I Love Family Members

Best thing I've seen on Facebook in a while, thought Preston might enjoy it.

writingas5pectatorsport (#2)

http://cwestrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/2013/02/writingas5pectator-amanda.html

Here's the link to Christa's blog about me being victimized by the Sphinx.

writingas5pectatorsport (#1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1r7wHXmGso

Here's the link to the YouTube video that Rheanna, Will, and I gave to Kaitlyn for her prompt which was the 1988 AP Exam Essay Prompt. Check it out.

Last of the Lit Terms

Scansion: the analysis of verse in terms of meter.

Setting: the time and place in which events in a short story, novel, play, or narrative poem occur.

Simile:  a figure of speech comparing two essentially unlike things through the use of a specific word of comparison.

Soliloquy: an extended speech, usually in a drama, delivered by a character alone on stage.

Spiritual: a folk song, usually on a religious theme.

Speaker: a narrator, the one speaking.

Stereotype: cliché; a simplified, standardized conception with a special meaning and appeal for members of a group; a formula story.

Stream of Consciousness: the style of writing that attempts to imitate the natural flow of a character’s thoughts, feelings, reflections, memories, and mental images, as the character experiences them.

Structure: the planned framework of a literary selection; its apparent organization.

Style:  the manner of putting thoughts into words; a characteristic way of writing or speaking.

Subordination: the couching of less important ideas in less important  structures of language.

Surrealism: a style in literature and painting that stresses the subconscious or the nonrational aspects of man’s existence characterized by the juxtaposition of the bizarre and the banal.

Suspension of Disbelief: suspend not believing in order to enjoy it.

Symbol: something which stands for something else, yet has a meaning of its own.

Synesthesia: the use of one sense to convey the experience of another sense.

Synecdoche: another form of name changing, in which a part stands for the whole.

Syntax: the arrangement and grammatical relations of words in a sentence.

Theme:  main idea of the story; its message(s).

Thesis: a proposition for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved

or disproved; the main idea.

Tone: the devices used to create the mood and atmosphere of a literary work; the        

author’s perceived point of view.

Tongue in Cheek: a type of humor in which the speaker feigns seriousness; a.k.a. “dry” or “dead pan”

Tragedy: in literature: any composition with a somber theme carried to a disastrous conclusion; a fatal event; protagonist usually is heroic but tragically (fatally) flawed

Understatement: opposite of hyperbole; saying less than you mean for emphasis

Vernacular: everyday speech

Voice:  The textual features, such as diction and sentence structures, that convey a writer’s or speaker’s pesona.

Zeitgeist: the feeling of a particular era in history

FEBRUARY'S LITERATURE ANALYSIS: The Shining by Stephen King

GENERAL
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
     This novel is about a a three-member family including Jack Torrance (Father), Wendy Torrance (Mother), and a six year old boy named Danny (Son) who stay the winter at the Overlook Hotel. Jack Torrance received the job of watching the Overlook Hotel over the winter because the hotel is seasonal and he needed money. There is something weird about the Overlook Hotel and since Danny posses a power called the shining the Overlook Hotel takes over his power and tries to ruin the family's trust in each other in order to get to Danny. From moving topiary to a room with a dead woman in a tub, Danny has to help his parents escape the Overlook Hotel while keeping them together.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
     The theme of the novel is kind of difficult to describe because this is a horror book but if I had to pick (which I do) I would say that it is overcoming your fears because Danny had to face the scary pictures that Tony showed him, Wendy had to realize that she needs to do what's best for her family even if she is scared of what will happen between her and Jack, and Jack needed to realize that he can't let his addiction to a good feel ruin his relationship with his family.
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
     Throughout the novel, Stephen King does this wonderful thing where he changes his tone whenever he's talking about a character as if he's talking in a first person narrative, but he isn't (it's freaking awesome). So when Danny's character is prominent the tone is very innocent, naive, and childlike because Danny is only six but very educated and it makes for a delightful read when you switch from character to character. When Wendy is brought into the novel the tone is worried and troubled, but it's always about Jack because she will never let go how he broke Danny's arm when he was drunk, but towards the end the tone becomes empowered and triumphant because she overcomes her fear of the relationship conflicting between her and her husband. Jack is a completely different story when he is relevant in the story because the tone becomes angry, frustrated, and tired and I think that is his character because he is a recovering alcoholic of being sober for fourteen months which is like getting over the hump for recovery and he's holding it all in and won't let his anger out.
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
     1. Ambiguity: Danny's power of the shining isn't really gone into in detail, but if you read the book you understand what it is because it's this strange connection between people however it's uncertain throughout the whole book. Pg. 117 "'You've got a knack,' Hallorann said, turning to him. 'Me, I've always called it shining. That's what my grandmother called it, too. She had it. We used to sit in the kitchen when I was a boy no older than you and have long talks without even openin our mouths.'"
     2. Colloquialism: Hallorann is the perfect example of how he is obviously a southern character possibly from Louisiana and talks like he is from there by not pronouncing g's. Pg. 120 "'You never mind her,' he said. "And don't go askin your mom, either. You'd only upset her, dig what I'm sayin?'"
     3. Farce: Pg. 119 "'I know she doesn't,' Danny said earnestly. 'But do you know the man in the gray uniform that gets the cars?'
     'Mike? Sure, I know Mike. What about him?'
     'Mr. Hallorann, why would she want his pants?'
     'What are you talking about, boy?'
     'Well when she was watching him, she was thinking she would sure like to get into his pants and I just wondered why-'"
     I almost cried when I read this due to the hilariousness of it all, but this is why thoughts are private and why adults don't say these things in front of four year olds. Just to clarify, Danny was reading a woman's mind and didn't understand what she was thinking so he asked Hallorann out of curiosity.
     4. Figurative Language: I love how he made everything practically come to life as the story went on everything seemed practically real by the end of the story. Pg. 313 "Gravel rattled on the path."
     5. Imagery: The way Stephen King made the topiary a real danger and scary thing had heightened the fear factor while reading it, the topiary was almost sadistic if I had to describe it. Pg. 313 "The lion on the left had advanced all the way to the fence now; it's muzzle was touching the boards. It seemed to be grinning up at him."
     6. Motif: REDRUM constantly is a reoccurring feature that almost foreshadows that there will be a murder at the Overlook Hotel. Pg. 193 "(then REDRUM) (Come out here and take your medicine, you fucking crybaby!)" Pg. 194 "(roque... stroke... roque... stroke... REDRUM)"
     7. Personification: I think this book shows personification at it's finest; topiary coming to life, a hotel taking power from a six year old boy, and a dead man on the hunt to kill (how ironic?).
     8. Symbol: REDRUM is the perfect symbol in this story because it symbolizes fear, murder, misunderstanding, and the innocence of a boy. Pg. 49 "He could see that limp hand dangling over the edge of the tub with blood running down one finger, the third, and that inexplicable word so much more horrible than any of the others: REDRUM."
     9. Tongue in Cheek: Pg. 1 "Ullman stood five-five, and when he moved, it was with prissy speed that seems to be the exclusive domain of all small plump men." I believe that tongue in cheek humor is right up Jack Torrance's ally because he is constantly making lame jokes and lame judgements of people that are funny in a sick sort of way.
     10. Foreshadow: Pg. 194 "(roque... stroke... roque... stroke... REDRUM)" This foreshadows Jack Torrance's death because the Overlook Hotel takes over his body and kills him with a roque stick.

CHARACTERIZATION
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
     Direct characterization used in The Shining would be when Jack Torrance described how Mr. Ullman looked by saying how he acted and the way he looked and another example would be when Mr. Hallorann was being described as black. An example of indirect characterization would be in the beginning of the novel, I could completely tell that Jack was kind of an ass and this line was my favorite: Pg. 8 "... and Jack flashed the PR smile again, large and insultingly toothy." Another example of indirect characterization would be how Danny is basically daddy's little boy, in the sense where he always wants to please his dad because in a certain chapter he struggles with his reading because he's just learning and will push himself until he figures it out. I think he uses both approaches because it's important to paint a picture for a reader by using direct characterization, but the fun part about books is also adding the small details through imagination which comes through indirect characterization.
2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character?  How?  Example(s)?
     Yes, for each character it changes completely. Each character has their own voice and you can tell when the story is about a certain character as if they are telling the story as I said in question 3 of the general question.
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic?  Flat or round?  Explain.
     The protagonist would probably be Danny, so in this case I would say that he is a dynamic character because he goes through this traumatic experience of his father basically bashing his face in and tries to empower through it. He would also be a round character because Danny significantly changes (if you can at the age of six) into a brave, young man who overcomes the scariest thing that will probably happen in his life.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character?  Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
     I know each character as if they were my best friend because the in-depth characterization Stephen King went through to characterize the people in the story was perfect. For example, in the chapter titled "Tony," Danny realizes that he is Tony later on in life and has his own climactic experience in his life to see that he becomes someone and has the chance to make something of himself. Throughout this chapter Danny has many epiphanies about life and the choices he has to make in order to make it out alive while trying to save everyone else at the same time. It would be great to meet Danny and see how his life is at this age (as in probably 46 or something around that number).

FIRST QUARTER REVIEW

a.) So far, so good. I have successfully been collaborating with Ubi Kim, Kaitlyn Furst, and Rheanna Crawley on our Senior Projects and everything has been set in motion. I'm behind on my literature analyses, but I'm working on it. However, for the most part I think I'm doing a decent job.
b.) Do more literature analyses, pass this class, improve vocab, incorporate photography and things I love into projects, and be on time to class.
c.) Be punctual, it's not like it's hard to do things on time. I just want to make sure all my priorities are set for this quarter.

Lit Terms 83-108

Pacing:  rate of movement; tempo.

Parable:  a story designed to convey some religious principle, moral lesson, or general truth.

Paradox:  a statement apparently self-contradictory or absurd but really containing a possible truth; an opinion contrary to generally accepted ideas.

Parallelism: the principle in sentence structure that states elements of equal function should have equal form.

Parody:  an imitation of mimicking of a composition or of the style of a well-known artist.

Pathos:  the ability in literature to call forth feelings of pity, compassion, and/or sadness.

Pedantry: a display of learning for its own sake.

Personification: a figure of speech attributing human qualities to inanimate objects or  abstract ideas.

Plot: a plan or scheme to accomplish a purpose.

Poignant:  eliciting sorrow or sentiment.

Point of View: the attitude unifying any oral or written argumentation; in description, the physical point from which the observer views what he is describing.

Postmodernism: literature characterized by experimentation, irony, nontraditional forms, multiple meanings, playfulness and a blurred boundary between real and imaginary.

Prose:  the ordinary form of spoken and written language; language that does not have a regular rhyme pattern.

Protagonist: the central character in a work of fiction; opposes antagonist.

Pun:  play on words; the humorous use of a word emphasizing different meanings or applications.

Purpose: the intended result wished by an author.

Realism:  writing about the ordinary aspects of life in a straightfoward manner to reflect life as it actually is.

Refrain:  a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a poem or song; chorus.

Requiem:  any chant, dirge, hymn, or musical service for the dead.

Resolution: point in a literary work at which the chief dramatic complication is worked out; denouement.

Restatement: idea repeated for emphasis.

Rhetoric: use of language, both written and verbal in order to persuade.

Rhetorical Question: question suggesting its own answer or not requiring an answer; used in argument or persuasion.

Rising Action: plot build up, caused by conflict and complications, advancement towards climax.

Romanticism:  movement in western culture beginning in the eighteenth and peaking in the nineteenth century as a revolt against Classicism; imagination was valued over reason and fact.

Satire:  ridicules or condemns the weakness and wrong doings of individuals, groups, institutions, or humanity in general.

BOB I

Rosa Alvarez: Girl, you need to catch up on posting your stuff like literature analyses,vocab, and homework posts.
Will Boerger: Post most recent stuff and catch up on literature analyses.
Gus Blundel: Catch up yo.
Rheanna Crawley: I wish my blog looked as good as yours.
Michelle Crosby: You need to post the most recent stuff.
Vince Cruz: Up to date, nicely done.
Jose De Leon: You're new, so I'll cut you some slack.
Lizbeth Estrada: Looking good girl.
Bernardo Gonzalez: Such a try-hard, good job.
Iliana Gutierrez: Great job!
Mackenzie Greeley: You're Greeley's daughter, I mean what more can I say than perfection?
Taelor Griego: Pleasantly surprised, well done.
John Han: Nice job!
Elizabeth Hotchkiss: Catch up! Post some stuff!
Pablo Nicacio: Not bad.
Elizabeth Pereyra: Very informative, nice layout.
Eddie Pineda: Good job Eddie, keep it up!
Alex Ramirez: Nice job, you're all up to date.
Torre Reddick: You have five posts... I mean really.
Christa Weston: You're awesome and like the coolest person, well done.

I AM HERE

Alright, so for my SMART goal I have found a way to incorporate my art for this class through my senior project (killing two birds with one stone). So Ubi and I have decided to do a collaboration for the AP Studio Art Exam by having myself take pictures of girls for him to draw through the medium of charcoal. It has come out amazing so far!

 

 Pretty sick, right?

Next Lit Terms

Gothic Tale: a style in literature characterized by gloomy settings, violent or grotesque action, and a mood of decay, degeneration, and decadence.

Hyperbole: an exaggerated statement often used as a figure of speech or to prove a point.

Imagery: figures of speech or vivid description, conveying images through any of the senses.

Implication: a meaning or understanding that is to be arrive at by the reader but that is not fully and explicitly stated by the author.

Incongruity: the deliberate joining of opposites or of elements that are not appropriate to each other.

Inference: a judgement or conclusion based on evidence presented; the forming of an opinion which possesses some degree of probability according to facts already available.

Irony: a contrast or incongruity between what is said and what is meant, or what is expected to happen and what actually happens, or what is thought to be happening and what is actually happening.

Interior Monologue: a form of writing which represents the inner thoughts of a character; the recording of the internal, emotional experience(s) of an individual; generally the reader is given the impression of overhearing the interior monologue.

Inversion: words out of order for emphasis.

Juxtaposition: the intentional placement of a word, phrase, sentences of paragraph to contrast with another nearby.

Lyric: a poem having musical form and quality; a short outburst of the author’s innermost thoughts and feelings.

Magic(al) Realism:  a genre developed in Latin America which juxtaposes the everyday  with the marvelous or magical.

Metaphor(extended, controlling, and mixed): an analogy that compare two different

things imaginatively.

Extended: a metaphor that is extended or developed as far as the writer

wants to take it.

Controlling: a metaphor that runs throughout the piece of work.

Mixed: a metaphor that ineffectively blends two or more analogies.

Metonymy:  literally “name changing” a device of figurative language in which the name of an attribute or associated thing is substituted for the usual name of a thing.

Mode of Discourse:  argument (persuasion), narration, description, and exposition.

Modernism:  literary movement characterized by stylistic experimentation, rejection of tradition, interest in symbolism and psychology

Monologue:  an extended speech by a character in a play, short story, novel, or narrative poem.

Mood:  the predominating atmosphere evoked by a literary piece.

Motif:  a recurring feature (name, image, or phrase) in a piece of literature.

Myth:  a story, often about immortals, and sometimes connected with religious rituals, that attempts to give meaning to the mysteries of the world.

Narrative:  a story or description of events.

Narrator:  one who narrates, or tells, a story.

Naturalism: extreme form of realism.

Novelette/Novella: short story; short prose narrative, often satirical.

Omniscient Point of View:  knowing all things, usually the third person.

Onomatopoeia: use of a word whose sound in some degree imitates or suggests its

meaning.

Oxymoron: a figure of speech in which two contradicting words or phrases are combined to produce a rhetorical effect by means of a concise paradox.

THE TIME OF MY LIFE

Today wasn't really the "Time of my Life" because I'm am more stressed than a whore in church. I just turned in my college application to San Francisco Art Institute yesterday and I am awaiting the outcome. Also, I am persistently working on art projects for Mrs. Jennings' AP Studio Art Class that I am enrolled in, one art project once a week is ridiculous so it's nice that I have some time to think about other things yet I was spending my time thinking about art college, how ironic. I feel confident about my Lit Term Quiz though so kudos to me.