Journal 03/05/12

Read the following excerpt from David Foster Wallace's Everything & More.  Analyze the text in terms of the basics--theme, tone, diction, and syntax--and see if you can apply any other technical elements you're covering in the lit terms.  Go down the list term by term and see what applies.  (You may cooperate in the process, but your writing should be all you.) The theme of the excerpt can be that even under pressure one can succeed. This is shown by the statement of several things that may cause on stress but in times of stress, concentration can rise above the stress. The tone is somewhat as serious but at the same time it can be seen as enlightning to one. Throughout the excerpt, the presence of a lecture or lesson being taught is present. The diction used is sophisticated, of course slang won't be used but still the diction suites the tone that has been created. As for syntax, the syntax is structured to allow a smooth transition from statement to statement.

Study Session #2

The studying alone has worked as well of not better than it has in the past. I have not gotten distracted. So far I have successfully memorized 4/5ths of the literature terms. As for pieces of literature, I have reviewed some Literature Analysis' from fellow classmate's blogs. That is about it.

AP Test Plan

My plans for the AP Test preparation is to study in solitude. I'm not going to study with other people because they most likely have different subjects they want to cover that can drain my time. More dedication to my needs with my time than other people's needs.

Macbeth Soliloquy Recital

Me reciting the Macbeth soliloquy. Credit to Miki Kagawa for recording this.

Macbeth Notes

Macbeth Notes:

•Act I:
Scene I:
-Three witches, they predict future.
-They talk about Macbeth, then leave
Scene II:
-Macbeth introduced
-Macbeth is an intense guy
-Battle going on
-Macbeth's wife is a man crusher, dominating
Scene III:
-Macbeth and friend encounter the three witches
- Witches tell Macbeth he will move up in ranging
- Tell friend he won't but he'll be happier
-Banquo is Macbeth's friend
Scene IV:
-Duncan hears from his son, Malcolm, that Cawdor has died
-Thus Macbeth moves up in rankings as told by the witches
Scene V
-Lady Macbeth hears of Macbeth's promotion
-She forces him to seize the crown
-Tells him to kill the king
Scene VI
-The king arrives to castle and is greeted by the lady
-Macbeth reconsiders killing king
Scene VII:
-Macbeth decides not to do it.
-Tells wife but wife tells him to do it
-She crushes him with her verbal assault, nags him
-He accepts
-Something about 7 kids, only boy kids
•Act II:
Scene I:
-Macbeth meets Banquo and talk
-Banquo has cursed thoughts when he sleeps
-Macbeth sees flying dagger with blood
-He grabs it and proceeds to Duncan's room to kill him
Scene II:
-Lady Macbeth hears Macbeth scream
-She states she would have killed Duncan if he didn't remind her of her dad sleeping
-States how she prepared the daggers for the murder
-Macbeth did the deed but claims he heard a voice say Macbeth murder will sleep.
-Macbeth forgot daggers inside room
-Lady Macbeth goes in to get them in order to frame someone
-She says she'd be ashamed to be as cowardly as Macbeth
Scene III:
-Macbeth meets up with two people who wish to see the king
-He takes them to the chamber to find the kings dead body
-Macbeth later tells them he found bloody daggers in the chamberlain's rooms so he killed them in rage
He tells Malcolm and Donalbain their dad is dead
-Macduff is not convinced
-Both sons flee fearing they might try to kill them
Scene IV:
-Weird things occur in the following days
-Owl eats falcon, horses eat one another
-Macbeth becomes king
•Act III:
Scene I
-In the ceremony, Macbeth tells Banquo to attend the feast
-Macbeth is now king
-He fears Banquo will become king since he will have no children
-Hires killers to murder Banquo and his son
Scene II
-Macbeth feels there are still threats to his reign
-Tells his wife his plan to kill Banquo
-Tells her to make Banquo feel secure so he can kill him
Scene III
-Banquo is killed in the forest by the murderers now joined by one more.
-Banquo's son flees.
-Banquo tells son to avenge his death
-Murderers take Banquo's body to show Macbeth
Scene IV
-Murderer tells Macbeth of the events
-Macbeth is mad but goes to his feast where he meets Banquo's ghost
-Lady Macbeth tells guest to ignore Macbeth, for it is one of his "visions"
-She considers Macbeth to not be a man rather a nancy boy.
-Macbeth decides to visit the witches again
Scene V
Witches meet with Hecate, goddess of witchcraft
-She tells them that she will take over
-She will summon fake spirits to give Macbeth fake sense of security
Scene VI
-Macbeth is seen as a tyrant
-Lennox is in England where he will join Malcolm
-Wants aid from King Edward
-War may break out
•Act IV:
Scene I:
-Witches put up an elaborate set up
-Macbeth enters seeking more prophesies
- First one is he should fear Macduff
-Second is a bloody child not born of a mother
-Lastly a crowned baby with a tree
-8 kings appear with a mirror and Banquo at the end of the line
-Macbeth sends murderers to kill Macduff's wife and children
Scene II:
-Lady Macduff questions why Macduff is gone
-She is warned she is in danger but she denies it
-Murderers barge in and kill the son
-Lady Macduff flees but is chased
Scene III:
-Macduff is put through a loyalty test, he passes
-He is told his family is is fine but later confessed that Macbeth killed his family
•Scene V:
-Lady Macbeth sleepwalks
-She talks about how she killed Lady Macduff and Banquo
Scene II:
-An army of Scotland's meet up to discuss the tyrant of Macbeth
-Led by Malcolm
Scene III:
-Macbeth is confident he will win since none woman born can harm him
-Tells doctor to cure his wife's delusional state
Scene IV:
-Malcolm discusses military tactics
-Each soldier should cut down a bough from forest to use as a disguise
Scene V:
-Macbeth is confident he will win.
-He is told the army is closing in
-Lady Macbeth is dead
-He questions the prophesies
Scene VI:
-Battle commences outside castle
Scene VII:
-Macbeth slays those around him and runs into forest
Scene VIII:
-Macduff chases him
-He feels he should kill Macbeth
Scene IX:
-Malcolm enters the castle
Scene X:
-Macduff catches up with Macbeth
-Start to fight
-Macbeth fears for his life but won't surrender
Scene XI:
-Malcolm enters castle successfully
-Macduff beheads Macbeth 

Charles Dicken's Lecture Remix

While learning about Charles Dickens we were that that he was born into poverty. The poverty played a keyrole in his development as a person and as a writer. Another thing we were taught was that he really didn't believe that money and wealth made things better, the idea which was brought upon after going on a trip to America and realizing the imperfection. Dickens was also a gifted writer influencing his works with his personal life. He also managed to write Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations one after the other without a big gap. This is a remix because I am basically restating the notes given but in a short choppy retelling.

Literature Analysis V: Dante's Inferno

Dante's Inferno, by Dante Alghieri

I. Dante's Inferno, which is narrated by Dante Alighieri himself, is an epic revolving his voyage into Hell. In this piece of literature Hell is broken into 9 circles. Each circle serves as a containment for specific types of sinners. While Dante descends through the circles of Hell he meets historical figures. For example he meets Aristotle in the first circle which is Limbo. A place for the unbaptised. Further down he reaches the 9th circle which is home to betrayed, among them is Judas being eaten by Lucifer. The narration serves a major part in the epic because it serves as a way of depicting everything as if it was a real experience. He places his own thoughts through the depiction of the trip down Hell.

II. The theme to Dante's Inferno can be seen as one's actions have a great impact on one's life. The theme can also be that maybe morality is what keeps everything structured. Both of these themes have support for example the concept of Hell is basically that sinners get what they deserve in exchange of their heinous decisions. Morality can also be supported sunset everyone that had "broken" morals was stuck in a place of chaos and were full of remorse.

III. The author's tone throughout the piece of literature is that of enlightenment and a somber tone revolving around the acts and portrayls of suffering he has witnessed. For example Dante is never shown cheerful but rather he is shown being to interested with how everything is in Hell. Another example is the whole portayal of Dante's narration of the epic, he always has a serious tone.

IV. Five literary techniques that support that the tone is somber and serious would be allusions to religion of course. The biggest allusion made is Heaven and Hell. Around the beginning Dante reaches the gates of Hell which read, "Abandon all thy hope ye who enters." somewhat of a bleak sentence demonstrating the undertones of the epic. Another technique is the structure used. It is in Iambic pentameter, but the way the words where chosen amplifies the tone of the literature, this can also be seen as syntax and diction. Another technique used would be imagery. We are constantly depicted images of demons, people suffering, and death in the epic. This also supports the somber tones of the literature piece.
The fourth technique is the mood created or rather atmosphere created. There is not much joyful depictions in this. Lastly there is the sequences of trips. For example as Dante descends into hell, so does the humanity. Each realm depicts a darker side of man until in the end we realize we are all like what is depicted. Thus creating a very dark somber tone.