Open Prompt- Oct 14th

2007. In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present activities, attitudes, or values of a character. Choose a novel or play in which a character must contend with some aspect of the past, either personal or societal. Then write an essay in which you show how the character's relationship to the past contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

 The play "The American Dream" written by Edward Albee, is a classic of the theater of absurd. Albee draws on several elements to illuminate the oddity of this play. One includes eluding to the family's unbelievable past. As readers learn more about the bumble, we are able to understand the plot and story line much better.

 Every single member of the family has a past that involves the bumble. Due to the arrival of Mrs Barker and later the Young Man, they are forced to contend with that past. While most charecters facing thier past would normally recollect on what happened, none of the family does. The readers are left in the dark, forced to piece together the story line of their past that no one seems to remember. This unknown past is literally the basis of the entire story. That is why everyone is here that day.  The past events add a creepy undertone to what would otherwise seem like a pretty normal story line. It also lets readers gather a deeper understanding of who mommy and daddy really are and the theme of the story. We can see that they closely relate to the theme, which is the American dream.  Many would assume that they achieved that dream in the past when the bumble was present, but mommy and daddy thought otherwise. They were never satisfied and will only ever achieve false satisfaction. 

Albee's lack of details in this story adds to the mysterious ambiance of both the past and the present. His use of Diction and language make up for the lack of details. For example, Albee uses a lot of repetition of certain words to emphasize a point. Also, he uses very bland language to symbolize the family and the life they live. Many times the tone is hard to receive, as a reader you are not sure whether they are being condescending or admiring. Albee also switches the roles back and forth, as it seems like either mommy or daddy are always playing the child, due to their lack there of.

"The American Dream" would not be the play it is without the aspect of their past.This personal elements adds to the character's relationships and the works meaning as a whole.

~Dana

Response to Course Material #2

We seem to have covered a lot in the last few weeks. We finished up DIDLS and did some more work with syntax. Although, syntax seemed daunting and intimidating when we first started to learn about it, i know feel confident. The numerous work sheets have beaten the concept into my memory. Also, the class read Edward Albee's 'The American Dream". I really enjoyed being able to play the part of Mrs. Barker in class. I felt like it gave me a deeper understanding of the reading, although i am still thoroughly confused with all of the elements of this play. It seems like there is so much to digest in the play, i just cant take it all in. I feel like i am missing a lot of very important elements, which hopefully i can discover when we annotate it.  The play itself is very odd, and it made me wonder what kind of abnormal person would think of that. But then i watched the brief interview with him and he seemed quite normal. Also the purpose of the play seemed quite normal as well for an abstract play. It is almost like a reality check, compare yourself to these people and make sure you're not living this way. I'm interested to learn more about it. Also, i need more work/practice with where to start on the broader prompts. I'm having trouble with that.

~Dana

Open Prompt- Oct 2

1998. In his essay "Walking," Henry David Thoreau offers the following assessment of literature:

    In literature it is only the wild that attracts us. Dullness is but another name for tameness. It is the uncivilized free and wild thinking in Hamlet and The Iliad, in all scriptures and mythologies, not learned in schools, that delights us.

From the works that you have studied in school, choose a novel, play, or epic poem that you may initially have thought was conventional and tame but that you now value for its "uncivilized free and wild thinking." Write an essay in which you explain what constitutes its "uncivilized free and wild thinking" and how that thinking is central to the value of the work as a whole. Support your ideas with specific references to the work you choose.

            Most students would prefer to read their own choice of literature rather than the literature assigned in class. Why is this? School literature is considered dull and boring, many just assume that it will be pointless, and unrelated to their lives. This was the case, when my class was told that we were going to begin reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I must admit that even i fell victim to the groans of despair upon receiving this announcement. Although, once we started reading the book i found it exciting, scandalous, and even relatable to modern day life.

            This book was set in the puritan era of the 17th century. When most think of the puritan era, excitement is not the first word that comes to mind. Puritans had their values set in stone alone with morals and a code of conduct. This air of strictness and rules that is perceived in the book is what makes it exciting. This setting allows the event of a scandal be made into that much greater of an ordeal. The great scandal that arises in this book, to make it so interesting, is Hester Pyrnne bearing a child out of wedlock. To the community, this is a most haneous crime. So while many thought this was just an old romance story, it has already taken a wild turn.  But Hester does the community one worse, she does not hang her head in shame and hide. She proudly embroiders her A on her breast and parades her child. The towns people are shocked. This is where many start to relate to the book. Hester is a rebellious main character who represents free will and thinking. She doesn't care what people think or say about her, and the readers respect her for that. It is so pivotal for teens to see that this power struggle and rebellion was going on long before they experienced it for themselves.

               Many readers begin to sympathize with Hester as the plot thickens. This plays on many of the readers morals. How can you sympathize with a 'criminal'; someone who has committed an unforgivable deed and has been deemed not even worth of respect by the entire community. readers begin to question can their entire community and way of life be unjust an wrong. Many readers feel a sense of thrill with supporting the 'Evil' side, which adds thrill to the read.This give the book a deeper value, because it can relate to all ages. Everyone has gone through a rebellious stage at one point.

               This novel once thought of as drab and unexciting gains new emotional value when you truly read it. This book takes a walk on the wild side, and pushes the boundaries. This is why this book has so long been kept as a part of scholastic literature.

~Dana Page