Class Notes: 11/29 - 12/10

Hamlet 

Act 1, Scene 1.

Why does this play open with a question?

• it's the question of identity - who belongs and doesn't belong. The loyalty to the king?

Confusion with characters in scene one.

• and as for the weather, many assumed it was foggy

The Ghost and Night

Lines 148-165 illustrates the separation between night and day:

• day is holier than night
• ghosts are a part of the night because they're not holy

Is the ghost there for Denmark's well-being, or its own?

Does something dead have a rightful place on Earth, or is it just an usurper?

Ophelia:

the reference to Jepthah

• Hamlet showing the audience that he knows that Polonius is using his daughter as a means to an end

Her relationship with Hamlet- just sex?
She was pregnant- hence the drowning.
Perhaps she is not so innocent..

•       her role in her father's plan

Hamlet's Voice

• uses words as a shield for his emotions and a sword for vicious attacks on others
• of the characters that we actually get to know, Hamlet's the one that  the most at stake
• He's the most feeling and honest person.
• "the bully's the most scared person in the room"
• he is caught in conflicts and dilemas
• Christian and non-Christian
• sane and insane
• loves Ophelia and doesn't love Ophelia
• acting on his own and acting for his father

Gertrude and the Garden of Eden Motif

• vengeance is not man's business, but God's
• "there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow" (bible connection)
• motif of the usurper:
• only God could put people in power
• relevant in Elizabethan society because the "natural order"
• Gertrude as an Eve figure
• she did not conspire to kill the king but..
• was she having an affair?
• Claudius as the serpent.

Hamlet in Film

      

The Different Hamlets an actor can portray..

1. raging Hamlet
2. weepy Hamlet
3. clinically cold, detached Hamlet
• actors are usually forced to choose between these, though sometimes they can achieve all three

Class Notes: Nov. 15- 23

AP Multiple Choice Questions
Rhetorical Function

• explain purpose of a sentence/stanza/paragraph
• focuses on part of text compared to the text as a whole

Context

• asks meaning of a word in the context of a passage

Antecedent

• many EXCEPT questions
• asks what noun a phrase is referring to

Style

• asks to consider style choices the author has made

Tone

• identify the tone of the passage
• Strategy:
• if there are two parts to the question, the answer must be true in both cases

Hamlet
Background

• based on Norse legend composed by Saxo Grammaticus 1200 CE
• translated into French: Histoires Tragiques 1570
• most likely based on Ur-Hamlet by Thomas Kyd

Senecan Tragedy

• Thomas Kyd's Spanish Tragedy
• depicts son's revenge for father's murder or vice versa

Plot may include

• hero's hesitation
• hero's insanity
• hero's contemplation of suicide
• multiple levels of intrigue
• an able scheming villain
• abundance of philosophic soliloquies
• sensational murder

Audiences encounter

• the offense: maximized by injuries and insult
• antagonist: a formidable but vulnerable and flawed person
• series of delays to slow the momentum
• unforeseen development that almost thwarts scheme

Outside Reading #2: Book Review

            Liz Phair’s book review, Stray Cat Blues, is a review of Keith Richards’ new autobiography Life. The review an insightful and interesting look into the rock ‘n’ roll life of the guitarist, but as far as reviewing and analyzing the book the review falls short. Filled with anecdotes and brief histories of his upbringing I feel like I have learnt something and know Richards a little better after reading Phair’s article but I am non-the-wiser as to the quality of Richards’ autobiography.

Phair opens her review by thoroughly appraising the rock icon, making it clear that anything said about the autobiography will be tainted by bias. Phair states “Music is at the core of Life,” but then spends the rest of her review writing about drugs and scandal. After the opening paragraph it almost seems like the next couple of pages is just one digression after the next and the reader is so far out on a limb it a jolt when Phair eventually begins a topic with “One theme in the book that really stuns is…” one has forgotten one is reading a book review. Phair does write a very interesting story of Keith Richards’ hiccups and adventures during her tangents but the article should not be found under ‘Book Reviews’ if the reader forgets there is any book involved.

After the initial wanderings and amusing, but off topic, tales Phair sticks to a choppy and slightly confusing structure. One paragraph of Richards’ history followed by a paragraph of loose connection to Life, bringing up vague themes and random quotes. This cut and paste style leads to multiple contradictions. Early on Phair states that “Disloyalty is about as low as you can go in his book” however half of Phair’s anecdotes are about the betrayal strewn relationship of Jagger and Richards.

The tone of Phair’s review is very informal.  She writes as if she were simply talking to a fellow ‘Keef’ fanatic. One gets the feeling she is advertizing the book, not reviewing it. The fact the she strays on tangents only adds to the sales pitch feel. Caught up in her pro-Richards’ rant she fails to say if a non-Richards’ fan would enjoy the book; obviously those, very few, who actually do not like Keith will never read Life but she does not elaborate for those who appreciate his music but are not crazy about him.

An interesting essay about an interesting icon, but not a review of a book.  Next time Phair should either stick to her job and write a review or just ghost write an autobiography for Richards herself, another fact she missed— Life is ghost-written.

Class Notes: Nov. 8-12

THESIS WRITING WEEK:

How does author use technique to create meaning?

Don't Forget:.

T-Thesis

A-Answers

P -Prompt

Steps to Follow:

1.) Read the prompt carefully

2.) Reread the prompt carefully

3.) Pull out the key goals of from the prompt

4.) Outline key points of essay

5.) Reread prompt to make sure you have outlined all of the necessary goals

6.) Draft a concise and comprehensive thesis

7.) Reread prompt to make sure that your thesis meets all of the goals

8.) Start Writing

Goals:

-Choose a literary work

-must talk about themes

-address the techniques

Outside Reading #2: Editorial

Paul Krugman’s latest editorial for the New York Times, The Hijacked Commission, is a biting critique of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Krugman opens with a stab at so-called bipartisanship; the cochairmen of the commission are from opposing parties, Krugman begins his argument by summarizing the “supposedly bipartisan” panel’s work as the usual “compromise between the center-right and the hard-right.”   Krugman, using reader-inclusive techniques and a well structured argument, goes on to refute all the work of the Commission.

The editorial has all the elements of a tirade without anger and with reason. Krugman uses ‘we’ to include the reader in his view point, so automatically one has a tendency to agree with him. An even more personal ‘you’ is used when Krugman is talking about a crux of his argument, such as tax reform and social security, to show that these issues really affect the reader.  Inquiries a reader are likely to make appear in the form of rhetorical questions.  These are included to lead in to new issues and to bring up counter-arguments, however Krugman neatly swats them down creating a mocking tone; but the conviction of his reasons and evidence does convey serious, truthful and slightly depressing undertones.

Krugman’s voice goes hand-in-hand with the aforementioned tone of mockery. He is eloquent and witty but his editorials are written for a relatively broad audience, therefore his voice seems almost colloquial, connecting to the reader in instances such as “And how is this to be achieved? By ‘establishing a process to regularly evaluate cost growth’ and taking ‘additional steps as needed.’ What does that mean? I have no idea.” Krugman voice draws the reader onto his side very similar to his language techniques. Of the commission he states “it was even worse than the cynics expected.” This adds to his own cynical and mocking tone. He never misses an opportunity to make fun of the power point, pointing out “that the PowerPoint contains nice-looking charts”. He is making a very serious point, however, and he uses his intellect, not mocking to reiterate it.

As a regular columnist Krugman is no stranger to writing a well structured and convincing argument and this week’s is no exception. Krugman opens the editorial by discrediting the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. And continues to refute them in every possible way complete with solid evidence and example that play on the reader’s emotions.

This editorial is an adequate AP essay. Technique is perfect along with structure. He has a strong and opinionated voice but it does not take away from its credibility.

Class Notes 10/25 - 10/29

Drama
Chapter 1: The Nature of Drama

• Action through...
• actors
• impact is direct and based on the actors' skills
• audience receives all info at once instead of multiple paragraphs- how character looks and moves and speaks
• stage 
• and before an audience
• Playwrights are limited
• practically limited to one point of view: the dramatic
• Soliloquy- characters are presented as speaking to themselves (think out loud)
• Aside- characters turn from people on stage they are conversing with to speak directly to audience- allows audience know what they are really thinking/feeling
• Playwright can, and must command undivided attention

Drama Terms

• Realistic- attempts, in content and presentation, to preserve the illusion of actual ordinary life. 
• Non Realistic- drama that departs, markedly, from the ordinary to outward appearances of life. 
• Tragedy- drama with events that lead to downfall and suffering of protagonist- usually a person of high moral or intellectual stature.
• Comedy- usually happy ending, emphasizing human limitation, rather than human greatness. Two types..
• Romantic Comedy
• Scornful Comedy
• Melodrama- related to tragedy, but featuring sensational incidents, emphasizing plot, relying on cruder conflicts and having happy ending.
• Farce- related to a comedy, but emphasizing improbable situations, violent conflicts, physical action, with coarse wit over characterization and plot.
• Protagonist- main character in story/ play
• Antagonist- any force in story in conflict with protagonist. May be person, aspect of physical or social environment or destructive element in protagonist's own nature.
• Foil- a character whose distinguishing moral qualities or personal traits are summed up in one or two traits
• Suspense- That quality in a story or play that makes the reader eager to discover what happens next and how it will end.
• Themes- The central idea or unifying generalization implied or stated by a literary work.
• Dramatic Exposition- the presentation of information about events that occurred before the action of a play. That occurs offstage or between the staged action.
• Didactic- poetry, fiction, or drama having as a primary purpose to teach or preach.

Chapter 2- Realistic and Non-Realistic Drama

• Drama adds another dimension of possible unreality since written to be performed
• involves certain necessary artificiality 
• audience must imagine there are four walls and actors must adapt to different stages to accommodate members from all sides of the audience.
• dramatic conventions- certain departures from reality. Such as the stage- room with less than four walls still represents one with four.)
• chorus- group of actors speaking in unison
• narrator- vehicle for dramatic truth

Class Notes Week 3

Writing
Clarity

• avoid long awkward sentences- break up
• no passive voice- often hard to follow

The Plain Style

• plain writing is more exposed, but it is okay to be plain
• a writer just wants to be understood

Concision

• do not be wordy
• “strong verbs”- more effective

Rhetoric

• Parallelism, when used right, can add grace to a passage
• Repetition can really get an idea through- rule of three. But do not be redundant
• do not change tenses
• beware of using humor- easy to look bad

Syntax
Subordinating Conjunctions- words that show the relationship of the dependent clause to the independent clause in complex sentence

• A few subordinating conjunctions (After, when, even though, although, whenever, if, as since, because, so that, until)

Coordinating Conjunction- words used with a comma to connect two independent clauses

• FAN BOYS (For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Complex Sentence- has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses
Compound Sentence- has two or more independent clauses, joined with a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon
Simple Sentence- sentence with only one independent clause
Independent Clause- a clause that fulfills:
·        can stand alone
·        has a subject and verb
·        makes a complete statement

Sentence Variety
Effects-

•  pace
•  tone - emotional feeling
•  emphasis/attention 

Techniques-

• Construction - how sentences are put together: how they are joined, word order,  verb tenses, etc.
•  Length – shorter sentences create effect. Do not ramble or rant

Outside Reading: Editorial

The Tax-Cut Racket, a New York Time editorial, by Paul Krugman is a warning, almost a cry of outrage, at a political and economic issue that requires no elaborate writing style or any other tone than accusation and reassurance.
Accusation towards the Republicans in Congress holding the middle class hostage as they force the Democrats to keep taxes for the rich low. And reassurance towards the Democrats, including Obama, to hold firm to the promise to raise taxes on richest 2% of America.
The article is well organized dividing the issue into the political actions and implications and the economic actions and implications. Krugman opens with a personal attack against Mitch McConnell, the man leading the fight for tax cuts; immediately making one aware of his opinion. He then educates the reader on the topic at hand. Though he is providing background he continues to add remarks denouncing policies and policy-makers he does not fancy. On December 31st, 2010 the Bush-era tax cuts will expire. The republicans wish to extend the "tax breaks for their wealthy friends".
When Krugman delves into what the Republicans are willing (and actually are) doing to keep the cuts the article really takes a turn toward scathing criticism. McConnell is "trying to get what he wants by pointing a gun at the heads of middle-class families, threatening to force a jump in their taxes unless he gets paid off with hugely expensive tax breaks for the wealthy." Krugman points out, as an economist, that "everyone agrees that raising taxes on the middle class in the middle of an economic slump is a bad idea, unless the effects are offset by other job-creation programs — and Republicans are blocking those, too".
However, there is an issue bigger than the political or economic sides of the debate. And that is the question of what constitutes as acceptable political behavior in modern America. This is Krugman's best point and his strongest argument against the republicans. At this point one can ignore his bias because he turns away from party policies and addresses party tactics. Using that accusatory tone he  highlights how absurd and scary the republicans' tactics are. Krugman engages the reader because he, too, is outraged and scared; stating "there’s a difference between playing hardball and engaging in outright extortion, which is what Mr. McConnell is now doing." Krugman instills the fear by adding "And if he succeeds, it will set a disastrous precedent."
It is not fear that drives the article though, but rather a call to action, he makes the reader want to prevent said precedent being made. Krugman reminds us that the "majority of Americans are opposed to maintaining tax breaks for the rich" and inspires this majority "to take a stand, and say no to G.O.P. blackmail."
So the question he poses, "should Democrats give in?" is answered economically and politically, but the resounding 'no' he stresses using the word repeatedly and backing up evidence with public opinions, comes mainly due to the idea that politicians have the power to harm "innocent bystanders" in order to harm rivals.
Krugman is heavily opinionated, it is an opinion column, but he does back up claims with facts and a voice for the public. His voice makes it easy to understand the politics he is address. His tone seems urgent and, only if you are among his target, accusatory.
This piece lacks evidence and has too opinionated and bias of a voice to be a good AP essay.

Class Notes 9/20 - 9/24

Figurative Language
Figure of Speech: Phrase that does not mean its literal implication. "It's raining cats and dogs."
Figurative Speech: language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words, commonly using similes, metaphors, and personification
Simile: compares two subjects using as, like, or than. "As big as a bus."
Metaphor: comparison that implies meaning, a figurative and literal side.
Personification: Giving human attributes to non-human subjects. "The sun smiled upon the earth."
Apostrophe: Addressing something non-human as if it were human.
Synecdoche: Using a part to mean or describe a whole.
Metonymy: Uses something similar to represent something
Symbol: Something that represents something else
Allegory: A work of literature used concretely to describe another issue or meaning. ex. Pilgrim's Progress
Paradox:  apparent contradiction that actually makes sense. Often works due to double meaning or figurative meaning of one word or a phrase.
Hyperbole: a gross exaggeration
Sarcasm- Harsh, sharp form of wit.
Satire- Mocking or ridiculing literature intended to cause change
verbal irony- Stating the opposite of what one really means
Dramatic irony- The difference between what the is said and what a piece actually means.
situational irony: the difference between what a reader expects and what actually occurs.
Help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYq2d7iKKhk

The Rhetorical Situation
Rhetoric: The art of communication
Rhetorical Situation: The context for an act of communication
Elements of the Rhetorical Situation:
Subject- What is the topic?
Audience- Who is receiving the communication?
Purpose- What is the point of the communication?
Speaker- How is the communicator presenting and acting?

Argument
A method of persuasion writing
Thesis: Central argument the piece is trying to persuade the reader of
Claim:  Supports thesis
Warrant: Ties the evidence to the claim
Evidence: Hard facts and examples that support the claim and therefore the thesis
help on this topic: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/
Sources
Perrine

Class Notes 9/13 - 9/17

Monday, September 13th
Close Reading- Specific analysis of an excerpt of reading.  Affective techniques include highlighting, making notes in margins, drawing arrows, and brackets. Paying close attention to imagery, syntax, words, and diction when reading.  Close reading is useful not only in analyzing literature but also in taking information out of dense texts, such as historical documents.
Tuesday, September 14th
What is Poetry?
Poetry is language condensed to artistic affect.
Poetry is distinct from other literature in that it takes more to explain the writing then it does to read it. Hence, language condensed. Poetry must also be artistic, to prevent any slogan as being classified as poetry.
Wednesday, September 15th
We discussed Hidden Meanings as a class.
After scratching the surface we found the blatant sexually inferences taken from innocent fairy tales. But even deeper were the suggestions about gender, about men being suppressed by women.
Thursday, September 16th
Connotation and Denotation:
Authors chose certain words for a reason, as do all people, subconscious or not.
Concreteness v. Abstraction:

Clothes     Pants     Jeans  Levis <------------------------------------------------->

Abstract                                          Concrete

 

Precision:
Is a passage or word exact or vague?
Authors use precision to create different tones and affects
ex. Cool, Nice, Sweet = Vague
Elevation v. Colloquialism:

<--------------------------------------------->

Slang                                             Epic Diction

Slang is used by outside groups as a way to define and separate themselves, such as the youth from the maturer/old. Epic diction is used in acceptance speeches.

 

Dialect: specific word replacement
Jargon: technical language
Regionalism: regional-specific expression and pronunciations. regionalism is heavily used in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Friday, September 17th
Worked on Diction and Imagery worksheets.
Diction definition: Choice and use of words in writing and speech
Imagery definition: The use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas.
Works Cited
Help with definitions
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/575/01/

Class Notes Week 4

The AP Test
Multiple Choice

• 45% of grade
• No penalty for guessing
• 60 minutes to answer 55 questions on 4 passages
• You don't need 100% to receive a 5
• There are 5 levels of questions
  • 1-2 range contains questions like what is the main idea of the passage?
  • 3-4 range contains question like what is the tone and they test you on your understanding of structure
  • 5 level questions are interpretive
  • most of the test is comprised of 3-4 level questions
• Decide which passage will be easiest to read and respond to and start with that passage
• If any part of the answer is wrong then the whole answer is wrong
• Look for questions that provide other answers
• Preparation: review/learn terms and vocabulary and practice answering multiple choice questions

Free Response

• 3 essays, 40 mins each.
• 55% of AP test grade
• 2 are closed readings- use compare and contrast, and they will be about poems, plays, or short stories
• the 3rd is a free response - choose a known piece, prepare a limited number of works thoroughly
• Do not forget the hidden "So What?" question- meaning of the work

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/english_lit/samp.html?englit
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/english_lit/exam.html?englit
From experience in previous classes, learning all the terminology definitely helps.
Allusion
a reference to something in previous literature and/or history.

• word or symbol that suggest more than it says
• reinforces and ties the ideas of the work with ideas of another, often more prevalent, work
• humorous, witty, and emotional

Meaning and Idea
·        Meaning- the experience expressed by the work
·        Prose Meaning- the prose paraphrase, often in the form of a story, description, human character, or emotion.
*Critical Approaches Wiki helps

Class Notes 10/11 - 10/22

• Tone is..
  • The author’s attitude toward the subject
  • Described in terms of emotion
  • What to look at to identify tone
    • Connotation,metaphors, and imagery
    • Irony and understatement
    • Rhythm, sentence construction, and pattern
• Style is..
  
  • The author’s personality
  • What type of persona the author wants to sound like
  • May change over time
• Voice is..
  
  • The narrator’s personality
  • Changes when the narrator changes
  • Described in terms of  the character's traits
  
  
  
• Evaluating Poetry
  • Perrine states that a reason to read poetry is to judge its worth
  • Questions for judging a poems worth
    • What is the poem’s central purpose?
    • Has it accomplished this purpose?
    • How worthwhile is the purpose?
  • Good poetry is original
  • If changing a poem makes it worse, it’s a good poem