Hamlet Learning Communities

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/hamlet/hamletcharacter.html

Now this was a helpful web page, I'm not sure who created it but it offers all sorts or things including; quotations, analysis, key facts, important dates, plot, sources, biography, and quizes to access your learning.

http://www.shmoop.com/hamlet/plot-analysis.html

Icludes:

Analysis

Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory

Setting

Genre

Tone

Writing Style

What's Up With the Title?

What's Up With the Ending?

Plot Analysis

Booker's Seven Basic Plots Analysis: None

Trivia

Steaminess Rating

Allusions

http://www.auburn.edu/~tuckebr/Site/Analysis.html

Includes a summary, analysis, biography, and bibliography written by a real college student at Auburn University.

I found all these sites extemely helpful and benifical, they were easy to navigate and complete. Hope you'll check em' out.

"Pre Will" Questions

a) What do you know about Hamlet, the "Melancholy Dane"?
          I'm not very familiar with the story of Hamlet, I know in the story he is the Prince of Denmark which could be why he is called a dane.
b) What do you know about Shakespeare?
          I know that Shakespeare was an english poet and playwriter who wrote many literary works including Hamlet.
c) Why do so many students involuntarily frown when they hear the name "Shakespeare"?
          Shakespeare was alive around the late 1500's so his style of writing ranging from diction, sytax, and figurative language are sometimes difficult to understand for young readers now a days.
d) What can we do to make studying this play an amazing experience we'll never forget?
           When studying this play it might be fun to work in groups and assign people characters to story.

Vocabulary List 7

Aberration - (noun) an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image; a disorder in one's mental state; a state or condition markedly different from the norm
Aberrations are sometimes associated with extreme changes.
Ad hoc- (adverb) for the special purpose or end presently under consideration
After the earthquake devastated much of the school grounds, an ad hoc group of parents formed the help with the recovery of the school.
Bane - (noun) something causes misery or death
Bane of an athlete.
Bathos - (noun) triteness or triviality of style; a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one; insincere pathos
Talented politicians can do bathos superbly.
Cantankerous - (adj.) having a difficult and contrary disposition; stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
Cantankerous dad.
Casuistry - (noun) moral philosophy based on the application of general ethical principles to resolve moral dilemmas; argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading
My mother is a master of casuistry, she will never give you a straight answer.
De facto - (noun) in fact; in reality
Kim's mother died when she was very young, making her older sister kristen her de facto mother.
Depredation - (noun) an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding; (usually plural) a destructive action
Pig depredation redly occurs.
Empathy - (noun) understanding and entering into another's feelings
I had empathy for her because I had witnessed something similar.
Harbinger - (noun) an indication of the approach of something or someone; verb foreshadow or presage
Harbinger of death.
Hedonism - (noun) an ethical system that evaluates the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good; the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle
There are limitations and conditions in a doctrine of real hedonism.
Lackluster - (adj.) lacking luster or shine; lacking brilliance or vitality
It was a lackluster performance in my opinion.
Malcontent - (adj.) discontented as toward authority; noun a person who is discontented or disgusted
Despite his professional life as a doctor, his personal life was very malcontent.
Mellifluous - (adj.) pleasing to the ear
Her voice was mellifluous.
Nepotism - noun favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs)
The manager was a corrupt nepotist.
Pander - (noun) someone who procures customers for whores (in England they call a pimp a ponce); verb arrange for sexual partners for others; yield (to); give satisfaction to
I will not pander to the demands of my corrupt manager.
Peccadillo - (noun) a petty misdeed
Even a peccadillo can weigh on a person conscience.
Piece de resistance - (noun) the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction.
The heated seats were the piece de resistance of the car.
Remand - (noun) the act of sending an accused person back into custody to await trial (or the continuation of the trial); verb refer (a matter or legal case) to another committee or authority or court for decision; lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
Remand the person on bail.
Syndrome - (noun) a complex of concurrent things; a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease
Old people often get irritable bowel sydrome.

Preliminary Literature Analysis Questions

1. My literature analysis book, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, is about a young man named Raskolnikov, living in Russia, who suffered from extreme poverty. Due to his adversities he derives a plan to solve them by murdering and robbing a rich old women and pawn broker named Alyona Ivanovna and her sister. He justifies his actions by saying it is for the good of all people and something he was destine to do. He explains how he will help the poor and make Petersburg, Russia into a better place, "he even became much absorbed in the notion of setting up tall fountains, and of how they would freshen the air in all the public squares."

2. The theme of the novel is pride and what it can do to a person. Throughout the entire book Raskolnikov distances himself from the world, from people. In his mind he is too good to socialize with others, that he might even get corrupted from there influence. Many times he even goes out of his way to avoid any interaction what so ever, "he was so immersed in himself and had isolated himself so much from everyone that he was afraid not only of meeting his landlady but meeting anyone at all."

3. Dostoyevsky's tone varied quiet often throughout the course of the story depending on the different situations Raskolnikov faced. The three main tones I picked up on while reading the story however were, distressed, warm, and optimistic. He used a distressed tone when describing Raskolnikov before and after the murders "[Raskolnikov] was positively going now for a "rehearsal" of his project, and at every step his excitement grew more and more violent." He also uses a warm tone when illustrating the relationship between Raskolnikov and his mother "My dear Rodya.. you know i love you; you are all we have , Dunya and I." And lastly he uses a optimistic tone when discussing Raskolnikov's confessions and rebirth "Although invisible there are always two witnesses present at our every action; God and our conscience."

4. Five literary elements that strengthen my understanding of the theme are syntax, diction, comparisons/simile , personification, and allusions.

Repetitive Syntax:

"Good God!" he cried, "can it be, can it be, that I shall really take an axe, that I shall strike her on the head, split her skull open... that I shall tread in the sticky warm blood, blood... with the axe... Good God, can it be?"

"Why am I going there now? Am I capable of that? Is that serious? It is not serious at all. It's simply a fantasy to amuse myself; a plaything! Yes, maybe it is a plaything."

"Go at once, this very minute, stand at the cross-roads, bow down, first kiss the earth which you have defiled, and then bow down to all the world and say to all men aloud, 'I am a murderer!' Then God will send you life again. Will you go, will you go?"

Diction:

"It began with the socialist doctrine. You know their doctrine; crime is a protest against the abnormality of the social organization and nothing more, and nothing more; no other causes admitted!..."

"You are a murderer," the man answered still more articulately and emphatically, with a smile of triumphant hatred, and again he looked straight into Raskolnikov’s pale face and stricken eyes."

"Ah, it's not picturesque, not aesthetically attractive! I fail to understand why it is more honourable to shell some besieged town than to destroy by the blows of an axe"

Comparisons (similes) :

 "He stopped short and was still as death. But all was quiet, so it must have been his fancy. All at once he heard distinctly a faint cry, as though some one had uttered a low broken moan"

"it is as if he had two separate personalities, each dominating him alternately"

 "while the direction of the actions is deranged and dependent on various morbid impressions--it's like a dream"

Allusion

“I wanted to make myself a Napoleon,” states Raskolnikov, “and that is why I killed her.” His is murder of the pawnbroker serves for him two purposes: to prove he is above the law, and to establish the truth of his superiority.
 "Why am I to be pitied, you say? Yes! There's nothing to pity me for! I ought to be crucified, crucified on a cross, not pitied! Crucify me, oh judge, crucify me but pity me?"

 "I did not bow down to you, I bowed down to all the suffering of humanity"

Personification

"His legs felt suddenly weak, a cold shiver ran down his spine, and his heart seemed to stand still for a moment, then suddenly began throbbing as though it were set free"

 "Raskolnikov’s burning and intent eyes grew more penetrating every moment, piercing into his soul, into his consciousness"

"tears stood in their eyes"

Characterization Part 2

1. One example of indirect characterization is the way the author describes Raskolnikov when he commits murder, describing his phyiscally actions. Whereas Dostoyevsky practices direct characterization when he portrays Raskolnikov's thoughts of anxiety and paranoia during and after the deed. Another example might be Raskolnikov and his ex students jacket throughout the novel the author uses it to indirectly describe Raskolnikov as an ex student and some what of a quiter, on the other hand Raskolnikov also thinks of himself as a quiter and often times Dostoyevsky communicates that to the audience through Raskolnikov's thoughts.

2. The whole story is written through the eyes and voice of the main character Raskolnikov, which is why I did believe there to be much of a switch between writing styles specifically syntax and or diction.

3. The protagonist in this novel is most definitely a dynamic and round character. He has so many sides to him and his personality, at first he comes of as self absorbed and arrogant but over time Dostoyevsky reveals that he is actually a kind hearted person and is capible of emotions and deep feelings.

4. After reading crime and punishment I felt as if I had met Raskolnikov himself, the way the author described his character so precisely and truely developed his character through out the course of the story mad me feel closer to him. I not left as I knew him, I sorta felt like him, I felt like I experienced what he had and over come he had in some crazy way. Ranging from his deep depression to his murders to his love for Sonia. "Murderer!" he said suddenly in a quiet but clear and distinct voice.
Raskolnikov went on walking beside him. His legs felt suddenly weak, a cold shiver ran down his spine, and his heart seemed to stand still for a moment, then suddenly began throbbing as though it were set free. So they walked for about a hundred paces, side by side in silence.
The man did not look at him.
"What do you mean... what is... Who is a murderer?" muttered Raskolnikov hardly audibly.
"You are a murderer," the man answered still more articulately and emphatically, with a smile of triumphant hatred, and again he looked straight into Raskolnikov’s pale face and stricken eyes"

Crime and Punishment

Setting: Takes place in Petersburg, Russia in the mid 1860's.

Overview:

Raskolnikov, a poor former unversity student living in Petersburg, Russia becomes inspired with the fantasy of killing the towns pawn women, Alyona Ivanovna

For over a month he is tormented with thoughts of killing the elderly women

He meets a drunk at a local bar named Marmeladov who explains his families many misfortunes due to poverty, including his eldest daughter being forced into a life of prostitution

Recieves a letter from his mother informing him that his sister, Dunya is engaged, and they will be coming to the city soon

Raskolnikov is greatly upset by letters contents and is pushed to make the harsh decision to murder Alyona Ivanovna

He finds word that Alyona Ivanovna half sister, Lizaveta Ivanonva, will be at the market the next day leaving Alyona home alone

Raskolnikov jumps at the idea and begins to prepare

He wakes up in a sweat the next day and already late leaves his apartment with much hast heading towards the pawn lady's home

He arrives there and kills her, while cleaning up and looting the place Lizaveta walks in on him and in a panic he kills her as well

Raskolnikov gets a way just barely and returns home

Shortly after the murders Raskolnikov falls ill

Vocabulary List 6

Beatitude is a supreme blessedness

All children give the same amount of beatitude in different ways.
Bete noire is a detested person (disliked or avoided)

The hamburger was the vegetarians bete noire
Bode is to be an omen of a particular outcome.

The palm reader boded that she live a happy fortunate life.
Dank is disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold

The swamp was dank.
Ecumenical is related to all, universal

Today's discussion was ecumenical, because it involved personal opinions.
Fervid is intensely enthusiastic or passionate

The horse had a fervid nature.
Fetid is smelling extremely unpleasant

Eddie lack of using deodorant left his arm pits fetid.
Gargantuan is of great mass

Eddie's nose is gargantuan.
Heyday is the period of a person's or thing's greatest success or popularity

Eddie will probably never achieve a moment of true heyday in his life time.
Incubus is a cause of distress or anxiety like a nightmare

Eddie is a incudus.
Infrastructure is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation

The hospital was demed infrastruture for the fifth year in a row.
Inveigle is to persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery

I inveigled Eddie to lick the floor.
Kudos is praise and honor received for an achievement

Kudos to Eddie for licking the floor
Lagniappe is something given as a bonus or extra gift

If Eddie were nice he'd get me a lagniappe for being such a fabulous friend.
Prolix is using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
I'm sure Eddie's vocabulary sentences are painfully prolix.
Protege is a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career
A pimp is a patron to a prostitute?
Prototype is a first or preliminary model of something, esp. a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied
The prototype was just created therefore it wont be long until the product is released on shelves.
Sycophant is a person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer
Eddie is a perfect example of a sycophant
Tautology is the saying of the same thing twice in different words
Eddie always uses tautology when speaking with me as if I am unintelligent
Truckle is to submit or behave obsequiously
I try to make Eddie truckle in class but he just won't!

Montaigne Versus Austen

               "What goes on inside is just to fast and huge and all interconnected for words to do more than barely sketch the outlines of at most one tiny little part of it at any given instant."- David Foster Wallace. This is a great observation of what goes on with a writer and their works. Two examples that come to mind would be Michael de Montaigne in his novel Essays of Michael de Montaigne and Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. Both authors use specific styles that combined with their writing topics illustrate this concept.

When comparing these authors I find their styles are night and day, complete opposites of one another. First off their writing genres are quite different. Beginning with the Essays of Michael de Montaigne which discusses numerous opinions of Montaigne and his observations on life. Whereas Austen's Pride and Prejudice is a classic romance novel based soley on fiction rather than reality.

Another huge distinction between the two writers are their sentence style. Austen uses characters and dialogue to establish a central theme and develop her stories. She writes indirectly, in a 3rd person tense. Unlike Austen, Montaigne takes a more direct approach and writes in the first person, often using words like "I" or "Me" or "Myself".

Lastly the writers prefer using different sentence structures. Since Montaigne is writing about his own opinions and ideas, his thoughts are very scattered. It's as if he writes about one subject and then another object of opinion pops into his head and he decides to write on that subject half way through explaining his ideals on the previous one. Montaigne poorly organizes his thoughts, in fact theres not much structure at all in his writing. He's trying so hard to get all of his ideas out, that he sometimes neglects to fully complete others, "what goes on inside is just too fast.. for words". The Essays are very ill uniformed, often times his steam of consciousness is severed while writing.

 Austen however is very clinical in her work. She writes very well structured pieces which all tie into the universal theme she is aiming to teach her audience. Each thought flows precisely after the one before in a sequential rythm. The part I enjoy most about reading her work is the way she paces the novel. She strings out just the right parts adding and adding to the suspense and then tells other parts quickly to keep us from boredom.

Overall each author has their own signature style of writing, as they should have. Montaigne persuades the readers into believing certain ideas, while Austen uses descriptive writing to paint you pictures with her words, both equally good writing styles.

Beowulf ond Godsylla

Meanehwæl, baccat meaddehæle, monstær lurccen;
Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht.
Ðen Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl,
Æsccen æwful jeork to steop outsyd. Þhud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! Ðe bigge gye
Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe;
Wicced Godsylla wæld on his asse.
Monstær moppe fleor wyþ eallum men in hælle.
Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bamaccen wæs;
Hearen sond of ruccus sæd, "Hwæt ðe helle?"
Graben sheold strang ond swich-blæd scharp
Stond feorth to fyht ðe grimlic foe. "Me," Godsylla sæd, "mac ðe minsemete."
Heoro cwyc geten heold wiþ fæmed half-nelson
Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen
Beowulf belly up to meaddehæle bar,
Sæd, "Ne foe beaten mie færsom cung-fu."
Eorderen cocca-cohla yce-coeld, ðe reol þyng.

Translated:
Meanwhile, back at the mead-hall, the monster lurked
Full (of) few too many drinks, he was looking for a fight
Then (name), son of (name) asked the awful jerk to step outside
Thud, Bash, Crash, boom, the big guy
All of his bones broke, bit his nose off;
Wicked Godzilla wailed on his a ss
Moster mopped the floor with all the men in the hall
Beowulf in the backroom making a phone call
Hearing sounds of ruckus said, "What the hell?"
Grabbed his strong shield and sharp switch blade
Stood forth to fight the grimlic foe
"Me," Godzilla said, "Make the mince-meat"
Hero ? quickly got (getting) held with the famed half-nelson
And flying him like a frisbee back and forth
Beowulf belly up to the mead-hall's bar,
said, "No foe has beaten my fearsome kung-fu."
He ordered coca-cola, ice cold, the real thing

Vocabulary List 5

Acumen is quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight.

You have to be acumen to be able to hunt.
Adjudicate is to study and settle a dispute or conflict.
Thanks to the lawyer he and I have finally adjudicated.
Anachronism is the representation of someone as existing or something as happening in other than chronological, proper, or historical order.
I have extreme OCD I can never have things in a anachronism manner.
Apocryphal is of questionable authorship or authenticity.
My older sister is apocryphal.
Disparity is the condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or degree; difference.
There is an obvious disparity between the president and the vice president.
Dissimulate is to disguise one's intentions.
He is sneaky the way he dissimulates.
Empirical is relying on or derived from observation or experiment.
Scientists live emperically.
Flamboyant is highly elaborate; ornate.
A single snowflake up close is quiet flamboyant.
Fulsome is offensively flattering or insincere.
Sometimes his coments come off fulsome.
Immolate is to kill as a sacrifice.
Aztecs immolated pigs.

Imperceptible is impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses.

He is so imperceptible sometimes.
Lackey is to wait on as a footman; attend.
I hate when i have to lackey to my mother.
Liaison is an instance or a means of communication between different groups or units of an organization, especially in the armed forces.
I wish my brother and I shared more liason.
Monolithic is massive, solid, and uniform.
The prison is monolithic.

Mot. juste is exactly the right word or expression.

I can't think of the mot. juste for such a gift.
Nihilism is an extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.
He practices nihilism in every aspect of life.

Patrician is a person of refined upbringing, manners, and tastes.

Charles Bingley is a fine example of a patrician.
Propitiate is to conciliate an offended power; appease.
Please propitiate me is I miss pronounce your name.
Sic is thus or so.
Maybe I'll switch the word thus out with sic.
Sublimat is to modify the natural expression of a primitive, instinctual impulse in a socially acceptable manner.
When I am highly upset by a person remark I usually sublimat my feelings.

Hero's Journey

Aladdin! As a child my favorite hero was and still is Aladdin. For those who don't think of him as a hero, they sure didn't look close enough. Aladdin exibits all the qualities and aspects a hero goes through, including a hero's journey. Starting with the departure after Princess Jasmine and her father the sultan are captured by Jafar and forced into submission. Aladdin then fights and fights to get to them even with all the odds stacked against him. Once there being physically weaker then Jafar he uses his cunning and wit to trick Jafar and save the princess. Finally they return to Agrahba and Aladdin has the realization that he can no long pretend to be something he's not and frees the genie giving up his chances of ever being with Jasmine.

Poisonwood Bible

           The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is a perfect example of what Edward Said was speaking of when he said the "unbelievable rift forced between the self and its true home.." is "a potent, even enriching" experience. All that and more describes the Price Family's journey in Africa. The Poisonwood Bible is a true story that accounts for one family's experiences and struggles while in Africa under missionary works. The story basically tells of the family's many misfortunes, unravelings, and the tragic dealth of there youngest daughter. All of the family members experience and take in Africa in different ways, however Leah Price's, the second oldest Daughter of Nathan and Orleanna Price, experiences with excile are both alienating and enriching.

As a child Leah idolized her father,and in turn did almost everything a young girl could do to be like him, including act and dress like him. Thats right acted and dressed like him. Leah was a tomboy which wasn't so strange in America but once she arrived in Africa she became completely alienated. At first villagers believed she was a man due to her short hair and masculine attitude but as time went on and the villagers learned the truth they were outraged to see a girl particpating in jobs for men like teaching and hunting. Now she was being alienated for two things being white and being a tomboy. But it didn't stop there, in African tradition if a women gives birth to twins they must leave the babies in the jungle to be eaten by animals because they are considered bad luck, well Leah is a twin and as soon as that got out that her mother had not left her in the jungle, that there was such a name for it as "twins", scared peole even more.

The longer their stay became the more alienated the Price family became, the girls could not miss home more and when the opportunity to leave came forth and Nathan refused Leah began to see her father for what he really was a cruel cowardly man. This cold reality hit Leah like a ton of bricks. And she did not hide her realization for long. She soon began defying her father and challenging his opinions in front of her family and the villagers. All respect for her father had drown along side her hopes of returning home.

When the switch from alienating discomfort changed to enriching growth and happiness is too hard to say. I'm guessing it steadily grew like Lead and Anatole's relationship but wasn't truly recognized until the day she chose Africa over Georgia, her homeland where she was raised, where her friends were, her church, her home, everything she had once known. Except to her the only home she knew now was Africa, Africa had made her strong, molded her from the puddy she had once been in her dad's hands, and into a strongwilled women, wife, and mother. She was no long Leah Price but Leah Ngembe. Georgia would never be her home again it could never give her all that Africa did. It could never give her life.

Vocabulary List 4

Apostate is one who has abandoned one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause.

The worse thing you could do in life is become a apostate.
Effusive is unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression; gushy.

Girls definitely tend to be more effusive then boys when it comes to relationships.
Impasse is a road or passage having no exit; a cul-de-sac.

The road was so long it almost seemed as if it was an impasse.
Euphoria is a feeling of great happiness or well-being.

Helping the eldery gives me euphoria.
Lugubrious is a mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree.
After Micheal Jacksons dealth there was a lugbrious attitude for quiet some time.
Bravado is a defiant or swaggering behavior.

I hate when guys act in a bravado manner.
Consensus is an opinion or position reached by a group as a whole.

Will still can't come up with a consensus towards pinnapples.

Dichotomy is division into two usually contradictory parts or opinions.

There always some sort of dichotomy in our discussions on pinnapples.

Constrict is to make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing.

To kill there prey snakes constrict them until they are dead.
Gothic is of or relating to the Goths or their language.

I love to learn more about the gothic era.
Punctilio is a fine point of etiquette.

Its take a person with real punctilio to practice need work.
Metamorphosis is a transformation, as by magic or sorcery.

Catepillars go through metamorphosis to become butterflies.
Raconteur is one who tells stories and anecdotes with skill and wit.

My mom is a great example of a raconteur, its the best.
Sine qua non is an essential element or condition.
Water is an example of a sine qua non.
Quixotic is caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality.
The quixotic little girl dreamed of unicorns and fairys.

Vendetta is a feud between two families or clans that arises out of a slaying and is perpetuated by retaliatory acts of revenge; a blood feud.

The Jones's have a vendetta with Trenev's.
Non sequitur is an inference or conclusion that does not follow from the premises or evidence.
Due the rest and fatigue the officer came to a non sequitur on the case.
Mystique is an aura of heightened value, interest, or meaning surrounding something, arising from attitudes and beliefs that impute special power or mystery to it.
The Feminist Mystique was novel written about womens rights.

Quagmire is land with a soft muddy surface.

Quagmire is oftern found near ponds and swamps.
Parlous is Perilous; dangerous.

Its very parlous to run with knifes.

1987 Exam

1.e         13.d        25.d        51.b 
2.e         14.c        26.e        52.b
3.c         15.e        27.d        53.e
4.a         16.b        28.c        54.e
5.d         17.c        29.a        55.d
6.e         18.a        30.b        56.e
7.a         19.e        31.d        57.c
8.b         20.b        32.d        58.c
9.a         21.e        47.b        59.e
10.c       22.d        48.e        60.d
11.d       23.a        49.c        61.e
12.b       24.a        50.d

Question 1:

           Leisure, a simple term that has been around for as long as any of us can remember.  Leisure, " or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It also exludes time spent on necessary activities such as eating, sleeping, and, where it is compulsory, education."-wiki. So with that being said is it really possible to have different types of leisure, well George Eliot sure thinks so in fact alot of people believe there is such a thing as "old leisure" and "modern leisure".  And after reading the selected passage by Eliot I believe so too.

Old leisure is what it sounds like how leisure was performed in the past, particularly around 50 years ago. Old leisure was appreciation for the little the things in life for example from the passage, the shade of a tree in the hot summer sun, the smell of fruit hanging from the trees. In fact old leisure goes farther then that, now a days leisure is looked at as an event something you do on sunday afternoons or holidays, but in the passage old leisure is somewhat of a life style.  In the case of the old man its the way he goes about his day, the things he does, the thoughts he has and the consequences he recieves.

Whereas modern leisure is an occasional event in a persons life maybe once a week, a month, a year. And when that leisure comes around its not even the same kind of leisure the old man enjoys in the story, in reality its not leisure at all. "leisure is gone".

Eliot uses many literal devices to help portray the differences between old and modern leisure. She uses imagery in her examples to establish pictures in our mind to connect with the thoughts. She also uses a satirical tone to intrigue and keep the readers attention on the passage. To aid in the idea of leisure she uses the old mans appearance to sybolism simplicity and pure happiness of the time, "he was a stout gentleman".

Now a days relaxation intales turning on the tv to your favorite show, going to movies, going out to eat, getting your nails done but none of that is actual leisure. Our heads these days are so filled with the hottest styles, music, political controversies, homework assignments, family, and drama that how can there be any leisure when your mind is off in a million different places. Leisure intales simplicity which is just not available anymore.


Question 2:

          Throughout the Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck there are many clashes against traditional ways for thinking and capitalistic ways. Beginning as early as the first few chapters with Tom Joad's releasment from prison, particularly his experience with the truck driver. Tom Joad's need a ride to his house and askes a truck driver who initial says no but after some persuading on Toms side he says yes. This situation may not seem like a clash against traditional ways but it is, you see because the truck driver said no at first due to the company's policy against hitch hikes, a capitalistic company, but then later makes an exception because of the golden rule "do to others what you would want done to yourself".

Another example of traditional clashes is when Tom Joad comes into contact with Casy, their local preacher and soon after finds out that he has given up preaching. Casy exclaims that basically whats the use it trying anymore everything is all part of the same. I believe Steinbeck was using a very socialistic mind set when writing the dialoge of this scene, completely put down traditional beliefs for the bible.

The final clash in the novel between tradition and capitialism was when the Joad family was forced to vacate there home. This time Steinbeck makes it clear that he believes that capitalists are the bad guys throwing a family out of there home with no where to go because they want to make a profit.

Overall I think Steinbeck creates such clashes in his work to show his side of argument, that he stands for traditional ways of living, for courtesy and human hospitality, for a better way of living.

Reflections on Week 1

1. In my opinion no matter who you are or what your schedule is there are going to be factors in your life that affect your participation or experience in the class some in a good way others in a bad way. For me personally I do not have any trouble accessing the course information on a daily basis. As for my situation with friends and family I think yes, sometimes they are going to distract me or lead me away from my studies but they are also the people who help me the most. My first week was intense after missing the first two weeks for school, I had so much make up work in all my classes but I can say that thanks to my family and friends I'm back on track. The only factors that I can potentially see causing problems would be extra curricular. I'm very involved in Righetti FFA in fact im serving as this years Reporter, im also involved in our schools Red Cross club and am serving as the clubs president so trips and clud events could sometimes poorly affect course particpation and experience.

2. The best learning experiences I ever have are those that are interactive. One of my favorite educational experiences was our 7th grade trip to Montrey. I learned so much I learned about animals, science, marine life, and even some history about the town and its people. We went to the aquarium, walked Cannery Row, explored the harbor, and visited Doc's house. Most of all it taught me how I learned or at least the opimum way I learn and that is through experience and repitition. Before the trip we were asked to read, take notes, and answer questions on a novel called Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. A story all about history of Montrey and its people and I'm so happy they made us do that because once we were in Montrey walking through Cannery Row, eating sardines, sitting under the cyprus tree it was as if I was in the book experiencing what the characters did, going where the characters went, seeing through there eyes.

3. What I'm most concerned about in this class is the writing work load. I HATE writing unfortunately, anything that has to do with writing I try to aviod and when I can't aviod it I procrastinate until the absolute last second. I think what I hate most about it is the freedom about it, the fact that you chose the sentence length, the vocabulary, the word terminology, the spacing of ideas, even the ideas of the writing is left all up to you. I am however looking foward to hopefully getting better at writing so it becomes not such a daunting task in the future.