MARGAUX ELIZABETH

You’re in Mrs. Dukes English class. You are so nervous and have no idea what to expect. You’ve heard rumors that she is insanely hard and gives way too much work, so you already know that it will be impossible. You have NO clue what to do. You dread going to English because you feel that you are not good enough. You never go out of your comfort zone because you don’t want to look ridiculous.

Fine. Take that approach, be a coward.

Lucky for you, that is NOT even an option. It’s YOUR Junior year. Step it up. This is NOT the year to slack off and do nothing, it’s time to bust your butt and always give 100% effort for whatever you do. Don’t be afraid to step out of the box and be creative, Mrs. Duke loves that. In this class you have to be open to anything. I was hesistant at first to have Mrs. Duke, but I am so glad I did because I have never learned so much in an English class before about life in general and of course, English.

Here are some VERY important tips that you should check out…….

Class Participation:

I cannot stress this enough, PARTICIPATE. Most of the activities in class deal with class discussion, therefore everyone must participate. It is important for everyone to share their opinion, so RESPECT YOUR CLASSMATES. Everyone should be open and not nervous to share their opinion. If you are one to just sit at your desk and listen, then you’re screwed. MAN UP, you’re a Junior. Pay attention and get involved. Everything is better when there is class interaction and everyone is participating. Also, participations points are easy to get, but if you don’t get them they can effect your grade tremendously. You will perform a lot in front of your classmates, so RESPECT plays a huge roll in this class. Everyone should feel comfortable to perform/do crazy things in front of the class.

Homework:

It’s simple. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Everything we do in class deals with our homework and if you do not do your homework then  class cannot really happen which results in you loosing participation points. At first you may think that the amount of homework Mrs. Duke gives you is endless, but she has a reason for every little assignment and it helps you learn the information better. Plus they are helpful points. Most importantly, LOOK AHEAD, LOOK AHEAD, LOOK AHEAD. Got it? Mrs. Duke puts her assignments up early on the website so you can plan ahead and start working on them. TRUST ME. At the beginning of the year I did not look ahead and I ended up having so much homework, instead of spreading it out over a couple of days. You should probably check the website twice a day on average. Especially the LONG-TERM RUNNING ASSIGNMENTS. Do not procrastinate and then come to class telling Mrs. Duke how she assigned way too much homework. That is YOUR fault.

Blogs:

Blogs are amazing. They are easy points that help you with your writing skills. Blogs are to help you voice your opinions and also to help you find your writing voice. Typically you will have 2 blogs a week with 2 comments. You should do your blogs THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. It results in a less stressful Sunday and a very happy English teacher. Do NOT wait to do them at 11:00 PM on Sunday night, that will result in deducted points. Do not complain about doing blogs, they  help you and are great points. When I did my blogs I usually commented at least 3 times just to make sure I got all of my points. In your blog you should have at least 2 paragraphs.

Loose the Negativity:

This is the key to success in this class.  You should approach every assignment in this class with a positive attitude. If you say to yourself, “Ugh this is way to much homework, I will never finish….” then you will probably do a bad job on it. You should be open to anything and  loose the negativity. It’s all just a  mind thing because Mrs. Duke would not assign you work that you could not physically complete. If you have a positive attitude in this class then you will have an overall better year.

* You have so many points in Mrs. Duke’s class, so do your work and it will pay off.

* Forget pencils. ONLY USE PENS.

* When you get into class, get all of your materials out and be ready for Mrs. Duke. We work from bell to bell, and the things not done in class usually result in homework, combined with the homework that is already assigned.

* Do NOT talk to Mrs. Duke’s other English classes because usually y’all are not going at the same pace. A lot of the activities done in class go a lot better when you hear them for the first time in class. For example acting something out. Mrs. Duke wants you to think on your feet and not have any prior knowledge on what is going on in class. Trust me, do NOT talk to other class.

* Don’t ask to go to the restroom or to go get water. Simply get up, say where you’re going and leave quietly. Don’t make a big ordeal out of it and disturb the class.

* Don’t eat in Mrs. Duke’s class without her permission.

* Do NOT complain. No one likes whiners. (especially about the amount of work Mrs. Duke assigns, suck it up and do it)

* Engage yourself in class discussion.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern do not know how to talk to Hamlet and are nervous to even approach him. In this part everything is really casual. The players are rehearsing their performance, Rosencrantz plays a trick (“Guess Who?”) on who he thought was the Queen, but was actually a person named Alfred.

The main thing that caught my attention in this section was that when Guildenstern asked if the play was over the player responded, “Do you call that an ending? — with practically everyone on his feet? — My goodness no — over your dead body.” (79) This is foreshadowing that they will die and it adds to the suspense. The player laughs when Guildenstern replies asking how he should take that, the player says ironically “lying down…”

Later there is a BLACKOUT and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are laying down in the place of the two actors on the ground. But then the King comes in explains that they are to be sent to order Hamlet’s death……………..

In this reading of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” we see similarities from “Hamlet,” for example how Hamlet beat Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their own question and how they are both watching Hamlet to see why he is crazy. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are given orders to talk with Hamlet but they are uncertain how to formulate appropriate words for their circumstances (because they are all friends but somehow they are backstabbing him).

I finally understand how the players come in to “Hamlet” because Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are talking to the players about the play they will perform under Hamlet’s request. (The Murder of Gonzago).Guildenstern and Rosencrantz do not know how to act and they are even confused as to why they are even there to watch Hamlet. Guildenstern states, “We only know what we’re told, and that’s little enough. And for all we know it isn’t even true.” (66)

The dialogue is also very short and to the point (67-69). This is a key characteristic of Post Modern literature. It is entertaining and face-paced and also the writing is very casual which is easy to follow.

To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Is it better to suffer in the mind
Of having outrageous fortune
Or to fight many troubles,
And to stop the fighting. To die, to sleep—
No more—and by a sleep to say we end
The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks
That the body gets. through the duration of life
Constantly wishing. To die, to sleep—
To sleep—maybe e to dream. Ah, here’s the predicament!
For the dreams that come during that sleep,
When we die
Must make us stop—here’s the respect
That makes a mess of a long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s insults,
The rejected love of the pang, the law’s delay,
The insults/overbearing of office, and the scorns
That patient merit of the unworhty people,
When he comes to a final conclusion
With something to protect him? Who would bear these burdens,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But to dread of something after death,
The unexplored country, from whose goes to
Nobody returns, confuses everyone,
And makes us bear those issues/problems we have
Than fly to others that we do not know of?
The conscience can make cowards of us all,
And the color of the final part
Is covered with light thoughts
And is significant
With different movements,
And lose the name of action. Stop!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in your eyes
Be all my sins remembered.

1. Exigence — What needs doing at this point? In other words, what is compelling Hamlet to speak at this moment in the play?

- This is important for Hamlet to speak about this right now in the play because now the audience can conclude that Hamlet has another personality where his feelings and what he says to himself are completely different than what he says and how he acts in front of others. Here he has some internal conflict, he is contemplating suicide. Also, Claudis and Polonius are hiding in the curtains and they are trying to see if this new craziness of Hamlet’s is sparked from Ophelius’ beauty or the death of his father and the re-marriage of his mother with his Uncle just only two months after.

2. Audience – The audience is comprised of people who can in some way act on this exigence. Who is Hamlet’s primary audience and how does that influence his choices? Who is Hamlet’s secondary audience and how does that influence his choices? [Hint: they are not on the stage]

- (I’m not sure if Mrs. Duke means on stage at the point of his soliloquy or on stage during the play at all) I believe Hamlet’s primary audience is his mother. I believe this because he wants her to see how he is affected by her re-marrying his uncle basically at his father’s funeral. He tries to act like it does not affect him as much in front of her, but he is really upset and angry when he is by himself, and there is where all of his emotions come out. His secondary audience is his father whom he misses a lot. He wants him to see that he will stick up for him and try to seek revenge. Basically he wants to let his father know that he is still being loyal and respectful to him even after his passing. Another audience he is speaking to is Opehlia ( I think she is probably part of the primary Audiences for him). He is explaining that ONCE he loved her but not anymore.

3. purpose What is the purpose of Hamlet’s speech?

- The purpose of this speech is for Hamlet to contemplate suicide, his situation in which he is in now, and to express his emotions without actually blatantly stating them. He is also explains to Ophelia that he has no love for her anymore. Shakespeare uses this speech to re-iterate that Hamlet has truly gone crazy.

4. Appeals: Which appeal(s) does Hamlet use to convince and/or motivate his audience? Reference specific lines.

Ethos: Appeal to the character of the speaker

“No more—and by a sleep to say we end the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to. ’tis a consummation devoutly to be wish’d.” (68-71) “To die, to sleep” (67) “Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them. (62-67)

Pathos: Appeal to the emotions or interest of the audience

“And makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all…” (88-90)

Logos: Appeal to logic “Ay, there’s the rub! For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause—there’s the respect…” (72-75)

5. Figures of speech, imagery, diction, syntax: What literary devices does Hamlet employ?Where do you see him making comparisons?  Which tropes–similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, etc. does he use? How do these comparisons relate to his rhetorical purpose? What particularly vivid images stand out? What effect do these images have on Hamlet’s rhetorical purpose?

-Repetition- to highlight the key parts he wants to stand out “to be or not to be” contemplating suicide, sot therefore we recognize that he has gone crazy. Similes, metaphors, personification and some foreshadowing. He makes comparison from sane people and crazy people, to die or to sleep. He is using similes and metaphor to compare sleeping, dying living and being patient. The rhetorical purpose is that everything is unanswered resulting in foreshadowing and suspense. He united to completely different things and tries to describe them in the same light.  I get a great visual when he talks about how no travelers return and how everyone is confused. I also think of him standing there with the lights really dim and him contemplating everything. I think this adds to the suspense of this play. I think this is part of the climax of the play because this is were a lot of the truth comes out and I find it ironic that it is revealed in a soliloquy instead of common dialogue.

6. How do you respond to Hamlet’s soliloquy? In other words, what do you think of him right now?

- Right now I think of him as a coward. He never says what he is actually thinking/feeling to people. He really needs to man up.

From this reading  made Rosencrantz and Guildenstern seem like a “power couple.” They are both working together to spy on Hamlet. The reading takes a turn (I think this is a cool postmodern element) when they realize they actually befriend Hamlet eventhough they are still eager to spy on the man.

There is also a completely different interpretation of what happened in Hamlet compared to this play. He uses a set dialogue to explain how Hamlet’s clothes are ripped instead of actually using the dialogue (the conversation with the King, Queen and Polonius). I think this is very unique and an important element of postmodern literature.

All in all I think these elements add for more entertainmenet within the play. I also think that it is cool to look at the comparisons between this play and “Hamlet.”

From the beginning of this play there is a contrast between Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. For example, Guildenstern’s bag is basically empty and Rosencrantz isn’t. It seems as thought Guil is more in touch with reality and Ros doesn’t think much of anything. But then the characteristics kind of changing (emphasizing the theme of contrasts) when Ros “eagerly” says that he knew all along it was a band and Guil says “tiredly” that He (Ros) knew all along that it was a band.

I think one of elements in which it is postmodern is for example, this quote of the player on page 23:

“Tragedy, sir. Deaths and disclosures, universal and particular, denouements both unexpected and inexorable, transvestite melodrama on all levels including the suggestive. We transport you into a world of intrigue and illusion… clowns, if you like, murderers- we can do you ghosts and battles, on the skirmish levels, heroes, villains, tormented lovers- sets pieces in the poetic vein; we can do you rapiers or rape or both, by all means, faithless wives ad ravished virgins- flagrante delicto at a price, but that comes under realism for which there are special terms. Getting warm, am I?”

Imagination is key.

Another occurrence of contrast: p.26 : ” You’re quicker than your friend…” The player said this to Guil, re-iterating that maybe Guil is the more intelligent of the two.

This is where I got confused: When Ros is enraged with players because they are filth?

Whenever I think of drama I think of exaggerations, plays, movies, opera, books, Shakespeare, weird languages and conflicts. I think it is hard to define drama because we use it so much in our lives (like drama within in friends), but drama in literature deals with romance, tension/suspense and well-developed plot lines.

There is a difference between theatrical drama and “girly” drama. Girly drama deals with gossiping and not being honest, but theatrical drama is way more advanced and not even in the same spectrum as girly drama. Theatrical drama/drama in literature is intriguing and a genre that can be modified to fit any generation. There can be creative dramas, modern dramas, medieval dramas, and post-modern dramas. I don’t really know much about Hamlet so I am interested to read it in class. But We did read “Romeo and Juliet” in 8th grade year with Mrs. Carnes and I loved it!

So now that Summer is really close, I think this post is perfect to talk about my plans for this Summer. Well obviously I will keep swimming. Practice is from 7-9:30 AM everyday + conditioning/weights before at 5 AM. This year my summer is going to be completely different than lasts. Lasts summer I taught swim lesson at Crawfish Aquatics to youngsters. It was an awesome job where I made bank, but I ended up having long, tiresome days at the pool. This summer I am really focusing on giving back to people. Forget the money. So this year I nixed the teaching swim lessons part OFF my list! Just recently I have been accepted to be a counselor at the Muscular Dystrophy (MDA) Camp. I am SOO excited to be a counselor and help kids with needs at camp. I can not wait to go to camp and leave with amazing memories that will last forever. I am still pretty unsure of what to expect, but all I know is that good things will come from it.

The highlight for my past two Summer is teaching swim lessons for ARC. This program is to help mentally and physically handicapped people to feel comfortable in the water but also to know the safety rules of water. This is my favorite part about summer by far. I play with Robby, a six-year-old boy with autism. Every time I see him he brings a smile to my face. At the beginning of last summer his mother told me that the past summer was the only time he has been able to play in the water without being scared. She also told me that he finally learned how to say something, his name. It is so much fun just play with him in the water and just realize that he is making a huge difference in my life. I can’t wait for ARC this summer!

I’m really bummed about my paper. I’m trying to find my writing “voice” but I can’t. Also, my topic is pretty basic, and I had a really good idea come to me late last night BUT I forgot to write it down, so therefore I forgot it. I want this paper to be extremely different than anything I have every written. I guess that the change should start with my writing style, but unfortunately my style is yet to be found.

I thought my paper was going well last week, but when I looked at it this weekend something big was missing. Hopefully I will remember that huge idea that I had because I think it will tie everything together. It may be a good idea to make of list of things that I have done in the past in my papers and make sure that I do none of those in this one.

The AP French exam is coming up REALY REALY soon and it is stressing me out. I am terrible at French and don’t think I will do well. This weekend I tried studying for it, but there is just SO much information that it is ridiculous. This afternoon Abby came over to study for our French test that we have tomorrow. Ultimate fail. We were both so confused on everything. On the test there are going to be these preposition fill-ins, which are so hard because I never know what to put in them. On top of that we have to right this paragraph using all these prepositions an conjunctions. Well after an hour and a half Abby left to go running.

Soon Jeanne came over to study. But both of us were kind of confused. Luckily, we learned most of the preposition’s meaning, which will help us for the fill-inns. We soon got off on many tangents about, the AP exam, school and life. And Jeanne told me that she is going to do SWIMMING next year instead of vollyball!!! Wahooo. I’m really excited for that craziness! I just want these next two weeks to go by real fast!