Blog Responses

Caroline Kennedy http://jwcarolinekennedy.blogspot.com/ In Response to the 2nd poetry analysis: I think that a person's fate and destiny are determined by his or her mindset. Both fate and destiny are linked and have an alternating cause and effect relationship but a person has control over both aspects. As you say in your first AP prompt response, "Jack simply desires to return home to his mother and to defeat the Magus." His heart is in a good place and his motives are morally sound unlike the Magus. Because of this, no matter what fate or destiny originally exists for him, he will change or control it because of his determination to act in ways that are good rather than evil. You said in your presentation that Jack was able to accomplish both tasks laid in front of him, defeat the Magus and save his mother. Because of his dedication to this purely "good" mindset he is destined to have an outcome that is in his favor. Our fate or destiny is not revealed to us until after we have made our decision; it is “unseen to us until the opportune moment.” We have control over our minds and the actions we take, therefore, we decide our own destiny or fate as we go along. Destiny and fate are decided as we decide the people we want to be and the morals by which we want to base our actions. Rhea Malhotra http://hosseinirheamalhotra.blogspot.com/ In Response to both the 1st and 2nd paragraphs as a whole: When you first presented I assumed that your main character Mariam was surrounded by those cultured just as she was. As I look back at your passage and the analysis it seems that progress is being made away from the traditional Afghani life style toward this more “modern” approach. I find it interesting that some Afghans were able to make the switch and embrace a more equal life style. The fact that the oppression of the Taliban is what kept Afghanistan obedient to its traditional ways makes me think that government is the real evil in this situation. It would have been interesting if your thesis reflected this idea that Afghanistan is unable to progress because of the rulers’ capture on people’s mindsets and ways of life. The issue may not lie in men’s oppression of women but in the Taliban’s influence on the people of Afghanistan’s thoughts, not giving them a change to broaden their minds. Although I didn’t read the book and I don’t know if the Taliban is the main focus, could they be the driving force behind Afghanistan’s close-mindedness? The Taliban sets the stage. They lay down the rules and laws and publicize the pain that will come to those who fail to follow them. Afghanis, men especially, play by these rules leading to the tone of disobedience if women were to “[canter] uninhibited down the street” for instance. The problem exists in men but that mindset stems from the precedent set by the Taliban. Allie Shea http://amshea736.blogspot.com/ In Response to Passage #1 Close Reading Response: I like your analysis of the word "anemic." It's interesting how the word can mean different things in different time periods and how you brought it into context. The impact a word can have on a passage changes drastically based on the atmosphere that it is used in. I think this would have been an interesting topic for all of us to address as time period directly influences an author’s writing choices or style. The word anemic also has a slightly negative connotation. When we think of the word it reminds us of someone who is sickly or unhealthy. It refers to a disease. It would have been interesting for you to touch on how the connotation affects the author and government's view of those who don't respect Stalin based on the tone that the word brings. The word could refer to the people that don’t respect Stalin, but what exactly does that mean? How does the connotation determine the meaning, not just the definition? Does the author believe that people should obey Stalin based on the connotation? Since anemic is “having low iron in the blood” this could mean that the author is making a statement on either his or government’s feeling that without Stalin people are lacking necessary components. Or is the author mocking the expected dedication that Stalin demands? A deeper language analysis could have really reflected the author’s intent and uncovered an even more complex message. Lauren Moretto http://laurenmorettoap.blogspot.com/2013/02/excerpt-from-nights-at-circus.html In Response to Excerpt from Nights at the Circus: It would have been interesting if, in your multiple choice, you addressed the run-on sentence in the first half of the passage. From "And" to "mound" is one continued sentence taking up half of the passage's length. This dramatic sentence structure is usually done to enhance the purpose of the passage. The sentence elaborately describes Mignon's appearance, beaten and scarred. The length of the sentence brings a harsh reality to the situation behind her bruised skin, showing the extent to which this treatment has affected her and the extremity of the subject. The repetition of "beaten" and "bruises" throughout the long sentence also gives it a harsh tone and shows the pain in her continuous mistreatment. Readers can almost feel as if they themselves are being beaten by the continuous emphasis and monotony. The word “beaten” carries a thud with it every time it hits the page. The repetition also gives the passage a sing-song feel, adding to a slightly morbid and depressing tone to Mignon’s hopeless situation. The imagery in the entire passage is so intense that I almost feel defeated reading it. Every curve and color of her body means something in the author’s eyes and shows a reflection of character. This passage would have been good for you to address specifically in your multiple choice. The imagery, parallels, repetition and run-on sentence leave the passage packed with well-thought out literary techniques and elements. Ana Sucaldito http://gastonlerouxslegacy.blogspot.com/2013/02/ana-sucaldito-mrs_8812.html#comment-form In Response to her Close Reading Response to the poem “The Poem As Mask”: I like the way you connected the story and the poem together. Seeing both the comparison and the contrast in the preparedness of the person under the mask was beneficial. The idea of how a mask can both protect and prohibit is a very intriguing concept. A mask is a barrier, but a barrier works both ways. It prevents hurt and discovery of inner secrets like the way Erik tries to escape his reality and the inevitable “horrified reaction” of Christine. The longer he hides behind this false front, the less likely he is to be hurt. But it also prevents possible positivity and self-discovery or discovery of others. Erik is unable to “accept his reality” and become truly connected with Christine because of the mask. But once they both come to grips with it they are able to see each other as they truly are. The multiple dimension to a mask allows it to be quite controversial and gives way to a great symbol. As you said, masks can hold multiple purposes, either “protect the wearer from harsh reality” or prevent a recognition of the self and those around them. This grayscale of the truth leads to, not only an exciting revealing when the mask is torn off, but an inner turmoil that enhances a very deep text. You did a great job of revealing this throughout your project. Lauren Huff http://hufftolkien.blogspot.com/2013/02/close-reading-essay-based-on-novel_6.html In Response to Close Reading Based on Novel Passage 316 and 254: It's interesting how you compare the weather and temptation. Your thesis seems to suggest something slightly different about the separation that a greed for power or lack of will power can cause. I like what you focused on in your thesis as it seems to be a universal theme in a lot of works. I think separating the two into the separation from power and separation from individual need, based on how they all had different reactions to the weather would have been a good idea. I think when put in situations where your surroundings are uncontrollable and you are in a uncomfortable situation, people tend to think only of themselves, leading to this greed and cause of separation. I love your interpretation in the close reading of your second passage! Society is consistently attempting to rid the world of all fault and corruption; society desires a perfect world. But if everyone was perfect, the word loses its meaning. If every inch of the earth was seen as perfect we would lose “appreciation” for the most beautiful aspects because nothing less would exist. This approach really sheds light on the ignorance of society’s greed for a perfect world. The “intervention” of opposites is a great topic for you to touch on and is highly complex. Kevin Huang http://huangw-cp.blogspot.com/ In Response to Analysis of First Prose Passage: I loved what you touched on in your analysis of your first prose passage. You tied in the author's writing style and brought up a point that I think is consistent among lots of authors. You depict Raskolnikov as detached and indifferent to a moment that is commonly seen as dramatic and emotional but this could also be a reflection of the author's views himself. Depending on his texture throughout the rest of the novel, this objective perspective can be an author's strategy to prevent him or herself from becoming too attached to their characters or putting too much of themselves in their writing. Critics commonly comment on my own author's detachment saying that she believes a more emotional approach would be claiming too much for herself. She consistently holds a nonchalant tone to put emphasis on the truly important messages rather than having the readers concentrate on the individual lives of the characters. The clear contrast between the supposed tone that ties itself to certain situations and the tone that the author uses is a great indicator of the author’s purpose and what he or she wants the readers to take away from the passage or text. You might want to dig deeper into how this detached style of writing has stemmed from your author, not only how the main character acts. The author’s background could have influenced this as well as his personal feelings toward the topic. Jared Justice http://theleagueofjusticejaredonorwell.blogspot.com/2013/02/poetry-essay-2-all-is-vanity-saieth.html#comment-form In Response to Poetry Essay #2: It's interesting how readers can see clearly from the beginning that the speaker does not still stand in a positive light. His tone and tense from the first line foreshadow his eventual falling and leave readers cautious throughout the piece as they should be when taking advantage of their opportunities in life, as you touched on. He states in the first line, “Fame, wisdom, love, and power were mine.” The contrast in the past tense but glorified terms indicates the speaker’s depression in his downfall. In the first stanza he continues to describe his past in the same way, leaving the readers anxious to discover his current fate. I also liked your comment on remorse stating “individuals can continue living while improving themselves,” as you can also see this from the beginning. The speaker's obvious depression with the loss of his glory days, as shown by his tense and tone, indicate this remorse and recognition right from the start. His reminiscent tone shows that he craves these previous days and shows regret for the way his life has turned out. But his recognition of this allows him to draw a deep conclusion from his happenings and allows him to reflect on it and learn from it. Ann Jacob http://annjacobmultifinal.blogspot.com/2013/02/poetry-essay-1-dig-to-core.html In Response to Poetry Essay #1: The parallel between the actual act of digging and digging or searching for identity is fascinating. I've always loved an author's ability to tie in symbols seamlessly. My novel also touches on the embedding of mental transformation into physical transformation so I think it would have been interesting for you to go more in depth on the meaning and effect that technique creates. It allows the readers to be more engaged, gives them a better understanding of the character's internal feelings and might also give way to the author's bigger purpose depending on the physical image he or she creates. The concept of “roots” is also very interesting. When you think of roots, you see many branches extended in multiple directions and burying themselves into different parts of the soil. Our personal roots do the same, especially for those of mixed culture. You talk about how the character imagines “how differently he will evolve compared to his familial roots.” But he doesn’t have to turn out drastically different from his relatives. Roots stretch in multiple directions. They consist of their own branches. This shows that your roots don’t have to exist in one state or place. They can reach many different aspects of yourself, allowing you to become a multiple dimensional person. You’re able to dig into multiple characteristics. Paige Richie http://margaretatwoodbypaigerichie.blogspot.com/2013/02/ap-essay-2002b-promptmargaret-atwood_13.html#comment-form In Response to AP Essay 2002B: Your essay has incredible voice! It's not only informative and intellectual but it's also persuasive. The anaphora in the end is very powerful so good job! I love the theme of your piece and the inevitable resistance to oppression. However, I was a little bit confused when you were talking about Offred and the commander's secret. Because I wasn't sure about what the secret was and if it put the commander in a good or bad light, the rest of the essay wasn't as powerful. You might have wanted to go in depth as to how this secret could affect the commander to further explain how it affected Offred.