Author: Robertson Davies, Canadian Author
Summary:
-Dunstan Ramsey is writing a letter to the headmaster of his school
-When he was younger, his friend/enemy Percy threw a snowball with a rock in it which hit pregnant Mrs. Dempster. This sent her into early labor and she delivered Paul Dempster.
-Mrs. Dempster is referred to as the town whore, despite being the Pastor's wife.
-Dunstan begins to spend more and more time with Mrs. Dempster and begins falling in love with her
-Dunstan discovers his love of magic, and teaches Paul.
-The Reverend forbids Dunstan from seeing Paul and Mary Dempster again.
-Dunstan joins the war effort.
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Friday, May 1, 2015
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Response to Course Materials #7
I cannot believe we are almost done! In the last month we have finished Frankenstein and moved on to Fifth Business. We have been very busy preparing for our AP test which is very soon. In class we have done multiple choice practices, terms practice, and took a quiz over lenses and eras.
Fifth Business was okay, but quite a bit confusing at times. Once again, I am thankful for class time to discuss the novel and understand it at another level. The changing of names threw me off the most!
Working on the timed open and closed prompts has served as a big help. Also, getting graded on them is really nice and helpful so I can figure out what I need to focus on to improve. I am ready to be done!
Fifth Business was okay, but quite a bit confusing at times. Once again, I am thankful for class time to discuss the novel and understand it at another level. The changing of names threw me off the most!
Working on the timed open and closed prompts has served as a big help. Also, getting graded on them is really nice and helpful so I can figure out what I need to focus on to improve. I am ready to be done!
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Frankenstein
Author:
Mary Shelley. She was 21 when the book was published. The idea for this novel came to her in a dream one summer when she was challenged by her husband and his friend to come up with a horror story.
Summary:
-Walton is writing a introduction letter to his sister which informs us that he is on a voyage and meets a man named Victor Frankenstein.
- Frankenstein begins to tell his story. We learn that as a child he was spoiled and not held accountable. His parents adopted a girl (Elizabeth) solely for the purpose of marrying Frankenstein.
- Frankenstein goes off to college and becomes obsessed with the idea of discovering the secret of life.
- He then begins to work on building a monster for several years. After it is created he is disgusted by it and leaves.
- Frankenstein got horribly ill and while he is recovering the monster goes to his home town and kills his brother and is trying to frame their family nanny for the murder.
- Frankenstein sees the monster and the monster confesses to the murder. The monster demands that Victor creates a lady monster for him.
- Victor agrees to the demand and builds the 2nd monster. As soon as it comes to life, Frankenstein destroys her.
- Frankenstein is accused to killing Clerval and goes to jail. He is soon let out because of his bad health.
- Victor marries Elizabeth. The monster kills Elizabeth on their wedding night.
- Frankenstein goes out to get revenge on the monster, finds Walton, and dies on his ship.
- The monster stands over Victor's body and then dies.
Motifs:
Natural Order
Responsibility
Isolation
Regret
Alienation
Theme Statement:
The inaccurate judgment of character based on society’s prejudices contributes toward alienation and unnatural instability.
Important Quotes:
"Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?"
The monster asks this question to Frankenstein. This quote repeats the importance of outward appearance that shows up throughout the whole novel.
Mary Shelley. She was 21 when the book was published. The idea for this novel came to her in a dream one summer when she was challenged by her husband and his friend to come up with a horror story.
Summary:
-Walton is writing a introduction letter to his sister which informs us that he is on a voyage and meets a man named Victor Frankenstein.
- Frankenstein begins to tell his story. We learn that as a child he was spoiled and not held accountable. His parents adopted a girl (Elizabeth) solely for the purpose of marrying Frankenstein.
- Frankenstein goes off to college and becomes obsessed with the idea of discovering the secret of life.
- He then begins to work on building a monster for several years. After it is created he is disgusted by it and leaves.
- Frankenstein got horribly ill and while he is recovering the monster goes to his home town and kills his brother and is trying to frame their family nanny for the murder.
- Frankenstein sees the monster and the monster confesses to the murder. The monster demands that Victor creates a lady monster for him.
- Victor agrees to the demand and builds the 2nd monster. As soon as it comes to life, Frankenstein destroys her.
- Frankenstein is accused to killing Clerval and goes to jail. He is soon let out because of his bad health.
- Victor marries Elizabeth. The monster kills Elizabeth on their wedding night.
- Frankenstein goes out to get revenge on the monster, finds Walton, and dies on his ship.
- The monster stands over Victor's body and then dies.
Motifs:
Natural Order
Responsibility
Isolation
Regret
Alienation
Theme Statement:
The inaccurate judgment of character based on society’s prejudices contributes toward alienation and unnatural instability.
Important Quotes:
"Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?"
The monster asks this question to Frankenstein. This quote repeats the importance of outward appearance that shows up throughout the whole novel.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Response to Course Materials #6
Over the last month we have read Frankenstein as well as several articles that correlated with our reading. Like I have said before, I really enjoy reading the articles as they open my eyes to different ideas I would not have considered prior.
The first article we read and annotated was titled "Introduction to Romanticism." Before reading this I really did think that the Romanticism movement had something to do with romance, when in fact it does not. Some of the main ideas of Romanticism include imagination, nature, and symbolism. The hero in this era is individualistic, alienated, and devoted to their own ideas. Frankenstein is without a doubt a Romanticism era novel. Second, we read "Shelley's Literary Influences." This article discussed five different novels that shaped the way Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. While comparing the plot and characters of Frankenstein to these different works, it was apparent what elements she pulled from each piece. Next, we read "A Psychological Analysis of Shelley's Frankenstein" which examined the idea that Victor Frankenstein is a pathological narcissist. The article also provided some background information about Mary Shelley's life. I learned that Percy Shelley was married when the two of them started their relationship . The idea for Frankenstein came to Mary Shelley in a dream while she was away with Percy in Switzerland. It amazes me that she was so young when she wrote the novel. With this articles assistance, I can easily observe why someone would think that Victor Frankenstein is a narcissist. Then, we read "An Analysis of the Theme of Alienation in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." This article was interesting as it pointed out many examples of alienation in the novel such as borderlines and meeting places. The idea that stuck out most to me was that loneliness equals craziness. Last, we read "Frankenstein and Childbirth." This article argues that Frankenstein is about childbirth. I learned that Mary Shelley faced many child deaths and was even pregnant while writing the novel.
I am looking forward to spring break soon!
The first article we read and annotated was titled "Introduction to Romanticism." Before reading this I really did think that the Romanticism movement had something to do with romance, when in fact it does not. Some of the main ideas of Romanticism include imagination, nature, and symbolism. The hero in this era is individualistic, alienated, and devoted to their own ideas. Frankenstein is without a doubt a Romanticism era novel. Second, we read "Shelley's Literary Influences." This article discussed five different novels that shaped the way Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. While comparing the plot and characters of Frankenstein to these different works, it was apparent what elements she pulled from each piece. Next, we read "A Psychological Analysis of Shelley's Frankenstein" which examined the idea that Victor Frankenstein is a pathological narcissist. The article also provided some background information about Mary Shelley's life. I learned that Percy Shelley was married when the two of them started their relationship . The idea for Frankenstein came to Mary Shelley in a dream while she was away with Percy in Switzerland. It amazes me that she was so young when she wrote the novel. With this articles assistance, I can easily observe why someone would think that Victor Frankenstein is a narcissist. Then, we read "An Analysis of the Theme of Alienation in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." This article was interesting as it pointed out many examples of alienation in the novel such as borderlines and meeting places. The idea that stuck out most to me was that loneliness equals craziness. Last, we read "Frankenstein and Childbirth." This article argues that Frankenstein is about childbirth. I learned that Mary Shelley faced many child deaths and was even pregnant while writing the novel.
I am looking forward to spring break soon!
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Open Prompt #4
The prompt for question 3, the “open” question, began by defining a symbol as “an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself.” The prompt added that symbols can “express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning.” Students were then asked to select a novel or play, to focus on one symbol, and to write an essay analyzing how the symbol functions in the work; students were asked to analyze what the symbol reveals about characters or themes in the work as a whole.
The green light also illustrates the idea of the American Dream. The American Dream means something different for each one of the characters. Gatsby already has wealth and popularity, what he truly desires is Daisy. Nick Carraway wants to be successful in the bond business. Daisy Buchanan craves a lover who is true and won’t just use her like Tom does.
The use of symbols can be very effective in novels. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the green light to symbolize Jay Gatsby’s wants as well as the American Dream.
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