Jigsaw

Discuss the evolutionary behaviors of the boys and how they progress and/or digress as a society. What factors cause them to evolve or change?

• the boys start off scared and unaware of what to do
• two leaders were born: Jack and Ralph
• they step up as leaders
• most were obedient
• some were out of line
• as time passed, the boys were becoming restless
• arguements between each other
• power struggle between Jack and Ralph
• survival of the fitest
• factors: hunger
• restlessness
• dilussional
• lonely
• bored

Essential #10

“All along I had been … immediate apprehension” (59).

My rewrite:

“All along Jane had been dreading the fulfillment of Mr. Brocklehurst’s promise, - she had been looking out daily for the “Coming Man,” whose information respecting Jane’s past life and conversation was to brand her as a bad child for ever: now there he was. He stood at Miss Temple’s side; he was speaking low in her ear. Undoubtedly Jane assumed that he was making disclosures of her supposed villainy. As Jane observed Miss Temple’s eye with painful anxiety, expecting every moment to see its dark orb to turn on her a glance of repugnance and contempt. As Jane carefully listened, she caught most of what he said. Jane felt relieved from immediate apprehension”

Analysis:

Although readers can infer how Jane is feeling through descriptive words and word choice, readers are blinded from Jane’s true emotions due to the lack of a personal connection with Jane. Jane’s feelings of loneliness, fear, and anxiety are clearly introduced to the readers, but the severity of these emotions are unknown due to the novel being translated to third person. With the novel being translated to third person, readers are unfamiliar with Jane’s motives. For example, if the novel were written in third person, readers would be ignorant to Jane’s reasons for shoving John Reed. This is similar to the Iceburg analogy that was taught to us by Mr. George. The Iceburg analogy is about solely seeing the actions but not seeing what goes into it or the process. With the novel written in first person, readers are aware of Jane’s motives and the reasoning behind her actions.

Essential #9

Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein were similar in the sense that they were both family oriented. At the beginning of the novel Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley introduces the audience to Walton by providing personal letters that he sent to his sister, Margaret Saville. Through these letters it is evident the form of relationship shared between the siblings. Walton confides in his sister enough to share his stories and experiences while on his journey to the North Pole. Not only is their strong relationship evident through the content of these letters, but also by the way he would sign them: “Your affectionate brother, R. Walton” (Shelley 3). Similar to Walton, the importance of family in Frankenstein’s life is also apparent through the description of how his parents met and fell in love. Frankenstein describes his adoptive sister (cousin) so passionately that family is clearly of importance to him: “[Frankenstein] looked upon Elizabeth as mine – mine to protect, love, and cherish” (18). Walton and Frankenstein are not entirely similar; they differ in their educational upbringings. Walton was self-educated and demonstrated a love for reading: “my education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading” (2) while Frankenstein received a more formal education. Frankenstein attended the university of Ingolstadt and was most interested in “the secrets of heaven and earth” (19).

Essential #8

Are Katherine and Petruchio in love?

In The Taming of the Shrew, Katherine and Petruchio are far from being in love. From the moment that the audience was introduced to Petruchio, his motives for pursuing Katherine were known: “I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; If wealthily, then happily in Padua” (1.2.76-77). Yes, Petruchio was willing to put up with Katherine, but not because he was in love with her, because he was well aware of the benefits. Once Petruchio is married to Katherine, because her father is so wealthy, Petruchio will receive a large dowry. This marriage was more of a business proposal than the union of two people who love each other. Also, towards the end of the play when Katherine is talking about a wife’s duties and obligations towards their husbands, she talks of these obligations as if they were for a king or as a form of repayment: “Such duty as the subject owes the prince, Even such a woman oweth to her husband” (5.2.171-172). When a woman talks about the good deeds that they do for their husbands it should not be because they owe it to them, but because they deserve it. After Katherine makes her speech to the other wives about how they should be obsequious to their husbands, Petruchio treats Katherine as if she were a well trained dog. Thus, Katherine and Petruchio’s marriage was based on wealth and Petruchio’s ability to tame Katherine, not on love.

Essential #7

Do you think that Hamlet has created his own insanity, or has he lost his sense of reality completely?

Prince Hamlet is far from insane. Considering his circumstances, Hamlet’s behavior is completely rational. To go through what Hamlet has gone through is truly mind boggling and it would be impressive if anyone could act normal during this time.

Something to take into consideration is the vow that Prince Hamlet made to King Hamlet. Prince Hamlet promised to avenge his father’s death: “The time is out of joint. O cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right!” (1.5.210-211). Considering the love and affection that Prince Hamlet had for his father, of course Prince Hamlet was going to put all of his effort into this revenge. His passion shouldn’t be confused with insanity. Hamlet was doing what needed to be done in order to fully avenge his father’s death.

Prince Hamlet does a superb job of taking on the insane role. When Prince Hamlet is talking to Guildenstern about the play that the players are going act out for everyone, Prince Hamlet reveals how his “sanity” is only an act: “I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw” (2.2.402-403). Here Prince Hamlet is telling Guildenstern that he knows when to act mad and when to act rationally. He assures Guildenstern about his ability to distinguish when it is right or when it is wrong to act irrationally.

Essential # 6

What parallels can be drawn between the Pardoner's Prologue and his tale? How is this tale different from the other two that we have studied? Think in regards to the Pardoner's voice and how Chaucer's style changes.

The vices that the Pardoner is speaking of in his tale are ironically vices that he has committed. Throughout his tale, he is constantly shunning these vices, comparing them to “the very sepulcher of human judgement and articulation” (247) and stating that those who indulge in these vices will be “enemies of the cross of Christ” (246). The vices that the Pardoner spoke of in his tale were indulgence, gluttony, vulgarity, debauchery, and avarice. Some specific examples from his tale were drinking, gambling, and swearing. The Pardoner cursed all of these vices, but in his prologue he is engaging in some of these acts: “Now as I’ve drunk a draught of corn-ripe ale” (244).

The Pardoner’s tale differs from the Knight’s tale and the Miller’s tale in various ways. For example, the Knight’s and Miller’s tale are revolved around love, while the Pardoner’s tale is revolved around vices. With that being said, the Knight’s and Miller’s tale were suspenseful and exciting to read. The Pardoner’s tale lacked this excitement because there were no real surprises, everything that happened could have been predicted.

Essential Question 4

Choice 2: Where do we see seduction and lust start to destroy Gawain, our young hero? What is the author trying to tell us?

During the Old English era, the color green signified something very different from the modern era. Now, it signifies money, greed, and envy, while then it signified passion and seduction.

It is no surprise that the person who Gawain is going to be fighting is the Green Knight. The Green Knight’s green attire is meant to symbolize seduction and temptation. When first being introduced to the Green Knight, seduction was not a factor. It was not a factor until Gawain found the castle that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Gawain was well received in this castle through clothes, food, and the host’s wife: “sweet pipes beguile their cares, and the trumpet of martial tone; each tends his affairs and those two tend their own” (1016-1019). Considering the fact that Gawain and the host made a treaty together, the last thing the host wants is for Gawain to be having an affair with his wife.

Gawain’s charm can be seen as his downfall. This secret affair can possibly cost him the fight or more importantly, his life.