Open Prompt Revision - (04/22/2013)

2009. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Revision from 09/16/2013

          Symbols are major part of any literary works; it enhances the overall meaning of piece extending the work to a new level. When an author chooses any aspect of literary work, whether it is the setting, names, accessories of room or names of characters there is always a motive behind. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an American classic which embodies various symbols through the novel. Fitzgerald's use of color symbolism is prominent throughout The Great Gatsby. Each color from the color of a cab to the flowers in Gatsby's house, reflects deeper meanings about a situation or personality of a character. 

          Gatsby's love, Daisy, means the world to him. He spent every waking moment of his life living in the past and tried to find a way to win her back. Daisy was always described to be wearing the color white. The color white is generally associated with innocence and pureness. However, under that top coat, Daisy was neither innocent nor pure; she shed light into her greediness and importance for wealth. She was more interested in the material goods than the intangible aspects. 

          Fitzgerald displays the lifestyles and mannerism of the upperclass and middle class. When Daisy's husband, Tom escapes away into the city, he meets up with his cheap, classless mistress Myrtle. She is always trying to live the high life that Daisy has. One night in the city, Myrtle is adamant about riding in a purple taxi. Purple is often associated with royalty and richness and Myrtle isn't royalty nor does she have wealth. Since Myrtle and her husband George live in the Valley of Ashes, Fitzgerald uses this opportunity to get cross the message that where they live is like dull and dirty. The word ashes seems to have the connotation of dark and dirty. Dark and dirty is just how Myrtle's life is until she has the chance to escape into the city with Tom. Sadly her efforts to live like Daisy leads her to have her life taken away. 

          Fitzgerald has carefully chosen every aspect of his book to have a meaning. Color symbolism is just one technique used to showcase his hidden meanings. 

Summary and Analysis of Ceremony - (04/15/2013)

Summary: 

  The book begins with Tayo at home on the Laguna Reservation. Tayo recalls a horrifying memory of being order to kill a Japanese soldier and only being able to see the face of his uncle Josiah in the face of the Japanese soldier. One flashback describes the story of the medicine man, Ku'oosh coming to visit Tayo and trying to cure him. During his journey, Tayo has many flashbacks about the war and times the in bars when he is with Harley and the other soldiers who returned to the reservation. Aunty tried to keep Tayo and Rocky separate however they became close friends and the summer after they graduated from high school. They enlisted in the army together. Tayo also reflects on his identity of being half-white. He is often concerned about what the other people think of him! His uncle Josiah had an affair with a woman named Night Swan. She was always mysterious but helped Josiah a herd of cattle from her cousin. From his childhood with Josiah, he remember a story about the importance of the fly in Laguna culture. Ku'oosh told Tayo that he should go see another medicine man, Betonie who is a member of the tribe. And his goal is to perform a ceremony to help Tayo free himself of the memories of the war. Betonie tells him stories and legends from Laguna culture, with the help of Shush. 

  Soon Tayo starts to feel better, however Betonie assures him that the ceremony is not yet complete. Then Tayo goes on a search to find Josiah's cattle to returns home soon after. And on his search, he finds house with an woman in it but realizes that the woman is somehow part of the ceremony by recognizing a star pattern Betonie had described. He then leaves and locates the cattle inside the fenced ranch of a rich white landowner. However the cattle run away and Tayo spends the night looking for them. Just as he is about to give up a mountain lion comes and he follows that track to find the cattle. On the way down the mountain, Tayo meets a hunter, who lives with Ts'eh. Although he feels better coming home with the cattle, he know that the ceremony is not over because of the drought. Robert tells him that Emo is spreading rumors about him and as he runs away to find Harley and Leroy, he realizes that they have joined forces with Emo already. As he running away, he found himself in a Uranium mine and if he spends the night there then the ceremony will be complete. After he reports to Ku'oosh and to complete everything, he spends one last night in Ku'oosh's house to finish off the ceremony. 

Author: 

  Leslie Marmon Silko is a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe and she wrote Ceremony. She received both praise and criticism for her writing about pueblo culture.

Setting: 

  This novel takes place in the American Southwest, in and around the Laguna Pueblo reservation. It is a few years after the end of World War II. Some parts of the novel   takes place in the jungle of World War II. 

Characters: 

• Tayo: A half-Laguna and half-white soldier who returns to the Laguna Reservation from World War II. He searches for his identity as he struggles to find a balance between part white and part Laguna cultures. 
• Rocky: Tayo's older cousin who raised like a brother with Tayo. Rocky was involved in a lot of white culture such as playing football and going to college. He did not engage in many Laguna traditions. Tayo looks up to Rocky. 
• Josiah: Tayo's uncle who is calm and gentle. Josiah acted as a father like figure to Tayo while he was growing up. He helped Tayo understand Laguna culture by telling him stories. He also had a relationship with a woman named Night Swan before Tayo left for the war. Once Josiah died, Tayo felt lost and without guidance. 
• Aunty: The sister of Tayo's mother. During Tayo's childhood, Aunty is very unwelcoming towards Tayo as she fears what other people in the village will think of her and her family. 
• Grandma: Aunty and Josiah's mother. Grandma is old and doesn't talk very much. 
• Ku'oosh: A Laguna medicine man who comes to help Tayo when he is sick after returning from the war.
• Betonie: A medicine man from another tribe that Tayo goes to see to be cured. Betonie believes that ceremonies need to evolve as times change.
• Shush: Betonie assistant who and is associated with the bear boy of legend.
• Ts'eh: a mysterious woman who Tayo meets while searching for Josiah's lost cattle. She and Tayo become lovers.
• Emo: Another former soldiers, and Tayo's rival since childhood. Emo is strongly associated with the evil witchery in the story.
• Night Swan: A mysterious woman who was the lover of Josiah and lives in a town near the reservation. She is kind and welcoming to Tayo. But after Josiah's death, she goes away from the reservation. 

Author's Style: 

  This style mimics Tayo's perception of the world-distant. The plot skips around as it randomly jumps between memories and the present. There is a lot of figurative language, metaphors and similes used throughout the book. 

Important Quotes: 

"Jungle rain had no beginning or end; it grew like foliage from the sky, branching and arching to the earth, sometimes in solid thickets entangling the islands, and, other times, in tendrils of blue mist curling out of coastal clouds. The jungle breathed an eternal green that fevered men until they dripped sweat the way rubbery jungle leaves dripped the monsoon rain. It was there that Tayo began to understand what Josiah had said."

“The only way to get change is not through the courts or — heaven forbid — the politicians, but through a change of human consciousness and through a change of heart. Only through the arts — music, poetry, dance, painting, writing — "can we really reach each other,” 

Theme: 

        The importance of storytelling comes from the necessity of keeping tradition and culture alive. 

Response to Course Material - (04/14/2013)

       We just finished reading our first novel and I actually liked it. However, annotating it is a completely different story! There was a lot symbolism in the novel and lots of Native American culture that I missed in my initial reading but I was able to pick up on it once we had our class discussions. For me, reading the article that Ms. Holmes gave us really helped me understand some of the symbolism that is represented in the book. Hopefully my understanding will be for the essay on the AP exam. 

       We just started reading Fifth Business and it's going pretty well. Like Ms. Holmes said, its straightforward which is really different compared to the other plays we have read in class. I hope understanding this will be easier since there doesn't seem to be any hidden/ complex meanings. And the best of this is that we don't have to annotate this book which is a relief.

Prompt Revision - (03/17/2013)

1990. Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.

Revision of 10/14/2012

        In The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks, Veronica “Ronnie” is a rebellious teenager who is forced to deal with the pain her divorced parents. Once her father moved out, the passion for the piano was also lost. The distance created between her father and her caused her to reject all of her father's attempts to reach out to her when she moves in with him for the summer. 

        She alienates herself from her parents especially her father and stops playing music. Through music, Ronnie and her father had developed a special bond which was soon broken after the divorce. Ronnie's resentment causes her to open up to the wrong people which leads to more trouble. Her rebellious attitude landed her in a difficult situation when she was caught stealing. Ronnie, let the pain of her father leaving get to her so much it lead her to make bad decisions. 

        As the story goes on, Ronnie slowly beings to open herself up to her father about the guy she's falling for, Will. As things being to fall into place, a surprise leaves Ronnie feeling betrayed and alone. She learns that her father has cancer which leads her to develop a barrier to get through the pain. Her pain was not only caused by finding out he has cancer but also her insensitive behavior toward him which she only came to when there was bigger problem. To make up for her unacceptable behavior, she spends every waking moment being with her father. She tries to make up for all the years that they both missed out on. 

        Initially, the problem for Ronnie was not the divorce but the outcome of it. It caused her to lose her relationship with her dad as well as loosing the passion of music they cared about. The bond she had with father become a part of her being and losing that closeness ultimately become her downfall. The conflict in this novel shows the importance between the love parents and children share.

Summary and Analysis of Hamlet - (03/11/2013)

Summary: 

       Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are in the wilderness traveling. To pass time, they flip coin and and each time it lands on heads. Guildenstern decides to analyze the situation as he questions the law of probability. They meet a group of actors traveling who are known as the Tragedians. Then the scene changes to Elsinore where Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are watching scenes that we have already read in Hamlet. 

        After Hamlet kills Polonius, he is put on a ship to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. They are supposed to be turning in Hamlet however while they are sleeping Hamlet switches the letters. The switched letter says that they will be turning themselves over instead of Hamlet. Once the pirates attacked, Hamlet flees. The Tragedians reappear to act out different types of death, and then Rosencrantz and Guildenstern realize they are going to die soon.

Author: 

        Tom Stoppard is a British playwright who was born in Zlin, Czechoslovakia in 1937. Stoppard and his family fled Czechoslovakia as refugees and he went on to become successful. He co-wrote the screen plays for Brazil and Shakepeare in Love. 

Setting: 

        This play has the same setting in Hamlet since these stories are intertwined. It takes place in the forest and soon they make their way into Elsinore. And lastly, they end up in England. 

Characters: 

• Rosencrantz: Hamlet's childhood friend who is summoned to find the reason for Hamlet's lunacy along with Guildenstern. He is the dumber of the two. 
• Guildenstern: Hamlet's childhood friend who is summoned to find the reason for Hamlet's lunacy along with Rosencrantz. He is the "smarter" of the two. 
• The Player: Leader of the Tragedians. He acts like he knows more than he actually does and he travels in group with his actors.           

Author's Style: 

        Each character has their own style of talking. Many of the actions are given in the stage directions.

Important Quotes:

"Audiences know what to expect, and that is all they are prepared to believe in."

        Serves as a parallel to real life and acting. This suggests the different view about our relationship to both the theater as well as our own lives. When we are introduced to a new idea that doesn't conform to out beliefs or expectations we tend to question or reject those ideas. 

 “Life is a gamble, at terrible odds—if it was a bet you wouldn’t take it.”

         This quote is from The Player. He says that life is a risk and that there isn't a big chance that you will win. It basically talks about the reality of the world that everyone must come to accept. 

Themes:

Life will be unexpected and understanding it completely is impossible. 

        The unexpected things in life are symbolized in the coin tosses and when the pirates take control of the ship. Trying to make sense of some things can create confusion. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were always caught up in the middle of something. They even forgot their names sometimes. 

Response to Course Material - (03/10/2013)

        Over the course of the last few weeks, we have finished reading the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and watched the movie. I actually found this book to be quite entertaining as it kept my attention. Although, I can't really say the same about Hamlet. I began to see the hidden meanings that Tom Stoppard wanted us to see like the idea of a “play within a play within a play”. This play actually held many complex meanings which was easier to understand once there was a group discussion in class. In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, there was a question about identity which can be seen in the confusion since Rosencrantz and Guildenstern forget their own names. Although there was a question about identity, Hamlet knew who he was. 

  In addition, we have been working on AP essay practice which I am finding very helpful. I'm not a fan of writing essays but if it will help me on AP exam I will definitely do it. I found that these essay are much harder to write since they have to be to the point. I was so used teachers telling me to be creative with my writing, this is quite the opposite.  We have now started to read Ceremony. I am actually every interested in what this novel has to bring ever since Ms. Holmes went over the history and background for this book. It brought to my attention how the interpretation made by the reader can influence the understanding of a whole piece. 

Open Prompt Revision - (02/17/2013)

2006, Form B. 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.  

Revision of (11/11/2012)

        The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain observes the growth of the characters through their journey on the Mississippi River. For Huck and Jim, their adventure on the river symbolizes freedom, as each of them are escaping the struggles in their life. Huck begins to understand the society for himself as he comes in contact with various obstacles throughout the journey. He unveils the corruption in society and realizes the truth for himself. Jim wants to escape a life of slavery and reunite with his family.   

  Originally, due to Huck's old fashioned upbringing, he tried to not interact with Jim so he kept his distance. Huck was taught that slaves like Jim should not be treat as people but rather as property. However, he soon began to realize that Jim is an actual person whose feelings should not be hurt. At the beginning, Huck would play tricks on Jim like he did with rattlesnake. The enjoyment he used to get from playing tricks on Jim dwindled away once he realized how much his actions hurt Jim. This essentially became a turning point for Huck. This  journey allowed Huck to grow as a person and accepts people based on their personality, not color. Towards the middle of the novel, Huck is given the option of either saving himself or risking his life by sticking with Jim. He made the decision to stick with Jim through thick and thin. Together, Huck and Jim try their best to overcome the obstacles thrown at them. 

  The Mississippi river, which they traveled on serves as more than just a traveling method. It holds a deeper meaning for Huck and Jim as it symbolizes the responsibilities and challenges that accompany a life of freedom. As the amount of freedom you have increases so does you responsibility to maintain that lifestyle. As exciting as having freedom may be, the challenge of leading a good life is still there. Their journey shows the development of the character turning into a more well rounded human being as opposed to the one viewed person they were.  This pertains to Huck as he matured in a more accepting person and created his own opinions on the world. 

  As difficult as change can be, Huck's transformation has a lasting impact on his future. When he makes decisions now, they are shaped by personal experiences and personal thoughts. They are not influenced biased opinions from the people around him. His journey with Jim taught him independence to use his personal judgment. Jim became a father-like figure to Huck giving him a sense of self-worth. Jim taught Huck to be a more well rounded person and that has made all the difference in Huck's life.

Response to Course Material - (02/10/20130

Recently, we started to read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in class. I think this is a lot easier to read than compared to Hamlet. The language is easier to understand and for me the shorter dialogues really help! I haven't gotten bored with this one and it actually kept me interested in the plot. There are so many abstract question to consider like if this novel is tied into Hamlet or if this is aside from it. Some parts of this are actually quite inappropriate but funny at the same time. One example that stood out to me was the scene with Alfred and the raping in addition to the refers about the actors being prostitutes. Another thing I found helpful is when Ms. Holmes goes over the meaning of certain scenes or dialogues. I've always thought that having Ms. Holmes do that is a huge benefit to my understanding of any play especially the scenes with double meanings. Overall, I have enjoyed reading this novel and I look forward to what else this plot may bring. 

Summary and Analysis of Hamlet - (01/21/2012)

Summary: 

  Outside the Castle in Elsinore late at night, the two watchmen and Horatio spot a ghost that resembles Old Hamlet. Upon the passing of the Old Hamlet, his widowed wife, Queen Gertrude wed her brother in law, Claudius. With great concern, Hamlet is requested to stakeout in hopes the ghost will come back. Hamlet also spotted the ghost and was beckoned by it to follow. Confirming the identity of the ghost, Hamlet was taken over with the feeling to avenge is uncle for murdering is his father. As a plan to get back at Claudius, Hamlet acts like he is crazy. However, everyone thinks that he has gone crazy because of the love he has for Ophelia. Upon Hamlet's request, an acting group is told to act out a play that displays Hamlet's theory of how Claudius killed his father. 

  Once Claudius become aware what Hamlet was trying to do he left the area quickly. Soon after, the queen calls Hamlet into her room to talk to him and there he hears some noise and without logically thinking through it he stabs the man behind the curtain thinking it is the Claudius. To his dismay, it turns out to be Polonius who is the father of Ophelia and her brother, Laertes. As a punishment, Hamlet is shipped to the England where is supposed to be killed. However when is ship is attacked by pirates, he returns back to the Elsinore. During the period of time where Hamlet is gone, Ophelia has gone crazy after learning about her father's death which resulted in her drowning. Out of impulse, Laertes reports back from France to Elsinore with an army prepared for payback. 

  Laertes and Hamlet compromise on a fencing match. On the sword that Laertes is using, the tip has poison on it which was actually Claudius' idea when they collaborated so Hamlet would die. In addition, Claudius poisoned a wine cup in case Hamlet was to win. Once the fighting begins, Laertes hits Hamlet but Hamlet also hits Laertes leaving them both to be poisoned. In the meantime, the Queen drinks out of the poisoned cup and Hamlet comes to realize that it was Claudius who was behind all this. Hamlet rushes to give in a taste of his own medicine by making him drink from the poisoned cup as well. So at the end of the play, everyone is dead except for Horatio. The Prince of Norway, Fortinbras gains control of the throne in Denmark. As a tribute to Hamlet, he gives him a solider's funeral. 

Author:

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford, England. He wrote this play in the early 1600s. 

Setting:

This play takes place in the Denmark. It usually in the castle of the royal family of Denmark. 

Characters:

• Hamlet: Prince of Denmark
• Claudius: New King of Denmark and Hamlet's father/ Uncle.
• Old Hamlet: Hamlet's father and old King of Denmark 
• Gertrude: Hamlet's mother 
• Ophelia: Hamlet's lover
• Horatio: Hamlet's trusting and loyal best friend 
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Hamlet's old friends who work against him
• Polonius: The king's assistant and Ophelia's father
• Laertes: Ophelia's brother 

Author's Style:

Since this is a play there is not much a narrative voice that can be observed 

Important Quotes:

 “To be, or not to be: that is the question:

  Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer

  The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

  Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

  And by opposing end them?—To die,—to sleep—” (Act 3, Scene 1, Lines, 58-62).

  This is quote holds a deep. Hamlet contemplates the idea of living and dying. He tries to sort out the answer to if it is better live and suffer or if it is better to just die and not live a life of suffering. At the very end, Hamlet compares dying to sleep. 

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

  This quote refers to the corruption that rests in Denmark. It indirectly refers to the crime Claudius committed and his marriage to Gertrude as it is rotting Denmark. Since this was the beginning of the play, it foreshadows the down fall due to the corruption the country faces. 

Theme:

Revenge is not the best option. 

        Through numerous examples, Shakespeare shows us that going good will come of getting revenge. For example, in Hamlet's extensive plan to seek revenge it only made him lose himself and created a series of unfortunate events. All the people in the play who set out to get back at someone ended up dying. However, those who where honest and obedient like Horatio made it to the end. 

Open Prompt Revision (01/20/2013)

2007. In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present activities, attitudes, or values of a character. Choose a novel or play in which a character must contend with some aspect of the past, either personal or societal. Then write an essay in which you show how the character's relationship to the past contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

Revision of (12/09/2012)

        In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller depicts the daily challenges that Willy Loman faces as his past haunts him. He struggles to find his place in the present since his past becomes so involved in his life. Evidently, his past causes some turbulence with his family and even himself which may have lead him to his depression and death. Willy's secret extramarital relationship added to the family tension which surfaced a taboo situation in which Willy was not able to deal with his own. 

        Throughout the novel, the laughter and background conversation of Willy and the Woman can be heard. The guilt of cheating on his wife, Linda and being caught by his son, Biff added to much of the weight on his shoulders. He was forced to get a constant reminder from Linda every time she was repairing the silk stockings Willy gave. The guilt become so much for Willy to handle that his temper began to rise every time he laid eyes on those stockings. The stockings took him back to that night in Boston when he gave the Woman a pair of stockings. These stockings hold the deeper meaning of how Willy showed affections to a woman that he was not married to. 

  Incidentally, Willy's actions took a significant toll on Biff's attitude for his education and future. Willy was no longer that role model figure that Biff looked up at. The consequences of Biff's actions led Willy to suffer with the fear of an unstable future. From that day, Biff always showed some hostility towards Willy; that was a price Willy had to pay for his insensitive actions. Willy's past seemed to be a hinderance in his life leading him to life of disappointment and uncertainty. 

        Constant reminder of his past led to Willy taking his own life. His adamant behavior to move on from the past and live in the future cost him his life. As hard as he tried to run away from his guilt is soon caught up with him which lead him to taking his own life. Everyday, the mistakes of his past that he tried to hide from become the obstacles of his life. This in turn affected his mental state and decision making skills. His previous actions had an important role of who Willy was and impact they had on life and family. 

Response to Course Material - (01/13/2013)

        So after the many weeks of reading Hamlet out loud, we finally finished it. To me, it seemed like it would never end. But I have to admit, reading it out loud and stopping to discuss it with Ms. Holmes definitely helped me a lot. When Ms. Homles explained to us the significance what was going on it helped me understand the basic plot of this play. 

        Soon after, we fully watched one version of the movie and parts of the second version. I thought the first movie we watched was more true to how I thought the play would be to see. That being said, I found the second one kept my attention more because of the style and production. I thought it was easier to stay focused on the plot in the second version. Although, I preferred Hamlet from the first version rather because his emotions did not seem overdone. I wish we had watched all of the second one and only parts of the first version. But it is really helpful for me in understanding the play to see it.