Open Prompt 12/4

In retrospect, the reader often discovers that the first chapter of a novel or the opening scene of a drama introduces some of the major themes of the work. Write an essay about the opening scene of a drama or the first chapter of a novel in which you explain how it functions in this way.

While one often things of the opening of a novel or a play to simply serve as an introduction to characters or a peaceful spot to enter the action, often it can foreshadow a great deal about the themes and messages of the work as a whole.The opening scene of The American Dream expresses messages about the futility of seeking satisfaction, the flaws of consumerism, and the incapability of the general public that exist within the play as a whole.

In the first scene of the play, Mommy expresses dissatisfaction with the hat she purchased and recounts her failed struggle to gain satisfaction. The entire purpose of her visit, as she mentions, is to indirectly gain sexual satisfaction through her commercial means. The whole premise of this venture expresses a clear flaw in the process of attaining satisfaction. Even within this commercial enterprise, though, the hat Mommy purchases fails to meet her expectations, and she must knowingly delude herself as to its color to gain even a glimmer of false fulfillment from her purchase. This denial of satisfaction is the premise for much of the play's meaning, from Mommy and Daddy's lack of satisfaction from their adoption of the child to Daddy's inability to gain satisfaction from his own masculinity.

Mommy's argument over the hat with Mrs. Barker suggests that consumerism is a flawed system in its manifestation in the play. Mommy isn't directly satiating a need she has in her life, but rather is obtaining something she doesn't need, and wants only because of her own misconceptions. She buys the hat because she likes what she perceives it as, but when she learns that others (Mrs. Barker) do not perceive her object of satisfaction, it loses its value. This exchange suggests that consumerism isn't a system which distributes what people need, but rather a system to create artificial need, and fulfill it with artificial satisfaction. Throughout the rest of the play, Mrs. Barker serves as an amorphous commercial figure to continue to propagate this message of broken commercialism.

Daddy's role during all of this is to pretend like he cares, taking his cues from Mommy to provide her the artificial satisfaction of a listener while he is incapable of expressing or even having his own opinion. He is passive and yielding throughout the beginning scene, expressing the passivity he will exhibit throughout the rest of the book to demonstrate the behavior a group of society that simply follows trends and does what it's told.

One can almost view the opening scene as a condensed version of the play, with Mommy's purchase of the hat representing her adoption of the child, Mrs. Barker representing herself, and Daddy symbolically absent. The themes of dissatisfaction are apparent in Mommy, while Mrs. Barker demonstrates the scornful view of consumerism and Daddy expresses traits of incompetence and passivity that the author wishes to bring to light.

11/20 Response to Material

I am kind of excited to talk about Ceremony because it's our first novel! The American Dream was difficult enough to even get at, and Death of a Salesmen was better because we had a much more accessible plot and characters, but now that we've got an author to directly interact with I think we're gonna find some cool stuff. Granted, the narrative is nonlinear, but I don't think we'll struggle too much with that once we're familiar with the work. Holmes has held true to her forest simile in that we're really out on our own with these works, and yet I don't feel lost; as a class we are finding some legitimate  literary things. Oh, and Prezi. That's some crazy stuff. I'm gonna use that more in the future, outside of this class, for sure. Some used it better than others, but it's more engaging than Powerpoint for sure. This class is pretty unique in its structure; it's a lot more informal, but also gives us students a lot more credit and independence and it's proven to not be in vain because I'm picking up the material just as well as if it was handed to me, and since it's much more exploratory and exciting to find myself I'm sure I'll retain it better and take it to heart. Overall, I'm pretty happy with AP Lit lately.

11/20 Close Reading

Study proves that bigots, morons, not entitled to their opinions after all

This piece may seem like a silly humor column designed for a few shallow laughs, but if one looks closely and applies DIDLS, one will find that there's actually a lot going on here. The diction is what gets a lot of the humor through, particularly when it's played with. The article has a reasonably scientific tone, with words like "triggered," "turnaround," and "breakthrough" to describe the supposed discovery, but whenever the creators of the idiotic content are mentioned they are described as "fuckwits" and "idiots", starkly contrasting the more formal diction to create humor. They also, though, symbolize the unsophistication and primitiveness of the uninformed internet posters on contrast to the modern and enlightened world we live in.
The author also compares the imbecilic  population to a group of monkeys flinging feces, creating a ridiculous, deprecating image. He then uses this image to further denigrate them by going so far as to suggest that this primal picture is more mature and sophisticated than the content that some people share on the internet. This idea of contrast is then turned upside-down when he then compares the bloggers and commenters to Socrates, calling in details of his philosophy make a joke about how uninformed they are.
While one can read it and laugh, if one uses DIDLS one can really see that the author is using literary techniques to make put down those who post unthoughtful, inane, and inaccurate material on the internet and make readers consider whether they fall into this group from time to time. I'm sure it was entirely his intention to do so, and his goals will have been accomplished if a few hasty posters think twice before sharing their thoughts with the world.

Open Prompt 11/13

2007, Form B. Works of literature often depict acts of betrayal. Friends and even family may betray a protagonist; main characters may likewise be guilty of treachery or may betray their own values. Select a novel or play that includes such acts of betrayal. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the nature of the betrayal and show how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

Trust is a very important part of any relationship; be it professional, romantic, or colloquial. People rely on one another frequently, to the point where if this trust is broken, it is considered a serious breach which can drastically affect not only the relationship but the greater lives of everyone involved. To betray someone says words about the individual who breaks the trust and in literature can even say something about the world in which the story takes place. In Treasure Island, Long John Silver’s betrayal of the crew’s trust serves not only to highlight his own greed but also explores the inherent evils of piracy itself.

                Long John Silver’s betrayal displays a blatant lack of regard for the fate of anyone beside himself, showing him in an incredibly negative light. Jim’s voyage to seek the treasure begins on an optimistic note, with no clear antagonist in sight and gold on the horizon. However, when Jim overhears Silver speak of betrayal we immediately realize that there is now a clear enemy to the protagonists of the story, and blood will be shed. The fact that Silver plans to slaughter all those who won’t join him in a mutiny causes us to hate him all the more; a man who puts the lives of others below not his own life but merely his wealth is not a man to love.

                Long John Silver is in fact a representative for all pirates, and serves to subvert admiration for the selfish nature of piracy. A common tactic that pirates use at sea is to disguise their ship as a merchant to get close to their targets before raising the Jolly Roger and opening fire. Silver’s introduction in the novel mimics this technique. When first mentioned, he is merely a deckhand seeking work, innocently pursuing labor on a ship whose purpose he seems not to know. However, as soon as the voyage is underway, he hoists his true colors and leads a bloody mutiny, seeking the treasure for himself.  By creating this parallel between Silver and pirates in general, Stevenson allows Silver to represent all pirates and reveal that their adventure and enthusiasm is no excuse for their bloody, selfish nature.

                Pirates, while on the surface entertaining and adventurous, are violent and cruel, and Silver’s betrayal in Treasure Island illustrates this vividly. His breach in trust is inexcusable, and causes misery for many a man. Betrayal is one of the few acts which is nearly universally negative; there is often a time for anger or misery in the face of tragedy, but betrayal is never excused.

Response to Material #3

I've really been getting into the wood exploration thing. In analyzing The American Dream it's been really clear that it's a student discussion. You help to refine and contextualize our ideas but there's no destination that you seem to be leading us to, as promised. I like it. It really makes one think about how personal literature can be in that it's different for everyone, and how someone's observations can catalyze another's. The class has an intellectual informality to it that I really like. We haven't introduced a lot of new material, which I think is nice since we've already got so much to work with with the play. Oh, jeez, except for the terms. That's looming. I guess it's nice to go over those in class from time to time, but really the games seem like a good way to learn them. That's about it. Evan out.

Close Reading #3

http://www.good.is/post/the-hpv-vaccine-for-boys-may-be-a-tough-sell/?utm_content=headline&utm_medium=hp_carousel&utm_source=slide_1

This piece talks about the debate over the morality of vaccinating children against HPV and other sexually transmitted infections. The article establishes itself as a reasonably informed and sophisticated source with it's more elaborate word choice, using words like "quell," "promiscuity," "erroneously", and "controversy." However, an opinion slips through when the author abruptly drops to a lower level of diction when describing those against the virus, using the phrase "slut it up" in his summary of their position.
 The author uses details to inform the reader of the controversy behind the trend of vaccination. She does include information from both sides of the debate, but only to discredit the opinion of those opposed to  The author occasionally emphasizes a point of uncertainty by asking a rhetorical question to bring about reflection in the reader. He also used transitions like "fast forward" to smoothly switch between ideas and bring the reader toward his conclusion that the vaccinations are a good idea.

Open Prompt Oct 16

In many works of literature, a physical journey - the literal movement from one place to another - plays a central role. Choose a novel, play, or epic poem in which a physical journey is an important element and discuss how the journey adds to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

To journey is to go from one place to another. And separating these two places, nearly invariably, there are doors. Doors are barriers, gateways even, between rooms or even worlds. However, as with any preconception, this thought can be undermined. In Noises Off, Michael Frayn argues that no matter how many doors one journeys through, one cannot truly get anywhere or find meaning, and any attempts to do either of these are a waste of time.


Throughout the entire play, the stage is pandemonium as everyone seems to be trying to get everywhere all at once, but nobody gets anywhere. Doors are constantly slamming and actors traipse across the stage, bumping into each other and passing by one another in a frenzy to get to yet another door. Everyone is fixated upon the singular task of going through doors, and the only reason one would go through a door is to get somewhere. In the words of the director, "That's what it's all about: Doors and sardines." Sardines are obviously superfluous and of no importance, and the pointlessness of these doors is emphasized in this line by putting the two side by side.  Despite everyone's obsession,  nobody gets anywhere; every actor remains confused throughout the show and by the end hasn't grown or learned anything.


Every attempt to find meaning in the play is fruitless. Freddy, one of the actors, frequently stops rehearsal to inquire as to the meaning behind his character's actions. The god-like, seemingly omniscient director of the play, though, doesn't have answers, and even goes so far as to fabricate truth merely to placate the questioning spirit. There is one rather confusing scene in which a Sheik inexplicably resembles another character in the show. Nearly everyone is confused by this, and some brave sole dares to raise the question to the group: "Why does the Sheik look like Phillip?" This question of resemblance and relation clearly represents the deeper question of "What does it all mean?" as it is consistently brought up in times of uncertainty, even when the Sheik is nowhere present. Anytime someone asks this question, rehearsal is brought to a halt as everyone shares their opinion and nobody is convinced of anything in the end. Any attempts to find meaning are not only without success but hinder the troupe in their overall goal of putting on a show.


Hidden behind, and even within, the slapstick and scandal of a sex farce lies a post-modernistic view of the world which borders on nihilism. Frayn shows us a pointless struggle as the actors make journey after journey through countless doors but arrive nowhere, denying us of truth. Next time you go through a door, as yourself: Where are you really going?

Response to Material #2

Now that we've got DIDLS under our belt it's exciting to be able to use them. Reading The American Dream, I'm able to take what once would have been a generally surreal and vague "feeling" about the play and turn it into a detailed analysis of how the author creates the effects that he does. Even if I don't really see the whole relationship at once, I can begin with the smaller blocks of DIDLS and build somewhat blindly and often find myself reaching conclusions I had already sort of "felt" but hadn't really been able to put my finger on. I'm looking forward to seeing what Holmes and the other kids can find with the same tools so that I can get a better sense of what I should be doing with them. It's also been really helpful to be able to work so closely with groups because writing is an area where I can get sometimes stuck in a one-track area and it's really helpful to bounce things off of people, particularly when theses are new techniques I'm using to analyze literature in an insightful way.

Close Reading #2

Your Key to Happy Sailing
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/18/v-fullstory/2397129/your-key-to-happy-sailing.html

Dave Barry has a very distinctive style of writing, and one that lends itself quite nicely to a close reading. He writes this to parody the style of an informative and instructive guide to sailing. He mirrors the structure with his opening sentences: "First, you'll need a boat." "The second feature is very important." "Once you're on the boat..." etc. However, it is clear that despite these syntactic parallels he is not in earnest, as one finds that he uses contradicting diction and details to create a tone of incompetence and frivolity.

His diction incorporates a wide variety of nautical terms when he lists the names of boats and describes a potential way to get a ahold of a boat, but this is harshly contradicted by details suggesting an utter lack of knowledge about seafaring; his instructions are inane, like when he advises one to "check to make sure that the wind is blowing in the right direction (horizontally)" or recommends that the best way of getting into port is to tell your crew to take you into port.

Barry uses imagery very specifically; only once in the piece does he delve into a sensory experience, and it's at a point when he's recalling a memory rather than advising readers in the ways of boating. He describes a disgusting plate of food, recounting himself and the crew "watching it congeal under the Florida sun." This technique brings about revulsion in readers, causing us to look into his advice about sailing with a clear idea of Barry's true thoughts on the subject.

Open Prompt Oct 1

2004, Form B. The most important themes in literature are sometimes developed in scenes in which a death or deaths take place. Choose a novel or play and write a well-organized essay in which you show how a specific death scene helps to illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

     Our time on this world is brief. In the grand scheme of things we're but a flicker. But in that time, we can live and love and question and grow and learn. And being a sperm whale several miles above an alien planet plummeting towards the ground doesn't change that. The death of the whale in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy raises questions about the significance of life and whether living it is futile or noble, deepening the novel's exploration of relative significance. The whale's demise is a way of saying that we'll never really figure things out.

     The nature of the whale's death is a direct result of something occurring throughout the entirety of his life: He is falling. From the moment he entered the world, the laws of the universe were at work bringing him closer and closer each moment to his inevitable demise. It makes the reader wonder: Do the thoughts going through the whale's head really matter? No matter what he thinks or does he'll hit the ground with a splat in a few short minutes. He's powerless to control his fate; although he possesses the free will to think and explore within the parameters of his ability, that represents only the tiniest imperceptible adjustment to his course in the grand scheme of things. Adams makes us wonder if our lives are like that of the whale. Time inevitably draws each of us to death and we can only flail about in the air before landing with a thud in death's embrace.

     While the whale does make some headway in figuring out the world and his place in it, he never really arrives at anything substantial in his brief existence. As he sees the world, giving names to ideas and experimenting with his abilities, he has an unshaken optimism about him. Just as the whale begins to make sense of the world and find his place in it, however, the whale dies. Adams thus illustrates the brevity of life and futility in finding out just how and why it works in its short course.

      Although the whale's part in the novel is brief, it is deeply significant to the underlying messages of the novel and demonstrates beautifully and briefly the ideas that Adams wishes to get across. The whale is confusion. The whale is futility. The whale is inevitable. The whale is dead.

 

Response to Material

DIDLS. I'm still gonna pronounce it "Diddles." Helps me as a student. Anyhow, it's certainly been at the forefront of the curriculum and it's actually making a lot of sense to me. The progression from techniques to effects to meanings, and exploring the various signs of each is helping me to break down literature in ways I haven't ever been able to do. My past attempts, before this class, have either had me picking at small details and being unsure what to do with them, or made me try to step back and see the big picture but be unable to do so in depth. What we've learned so far, building our analysis from the specific, concrete DIDLS and moving on to interpret effect and meaning has allowed me to put these skills together and really see not only what the author is doing or saying but HOW she is doing it and what that says about the work. I'm a bit lost on essay scoring because my estimates on those we looked at were way off, but I guess that's just something that will come as i write and get back more responses to prompts. Ooh, also, a big help for me was the assertion that a good essay can make sense and have a point by simply looking at the first sentences of each paragraph. Organization of my body has never been a strong point of mine and that bit helps. Overall I'm pleased with what we've done and it's been much more helpful as far as writing goes than months of some other classes I've been in. DIDLS to effects to meaning; it just makes sense.

Open Prompt Essay

1976. The conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority is the recurring theme of many novels, plays, and essays. Select the work of an essayist who is in opposition to his or her society; or from a work of recognized literary merit, select a fictional character who is in opposition to his or her society. In a critical essay, analyze the conflict and discuss the moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society. Do not summarize the plot or action of the work you choose.

                Most people, when thrust into a new environment, will adapt and blend in, altering their behavior to match that of those around them. However, this cannot be said for Oliver Twist of the Dickens novel by the same name. Although Oliver's surroundings teem with dishonesty and ill will, he steadfastly holds to his own moral code, illustrating the resilience of good and the power of innocence.

                Oliver's innocence is a trait which time and again serves exclusively to benefit. When questioned by Mr. Brownlow, it is Oliver's true innocence which convinces him that the boy was not to blame for thievery, and even causes the man to take Oliver in. His innocence serves not only himself but others as well, starting a series of events which puts Fagin to justice and enriches the life of a lonely Mr. Brownlow. The quality of life of not only Oliver but those around him, or at least those who aren't entirely corrupt, improves because of Oliver's innocence.

                Oliver's strong moral sense is unchanged by his total immersion into a society that operates on acts of thievery and perpetuates violence, even when this society directly attempts to corrupt him. In the clash between Fagin's and his gang's cruelty and Oliver's purity, Oliver repeatedly wins:  Nancy's resistance against Fagin's and Syke's attempts to beat Oliver represents her finally resisting the evil that's surrounded her, and she was inspired to do so by the good she found in Oliver, and after being surrounded by a society of murderers and thieves, Oliver still has the goodness to give Monks a second chance. These events serve as a testament to the power of unyielding kindness for both Oliver and society in general.

                Throughout the novel, the world that Oliver is immersed in is at ends with the beliefs and traits of Oliver himself. By showing repeated examples of Oliver's traits of good and innocence overcoming the oppressive, violent society that surrounds him, Dickens demonstrates that innocence can serve as a powerful force for good, and that good will triumph over evil.

Closed Reading #1

Does Avatar's Political Agenda Matter? by Andrew Price


Diction: This articles has a very informal and colloquial tone throughout, and starts especially so: Phrases like "first got rolling" and "pretty much agree" establish an easy, conversational relationship with the reader which makes the article seem personal and friendly. With transitions like "Oh, and..." and "sure, but..." Price makes the reader feel comfortable enough to consider his opinion. By referring directly to the reader as "you" and himself as "I" he deepens this dialogue-like feeling. By opening up himself with this casual tone, Price aims to open his readers up as well so they'll be more receptive to what he has to say. He also uses more negative words to describe the opinions of those on the opposite stance. David brook supplies "The first volley" while "John Podhoritz rails against the film." At one point he refers to the opposition as the "conservative assault."

Details: Writing an opinion paper, Price has great control over how he presents his sources and ideas. Most of the criticism he selects to show his opposition is harshly worded, and follows his quotations with ideas which refute or lessen the criticism's message. Read this paragraph:

"Some of the complaints are about the movie's plausibility. Podhoretz's piece harps on the ridiculousness of the 'fiber-optic cables coming out of their patooties' as if we weren't searching for 'unobtanium' on another planet that also somehow happened to evolve Earth-like trees and sentient bipeds. If he needs more fodder for columns, I'd point him to the entire genres of science fiction and fantasy."

Price deliberately includes this criticism of the film's realism, which isn't a point he had much to say on. He then soundly refutes the criticism by attributing the supposed flaws to the film's genre. By including this section which in itself doesn't provide strong evidence for his overall point, Price gets readers in the habit of seeing his opinion triumph those of others.


Language: Price makes use of many rhetorical devices throughout the article. Observe when he drives his main point home:

"But here's the real question: What are the stakes? I can't imagine the voter who would change his or her opinion about cap-and-trade legislation or the justification for the war in Afghanistan or the ethics of private security firms based on Avatar. Are any Roman Catholics going to switch to Gaia worship because Home Tree seems nicer than Giovanni Ribisi's headquarters"

Price asks rhetorical questions to get readers to consider answer these questions themselves AFTER he has already provided much evidence which would cause readers to answer them in accordance with his own ideas. His language is casual and easy throughout to get readers relaxed enough to come to these conclusions seemingly of their own accord.