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.
Hey Aishwarya,
ReplyDeleteI liked how you not only talked about what we learned in class, but also what your opinions on each topic/book were. I totally agree with your statements on AP essay practices. I definitely think these essays are harder than essays I've had to write in the past, like the ACT essays. I also think the background information on "Ceremony" was quite interesting. Nice work!
Did R&G help you appreciate Hamlet more, or did Hamlet just look worse in comparison? To jump to the end, do you think you would've read Ceremony differently if you hadn't had the background stories that shape it? I think essay improvement will come with time, though. We'll be ok. I hope.
ReplyDeleteAishwarya-
ReplyDeleteI found R&G incredibly entertaining! Hamlet is one of my least favorite Shakespeare plays, but R&G made me appreciate it a bit more. I feel the same way about the essays. I don't really want to do them, but hey, practice is always good, and I think this is also helping me understand books better when I read them just for fun.