Open Prompt #4

A stereotype is a popular belief about a particular group or kind of person. In Priestley Cooper’s An Inpector Calls the stereoptyped characters are the Birlings, a wealthy middle class family in 1912 England. The stereoptypical characteristics and actions of the family bring meaning to the author’s message that humans are responsible for each other.

The wealthy Birlings show the expected characteristics of the middle class in 1912 Brumley, England. The Father, Mr. Birling, is the owner of a factory and a true believer of individualism. As a typical factory owner at this time, Mr. Birling cares only about making the most money  possible especially if that mean exploiting the working class. His son, who is the heir to the family company, is womanizer and a heavy partier, and his daughter is incredible spoiled. All three of them put themselves first and see no fault in their ways. This is pointed out to them by the inspector who links their selfish behavior to the death of a young woman.

Though the Birlings didn’t really murder the young woman, by using stereotypes Cooper pins the blame on them. Mr. Birling’s refusal to hede to his workers demands for better wages left the young woman out in the cold which was made worse by his daughter, and his son’s actions left her pregnant and without means to support herself. The young woman in the play is representation of the working class, the hopeless victims of the wealthy. The Birlings’ actions prompted by stereotypes of the wealthy because they are the representation of what that mind set has done and can do.

Cooper’s view of the wealthy was one of contempt, he found them selfish and truly believed that human beings were responsible for each other. By using stereotypes to model the Birling family he communicates his opinion that humans are responsible for each other. 

Response to Course Material #3

This week we have finally began annotating, and put to action all of the lessons and practice that we have had. I have to say that in the beginning the annotating was a bit difficult. The finding part wasn’t difficult but choosing what to write down and how was proving to be. I found myself either writing too much, so much in fact that it would distract me from reading the passage itself or not knowing how to mark things. I realized however that I needed to find a way to organize my thoughts and to effectively pick and choose. And though the book had a graphic organization tactic through previous experiences I find it more useful if I come up with my own technique that will automatically employ each time I annotate. So far I have decided to circle examples of diction and underline syntax. I’m still looking for ideas for imagery; I’ve decided though that details will be the only technique that I will write notes for so I won’t run out of space.

Close Prompt #3

http://www.macobo.com/essays/epdf/Me%20Talk%20Pretty%20One%20Day%20by%20Sedaris.pdf

Me Talk Pretty One Day – By David Sedaris

The terrifying feat of learning a foreign language is one that is scary, and nerve racking especially when you are expected to speak perfectly already. In David Sedaris’ essay he recounts his experience of enrolling in a school to learn French in Paris by an extremely sarcastic and unwelcoming teacher. This essay accurate reveals the Sedaris struggle and fear of speaking through details, language and imagery.

Sedaris’ time in France was characterized his limited knowledge of the language, not only was he not able to speak confidently his listening needed work. The author’s incapability of understanding what his teacher said let alone anyone else is shown through the details. The author’s choice of including gibberish that represents that French words Sedaris couldn’t understand like “fiuscrzsa ticiwelmun.” By using gibberish Sedaris emphasizes his confusion. The author’s reaction to knowing the alphabet is another great example. The alphabet is a fundamental element in any language and the fact that Sedaris doesn’t know it shows even more that his French skills are not up to par.

The judgmental and unwelcoming classroom environment created by the French teacher kept the students in constant fear. This is seen through the imagery used in the piece. The author described the teacher’s reaction to the first speaker—on the first day of class— as “cold and blunt, shocking to all in the room.” She attacked the answers the student gave with ease. He sets the scene by describing her “domineering” presence and “voice dripping with sarcasm,” showing the reader the classroom dynamic.

It is easy then to understand how in that environment the students after a year did not improve their speaking skills, this supported by the language used. Sedaris tells us that the students only felt safe talking amongst themselves in the absence of their teacher. The dialogue between the students is one filled with grammatical errors, for example, “Sometimes me cry alone at night.” The author’s use of bad grammar in his translation of the exchanges shows the lack of improvement of the students. This in turns supports the idea that the student’s growth was limited because of the hostile classroom environment.

David Sedaris’ essay reveals that full growth and improvement is restricted in hostile learning environments because students aren’t willing to put themselves out there due to fear.

Open Prompt #3

1970. Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.

Society in the 1960s was one driven by consumerism and conformity. This is seen especially in Edward Albee’s play the “American Dream” when looking at Mommy. Her actions in the play are clearly reflection of the currents society’s value of consumerism and peer approval.

The 1960s were a trying time for Americans, with the end of the cold war almost a decade prior and the start of the cold war. Events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis created an environment of constant fear of nuclear destruction. Possibly in order to escape the country turned even more towards materialism than ever before. It also began to value the opinions of others even more, allowing what others do virtually make all their decisions for them.

Mommy epitomizes both values of consumerism and the need for approval by peers; this is seen in the details chosen by Albee. Mommy is striving to attain what she believes is the American dream but in reality is nothing but a shell of it, a perception. This is seen in acceptance and keenness toward the young man, who Albee chooses to be visually appealing and young two things that were valued at this time. Another example is how with some hesitation at first Mommy accepts Mrs. Barker’s view of what color the hat is. There is also significance in the color Albee chose it to be, beige.  A color that some may say is bland but also one that is associated with a higher class versus the color wheat. Mommy submits to the pressures of society though with a underlying feeling of never being able to truly be satisfied.

Albee’s character Mommy in the play “American Dream” epitomizes the value places on consumerism and societal approval in 1960s America.

Close Reading #2

http://www.vanityfair.com/society/features/2011/04/jfk-jr-christina-haag-201104#gotopage1

                Love on the Edge

Memoirs often share important information about the author and people in their lives. This excerpt from Christina Haag’s Memoir retells her time with John F. Kennedy Jr. With the use of syntax, imagery, and details, she reveals to the reader JFK Jr.’s one and only fear, being another loss his mother must endure.

Haag paints John as a fearless child who grew to be an even more fearless adult, but also shows him to be caring. Haag met John when as a child, they were a part of the same group of friends and even then she recounts him as being someone that feared nothing. By including vivid recounts of their childhood together, she creates an image of John in the reader’s mind. She further includes instances of examples of his kindness and optimism for example when he sent her flowers and asked his cousin to stay with her in the hospital when he was unable to make it. This imagery creates a clear picture of John’s character for the reader and further adds to the piece’s meaning.

Along with showing John’s fearlessness she also shows the one thing he is afraid of, his mother enduring another loss. Haag does this by using detail. With the occasional mention here and there of he and his mother’s relationship she keeps is relevant in the reader’s mind. In addition to this by including John’s response of “Don’t tell my mother” after the kayak scare it is evident that she is the only one he is truly afraid for. Though he too was scared, the real reason for his fear was his mother and that is seen by noticing who he mentions first right after or before something is to happen. Haag drives this in more by including the fact that John’s mother insisted the secret service follow them when they were younger. This shows that he knew his mother was cautious and worried and was easily scared.

Taking his mother’s fear into count it is easily understood why John showed so much fear. Haag demonstrates this fear through syntax in the last part of this excerpt. By using short, heavy sentences Haag shows their nervousness and fear. For example when John’s commands like, “Bail! Find the Bail! Now!” show frustration and panic. It’s a drastic difference from the first half of the work where the sentence structure is longer and demonstrates calmness and peace. The reason for John’s panic is the fear not that he would lose his life but that his mother would again mourn the loss of a loved one.

With the use of Imagery, Details, and Syntax Haag not only demonstrates John F Kennedy’s fear but the source of his fear, another loss for his mother.

                               

Response to Course Material #2

         So far since the last post we've been practicing open prompts more and we formally lectured on syntax. Both of which are things I need some work on, the latter being a completely new concept until this year. Though we had a quick intro to syntax in the beginning of the course we finally went in to depth. Syntax is the ordering of words and use of punctuation to create meaning in a piece of literature. Practicing analyzing syntax was very helpful for me since I have the bad habit of confusing syntax with diction. We also learned more about how the author can use word order to create tone, and mood, which again add to meaning. I feel that syntax is definitely the most interesting technique because of it is so subtle yet so effective.
     As far as more open prompt practice goes, this was also extremely useful. Working in small groups allowed us to experience first hand others' thought processes and conclusions we could never have came to on our own. The group dynamic allows for people to learn and develop by observing others. And the repeated actions of forming intros and topic sentence ensure that the day of the exam we get it right. I personally feel that I benefited from working in a group because i was able to observe and hear the ideas and methods of others.

Open prompt #2

The amount of time a character has in a story doesn't reflect how much the character affects the story, in fact many stories such as Walk Two Moons. In this novel, the main character's mother is deceased, her upcoming birthday is the reason for trip that Sal, the main character, embarks on with her grandparents. The characters develop immensely on this trip to retrace Sal's mother's steps. Despite the fact that Sal's mother never appeared in the story alive, she still highly affected the action, development, and theme of the work.

The death of her mother takes a toll on Sal's whole family. Her father and her decide to move to Euclid, Ohio to restart their lives. This move, driven by the death of the mother, allows them to meet interesting characters that also contribute to the novel's action. Sal befriends Phoebe, a young girl who is in a similar predicament as Sal; her mom too in no longer with them. By aiding Phoebe finds out where her mother is Sal attempts to understand her mother's circumstances as well. Sal's mother decided to take a trip on her own to Idaho to visit family, on her way there she was killed in a bus accident. The major even however, that was caused by Sal's mother, was the road trip to Idaho to visit her grave on her birthday. This trip was the major component in the story where everything is revealed. We are learn about Phoebe and the other characters during said road trip.

In addition to contributing to action, Sal's mother also affected the development of the characters. The actions mentioned above which were caused by the mother also lead to major character development, especially seen in Sal. At the end of the book Sal finally comes to terms with the death of her mother and improves her relationship with her father and Mrs. Cadaver. During the trio with her grandparents Sal, finally finds out the whole story behind her mother's death and much confusion and anger is cured. She also comes to terms with her father temperament, and learns to let him in more.

The reason behind the character development is clearly the them of the novel; do not come to conclusions about someone until you fully understand their situation. Sal prejudged a lot of characters in the story like Mrs. Cadaver and her mother. Sal quickly wrote of Mrs. Cadaver and thought that she was possibly a serial killer because of her coincidentally morbid name. However it turned out that Mrs. Cadaver herself had just suffered a hard loss and that she was the only survivor of Sal's mom's bus accident. Sal also didn't realize how miserabel her mother truly was when she left for idaho. She realizes both of these during her road trip with her grandparents to see her mother's grave.

In Walk Two Moons, although Sal's mother only posthumously appeared in the nover briefly she affected many aspects of the plot such as the action, character development, and them. Sal's mother was the reason behind the road trip which turned out to be a journey in which Sal attains self improvement.