Let me first start off by saying is that The Tempest is one of my favorites of Shakespeare's so far. It is cool to note that The Tempest is actually not another's work, but rather an original. I found out that Shakespeare stole the plots and themes and such from other plays at the young age of 15 after doing a biography on Shakespeare. I was completely and utterly crushed because I thought this brilliant man had composed his thoughts himself. I feel as if I am babbling, which I am, just remember that this is an original so it must be of some importance to him.
Being the hopeless romantic that I am, a quote I found extreme was the following:
I am your wife, if you will marry me.
If not, I’ll die your maid. To be your fellow
You may deny me, but I’ll be your servant
Whether you will or no.
I find it intriguing that SHE asked HIM to marry her, so odd for that time period. Also, the fact that she was not going to leave him NO MATTER WHAT was dedication. She longed to be near him; his wife or his maid would suffice for this young lady. She breaks out of the magic of her father. This is indeed interesting because her father has so much power over her. Honestly when we were watching that movie, I felt bad for her. I was like seriously, just get up girl. But I have to remember that it was the day and age where people were more proper, elegant, and respectful.
Do you think that Ferdinand and Miranda are right for each other? Honestly, do they :fit together like two peas in a pod"? (There is an awful metaphor Orwell was talking about...) Do you think that Miranda was a slave to her own desires? That she gave her everything and the power over her to others? Was she fragile?
Just something to ponder. I think "Yes" would be the appropiate answer for all of the questions asked above, but I want to know your opinion.
:) Holly
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The Orwell Experience
After reading a selection like that, my first thought was: "I really hope that my blog post does not contain horrible English grammar considering I just read a story on the topic." I know that this is such a silly thought, but sorry to say friends, I was major judging your blog posts because Orwell got me excited about the use of bad English. I soon became a detective when reading your posts. I must apologize, because I have no place to judge the English and grammar of your blogs, but I did find it humorous that I focused so much on the English and grammar after reading the argument made by Orwell. I really enjoyed this piece, and on many occasions it made me giggle.
Continuing on from the rather long introduction, I must say that the first quote that struck me was:"A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks." Orwell notes that our English becomes quite horrid because of our "foolish thoughts", but because we have "foolish thoughts" it poses as an excuse to write inaccurately. I must admit that sometimes, I too use the wrong words when I am talking. It is merely a mistake, and I think it is because in high school I felt the pressure to speak "intelligently". Hm. One can wonder. Does anyone else feel this way? Maybe not.
Also, another quote I found fascinating was : "An interesting illustration of this is the way in which English flower names were in use till very recently are being ousted by Greek ones, Snapdragon becoming antirrhinum, forget-me-not becoming myosotis, etc. It is hard to see any practical reason for this change of fashion: it is probably due to an instinctive turning away from the more homely word and a vague feeling that the Greek word is scientific." This tickles me so much because I really do feel that people try to sound intelligent in speech and writing. Do not get me wrong, obviously people sound smarter if they are using the Greek names, but I feel it takes away from what we know the flower to be.
Speaking, writing, and teaching respectively and accurately is indeed a challenge that many face today because as a society we are making excuses for our bad English or grammar. It is our responsibility to not only locate the bad habits, but also we must change the bad habits. (I almost wrote "fix" the habit-- this is also a bad habit that is common in the South. One does not "fix" a habit, but rather one can "fix" a door).
I also enjoy the part where Orwell "lays down the law" at the end of his piece. It is quite nice to see in simple form how we can change our bad habits.
So, question time is now in session:
1. Do you think that you have Southern English problems?
2. Do you think because of the pressure put on students by school that people try to hard to use an advanced vocabulary and ultimate fail?
3. Can anyone think of a metaphor or simile that is used incorrectly in today's society?
It's always a good time.
Until then,
Holly
Continuing on from the rather long introduction, I must say that the first quote that struck me was:"A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks." Orwell notes that our English becomes quite horrid because of our "foolish thoughts", but because we have "foolish thoughts" it poses as an excuse to write inaccurately. I must admit that sometimes, I too use the wrong words when I am talking. It is merely a mistake, and I think it is because in high school I felt the pressure to speak "intelligently". Hm. One can wonder. Does anyone else feel this way? Maybe not.
Also, another quote I found fascinating was : "An interesting illustration of this is the way in which English flower names were in use till very recently are being ousted by Greek ones, Snapdragon becoming antirrhinum, forget-me-not becoming myosotis, etc. It is hard to see any practical reason for this change of fashion: it is probably due to an instinctive turning away from the more homely word and a vague feeling that the Greek word is scientific." This tickles me so much because I really do feel that people try to sound intelligent in speech and writing. Do not get me wrong, obviously people sound smarter if they are using the Greek names, but I feel it takes away from what we know the flower to be.
Speaking, writing, and teaching respectively and accurately is indeed a challenge that many face today because as a society we are making excuses for our bad English or grammar. It is our responsibility to not only locate the bad habits, but also we must change the bad habits. (I almost wrote "fix" the habit-- this is also a bad habit that is common in the South. One does not "fix" a habit, but rather one can "fix" a door).
I also enjoy the part where Orwell "lays down the law" at the end of his piece. It is quite nice to see in simple form how we can change our bad habits.
So, question time is now in session:
1. Do you think that you have Southern English problems?
2. Do you think because of the pressure put on students by school that people try to hard to use an advanced vocabulary and ultimate fail?
3. Can anyone think of a metaphor or simile that is used incorrectly in today's society?
It's always a good time.
Until then,
Holly
Monday, October 5, 2009
Marvell's " To His Coy Mistress"
Hello New Group!
Let me just start out by saying that I have loved this poem for a while. I had found this poem once before when looking for a poem about "love" online during my younger teenage years. It is a bit hard to swallow, but sometimes the things that are best for us are not the easiest. You can tell a lot about a poem if it is broken down and analyzed. After researching a bit about it, I noticed that when he states: "Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Should'st rubies find: I by the tide" it is during the time where England began exploring and trying new things! It is neat once you find things about history during that time that pertains to the piece itself.
The second point I wanted to make was about "vegetable love". This same vegetable love has everyone else puzzled it seems. I used this phrase as a young teenager before I even knew the meaning. According to another source: "A vegetable comes from the vegetative part of a plant, as opposed to a fruit, which comes from the reproductive part. At any rate, their love for one and the other may well grow slowly, for what ever reason; but it is a growing thing: deep, complex and vast." In my opinion, he was being respectful. It seems like this poem is a lot about sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. How odd, in my opinion, if that is the main point. BUT, when he talks about vegetable love, as noted, this scholar believes he is being respectful in the sense that he is making it known that the center of their relationship is not sex itself; rather something deeper. It's food for thought. haha. Oh dear, what a funny that one was. I suppose it is late night humor.
Questions:
1. What do you think "vegetable love means?"
2. What other hidden secrets about the poem have you found?
Let me just start out by saying that I have loved this poem for a while. I had found this poem once before when looking for a poem about "love" online during my younger teenage years. It is a bit hard to swallow, but sometimes the things that are best for us are not the easiest. You can tell a lot about a poem if it is broken down and analyzed. After researching a bit about it, I noticed that when he states: "Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Should'st rubies find: I by the tide" it is during the time where England began exploring and trying new things! It is neat once you find things about history during that time that pertains to the piece itself.
The second point I wanted to make was about "vegetable love". This same vegetable love has everyone else puzzled it seems. I used this phrase as a young teenager before I even knew the meaning. According to another source: "A vegetable comes from the vegetative part of a plant, as opposed to a fruit, which comes from the reproductive part. At any rate, their love for one and the other may well grow slowly, for what ever reason; but it is a growing thing: deep, complex and vast." In my opinion, he was being respectful. It seems like this poem is a lot about sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. How odd, in my opinion, if that is the main point. BUT, when he talks about vegetable love, as noted, this scholar believes he is being respectful in the sense that he is making it known that the center of their relationship is not sex itself; rather something deeper. It's food for thought. haha. Oh dear, what a funny that one was. I suppose it is late night humor.
Questions:
1. What do you think "vegetable love means?"
2. What other hidden secrets about the poem have you found?
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