05 December 2011
Vocabulary words for 12/6/11 Quiz
disparity: n—containing fundamentally different and often incongruous elements
Noticeable disparity exists between his potential and his performance.
efficacy: n—the power to produce an effectJustin used his charm with great efficacy, persuading many customers to buy cars.
impetus: n—a driving force
Many good students have a strong impetus behind them: their parents.
moribund: adj—being in the state of dying
The home phone line is undeniably moribund.
reticent: adj—inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech
The class was surprised when the normally reticent student engaged her friend in a heated argument.
vacillate: v—to waver in mind, will, or feeling; to hesitate in choice
Many college students vacillate before they choose a major.
akin: adj—essentially similar, related, or compatible
Jessica’s taste in furniture is akin to my own taste.
corroborate: v—to support with evidence or authority; to make more certainThe second witness corroborated the account of the first witness, making the police confident.
inexorable: adj—not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped
My father, once he made a final decision, showed his inexorable resolve.
insipid: adj—lacking taste or savorThe restaurant’s insipid food quickly forced the owners into bankruptcy.
Noticeable disparity exists between his potential and his performance.
efficacy: n—the power to produce an effectJustin used his charm with great efficacy, persuading many customers to buy cars.
impetus: n—a driving force
Many good students have a strong impetus behind them: their parents.
moribund: adj—being in the state of dying
The home phone line is undeniably moribund.
reticent: adj—inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech
The class was surprised when the normally reticent student engaged her friend in a heated argument.
vacillate: v—to waver in mind, will, or feeling; to hesitate in choice
Many college students vacillate before they choose a major.
akin: adj—essentially similar, related, or compatible
Jessica’s taste in furniture is akin to my own taste.
corroborate: v—to support with evidence or authority; to make more certainThe second witness corroborated the account of the first witness, making the police confident.
inexorable: adj—not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped
My father, once he made a final decision, showed his inexorable resolve.
insipid: adj—lacking taste or savorThe restaurant’s insipid food quickly forced the owners into bankruptcy.
01 December 2011
FYI: Essay Contest
I just received information about The Robert J. Stuckey Essay Contest. First prize is $1500, second prize $750. Only one entry may be submitted from each school, so you would submit your essay to a selection committee here at Francis Howell, and it would then be determined which essay would advance.
Rumor has it that only 56 entries total across the state were submitted last year, so that's much better odds than many of the other essay and scholarship contests I've come across recently!
More information can be found here, and the guidance office has applications. Please let me know if this is something you wish to pursue.
Rumor has it that only 56 entries total across the state were submitted last year, so that's much better odds than many of the other essay and scholarship contests I've come across recently!
More information can be found here, and the guidance office has applications. Please let me know if this is something you wish to pursue.
21 November 2011
16 November 2011
Lit Circle "The Color Purple"
I just finished the book earlier today, and I have to say I'm pleased with the ending. At first, I didn't really think it would end well, especially when I thought Nettie died and Shug left Celie. I'm really glad that they all ended up together. However, there is still discrimination against more than just the black people in the society. Alice Walker gives us a different insight on discrimination, black versus black. I found it so surprising that the black people were fighting for their rights, yet they were still racist against each other. I don't see how they didn't understand that until they changed, they wouldn't see change outside of their African American community. Overall though, I enjoyed the book.
15 November 2011
Vocab Words
So Mrs. Linneman didn't follow through. ;) So I am, do we all don't die tomorrow. :)
akimbo
adj
set in a bent position
lassitude
n
a condition of weariness or debility
licentious
adj
lacking legal or moral restraints, especially disregarding sexual restraints
muse
v
to become absorbed in thought
pecuniary
adj
of or relating to money
presumptuous
adj
overstepping due bounds
subvert
v
to overturn or over throw from the foundation
vacuous
adj
marked by lack of ideas or intelligence
avocation
n
customary employment; a subordinate occupation pursued in addition to one's vocation especially for enjoyment
capricious
adj
impulsive, unpredictable
10 November 2011
Vocab Words
For those of you who asked ("hypothetically") what to do in the event that you lost your vocabulary packet, here are the words for the week two list. (See your calendars: Quiz next week!)
Week Two_____________________________________________________________________
akimbo: adj—set in a bent positionMy brother, arms akimbo, sprawled across our couch as he slept.
lassitude: n—a condition of weariness or debilityJenny was about to finish her homework when severe lassitude prevented her.
licentious: adj—lacking legal or moral restraints, especially disregarding sexual restraintsDanny, who is licentious, spends his time in bars looking for women
muse: v—to become absorbed in thought
He mused over possible endings for his novel.
pecuniary: adj—of or relating to money
When Mr. Jones lost his job, his family experienced marked pecuniary difficulties.
presumptuous: adj—overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy)
The presumptuous student asked the teacher for an extra credit assignment on the last day of class.
subvert: v—to overturn or overthrow from the foundation
John, a cashier, subverted Wal Mart through his attempts at starting a union.
vacuous: adj—marked by lack of ideas or intelligence
The essay was entirely vacuous, displaying no signs of original thinking or logic.
avocation: n—customary employment; a subordinate occupation pursued in addition to one's vocation especially for enjoymentFirefighting was his job; fishing was his avocation.
capricious: adj—impulsive, unpredictableThe capricious teacher assigned an entire novel for students to read over the weekend after she promised to assign no homework.
Week Two_____________________________________________________________________
akimbo: adj—set in a bent positionMy brother, arms akimbo, sprawled across our couch as he slept.
lassitude: n—a condition of weariness or debilityJenny was about to finish her homework when severe lassitude prevented her.
licentious: adj—lacking legal or moral restraints, especially disregarding sexual restraintsDanny, who is licentious, spends his time in bars looking for women
muse: v—to become absorbed in thought
He mused over possible endings for his novel.
pecuniary: adj—of or relating to money
When Mr. Jones lost his job, his family experienced marked pecuniary difficulties.
presumptuous: adj—overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy)
The presumptuous student asked the teacher for an extra credit assignment on the last day of class.
subvert: v—to overturn or overthrow from the foundation
John, a cashier, subverted Wal Mart through his attempts at starting a union.
vacuous: adj—marked by lack of ideas or intelligence
The essay was entirely vacuous, displaying no signs of original thinking or logic.
avocation: n—customary employment; a subordinate occupation pursued in addition to one's vocation especially for enjoymentFirefighting was his job; fishing was his avocation.
capricious: adj—impulsive, unpredictableThe capricious teacher assigned an entire novel for students to read over the weekend after she promised to assign no homework.
Changes
In "The Color Purple", as I thought she might, Celie finally stood up for herself against Mr. ______ (her husband). Shug is returning to Memphis, and tells everyone that Celie is coming with her. When Mr. ______ says that Celie is staying, she stands up for herself and finally says what she has been thinking for years. She even speaks up agianst Harpo, Mr. _____'s son. Little Mary Agnes, Harpo's wife, also stands up against Harpo. She chooses to leave Harpo to pursue her dreams of singing. Finally, the women are being strong and proud in their individualism and not letting the men control their actions. Shug has been an excellent example to them of how a women should act; if she believes she is equal, then whether the men like it or not, they have to treat them as equals as well.
03 November 2011
Courage
In "The Color Purple", there are multiple occurrences of racism and sexism. Celie, being a victim to both, is very passive and allows herself to be taken advantage of. However, she is surrounded by women that show courage and confidence in themselves. Shug is a vivacious, self-assured woman that stands up to Celie's husband when Celie herself does not. Shug tells him to stop beating Celie, and he does. Also, Harpo's ex-wife Sophia stands up for herself against the racist mayor. Although she ends up in jail for it, her act of strength is shown. Celie really admires their courage and mentions several times how she wants to be like them, but has yet to show any real action towards changing. I think that the women's acts are foreshadowing Celie's moment of triumph when she finally stands up for herself, being strong in her feminism, something the author Alice Walker heavily supports. That could also be a potential theme to the novel, not only sexism from males, but how females allow themselves to be discriminated against just as badly.
27 October 2011
Lit Circle "The Color Purple"
So far a lot has happened in the book, but out of everything that has happened, I'm still shocked at how graphic this book is. It surprises me because I didn't expect it at all, especially on the first page. I'm also surprised it's one of the most common books on the AP Test, but I suppose by the end of the book, we will find some deeper meaning to the book. So far though, I do think it is interesting.
Story-telling Contest: The Final Four
Voting for the story telling contest is officially OPEN! You have until 11/2/11 to cast your vote (look to the ballot on the left side of the blog). The authors of the top 2 winning stories will receive a free Bread Co. breakfast the week of 11/7.
Poem #1
It’s Rad to be Green
Don’t stare, gawk or point your fingers at me
Hey, where I come from, it’s rad to be green
You scream, you squeal, you squawk like birds
Your judgment, your labels, sometimes they hurt
Where I’m from, everyone looks just like me
Be nice to your guest, I’m just visiting
But I won’t be back, your planets so mean
I’m going home to where everyone’s green
And everyone walks around on their thumbs
And talks with their ears and breathe with their tongues
You should accept people for who they are
So why not me too? Why is that so hard?
Is it my orange eyes? My black pointed nose?
Is it my red elbows or purple toes?
So what if I smell and have five blue arms?
I swear I won’t bite or cause any harm!
But no one believes me, no one listens
Not the people, the dogs or the kittens
Just the other day, I wanted some lunch
Walked to a café I found on a hunch
Like everyone else, I came in, sat down
Well the dumb waitress freaked and kicked me out!
She called the fuzz, they were hot on my tail
Chasing me trying to throw me in jail!
Lucky for me, my wings lifted me high
Those humans shot guns, threw swords, made me cry
I finally made it just out of range
Judgmental and rude, geez, humans are strange!
Farther and farther I flew to my world
‘Til I landed in a place not so cruel
No, I won’t return, no thank you, no ma’am
Heading to homeland as fast as I can
Next time remember this one simple rule
Not everyone is exactly like you!
- Olivia M.
Poem #2
Iambic Murder
There are those around that hide a dark past
Stories so strange that they'll leave you aghast
Not people but shadows-- long lasting guilt
Guilt that remains until their story is spill't
I too hide a secret from long ago
A history I'll regretfully show
Back then I was a young newspaper man
My stories would riddle all the news stands
I was the best and quite glad of it too
That is until Winston came out of the blue
He was a writer, but don't get me wrong
His articles were never written quite strong
No, what bothered me about Winston most
Is that he looked and spoke just like a ghost
His skin was pale, and he was always sick
The snot in his nose made his voice sound thick
At unfortunate times his schlep would drip
Out of his nostril and onto his lip
Nothing drove me so crazy as this cad
And on the thousandth sniff I went mad
At that moment I came up with a plan
That very evening I would kill this man
Twas simple enough, I followed him home
And I picked his lock with use of my comb
He was sick and slept on-top of his bed
He was sick, his pillow covered his head
He was sick as he tried to fight for air
He was sick as he wore a cold, blank stare
Poor sick Winston, heard he died in his sleep
Peaceful I guess, didn't bother to peep
That's what they said, shaking their heads
No one had guessed that I caused Winston's death
But you see, in this world nothing is free
And since that evening I've had a disease
Guilt plagues my body, and causes me shakes
Many nights go by in which I'm awake
I've become a ghost, like Winston had been
The price I pay for so deadly a sin
I only hope since the story is told
I can pass on without feeling so cold
- Sam C.
Poem #3
Small Talk
The bus to C-Town is two hours long
But it looks like a ghost town when I get on
Uneventful, for sure, I thought it would be
My life would be changed to Cincinnati
A fresh batch of riders hop on later
“Son, do you know about your creator?”
Asked a mustached man to my left
Said he was a man of God… and of theft!
Preached a great message – I try not to yawn
He leaves at 12-A. My wallet is gone.
Can’t get much worse, I think. Man I was wrong!
I meet some more strangers before long
A tanned teen in jeans walks up to me
He looks like straight off the Shores of Jersey
“Hey there, brah, can I borrow a dollar?”
My money’s gone. Wish I were taller.
He ceased my suitcase with all my clothes
I’ll get along without those I suppose
My day had reached the peak of perfection
(Note the sarcasm in my inflection)
So just when I pick up a piece of trash
A real cute girl with braids just has to ask
“Heard of Greenpeace? Environment’s at war!”
Now I eat roots and berries with the corps
My advice to you, all you kids back home,
Don’t talk to strangers and don’t sit alone!
- Megan H.
Poem #4
Senioritis
There was a girl who was not yet eighteen.
She was running on a lot of caffeine.
The Infinite Campus was her homepage,
A B would cause her parents utter rage.
The girl wanted to be Ivy League.
It was senior year, filled with fatigue.
So came her final senior semester--
No! It was even the last trimester!
All of her grades were completely in line,
This was her time to completely shine.
Her English grade was borderline this time,
And it boiled down to this single rhyme.
She sat down at her desk, with a chalic,
One cannot ehlp but say she was malice.
But the poem could not quote be witten!
Her and her senioritis were smitten!
She facebook stalked people all night long,
and downloaded songs without copyright.
Youtube claimed her: innocent victim.
Her friends? The girl skyped all of them.
She tweeted just about a dozen times,
Let's just say she did not write any rhymes.
The girl had fallen asleep before ten,
She had not lifted even an ink pen.
Harvard? Yale? Would not be content with this.
Her A in English? She would come to miss.
The studious girl turned in onthing.
She was confined to a minimum wage.
Flipping burgers, working the dull drive through,
All of this common work was for her too.
Her school transcripts had been blemished,
All dreams of acceptance were all finished.
The admissions would laugh hysterically,
And she would live a life of scarcity.
The letters came: success zero percent.
An utter failure: to the streets she went.
The poor girl, well now she lives in a box.
You know, in the alley, down by the docks?
All of this was due to senioritis,
A disease much worse than hepatitis.
She had thought it had been all set in stone,
But now she is stuck living all alone--
Well besides that cat with the lazy eye,
And now she just watches the passer-bye.
-Steph & Julie
Poem #1
It’s Rad to be Green
Don’t stare, gawk or point your fingers at me
Hey, where I come from, it’s rad to be green
You scream, you squeal, you squawk like birds
Your judgment, your labels, sometimes they hurt
Where I’m from, everyone looks just like me
Be nice to your guest, I’m just visiting
But I won’t be back, your planets so mean
I’m going home to where everyone’s green
And everyone walks around on their thumbs
And talks with their ears and breathe with their tongues
You should accept people for who they are
So why not me too? Why is that so hard?
Is it my orange eyes? My black pointed nose?
Is it my red elbows or purple toes?
So what if I smell and have five blue arms?
I swear I won’t bite or cause any harm!
But no one believes me, no one listens
Not the people, the dogs or the kittens
Just the other day, I wanted some lunch
Walked to a café I found on a hunch
Like everyone else, I came in, sat down
Well the dumb waitress freaked and kicked me out!
She called the fuzz, they were hot on my tail
Chasing me trying to throw me in jail!
Lucky for me, my wings lifted me high
Those humans shot guns, threw swords, made me cry
I finally made it just out of range
Judgmental and rude, geez, humans are strange!
Farther and farther I flew to my world
‘Til I landed in a place not so cruel
No, I won’t return, no thank you, no ma’am
Heading to homeland as fast as I can
Next time remember this one simple rule
Not everyone is exactly like you!
- Olivia M.
Poem #2
Iambic Murder
There are those around that hide a dark past
Stories so strange that they'll leave you aghast
Not people but shadows-- long lasting guilt
Guilt that remains until their story is spill't
I too hide a secret from long ago
A history I'll regretfully show
Back then I was a young newspaper man
My stories would riddle all the news stands
I was the best and quite glad of it too
That is until Winston came out of the blue
He was a writer, but don't get me wrong
His articles were never written quite strong
No, what bothered me about Winston most
Is that he looked and spoke just like a ghost
His skin was pale, and he was always sick
The snot in his nose made his voice sound thick
At unfortunate times his schlep would drip
Out of his nostril and onto his lip
Nothing drove me so crazy as this cad
And on the thousandth sniff I went mad
At that moment I came up with a plan
That very evening I would kill this man
Twas simple enough, I followed him home
And I picked his lock with use of my comb
He was sick and slept on-top of his bed
He was sick, his pillow covered his head
He was sick as he tried to fight for air
He was sick as he wore a cold, blank stare
Poor sick Winston, heard he died in his sleep
Peaceful I guess, didn't bother to peep
That's what they said, shaking their heads
No one had guessed that I caused Winston's death
But you see, in this world nothing is free
And since that evening I've had a disease
Guilt plagues my body, and causes me shakes
Many nights go by in which I'm awake
I've become a ghost, like Winston had been
The price I pay for so deadly a sin
I only hope since the story is told
I can pass on without feeling so cold
- Sam C.
Poem #3
Small Talk
The bus to C-Town is two hours long
But it looks like a ghost town when I get on
Uneventful, for sure, I thought it would be
My life would be changed to Cincinnati
A fresh batch of riders hop on later
“Son, do you know about your creator?”
Asked a mustached man to my left
Said he was a man of God… and of theft!
Preached a great message – I try not to yawn
He leaves at 12-A. My wallet is gone.
Can’t get much worse, I think. Man I was wrong!
I meet some more strangers before long
A tanned teen in jeans walks up to me
He looks like straight off the Shores of Jersey
“Hey there, brah, can I borrow a dollar?”
My money’s gone. Wish I were taller.
He ceased my suitcase with all my clothes
I’ll get along without those I suppose
My day had reached the peak of perfection
(Note the sarcasm in my inflection)
So just when I pick up a piece of trash
A real cute girl with braids just has to ask
“Heard of Greenpeace? Environment’s at war!”
Now I eat roots and berries with the corps
My advice to you, all you kids back home,
Don’t talk to strangers and don’t sit alone!
- Megan H.
Poem #4
Senioritis
There was a girl who was not yet eighteen.
She was running on a lot of caffeine.
The Infinite Campus was her homepage,
A B would cause her parents utter rage.
The girl wanted to be Ivy League.
It was senior year, filled with fatigue.
So came her final senior semester--
No! It was even the last trimester!
All of her grades were completely in line,
This was her time to completely shine.
Her English grade was borderline this time,
And it boiled down to this single rhyme.
She sat down at her desk, with a chalic,
One cannot ehlp but say she was malice.
But the poem could not quote be witten!
Her and her senioritis were smitten!
She facebook stalked people all night long,
and downloaded songs without copyright.
Youtube claimed her: innocent victim.
Her friends? The girl skyped all of them.
She tweeted just about a dozen times,
Let's just say she did not write any rhymes.
The girl had fallen asleep before ten,
She had not lifted even an ink pen.
Harvard? Yale? Would not be content with this.
Her A in English? She would come to miss.
The studious girl turned in onthing.
She was confined to a minimum wage.
Flipping burgers, working the dull drive through,
All of this common work was for her too.
Her school transcripts had been blemished,
All dreams of acceptance were all finished.
The admissions would laugh hysterically,
And she would live a life of scarcity.
The letters came: success zero percent.
An utter failure: to the streets she went.
The poor girl, well now she lives in a box.
You know, in the alley, down by the docks?
All of this was due to senioritis,
A disease much worse than hepatitis.
She had thought it had been all set in stone,
But now she is stuck living all alone--
Well besides that cat with the lazy eye,
And now she just watches the passer-bye.
-Steph & Julie
24 October 2011
Catcher in the Rye
Please complete all blog posts pertaining to Catcher in the Rye in the comments section of this thread. Blog posts are assigned weekly for the duration of the Lit Circle, and are due by 10pm on Thursday nights.
Students posting in this thread will be: Lisa, Olivia, Cailin, & Kaitlyn
Happy Reading!
Students posting in this thread will be: Lisa, Olivia, Cailin, & Kaitlyn
Happy Reading!
Wuthering Heights
Please complete all blog posts pertaining to Wuthering Heights in the comments section of this thread. Blog posts are assigned weekly for the duration of the Lit Circle, and are due by 10pm on Thursday nights.
Students posting in this thread will be: Reena, Alex, Mackenzie, Brittany
Happy Reading!
Students posting in this thread will be: Reena, Alex, Mackenzie, Brittany
Happy Reading!
The Road
Please complete all blog posts pertaining to The Road in the comments section of this thread. Blog posts are assigned weekly for the duration of the Lit Circle, and are due by 10pm on Thursday nights.
Students posting in this thread will be: Richard, Dan, Rachelle & Ashley
Happy Reading!
Students posting in this thread will be: Richard, Dan, Rachelle & Ashley
Happy Reading!
The Wide Sargasso Sea
Please complete all blog posts pertaining to The Wide Sargasso Sea in the comments section of this thread. Blog posts are assigned weekly for the duration of the Lit Circle, and are due by 10pm on Thursday nights.
Students posting in this thread will be: Cynthia, Nina, Sarah
Happy Reading!
Students posting in this thread will be: Cynthia, Nina, Sarah
Happy Reading!
1984
Please complete all blog posts pertaining to 1984 in the comments section of this thread. Blog posts are assigned weekly for the duration of the Lit Circle, and are due by 10pm on Thursday nights.
Students posting in this thread will be: Keenan, Sam, Andrew, Connor, Danielle, Megan & Josh
Happy Reading!
Students posting in this thread will be: Keenan, Sam, Andrew, Connor, Danielle, Megan & Josh
Happy Reading!
Turn of the Screw
Please complete all blog posts pertaining to Turn of the Screw in the comments section of this thread. Blog posts are assigned weekly for the duration of the Lit Circle, and are due by 10pm on Thursday nights.
Students posting in this thread will be: Alison, Claire, Code & Erica.
Happy Reading!
Students posting in this thread will be: Alison, Claire, Code & Erica.
Happy Reading!
Things Fall Apart
Please complete all blog posts pertaining to Things Fall Apart in the comments section of this thread. Blog posts are assigned weekly for the duration of the Lit Circle, and are due by 10pm on Thursday nights.
Students posting in this thread will be: Steph, Julie, Will & Samm.
Happy Reading!
Students posting in this thread will be: Steph, Julie, Will & Samm.
Happy Reading!
Pride and Prejudice
Please complete all blog posts pertaining to Pride and Prejudice in the comments section of this thread. Blog posts are assigned weekly for the duration of the Lit Circle, and are due by 10pm on Thursday nights.
Students posting in this thread will be: Michelle, Tamra, Meghann, Melanie & Jennifer
Happy Reading!
Students posting in this thread will be: Michelle, Tamra, Meghann, Melanie & Jennifer
Happy Reading!
Quarter One Lit Circle: The Color Purple
Please complete all blog posts pertaining to The Color Purple in the comments section of this thread. Blog posts are assigned weekly for the duration of the Lit Circle, and are due by 10pm on Thursday nights.
Students posting in this thread will be: Ann, Leah, Zack, Gabby & Paige.
Happy Reading!
Students posting in this thread will be: Ann, Leah, Zack, Gabby & Paige.
Happy Reading!
05 October 2011
Repetition and Routine
Throughout the novel, Grendel constantly notices and criticizes things as being "mechanical". Through his childlike observations, Grendel discovers he hates routine and action without purpose. Despite this hatred, Grendel himself falls victim to it. However childish perspective lets the reader put his disdain of routine into a view they can comprehend.
In my opinion, Grendel is just seeking a reason for being and doing. He's just looking for the answer to the age old question: "Why am I here? What is my purpose? What am I meant to become?" He hates the routine because he can't figure out his purpose and how to get out of it.
However, his immature and overdramatic nature makes it impossible for himself, and possibly even the reader, to comprehend those questions.
I believe that as a result of his immaturity, he feels joy during his death scene as he realizes he is now able to escape the routine he hates so much.
In my opinion, Grendel is just seeking a reason for being and doing. He's just looking for the answer to the age old question: "Why am I here? What is my purpose? What am I meant to become?" He hates the routine because he can't figure out his purpose and how to get out of it.
However, his immature and overdramatic nature makes it impossible for himself, and possibly even the reader, to comprehend those questions.
I believe that as a result of his immaturity, he feels joy during his death scene as he realizes he is now able to escape the routine he hates so much.
29 September 2011
Beowulf! A Warrior Exposed.
A cry for help sounds. A woman is being mugged. The thief will surely escape. But wait... is that a mild mannered journalist stripping off his clothes...? Where is this familiar series of events from? You guessed it: Superman. In transition from citizen to crime-fighter, it seems heroes have a strange obsession with getting into the nude. Beowulf, warrior of Geatland, produces similar action when fighting a cruel monster, Grendel, for the Danish people-- he boasts that he will fight Grendel wielding no weapon and wearing no armor. It seems to me that this habit of saviors fighting exposed is quite symbolic. The naked hero Beowulf presents himself fully, purely one might say, dressed as he was the day he was born. It would seem this birthday suit was in fact a symbol for the valor and selflessness involved with putting one's life on the line for the sake of the people around them-- completely vulnerable, a hero to the core.
23 September 2011
Philosophy?
All pigs eat cheese.
Old Snaggle is a pig.
If Snaggle is sick and refuses to eat, try cheese (64).
A deductively valid argument, or is it? Do all pigs truly eat cheese, or is this just another example of a deductive fallacy?
Ah, the games we as humans play, the philosophy we think we know. But do we know, or do we only think we know?
We theorize what we do not know, we come to conclusions that make logical sense to us, but maybe there are some things we are just never supposed to know. Maybe not everything can be boiled down to "crackpot theories" of science. Are we, in the words of the dragon from Grendel, "insane" to think that we can know everything?
I think not, I think the dragon is correct in saying that we rush to what we do not know and in all actuality, are not supposed to know. Sometimes, we may get lucky. Sometimes, we might grasp aspects of the much sought after knowledge. But, the majority of the time, humans will only come to "insane" conclusions.
Hell, this might very well be a crackpot theory in and of itself.
22 September 2011
The Confusion of Stream of Consciousness Narration
Okay, these six chapters took me forever to read. It's not that I didn't like what I was reading (the diction is awesome) it was the fact that the narration jumped around so much. One minute I was reading about a goat and then the next there's something about a dragon. I think I might have read each chapter two or three times and I'm still kind of confused.
Is anyone else having this issue or is it just me?
Quotes Explained
Okay I have two questions about certain quotes from the book that i don't fully understand. One is about "seeing all of life without observing it". What does this mean exactly?
And then the other is "expression is founded on the finite occasion. It is the activity of infinitude impressing itself on its environment".
And then the other is "expression is founded on the finite occasion. It is the activity of infinitude impressing itself on its environment".
Bonus Question
3 points to the first person to solve this Anglo Saxon riddle!
A wonderful warrior exists on earth.
Two dumb creatures make him grow bright between them.
Enemies use him against one another.
His strength is fierce but a woman can tame him.
He will meekly serve both men and women
If they know the trick of looking after him
And feeding him properly.
He makes people happy.
He makes their lives better.
But if they let him grow proud
This ungrateful friend soon turns against them.
A wonderful warrior exists on earth.
Two dumb creatures make him grow bright between them.
Enemies use him against one another.
His strength is fierce but a woman can tame him.
He will meekly serve both men and women
If they know the trick of looking after him
And feeding him properly.
He makes people happy.
He makes their lives better.
But if they let him grow proud
This ungrateful friend soon turns against them.
21 September 2011
Illusion, Truth, and Humanity in Grendel
As I was reading Grendel, one of the main themes that seemed to pop out at me was that of truth versus illusion. In Grendel, the villains of Beowulf seem to represent truth: in contrast to the relative ignorance of the Anglo-Saxons, the dragon and Grendel are highly erudite and scientific; the dragon, in particular, represents knowledge in its purest form, as his special perspective on space and time allows him to be virtually omniscient. The Anglo-Saxons, by contrast, represent myth and illusion, as epitomized by the "Shaper" - the scop, the poet whose words shape the perception of reality. The scop changes the nature of perception, allowing people to see bloody wars as righteous and glorious affairs; the scop creates a better world for the Anglo-Saxons to believe and live in. By contrast, the reality that Grendel and the dragon present is a very grim world, one in which all life is meaningless and hate and violence are the law of the world. Grendel's anger against humanity, then, can be described in terms of illusion and truth: because he represents the harsh truth of the world, Grendel hates humanity for the golden, fairytale myths it uses to hide the dark reality of life. Humanity's ultimate crime, in Grendel's view, is then self-deception; it is the refusal to admit truth but to instead hide behind reality.
My questions, then, are thus: through the interactions of Grendel, the dragon, and Anglo-Saxons, what does John Gardner say about the nature of reality, myth, and what does this imply about morality and humanity? In our opinion, is he correct?
My questions, then, are thus: through the interactions of Grendel, the dragon, and Anglo-Saxons, what does John Gardner say about the nature of reality, myth, and what does this imply about morality and humanity? In our opinion, is he correct?
07 August 2011
Comparisons
As I was thinking about the novel, I realized that many authors use acts of betrayal as main themes in novels. Betrayal can be portrayed into many different story lines and can tie a story together. The book Kite Runner came to me because one of the main themes of the novel was the act of betrayal between two brothers. In Great Expectations, Pip and Joe have the bond of brothers/fathers also. Even though The Kite Runner and Great Expectations are two very different novels, they were both very similar in that they both had characters that were overcome by guilt due to their selfish desires in their past.
Connecting the Dots
As many know, I am an avid reader. Sometimes, I feel as though i have read almost every good book out there. One thing I have noticed throughout every novel is that no good author puts something in without good reason. I forgot this while reading Great Expectations, and therefore could not find the truth for the ending. Once i reached the end of the book, and found out who the mysterious benefactor really was, I immediately remembered a scene earlier in the book-not where Pip first met the criminal though, but the meeting where Pip got the coin. When i first read that chapter, i had thought, how does this connect to the purpose of the novel, or even relevant to the plot? It made an interesting story, but I couldn't figure out why the author had included it. At first, I thought that it might have had something to do with showing more of the characters personality traits, but that was ruled out as those traits had already been shown. Once I had read the ending though, it had made sense-it was a sign of things to come for Pip. By the time I had read about Pip becoming a gentleman, i had forgotten about the coin-the first ever that was Pips, and not claimed by his sister. I think if i had remembered that, an connected it to what I had read in other books, i could have foreseen his benefactor, or at least thought of it once, instead of what the author wanted us to think. My favorite kind of book-the one that has stuff in the beginning that you forget about or don't know the truth behind until the plot spirals together and everything is revealed, and all loose ends are tied.
Are there any other instances in the novel that were not obvious from the start that anyone noticed?
Are there any other instances in the novel that were not obvious from the start that anyone noticed?
Assumptions
In Great Expectations, Dickens criticizes social classes and the assumptions that go along with them. Pip, growing up under the care of the Gargery family, is a part of the poor working class. When he is exposed to Miss Havisham’s lifestyle, being a part of the wealthy, upper class, Pip longs to become a part of that as well. However, Dickens opposes the stereotypical view of the social classes, describing Miss Havisham as a lonely, selfish woman with a “cold heart” (338). Joe, however, is a “good-natured, sweet-tempered… dear fellow”, even though he is just a poor peasant (7). Dickens also uses this contrary belief with Magwitch and Pumblechook. Pip does not like Pumblechook for his proud, haughty characteristics. Magwitch, although at first Pip is terrified of him, later grows in Pip’s eyes and he becomes very fond of the ex-convict. Dickens portrays the difference between Pumblechook and Magwitch through their greed. Pumblechook, although already well set off in life, attempts to gain even more recognition through taking claim to Pip’s fortunes, telling everyone he is the benefactor. Magwitch, however, with nothing to his name, works hard to gain money to give to Pip, purposefully being anonymous. The difference between the selfish ambitions of Magwitch and Pumblechook demonstrates a major theme in the novel. Dickens uses these charcaters to depict a person’s worth does not derive from their money or social standings. Pip could not stand to be around Pumblechook, whereas he willingly took his “place at magwitch’s side” because he felt it “was his place” (495). Also, Pip admires and loves the “tenderness of Joe” and his giving spirit, whereas Miss Havisham only thinks of herself and justifying her longings in life (518). Because of their characteristics, the wealthy in Great Expectations are less valued than the poor, yet more admirable characters. Thoughts?
The Mists
In Great Expectations, the mists are a significant symbol throughout Pip’s adventures. Their dark, mysterious characteristics symbolize changes Pip will experience, often becoming almost another character in itself. As a young boy, when Pip goes out to give his convict food, the mists were so thick they “seemed…like a phantom” to him, weighing down his already guilty conscience (Dickens 17). When Pip was with the convict, later known to be Magwitch, he sees another escaped convict that “the mist had shrouded”, foreshadowing an importance to this other convict. The mists also symbolize a change in Pip’s life when he is leaving home, headed for his life as a wealthy gentleman. The mists “had all solemnly risen”, demonstrating his new direction in life, leaving behind his past (Dickens 177). After Pip experiences many trials, including losing a dear friend, Magwitch, and losing all his fortunes, Pip returns to his humble beginnings. While meeting with Estella, they decide to be friends; and with the mists rising around them, in “all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed” Pip sees “no shadow of another parting from her” (Dickens 539). The mists symbolize a positive, certain ending to Pip’s life with Estella, leaving them forever friends and united in companionship, which is what Pip has always wanted.
What other symbols do you notice in the novel?
Pip: A barbarian (from space?) amongst ghosts
It is clear throughout Great Expectations that Dickens is trying to portray the character Pip as a tyrannical nomad (or barbarian) who constantly struggles to dominate the ghost like figures around him. This theme is clearly symbolized both in the beginning of the novel when a young pip sits upon the graves stones of his parents, as well as later within his affection for fair skinned characters such as Estella and Herbert. It could also be presumed that this is the reason Dickens made his characters so shallow in comparison to Pip's wild depth. In the end, this parallel of barbarian and ghosts created a gentle humanism within Pip, even if he was possibly from space.
For response: Do you think Pip was indeed from Space? Why?
For response: Do you think Pip was indeed from Space? Why?
Modern Struggle
Clearly a major theme of this novel is the desire for power and is demonstrated through Pip's constant struggle to get to the top. Through most of the novel Pip struggles to become in power and gain control through social status and even within his relationships. This constant need for power eventually transpires into Pip's needs to free himself from the power of society. He struggles to see past the materialistic standards of society. Dickens demonstrates how Pip struggles to break through the expectations of society, but these struggles still clearly exist today. In the modern day world individuals are constantly faced with the struggle to conform to society or break through and see past these social-economic needs.
How do you see people today struggling with these same needs as Pip?
How do you see people today struggling with these same needs as Pip?
06 August 2011
Pip and Joe vs. Judas and Jesus
While I was reading Great Expectations I happened to of also been reading a Bible passage form church around the same time. I couldn’t help but notice that the Bible story about Judas and Jesus closely resembles that of Pip and Joe’s.
So for some background on the Bible story; Jesus takes Judas under his wing as his disciple and through this Jesus gains Judas’ trust and also a strong relationship. Eventually, the local priests pressure Judas into betraying Jesus and in return he not only gains good social standing with the church but also 30 silver coins (wealth). In turn Jesus was disappointed but continued to provide unconditional love and forgiveness to Judas.
This simple Bible story kind of breaks down Pip and Joe’s relationship. Judas represents Pip, the oppressor while Jesus represents Joe. As Judas continues to abuse Jesus, Jesus continues to hang on and keep the relationship afloat, much like we often let God down or disappoint him yet he never leaves us to sink. I believe that a lot of our personal relationships in life also follow this same pattern. Relationships with parents, friends, family, etc. will eventually lead to some sort of disappointment, but for the majority of the time the relationship continues to stay afloat and in turn each individual grows stronger and closer.
What other relationships in the novel do you see that follow this pattern?
So for some background on the Bible story; Jesus takes Judas under his wing as his disciple and through this Jesus gains Judas’ trust and also a strong relationship. Eventually, the local priests pressure Judas into betraying Jesus and in return he not only gains good social standing with the church but also 30 silver coins (wealth). In turn Jesus was disappointed but continued to provide unconditional love and forgiveness to Judas.
This simple Bible story kind of breaks down Pip and Joe’s relationship. Judas represents Pip, the oppressor while Jesus represents Joe. As Judas continues to abuse Jesus, Jesus continues to hang on and keep the relationship afloat, much like we often let God down or disappoint him yet he never leaves us to sink. I believe that a lot of our personal relationships in life also follow this same pattern. Relationships with parents, friends, family, etc. will eventually lead to some sort of disappointment, but for the majority of the time the relationship continues to stay afloat and in turn each individual grows stronger and closer.
What other relationships in the novel do you see that follow this pattern?
East of London
After I finished reading the novel, I looked back and reread the first couple of pages, paying attention to small details. In doing so, I came across the passage in which Pip reveals the location of the marshlands in which he lives. Nothing seemed too far out of the ordinary until I read a footnote that stated that Pip's home was in the lowlands east of London. At that, I perked up. Pip is east of London. In the Old Testament story of Cain and Abel, after murdering his brother, Cain is exiled to the Land of Nod, which is east of Eden. Cain settles in a land that is east of where he should be, east of where he was designed to be. Also found in the Old Testament is the story of Jonah. Jonah is sent by God to go to Nineveh, but instead, Jonah refuses and charters a ship bound for Tarshish. Tarshish, many historians believe, is located hundreds of miles east of Nineveh, again, we find a man east of where he should be. In Great Expectations, Pip believes that he needs to be in London instead of the marshlands east of London. He feels that he should be in and was designed for London, but instead, he finds himself east of it. Any thoughts on this subject?
31 July 2011
Title
While I was reading Great Expectations, I couldn't get over the title itself. I kept thinking about how the characters referred to "coming into money" as having 'great expectations' and how to current readers, "great expectations" could mean just about anything. As I continued to read I noticed that Pip's expectations of what his life was going to be like didn't match up with what I expected to happen. Namely, that everything he was hoping for would end up in the pooper.
23 July 2011
Down to the Wire!
I see many of you already have submitted your essays and can relax in the knowledge that you're finished. Bravo! A quick glance at my email inbox this morning showed that a few of you still have a little work to do--happy writing!
I wanted to let you know that I do not know how much access I'll have to email before the submission time. I will definitely be checking and answering emails from my phone, but I will not have access to send you any documents you might need, including the summer homework packet. Since most of the questions I have received in the last few days have concerned signing up for Turn It In, I've included the directions below. If you still need to sign up for blogger, I will try to get you set up as an author; however, if you do not hear back from me, you DO still need to go ahead and post. You can comment on any established post on the blog; without authorial privileges you just can't create your own new posts.
Best of luck! I look forward to seeing you all in a few weeks. Enjoy these last couple (Summer Homework Free--woo hoo!) weeks of vacation!
Also, if you have any questions about the homework, feel free to post them here! Your classmates are excellent resources :)
_______________________________________________________
Summer homework will be submitted electronically via Turn It In. Before you can submit your work, you must create an account by following the steps below:
1. Go to www.turnitin.com
2. Click on “create account” (top right corner of the screen)
3. If you have used Turn It In before (A.P. Lang students), you can use your same username and password. Log in as you normally would. If you are new to Turn It In, scroll down to “Sign Up For Turn It In,” and follow the directions for creating a student account.
4. Regardless of whether or not you have used Turn It In before or not, you will need to enroll for this class!!
Class ID: 4044451
Class Enrollment Password: ilovelit
**NOTE**
Please plan on registering for Turn It In and submitting your essay before the due date! Last minute technical issues will not qualify as an excuse for late submissions.
After the specified time on the due date, Sunday, July 24th, by 11:59pm, late penalties will accrue at a deduction of 20% per day.
I wanted to let you know that I do not know how much access I'll have to email before the submission time. I will definitely be checking and answering emails from my phone, but I will not have access to send you any documents you might need, including the summer homework packet. Since most of the questions I have received in the last few days have concerned signing up for Turn It In, I've included the directions below. If you still need to sign up for blogger, I will try to get you set up as an author; however, if you do not hear back from me, you DO still need to go ahead and post. You can comment on any established post on the blog; without authorial privileges you just can't create your own new posts.
Best of luck! I look forward to seeing you all in a few weeks. Enjoy these last couple (Summer Homework Free--woo hoo!) weeks of vacation!
Also, if you have any questions about the homework, feel free to post them here! Your classmates are excellent resources :)
_______________________________________________________
Summer homework will be submitted electronically via Turn It In. Before you can submit your work, you must create an account by following the steps below:
1. Go to www.turnitin.com
2. Click on “create account” (top right corner of the screen)
3. If you have used Turn It In before (A.P. Lang students), you can use your same username and password. Log in as you normally would. If you are new to Turn It In, scroll down to “Sign Up For Turn It In,” and follow the directions for creating a student account.
4. Regardless of whether or not you have used Turn It In before or not, you will need to enroll for this class!!
Class ID: 4044451
Class Enrollment Password: ilovelit
**NOTE**
Please plan on registering for Turn It In and submitting your essay before the due date! Last minute technical issues will not qualify as an excuse for late submissions.
After the specified time on the due date, Sunday, July 24th, by 11:59pm, late penalties will accrue at a deduction of 20% per day.
21 July 2011
Women's Role
As I was reading the book, I really took an interest in the role women play. Honestly, I found that they don't play much of a role at all. It seems to me that the women are no more than trophies, to be flaunted and won. The only strong woman I really identified in the novel is Mrs. Joe. She runs her household with a firm hand and refuses to take anything from anyone. Aside from her, women are mostly seen as objects. In the novel, Herbert even refers to his future bride Clara as a child, as if she needs someone there to take care of her or she won't survive. Reading that made me realize how far women and feminism have come and it made me so glad we don't live in a society like this anymore.
19 July 2011
Pip and Estella: Two Peas in a Pod
I was amazed when I discovered that Estella was the biological daughter of two criminals. In my mind I thought that was an interesting similarity Pip and she shared. Both characters were born into families that would never have high stature in the community and out of sheer luck the both became very prominent members of society.
Personally I think the two chacters were cursed by thier good fortune. Estella might have actually understood the concept of love if she hadn't been raised by Miss Havisham. Pip might have given up the notion that he had a chance with Estella if Magwitch hadn't given him his fortune. In both situations, the characters would have been better off and possibly happier as commoners. Through these two characters Dickens illustrates that a person's status does not bring a person happiness.
Does anyone else have any comments on this theme?
Personally I think the two chacters were cursed by thier good fortune. Estella might have actually understood the concept of love if she hadn't been raised by Miss Havisham. Pip might have given up the notion that he had a chance with Estella if Magwitch hadn't given him his fortune. In both situations, the characters would have been better off and possibly happier as commoners. Through these two characters Dickens illustrates that a person's status does not bring a person happiness.
Does anyone else have any comments on this theme?
18 July 2011
I thought it was really interesting that as the book progressed and Pip was in the influence of smarter, wealthier people, Dicken's altered the language that Pip spoke with and even the words Pip kept inside of his head. I love how gradual it was too, and that once he spoke to Joe again, Joe's grammar was much less clear in comparison. Dickens portrayed each of Pip's ages perfectly as well. I loved his innocence in the beginning, and the way he perceived certain ages, especially when Estella made him cry out of frustration. It was so easy to relate to the the feelings that go along with Pip's age when Estella makes him cry that first day, when it says "She put the mug down on the stones of the wall and gave me the bread and meat without looking at me, as insolently as if I were a dog in disgrace. I was so humiliated, hurt, spurned, offended,angry, sorry-- I cannot hit upon the right name for the smart-- God knows what its name was-- that tears sprang to my eyes" (60). I became attached to the character of Pip particularly through these kind of instances.
The novel as a whole
Just two minutes ago I finished reading Great Expectations-- this being precisely the ninth time I've been "finished" with it, but the first time I've come to the end of the book. I must say, I'm quite satisfied! I had a few laughs, learned a lesson or two, and now I don't have to just pretend to know of Dickens' literature. Throughout the novel, Dickens utilizes far-fetched coincidences and, at times tart, comedic twists to accent in Pip's life the course that most human's take anyway: From arrogant childhood, into dream and shame filled adolescence, through remorse and mistake riddled young-adulthood, and finally the arrival at great peace with age! This path of sour to sweet is not only seen in the life of Pip, but in the themes of the novel as well, such as marriage. During the former half of the story, marriage is portrayed as an unhappy and destructive affair; beginning with the description of Pip's parents who are already dead (perhaps as a symbol of childhood, and the "stiffness" of ignorance and arrogance), and then with Joe's mother and father, as well as Joe and his own wife, couples who both possess very abusive forms of communication (this could be considered a symbol of adolescence with its strong accompaniment of dissatisfaction and self-destruction), onto the marriage of Mr and Mrs Mathew Pocket and the failed marriage of Miss Havisham (both relationships containing themes of crushed dreams, perhaps representing young adulthood); however, towards the novel's end, a few very satisfied and healthy relationships present themselves; those being Herbert with Clara, and Joe with Biddy (finally we've reached a point of repentance and happiness-- marriages that symbolize adulthood). So it would seem that Dickens uses his tale as a whole to present the natural revolution of human life. All this being said, I quite enjoyed Great Expectations, and find it now to have been a worth while venture.
16 July 2011
Need the Blog Invite Resent?
I noticed there are only 20 of you signed up for the blog thus far. If you have not already signed up using the link I sent at the beginning of this summer, you'll find that it has expired. Just shoot me an email from the email address you'd like to use and I will resend the invitation.
Also, I've heard some people are struggling through this book. PLEASE do not let this discourage you from the course. We will read a variety of books throughout the year; it's not a year long study of Dickens, so if this isn't your favorite reading, we'll find something you enjoy, I promise. :) I will also say that this is the lengthiest read. I scheduled it as the summer reading because I figured it's more manageable when you don't have other coursework on your plate.
Enjoy these last few weeks of summer!
Also, I've heard some people are struggling through this book. PLEASE do not let this discourage you from the course. We will read a variety of books throughout the year; it's not a year long study of Dickens, so if this isn't your favorite reading, we'll find something you enjoy, I promise. :) I will also say that this is the lengthiest read. I scheduled it as the summer reading because I figured it's more manageable when you don't have other coursework on your plate.
Enjoy these last few weeks of summer!
14 July 2011
Prompt 3
I have a quick question about the 3rd prompt which talks about acts of betrayal. I was a little confused because the prompt says "select an act of betrayal...and analyze the nature of the betrayal...". For example, would Pip betraying his "old life" also fall into Pip betraying Joe or would you rather have us focus on only one?
10 July 2011
Parallels Between Miss H. and Pip
The more I contemplate the similarities between Pip and Miss H., the more convinced I become that Dickens is reiterating an important theme for a reason.
This theme is, mainly, heart-break. Although the theme is easy enough to understand as it is told throughout the book, it takes on a more complicated form when you compare the heart-breaking experiences of Pip to Miss H.'s. Both are spurned by the person they love the most and both begin that love with hope; a hope that is fueled by denial until it is completely crushed. The main difference between their experiences is that Miss H. had no control over the outcome of her heart-breaking experience, whereas Pip willingly continues his pointless courtship, although he is fighting against an outcome that has been insured in so many ways. He fights against many years of taught harshness and coldness; he fights a heart that refuses to succumb to love.It is perhaps this difference that leaves the reactions between Pip and Miss H. to part ways. Miss H. abandons love and revenges herself on the world, eventually leaving the world a broken person. Pip, although by no means happy, eventually accepts the inevitable. Anybody else have thoughts on this topic?
This theme is, mainly, heart-break. Although the theme is easy enough to understand as it is told throughout the book, it takes on a more complicated form when you compare the heart-breaking experiences of Pip to Miss H.'s. Both are spurned by the person they love the most and both begin that love with hope; a hope that is fueled by denial until it is completely crushed. The main difference between their experiences is that Miss H. had no control over the outcome of her heart-breaking experience, whereas Pip willingly continues his pointless courtship, although he is fighting against an outcome that has been insured in so many ways. He fights against many years of taught harshness and coldness; he fights a heart that refuses to succumb to love.It is perhaps this difference that leaves the reactions between Pip and Miss H. to part ways. Miss H. abandons love and revenges herself on the world, eventually leaving the world a broken person. Pip, although by no means happy, eventually accepts the inevitable. Anybody else have thoughts on this topic?
Heartbreak
Everybody, excluding the exceptionally lucky ones, has experienced heartbreak. In Great Expectations Mrs. Havisham is chosen by Dickens to represent the grief caused by heartbreak from a lost love. Dickens portrays the absolute outer limits of this subject by thoroughly exaggerating Mrs. Havisham’s reactions to the pain she is feeling from being left at the altar by her soon to be, or so she thought, husband.
Now, the question is, why does Dickens feel the need to so elaborately exaggerate Mrs. Havisham’s behaviors? Is he suggesting or advocating the long grieving process Mrs. Havisham takes to get over her lost love? Is he condoning the use of another innocent human being (Mrs. Havisham’s use of Estella’s beauty to break the hearts of other men) for personal vengeance? Or is he simply adding an eccentric being to the plot of the story?
My personal belief is that Dickens uses Mrs. Havisham to reach out to the readers with broken hearts. To show these readers that nothing good comes from sitting around thinking "where did I go wrong?" "What could have been?" Nothing profitable became of Mrs. Havisham’s living in the past, wearing her wedding dress around all day long, for this dress caused her great harm toward the end of the story when she leaned over the fireplace and was consumed in flames. Absolutely nothing uplifting or cheerful came from her attempt at vengeance on the male species, for she did not achieve her goal of breaking every man’s heart for breaking hers, she just hurt Pip using Estella, and later felt terrible for this action.
I believe one reason Mrs. Havisham is used in the plot of Great Expectations is to basically say “heartbreak is not the end of your life”. Dickens shows how grieving over a lost love for one’s whole life gets one nowhere, and the only way to move past the pain is to grieve, gather oneself together, and move on. What do you guys think?
Now, the question is, why does Dickens feel the need to so elaborately exaggerate Mrs. Havisham’s behaviors? Is he suggesting or advocating the long grieving process Mrs. Havisham takes to get over her lost love? Is he condoning the use of another innocent human being (Mrs. Havisham’s use of Estella’s beauty to break the hearts of other men) for personal vengeance? Or is he simply adding an eccentric being to the plot of the story?
My personal belief is that Dickens uses Mrs. Havisham to reach out to the readers with broken hearts. To show these readers that nothing good comes from sitting around thinking "where did I go wrong?" "What could have been?" Nothing profitable became of Mrs. Havisham’s living in the past, wearing her wedding dress around all day long, for this dress caused her great harm toward the end of the story when she leaned over the fireplace and was consumed in flames. Absolutely nothing uplifting or cheerful came from her attempt at vengeance on the male species, for she did not achieve her goal of breaking every man’s heart for breaking hers, she just hurt Pip using Estella, and later felt terrible for this action.
I believe one reason Mrs. Havisham is used in the plot of Great Expectations is to basically say “heartbreak is not the end of your life”. Dickens shows how grieving over a lost love for one’s whole life gets one nowhere, and the only way to move past the pain is to grieve, gather oneself together, and move on. What do you guys think?
09 July 2011
Pop Culture Loves Dickens
Once I finished Great Expectations, I noticed it had a habit (like most other classics) to pop up everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Dickens probably had no clue that Great Expectations references would be around 142 years later. Oh, but it is. I was watching P.S. I Love You with some friends and in the movie Holly tells her friends, after the sudden death of her husband, she’ll become “the Miss Havisham of the Lower East Side. Never leave my apartment 'til I'm old. Sit in my wedding dress. With an old piece of wedding cake."
Okay. I had to stop for a moment and go, “Was that a Great Expectations reference?” And this was just the beginning.
After that I started wondering how many Great Expectations references there are. The truth is that there are more than I can count. I’ve seen most of these things and never pieced it together until now. When I discovered what things had references to Great Expectations in it my jaw dropped. It’s in stuff I watch, read, and listen to. I may not be able to look at them the same way again.
They are in Supernatural (third season, if you were wondering), web videos (Sassy Gay Friend, anyone?), and Chowder, a cartoon my sister watches. I had to have my sister explain this since I can’t sit through an episode of it, but basically a character had a fiancé who didn’t show up, so she takes an apprentice who she teaches to avoid/hate men. It has Great Expectations written all over it.
Alanis Morissette also has a song about Estella on her Jagged Little Pill album called “All I Really Want”. I’ve had this song on my iPod for who-knows-how long, probably listened to it while reading the book, and never pieced it together. Morisssette sings, “I'm like Estella, I like to reel it in and then spit it out.”
Great Expectations has inspired operas, movies, TV shows, and rides at Disneyland Paris. As hard as this is to admit, I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to escape the classics. They’re all around us, whether we notice them or not.
07 July 2011
Mrs. Joe's Reign Over Pip
Once again, as I continued my essay writing, another question came up. When exactly is Pip able to escape the control of his sister? This is what I came up with, let me know what you guys think because I'm not entirely sure.
Pip is able to begin his steps toward freedom from the moment he visits Miss Havisham's and begins to grow a desire for money. Mrs. Joe controls Pip through his own fear and when Pip's desire for wealth over powers his fear of Mrs. Joe, he is then able to escape that stage of being controlled. This is apparent in the life of Mrs. Joe. She depends upon her power over Pip for life. Clearly, it is not a coincidence that she dies as soon as Pip begins to seek a new life. Since controlling Pip is her life it is clear that Dickens decided to kill her off to demonstrate his new found freedom, which is truly not free. But Pip escapes Mrs. Joe's reign ends when he begins to feel a new desire for money, not in the instant that Mrs. Joe dies. Mrs. Joe's death is just a result of her loss of control. Pip no longer needs the control of Mrs. Joe and is controlled by his new desire for money.
05 July 2011
Posting Questions
Since I've had quite a few people ask: no, you do not need to create a separate post each time you blog. If you respond to a thread under someone else's post, or under one of the question posts I created, you will still get credit for posting.
Keep the questions coming if you have them! I'll see you in a few weeks!
Keep the questions coming if you have them! I'll see you in a few weeks!
Social Class
Dickens explores social class in Great Expectations to draw attention to the times. I truly don’t think that Dickens is advocating the merging of social classes, but instead he is pointing out that money does not necessarily make a person great. For example, Miss Havisham has money, but she’s completely crazy. Then you have Drummle, who shows that you can be a complete jerk and still be a member of the elusive upper class.
Maybe what Dickens is getting at is that one should work hard and be morally responsible, instead of wasting all of their time on a pursuit that really won’t pay off in the end.
03 July 2011
Deception
Great Expectations basically revolves around the appearance of things and how they are not what they seem.
In the novel, Pip deceives himself with the idea that he can marry Estella. However, Pip can only marry Estella if he moves social classes, which means that he must deceive society.
Through these acts, Dickens shows us that the greatest act of deception is self-deception and through this that one truly cannot delude himself into happiness.
Pip chooses to self-destruct on himself because he believes that in the end it will bring him to Estella. Seriously, Pip? If a girl claims she doesn’t have a heart, you might not want to go down that road.
Throughout the novel, Pip receives advice. Pip is advised to beware of appearances and dig deep for the truth by Jaggers, who is arguably one of the most honest characters in the novel. Don’t be deceived. It’s great advice for Pip, but one of Pip’s fatal flaws is that he doesn’t listen to the people who care for him.
Thinking about it more, this novel is definitely in some ways a response to the people who were spreading rumors that Dickens was cheating on his wife before he left her. Dickens was probably really upset that they didn’t have any proof and had no idea what his situation was.
02 July 2011
Power Dynamics
Throughout Great Expectations, Dickens illustrates a negative correlation between power inequality and friendship: the more power a character possessed, the more he or she was to be isolated. Ms. Havisham, one of the richest and thus most powerful characters in the novel, is also one of the most lonely: unmarried and initially visited only by sycophants, she has few human connections save Estella and Pip. However, in the case of Pip and Estella, Ms. Havisham's use of power destroys her relationships with each. As Estella's guardian, Ms. Havisham uses her power to turn the girl into a cold, cruel woman; as a result, Estella is later unable to reciprocate Ms. Havisham's love for her. In the case of Pip, Ms. Havisham initially uses her superior social status to intimidate Pip into visiting her; later, she uses her power over Estella to break Pip's heart for revenge. When she realizes, however, how she has hurt Pip, Ms. Havisham is filled with guilt. It is only when this guilt breaks her and causes her to talk to Pip as an equal that Ms. Havisham gains connection with another human; in relinquishing power, Ms. Havisham gains instead a friend.
However, instead of merely being treatise on wielding power wisely, Great Expectations seems to suggest that power in and of itself can be isolating. When Pip gains money and status, he is suddenly no longer "Pip" to Joe and others he has known his entire life; instead, he is "Sir," a much more formal and distant title. Nor is Pip's isolation merely shown by how he is identified; Joe, Pip's lifelong friend, tells him that the two must only be friends in private because it would be unseemly for gentrified Pip to be seen with a mere blacksmith. By gaining power, Pip nearly loses his lifelong friend. As an interesting note, Pip's closest friend during his gentleman period is financially poor Herbert. The two are friends because they are equals; Herbert helps Pip navigate London and, in return, Pip financially aids Herbert. Despite Herbert, however, Pip's loss of Joe still haunts him throughout the novel. As with Mrs. Havisham, however, it is only when Pip is ill and impoverished - when he is weak, and not powerful - that Joe again becomes a part of Pip's life. While power can be satisfying to wield, in the end it is equality that engenders friendship.
However, instead of merely being treatise on wielding power wisely, Great Expectations seems to suggest that power in and of itself can be isolating. When Pip gains money and status, he is suddenly no longer "Pip" to Joe and others he has known his entire life; instead, he is "Sir," a much more formal and distant title. Nor is Pip's isolation merely shown by how he is identified; Joe, Pip's lifelong friend, tells him that the two must only be friends in private because it would be unseemly for gentrified Pip to be seen with a mere blacksmith. By gaining power, Pip nearly loses his lifelong friend. As an interesting note, Pip's closest friend during his gentleman period is financially poor Herbert. The two are friends because they are equals; Herbert helps Pip navigate London and, in return, Pip financially aids Herbert. Despite Herbert, however, Pip's loss of Joe still haunts him throughout the novel. As with Mrs. Havisham, however, it is only when Pip is ill and impoverished - when he is weak, and not powerful - that Joe again becomes a part of Pip's life. While power can be satisfying to wield, in the end it is equality that engenders friendship.
Charles Dickens and Marriage
Published in early 1860s, Great Expectations raises a variety of questions regarding the state of marriage at the time.
Anthropologically speaking, marriage at the time was designed for financial stability and to fulfill cultural expectations. Instead of being driven by those desires, Pip is driven by romantic love, even though he sees how it has cost Miss Havisham. Throughout the novel, the reader is able to see that Dickens defines love somewhere along the lines of obsessive and necessary, making the reader question Dicken’s own beliefs.
According to Angus Wilson’s book The World of Charles Dickens: “Dickens's […] [viewed] that a father should rule the family, a mother find her proper sphere inside the home. "I never afterwards forgot, I never shall forget, I never can forget, that my mother was warm for my being sent back." His mother's failure to request his return was no doubt a factor in his demanding and dissatisfied attitude towards women.”
Dicken’s views towards marriage are shown in the novel, as Pip’s blindness in his love and self-deceiving cause his own undoing. Pip tries to become a gentleman for Estella, but she knows where Pip has truly come from. Through the book it becomes apparent that Pip’s sole reason for life is Estella, even though she is entirely wrong for him.
Dickens himself had issues with his marriage, separating from his wife (since divorce was scandalous at the time) after falling in love with actress Ellen Ternan, whom he met in 1857 while producing a performance of Wilkie Collins's The Frozen Deep. Dickens was dissatisfied in his marriage and blamed his wife for cursing him with 10 children. His wife’s family spread rumors of Dicken’s adultery, which Dicken’s denied whole-heartedly. It is not a long shot to assume this novel is Dicken’s stand against love and marriage because of the pain it caused him.
Dickens rewrote the ending of Great Expectations to tie up the story as to not disappoint his readers. The original ending had Pip seeing Estella; she had aged, been abused, and remarried to a poor doctor after her first husband died. This original ending truly summarizes how Dickens feels about love and marriage, that it is painful and better to be without, much better than the fluffy, romantic one that he wrote so he could be paid.
01 July 2011
Identity Crisis: On Names
This is a response to an earlier post.
"To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man" - Hamlet. (Yes, I am a pretentious quote abuser).
Throughout Great Expectations, Pip's many names signal the both the many personas he wears and the many ways others see him. As a child, he is often referred to as "boy" or "you" by his aunt and Mr. Pumblchook, who use those names to label him as a unnecessarily aggravating burden on Mrs. Joe. When he is Pip, he is himself: to both Magwitch and Joe, "Pip" connotes the kind, agreeable boy he was before becoming rich. Moreover, "Pip" is also a homage to Pip's father, Phillip, and thus connects him to his past. To Herbert, "Handel" represents his friendship with Pip: chosen because it of Handel's "Harmonious Blacksmith," it is a name that both acknowledges Pip's former role and the new role he plays as friend to Handel. As to "Sir," Pip is called this by people who see his wealth; it is an acknowledgement of Magwitch's gift and often represents the awe people feel in the newly gentrified Pip's presence. Throughout the novel, the usage of these many names symbolizes Pip's struggle with many connotations: is he merely a rich parvenu to be addressed as "Sir"? Is he, as his aunt suggests, merely a burden to her and society?
Eventually, though, Pip manages to choose the "right" names: Pip and Handel. Not only do both names represent the softer parts of Pip's personality - kindness and friendship - they also connect him to his past, thus giving Pip the reconciliation with past he seeks in the first chapter at the graveyard. Additionally, these names are also representative of Pip's most fruitful relationships, ones in which he is neither under the power of others or the wielder of power over others but instead is an equal. Through names, then, Dickens provides Pip a reconciliation with the past, a proper sense of identity, and a knowledge of the relationships truly worth pursuing.
"To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man" - Hamlet. (Yes, I am a pretentious quote abuser).
Throughout Great Expectations, Pip's many names signal the both the many personas he wears and the many ways others see him. As a child, he is often referred to as "boy" or "you" by his aunt and Mr. Pumblchook, who use those names to label him as a unnecessarily aggravating burden on Mrs. Joe. When he is Pip, he is himself: to both Magwitch and Joe, "Pip" connotes the kind, agreeable boy he was before becoming rich. Moreover, "Pip" is also a homage to Pip's father, Phillip, and thus connects him to his past. To Herbert, "Handel" represents his friendship with Pip: chosen because it of Handel's "Harmonious Blacksmith," it is a name that both acknowledges Pip's former role and the new role he plays as friend to Handel. As to "Sir," Pip is called this by people who see his wealth; it is an acknowledgement of Magwitch's gift and often represents the awe people feel in the newly gentrified Pip's presence. Throughout the novel, the usage of these many names symbolizes Pip's struggle with many connotations: is he merely a rich parvenu to be addressed as "Sir"? Is he, as his aunt suggests, merely a burden to her and society?
Eventually, though, Pip manages to choose the "right" names: Pip and Handel. Not only do both names represent the softer parts of Pip's personality - kindness and friendship - they also connect him to his past, thus giving Pip the reconciliation with past he seeks in the first chapter at the graveyard. Additionally, these names are also representative of Pip's most fruitful relationships, ones in which he is neither under the power of others or the wielder of power over others but instead is an equal. Through names, then, Dickens provides Pip a reconciliation with the past, a proper sense of identity, and a knowledge of the relationships truly worth pursuing.
29 June 2011
Closure
I finished the book today.
And I must admit, I found myself...disappointed. It seemed incredibly weird to me that Dickens concluded such a dark book with a bright ending. I know that the original ending is the more appropriate, gloomy end to the novel and that he was told to end it happily to appease critics, but it just does not seem to make sense. Normally, I would be all for an ending where the boy gets the girl and they live happily ever after. It just seems to me that after so much disappointment and hardship in Pip's life, the story should not just suddenly take a turn for good and then end.
Does anyone else have an opinion on Dicken's choice to end the book this way?
And I must admit, I found myself...disappointed. It seemed incredibly weird to me that Dickens concluded such a dark book with a bright ending. I know that the original ending is the more appropriate, gloomy end to the novel and that he was told to end it happily to appease critics, but it just does not seem to make sense. Normally, I would be all for an ending where the boy gets the girl and they live happily ever after. It just seems to me that after so much disappointment and hardship in Pip's life, the story should not just suddenly take a turn for good and then end.
Does anyone else have an opinion on Dicken's choice to end the book this way?
27 June 2011
The Relationship Between Joe and Pip
This is in reply to the question that Mrs.Linneman posed: "In your opinion, what role did male influences and/or father figures play in Pip's life?"
The role that Joe plays in Pip's life is clearly equal to any father role. Under the terror of Mrs.Joe, Pip and Joe suffered together; however, that was how they formed such a relationship. The imbalance of power in the household shows Pip how to act, when he is viewed as a lesser individual in society. Joe also demonstrates to Pip how a man should not act aggressively but should be able to stand up for himself. This value is demonstrated by Joe when he knocks over Orlick. Dickens compares this to the way Pip and Herbert initially interacted. The way Pip fought with Herbert at Satis House is reflective of Joe's morals. However, Pip is tempted by his new life in London and strays from the virtues that Joe modeled for Pip. Joe sees the limits in both his own life and Pip's life. Pip, on the other hand, can only see Joe's limitations. Joe is a positive influence on Pip and instills practical values on Pip. Without Joe's guide, Pip is lead towards failure because he forgets his humble beginnings. Joe is the voice of reason in Pip's life. When Pip reflects upon his relationship with Joe, he does so with fondness, truly understanding the values Joe tried to teach Pip.
It is sensible that some people may not enjoy the character of Joe, but I respect the morals that Joe holds and thoroughly enjoyed him as a character in the novel. In many parts of the novel, I would side with Joe rather than Pip. Pip often found himself reaching for too much in life and should have taken smaller, almost minute, steps towards success, as I would presume Joe would suggest.
25 June 2011
Marriage
This is my response for Mrs. Linneman's marriage question.
It seems to me like Dickens holds marriage in very low regards. The marriage between Joe and Pip's sister does not seem to be the happiest marriage. Joe holds her in high regard, while Mrs. Joe always seem so angry and frustrated with her life and her marriage. The same with Mr. and Mrs. Pocket. I don't get much of how Mr. Pocket feels, but by the way Mrs. Pocket is always ignoring everything for books about Titles leads me to believe she is very discontent with the fact that she settled for someone without a Title. The almost marriage of Havisham and Compeyson and the heartbreak she endured also seems to say that Dickens does not hold marriage in high regard. Nearly every couple presented appears unhappy and discontent, the complete opposite of the way marriage is supposed to be.
It seems to me like Dickens holds marriage in very low regards. The marriage between Joe and Pip's sister does not seem to be the happiest marriage. Joe holds her in high regard, while Mrs. Joe always seem so angry and frustrated with her life and her marriage. The same with Mr. and Mrs. Pocket. I don't get much of how Mr. Pocket feels, but by the way Mrs. Pocket is always ignoring everything for books about Titles leads me to believe she is very discontent with the fact that she settled for someone without a Title. The almost marriage of Havisham and Compeyson and the heartbreak she endured also seems to say that Dickens does not hold marriage in high regard. Nearly every couple presented appears unhappy and discontent, the complete opposite of the way marriage is supposed to be.
Pip's Expectations: Deserved or No?
As I'm reading this book, I find myself growing increasingly frustrated with Pip's character. In the beginning, Pip does nothing but dream of being a gentleman. He gets his wish, then is completely ungrateful for it! He's dissatisfied with London, because it's not the pristine, beautiful town he dreamed of. He's frustrated because he does not know the name of his benefactor, when he should have just been patient and thankful for this blessing. When he does learn of his benefactor, Magwitch, he's repulsed and abhorred by him and angry that he was wrong; Havisham was not the one who made him a gentleman and Estella is not meant for him. It seems to me that when you get something you've dreamed of your entire life, you should be grateful for it, no matter who provided it. Pip has yet to learn that life is never what you expect and I believe his expectations are undeserved.
17 June 2011
Hi All!
I just wanted to let you know that I know I have received emails from many of you in the last week and a half, and I promise I'm not ignoring you--I've just been out of the country and had no access to email.
I will be getting back to those individuals who inquired about blogger sign ups and other stuff in the next few days. In the meantime, I'm loving these posts; you're all doing a wonderful job!
I will be getting back to those individuals who inquired about blogger sign ups and other stuff in the next few days. In the meantime, I'm loving these posts; you're all doing a wonderful job!
What's My Name?
I found it interesting how in this novel some of the characters had multiple names. For example, Pip was referred to as "Handel", "Sir", "Mr.", all depending on the situation and the person addressing him. Each name had a significance, such as Handel representing a man that wrote a piece of music Herbert knew of about a blacksmith. As for Sir, Pip conveyed his annoyance at hearing the title directed at him by Joe. Pip is not the only one with multiple names, his benefactor also has a few, and the novel makes quite a few mentions of characters and their "christened" names. It was also interesting that one of two conditions of Pip's coming into his "Great Expectations" was that he had to always go by "Pip". This must have carried a special significance to Pip's benefactor, Magwitch. Perhaps he was hoping to preserve some quality in the young boy even as he became a gentlemen. Or maybe he was just worried about locating the boy should he choose a different name as a gentleman. Unfortunately, this is as far as my thought process takes me. I was wondering if anyone could help me build upon the significance of names in this novel. :)
16 June 2011
Objectification and another look at Pip and Estella
In my earlier post, I interpreted Dickens's ending to mean that Pip and Estella eventually did marry. However, since the ending of Great Expectations is rather open-ended, I've decided to reinterpret Estella and Pip with an ending in which the two "part as friends" and nothing more.
Contemporary writer Terry Pratchett once wrote that "evil begins when you begin to treat people as things." Throughout Great Expectations, however, both Pip and Estella are often seen as objects by many characters. For both Pip's aunt and Mr. Pumblechook, Pip is a burden, not a boy: something to be seen to, not something to be loved. Later on, Mr. Pumblechook sees Pip's successes as only a prize for himself: something that can further his reputation, not something that will aid Pip in life. However, while Pip does have friends who view him as human, Estella has very few of these. From childhood, she has been seen even by Miss Havisham, as an object, something with which Miss Havisham will "wreck her revenge on men." Her
adoptive mother sees her as a tool while her suitors see her, because of her beauty, as ornamentation. The only person who does eventually acknowledge her humanity is Pip: though he, like the many men before him, initially sees only Estella's beauty, by the end of the novel he learns to respect her choices and humanity by accepting that the two will part as only friends. Pip, who himself has repeatedly treated as though he were an object and not a man, learns in his turn not to treat the girl he has loved as thus. While Pip is eventually left alone, his solitude ironically yields a much more satisfying and rich ending than if he had stayed with Estella.
Contemporary writer Terry Pratchett once wrote that "evil begins when you begin to treat people as things." Throughout Great Expectations, however, both Pip and Estella are often seen as objects by many characters. For both Pip's aunt and Mr. Pumblechook, Pip is a burden, not a boy: something to be seen to, not something to be loved. Later on, Mr. Pumblechook sees Pip's successes as only a prize for himself: something that can further his reputation, not something that will aid Pip in life. However, while Pip does have friends who view him as human, Estella has very few of these. From childhood, she has been seen even by Miss Havisham, as an object, something with which Miss Havisham will "wreck her revenge on men." Her
adoptive mother sees her as a tool while her suitors see her, because of her beauty, as ornamentation. The only person who does eventually acknowledge her humanity is Pip: though he, like the many men before him, initially sees only Estella's beauty, by the end of the novel he learns to respect her choices and humanity by accepting that the two will part as only friends. Pip, who himself has repeatedly treated as though he were an object and not a man, learns in his turn not to treat the girl he has loved as thus. While Pip is eventually left alone, his solitude ironically yields a much more satisfying and rich ending than if he had stayed with Estella.
10 June 2011
Reading Tips?
I'm not going to count this as one of my blogs, but I must ask this question. Does anyone have any reading tips for this book? I find myself really confused as I'm reading it. Hopefully, I'm not the only one having trouble....
08 June 2011
Estella and Pip: An Archetypal Failure
If I were to describe the romance between Estella and Pip, I would have to, sadly, call it a Victorian-era reverse gender repeat of Twilight. From the beginning, Pip is infatuated with Estella not for her mind, not for her personality - which is, frankly, about as warm and inviting as an iceberg - but for her beauty. Pip loves Estella because she is beautiful; he follows her for several years because of her beauty, and nowhere is it suggested that he loves her for any reason other than this same beauty. Of course, I realize that in Victorian England, women were hardly expected to be anything more than beautiful ornaments, and that, moreover, the trope of the long suffering lover whose patience eventually is reward is a long used and long loved archetype. However, in the case of Pip and Estella, this trope does not work because Dickens relies solely on archetype when creating Estella; besides making her cold yet beautiful, Dickens gives her little else in terms of character. She is a skeleton, a flat character we cannot emphasis with - and, as a result, her romance with Pip is as believable as normal weather in Missouri.
07 June 2011
Outside Sources
Please remember that your summer homework essay needs to incorporate at least three outside critical analyses. Sparknotes, enotes, random websites and dictionary definitions are not acceptable. (We'll talk more about this in August).
The Internet Public Library is one of many good places to look for sources. Here's a link of some for Great Expectations.
http://ipl.org/div/litcrit/bin/litcrit.out.pl?au=dic-25
Feel free to post any other resources you have found to be useful
The Internet Public Library is one of many good places to look for sources. Here's a link of some for Great Expectations.
http://ipl.org/div/litcrit/bin/litcrit.out.pl?au=dic-25
Feel free to post any other resources you have found to be useful
Welcome!
Hello, Future A.P. Lit-ers, and welcome to your class blog! We will use this blog as an extension of our class discussions and analysis. Although some postings will be required, feel free to create your own posts and comment on anything class-related. This is an excellent forum for late night homework questions and essay assistance.
As indicated in your summer homework packet, you will be required to make four postings before the start of class on the first day of school. I have posted a few sample questions to get you started. You may comment on one of these questions, or post your own questions/comments.
In order to post new threads, you will need to be added as an author to this blog. I have already sent out email invites to the addresses given to me on the summer home work sign up sheet. Check your junk email box, and if you need me to resend the invitation, please contact me at Kimberly.Linneman@fhsdschools.org
On the right side of the blog, I've linked some helpful resources, including the Purdue Online Writing Lab's MLA site, and Turn It In.
Once again, I look forward to working with you, and I have Great Expectations for the coming school year! :)
Happy Reading!
As indicated in your summer homework packet, you will be required to make four postings before the start of class on the first day of school. I have posted a few sample questions to get you started. You may comment on one of these questions, or post your own questions/comments.
In order to post new threads, you will need to be added as an author to this blog. I have already sent out email invites to the addresses given to me on the summer home work sign up sheet. Check your junk email box, and if you need me to resend the invitation, please contact me at Kimberly.Linneman@fhsdschools.org
On the right side of the blog, I've linked some helpful resources, including the Purdue Online Writing Lab's MLA site, and Turn It In.
Once again, I look forward to working with you, and I have Great Expectations for the coming school year! :)
Happy Reading!
Characters
Many of Dickens' characters seem exaggerated and outlandish. To acheive this effect, Dickens employed several characteristics common to the Gothic and Romantic genre, as well as several popular literary conventions, including: the poor orphan, the reclusive woman, the mysterious benefactor, unrequited love, notions of city versus country, and the noble savage, among others. Explain how any one of these facets served to influence the novel as a whole. (Do not merely offer plot summary!)
Marriage
In the novel, the reader encounters many marriages. Why do you think these couples decide to marry? What do these marriages suggest about Dickens' possible views towards marriage? Be specific
Symbolism
In what way(s) does Dickens employ light and dark as symbols within the story? Provide specific examples of the author's use of such symbolism.
Role Models
In your opinion, what role did male influences and/or father figures play in Pip's life?
Coincidence?
The believability of Dickens' storyline relies on the readers' acceptance of several coincidences. Identify at least one such coincidence, and explain its signifcance to the story.
Pip's Character
What single adjective do you feel best describes Pip and why? Point to at least one specific textual example to support your claim. (This needn't be a direct quote, just a direct detail/example).
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