...a lot. About things I have to do, homework that is due, and important dates. I live my life by an agenda. If I didn't make these lists or organize my life by an agenda, I would be totally lost. Is this bad? Could my list-making possibly be the script to my life?
This reminded me of what we were talking about in class about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Is life just one big pre-determined list? Is everything we say apart of some huge script? It's so scary to think about. I would hate to know that my life is just a part of some bigger thing, where I am just a number. I want my life to be independent, different from others. So should I stop making lists? Should I put an end to my organization? Then what would happen? Would be life still be the same? "What is life all about?" I find myself asking this a lot. But like Mrs. Clinch said, there is no answer. No one will ever know until we die. So why do we fear death so much? We don't know what happens after, so what is there to fear? I think it is just human nature to fear the unknown. This play really got me thinking. Comment if you feel the same way...
Monday, April 27, 2009
ros and guil overall
So I just finished Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and to my surprise, I really liked it! It was so well but and the way Stoppard arranged the play was brilliant. I love how it goes along with Hamlet but it is still so different.
My favorite things about the play were the characters. Ros and Guil can be viewed as one character. The fact that they are so lost kind of makes them seem stupid, but they really aren't. They're actually a lot like regular people. Because, if you think about it, we're all in some way lost. I have no idea what could happen in a year, in a week, or even tomorrow for that matter. So maybe we aren't as lost as Ros and Guil, but I think this is what Stoppard was trying to get at it. Is life just one big stage and we are all actors? Is God the playwright, or just the audience? Or are we all in control of our own destiny? Can we be in charge of what happens tomorrow? These are a lot of hard questions that I have found myself asking about life, and that is why I liked this play so much. It forced me to rethink these questions and in a way, Stoppard almost forces readers to reconnect with God by writing about a lack of God. That is basically the idea of the absurdist movement. I find this very interesting and I would love to read more books like this!
My favorite things about the play were the characters. Ros and Guil can be viewed as one character. The fact that they are so lost kind of makes them seem stupid, but they really aren't. They're actually a lot like regular people. Because, if you think about it, we're all in some way lost. I have no idea what could happen in a year, in a week, or even tomorrow for that matter. So maybe we aren't as lost as Ros and Guil, but I think this is what Stoppard was trying to get at it. Is life just one big stage and we are all actors? Is God the playwright, or just the audience? Or are we all in control of our own destiny? Can we be in charge of what happens tomorrow? These are a lot of hard questions that I have found myself asking about life, and that is why I liked this play so much. It forced me to rethink these questions and in a way, Stoppard almost forces readers to reconnect with God by writing about a lack of God. That is basically the idea of the absurdist movement. I find this very interesting and I would love to read more books like this!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
R&G
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is getting better and better! I love the humor and the characters. Even though we know they are lost, it seems so funny and is even making us laugh out loud in class.
The thing that gets me is its many layers. I have been indexing as we go and I am surprised at how much stuff is packed into this tiny little book! The fact that there's a play within a play within a play is just mind boggling! Sometimes it's a little confusing but it really makes me think. I can't stop asking myself the question that keeps come up, "what does it all mean??" But there's no answer!! It's so frustrating to know that there's not even an answer. I like that it's up to me to determine my own interpretation, but still! I'm so used to being given the right answer like in math or history. But this is totally different and I kind of like it.
I really like this absurdist period, and I think it suits me best. I often find myself asking the same questions as guild and ros, like "where am I going?" or "how did I get here?" or "where is this all going?" These are some really tuff questions, but that is what life is all about.
The thing that gets me is its many layers. I have been indexing as we go and I am surprised at how much stuff is packed into this tiny little book! The fact that there's a play within a play within a play is just mind boggling! Sometimes it's a little confusing but it really makes me think. I can't stop asking myself the question that keeps come up, "what does it all mean??" But there's no answer!! It's so frustrating to know that there's not even an answer. I like that it's up to me to determine my own interpretation, but still! I'm so used to being given the right answer like in math or history. But this is totally different and I kind of like it.
I really like this absurdist period, and I think it suits me best. I often find myself asking the same questions as guild and ros, like "where am I going?" or "how did I get here?" or "where is this all going?" These are some really tuff questions, but that is what life is all about.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
timed writing reflections
I think the assignment we did on our timed writings really helped alot. It fored me to notice what I am strong in and what I am weak in. I have discovered alot about myself as a writer!
My biggest problem is analyzing and explaining. I always find these great quotes and examples, but then I do not know what to do with them. Whenever I do try to explain them, they aren't deep enough and I am only skimming the surface. I also have problems with finding the right words when explaining things. I always know what I'm talking about but I can't find the right word to explain it. It's very frustrating.
My biggest strength is my organizational skills and topic sentence. Keeping my essays structured and in order helps me keep on track and I have found when I really keep organized, I get a better grade. I think making an outline or some sort of question to start from also helps before starting an essay, instead of going into an essay blind.
I am getting more and more anxious about the ap exam. Our whole year has lead up to this one test and it is a lot of pressure! I know we'll make it through though!
My biggest problem is analyzing and explaining. I always find these great quotes and examples, but then I do not know what to do with them. Whenever I do try to explain them, they aren't deep enough and I am only skimming the surface. I also have problems with finding the right words when explaining things. I always know what I'm talking about but I can't find the right word to explain it. It's very frustrating.
My biggest strength is my organizational skills and topic sentence. Keeping my essays structured and in order helps me keep on track and I have found when I really keep organized, I get a better grade. I think making an outline or some sort of question to start from also helps before starting an essay, instead of going into an essay blind.
I am getting more and more anxious about the ap exam. Our whole year has lead up to this one test and it is a lot of pressure! I know we'll make it through though!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
pride and prejudice
I have started my outside reading book and I must say I am really liking it so far. I love the language (similar to Frankenstein) and just the aire about it. It is very high class society these people are living in and it is interesting to read about. I'm not sure if I would like living in a society like that because it seems so up tight! The fact that the girls are getting married at 19 is disturbing. It's like it is expected of them. It even says Mrs. Bennet's "business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news" (Austen 3). If that's all my mom worried about then nothing would get done! I don't think I could take all the balls and all the people gossiping at the balls. It seems like a bad teenage party; but no doubt, it's really interesting to read about.
So far I really like the character of Elizabeth. Her father favors her while her mother favors Jane. "Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference" says Mrs. Bennet, then Mr. Bennet replies with "They have none of them much to recommend them, they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters" (Austen 3). From there, I knew I'd like Elizabeth because I like quickness in a character. And she proved to be just that. I like her sense of humor, which is quick and sarcastic. She's also a flirt, which I like.
There's something about Mr. Darcy that I like but I don't really know what it is. He is a huge jerk but the fact that he likes Elizabeth is so unlike him. They seem like complete opposites. Darcy is opposite from everyone in fact. Especially his friend Mr. Bingley who is all the rage in Jane's world. It said that Darcy was better looking than Bingley but Bingley had a far better personality which made him, overall, more attractive. But now Elizabeth had coerced with Mr. Wickham and is drooling all over him. But something makes me think that Mr. Darcy is still in the back of Elizabeth's mind. "Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's looks and behavior" (Austen 75). Solely because of this, I think Elizabeth and Darcy might have a chance. I can't wait to find out what happens next! Oh the 19th century drama!
So far I really like the character of Elizabeth. Her father favors her while her mother favors Jane. "Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference" says Mrs. Bennet, then Mr. Bennet replies with "They have none of them much to recommend them, they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters" (Austen 3). From there, I knew I'd like Elizabeth because I like quickness in a character. And she proved to be just that. I like her sense of humor, which is quick and sarcastic. She's also a flirt, which I like.
There's something about Mr. Darcy that I like but I don't really know what it is. He is a huge jerk but the fact that he likes Elizabeth is so unlike him. They seem like complete opposites. Darcy is opposite from everyone in fact. Especially his friend Mr. Bingley who is all the rage in Jane's world. It said that Darcy was better looking than Bingley but Bingley had a far better personality which made him, overall, more attractive. But now Elizabeth had coerced with Mr. Wickham and is drooling all over him. But something makes me think that Mr. Darcy is still in the back of Elizabeth's mind. "Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's looks and behavior" (Austen 75). Solely because of this, I think Elizabeth and Darcy might have a chance. I can't wait to find out what happens next! Oh the 19th century drama!
Monday, April 13, 2009
rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead
So far, I cannot help myself but think that Ros and Guild are definitely on something. And I'm not even trying to be funny. I don't know if they're supposed to be dumb and that is what is so funny (like a dumb and dumber kind of thing) or what. The fact that Ros keeps tossing heads 89 times is a bit surprising! Is the coin fixed? It couldn't be because it says that Guild kept getting coins out of his pocket. So if Ros really that lucky? I wouldn't exactly call them dumb because the language is rather elequated, especially in Guild's long philosophical tangents, which I have, again, no idea what he is talking about. So I'm not sure whether they are dumb, or maybe they are just drunk! Guild keeps asking Ros what he remembers, like what was the first thing he remembered that day. They couldn't even remember that! They know they were sent to do something, but they got a little side tracked with the coin flipping. I'm thinking that it had something to do with Hamlet and the ghost. I can't wait to see what happens when Hamlet starts his drama and Ros and Guild are left with orders. It seems pretty funny so far!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
the end of tfa...
... was surprising! I never even thought that Okonkwo would have killed himself. That just seems so low to do, even for his tribe! I thought for sure there would be a rule against it, and there was! The fact that he actually went through with it means alot. I just don't think he could deal with the change, he wasn't made for it. And for once, he actually deliberately went against his own tribe. "It is against our custom" and "It is an abomination for a man to take his own life. It is an offense against the Earth..." (Achebe 207) said Obierka. Even though I think it is very wrong for a person to take their own life, I think Okonkwo made the right decision. He just couldn't understand change and it hurt him too much to watch it. If he stayed around he would have caused even more trouble and even more hate. I think he knew his time had come and that he didn't really have a purpose anymore. What really got me though, was what Obierka said at the very end, "That man was one of the greatest men in Umoufia. You drove him to kill himself, and now he will be buried like a dog...' He could not say any more. His voice trembled and choked his words" (Achebe 208). I feel like even though Okonkwo got on my nerves alot, I respect him because he stuck to his beliefs and didn't sell out like the rest of the people, and that is strength to me. I hate that Okonkwo couldn't even have a nice burial because he deserved it. I feel like since Okonkwo broke a rule, the tribe could have broken a rule too and buried own of their own even though he killed himself, it only seems fair.
I actually ended up liking this book more than what I thought I would. It's not one of my favorites, but it most definitely made me think. I'm still wondering what Achebe wanted us to get from this book. Is change good? Or bad? Was the new religion totally out of line or did it have to happen? I hope I can find this out soon and discuss it with my group!
I actually ended up liking this book more than what I thought I would. It's not one of my favorites, but it most definitely made me think. I'm still wondering what Achebe wanted us to get from this book. Is change good? Or bad? Was the new religion totally out of line or did it have to happen? I hope I can find this out soon and discuss it with my group!
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