade sinks into gravelly ground:/My father, digging. I look down,” he uses alliteration and assonance to point out the harshness of the type of work his father did. In the next stanza: “Under my window, a clean rasping sound/When the spade sinks into gravelly ground:/My father, digging. I look down” He uses alliteration and assonance to point out the harshness of the type of work his father does without actually saying he is digging. Other examples of alliteration and assonance are found when Heaney uses the words gravelly, ground, sound, and down.
The words gravelly, ground, sound, and down all contain alliteration and assonance.
I really enjoyed the syntax of my first paragraph so I left it as is. I thought that by writing “He is exploring his ancestry and roots,” instead of “He is exploring his ancestry and the roots.” This change made it more personal and specific. I also made the third sentence into two sentences. In the new sentence I integrated the idea of oral vs. written tradition and I tried to make a comparison between his new generation and that of his father and grandfather. I did not know how to work it so I put it in () brackets. I extended the fifth sentence by adding the last part of the sentence to emphasize what I meant by “dig” up the story of his ancestors. In the next few sentences I tried to delete all the extra part of the stanzas that did not relate to my statement. I also, corrected some grammar mistakes such as adding a coma to the end of the quotation, lower casing the h in he, and changing the tense at the end of the sentence from does to did. I deleted the end of that sentence because he does actually say digging at the end of the sentence. Finally, I changed the last sentence of the paragraph to make it more concise and more practical to be able to transition to the next paragraph.
He is exploring his ancestry and roots. This is a poetic memorial to those who came before him. It is also a new form (his generation), written tradition, replaces the old-fashioned (father and grandfathers generation), oral tradition. He “digs” up all the story of his ancestors by recalling and remembering his grandfathers and fathers responsibility. Although he is no longer able to follow the family’s tradition to be potato farmer, he is creating a new, better way to follow the family’s legacy. Heaney uses a lot of figurative language in his poem to illustrate his view. In the first stanza, Heaney uses a strong simile where he describes the pen snug as a gun. In the first stanza, Heaney uses a strong simile in where he describes the pen snug as a gun. Between my finger and my thumb/The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.” In the next stanza, “Under my window, a clean rasping sound/When the spade sinks into gravelly ground:/My father, digging. I look down,” he uses alliteration and assonance to point out the harshness of the type of work his father did. In the next stanza: “Under my window, a clean rasping sound/When the spade sinks into gravelly ground:/My father, digging. I look down” He uses alliteration and assonance to point out the harshness of the type of work his father does without actually saying he is digging. Other examples of alliteration and assonance are found when Heaney uses the words gravelly, ground, sound, and down.
The words gravelly, ground, sound, and down all contain alliteration and assonance.
I really enjoyed the syntax of my first paragraph so I left it as is. I thought that by writing “He is exploring his ancestry and roots,” instead of “He is exploring his ancestry and the roots.” This change made it more personal and specific. I also made the third sentence into two sentences. In the new sentence I integrated the idea of oral vs. written tradition and I tried to make a comparison between his new generation and that of his father and grandfather. I did not know how to work it so I put it in () brackets. I extended the fifth sentence by adding the last part of the sentence to emphasize what I meant by “dig” up the story of his ancestors. In the next few sentences I tried to delete all the extra part of the stanzas that did not relate to my statement. I also, corrected some grammar mistakes such as adding a coma to the end of the quotation, lower casing the h in he, and changing the tense at the end of the sentence from does to did. I deleted the end of that sentence because he does actually say digging at the end of the sentence. Finally, I changed the last sentence of the paragraph to make it more concise and more practical to be able to transition to the next paragraph.
Evil in "Young Goodman Brown" "Evil is the nature of mankind."
It is definitely more complicated than the words of the guide, which I believe was the devil. Evil is absolutely the nature of mankind. I believe that evil is part of this universe whether evil has a universal, transcendent definition or if it is determined by one’s social and cultural background, evil exist. I believe that in order for there to be good there also needs to be evil. It is like anything every situation has a yin and yang. Almost all cultures believe in good and evil. Puritans believe that everyone carries the stain of original sin which is considered evil. There is always a dilemma about evil in philosophy. Evil is a complicated moral issue. I believe that Goodman Brown falls into delusion misled by the devil. He does destroy himself morally because he lives the rest of his life as an embittered and suspicious cynical man, wary of everyone around him, including his wife Faith. It is verbally ironic that he is suspicious of his own wife whose name is Faith. Also, his view of his neighbors is distorted by his memories of that night. I do believe he faced reality because evil is the nature of mankind. But almost everyone figures that out and accepts it. In this story the critics make it seem as if he was lost in uncertainty or in a dream that he thought that everything was nice and peaceful that mentality is expected from a child not an adult like Goodman Brown. The point of this story is to form an allegory about the discovery of evil, the true nature of humanity and to criticize the Puritan religion. If Hawthorne did not use an allegory, he could have been punish or reprimanded for his acts. I believe that by showing the evil in the people you will least expect it from proved a point about the purity and perfect nature of the beliefs of Puritans. I also believe that he is initiated into reality specifically when he sees all the people he knows such as his minister and deacon and the woman who taught him his catechism. It must be traumatizing if you find the people who you thought were exemplary Christians in an unspecified but obviously unholy ritual that calls to be anointed in blood to seal their alliance with wickedness. Although he does face this trial he and Faith approach the altar and, as they are about to be anointed in blood to seal their alliance with wickedness, he cries out to Faith to look to heaven and resist. So this tells us that he did not convert and he has some faith. He resisted the temptation, but he heard his wife screaming so that is why he acts the way he does when he goes back home. I do not think he lost all hope but I do believe he is truly confused and perplexed about the visit to the forest.
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