Yesterday while listening to the radio all I heard about was this massive snow storm. Sadly it has yet to come, I don't know why I was so psyched for the snow, I mean I personally do not like snow...ok I lied I just don't like the cold. Anyways, I think I just wanted to lay in bed all day with a good book and not worry about anything, it's been quite awhile since I have done so. As I sit here now, thinking yuck I have to walk over to class in this (I could never handle the commuter thing- I would have to get up like 6 hours before class because my car has to be toasty when I get in it!) I can't help but think we are so close to spring! My birthday is right before spring and I think back to when I was probably 10ish and there was a massive storm on my birthday....like 3 feet of snow, I was an unpleasent child. Now I look outside and at the weather report and I really hope it stops snowing before Wednesday. I was looking forward to doing something at least semi warm for Spring Break. Again it is suppose to snow on Saturday, I mean hey I'm a poor freshmen who will probably work on Spring Break so I'm stuck here in wonderful PA, could I at least get some sunshine!?!?!
I guess I'm off to go venture into the cold and I will be back to blog after all my classes because these articles are really itching me to write about, I just didn't have enough time for my big rants this morning. :-)
*Quick side note...sorry for anyone who has recently vistied my blog and it's been insanely bright or impossible to read, playing with new colors :-) I'm still not sure I like what I've got!*
I'm sure everyone in class is by now used to my obscene thoughts, because I hate butchering things. Well this assignement did me some good. There is something else I should make everyone aware of, although at a Catholic College, there is no sense of religion in my life. So this article kinda of startled me. Intially: Who really cares what Shakespeare's religion was? Does it make him any more or less of a writer or actor? If we were to find out he was Buddist would that make us reject his works? It's almost an issue of prejudce to me because I don't see how his religion really changes what he wrote, acted in, or did, that is a personal and private thing to each and everyone of us. So who should really be judged upon it, if we choose to incorporate it in our works of literature, so be it, maybe it's just the education we need.
(There is a semi-different analysis beyond this, please keep reading)
The article New Light on Shakespeare's Catholism brought to my mind many different things, as you previously saw. I'm not sure why someone would analysis his life and work like this but the article actually kept me awake ;-)
Within this article there is much debate about weather Shakespeare was Roman Catholic, Protestant, etc. I think what should really be looked at is the time that Shakespeare was writing in and his audience. The second to last paragraph of this article even states:
"The double meaning implies a dual audience, Reformed Protestant and Roman Catholic. The court was composed mainly of "Protestants," and King James I was a man who had a known interest in poetry and theology...But there were also Catholics enough in the audience to serve as receptive auditors of the disguised religious meaning of the final line"
Now wait a minute promeniant religous figures are you audience, you have previous knowledge of your audience before you write, and you wanna make some money. Who would not write to please there audience. Since the play could lean either way from the information listed the audience takes it into themselves they way they want it to be! Shakespeare may not have spoke my language but the man was smart he knew how to write to please an audience! That is key when you are a writer making sure you have fans and they come back for more. Who cares what religion he was, he knew about religion and knew that it was strong at the time and he could hook attention with it.
Have you ever been to a play and you know what's going on but there is that tie up everything, analysis type deal at the end? We don't always watch that, we get our things ready and start to go. Well, Shakespeare knew he basically had tied up his play and what better way to do it? Plus with all these reference it will keep the audience. The more I read the statement I thought that I would be more or less his goodbye, especially if Shakespeare was playing this role. I see it more like this than as a symbol of him trying to indiscreetly convey his religion.
Sure, there is some great evidence to prove that it could have been based upon religion, but who said it has to be based upon religion? Just because there are bibical references, maybe it's to keep an audience, because that's what you need to be a writer. Not only that but what if Shakespeare was saying this is my last play, I no longer want to bash women, children, cause death and despair. This could be his way of wrapping things up and saying, I have done some nasty things in my plays but they were enjoyed so forgive me. We all need to learn the lesson of forgiveness and acceptance for all we do. You know it's not just children's stories that have morals at the end.
Until we meet again, please excuse my crazy thoughts, because I'm sure you all have that majorly confused look on your face like where in the world did she get that from.
For real academic insight on this article try these fine blogs:
Shakespeare the Jew from the mind of Moira
Shakespeare's Catholism a piece by Val
Indulgence and The Tempest from Evan
Response to Beauregard's article by Kristen
*Another side note: You must read Lou's Tempest Entry*
Blank verse right now a dreadful task to me!
My mind runs blank from the passing weekend-
Oh dear I feel I may have enjoyed this
and indulged a bit much. Now homework calls
the "Tempest" I rush to read and do pray
the words will make sense in my damaged mind.
I read the words and begin to realize
there is a fight taking place, marriage too.
Prospero-what were you thinking my man,
Ferdinand and Miranda- skip the talk
we all know about the birds and bees and
where intercourse before marriage shall lead!
Before my blank verse is through let me add
Prospero again you need some help here
No pity for those who do wrong to you!
:-p
"The Tempest"
So what do I conclude from the "Tempest"?
I shouldn't be an English Major because I have lost appreciation for Shakespeare. I mean he works you up to this big ending and all Prospero does is tell the guy that he pitys him for attempting to murder him! Come on now, I know this was back in the day but you're telling me these people didn't feel an vengance?
So let's talk this through act by act.
Act 1
All I got out of this was they wrecked a ship...I'm not even sure. For some reason Prospero is in a cell, but I think he was already on the island.
Act 2
This was just kinda like meet all the characters and understand what is going to develop.
Act 3
I think this is when Miranda and Ferdinand sounds to me like they get married. Of course Prospero is happy with this- but the talk he gives these kids...hmm...
Also there seemed to be a fight in this act, I wasn't to sure what was going on but I could feel the hostility.
Act 4
I got pretty lost here, but I think this is the Act with Ariel and I like that characther. I got the feeling that even though Shakespeare doesn't give this characther a gender you can tell it's a girl. Who else would be so vicious and who else would gossip so?
Act 5
The end, where Prospero knows the truth and gives the killers pity. I thought Shakespeare was better than this. I like vengance it's a page turner. Where as here you just listen to this nice little happy ending...where's that twist?
Ok maybe I've watched SAW to many times this weekend and I was looking for a twisted ending.
Over all I can't say the "Tempest" was bad can't say to much cause I did have alot of trouble following the story. Most of it I could work with and make some what educated guesses about what was going on. There were points where I was completely confused and I couldn't even tell you what was happening.
The one thing I did notice was that Shakespeare has a thing for spirits in his plays, I like that. It is different you don't see that alot anymore. It's like this person who isn't there but is and can see everything that is going on. Ariel was very helpful to me because she in a way explains things. It's like a synopsis for anyone who may have fallen asleep. Like I say, I could be wrong and more than likely am. I have finished the "Tempest" and my blank verse that basically took me 12 hours to write. So now I sleep :-P
I really wanted to try out the blank verse thing and goof around with the readings for Friday in Blank Verse. Sadly you'll have to excuse me, because on Wednesday I found out I had lost a friend, due to an unforunate motorcycle accident. I know a blog isn't the best place to pay respect but I attempted to black verse something for him. May he rest in peace.
Life is taken, for granite, but goes
Young as we maybe there is always a time.
Goodbyes do not always make it to those.
Reminsence does not fullfill us whole,
Never can we change what we have done,
Let them share in our heart and soul.
Pity upon ourselves will not help to solve
Life is lived out, played in different ways.
Thier life was something we became involved.
Because there is never a true goodbye
Our hearts hold on forever
understanding we to shall one day die.
You forever will be a memory,
Wrong I was, but you live always with me.
Last week when I posted about my Plums there were other selections that we had to read. I know I posted a bit about Dickinson's poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death", but I want to elaborate on it now that everyone in class has talked about it.
When I blogged about it last week it was like I looked at the poem in a different angle than everyone else. Sure you could say it is Dickinson talking about being taken to her grave or Heaven to death but, of course, that is not how I saw it. I suppose because I look at things so obsure sometimes that is why I do not like to analyze.
Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
This line right here is what I always think back to through out the poem. It's like our narroator is way to busy with living her life to stop and let death grasp her from it. So then he in turn stops for he and she takes him for 'the ride of his life.' ;-)
Later in the poem it talks about the narroator letting go of thier labor and leisure, I saw this as kind of like death was a tourist and you were treating him to fun. The next verse talks about children playing and some beautiful scenes in life, that our narroator is now showing death the things we all take for granite and should stop and enjoy every so often. I didn't really understand the house part at all, like I said everyone referred to it as a grave or the house of Heaven. Well since then I started to view it as possibly death showing our narroator his side of it all. These are the graves I must lay people in so they can enjoy what is yet to come.
In the end our narroator is riding away with death, they have some how reached an agreement, to possibly enjoy the beauty from beyond.
God's Granduer is a very religous poem, if that isn't obvious. It seems like in the poem all these horrible things are happening, yet God is still there to comfort. I'm not really sure I can never get into religous things, that has alot to do with my personal stuff. So to me God's Grandeur was just a poem with lots of b's. :-)
Alfred J. Prufrock what a great guy huh? I liked this poem because anyone can relate to it. I will admit the first time I read it I was like hmm...Elliot you need to stop doing what ever is making you hallucinate that your words look well. Then after looking at a few blogs and re reading Prufrock I realized...BAM! It was actuallly a decent poem. In class Chris mentioned about the yellow being a stain on reputation, in this poem, I was really glad that he mentioned that, cause I was wondering what in the world was up with all the yellow. The poem refers alot to the evening and smoke or smog, as well, so I wasn't thinking that bright sunshiny yellow. So relating it to a stain really helped me out because it has that disgusting, stomach churning yellow color, no dandelion viberance.
Also I did mention the smoke in class and I'm glad I did because I never thought that when you like someone and are either ashamed of themselve or yourself; it's better off hiding. I mean come on girls if you like a guy and don't think you look top notch at a party you step into so dark lighting, unless your man has had a beer...excuse me some punch. ;-)
Elliot's poem kinda hit me in the heart though, because you have to feel bad for the nice guy sometimes who looses out. Then again, it is really his own fault I mean..geez just talk to the girl. I know we may talk about this buff sexy men who you will never be, but hey what girl really wants that, I mean wouldn't you rather have someone down to earth who you can talk to and not just stare at? That's why I don't really like this poem, in a way, it makes girls look so shallow and devious. Referring to women as Sirens and such is kind of awful. I really am starting to learn in the past when writing was male dominated, us girls were getting put down alot. We need to stand up to these men and put them in thier place. I mean what are they wimps? What happened to the macho guy who doesn't get upset over a girl?????
;-)
Sorry I've been a bad blogger lately, time is short for me. So now my friends you will see me blog alot today and maybe more tomorrow.
I'm going to save the blank verse for tomorrow probably, I just don't want to really think right now. So we've read alot since I have blogged last which was just about how crazy I am. :-)
The first story was "The Machine Stops." Now don't get me wrong, I like Sci-Fi, on occasion, but this particular story had nothing to interest me. Sometimes I wonder if the books I read I buy on another planet though! I mean I don't really see this as like classic literature, sure there's symbolism in it. Not to mention Forster did blow me away with the fact that he wrote this is 1909. There are alot of references to the machines in the story being some what God like, well I could be wrong about this but in a way we all worship something. If religon is stripped of this earth and machines are the all mighty then maybe that is why they were choosen to be worshipped. I don't think Forster really thought about this indirectly at all. He pretty much comes right out and says it, the man knew what he was writing when he wrote this, it was on purpose. He wants these machines to seem Godlike. Sorry, you all know I'm so antisymbolism.
I guess that is really all i picked up on in this story, simply because I had no interest in the story the first time, so I did not want to go back and re-read. I'm just glad that the academic article got pulled on that one. I'm not good at analyzing those either and they make me feel stupid sometimes and like I need a tylenol. :-(
Happier days to come let's hope!
This Is Just To Say
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
William Carlos Williams
HAHA doesn't that make you just want to steal something?!?!? Okay well maybe that is just me. It is probably the content but I just like the way the poem reads. I've been reading them all out loud. This one just sounds so great! It made my day...maybe I'm just a little crazy.
I'm not a fan of Dickinson and I read Because I Could Not Stop for Death, before. I don't really get this poem personally. It's like she is with death watching him, but then in one line she says He not us, so I get a little bit confused. When I first read this poem it was in hell...Senior English, sorry I'm still bitter, and I thought just from the title it's like she is telling death she is to good. She would rather stop and admire the life around here then let death take her. Yet it's like she lets death experince life at the same time...if that makes any sense. So anyways when I read this one out loud whoa did I have some issues. I don't know it just doesn't seem to have a flow that I am used to I guess.
I like God's Granduer though it is pretty interesting. There is one and only one comment I can make here....what in the world is with all the B's at the end!
Everyone knows I enjoyed the plums. I really liked reading it outloud, cause I did it twice. The second time I reallly gave the poem character. The poem seems so simple it's like you are meant to play with it and have fun reading it, not just do that typical monotone voice!
T.S. Elliot has offical made my life diffucult this week. One Tuesday *today* I had to read the Wastelands for another class. That was a treat. That poem gave me lots of problems. Now this one, since we talked about Elliot I think I might understand it. I know he wrote very fragmented, mainly because of the time he was writing in. Not only that but he was institutionalized. So here is where I get confused. It's like he's writing about growing old in some parts and things he remembers from life...then the little mermaid is in the picture! Where did I flip to the wrong page. I mean I was starting to understand it, or so I thought. Oh and fellow classmates try to read this one out loud. Some of the repeats and just pharses he uses might trip you up. Give it a try. Maybe I'm just not cut out to read poetry!
And I will leave you with that, cause now I'm just in the mood to go steal somehthing out of someones fridge and leave that poem on the door. :-)
Maybe I am just simple minded or possibly I'm just taking on way to much this semster. I'm trying to not complain on my blog because I know no one wants to read it thus the reason I'm not going to explain the complications of my life. So I have a great story to tell everyone, maybe some of you can relate to it?
Open your ears children, here it comes:
Once upon a time there was young ambitous college student, as she trying to keep up with her work. Many a times she had failed, not due to procrastination but to an abundant and diffucult work load. So she finally had time to complete this reading assignment, interruption free may I add. As she began to read she thought this assignment will be cake. Breezing through and hightlighting the main parts of the first academic article, she paused to smile, appreciating the fact that her professor was such a generous man. She could analyze this assignment with one hand tied behind her back and a blindfold on. With excitment the girl reached for the second article, her eyes flowing across the material with ease, this piece was ever so simple to read. Then an unimaginable thought crossed her mind-
WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS MY PROFESSOR THINKING?
This article was unlike any she ever read, she continued on thinking at the end it would say that it was a joke, alas it did not!
So how do you make a smooth transition from academia to personal museums?
I really wanted to make that my agenda question...but eh, I don't think that will work.
So take a minute to pause and reflect on the story of this young college student and I will hopefully come up with a question for you....
:-)