Lit Analysis #4 The Awakening by Kate Chopin

The Awakening by Kate Chopin GENERAL
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same.)
- Edna starts off as the wonderful wife who fulfills the role of a proper mother. They take a vacation as a family and spend their time in Grand Isle. There she meets a man named Robert and a romance begins. They end up declaring their love in the novel and we see the two grow and fall apart. Robert seeks a marriage but couldn't find it in Edna. Edna also became intimate with another man named Alcee. That connection Alcee and she had seemed like pure lust because he awoke feelings in her that lead to other realizations but no attachment Edna learns about her independence while being with these men and she tries to become the woman she always wanted to be. Her marriage seems to be fading away as she spends more and more time with her new persona. As her family is away she moves into her own home persueing her new lifestyle. Times goes by and her past is awaken when her friend Adele goes through a birth. Adele reminds Edna of the life she left behind and this leads Edna to think about things. Edna realized that in the end she was left albone, because Robert had walked out on her. She then decides to return where everything began and end her life there.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
- The theme revolves around marriage and Edna's involvement within her life. During their time period marriage, money and security was all society cared for. Love wasn't a favored characteristic in relationships because then they had different priorities and beliefs. Edna underwent a dramatic change that lead to her marriage's collapse. She became a wild and disobedient women as the novel progresses letting her true colors free. Her decision to start her life over with her lover helped the audience see that marriage wasn't of great importance for her.

3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
- The author's tone is gloomy and direct. She addresses Edna's feeling on marriage in the story but reveals that Edna isn't the caring, loving person a mother's supposed to be. The tone is shown when Edna speaks to her husband or when she reveals Edna's thoughts on marriage. It sounded like the relation they had faded away as Edna found herself and let her past fade away.
1) "Before dinner in the evening Edna wrote a charming letter to her husband, telling him of her intention to move for a while into the little house around the block, and to give a farewell dinner before leaving, regretting that he was not there to share it.." (Chapter 26)
2) “They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow as ministering angels.” (Chapter 4)
3) "Her marriage to Leonce Pontellier was purely an accident, in this respect resembling many other marriages which masquerade as the decrees of Fate." (Chapter 7)

4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
*Symbolism: “The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude.” (Chapter VI) For the first time she feels free and is reborn.
*Dialogue: "The water must be delicious; it will not hurt you. Come." (Chapter V) He tries to convince her that she should trust in him.
*Setting: “They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow as ministering angels.” (Chapter IV) She's surrounded by the ideal mothers.
*Diction: “He pleased her; his absolute devotion flattered her. She fancied they was a sympathy of thought and taste between them..” (Chapter VII) It reveals how she feels about the situation.
*Foreshadowing: "She is not one of us; she is not like us. She might make the unfortunate blundder of taking you seriously." (Chapter VIII) Adèle Ratignolle warns Robert that Edna might take his affections seriously.
*Imagery: "A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul. She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength." (Chapter X) It shows Edna’s rebellious side.
*Irony: "She remembered the night she swam far out, and recalled the terror that siezed her at the fear of being unable to regain to shore. She did not look back now, but went on and on..." (Chapter XXXIX) Edna's death in the ocean.
*Forshadowing: "He thought it very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and valued so little his conversation" (Chapter 17) Shows Edna losing interest in her husband.

CHARACTERIZATION
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
- The author uses both direct and indirect characterization because it helps the reader understand who each character is and how they are. Every reader takes in a story differently and characterization helps in developing a visual image for those who need it.
- DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION:
1) "I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself." (Chapter 16) She tells that she is in it for herself and her needs. That she wouldn't give herself up for her children.
2) "That she was seeing with different eyes and making the acquaintance of new conditions in herself that colored and changed her environment, she did not yet suspect." (Chapter 14) Edna has changed and this is being stated by showing a new person masked behind the old Edna.

2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?
- The diction does change because the author is adding emotional appeal to it. As you read about her romance with Robert the diction changes adding an atmosphere of mystic. She experiments many things with her lover thus changing the way she thinks, sees and feels the world. For every action she made her character changed as well as how she spoke or acted.

3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
- Edna is a dynamic and round character because she shows change from the beginning of the novel to the end. Every time she encounters new people her persona changes and we see her feelings change as well. The reader was able to pick this up as they saw how she treated her husband and her lover Robert.

4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
- I read a character because not everyone is as open as Edna was. She underwent a dramatic change which is understandable considering the time period, but she wasn't all there. Emotionally I saw a woman who needed to find herself and experiment the only way she could. Not everyone will see or think the way she did because putting oneself in her shoes would make you think otherwise. The ocean is where Robert and she spent some time and it's ironic how she spent her last hours there. Only a character would end there life where their grief starts not an actual person.

Plato's Allegory of the Cave

1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?
-The allegory of the cave represents how individuals reject reality and don't understand the truth behind life.
2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
-Prisoners were the ignorant individuals, cave was a world of imagination, sun was the reality of life, darkness was the lacking of truth, and the freed prisoner was philosophers.
3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
-After a while an individual will get the opportunity to embrace the truth. One must take the knowledge and do wisely with it.
4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?
-Shackles show the prisoners being held against their will to live a life that is planned for them. The cave is merely where they plan to revise it to any state they want it to be. They are trapped from reality and unable to realize what lies past the light.
5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
-The government shackles our minds by controlling everything we do and removing anything that may lead to someone discovering something.
6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
-The freed prisoner was exposed to self thinking and realization, while the cave prisoners were stuck thinking their "normal" was normal.
7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
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8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?
-Cave prisoners get freed by being exposed to freedom. Other people let them see the light and show them a new source of knowledge.
9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
-Yes, because not everything is what is seems. People could assume that just by looking at someone they were a tidy person, but when they look inside the person's backpack it seems as if a tornado had already been there.
10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?

Why is dyslexic such a hard word to spell?

Who was Shakespeare?

I did a quick search to find out who William Shakespeare was. First, I went on duckduckgo.com. Then I entered William Shakespeare. I found this website. It does a great job with Shakespeare's biography. Click to learn more. http://www.biography.com/people/william-shakespeare-9480323 Students percieve Shakespeare's writing to be this horrible hard to read literature. This all changes when they begin to read and break it down. Students begin to learn new strategies on how to better their own writing and they also learn that shakespeare can be interpreted in many different ways. The name "Shakespeare" alone evokes strong feelings. It is amazing as to how even after centuries his writing is still able to effect you the way it does. At some point in our young lives we have all read Shakespeare . It might have been a stripped down less complicated version but it was still his writing. And now as we get older, we begin to read a more abstract version that is hard to understand. You will not completely understand an act after reading it once. It will take lots of practice.

Sonnet

Men call you fair, and you do credit it, For that yourself you daily such do see: But the true fair, that is the gentle wit And virtuous mind, is much more praised of me. For all the rest, however fair it be, Shall turn to naught and lose that glorious hue: But only that is permanent and free From frail corruption that doth flesh ensue, That is true beauty; that doth argue you To be divine and born of heavenly seed; Derived from that fair spirit, from whom all true And perfect beauty did at first proceed: He only fair, and what he fair hath made: All other fair, like flowers, untimely fade. -Edmund Spencer

Vocab # 11

Affinity- relationship by marriage -It is quite common for your affinity to go wrong or come past a conflict. Bilious- of or indicative of a peevish ill nature disposition -The teacher was bilious in a way where all his students thought very poorly of him. Cognate- of the same nature -The two elements in the science lab are cognates so they both work as equal catalysts. Corollary- A proposition inferred Immediately from a proved proposition with little or no additional proof -The victim had a corollary which no one believed from the lack of proof. Cul-de-sac - a pouch -The main character always carried around a cul-de-sac with her family heirloom in it. Derring-do- a daring action -He was always taking derring-do's becasue he enjoyed the adrenaline and thrill. Divination- The art or practice that seeks to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge due to the interpretation of omens -The fortune teller was famous for her ways of divination. Elixir- A substance capable of prolonging life indefinitely -Myths and stories say that an unicorn's tear drop is an elixir. Folderol- a useless accessory -Many people in society wear folderols that make you look tacky and seeming to waste money. Gamut- an entire range or series -The watch tower had to be taken down because it lacked ability for the watchmen to see the gamut of the city. Hoi polloi- the General populace -The hoi polloi was at the presidential speech held in the biggest stadium in the world. Ineffable- incapable of being expressed in words -My feelings for him were ineffable. Lucubration- to study by night -I always end up lucubrating since I can never put myself up to finishing homework right when I get home. Mnemonic- intended to assist memory -It helps to create mnemonics when memorizing something. Obloquy- abusive language -The man was known for his obloquy toward everyone. Parameter- an independent variable used to express the coordinates of variable point and functions of them -In math class we are ,earning to use parameters. Pundit- a learned man -The pundit opened up a small school for the village so young children can be educated. Risible- provoking laughter -They both had a risible that made little kids in the neighborhood intimidated. Symptomatic- having the characteristics of a certain disease but arising of a different cause -The daughter was symptomatic and the doctors didn't know how to cure her. Volte-face- a reversal in policy -There was a volte-face when the first policy did not work.

Ap hamlet PLN

http://shslboyd.pbworks.com/w/page/8889829/AP%20English%20Literature%20and%20Composition -This website has mannnnyyy links and worksheets that reinforces Hamlet. It also has cartoons. http://vickivestenglishclass.weebly.com/ap-english.html -In this website, there is the a worksheet with a lot of Hamlet info. Info ranges from a broad summary of the play to connections and relationships in the play. There are quotes that are explained. there are character's that are explained to some extent. Overall very helpful. http://aplove.blogspot.com/2007/11/ap-lit-hamlet-actscene-notes.html -I like this website because it has summaries for each scene from each act. The summaries are very concise and so very helpful for a quick glance to refresh the memory. http://gallagherseniorhonors.blogspot.com/2008/02/hamlet-study-guide-for-act-11-31.html -This ap english class is basically doing the same thing we are. They have various videos from each scene and they have a forum for questions

Qustions After Reading Hamlet

1) why does hamlet wait so long to avenge his fathers death? 2) Do the clown's jokes at the beginning of Act 5 have any relevance in the context of the play? 3) Why is Fortinbras presence important? 4) What exactly happened to Ophelia at the end of the play? 5) Whose wine did Gertrude drink? 6) Could Ophelia have been pregnant?

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