As we finish with our unit on Much Ado About Nothing, consider what stereotypes (racial, class, gender, etc.) are present in the play and how they effect your interpretation of the events portrayed. Do you think Shakespeare believed in the stereotypes he presented or do you feel he was attempting to teach his audience a lesson about misjudging others or about forcing people to conform to tradition? Your intial POST is due on 1-17-08 and your comments on other's blogs are due on 1-23-08.
Through out the play Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare uses class and gender steriotypes to enhance the plot. As for racial Steiotypes, I found little within the story. The general racial steriotypes are ones of minorities who face racial descrimination, however we find that the only man that is not caucasian is actually the Prince, a man of high social standing and of great honor. However, this maybe racial stereotyping in itself, by having a large quantity of the high class people in Mesina be caucasian we assume that they are viewed as higher than the blacks and other minorities. This also leads the reader's mind to wander and assume the minorities have it hard living as common people in th city, if not worse.
Class steriotypes are shown throughout this play aswell. Leonato, the governor of Mesina, his family, aswell as the prince and his companions, are all very presentable for most of the play and many speak in verse at times (In the movie they are very clean and have nice clothes). However, when we are introduced to Dogberry, Verges, and the watchmen the speak in prose, and have many gramatical errors aswell (In the movie they are dirty and grungy and dress in tatered clothes aswell). This class steriotyping is ends up having a huge effect on the plot. Dogberry goes to Leonato on the day of the wedding to tell him Borachio framed Hero for having sex with him, but because Leonato looks down on Dogberry he disregards him and in doing so Claudio still thinks Hero was cheating on him and that causes the massive scene at the wedding, and Leonato believes him. If only Leonato had valued what Dogberry ahd to say, he could have avoided the drama which took place in the last couple acts.
Finally, this play has some gender steriotyping aswell. It is obvious that the men are running things fromt the start of the play. Leonato is the gorvernor of Mesina and the Prince and his fellow compainons who went to war are all men. However, I assume this is more or less fact that thats how is was back then, but this sets up the role for the women in the play, that they are the housewife type of women who make food, garden, love, take care of the kids, etc. We also see that the women in the play have little to no power, and that a man doesn't need to fully resect her. When Clauio accuses Hero of having sex with another man in fron tof everyone at the wedding he pushes her around and throws her to the ground. Immediately Leonato starts hitting her and telling her to go die. However, even after the truth comes out that Hero was innocent and that Don John is to blame for all of the chaos, no one oppologizes to Hero for treating her so terribly, and she isn't mad at all. This goes to show that she is even used to being treated with such little respect. It is through the use of class, gender, and a little racial steriotypes in Much Ado About Nothing that Shakespeare ads aditional conflict and in doing so enhances the plot.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Thursday, December 20, 2007
MAAN & Ethics
As we begin to read the play Much Ado About Nothing, consider all the characters in the play who engage in some form of lying. Please create a blog post in which you discuss whether or not lying is ever ethically or morally justified. Support your ideas with cited examples from the play and with examples pulled from real life. Remember, posts should be 2-3 paragraphs in length. The comments you leave on other's posts should respond to their IDEAS and you should provide backup/rationale for your agreement or disagreement with their ideas. Your initial post is due by 12-22. Your comments on other's posts are due by 1-10-08.
Throughout the play Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespear enhance the plot by making the characters taking part in various lies. In my personal opinion I don't think anyone should ever lie, its just taking the easy way out of situations plus its usually unethical to do so. One of the first times we witness these characters lie is at the mascarade party, the characters continuously lie about who they are and discover things that weren't ment for their ears. It's wrong of Benedick to tell Beatrice that he is not himself and that he doesn't even know a Signior Benedick, and by wrongful decieving her she tells him how much dis taste she has for him. It was wrong of him to do so but Beatrice was overly open about the things she said, saying them to someone she believed to be a stranger. Therefore I don't think Benedick should be blamed, its Beatrices fault for not checking he identity of some she was telling somewhat confidential information. I realize that in real life you would be able to tell if Benedick was really Benedick of some french guy, but Beatrice shoulod really watch what she say becaus ejust lie in the real world, gossip and such spreads liek wildfire and it eventualy comes back around to you.
Later on in the play the Prince, Leonato, Claudio, Hero, and Ursula all join together in tricking Beatrice and Benedick into falling in love with eachother by letting them overhear their fake conversations each saying ofne was in love with the other. This is a clever and complex plan, however they are lieing and decieving both Benedick and Beatrice which is wrong. I know they have the best intentions but I think its wrong to play with peoples hearts and this could potentially end badly with both of them discovering the truth that could have an ireversible negative effect of certain relationships. I think this whole plan is unethical but it isn't that extreame of terrible so I dont think really matters that much. They could have talked both Benedick and Beatrice into like the other without lies or trickery but I must admit this does spice up the plot a bit. Im sure this happens in the real world and i probably know someone ho has been involved in a sceem like this one.
Throughout the play Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespear enhance the plot by making the characters taking part in various lies. In my personal opinion I don't think anyone should ever lie, its just taking the easy way out of situations plus its usually unethical to do so. One of the first times we witness these characters lie is at the mascarade party, the characters continuously lie about who they are and discover things that weren't ment for their ears. It's wrong of Benedick to tell Beatrice that he is not himself and that he doesn't even know a Signior Benedick, and by wrongful decieving her she tells him how much dis taste she has for him. It was wrong of him to do so but Beatrice was overly open about the things she said, saying them to someone she believed to be a stranger. Therefore I don't think Benedick should be blamed, its Beatrices fault for not checking he identity of some she was telling somewhat confidential information. I realize that in real life you would be able to tell if Benedick was really Benedick of some french guy, but Beatrice shoulod really watch what she say becaus ejust lie in the real world, gossip and such spreads liek wildfire and it eventualy comes back around to you.
Later on in the play the Prince, Leonato, Claudio, Hero, and Ursula all join together in tricking Beatrice and Benedick into falling in love with eachother by letting them overhear their fake conversations each saying ofne was in love with the other. This is a clever and complex plan, however they are lieing and decieving both Benedick and Beatrice which is wrong. I know they have the best intentions but I think its wrong to play with peoples hearts and this could potentially end badly with both of them discovering the truth that could have an ireversible negative effect of certain relationships. I think this whole plan is unethical but it isn't that extreame of terrible so I dont think really matters that much. They could have talked both Benedick and Beatrice into like the other without lies or trickery but I must admit this does spice up the plot a bit. Im sure this happens in the real world and i probably know someone ho has been involved in a sceem like this one.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Find And Discuss A Poem You Enjoy
Begin reading some poetry on your own. Feel free to explore more poems from the authors in our poetry packet, or begin to read the poetry of other authors. By the end of this week (12-2) find and choose a poem that resonated with you. Post it on your blog with a 2 paragraph analysis/explanation of what the poem explores and why you find it compelling. Next, read/comment on other people's poem selections by 12-7
o by the by by e.e.cummings
o by the by
has anybody seen
little you-I
who stood on a green
hill and threw
his wish at blue
with a swoop and a dart
out flew his wish
(it dived like a fish
but it climbed like a dream)
throbbing like a heart
singing like a flame
blue took it my
far beyond far
and high beyond high
bluer took it your
but bluest took it our
away beyond where
what a wonderful thing
is the end of a string
(murmurs little you-I
as the hill becomes nil)
and will somebody tell
me why people let go
T-also first line of poem, significant??
P- as life goes by, has anyone seen a small kid, stand on a hill & through a kite into the sky
as it flies the kid wish comes true, it darts around but is the childs dream, pounds in the wind and is un predictable
when i did it the kite went high and far, when you did the kite went higher and farther, when we worked together it went the highest and the furthest
its amazing what you can achieve by just holding a kite string, the child thinks, as the obstacles transform to nothing, but why do people give up
C- wish & dream = childhood, aspirations
blue & green = nice day, beautiful, fresh
dart & swoop = fun, carelessness, playing
A-joy, freedom, confusion
S- (22-23) from achievement to questioning
T- accomplishment, pride, success
D- onomatopeia: swoop, dart, singing
conotation: carefree, fun, happy
personification: "climbed like a dream" (10). "singing like a flame" (12).
similie: "dived like a fish" (9). "climbed like a dream" (10). throbbing like a heart" (11). "singing like a flame" (12).
metaphor: "and threw his wish at blue" his wish is the kite (5-6).
In the poem o by the by, e.e.cummings uses a tone of achievement and many similies to express how one should press on when faced with challanges. The goals and standards one sets for themselves can shape th lives of an individual. To encounter challanges in inevitable and the way one deals with these problems can truely tell alot about them as a person. From doing well on an assignment to conjuring up the courage to ride a roller coaster, overcoming the obstacles in ones way is the only way to achieve these goals. In this poem, the narrator describes a bit child who wants to fly a kite, and when his goal is finally reached he says:
(it dived like a fish
but it climbed like a dream)
throbbing like a heart
singing like a flame (9-12).
By using these similies to describe this amazing event e.e.cummings has created a picturing in our head of the child and the kite on this lovely summers day. These lines indepthly express the feelings of the childs achievment and creates a tone of joy and freedom. By trying his best the kid is not only feeling success from doing so but he has also reached his gaol and is happy about that. The tone created from not only these lines but also the other lines throughout the peom are of achievment. After reading the entire poem one feels as if they can do like the boy reach their full potential but this only possible if they overcome the obsticles in the way and try their best. Giving up is the last thing one should do if they want to feel successful and e.e.cummings describes this in the last line by questioning "and will someone tell me why people let go" (23-24). By asking this rhetorical question the poet makes the reader think of all the good reasons to endure hardships and to keep on trying in life. Through using a tone of achievment and similies to describe acomplishment, e.e.cummings show how one should overcome obstacles to achieve their goals and in doing so you will gain a feeling of success atleast for trying your hardest.
o by the by by e.e.cummings
o by the by
has anybody seen
little you-I
who stood on a green
hill and threw
his wish at blue
with a swoop and a dart
out flew his wish
(it dived like a fish
but it climbed like a dream)
throbbing like a heart
singing like a flame
blue took it my
far beyond far
and high beyond high
bluer took it your
but bluest took it our
away beyond where
what a wonderful thing
is the end of a string
(murmurs little you-I
as the hill becomes nil)
and will somebody tell
me why people let go
T-also first line of poem, significant??
P- as life goes by, has anyone seen a small kid, stand on a hill & through a kite into the sky
as it flies the kid wish comes true, it darts around but is the childs dream, pounds in the wind and is un predictable
when i did it the kite went high and far, when you did the kite went higher and farther, when we worked together it went the highest and the furthest
its amazing what you can achieve by just holding a kite string, the child thinks, as the obstacles transform to nothing, but why do people give up
C- wish & dream = childhood, aspirations
blue & green = nice day, beautiful, fresh
dart & swoop = fun, carelessness, playing
A-joy, freedom, confusion
S- (22-23) from achievement to questioning
T- accomplishment, pride, success
D- onomatopeia: swoop, dart, singing
conotation: carefree, fun, happy
personification: "climbed like a dream" (10). "singing like a flame" (12).
similie: "dived like a fish" (9). "climbed like a dream" (10). throbbing like a heart" (11). "singing like a flame" (12).
metaphor: "and threw his wish at blue" his wish is the kite (5-6).
In the poem o by the by, e.e.cummings uses a tone of achievement and many similies to express how one should press on when faced with challanges. The goals and standards one sets for themselves can shape th lives of an individual. To encounter challanges in inevitable and the way one deals with these problems can truely tell alot about them as a person. From doing well on an assignment to conjuring up the courage to ride a roller coaster, overcoming the obstacles in ones way is the only way to achieve these goals. In this poem, the narrator describes a bit child who wants to fly a kite, and when his goal is finally reached he says:
(it dived like a fish
but it climbed like a dream)
throbbing like a heart
singing like a flame (9-12).
By using these similies to describe this amazing event e.e.cummings has created a picturing in our head of the child and the kite on this lovely summers day. These lines indepthly express the feelings of the childs achievment and creates a tone of joy and freedom. By trying his best the kid is not only feeling success from doing so but he has also reached his gaol and is happy about that. The tone created from not only these lines but also the other lines throughout the peom are of achievment. After reading the entire poem one feels as if they can do like the boy reach their full potential but this only possible if they overcome the obsticles in the way and try their best. Giving up is the last thing one should do if they want to feel successful and e.e.cummings describes this in the last line by questioning "and will someone tell me why people let go" (23-24). By asking this rhetorical question the poet makes the reader think of all the good reasons to endure hardships and to keep on trying in life. Through using a tone of achievment and similies to describe acomplishment, e.e.cummings show how one should overcome obstacles to achieve their goals and in doing so you will gain a feeling of success atleast for trying your hardest.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Quarter One: Debrief
Meditate on the events of quarter one. How did you do in this class? What did you learn? Which of your academic skills improved? Where are you still struggling? How is the class environment? What can you do to further strengthen the learning community in our classroom? What are your goals for Q2? Basically, how did things go for you and what can you do to improve or to make things more successful for yourself and others?
When I arived in class on the first day of school I must admit that I was a bit intimidated because of the chanllenges I knew I would soon face achedemically and because I knew less than half the students in the class. However, as first quarter has gone by, I have gotten to know my piers and I feel comfortable in the class room. Achedemically I know recognize what is expected of me and I am motivated to achieve what i needed and to learn what you hve to teach me. I have learned quite a bit about thesis statements in specific and about the overall structure of essays, specifically five pararaph essays. I feel I could speek up more in class and ask questions to furthur my learning and I think this will become more and more natural as I become more comfortable in the class. I feel that I have been I god listener and this has helped me learn so far and it should continue to help.
Over all fist quarter was fairly sucessful for me and I look forward to seeing what second quarter has in store. i am prepaired to give this class my all and I hope my grade will reflect that. My goals are to get at least an A- this quarter, to learn even more about cappers and attention getters because I have had some troubles with them, and to have some fun while getting socially and achedemically comfortable in class. I think getting things in on time should be easier for me now that im less busy and I will work had to make all dead lines. I hope quarter 2 is equally if not more sucessful than quarter 1.
When I arived in class on the first day of school I must admit that I was a bit intimidated because of the chanllenges I knew I would soon face achedemically and because I knew less than half the students in the class. However, as first quarter has gone by, I have gotten to know my piers and I feel comfortable in the class room. Achedemically I know recognize what is expected of me and I am motivated to achieve what i needed and to learn what you hve to teach me. I have learned quite a bit about thesis statements in specific and about the overall structure of essays, specifically five pararaph essays. I feel I could speek up more in class and ask questions to furthur my learning and I think this will become more and more natural as I become more comfortable in the class. I feel that I have been I god listener and this has helped me learn so far and it should continue to help.
Over all fist quarter was fairly sucessful for me and I look forward to seeing what second quarter has in store. i am prepaired to give this class my all and I hope my grade will reflect that. My goals are to get at least an A- this quarter, to learn even more about cappers and attention getters because I have had some troubles with them, and to have some fun while getting socially and achedemically comfortable in class. I think getting things in on time should be easier for me now that im less busy and I will work had to make all dead lines. I hope quarter 2 is equally if not more sucessful than quarter 1.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Thursday, November 1, 2007
There Are No Children Here
How is this novel similar to other pieces of literature (poems, novels, films) that we have studied in class?
While reading this novel I hadn't really thought of it connection to Lord of the Flies, but now that I'm done the connection is obviously evident. In Lord of the Flies the boys on the island are originally naive and self centered, and still boys at heart. However they are forced to take control and fend for themselves when they see there are no adults to help them and they themselves have to become the adults. This is similar to the way the children in There Are No Children Here grow up in their adolescence. Due to their negative and harsh surroundings the kids must stand up and find out who they are for themselves. Despite the yearning to help from their parents there isn't anything more they can do to prevent their children from growing up to fast and becoming the adults they will be for the rest of their lives, only in there teenage years. Kotlowitz said it him self, "despite all they have seen and done, they are-and we must constantly remind ourselves of this- still children" (Kotlowitz xi). They fact that they have experience much more than many who are older than them gives them a sense of maturity and it can be deceiving to those who interact with them.
Another book that I thought of while readin was Tuesday's with Morrie, even though these books have nothin in common plot wise I noticed thjat they both had many flash backs throughout the novels. In the novel Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch is a college student who admires Morrie and takes all of his avaliable lectures and classes. When he graduates he promises to keeping contact but it fails. His life proceedes and eventually his job fails and he is left uninspired in life. One day he sees Morrie on a tv interview and flies to Duluth to be reunited with his old teacher. We discover that Morrie has ASL, a disease that eats away atyour soul and slowly shuts down your body fnctions, never the less Mitch returns ever week to sit and talk with the proffessor and they re member back to the times when Morrie taught Mitch as a student. These numerous flashback is what is similar between this novel and There Are No Children Here. In Kotlowitz's novel LaJoe, the mother of the children, remebers alot about the 'projects', before they were ruined. She herself grew up as a child in the 'projects' and when she grew up se decide to stay there, despite the reckage it had become. In one section she says how when she was a girlscout she used to have her meetings in the basement of the complex, but as time went on it became a pit, groungy, ill infested, condemabhle, and compliled with loads of trash (Kotlowitz 121). LaJoe made many other references to her childhood but that one stuck out the most to me. The fact that a little girls oasis in a harsh life is now a garbage dump, so to speak, is a odd visualization. Over all these two novels are majorly relate due to their excessive flash back by the eldest and most noledgeable characters in the novels.
While reading this novel I hadn't really thought of it connection to Lord of the Flies, but now that I'm done the connection is obviously evident. In Lord of the Flies the boys on the island are originally naive and self centered, and still boys at heart. However they are forced to take control and fend for themselves when they see there are no adults to help them and they themselves have to become the adults. This is similar to the way the children in There Are No Children Here grow up in their adolescence. Due to their negative and harsh surroundings the kids must stand up and find out who they are for themselves. Despite the yearning to help from their parents there isn't anything more they can do to prevent their children from growing up to fast and becoming the adults they will be for the rest of their lives, only in there teenage years. Kotlowitz said it him self, "despite all they have seen and done, they are-and we must constantly remind ourselves of this- still children" (Kotlowitz xi). They fact that they have experience much more than many who are older than them gives them a sense of maturity and it can be deceiving to those who interact with them.
Another book that I thought of while readin was Tuesday's with Morrie, even though these books have nothin in common plot wise I noticed thjat they both had many flash backs throughout the novels. In the novel Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch is a college student who admires Morrie and takes all of his avaliable lectures and classes. When he graduates he promises to keeping contact but it fails. His life proceedes and eventually his job fails and he is left uninspired in life. One day he sees Morrie on a tv interview and flies to Duluth to be reunited with his old teacher. We discover that Morrie has ASL, a disease that eats away atyour soul and slowly shuts down your body fnctions, never the less Mitch returns ever week to sit and talk with the proffessor and they re member back to the times when Morrie taught Mitch as a student. These numerous flashback is what is similar between this novel and There Are No Children Here. In Kotlowitz's novel LaJoe, the mother of the children, remebers alot about the 'projects', before they were ruined. She herself grew up as a child in the 'projects' and when she grew up se decide to stay there, despite the reckage it had become. In one section she says how when she was a girlscout she used to have her meetings in the basement of the complex, but as time went on it became a pit, groungy, ill infested, condemabhle, and compliled with loads of trash (Kotlowitz 121). LaJoe made many other references to her childhood but that one stuck out the most to me. The fact that a little girls oasis in a harsh life is now a garbage dump, so to speak, is a odd visualization. Over all these two novels are majorly relate due to their excessive flash back by the eldest and most noledgeable characters in the novels.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
There Are No Children Here
Who are the main characters of your book? Describe their personality and what seems to motivate them.
Some other flat characters mentioned in the book so far are:
Leonardo Anderson: Other wise know as Porkchop, he is a shy quiet boy, just a few years younger than Pharoah. He is another cousin of the boys and he and Pharoah have grown to become inseparable.
James Howard: A close friend and neighbor to Lafeyette, the two boys have grown up together in 'the projects'. He is an athletic, easygoing, energetic 12 year old boy who mischievous attitude is shown through his grin.
Dede: The boys' 9 year old cousin who likes to let loose and dance to L L Cool J rap
LaJoe: Layfeyette and Pharoah's mother, she is also 6 other children. She has to work had to support the family, considering her husband only lived at home from time to time.
Paul (sr.): The father af all 8 children and the husband of LaJoe. He isn't much of a romantic and he rarely sees any of his children.
LaShawn: The oldest child of LaJoe at the age of 20, she spent some time in the big house. She also dropped out of school to become a prostitute to pay for her excessive use of drugs.
Paul (jr.): Named after his father, he is LaJoe's second oldest kid, now the age of 19. He also dropped out of school and did time for a robbery in an Indian prison.
Terence: 17 years of age, he dropped out of school, did time in jail, and was LaJoe's biggest disappointment due to his selling and experimenting with drugs.
Timothy: First of the 4 year old triplets.
Tiffany: Another triplet, who resembles Tammie a lot.
Tammie: Another triplet, who resembles Tiffany a lot.
Some other flat characters mentioned in the book so far are:
Leonardo Anderson: Other wise know as Porkchop, he is a shy quiet boy, just a few years younger than Pharoah. He is another cousin of the boys and he and Pharoah have grown to become inseparable.
James Howard: A close friend and neighbor to Lafeyette, the two boys have grown up together in 'the projects'. He is an athletic, easygoing, energetic 12 year old boy who mischievous attitude is shown through his grin.
Dede: The boys' 9 year old cousin who likes to let loose and dance to L L Cool J rap
LaJoe: Layfeyette and Pharoah's mother, she is also 6 other children. She has to work had to support the family, considering her husband only lived at home from time to time.
Paul (sr.): The father af all 8 children and the husband of LaJoe. He isn't much of a romantic and he rarely sees any of his children.
LaShawn: The oldest child of LaJoe at the age of 20, she spent some time in the big house. She also dropped out of school to become a prostitute to pay for her excessive use of drugs.
Paul (jr.): Named after his father, he is LaJoe's second oldest kid, now the age of 19. He also dropped out of school and did time for a robbery in an Indian prison.
Terence: 17 years of age, he dropped out of school, did time in jail, and was LaJoe's biggest disappointment due to his selling and experimenting with drugs.
Timothy: First of the 4 year old triplets.
Tiffany: Another triplet, who resembles Tammie a lot.
Tammie: Another triplet, who resembles Tiffany a lot.
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