Poetry Boot Camp

Sonnet analysis

Petrarchan- traditional;, classical, flowery, 8 & 6
Shakespearean- no bs, 3 quatrains & 1 couplet(stands by itself)
Shift from couplet
     - goes from insulting her to yet he still loves her
 Shakespeare was a modernist of his time, goes against traditional, this sonnet is a response to classical writing

-his lover is human & that's why he loves her, loved based on what's real, has integrity
-commenting on love, what it's based on in society and also on the literature of love

Distracted Driving

Today I drove my grandma around and thought it was going to be a normal ride, nothing to mention in a blog post. Lately I've been noticing how many people text and drive on the road and it's absolutely ridiculous. To make it even better, April is supposed to be the month that brings awareness to distracted driving. And I believe St. Joe's did the mock accident today as well. Anyways today I was at a light turning left. The light had changed and there was a car in front of me that hadn't moved for a good five seconds. I wasn't in a hurry but I wanted to catch the light so I honked and they turned in a big huff. As I followed behind them I could tell there were kids in the back and the driver was swaying on the road nearly driving on the sidewalk clearly indicating they were either drunk, texting, or not paying attention. Whatever they were doing, they were clearly distracted. I can't even begin to express how much this pissed me off I was especially after everything that has happened with car accidents in Santa Maria. The driver took the risk to put themselves, the passengers, and all the other drivers on the road in danger. I personally don't text and drive but I get the temptation to look at your phone. With everything being instant, its hard to not want to look at a text right away. The point of this post was not for me to rant, it was just a plea to stay mindful and aware when you drive.

Act 4 Macbeth Questions

Act 4 questions

Danielle 4.1

1. How many witches appear in this scene?

The three weird sisters from the beginning and Hecate appear in this scene.

2. What messages does Macbeth get from the witches and their apparitions? Does he feel safe after the first three apparitions? Should he? How does he feel after the fourth, the line of kings?

The armed head tells Macbeth that Macduff has gone to England. The bloody child tells him that he will never be vanquished by a man. The child with a crown and a tree tells him that he will be vanquished when someone gets past this forest. Macbeth continually wants to know his future so he asks if Banquo’s prophecy will come true and the witches show him eight kings that rule with Banquo behind them. When i read this part i pictured Macbeth in the fetal position because he seems broken and if he were standing on a ledge well these visions would be his last inch. I think he should feel this way because his own greed, ambition, and corrupted self led him here and he knew  what was going to happen when the witches told him.

3. What does Macbeth learn from Lennox at line 158? What does he plan to do about it?

Macbeth learns that Macduff has fled to England which means he is becoming a serious problem so Macbeth plans to murder his wife and children. P.S. He thought of that all on his own, just to show how much his character has changed since the beginning of the play.

Erica - 4.2 (#1, #3)

Today is Earth Day

So today when I was walking home today I saw some an empty bag of fritos in a bush. I'm not sure how many of you know this but today's Earth Day. Just like with mother's day and father's day, Earth Day was created to create respect and love for the place we live. Whoever decides to read this, I want you to remember the Earth as being a place full of beauty and hope, so much so that just being present in the scenery gives you an overwhelming sense of serenity. Now imagine all that had vanished. If we continue the path of letting future generations take care of the problem then it will all be gone. The future generations will never know what it was like to swim in an ocean not washing ashore garbage. They will never know what it was like to breath fresh air because they'll be forced to wear pollution masks. So please pick up your trash, walk to school, do something that protects our home. Fight for the Earth that provided us with life

Macbeth act 3 notes

Scene 1

• Banquo is suspicious of how quickly Macbeth and his lady have moved into Forres
• Macbeth is also suspicious of Banquo and without hesitation wants to kill them because he might take his throne

Scene 2

• Macbeth seems to have come under the influence of his wife's mindset of murder
• He doesn't tell her about how he is going to kill Banquo and she's almost proud?

Scene 3

• Banquo is stabbed and Fleance runs away and is told to take revenge upon his father

Scene 4

• at the dinner party Banquo's ghost comes
• it taunts Macbeth s much that he embarrasses himself in front of his guests.
• Lady asks her husband if he's a man again
• imagery with how he's in a deep river of blood

Scene 5

• Hecate is the goddess of witches and she's basically the boss
• she thinks the weird sisters messed up with Macbeth and that he is not going to play the part they want him to because  he's looking out for himself.

Macbeth act 2 study questions

I collaborated with the same group from act 1
2.1

1. What is the purpose of the opening of 2.1 (lines 1-9)? Notice the references to time (lines 1-3), and think about the other references to time so far in the play (1.1.1-5; 1.3.56, 146, and 152; 1.5.8 and 56-62; 1.7.51 and 81). What is the function of the discussion about the witches in 2.1.20-29?

Banquo and Fleance are a little anxious about the fact that the moon has not come up yet and that there are so little stars in the night sky. This helps the audience to understand that Duncan’s impending demise is nearing soon and not even the moon and stars want to come up and push time forward. Time is viewed as a ticking clock throughout this play whenever there is a major event about to happen. Many can relate to the ticking of a clock as one waits for a minute to pass or wishes that time would slow down. The discussion of the witches is foreshadowing the prophecy of the witches that will be fulfilled.

 2. Read Macbeth's soliloquy in 2.1.33-64 carefully. What is happening to him? How does he explain it? What will he do about it? Notice references to time in line59 and to deeds and done in lines 61-62.

Macbeth is feeling guilty about the murder he is about to commit so he is imagining the dagger that he will kill the king with. Macbeth understands that the dagger is not there but he describes it as being the wolf who howl’s his watch. The dagger is pointing him towards the way to go as if the witches put it there to guide him in a trance to murder the king because he would be able to do it with a fully aware conscience. Macbeth is rowing aware of his steps towards Duncan’s room as if he were a kid in a classroom listening to the ticking of a clock to get out of class. The bell beckons him like the wolf’s howl previously.

ACT II Study Questions

Collaboration

First come first serve - pick 2 each

Erica - 2.1 (#1, #2) ; Hikaru - 2.2 (#1, #2) ; Danielle - 2.4 (#1, #2)

  

Erica - 2.1

1. Scene II, Act I contains dialogues between Banquo and Fleance, walking at night with the torches casting shadows. Banquo states that he “would not sleep” as a result of a dream he has about the witches (stated in the earlier scene). He is in turmoil, wrought over by the fact that even in his dreams do the witches follow. Shakespeare refers to time, once again, this occasion to set the tone. It is mentioned that the time is past midnight, with nothing but the torches to keep light. There is a stillness in the air, tension that coils within Banquo (multiplied due to his haunted dreams) that the audience specifically catch when Banquo almost uses his sword on Macbeth. The flow of time is continuous, but the foreshadow of the death of a king, and the crowning of a wrongful successor, disrupts the flow of time. Time, is therefore, continuously referred to, during the play, with moments of disruption.
2. Macbeth, feeling self-reproach and ultimately gripped with guilt for his planned actions, hallucinates about a dagger. He thinks he sees a dagger “faced towards his hands,” but quickly realizes that it is “a false creation.” Lost in his mind, Macbeth speaks as if he is in a trance, talking about blood and daggers. He is eventually brought back to reality by the ringing of the bell.

Hikaru - 2.2

1. Lady Macbeth is seemingly confident with the plan, but has traces of doubt. She prepared the dagger and assumed that Macbeth is killing the king. Lady Macbeth could not kill Duncan because his sleeping figure reminded Lady Macbeth of her father.
2. Macbeth has actually killed Duncan. He worries about the blood on his hands and starts to feel guilty. Lady Macbeth responds in a negative tone, again. In line 46, Macbeth left the dagger in the room, which he wasn’t supposed to. Lady Macbeth goes instead to get it.

2.3

1. What does the porter pretend to be doing? Notice the emphasis on equivocation in this speech and in the following dialogue with Macduff. Equivocation was a doctrine espoused by Jesuits living secretly in England (and in danger of arrest, torture, and death) that allowed them to swear oaths with double meanings in order to preserve their lives while also maintaining their faith but that looked to their opponents very much like lying under oath. Equivocation had recently been much discussed because of the trials surrounding the Gunpowder Plot of November 1605, a Catholic attempt to blow up Parliament while the members and the King were present. Watch how the idea of equivocation functions in the play.

2. What is the thematic function of Lennox's conversation with Macbeth about the unruly night (lines 50-59). What is the theatrical function of the scene? Why doessomething need to be here?

3. What news does Macduff report at line 59? How do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth respond? What does Macbeth report in lines 103-104 that he did? What do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to do and why (lines 116-121 and 131-142)? Where will they go? What do they seem to expect will happen if they don't leave?

2.4

Danielle

1. The dialogue between the Old Man and Ross serves to show  the tension everyone feels about the murder of the king and the too quick coronation of Macbeth. We learn from Macduff that he doesn’t want to attend the coronation because he doesn’t trust the new king. Also, he thinks the two sons are suspicious. Macbeth has gone to Scone for his coronation. One of the recurring themes that show up is time.

        

Macbeth character map

I feel like we haven't been introduced enough to the characters to do a character map. So I found some that were helpful, but they were spoilers.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/112238215687842248/
http://www.anoisewithin.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/01/ANW_Macbeth_Character_Map.pdf

I prefer character analyses to describe them
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/61495-macbeth-character-analysis/

What about my masterpiece?

The conversations thing is dead. The story thing is dead. Everything is dead. I've really become unmotivated in this masterpiece thing anymore. My passion has always been science and its what i'm interested in. I'm thinking about posting about my project and my travels through the science fair I won and the state fair too come. Problem is that it would be more like a journal nobody wants to read. Or Erica and I will take photos of people doing what they love and we put captions under why they love what they're doing. If I do the photo thing then I need to wait until after AP tests when I actually have time. If I do the science thing I could start now. Comments on what I should do?

Love is blind

Macbeth sees Lady Macbeth as his business partner and nothing more. Macbeth has no affection for her because they have no real relationship other than the name of marriage. He brushes off the continual throws of emasculation but her dominating ambition puts him under her spell. The audience sees Lady Macbeth as pure evil. She is nothing but an ambitious and heartless soul that cannot even be considered human. She has no humanity and in a way she wants to lose it considering that she wishes to not feel guilty about the murder of the king.

Macbeth Act 1 Study Questions

Act I Study Questions Collaboration

FIrst come first serve - choose 2 questions each

Collaboration: Jayce, Jared, Hikaru, Marcel,  Danielle, Erica

Jayce - My first picks are the first two study questions 1.1-1.2.

1.1

1.  The effect of the witches at the beginning of the play gives off a gloomy, dark, wicked aura. Nothing beats a supernatural setting based on evil remarks and foreshadowing from the witches, yet they detest their true objective in meeting someone of value. From further reading of the play, the witches are going to meet Macbeth and Banquo when the air is unclear to see, just like fog.

1.2.

1.  The “bloody sergeant” comes to meet the king and his attendants to describe the fierceness of Macbeth and the experiences he’s had with him on the battlefield. Macdonwald was a rebel fighting the king’s army and mercilessly slain many men. The one to kill him was Macbeth and so chopped his head and stuck it to a pike. This did not drop the moral of the enemy soldiers, so the king of Scotland regrouped with new troops and retaliated with another assault. None of the rebels faltered after such display of intimidation

Danielle- my picks are 1.3 #1, 2

1.3

1. In lines 1-27, the witches are talking about sinking the ship of Macbeth. The effect the witches create is one of disgust to hear them talking about sinking a ship as if it were a game. These specifics foreshadow that Macbeth will arrive by the sinking of his ship. The witches are here to create the plot while the other characters are merely dancers. Line 9 is talking about sailing in a typical sieve sailing to sink the ship. The witches prepare for Macbeth by literally casting a spell. Giving thee a wind means to help you out. But this spell could be seen as basically winding up the plot so that Macbeth will play the part the witches want him to.
2. Macbeth’s first line reminds me of the witches line fair is foul and foul is fair. Those that we see as evil see us as evil. The witches look really ugly and look almost demonic. They portray the typical image of a witch. The witches tell Macbeth that he will be king of Cawdor as well as Glamis. He becomes captivated in the witches visions of him as king. We know this because that’s how Banquo describes him as being. Banquo asks the witches to tell him what they see in his future and they tell him that he will be greater than Macbeth though he is lesser and he will be happier though not so happy. We know that Macbeth will kill the king and rise to his throne that way.

Jared Dube- My first picks are the 2 questions of 1.4.

1.4

1. Cawdor died honorably after confessing and repenting his own crimes. The basically replies that Cawdor was a chivalrous man who had completely trusted.
2. The king greets Banquo and Macbeth with guilt that he can never truly repay them for their heroic deeds. The king then announces that he is going to make his eldest son, Malcolm the heir to the throne. Duncan then declares that he intends to dine at Macbeth’s castle. Macbeth states he is happy for the new heir but then realizes that Malcolm is just another obstacle getting in his way of becoming king.

Hikaru - my first two picks are 1.5 #4, 1.6

1.5

1. Lady Macbeth’s name is Gruoch, modeled after the name Gruoch ingen Boite.

1.6

1. Macbeth is not ready to kill the king. He expresses his doubts and troubles of killing Duncan. In lines 1-12, Macbeth is worried that the same assassination will happen to him once he replaces the current king. Just as he is eyeing the king’s throne, other people will also want it if Macbeth is to spill Duncan’s blood. Macbeth’s violates the code of friendship with Duncan. He is his “kinsmen and his subject” so he has some sympathy towards him. His “vaulting ambition” is his motivation.

Marcel-  #1 and #2 for 1.7

1.7

    1.   Macbeth has everything set up to murder Duncan from the offer to come and stay at his abode to the poison to place in his cup. How ever he’s worried about what will become of him after doing so and if he actually should go through with it. As a host you're not suppose to kill your guest rather do everything in your power to make them comfortable. Macbeth’s ambition outweighs the sorrow of killing duncan and this is all the motivation he needs.

    2. Lady Macbeth complains for knowledge of the desolation of duncan after dinner. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth about how he doesn't want to go through with this heinous act any longer and she responds with calling him a coward in riveted language. Lady Macbeths sticks to her taunts and ambitious pulls to make him go through with it while Macbeth stand by what's morally right but in the end Lady Macbeth dominates this scene over her husband.

Erica - 1.2 (#2) ; 1.3 (#3)

1.2  (#2)

Ross and Angus mention that the Norwegian lord “surveying vantage,” and ensuring new supplies, began a new assault. They specifically mention that the thane of Cawdor is the traitor, and shall be stripped of his title (given to Macbeth) and killed in accordance to his betrayal.

  

Erica - ACT II

2.1:

    

You can tell you love science when you love these songs

Meet Macbeth

      Macbeth is introduced initially through indirect characterization by the Sergeant. The Sergeant glorifies Macbeth as a warlord and this is only proven through his entrance of impaling a head on a pike. But Macbeth is not a pure brute, he has self reflection. This can be seen through the foreshadowing of the witches. The witches tell Macbeth that he will ascend to the throne of a living man, which means he's going to die. They also say that his wife is going to chew him up every chance she gets. Shakespeare's exposition uses characterization to develop the characters and the story. The audience understands that the witches are setting out the play while the characters are the dancers. Macbeth is characterized as if he is a tragic hero and this allows a tone of sympathy and regret to come through when Macbeth is present. Today in class we noted that a central theme of the play is "Fair is foul and foul is fair". Everyone in this play is under the pretence that their fair appearances will hide their foul realities. Lady Macbeth is seen as a feminine wife, when in reality her evil soul rots her away.

Macbeth Resources

• http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/macbeth/macbethresources.html
• http://www.classicstage.org/downloads/macbeth_studyguide.pdf
• http://www.penguin.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/macbeth.pdf
• There are multiple acts here
• http://www.novelguide.com/Macbeth
• http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/macbeth/

Out, Out Poetry Essay

1971 Poem: “The Unknown Citizen” (W.H. Auden)

Prompt: In a brief essay, identify at least two of the implications implicit in the society reflected in the poem. Support your statements by specific references to the poem.

 

I chose this prompt because the poem is referring to the industrialized society that is leading to the destruction of the people who created it. I felt doing a prompt on society would fit this poem well.

In his poem “Out, Out.”, Robert Frost condemns a society’s transition to industrialization by focusing on one family on a farm. Frost details a scene where a boy cuts his hand off while using a buzz saw. This poem implies that the people on this farm live in an industrialized society and the all-consuming concept of work has caused the traditional family to lose its meaning. The fact that this poem is detailed on a farm shows that not even the most hard- valued people are swallowed by industrialization’s gaping mouth.

The buzz saw is the symbol of industrialization. It is personified as snarling and rattling like the metal machines in factories. The buzz saw leaps or appears to leap of its own accord at the sound of “supper” and it met with the boys hand as if they were meant to come together. Frost was implying that industrialization is going to lead to the destruction of what we need (like our hands). The boy knew that without his hand he would not be able to complete his share of the family’s work. The third person omniscient point of view allows the audience to see the juxtaposition into the boy’s thoughts when his hand was cut off and his realization of what that meant. The boy laughs at first with a sad humor and looks for his sister as if to say “Look, look at what I’ve done.” The boy then becomes rather frightened and begins to panic because of the doctor cuts off his hand then he can’t work. But the hand was gone anyways. The syntax and tone of the last few lines suggest the family’s reaction to be dispassionate and unconcerned because the sentence is very relaxed. A family not corrupted by industrialization would care, but this one went back to work like normal because the boy’s death did not directly affect them.

Frost’s description of the loss of the boy’s hand provides insight as to how he viewed this changing world. Frost implies that the industrialized world will lead to the destruction of families and will lead to the creation of impersonal people caring only for what affect them.

 

YGB essay

P.S. This has got to be one of the worst essays I have ever written.

Young Goodman Brown is a devout man who cannot imagine leaving his Faith (literally). As Young Goodman Brown takes his journey into the forest, he starts to question his faith and the society he lives in. When his journey brings him to find a satanic communion of sorts, YGB is dragged into a world of uncertainty. He returns to Salem living a life conformed to the society he has always known while he is consumed by the gloom and distrust of this community. YGB returns to what appears to be a perfect Puritan world, but his knowledge of the community’s lies causes him to lead a life of confusement and suffering.

YGB begins as an intensely pious man. His wife is incoincidently named Faith and she is very precious to him. Hawthorne foreshadows that he will meet something evil when he describes the feeling of someone following YGB. When he meets the man along the path, the mood of the story turns dark. The skies are filled with clouds and the man is characterized as somewhat devilish. The first moment when YGB begins to question the faith of the community is when he discovers that Goody Cloyson, one of the most devout women in Salem, is actually a witch. YGB wants to turn back so the traveler he met with gives him his evil staff. The staff is symbolic of snake who when touched, bites and infects with poison. He began to hear voices from clouds of darkness and saw every churchgoer with every Satan worshiper participating in a devilish event. This poison caused YGB to lose his unwavering trust that Salem was a place of Puritan values. His once perfect image of Salem had now been tainted by what he saw. When YGB returns to Salem he questions who the people of his town were. Yet, he dared not say anything or else risk being burned at the steak like a typical devil worshiper.

YGB’s conformity to a false society was a means of protection. But he could not forget what he saw in the forest. He lost all trust as to who these people were. Through his questioning and conformity, YGB learns that the perfect pious world he thought he lived in was a built on a pile of lies.

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