(Poetry is not my area of expertise)
A confusing piece of work it was
To read more than once I must
Eyes do not equal truth
The meaning hidden beneath its words
Chained we are by own minds
Freedom gained only through thought
The suns rays burn us
But do not illuminate our worlds
The reflection of ourselves
Is not what we should scearch for
But of our actions
And experiences of life
Only then may our minds surpass the space of the universe
No longer confined to what we see
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Brain with 10 legs
I chose to read A Tale of Two Cities because I already had the book in my collection and have always intended to read it. Luckily for me, my friends also chose to read the book alongside me. According to them we will one half of the book before Thanksgiving break and the other half during the break. Apparently I have also chosen to be the illustrator for our group although I do not know what sort of illustration I shall be doing.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Hamlet Essay
The term "performative utterances" refers to when a character's words correlate with their actions, a direct relationship between the two exists. In one of Shakespeare's many plays, Hamlet, the characters' actions and motives are portrayed through their utterances. Because of the connection between actions and words, the reader is able to gain a grasp of what is to come more easily.
At the beginning of the play, Hamlet has no goal other than to avenge the death of his father. His plan seemed simply enough, to have his revenge by killing his uncle, Claudius, his father's murderer. The plot was justified in his mind, but as soon as it was spoken aloud and upon realizing it would be a difficult task to perform, Hamlet began to mull over different strategies to achieve his goal. This is an example of self-overhearing, a reaction to one's thought after it has been said aloud. Other characters, such as Gertrude and Ophelia, also display acts of self-overhearing. Ophelia with her feelings towards Hamlet and Gertrude when she becomes conscious of the sin she had committed by remarrying to her late husband's brother.
Like in Hamlet, performative utterances occur in real life everyday and once a person claims they will do an action, they are committed to it. When I tell my mother that I will depose of our garbage then I will do it, it may not happen at that current moment but I will get to it eventually like Hamlet eventually killed his uncle. I speak my actions aloud because now I have gained a sense of responsibility. Performative utterances also work in the negative, people will often tell themselves they cannot perform a certain, like a mathematics question, so they will not bother to try at all.
Self-overhaearing is present in life more often than one might believe. For me, my inner thoughts sound better in my head than when spoken aloud. I often regret the words that come out of my mouth after I utter them, they are not as attractive as they were in my mind. My own personal experience with self-overhearing is when I constantly believe that I am not skilled at anything, I think I have no outstanding qualities or skills. When I said this aloud once, I realized that while there is some truth to that statement, it is not all true. I have decent abilities in some areas, but because I have this mindset that I am useless, I do not apply myself to anything.
Because Hamlet is a play it is crucial for characters to display their motives/actions through their thoughts. There is no direct characterization, we as readers much infer as much as we can about these character's through their performative utterances and how they respond to self-overhearing. Aspects such as these, are key factors in the plot of a story as they provide insight into how a character thinks and adapts to the event happening around them.
At the beginning of the play, Hamlet has no goal other than to avenge the death of his father. His plan seemed simply enough, to have his revenge by killing his uncle, Claudius, his father's murderer. The plot was justified in his mind, but as soon as it was spoken aloud and upon realizing it would be a difficult task to perform, Hamlet began to mull over different strategies to achieve his goal. This is an example of self-overhearing, a reaction to one's thought after it has been said aloud. Other characters, such as Gertrude and Ophelia, also display acts of self-overhearing. Ophelia with her feelings towards Hamlet and Gertrude when she becomes conscious of the sin she had committed by remarrying to her late husband's brother.
Like in Hamlet, performative utterances occur in real life everyday and once a person claims they will do an action, they are committed to it. When I tell my mother that I will depose of our garbage then I will do it, it may not happen at that current moment but I will get to it eventually like Hamlet eventually killed his uncle. I speak my actions aloud because now I have gained a sense of responsibility. Performative utterances also work in the negative, people will often tell themselves they cannot perform a certain, like a mathematics question, so they will not bother to try at all.
Self-overhaearing is present in life more often than one might believe. For me, my inner thoughts sound better in my head than when spoken aloud. I often regret the words that come out of my mouth after I utter them, they are not as attractive as they were in my mind. My own personal experience with self-overhearing is when I constantly believe that I am not skilled at anything, I think I have no outstanding qualities or skills. When I said this aloud once, I realized that while there is some truth to that statement, it is not all true. I have decent abilities in some areas, but because I have this mindset that I am useless, I do not apply myself to anything.
Because Hamlet is a play it is crucial for characters to display their motives/actions through their thoughts. There is no direct characterization, we as readers much infer as much as we can about these character's through their performative utterances and how they respond to self-overhearing. Aspects such as these, are key factors in the plot of a story as they provide insight into how a character thinks and adapts to the event happening around them.
Vocab #9
Aficionado: A person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity; an expert or connoisseur.
Browbeat: To intimidate someone into doing something, using abusive words; to bully or force.
Commensurate: In proportion; equivalent or correspondent.
Diaphanous: Light, delicate, and translucent; gossamer.
Emolument: A salary, fee, or profit from employment.
Foray: A sudden attack into enemy territory; a raid; a venture outside one’s usual area.
Genre: A category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject; a classification.
Homily: A discourse on or of a moral theme; a sermon or lecture.
Immure: To enclose or confine someone against their will; to imprison.
Insouciant: Showing a lack of concern; nonchalant; indifferent.
Matrix: An environment or material in which something develops; a situation within which something else originates.
Obsequies: Funeral rites or services
Panache: Flamboyant confidence of style or manner; flair or zest.
Persona: The aspect of someone’s character that is perceived by others; a voice or character representing the speaker.
Philippic: A bitter attack or denunciation; criticism.
Prurient: Having an excessive interest in lustful thoughts and desires.
Sacrosanct: Regarded as too valuable to be interfered with; sacred; untouchable.
Systemic: Of or relating to a system, as opposed to a particular part.
Tendentious: Favoring a particular cause or point of view that is controversial or may cause argument.
Vicissitude: A change of prevailing situations or fortune.
Browbeat: To intimidate someone into doing something, using abusive words; to bully or force.
Commensurate: In proportion; equivalent or correspondent.
Diaphanous: Light, delicate, and translucent; gossamer.
Emolument: A salary, fee, or profit from employment.
Foray: A sudden attack into enemy territory; a raid; a venture outside one’s usual area.
Genre: A category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject; a classification.
Homily: A discourse on or of a moral theme; a sermon or lecture.
Immure: To enclose or confine someone against their will; to imprison.
Insouciant: Showing a lack of concern; nonchalant; indifferent.
Matrix: An environment or material in which something develops; a situation within which something else originates.
Obsequies: Funeral rites or services
Panache: Flamboyant confidence of style or manner; flair or zest.
Persona: The aspect of someone’s character that is perceived by others; a voice or character representing the speaker.
Philippic: A bitter attack or denunciation; criticism.
Prurient: Having an excessive interest in lustful thoughts and desires.
Sacrosanct: Regarded as too valuable to be interfered with; sacred; untouchable.
Systemic: Of or relating to a system, as opposed to a particular part.
Tendentious: Favoring a particular cause or point of view that is controversial or may cause argument.
Vicissitude: A change of prevailing situations or fortune.
What I think about when thinking about Act III of Hamlet
Like many others, the first thing that comes to mind is the "To be or not to be" speech. Hamlet is seriously considering suicide and vents out his thoughts. I find it humorous that near the end he noticed Ophelia's presence and quickly attempts to change the meaning of the speech.
Hamlet also had the chance to kill his uncle but he didn't. He confronts his mother about the sin she has committed and tells her about his father's ghost. Polonius gets stabbed through the curtain and Hamlet calmly drags his body out after speaking with his mother.
Hamlet also had the chance to kill his uncle but he didn't. He confronts his mother about the sin she has committed and tells her about his father's ghost. Polonius gets stabbed through the curtain and Hamlet calmly drags his body out after speaking with his mother.
Dear Ophelia
"My name is O, and I'm trapped in this weird sort of dating thing-- a prince says he loves me, but my father & brother hate him and tell me to stay away. What should I do?"
Your family clearly has their reasons for wanting you to stay away from this prince. Respect their wishes, they are only looking out for your safety. This boy may love you now but he can always change his mind later. Your family, on the other hand, will always love you. Romantic love is a dangerous thing that fluctuates constantly, it's not something worth losing your head over.
Your family clearly has their reasons for wanting you to stay away from this prince. Respect their wishes, they are only looking out for your safety. This boy may love you now but he can always change his mind later. Your family, on the other hand, will always love you. Romantic love is a dangerous thing that fluctuates constantly, it's not something worth losing your head over.
Vocab #8
Abase: to reduce or lower; degrade
Abdicate: to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, responsibility
Abomination: something greatly disliked or abhorred
Brusque: abrupt in manner
Saboteur: a person who commits or practices sabotage
Debauchery: excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; intemperance
Proliferate: to grow or produce by multiplication of parts
Anachronism: something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time
Nomenclature: a set of system of names or terms, as those used in a particular science or art, by an individual or community.
Expurgate: to amend by removing words or passages
Bellicose: inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile
Gauche: lacking social grace; awkward; crude
Rapacious: giving to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed
Paradox: a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth
Conundrum: a riddle
Anomaly: a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form
Ephemeral: lasting a very short time
Rancorous: full of or showing malicious resentfulness or hostility
Churlish: rude
Precipitous: happening in a very quick and sudden way
Abdicate: to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, responsibility
Abomination: something greatly disliked or abhorred
Brusque: abrupt in manner
Saboteur: a person who commits or practices sabotage
Debauchery: excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; intemperance
Proliferate: to grow or produce by multiplication of parts
Anachronism: something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time
Nomenclature: a set of system of names or terms, as those used in a particular science or art, by an individual or community.
Expurgate: to amend by removing words or passages
Bellicose: inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile
Gauche: lacking social grace; awkward; crude
Rapacious: giving to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed
Paradox: a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth
Conundrum: a riddle
Anomaly: a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form
Ephemeral: lasting a very short time
Rancorous: full of or showing malicious resentfulness or hostility
Churlish: rude
Precipitous: happening in a very quick and sudden way
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