Scene Analysis Essay

Death is a part of everyone’s life at some point, whether a family member dies, or a person just hears about someone who died on the news, but death is not always this awful end to a happy life. Some see it as going to a better place, whether they truly believe in a literal place or simply an imaginary one, this helps the people still alive cope with the fact that the person they once loved so dearly will no longer be with them. This concept of death and going to a better place can be seen in one of the last scenes of the movie, Finding Neverland. In this movie, a widow of four boys becomes deathly ill and in the third to last scene they all know she is close to the end. Because of her illness she was unable to go see their family friend, James' play, thus he and the boys bring the play to her at their house. At the end of the play, the family watches as she descends into this beautiful garden that has been created in their backyard just like as if she was going to a better place, also known as Neverland in this movie, where nothing can hurt her and where she can be happy forever. This scene is all about having to let go, but how with courage and a little imagination this process does not have to be so dark and depressing; that instead everything can end up being alright.

Through the use of the music, lighting and different colors this imaginary place called Neverland can be fully seen and grasped. The music in this scene while somewhat sad also has this mysteriously playful tone about it thus still keeping the realistic notion that she is in fact dying, but there remains this sense of wonder and promise that she will be in a better place. The high contrast lighting also helps build this imagined wonderland by making it seem as though all of the bright and cheerful light lingers in the gardenlike place in front of her. There are shadows behind the family and her as they stand together looking at the beautiful scene in front of them, then as she walks into the garden the shadows stay behind along with the family signifying her descent into the light or her death. By having the shadows remain behind the family symbolizes how she leaves her sickness and all the bad things behind her as she goes to the place without sickness or grief. The contrasting colors between the garden and the family illustrate her transition between life and death. The colors on and surrounding the family are all very cold and bland with whites and grays, whereas the colors in the garden are pink, green, purple, yellow, and more simply very warm and inviting colors. This difference in colors defines the transition of her dying, but that that shift from one world to another, though sad, is safe and promising. Through the music, lighting and transitional colors the ability to imagine this new and mysteriously "better"place can be attained.

The difference between characters, the main and the imagined ones, along with the setting help show this change about to happen revealing a tone of strength and courage from the family. There are first the main characters, the boys, the mother, the grandmother and the family friend, James. The beginning of this scene they are all seen standing together starring off into the garden, mesmerized by its beauty as well as tormented by the thought of soon losing their mother, no matter how wonderful a place she will be going to. Seeing them very close together, two boys helping hold up their mother, James standing behind her, with the two other boys very close to the grandmother shows their strength as a family and then even once the family is seen without the mother they seem strong while she is courageous in walking into the garden or facing death. This strength helps the audience know that this family will get through this together giving a sense of hope that eventually everything will be alright again. Then there are the imagined/make-believe characters who set the stage for the garden/Neverland. All in bright colors and together smiling and laughing gives this gloomy scene that playful and hopeful tone as mentioned before. The colorful cheeriness of these characters help display how this new place happens to be filled with lots of love and joy just like the family's life once was full of. This sweet and optimistic atmosphere created by the characters comes mainly from the setting of the garden in particular. The "division" between the living room and the garden as well as the two completely different surroundings symbolize the transformation that the mother will soon undergo and the adjustment that the family will have to make without her there. Seeing a shot of the family with the living room still in the background in between shots of the mother making her way down into the garden signifies her death and how her absence will significantly affect the family left behind. Though through this struggle they will prevail.

This whole scene exemplifies the process of losing someone and how through imagination and courage this transition does not have to be so terrible; that hope remains throughout this process and that happiness can still be achieved. The imagination to help the people left behind know that their loved one is in a better place, whether it be Neverland or somewhere else and the courage to believe in their imaginations and to get through it all. Through the music, lighting, the different colors, the difference between the two types of characters and the setting this concept is conveyed.

Group Screenplay

Shot 1: Establishing Shot with Janie and Tea Cake sitting on the grass on a nice day enjoying each other's company (beginning of development of their relationship)
Camera: zooms out from the couple holding hands while music begins
Dialogue: Tea Cake "Oh Janie, I love it when you wear your hair down." (couple smiles at each other)- Illustrates motif of Janie's hair

Shot 2: cut to Janie and Tea Cake playing tether ball together; music is louder. (continuation of developing their relationship)

Shot 3: music becomes softer as cut to shot of the couple fishing and playing with a bug.
Dialogue: Janie "It's a love bug."
Tea Cake tosses bug in between Janie's legs. As Janie tries to pick it up she says
"And I think I killed it."

Shot 4: cut back to shot of them playing tetherball again as music becomes louder once more.

Shot 5: Music becomes very quiet as cut to shot of the two trying to spray each other with the hose; developing their relationship still.

Shot 6: cut back to shot of them playing tetherball again; music increases.

Shot 7: cut again back to shot of the two fishing and playfully flirting; music decreases.
Dialogue: Janie "I'm so glad we are gettin' married Tea Cake."
Tea Cake "Me too."
Janie "Are ya really?"
Tea Cake "Uh yeah."

Shot 8: cut to shot of them playing with the hose again; music gets louder again.

Shot 9: cut to shot of them fishing again; music softens.
Dialogue: Janie "There's a blue heron" (pointing and smiling at Tea Cake)
"A great blue heron."
Tea Cake "You're right. Good eyes."
Janie "You're a lousy husband." (she jokingly smiles at Tea Cake)
Tea Cake "We're not married yet."
Janie "Good thing, I'd leave you... no love."

Shot 10: cut back to the two spraying each other with the hose and Tea Cake picks up Janie threatening to throw her in the pool, but he does not; music increases. (end of development of their relationship)

Shot 11: music completely stops as cut to shot of the tree (motif) blowing in the rain/hurricane to create an establishing shot to transition to second part of the video where the two get caught in the storm.

Shot 12: cut to shot of a dead man lying on the grass with blood on his face; dark and erie music begins
Camera: zooms in for a close up of his face and away showing a long shot and pans around him to give the creepy mood.

Shot 13: cut to long shot of Tea Cake and Janie walking through the storm together (through the rain).
Camera: follows them down the path they walk by doing a dolly shot.
Dialogue: Janie "Oh Tea Cake..." (she says fearfully trying to stay close to him)
Tea Cake "Oh no."
Janie "Oh my man..."

Shot 14: cut to close up of Tea Cake holding onto Janie while doing a dolly shot as he leads her to the tree (motif) to hold onto; once they reach the tree and begin to hold on the music heightens intensifying the dangerous situation they are in.

Shot 15: cut to medium shot of Tea Cake and Janie trying to huddle together under the tree; music becomes louder/heightens even more.

Shot 16: cut to longer shot of the two under the tree trying to hold on; music heightens again.
Camera: zooms in to the two under the tree.
Dialogue: Janie cries out "Tea Caaake..."
Tea Cake "Hold on Janie."
Janie cries out "Aaaaahhhhh..."

Shot 17: cut to shot of them under tree from a different angle doing a medium shot; music continues to heighten.
Dialogue: Tea Cake "Let's go over here."

Tea Cake turns and walks towards grass to lay down and Janie follows him.
Camera: follows the couple with a dolly shot as the two walk over to the grass and lye down next to each other in exhaustion.

Shot 18: quick jump cut to different angled shot of them lying on the grass. Janie gets up calling out Tea Cake's name trying to look for something to shelter them.
Camera: pans to follow Janie as she gets up. Janie cries out a little once she is out of sight.

Shot 19: cut to where Janie went showing continuity; music continues to heighten as Janie picks up a piece of roofing and gets caught up in the storm.
Camera: has to pan a little to stay with her and her being thrown around by the storm.
Zooms out as she makes her back to Tea Cake, but she is unable to reach him because she is being tossed around by the storm.
Dialogue: Janie "Oh Tea Cake..." (as she runs out of the shot)

Shot 20: cut to close up from high angle of Tea Cake exhausted and lying on the grass; music is not quite as intense.
Camera: zooms out, away from his face to show a medium shot; music heightens.
Does a dolly shot as Tea Cake gets up and runs towards Janie's screams as she splashes into the lake.
Dialogue: Tea Cake "JANIE" (he yells as he runs to her)

Shot 21: cut to shot of the water as Janie is drowning; music heightens.

Shot 22: cut to shot of Tea Cake jumping in after her; music gets less as intense once he jumps in.
Camera: zooms in on the two drowning.

Shot 23: cut to another shot (high angle) of the two drowning.
Camera: zooms in to a close up of Janie as music fades out and she yells...
Dialogue: Janie... "TEA CAKE"
Tea Cake "JANIE" (hear in the background)
Camera: pans to Tea Cake drowning pretty close to her and zooms in.

Shot 24: cut to shot of the whales (aka the "cows") getting rained on; music begins again, starting to build

Shot 25: cut to Janie and Tea Cake drowning again.
Dialogue: Janie "TEA CAKE"
Tea Cake "JANIE"
Camera: zooms in on Tea Cake's head going under water. And then it zooms back out as Tea Cake yells...
Tea Cake "Janie, swim towards the cows."
Janie "I can't make it..."
Tea Cake "Towards the cows."
Camera: from high angle zooms out showing long shot of the two trying to swim towards the cows (who are not seen yet)

Shot 26: cut to shot of whales in the water again; music intensifies.
Camera: zooms out showing long shot of the two swimming towards the left "cow" and eventually getting to it and holding on.
Dialogue: Janie "Grab onto something..."

Shot 27: cut to shot of dog (aka Bolshevik) on the other whale; music intensifies once more.
Dialogue (two characters not in scene yet):
Janie "Ah, Tea Cake."
Tea Cake "I got ya'"
Janie "TEA CAKE"
Camera: zooms out showing Tea Cake and Janie holding onto other whale swimming towards the dog/other whale.
Tea Cake begins to stab the dog as Janie yells...
Janie "Get him Tea Cake... get him with the chair. TEA CAKE, stab him again."

Shot 28: cut to shot of whales with dog and Tea Cake stabbing the dog again; music dramatically intensifies.

Shot 29: cut to Tea Cake under water stabbing the dog and there is a "mooo" heard from a "cow" in the background.

Shot 30: cut to close up from high angle of Tea Cake's head holding the dog/getting bitten by it.
Camera: zooms out to show medium shot of the two fighting.

Shot 31: cut to shot of Tea Cake and Janie holding onto whale while Tea Cake is also stabbing the dog once more.

Shot 32: cut to high angle shot of Tea Cake and Janie holding onto the whale as Tea Cake throws the wounded dog.

Shot 33: cut to lower angle shot/more parallel to the ground of them trying to swim with the whale towards shore, but seeing an innocent drowning person swimming close by.
Dialogue: Janie "Tea Cake, we should help her..." (pointing to the swimmer)
Tea Cake "Leave her. Just swim to shore."
Camera: zooms/pans out to show swimmer going by. Music continues to be intense as pan back to Janie and Tea Cake swimming to shore.

Shot 34: cut to shot from high angle doing a dolly shot of the two swimming to shore and both laying on down after getting out of the water; music slowly fades out.
Camera: zooms in to close up of Janie's face as she rolls around disoriented.

Shot 35: cut to high angle shot of Janie over Tea Cake who is lying down below her bleeding from the dog bite.
Dialogue: Janie "Oh the dog... are you ok baby?" (she says as she shakes him)
Tea Cake "Yeah I'm fine... what?"
Janie interrupts him "No sh, save your strength. Don't talk."
Music slowly and very quietly/subtly begins again.

Shot 36: cut to angled shot that is more parallel to the ground with Tea Cake lying there in pain/disoriented and Janie goes for help.
Camera: zooms out as Janie begins to get up and runs off in the background.
Dialogue: Janie "I'll got get help... HELP SOMEBODY!?!" (as she runs off)

Shot 37: cut to close up of Tea Cake's wounded face as he looks over to where Janie ran off to.

Shot 38: cut to same straight angle of Tea Cake lying on the shore and Janie runs towards him.
Dialogue: Janie "There's no one out there. I'll have to do it myself. Come on, let's getchyou up. Uhhh, come on baby." (as she yanks on his arms trying to make him stand)
Once he doesn't get up she says in anguish
"Oh Tea Cake..." (kneels beside him)

Shot 39: cut to close up of Tea Cake's face; music gets a little louder; very mournful.
Camera: zooms out as Janie leans over him beginning to sob.
Dialogue: Janie (gasps) "TEA CAKE..." (she cries out in agony and sadness)
"Baby wake up." (she says while shaking him)

Fade out-End Scene and begin credits and then bloopers.

Scene Analysis Proposal

Movie: Finding Neverland

Scene: Close to the last scene in the movie.

Scene Running Time:1.16

Description of the Scene: The scene begins with an establishing shot of the whole family, the mother, Sylvia, the four boys and the grandmother, plus James standing in the living room all starring in one direction. Then the camera goes to a long shot of the meadow/backyard of the house where fairies and make-believe characters are dancing and sitting around laughing with each other. Then the camera goes to a long shot from behind the dancing fairies where an Indian takes up most to the screen. Then there is a close up of one particular fairy smiling and laughing with her friends. Then the camera goes to a close up of James and Sylvia as he whispers to her that she what she is looking at is "Neverland". Then once again, there is a long shot of the forest/backyard where everything is green and full of other colors as well, even in the outfits of the different characters. Then it goes to another long shot of a few Indians crouching through the forest. Then there is a shot of a make-believe character who looks like a goblin with a pretty flower on its head and a smile on its face. Then there is a pan/dolly shot of an Indian sort of running through the air and then a close up of her landing on the ground. Then there is a high angle shot zooming into the noirs, aka captain hook and the gang, walking through the fog surrounding the forest. Then there is another high angle shot of the actress in the play playing Peter Pan climbing onto a a leaf and sitting in it. Then there is a low angle shot of the noir, Captain Hook, again who looks around. Then there is a shot of a fairy flying onto the ground landing next to some friends and greeting them. Then there is a close up of the same fairy that was zoomed in on before. Then back to the long shot of the four fairies laughing together. Then a close up of Peter Pan admiringly looking around at everything. Then the camera goes to another high shot of the noirs and slowly zooms out as they fade into the fog. Then there is a close up of two of the boys along with Sylvia and James and the camera does a dolly shot following her as she walks down the steps into the backyard and into the forest. While following her, the camera goes to a high contrast shot where there is a shadow on Sylvia as she descends down the steps. Then the camera continues to follow her with a dolly shot from the side of her. Then the camera shows the family once more, only without her, starring at her as she makes her way through the garden. The camera only flashes to them for a moment and ever so slightly zooms out as it goes back to showing Sylvia walking once more, deeper into the forest. Slowly zooming out and up away from her, all the light seems to get brighter in the distance and then the light behind her slowly fades and only encircles her as she disappears completely.

Intro to World Lit paper

Motivation plays a role behind every decision a person makes, whether they are driven by their own greed, self-indulgence, or their individual set of morals something inspires them to make a choice. There are those who have very strong beliefs and certainty behind their decisions while others lack much confidence at all; they let others make their own decisions and do not really care either way. This difference in human beings can be seen between Medea in Euripides’ Medea and Antigone in Anouilh’s Antigone. The revelation of each character’s individual process of decision making, their relationships, along with their actions, illustrates their levels of conviction, ultimately defining the purpose of each character’s life and why they decide to make the choices that they do.

1st Paragraph:
Both Medea and Antigone have to make some very big decisions in these two works, the only difference being how they come to those decisions. Evoking pity from the audience, Medea naturally feels pain and sadness after Jason marries another woman and she asks herself, “What good is left for me in living?” (1.1.145). Depressed, Medea cannot find any motivation for living anymore… until she makes a choice. She tells the Chorus of women, “a test awaits the newlyweds, no little ordeal for the happy pair” (1.1.366-367). This quote foreshadows Medea’s actions in trying to get back at Jason for marrying another woman and Creon for exiling her along with her sons. This reveals that revenge exists as Medea’s only motivation now for living.

2nd Paragraph:
Antigone’s motivation for her actions remains quite the opposite of Medea’s. Antigone, known as being young and reserved; like a “thin little creature” (Antigone 3) who prefers to be alone, has a secret strength that no one sees until she goes against the law set by her uncle, King Creon. Antigone sees going against the law as something destined to happen. While talking with Ismene about the whole idea she compares their actions to Creon’s, “He will do what he has to do, and we will do what we have to do. He is bound to put us to death. We are bound to go out and bury our brother. That’s the way it is” (Antigone 11). She views burying her brother as a duty, something that she has to do not matter what the consequences. Even though Ismene tries to make her understand that the consequence will be death, Antigone feels fully aware of that fact and still wants to carry out the deed. She stands by her own belief of what is right and wrong, not by what the law or anyone else says. Antigone and Medea contrast in that way because purely revenge motivates Medea whereas Antigone’s own set of morals motivates and drives her. Both of these reasons bring about consequences that both women are willing to face, showing their inner strength and courage of conviction.

Anouilh Journal 4

1. One theme in Anouilh's Antigone is the theme of making the play modern. This is completely different from the other plays. Because it is made to be more modern, there are cigarettes, tobacco, talking about having blood taken, etc. These things are never mentioned in the other plays because they are set during the time of ancient Greece so these things were not even heard of them.

2. There is another theme of death, which happens to be in all of the novels. This theme is simply apart of tragedy. If there's tragedy, there's death. It's just how it is. Without death, I believe there would be no tragedy. And it's not even all of the main characters who have to die, it's just someone in general. Tragedy is very sad in that way/how it is accompanied by death. In Anouilh's Antigone death is a very important idea that is repeatedly discussed and questioned about whether life is worth living or if dying is easier and more glorious.

Anouilh Journal 3-Word Choice

1. During Creon and Antigone's argument Anouilh repeats the idea of death. Death has been a theme throughout the book, and it is especially discussed for a while by the two of them. Antigone does not fear death while Creon may not fear it either, he does fear her death in that he doesn't want her to die. It feels as though whether she lives or dies is the only thing she has control over and that's why she's "ok" with dying. This is shown when Creon is asking her why she has done this crime and is willing to die for it. She says she did it, "For nobody. For myself" (Anouilh 33). Anouilh shows Antigone's sincerity and determination as well as Creon's frightened soul by bringing up death again and again.

2. The use of ambiguous terms by Anouilh creates this sense of detachment from the different characters that use such unclear words at times. For example, when Creon says the phrase, "In which beasts say no to hunger or to propagation?" (Anouilh 37). This phrase makes the reader feel uncomfortable because they cannot fulling understand what he is trying to say from not knowing that word. This can distract the reader or it can make the reader pay better attention so that they can try to figure out its meaning through context.

Character Analysis for skit Journal

First, second and third woman:
I don't really think that any of them have some deep motivation other than not wanting the boys to die, but ultimately, they are too timid to even go in there to stop Medea; " Shall we break in, snatch them from death?" (Medea 72). Their motivation for staying out of it is their fear for what Medea would do to them if they tried to stop her. Medea is very powerful so all these women can do is stand outside the room and listen to the boys scream as their mother murderers them... sad.

Chorus:
The Chorus' motivation comes from telling what's right and wrong. In this particular scene they are very angry with what Medea has done to her children calling her a "Woman of stone" with a "heart of iron" (Medea 72). They can not believe that she could do such a thing as kill her own blood. They know that this is wrong and speak the truth in saying so.

Leader:
The Leader's motivation comes from trying to help the characters by speaking the truth and informing them of what is going on. For example, in this scene, he is trying to make Jason understand that his sons are dead, but he has to tell him a few times in order for him to fully comprehend the fact; "You cannot think of them as being alive" (Medea 73). Jason is finally able to grasp the concept and then he talks to Medea. The Leader does his job.

Anouilh Journal 2

4 Techniques and their effects:

1. Figure of Speech
"What is it that's eating your heart out?" (Anouilh 14). This figure of speech is said by the Nurse to Antigone trying to figure out what is wrong with her. She asks her in a very loving tone after calling her pet names such as "My sparrow" showing that the Nurse truly cares about Antigone and what might be bothering her. This helps the reader see the close and intimate relationship between the two women.
2. Simile
Antigone is talking about Ismene with Haemon. "She's like a fruit" (Anouilh 17). Using this simile to describe her sister along with other metaphors shows her jealousy and envy that she has for her sister. This shows Antigone's low self-esteem making Haemon have to convince her of his love and that she is the only one for him.
3. Metaphor
"His mob will come running, howling as it runs" (Anouilh 12). This metaphor creates an aggressive tone while Ismene is trying to convince Antigone that Creon is way more powerful than she and that ultimately, going against him and the law is a very bad idea. This metaphor depicting Creon's followers makes them sound very dangerous and scary.
4. Imagery
"There's shadows, and the fog is beginning to roll in" (Anouilh 21). The Guard describes the "two-o'clock watch" as hard because he had to try to stay awake. As he talks about his struggles, he helps to set the scene by using this image of the fog and there being shadows. It sets an eerie, sort of dark and mysterious tone making the reader see why it must have been hard for him to stay awake and focused.

Anouilh Journal 1

Europe during the 1940s:
-WWII going on
-Coming of the Atomic Bomb
-and world powers coming together

These huge events might have influenced Anouilh's version of Antigone quite a bit. Because he wrote this play while the Nazis occupied France, where he lived, his trials and events that happened while the Nazis were there might have had an affect on his writing. His views and opinions of the whole situation during that time most likely influenced his writing and could have made him more biased towards certain characters that he wrote. His own morals and belief of right and wrong probably had the most influence on anything he wrote during that time period.

Antigone Journal 3-Characters

Antigone~
Quotes:
-"I will suffer nothing as great as death without glory" (Sophocles 64).
-"But if I had allowed my own mother's son to rot, an unburied corpse-that would have been an agony!" (Sophocles 82).
Description:
beautiful, strong, dirt-blond hair that's long and flowy, deep, blue eyes, tall and about 17 or 18 years old.
Personality:
proud, loyal to her family, determined, craving glory even if through death, reverent to the gods and her parents.
Actress: possibly Kate Winslet
Why?:
Because Winslet is very strong and independent as well as determined, but sweet and relatable just like Antigone. She has it set in her mind what she wants to do and she does it. She knows right from wrong and is willing to put her life in danger to do the right thing.

Ismene~
Quotes:
-"we must be sensible" (Sophocles 62).
-"I'd do them no dishonor... but defy the city? I have no strength for that" (Sophocles 63).
-"I'm not ashamed to sail through trouble with you, make your troubles mine" (Sophocles 87).
Description:
Skinny, long dirty-blond hair with chocolate brown eyes; tall but slender, not as curvy as sister.
Personality:
sweet, innocent, peaceful, more levelheaded, loyal, cautious.
Actress: Scarlett Johannson
Why?:
Because Johannson seems sweet and innocent like Ismene and she has that pure look to her like I believe Ismene would. While she's also ready to try to do what's right.

Creon~
Quotes:
-"Absolutely: there are other fields for him to plow"(Sophocles 89).
-"That's what a man prays for: to produce good sons" (Sophocles 93).
Description:
strong, firm, older (between 58 and 62 years old), tall, dark hair and eyes, bearded, slightly overweight
Personality:
arrogant, mistreats women, only wants his glory and power to be recognized, selfish
Actor: Eric Bana
Why?:
Because he is slightly older and he can play evil/arrogant and pompous which Creon is because he even threatens to have something bad happen to his son when his son is trying to save his finance.

Haemon~
Quotes:
-"No marriage could ever mean more to me than you" (Sophocles 93).
-"It's no city at all, owned by one man alone" (Sophocles 97).
Description:
young, strong/lean, dark curly hair and warm green eyes, tall and fit; about 20 years old
Personality:
loyal but willing to stand up for what's right even if that means fighting/disagreeing with his father, smart and wise, in love, kind and honest
Actor: Orlando Bloom
Why?:
Because he is strong physically and morally, he has the look of a Greek and he can show wisdom as well as kindness and well-deserved anger like Haemon does.

Leader~
Quotes:
-"A temper young as his... hurt him once, he may do something violent" (Sophocles 100).
-"Still the same rough winds, the wild passion raging through the girl" (Sophocles 106).
Description:
older, dark and graying hair, medium height, soft and wise blue eyes, around late 50s, early 60s.
Personality:
loyal to authority/whoever is king, obedient while inquisitive and warning-like, observant, realistic
Actor: an older, scrawny man
Why?:
Because the Leader doesn't seem to have a lot of backbone, but he is very smart and understanding of other people's emotions, helping to foreshadow things throughout the play.

Sentry~
Quotes:
-"But no casting lots this time; this is my luck, my prize, no one else's" (Sophocles 79).
-"But all that, I'm afraid, means less to me than my own skin. That's the way I'm made" (Sophocles 81).
Description:
big, strong/buff, built like a soldier/guard, tall, dirty-bold hair with blue eyes around his mid 20s.
Personality:
only looking out for himself/selfish, hungry for recognition
Actor: Brad Pitt
Why?:
Because he is buff and strong looking like he could be the perfect soldier like Sentry seems to be.

Antigone Journal 2

Knowledge Level:
-What does Creon decide to do with Antigone?
-How is Antigone related to Haemon?
Comprehension Level:
-What crime has Polynices committed?
-What does Creon want to happen to Polynices' body instead of it being buried?
Application Level:
-Would Antigone suffer the same fate if she were tried now/today?
-Would Ismene have been accused with her?
Analysis:
-Why doesn't Antigone deny any of the accusations to save her own skin?
-Why is Ismene so unwavering and insistent on wanting to die with her sister?
Synthesis:
-How do the events so far evoke pity and who for?
-Why would Sophocles write this/what is the message?
Evaluation:
-Does Haemon try his hardest to try to save his finance?
-Is Creon right in accusing Ismene along with Antigone?

Comparison Journal (Medea vs. Oedipus)

Journal: Compare the elements of tragedy in Medea and Oedipus. Look specifically at the use of catharsis. Pay attention to how you organize your comparison. Be sure you start with a thesis/topic sentence.

Medea and Oedipus both have elements of tradegy that are interpretted/felt differently by each person who reads or sees this play. The reader/audience feels remorse and pity for Oedipus becuase he does not realize that he killed his father and married his mother. That pity is purged or at least very faint at the beginning becuase the audience knows the story and probably feels this emotion of why would he do that. They probably feel some digust as Jocasta is introduced into the story because she was the one, along with her husband, who decided to kill baby Oedipus, thus pity for Oedipus is created, but then purged at the same time while thinking of the fact that he had kids with his mom. There are so many twisted elements to Sophocles' Oedipus, but it is most certainly a tragedy in that the reader/audience feels pity for the different characters at different times. Then in Medea, once again, the audience/reader knows the story so therefore they have this preexitsting expectation and feeling of pity and fear. They pity Medea who they know loses everything in the end and they feel fear for the other characters because they know how powerful Medea is. Although pity might be felt in the beginning for Medea, the feelings shift to the different characters. First the reader/audience pities the boys, knowing that they will die and then there is even some pity for the Princess Jason makes his second wife in how brutally she died along with her father. Then the pity gets brought back to the boys once they are dead and surprisingly also to Jason a little because of how he loses everything. These two plays both have characters that are pitied and pity that might move from character to character keeping the reader/audience intrigued and motivated to see the story progress.

Medea Journal 2

Both Medea and Jason interact with the gods in different ways. Jason has reverence for them and how they have helped him, whereas Medea sees them as her equals because of her ancestry. This contrast between the two characters and their relationship with the gods shows their true personalities and whether they have humility, or are just plain prideful.

Jason has obvious respect for the gods. He is thankful and slightly in awe as he pays credit to the god he believed helped him through his tough time. "Well, as far as I am concerned, it was Aphrodite and no one else in heaven or earth who saved me on my journey" (Medea 50). This quote shows his appreciation to the gods, particularly to Aphrodite, for their guidance and protection on his "journey". Then Jason also shows this overwhelming need for the gods as he finds out that his sons are dead. "Zeus, do you hear how I am at bay" (Medea 77). This cry to the god, Zeus shows his need and desire for the gods to help him. Ultimately, Jason not only respects the gods, but he has enough humility to ask the gods for help and rely on them.

Then there is Medea who because of her family line believes that she is just as powerful and righteous as a god. This is partly true because of her powers, but since she is half human she is not entirely in the same position as the gods. Like Jason, Medea still asks for the gods' help, but in this manner like she deserves their help. "O you gods-not for me-ever" (Medea). She pleads for salvation from her awful fate, while having this tone of "I don't deserve this". Then she talks about the gods like they are on her side as she fights with Jason and that ultimately they are going to help her. "Zeus the Father knows exactly what you got from me and how you then behaved" (Medea 75). She talks as though Jason is the only one who has done anything wrong and that he will be punished, not her. These quotes show her prideful personality.

Medea Journal 1

The role of the chorus is very important in both Medea and Sophocles' Oedipus. Not only does the chorus give general information that helps the reader/audience better understand the story, but they also ask questions that everyone would be asking. One example of this is when Medea is talking about leaving the palace and the chorus asks, "Whom will you turn to? Where will you turn? What country, what stranger, what home for a haven? Who will receive you?" (p. 44 Lines 359-361). Theses are questions that match what the reader/audience is thinking exactly. By trying to work out these uncertainties through asking questions and using metaphors as well as other literary techniques, this helps the reader/audience better understand what is going on. With the use of literary techniques to try to illustrate what is happening helps the reader/audience relate to the situation as well as the characters themselves. The chorus is different from Oedipus to Medea because when Oedipus refers to the chorus it is more general, like he is talking to the crowd/people of the town whereas Medea refers to the chorus as her friends during some of the hardest times that she goes through. The chorus and Medea seem to have a closer, less casual relationship than Oedipus does.

Sophocles Journal 5

Sophocles uses many things to evoke pity and fear. He uses literary devices such as images, characterization, metaphors, similes, etc. One example is seen through the actions and personalities of the characters such as Oedipus. Now because the reader/audience already knows what happens in the story, a good poet, such as Sophocles, will play off of those expectations and try to create something new. Knowing what happens starts the reader/audience off with the feelings of fear and pity for the characters. Then it is the poet's job to build up those characters like Sophocles does with the Chorus and other characters in building up Oedipus. By doing this and then that character having the tragedy happen to them provokes even more pity because they knew what would happen and yet they had to sit by and watch it take place. This fear is also evoked by motifs of things such as death and that people's fates are predetermined and there's nothing they can do to change it. This also creates a sadness/pity, once again, for the characters. There are many literary techniques and basic writing material that is used to evoke pity and fear throughout tragedies.

Sophocles Journal 4

There are many images withing Sophocles' writing. This image is seen very early in Sophocles' writing in the quote, "I'll bring it all to light myself!" (pl 167, line 150). This is said when Oedipus is trying to maintain his focus on the task at hand: finding the murderer. Within this quote is the phrase "bring it all to light". This phrase is repeated a few times within the play, such as when the Messenger is talking to the Chorus, trying to figure out how this mess is going to be handled/taken care of; "it soon will bring to light" (p. 235, line 1358). This recurrent phrase keeps the audience/reader focused and it gives them hope because it promises that the truth will come out; nothing will be unseen with the light/the truth. The use of the image of light and the truth being known also evokes pity within the audience/reader because everyone knows the story prior to seeing the play and so everyone knows the truth already and that it will ultimately cause pain and sadness. This evocation of pity and some sadness is what makes Sophocles' plays tragedies.

Sopochles Journal 3

The gods play a major role in the lives of the people and is a recurrent theme throughout the book. Different people speak to different gods, each for a different situation, while one god that most of the main characters turn to is Apollo. Laius and Jocasta turn to him for guidance and protection after they decide what to do with their son. Then Oedipus turns to him when he is trying to figure out who his real parents are. Many of the characters turn to this particular god for help. This connection between the people and the gods, particularly with the god Apollo, suggests that Apollo is a very well-known and sought after god. He must be very well trusted because so many people go to him in time of trouble. Sophocles uses themes as well as other literary terms such as metaphors and symbols. With the use of metaphors the audience/reader can better understand what is going on or how someone is feeling and be able to either visualize or feel it. The use of symbols, especially ones that come up again and again, keeps the audience/reader focused and once again better able to visualize things. Overall, the role of the gods in society is very important to the people. They rely on them to get them through any and everything. The gods give them hope in that there is a better plan or fate out there for them. The fact that they have to give offerings helps them feel like they have some control over their destiny because they feel like they can get on the "good side" of one of the gods and as long as they are faithful, that god will make them prosper.

Sopochles Journal 2

Oedipus demonstrates the qualities of a proficient leader in that he is trying his best to find out how to help his people, while he also demonstrates qualities of a deficient leader in the way that he talks to people. He is driven by anger almost all the time, which makes the reader wonder whether he is worried about his people or maybe about his own reputation... He also displays signs of disrespect, for example when Tiresias comes to town and says that he can't tell them anything, out of frustration, Oedipus reprimands this well-respected man: " You, you scum of the earth, you'd enrage a heart of stone!" (380-381). This shows Oedipus' impatience and lack of faith in the gods and in that everything will be alright, while Tiresias displays wisdom and calmness as he tries to make Oedipus see his mistakes. Then there is Creon who is smooth with words and is not afraid to speak her mind, while she still seems to possess more wisdom than even Oedipus has.

Sophocles Journal 1

p. 159
Oedipus demonstrates his strength and willingness to help as he asks the Priest why he is not trying to help his congregation.

p. 160
The Priest is trying to explain to Oedipus what exactly is going on and that he needs to open his eyes because the cause of their despair is right in front of him.

p. 161
The Priest continues to pray to Oedipus, reminding him of the time he raised them up before in trying to encourage him saying that he can do it again.

p. 162
Oedipus is defending himself in saying that his eyes have already been opened and that he's been trying to find a way to help them, for example, by sending his brother-in-law to Delphi to try to get some answers.

p. 163
Oedipus tells Creon once he arrives to announce the god's words to everyone.

p. 164
Creon relays the message from Apollo to find the one who killed the peoples' previous leader, Laius in order to cleanse the town.

p. 165
Creon explains to Oedipus the incident of where Laius was killed along with other men, but for one that they were traveling with, who can only reveal one clue as to who the murderer is.

p.166
Creon again explains to Oedipus the reason why the town decided to let the death of their king go so quickly, which was because Sphinx told them to.

p. 167
Oedipus vows to find whoever killed the king and the town prepares.

p. 168
The Chorus sings and prays to the gods trying to persuade them to help them out one more time, as they have done before.

p. 169
The Chorus observes the turmoil of the people within the town on Thebes and they see how much they truly need the gods so they urge and implore them to help them.

p.170
The Chorus again cries out to the gods to use each of their individual powers to help the town.

Dystopian Final Draft Chat!

Hey guys, so here is the revised intro/thesis, along with the first paragraph in our paper written by Brittany!

Intro:

I Don’t Want to Be Smarter Than a Fifth Grader

As humans, we are constantly striving to know more about our world and our surroundings. However, is there such a thing as knowing too much? In the novel, The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood uses the symbolism of scrabble, literature, and Offred’s ability to escape to illustrate her fear of gaining knowledge, showing that when oppressed, people will naturally associate security with ignorance, where they feel too much knowledge can put their lives at risk.

Britt's Paragraph:

To play Scrabble, a game that has been banned for obvious reasons, takes a considerable amount of knowledge. When the Commander asks Offred to play a game of Scrabble, she feels reluctant. "Now of course it's something dangerous. Now it's forbidden, for us. Now it's dangerous. [...] Now it's desirable" (Atwood 138). Scrabble symbolizes knowledge in the novel. Atwood uses it to express the reluctance in Offred, where she wants to gain knowledge but knows its dangerous power. Knowledge has become desirable because it is forbidden to them, a temptation that is refrained because of the amount of fear the society has created. The oppression of the society comes from this avoidance. The government just has to create fear, and the rest falls into place. Offred’s decision to play helps her overcome this fear, though she finds it hard to piece together the words. "It was like trying to walk without crutches" (Atwood 156). Offred fears her new society so much that she has completely blocked away any prior knowledge that she had before, making it harder for her to play the game. She knows her capability of spelling the words correctly, but because she has not used the words in so long, she cannot remember. Atwood compares this to a broken leg, where a person knows how to walk, but needs aid in relearning the skill. This simile shows how much the fear of the society has oppressed any prior knowledge, where knowledge is broken apart so much that it needs to be mended and relearned.

*The bold sentences are ones with "is" in them, or at least the ones that I was having a hard time rewording. Please post any suggestions!

*Another reminder is to stay away from past tense. I know I need to too!

Talk to you guys later and I will e-mail you guys the finished product ASAP. If you guys could just try to post before 10pm or so, that would be great! If not, I will be up until about 12am tonight babysitting, so by then at the very latest would work too! Thanks for everything guys!

PS I will post my paragraph hopefully by 9 or 10 so please keep an eye out for it and make any revisions you can! Thanks

Dystopian-Journal #3

Topic C:

Margaret Atwood's vision for what the future could be like is very powerful. It is slightly extreme, but she makes very interesting connections to things such as color and the social classes, etc. She depicts the world as being very gloomy and unpleasurable, especially for women, in the future. She sheds light on the dark relationship between sex and politics. Basically she is saying that the government and or society can have so much power that they can make something as natural as sex into a robotic, emotionless routine and requirement for all males and their Handmaids. The sole purpose set on the society is to pro-create, which was set by the government, making this their biggest goal/ priority. Not only does the society take the basic pleasure out of sex, they also create inner turmoil within the souls of everyone. While trying to make some sense out of her life, Offred realizes how much the pressures of society can weigh on something such as a person's inner workings and or their self-confidence. "That's one of the things they do. They force you to kill, within yourself" (Atwood 250). This thought of Offred's is very depressing, and yet realistic for the time period, when basically for a Handmaid, all of their free will is taken away, thus leaving the people feeling empty and like robots just living life to simply do their duty; to have babies!!! Atwood gives us somewhat of an alternative. This being, that instead of losing yourself and completely giving in to the pressure around you to conform, hold onto your ideals and morals. Otherwise you will never find who you really are or find true happiness.

Word Count: 280

Groupies!

Hey guys,
So I'll post my paragraph after I've read some more, but you guys can post whenever!

Then also, I have posted two possible options for our introduction. The first one is from the blog convo last night that Alex Hill started and Britt ended with the new thesis, and then there is the one Alex busted out in class today. Please comment on which one you like better or if you have a brilliant idea of how to morph the two somehow or whatever you think might sound better.

The other thing is that, we have a different thesis in each one, mostly because none of us could remember the thesis today in class... ;) so please also comment on which of those you like or if you think maybe one thesis might go well in the conclusion since we have to restate it there; or just totally come up with a new thesis that maybe incorporates both! Give me your thoughts and I'll put it on the rough draft! Thanks so much guys!

PS Remember to try to post before 9pm so that I can e-mail all you guys before 10! Thanks!

Propaganda

Source: http://po-ru.com/images/ruby-propaganda-small.png

This poster was created to compare two different computer programming languages, Python and Ruby. Python is better-known in the West, whereas Ruby is best known in its native Japan, although Ruby is becoming more popular. This particular poster is targeting anyone who does computer programming and it sends the message that Ruby is the best language to use by how the snake/python is being crushed by the hands. It does not necessarily work at gaining maximum acceptance in that it does not have a lot of evidence as to why Ruby is the better language. It just depicts Ruby as being the stronger and more superior one. Although I do believe that it still appeals to people in a certain way, because most people do not like snakes and so they might be turned off to the Python language becuase they don't like snakes. So, even though, there is not a whole lot of evidence as to why Ruby is the better of the two, most people are going to experience a feeling of disgust towards the Python language because of the way snakes are seen in our society; as slithering, evil creatures.

Dystopian Journal #2

Topic B:
Character= Offred

Offred is the main character as well as the narrator in The Handmaid's Tale. Offred is different from the other characters in that she tends to slightly rebel against the controlling government with little things such as her feelings, her actions, etc. She can see the beauty as well as the turmoil and destruction around her of how the system of government dehumanizes its people in Gilead. She recognizes the many differences in this world she lives in compared to her old life where she was married to a man named Luke and she had a daughter as well as a fairly normal life. But times change. The government creates this very tight and secretive society where people are conditioned into their different social classes/"jobs", but Offred is one who sometimes questions her conditioned responses and actions. She dreams of having her old life back; "Luke and I used to walk together, sometimes, along these streets.[...] Such freedom now seems almost weightless" (Atwood 32). She can remember little things like taking walks with her husband that used to seem so normal for her life and now she can barely imagine such a small freedom as simply being able to go on a walk with her husband. This saddens her, not only because she realizes she can no longer do this anymore, but also because she feels as though this will never be possible again. Even though she can remember the freedom she so badly craves now, she does not necessarily feel she can ever attain that freedom again. The fact that she is a Handmaid, a woman who is forced to bare children for upper class couples, also creates conflict in that she feels as though she has no control over her life. "[...] my own money, money I had earned myself. I think about having such control" (Atwood 33). In her old life, Offred was able to have complete control over her life, even over something as little as money, but as a Handmaid she does not even have a say in what she wears. She is part of a social class and is required to wear red signifying her rank in society, which she has no control over. Ultimately, all of Offred's rights, along with just about everyone else's, are taken away from her, dehumanizing her and them and causing them to rebel in their own way. Offred rebels in little ways such as with how she is not supposed to show people her eyes or stare at people and yet she still does because she is a very curious woman, waiting to see how other people behave and whether they are like her and reject some of the government's very precise and strict rules.

Word count: 457

Images-Handmaid's Tale

Images:

Serena's garden-
Quote "I go out by the back door, into the garden, which is large and tidy: a lawn in the middle, a willow, weeping catkins; around the edges, the flower borders, in which the daffodils are now fading and the tulips are opening their cups, spilling out color" (Atwood 16).

-I really love how descriptive this quote is.
-This quote appeals to the sense of sight.
-It sets a mood of serenity and beauty, making the reader feel calm and at peace like Offred feels.
-This ultimately creates a better understanding of Offred and how she feels about the life she is living.
-She can see peace in other things around her, such as this garden, while she also longs for it.

"is" sentence

This signifies that their relationship is based on something deeper than simply physical attraction.

Dystopian Journal #1-The Handmaid's Tale

Topic A
Quote: "It isn't running they're afraid of. We wouldn't get far. It's those other escapes, the ones you can open in yourself, given a cutting edge" (Atwood 10).

This passage conveys exactly what the government in this society is afraid of, showing its weakness and how they make sure their fear does not come true. The society in The Handmaid's Tale the group of women slept in one big, old gymnasium where they each had their own bed. But they were split far enough apart so that they could not talk to one another; this being one of the small ways those in control exhibited their power over even the smallest thing such as talking. In this gymnasium, where the women slept, there are two women patrolling; Aunt Sara and Aunt Elizabeth. Then there are also guards with guns who were known as Angels. These guards are not allowed to come inside the gymnasium except when called for and the women are not allowed to leave. One exception to this law is when the women go on their walks twice each day, "around the football field, which was enclosed now by a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire" (Atwood 4). This very strict and secluded way of living made the women disconnected from the rest of the society. This is what the people in control ultimately wanted, to make the women feel detached from the rest of the society, by oppressing them.

Word Count: 214

Thesis for IOP

Throughout Huxley’s life, it seems as though he is striving to find the ultimate happiness that lasts forever, which cannot be found on this earth. This goal as well as many of his other characteristics comes out in his book, Brave New World through the scientific based society, the character Bernard Marx, and the seemingly peaceful world the characters live in.

revised thesis for LA

Through the motifs of Meursault's body temperature, his observation of people, and his memory Maman, Camus illustrates that although Meursault seems detached from everything, certain things still have meaning for him, thus revealing Meursault's true character.

End of The Stranger

Journal 8:
Meursualt comes to the conclusion that he will either live or die and that ultimately it doesn't matter either way. He realizes that he will eventually die any way so why not now. Camus wants the reader to come to the same conclusion that either way, we are all going to die and why wait for the inevitable. I believe that Meursault is definitely happier at the end of the book, but that while he has this sense of comfort in understanding his fate, he also has this underlying feeling of sadness because he loves the life he has lived and doesn't want to leave it.

Thesis Statement for The Stranger

Thesis for Literary Analysis paper:

Throught the motifs of heat, the consistent observation of people, and the memory of Maman, Camus illustrates how recognizing a person's emotions can help create a better understanding of that person's actions as well as their character.

Part 1 and Part 2

Journal 7:
Camus creates a part 1 and part 2 of The Stranger to magnify the change in Meursault's character. One such example of that change is in how he refuses a cigarette when one of the police officers offers one to him as they waited for the judges; "[...] one of them offered me a cigarette, which I turned down" (Camus 82). However, the biggest change in Meursault is how he starts to feel emotions in part 2 whereas in part 1, he was almost completely emotionless. He begins to realize the significance of life as he sits in his jail cell. "[...] all of a sudden I would feel just how closed in I was by the walls of my cell" (Camus 76). He begins to realize how much his life meant to him after being locked up for a while. By comparing ideas between the two parts, Camus illustrates the specific ways Meursault has changed.

9 Pieces of Analysis

Journal 6:
1. Word Choice

• the author uses a mid-level of vocab.; not too hard to understand, but still intelligent

Q: Why doesn't Camus use a higher level of vocab like the other translation?

2. Sentences

• passive verbs
• sentences vary between short/choppy and long and descriptive

Q: Why does Camus choose to write in the passive voice?

3. Images

• constantly describing the room he's in or where he is
• Meursault is very hot almost all the time; never really cold

Q: Why does Camus constantly describe how hot Meursault is and never when he is cold?

4. Symbols

• the sun and the sky

Q: Why does Camus continually describe the sun as a painful/negative symbol?

5. Figure of Speech

• Uses it in odd places or unexpected places

i.e. the metaphor of how his cell/going through the trial feels like his home/family

Q: Why does Camus use figurative language at such odd times?

6. Rhetorical Devices

• seems quite unorganized at times with the changing from long, lengthy sentences to short sentences
• the dialogue with Meursault seems to be short responses or comments

Q: Why does Camus make Meursault's speech/vocab similar to the narrator's?

7. Patterns

• author always states a fact of some sort at the beginning of each chapter

Q: Why does Camus start off each chapter like that?

8. Narrator

• he is an active participant

Q: Why did Camus choose to write this book in the first person?

9. Structure

• At times the author goes through a week of Meursault's life really fast by simply stating how long it has been, then most of the time the author goes at a very slow pace describing every little detail, object, person, etc.

Q: Why does Camus change his pace at times?

Thesis Statements:

1.Word Choice-Alexander

Camus uses simple words to describe so formal a book so that the reader can better understand the content and meaning of each aspect.

2. Sentences-Keegan

Camus only uses statements, no exclamations or questions, to create a mood of detachment from emotions.

3. Images-Alexander

Camus's purpose for including contrasting senses is to create this sense of black and white; no real emotion just simply physical reactions.

4. Symbols-Keegan

Camus has a lack of symbols so as to not get the reader too confused or distracted from his true theme of how lack of emotion affects one's life.

5. Figure of Speech-Athanasia

Camus doesn't create more obvious and deep metaphors so that the reader isn't confused as to what exactly the theme is of how lack of emotion affects one's life. He wants to keep it simple.

6. Rhetorical Devices-Athanasia

Camus shows more emotion and feeling in the narration than in the dialogue so as to create distance or distinction between Meursault and the narrator.

7. Patterns-Alexander

Camus continually contrasts black and white to be a metaphor for Meursault's character and how things to him are black and white; he either does something or he doesn't and it never really matters.

8. Narrator-Alexander

Camus chooses to write the novel in 1st person from Mersault's view because if it had been written in third person, the reader might not have been able to connect with Meursault as much because his actions from afar might have seemed less human.

9. Structure-Alexander

Camus chooses to include some of Meursault's seemingly unimportant thoughts so that the reader can fully understand Meursault's "black and white" personality and how meaningless even his thoughts are.

How my philosophy affects my opinion of the book

Journal 5:
Being that I am a Christian affects the way I feel about about a book entirely. Growing up with Christian morals and beliefs of how I should live my life affect my every thought. Therefore they affect my opinion of this, and any, book most certainly. My beliefs affect whether or not I connect with the characters, whether I connect with the narrator and ultimately whether I like the book or not. With The Stranger, it was hard at first and still is at times to see Meursault do things or act a certain way that just does not make sense to me or that i flat out don't agree with. This is because for me, just about everything in my life has meaning and purpose, whereas Meursault is the complete opposite. But I'm also open-minded in that if I believed that nothing had meaning, I might act somewhat similar to Meursault. Having beliefs is difficult when reading a book such as The Stranger, but as long as I keep an open-mind, I can connect with at least some of the aspects of the book.

Tracking Motifs in The Stranger

Journal 4:

Motifs= Sun the and the sky

• Sun-"By now the sun was overpowering. It shattered into little pieces on the sand and water"(Camus 55). The overpowering sun could be the tension between Meursault and Raymond coming to a peak while they walk on the beach.
• Sun-"[...] and I could feel my forehead swelling under the sun. All that heat was pressing down on me and making it hard for me to go on" (Camus 57). If the sun is a symbol of Meursault's emotions then they are hindering him from moving forward.
• Sun-"It was the same sun, the same light still shining on the same sand as before" (Camus 58). The sun seems to stay constant, even in times of trouble.

• Sky-"It seemed as if the sky split open from one end to the other to rain down fire"(Camus 59). This metaphor makes the sky seem angry, mad, or revengeful.

My Philosophy

Journal 3:

Christianism

(My) Definition: All things were created in the likeness of God, the one and only God, who rules over all while also desiring a relationship with each individual human being.

Principles:

• God ultimately desires a relationship with everyone-God created us so that he could have someone to love and to love him back. He wants his people to rely on him and want to follow him as well as talk with him through prayer. He loves all that he has created.
• Along with giving us life, God gave his people free will- God didn't want a bunch of robots who only loved him because they were made to. He wanted everyone to have a choice.
• God is omnipotent or all-powerful- God created all things and is the ultimate ruler. He has all the power in the world and he has control over everything.
• God is also omnipresent- God is everywhere. He is in our surroundings as well as in the people in our lives. He follows us wherever we go and he never abandons anyone.
• One of the biggest characteristics of God is that he is omniscient- God is all-knowing. He knows the thoughts in our heads, he knows every word that is going to come out of our mouths even before we think of them. Ultimately God has a plan for each and every one of us therefore everything happens for a reason.
• By believing in him a person is given everlasting life in heaven- God promises to make a place in heaven for all those who believe in him. This is expressed multiple times throughout the Bible.
• Because God loves everyone, we should love everyone as well- We are taught in the Bible to love and respect God, as well as ourselves and others. Followers of Jesus strive to live their lives as he did, with love, compassion and an everlasting hope.

*All of these things are taught to us through the Bible which is his word and is the book of life.*

Stranger-(2/23/09)

Journal 2:
After his mother died Meursault does many things. He first goes to the Home where his mother is and then goes to her funeral. After two days he gets back home in the evening, which he is very happy about, and he sleeps because he is exhausted. The next morning he goes to the beach where he swims and flirts/hangs out with Marie Cardona. They spend the whole day together and then Marie spends the night. She then leaves very early the next morning, which is Sunday. Meursault wakes up and makes himself lunch instead of going to his usual restaurant and then he people-watches all day from his balcony. By the end of the day, he realizes that nothing has really changed since his mother's death, which is very peculiar to the reader.

Meursault's activities seem like distractions. It seems like he never really had a very close relationship with his mother and is therefore not very sad at her death. Because he feels this way/doesn't feel anything at all, he lives life normally; like he would have even if his mother hadn't died. All of his actions make him seem emotionless and very detached.

Camus probably created the protagonist, Meursault the way he did to show a pure example of existentialism, which is what the whole book is based on. Existentialism is the belief that everything in the world is meaningless. This belief can cause a person to show very little emotion towards anyone/anything because ultimately they believe that those things or people are and mean nothing. This sense of awareness is conveyed by the character of Meursault and is what Camus is trying to accomplish.

The Stranger-2 Different Translations (2/23/09)

Stranger Journal 1:
The two translations are different in that they each create a slightly different tone/mood. In the first translation, the narrator seems slightly less literate than in the second translation due to the sentence structure. But although the first translation might not be put together as well as the second, the first one seems to convey more of an emotion than the second. The second translation is clear-cut and to the point. Almost like the death of the mother is not that important to the narrator. For example, in the second translation, the narrator writes "After the funeral, though, the case will be closed, and everything will have a more official feel to it". This passage uses figure of speech when he writes, "the case will be closed" sending the message that he doesn't really care that his mother is dead; that all he cares about is the remorse the people around him feel for his lose. The first translation seems to be quick and choppy while the second, though shorter, expresses more emotion.

Ch 19 and 20 Journal (2/17/09)

Journal:
The structure creates an outline in a way for the text. The "outline" begins at each chapter and sets the stage for what is to come in that chapter. Most of the time the chapter will start off with a metaphor, or motif, etc. bringing the reader in. At times the metaphors or motifs at the beginnings of the chapters don't quite make sense until the end of the chapter or until the plot has revealed itself. But that first literary device that is used brings the reader in even though it might confuse them because that makes them want to understand and keep reading. The device used at the beginning tends to show up again throughout the chapter or is at least better understood by the end from what happens in that chapter. Those devices/structure helps the reader understand and relate better to the text/characters.

Journals ch16-18 (2/15/09)

Ch 16-17 Journal:
The Turner's marriage seems to be very similar to a lot of the other marriages on the muck, but compared to Janie and Tea Cake's it's quite different. Like a lot of the other married couples such as Sop-de-Bottom and his wife, the women in the relationship seem to have the overall power. Sop-de-Bottom's wife seems to have the power because she fights back when Sop-de-Bottom tries to beat her showing that she is a prideful woman. Then there's Mrs. Turner who is a very strong-willed woman which seems to make up for her husband's lack of manliness/strength, physical or mental. Mrs. Turner seems to hold the power in her marriage like a lot of other wives except for Janie. Janie is smitten with Tea Cake and she seems to think that she has no worth or happiness without him. This mindset of Janie's gives Tea Cake all the power. Even after he beats her she is still very submissive and people were surprised by, "the helpless way she hung on him"(Hurston 147). Janie, unlike Sop-de-Bottom's wife and Mrs. Turner, does not have the power in her marriage, but she instead gives it freely to Tea Cake.

Ch 18 Journal:
The title of Zora Neale Hurston's There Eyes Were Watching God has great significance in expressing the relationship between the characters and God. A lot of the characters seem to believe there is a God, but that they don't rely or look to him until they need him. The characters seem to think of God as this greater being that has more power than they could ever imagine which is seen through nature such as the hurricane. Hurston suggests during the process of this event that the characters hold great reverence for God, but that it is a reverence which comes out of fear.

Journal-3 Techniques (ch 13-15) 2/12/09

Journal:
1. p. 118-simile
"The room inside looked like the mouth of an alligator-gaped wide open to swallow something down."
Janie goes through so much throughout her life that one more thing could make her lose herself forever. One such thing is the state of panic that she went into after the $200 she had pinned to one of her shirts was gone. She frantically looked for it around the room, but truthfully she knew exactly where it was, with Tea Cake. Once this fact is realized she has to sit down to keep control of herself and the room seems to look like the mouth of an alligator to her. This simile was used not only to describe the room, but to also help the reader understand Janie's mood. Her thoughts were turning to denial and anger. She was scared and lonely, feeling like the world was crashing around her and she was going to be swallowed up by her sorrow and despair.

2. p. 128-metaphor/round character
"So her soul crawled out from its hiding place."
Tea Cake is very confident in himself and in Janie, but sometimes having too much confidence can get a man in trouble, but also create stronger relationships as is what happened with Janie and Tea Cake. One night when Tea Cake went gambling to try to win back Janie's $200 that he spent, he comes back to the hotel with two cuts from a fight he got in over winning a lot of money and asks Janie to fix him up. After Janie stitches him up Tea Cake falls asleep and Janie can't help but stare at him while her love for him grows even stronger. That's when, "her soul crawled out from its hiding place"(Hurston 128). This metaphor shows the deep change in Janie's character finally complete. She finally feels like the Janie she was meant to be, a confident, loving, woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it.

3. p. 136-personification
"A little seed of fear was growing into a tree."
Tea Cake is a very fun guy who just about everyone likes, but sometimes he is too friendly. For example, how a woman both Janie and Tea Cake worked with named Nunkie really seemed to like Tea Cake a lot. She would make him chase her by hitting him and then running away. This flirtation and the fact that Tea Cake flirted back made Janie very jealous and she began to question the stability of her and Tea Cake's relationship. Hurston personified Janie's fear with being like a seed that is turning into a tree showing that Janie's small seed of doubt in their relationship has grown now that she sees that flirtation going on between Nunkie and Tea Cake. This helps the reader understand the extent to which her fear has grown and how basically she is at her boiling point which allows the reader to predict what might happen in the future (i.e. a fight).

Journal-ch 11 & 12 (2/11/09)

Journal:
What motivates Janie is partially herself and partially Tea Cake. Mostly Tea Cake motivates her because he pushes her to think for herself by telling her, "Have de nerve tuh say whut you mean" (Hurston 109). He teaches her new things about the world, and herself and what she can do such as play checkers, which is something she was never asked or expected to do before. Tea Cake has faith in her, which makes her have faith in herself. Also now that Joe isn't around anymore to bring her down her self-confidence is rising because she feels free and no longer doing things on anyone else's terms, but hers.

Janie transformation into her true self is very evident throughout both chapter 11 and 12. She went through her 6 months of mourning for Joe where she wore all black and then the real Janie started to come out. She began to wear colors, she spoke her mind more often, and overall she completely changed. Everyone could feel it. Especially the townspeople for example, who saw her playing checkers and, "they liked it" (Hurston 101). It was obvious that Janie had become a more outspoken, active and confident woman.

Mimicking-Abstract Nouns Journal

Journal 4:
So Beth began to live in denial. Denial, that lion with claws dripping with defiance who waited in the night ready to pounce. The proud one who lived in a cage like a box without slits to it, and without an escape. What need does denial have for an escape, and what light can shine in his place? He crouches in his cage that sits in the shadows. Crouches restless and concentrated all night with his claws out, waiting for the key to release him. Been crouching ever since he was caged in a way that he would have to stay until let go. She was bound to feel a tear from his claws inside her at any moment. She was angry and hurt too. Poor Beth! He ought to be strung up by his toes. She stood with him in service so that he might seek repentance, but Steve did not. That majestic being could handle all things, but seemed distant at this time. He'd be forgiven just as soon as that demon left his body. He didn't need to say sorry. That's what he thought. But her heart told her the opposite, so she understood. And then if he didn't, the next morning she knew what she had to do, because the children began to see the stress and anger in the walls of the tiny apartment. The children who dared not go into the place where tensions were high and they did not go into the bedroom. Just sat behind the door and listened. Rejection, that clawing lion, had been unleashed.

Journal 3 (ch 4) 2/509

Journal 3:
1. p. 28- Tone
"Let colored folks build things too if dey wants to crow over somethin'."
Zora Neale Hurston expresses a tone of anger or at least some frustration within this passage. She is explaining why Joe Starks is on the road and sort of where he is going or at least his goal. She expresses anger or frustration through the words she has chosen with the sharp consonance (i.e. the use of "c" twice). Typically, the use of harsh consonance tends to display anger especially since it is written like a demand almost. She is trying to portray the importance of colored folks needing to be able to build their on towns, houses, etc. and have a sense of equality and community.

2. p. 29- Hyperbole
"'You ain't got no mo' business wid uh plow than uh hog is got wid uh holiday!'"
Hurston uses the character Joe Starks to express the surprise of Janie saying that she plows. Starks exaggerates somewhat in his statement, but his meaning behind this very significant to that time period when women were "supposed" to stay and work in the kitchen all day and be pampered, which is what Starks believed as opposed to Killicks', Janie's husband, who believes that the wife should help or be wherever she is needed or requested. Basically, through this hyperbole Hurston points out the different points of view on the role of the wife.

3. p. 29- Symbol
"Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon."
This passage identifies a small symbol. This statement is said by the narrator who is discussing Starks and who he is. The symbol is the horizon which embodies the future. It was also said before that he had always "wanted to be a big voice"(p. 28) meaning he wanted to help out his people in gaining equality and freedom from segregation. This he talks about " for the far horizon" or the future. This is saying that Starks has a positive outlook on what will happen in the future as far as gaining freedom and having no more segregation.

4. p. 31- Simile
"Logan with his shovel looked like a black bear doing some clumsy dance on his hind legs."
This passage gives the reader a good image of what Logan Killicks looks like using a simile. Saying that he looks like a black bear reveals the image that he is a big, strong and at times a ferocious man. But then the simile ends with saying that he looks clumsy. This portrays him as maybe being strong, just not the most coordinated or sophisticated man. This simile helps the reader understand his character through the use of a simile.

5. p. 32- Epiphany
"What was she losing so much time for? A feeling of sudden newness and change came over her."
This scene depicts the revelation Janie has about her life. She is very unhappy with the way her husband treats her and she feels a sudden urge to get out of that life once she realizes that she can just leave. That she can go marry a man who wants to treat her like she wants to be treated and not have to deal with the "needs" or constant demands of her current husband. This epiphany helps her to move onto a new chapter in her life and slowly begin to fully realize her freedom and independence.

Journals 2/4/09

Journal 1:
The narration differs from the dialect in many ways. The biggest difference is in the use of "proper/correct English". The narrator uses very proper English, using full words instead of slurring them together or using slang, whereas the dialect uses a lot of slang and slurring of words. The dialect is Southern which might account for the slang since southerners have an accent. Both get their point across, while one is simply clearer than the other.

Journal 2:
The setting plays a very important part in any story. In this book the setting establishes the tone of the story while also affecting the text, characterization and motivation. This book is set in the South where the main character, Janie Crawford, comes home after many things happen in her life. The gossip surrounding her arrival for instance, sets the tone of suspicion and curiosity in trying to figure out why she is back home when she left so happy and seemingly well-off. The discovery of the answer to that question lies within finding Janie's motivation. The setting affects both the atmosphere of the book and the motivation of the character sometimes in subtle, but usually significant ways.