College Blog Final Presentation

Check it out, my college blog presentation!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqxz15jSYxI&feature=g-upl

My College Blog: UC Irvine

So I think that everyone should check out my college blog for UC Irvine, it's pretty awesome. :)

http://ucistudentperspective.blogspot.com/

I am currently in the book club that Rachel and Kira started. The novel we have selected to read it Crime and Punishment. We have a Meemli session online wher we decided that we were going to read the first ten chapters of the novel by the end of the week. There are thirty-six chapters in total, so we need to read quickly! Not everyone has read up to the same point so once everyone is caught up, we will start to discuss and analyze the themes/literary devices/etc. Then it will start to be a official book club! This hopefully will benefit the people that are in the club for future study sessions where they have to work in groups. Not only are we learning skills to pick out literary devices, but we're collaborating with one another. Can't wait till we are done reading!

Watchmen Passage Analysis

The theme of the text provided from Watchmen I feel was what you stop prepare may seem silly at the moment, but when it comes to the real challenge in the end, it all makes sense. You'll feel stupid and what you are doing to prepare may make no sense, you'll be glad that you made those provisions. In a way I can see how this theme would relate to our class, what with us always nagging and sighing about how what we do in this class doesn't make sense. When we were memorizing the Hamlet soliloquy, I kept asking myself "when am I ever going to have to say this ever again?" but when I look at past AP essay prompts, I see that knowing a text word for word would aid me in giving examples. Any AP student can write well, but knowing quotes from famous works would definitely set you aside from a 3 paper to a 4/5 paper.

Suitable Essay Prompts for Macbeth

   1.      Open Essay Prompt (1988):

Choose a distinguished novel or play in which some of the most significant events are mental or psychological; for example, awakenings. discoveries, changes in consciousness.  In a well-organized essay, describe how the author manages to give these internal events the sense of excitement, suspense and climax usually associated with external action.  Do not merely summarize the plot.

   2.      Open Essay Prompt (1982):

In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake.  Choose a work of literary merit that confronts the reader or audience with a scene(s) of violence.  In a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute to the meaning of the complete work.  Avoid plot summary.

   3.      Open Essay Prompt (1980):

A recurring theme in literature is the classic war between passion and responsibility.  Choose a literary work in which a character confronts the demands of a private passion that conflicts with his or her responsibilities.  In a well-written essay, show clearly the nature of conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work.  Avoid plot summary.

AP Study Plan

Now I have good reason not to be taking the AP exam.  I called up my guidance counselor and she explained to me why it would be a waste of money and time to take the AP exam.  Due to my passing of the AP exam last year, I already don't have to take the English course down in Irvine.  Also, because I passed with a four, I also elective credits as well (which would be the reason for taking it this year, but it isn't necessary).  So you see, taking it would be money down the drain.  I understand that this is what the class is preparing you for, but I didn't want to be around students who didn't care and try.  My plan is study for the practice AP multiple choice and the essay that you plan on giving to the students who aren't taking it.

In Class Lecture Notes: Macbeth

Day I

Simple play

-no big themes

-very straightforward plot

     -Acts I-III all chronicle Macbeth's rise to glory & IV, V follow his fall

     -character driven play; less psychology & intricate relationships

          -Macbeth doesn't confide in the audience (like Hamlet) he doesn't show any sign of humor or              

           humanity, just painstaking character development

Macbeth as a tragic hero

-Beginning of play: indirect characterization telling us he is well thought of, noble, honorable, etc.

-end of the play: stands alone to be killed by an entire army

-Every thing that happens in the play is the function of Macbeth's own decisions

     -not influenced or compelled by any outside force

Murder of Duncan

-Why?

     -Act I, scene vii, lines 25-28…glimpse of an idea but too early to take for truth

     -Macbeth seems to be in the grips of something bigger

          -his first reaction to the witches was weariness; it seemed unjust to him at first

          -tension between immorality (consequences?!) & his ambition to be/stay king

               -he knows that he will have to violate his morals…he knows the consequences…he doesn't 

                convo (Hamlet)

          -he struggles with knowing that to act on his desires will lead to his own destruction (he then 

           decides not to kill the king(

                -swayed, however, by his imagination of the prospects

Macbeth & Lady Macbeth

-She is the agent of evil in the beginning

     -tells him to man up and keep the prospect of being king alive

-total animus (masculine personality) influence

     -lacks regard for emotions, scruples, values, nurturing, etc.

     -urges him to be more manly when he comes to her with things

-Both characters experience a surreal feeling

     -Macbeth is fearful & horrified, but he hallucinates and it's as if he is compelled to or drawn to do it

     -Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking

-With help of Lady Macbeth allowed evil to infiltrate his imagination.  He knows what's going on.

Courage & Fear

-Courage is abundant when it comes to outward enemies but can't handle the inner fears.  Becomes fearful as soon as he kills the king

     -deals with it by continued killing to allow himself to plow through and come to a solution

-Lady Macbeth can't handle the inner strains….Macbeth goes off without her.

     -guilt for lack of inner will destroy her

          -feels like Duncan looks liker her father

          -she decays into craziness (for lack of a better word) until she commits suicide

Day 2

Lady Macbeth

-A representation of pure force

-After the banquet, Macbeth & Lady Macbeth's relationship becomes strained

     -They used to have a healthy relationship/marriage but now they have their own plans

-Macbeth's throne is safe, no one suspects him, but he has a guilty conscience

-Act III, Scene iii shows Macbeth still knows the difference between right and wrong

-Now he's murdering his way to peace of mind

     -is becoming less & less human

-Loss of physical relationships --> loss of feeling

     -Makes Macbeth care less & less for what life has to offer

-Act V, scene iii explains why Macbeth accepts the news of his wife's death with a horrifying calm

     -exemplifies the empty mockery his world has become

The 3 Witches

-Macbeth's driving force

-Plant the ideas in Macbeth's mind

     -he is then unable to control himself

-a symbol of fate

     -It inevitably would have happened

-Exist to tempt & torment people

-After becoming thane of Cawdor, Macbeth believes the witches prophesy to be ture

-The 3 Witches seem to be the heroes of the entire piece

     -outcasts