Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Idea Forum
Use this space to post ideas, questions thesis proposals, and whatever else your creative brains have to offer. Read what others have to say--borrow ideas that help--express your insights & inspirations. Visit more than once with follow-up thoughts. Your essays will benefit from this free exchange of ideas.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Post 4: Magwitch materializes
Look over chapter 39 once more, with special attention to the atmospheric way Dickens sets the scene for the dramatic re-entry of the convict and the revelation of the source of Pip's expectations. Like a theatrical director he orchestrates sights, sounds and lighting to create the utmost tension and foreboding in the reader as well as his protagonist.
For this blog, consider Dickens the writer as much as you do his story. This is the last chapter of part one, and most certainly comprised an installment of the serialized novel. The stakes were high, therefore, and he rose to the occasion. Don't indulge in an orgy of flattery, but comment on what most strikes you about the opening 30 paragraphs or so of the chapter leading up to Pip's realization: diction, tone, pacing, etc.
For this blog, consider Dickens the writer as much as you do his story. This is the last chapter of part one, and most certainly comprised an installment of the serialized novel. The stakes were high, therefore, and he rose to the occasion. Don't indulge in an orgy of flattery, but comment on what most strikes you about the opening 30 paragraphs or so of the chapter leading up to Pip's realization: diction, tone, pacing, etc.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
September 18 post: The two Christmas dinners
Re-read the passage in Chapter III that describes Magwitch eating his dinner (from the paragraph that begins “I was soon at the battery. . . “ through the paragraph that begins “I had often watched a large dog of ours eating his food . . .”). Contrast this picture of the convict's repast to the Chapter IV account of the Gargery family's Christmas dinner with Uncle Pumblechook, Mr. Wopsle, and the Hubbles (from the lst page paragraph that begins “We were to have a superb dinner. . .” to the end of the chapter and the prospect of yet more food in the form of Pumblechook's pork pie. What ironies can you find--among other things.
G.E. test Monday!
Be prepared for a "did you read it" test on Great Expectations first thing Monday morning (wouldn't the world be a better place if we didn't have to do such things? I think so). After we finish, we'll move right into our first day of discussion. To get our minds all pointing in the right direction, I'm putting up a new post for the weekend.
Monday, September 8, 2008
September 8 post
Slowly, very slowly, like two unhurried compass needles, the feet turned towards the right; north, north- east, east, south-east, south, south-south-west; then paused, and, after a few seconds, turned as unhurriedly back towards the left. South-south-west, south, south-east, east…
Interpret this final paragraph of the book--not just as John Savage's end, but also in light of the simile that Huxley uses. What was John seeking, and how did he fare in his quest? Does he represent anyone besides himself?
Interpret this final paragraph of the book--not just as John Savage's end, but also in light of the simile that Huxley uses. What was John seeking, and how did he fare in his quest? Does he represent anyone besides himself?
In this paragraph, the rock represents the human mind without any external influences set in place. It represents the mind not yet afflicted by hypnopaedia and the conventions of the World State.
In the society established by Huxley, the entire world population is under the control of the directors of the hatcheries and the world controllers. As soon as the children are born, they are conditioned into instinctively accepting the values of the society. "...drops of liquid sealing-wax, drops that adhere, incrust, incorporate themselves with what they fall on, till finally the rock is all one scarlet blob." The drops of wax represent the myriad of actions taken in order to conceal the true values inherent in each individual. however, despite the omnipresent pressure to stick to conformity, there are some exceptions in which the rock nearly breaks through the wax.
Helmholtz Watson is a perfect example of an "Alpha plus" of the society. However, his quality that causes him to "break through the wax" is that he is too smart. From our introduction to Helmholtz until the end of the book, he is depicted as a very deep thinker and a romantic. He frequently complains about how he has an unexplainable feeling of which he is not satisfied by his role in society and that through his rhymes, he wants to somehow write something meaningful. As a result of his constant search for his true emotions, at the end of the book, Helmholtz writes a rhyme on loneliness, which signifies that he has finally broken through the wax and revealed his "rock."
Similarly, Helmholtz's friend, Bernard Marx, is another character portrayed who breaks through the wax or has a thin wax layer. Throughout Brave New World, Bernard is always noted for his incongruous nature, both physically and psychologically. It is his small size that causes him to think differently from the conditioned majority. Examples of Bernard's inconstancy can be seen in the scenes with Lenina Crowne in which he talks about the values of true love and monogamy. In these portions, his "rock" is exposed to the readers, but we are still lead to believe that a wax layer continues to exist over his "rock." For example, when he becomes the guardian of John Savage, he goes back to enjoying the conventions of the society and turns his back on his previous beliefs. So, though Bernard has a wax layer, it is thin enough so that the rock beneath can be perceived and expressed.
In the society established by Huxley, the entire world population is under the control of the directors of the hatcheries and the world controllers. As soon as the children are born, they are conditioned into instinctively accepting the values of the society. "...drops of liquid sealing-wax, drops that adhere, incrust, incorporate themselves with what they fall on, till finally the rock is all one scarlet blob." The drops of wax represent the myriad of actions taken in order to conceal the true values inherent in each individual. however, despite the omnipresent pressure to stick to conformity, there are some exceptions in which the rock nearly breaks through the wax.
Helmholtz Watson is a perfect example of an "Alpha plus" of the society. However, his quality that causes him to "break through the wax" is that he is too smart. From our introduction to Helmholtz until the end of the book, he is depicted as a very deep thinker and a romantic. He frequently complains about how he has an unexplainable feeling of which he is not satisfied by his role in society and that through his rhymes, he wants to somehow write something meaningful. As a result of his constant search for his true emotions, at the end of the book, Helmholtz writes a rhyme on loneliness, which signifies that he has finally broken through the wax and revealed his "rock."
Similarly, Helmholtz's friend, Bernard Marx, is another character portrayed who breaks through the wax or has a thin wax layer. Throughout Brave New World, Bernard is always noted for his incongruous nature, both physically and psychologically. It is his small size that causes him to think differently from the conditioned majority. Examples of Bernard's inconstancy can be seen in the scenes with Lenina Crowne in which he talks about the values of true love and monogamy. In these portions, his "rock" is exposed to the readers, but we are still lead to believe that a wax layer continues to exist over his "rock." For example, when he becomes the guardian of John Savage, he goes back to enjoying the conventions of the society and turns his back on his previous beliefs. So, though Bernard has a wax layer, it is thin enough so that the rock beneath can be perceived and expressed.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Prompt for Sept. 4
Near the end of Chapter 2, you will find this short paragraph:
Not so much like drops of water, though water, it is true, can wear holes in the hardest granite; rather, drops of liquid sealing-wax, drops that adhere, incrust, incorporate themselves with what they fall on, till finally the rock is all one scarlet blob.
Explore this simile and decide what it signifies.
Then find examples in the Brave New World in which the rock nearly breaks through the wax, or where the wax layer is so thin that the rock can be perceived, even if only for a moment.
PS: for Monday's class, be sure to re-read the last three chapters of the book! We will continue our discussion based on your reading and new insights.
Not so much like drops of water, though water, it is true, can wear holes in the hardest granite; rather, drops of liquid sealing-wax, drops that adhere, incrust, incorporate themselves with what they fall on, till finally the rock is all one scarlet blob.
Explore this simile and decide what it signifies.
Then find examples in the Brave New World in which the rock nearly breaks through the wax, or where the wax layer is so thin that the rock can be perceived, even if only for a moment.
PS: for Monday's class, be sure to re-read the last three chapters of the book! We will continue our discussion based on your reading and new insights.
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