Hamlet Resources

http://thehamletweblog.blogspot.com/. This is a blog that is dedicated to Shakespearian work that has a focus on Hamlet as well. There is a section dedicated to each aspect of Shakespearian work brought to us by different bloggers. Each person who participates in this blog has a passion for his work and creates their own projects with the inspiration they have acquired. http://robbiedempsey.wordpress.com/category/hamlet/. This is a blog completely dedicated to Hamlet. Each post has a relation to Hamlet whether it be a quote, scene, or literary element. This blog will help me in understanding Hamlet a lot more because there are slide shows and essay plans that help analyze this play and its themes. http://blog.passiontask.com/entry/reading-and-re-reading-hamlet/. This is a blog that contains notes on Hamlet from a particular blogger. He gives us an insight as to what he took from this play each time he read it. He mentions what he remembers vivdly, and what wasn't exactly necessay to know in order to follow this play.

Pre-Will questions

a. To be honest, I know very little abbout Hamlet, "The Melancholy Dane". I have heard that the movie, "The Lion King" was based off of Hamlet, and that is it. b. I know that Shakespeare had a dirty mind based on what I read in, "Romeo and Juliet". c. I believe that students involuntarily forwn when they hear the name, "Shakespeare" because his literary works are dificult to understand in some cases. The syntax as well as diction are foreign to my generation as well as many others, which could be why it doesn't spark our interest. d. To make this experience one we will never forget, we can read this play in modern text and play games such as jeopardy and charades to learn the concepts more effectively.

Characterization

1. An example of indirect characterization is the quote, “There is no God and we are his prophets.” I interpreted this quote as McCarthy indirectly stating that this character has lost all hope in life as well as in our creator. Another quote is, “If trouble comes when you least expect it then maybe the thing to do is to always expect it.” After reading this quote I feel as if this character has become bitter because he has learned to expect the worst out of life. I feel that the author used both of these approaches because he wanted to offer a variation of characterization to his audience. As a result of these approaches, I got to know the characters on an intimate level. I began to understand them on a religious and personal level. 2. Neither the syntax nor diction of the author changed when he focused on characters. I say this because no matter what the situation, McCarthy still didn't use proper punctuation. The quote in answer number four is an example of improper punctuation because McCarthy doesn't include quotation marks at all in this novel. 3. The little boy in this novel is a dynamic as well as a round character. Throughout the novel as well as soon after his fathers' death, the boy promised he would never leave his fathers' side. After much mourning and grief, the boy decided it was time to leave. The boy left his father with a new family that adopted him. 4. After reading this book I feel as if I met real people. The quotes, “What would you do if I died? If you died I would want to die too. So you could be with me? Yes. So I could be with you. Okay", show that the characters have genuine feelings that they choose to express. They love one another and don't show eachother by saying it, but by describing the things that they'd do for eachother.

Fall List #7

aberration: a person whose beliefs or behavior are unusual or unacceptable. ex: Living in a foreign country, my way of life was quite the aberration. ad hoc: formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose only. ex: People with obssessive cumpulsive disorder have an ad hoc way of living. bane: a cause of great distress or annoyance. ex: Small children are bane to me. bathos: triteness; flatness. ex: Those who are monotone tend to be described as having bathos qualities. cantankerous: bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative. ex: Individuals on the show "Intervention" tend to be cantakerous due due the influence of drugs. casuistry: the resolving of moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances. ex: Solving life problems can be done using casuistry views. de facto: in fact, whether by right or not. ex: De facto, Santa Maria's weather in unpredictable. depredation: an act of attacking or plundering. ex: Bullying is an example of depredtion. empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. ex: When two people share life experiences, they are empathetic towards one another. harbinger: a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another. ex: Guards are examples of harbingers. hedonism: the pursuit of pleasure. ex: Making a new start in life is hedonistic. lackluster: lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired. ex: One that has lackluster qualities may be lazy and ummotivated. malcontent: a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious. ex: Malcontent teenagers have bad behavior and defy their paretns' rules. mellifluous: sweet or musical; pleasant to hear. ex: Talented singers have mellifluous voices. nepotism: the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, esp. by giving them jobs. ex: Having "connections" in a work field that work to your favor is nepotistic. pander: gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or habit or a person with such a desire, etc.). ex: Addicts pander on their immoral addictions. peccadillo: a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin. ex: Some jokes are hurtful, and others are peccadillo. piece de resistance: collector's item: the outstanding item (the prize piece or main exhibit) in a collection. ex: The Emmy is a piece de resistance for many actors and actresses. remand: place (a defendant) on bail or in custody, esp. when a trial is adjourned. ex: The remand in court has his wife pay his bail. syndrome: a group of symptoms that consistently occur together or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms. ex: One can't be diagnosed with a syndrom without determining the symptoms first.

Literature Analysis #1 Notes

- this novel takes place in a post-apocolyptic world.- people have turned into cannibals. - his son is the only one this man has left because his wife passed. - the surroundings seem very gothic-like and depressing, they are described as "gray". - there is a great lack of proper punctuation, this is very interesting, however because I've never seen this type of syntax before. - the novel flows between Happy and sad. - the gun plays a major symbol in this novel. - so does selter. - the boy sees a baby roasting over a fire, which makes him stop talking and is traumatized. - the father does what he does to keep his son alive. - he considers killing his son to put him out of his potential misery. - he kept a single bullet for this purpose. - he used one bullet on some that may have been a cannibal.

Literature Analysis #1

1. The Road By Cormac McCarthy tells the adventures of a father and son struggling to survive everyday in a post-apocalyptic world. With scarce food, water, and sources of support, these main characters are forced to live like nomads. Everyday they find themselves somewhere new, hoping that wherever they go will be beneficial to them, whether it be in the form of shelter, food, or any sign of intelligent life. Along their journey they run into horrifying characters that prove themselves to be cannibals. They survive these traumatic experiences together and protect each other. Unfortunately, the father is afflicted with a fatal injury and eventually dies before his son's eyes. Although he knows no one will replace his father, the boy decides to leave his father in the woods and continue life with a new family. The narrative fulfills the authors' purpose through the relationship that the father and son share. So much of the novel surrounds their commitment to one another, and what they would do for each other in order to stay alive. Their relationship is tested in many ways, and they prove time and time again their loyalty. Had their relationship been any different, I feel it would change this novel entirely. 2. Based on my interpretation of the novel, I feel that an accurate theme is that situations may get worse before they get better. The man and his son went through tragic events before they seen happier days. They had to experience the loss of their mother and wife, food, home, as well as everything they knew before they experienced hope in life. The man and his son went hungry and cold for many days before they found shelter underground or the boat in the sea, both of which contained supplies critical for survival. Towards the end of the novel, the man passes away due to illness and injury and tells his son to leave him, but the boy refuses to leave for three days. The novel ends with the boy being accepted into a new family as well as a new world. 3. The tone that McCarthy creates is one that is hopeful and uplifting, despite the tragic situations that evolve. The following quote, “What would you do if I died? If you died I would want to die too. So you could be with me? Yes. So I could be with you. Okay", shows the love and care that this father and son share. It shows that when another day isn't guaranteed, these two find the blessings in having one another as they survive each day. The quote, "You wanted to know what the bad guys looked like. Now you know. It may happen again. My job is to take care of you. I was appointed to do that by God. I will kill anyone who touches you. Do you understand?", shows the dedication to eachother that these two express. When odds are against them, these two stick to their family morals and hold onto one another. Lastly, the quote, “You have my whole heart. You always did. You're the best guy. You always were", defines this tone the most to me. Even when their world as they knew it was absolutely destroyed, these characters learned to appreciate eachother. They didn't focus on what they didn't have, instead, they focused on what they did have. This was truly uplifting to me because it shows how fortunate I am, and that I should acknowledge my blessings. 4. Chiasmus is one of ten literary elements that helped me in understanding this novel. The quote, "You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget" (page ten) emphasizes the traumatic events that the characters have endured and how badly they'd like to forget, but can't seem to do so. “Borrowed time and borrowed world and borrowed eyes with which to sorrow it.” This quote is an example of repetition, putting stress on the fact that humanity is at its all time low, borrowing everything because they literally have nothing. Alliteration is used in the quote, "dark beyond darkness and the days" (page one) which allows the audience to see the depression in this novel and see what the characters are going through. The lack of proper punctuation in this novel, using words such as "wouldnt"( page fifty-six) without an apostrophe gives an example of syntax . Another element used in this novel was characterization. An example is on page one hundred and two, as the father describes his son with a, "Taught face and hollow eyes". This detail adds to the fact that these characters are literally suffering from the inside out as they struggle to survive each day. Following this quote, the author includes a metaphor describing his son as, "A strange beauty", proving that even even when his son is suffering, he sees the beautiful qualities within him. On page one hundred and fifteen, McCarthy presents the simile, "They staggered on like drunks", which paints the audience a picture as to how exhausted these characters are, and how their new life has effected them so drastically. Along with the rest of the elements, there is a gothic element presented in this novel. The quote is on page eight and it describes a city as "grayness" and "charcoal", both which set the mood early in the book. Symbolism is another element used in defining this novel. To the father, the gun he carried around represented safety, life, and most importantly, the well- being of his son. This gun meant the difference between life and death to this father, and he was positive its possession was a necessity. Lastly, an element used in this novel was imagery on page four. The quote, " Everything paling away into the murk", describes the surroundings of these two characters and the harsh reality of the place they used to call their home.

Fall List #6

1. Beatitude- Supreme blessedness ex: In many ways, children are beatitudes. 2. bete noire (anathema)- someone or something which is particularly disliked or avoided; an object of aversion, the bane of one’s existence. ex: Speeding tickets are bete noire to many teenage drivers. 3. Bode- Be an omen of a particular outcome; announce beforehand. ex: Events of good or bad usually have bodes of all sorts. 4. Dank- unpleasantly damp, musty, and typically cold. ex: Santa Maria in the winter time has proved itself to be dank. 5. Ecumenical- general; universal; Promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian churches. ex: Bibles are ecumenial in America. 7. Fervid- Intensely enthusiastic or passionate; heated or vehement in spirit or enthusiasm. ex: Sports junkies are fervid. 8. Fetid- Smelling extremely unpleasant or having an offensive odor. ex: The boys' locker room is fetid. 9. Gargantuan- gigantic; enormous; colossal: ex: New York City is one gargantuan city due to its large population. 10. Heyday- The period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, vigor, strength, or success; an exclamation of cheerfulness, surprise, wonder. ex: "The Glory Days" may also be known as "The Heydays". 11. Incubus- A male demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; a cause of distress or anxiety like a nightmare. ex: I have no clue why this is on our list, but if I came in contact with an incubus in this way, I'd sue him for rape. 12. Infrastructure- the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization. ex: A house's infrastructure is important in order to build the house properly. 13. Inveigle- to acquire, win, or obtain by beguiling talk or methods. ex: In many cases, men and women inveigle wit their bosses to gain advantage in their workforce. 14. Kudos- Praise and honor received for an achievement. ex: My family gives me kudos for getting great grades. 15. Lagniappe- Something given as a bonus or extra gift. ex: When I babysit infants, I feel like I should get a lagniappe. 16. Prolix- Using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy. ex: When resumes are prolix, people begin to lose interest. 17. Protégé- a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare. ex: Justin Beiber was Usher's protege. 18. Prototype- the original or model on which something is based or formed. ex: Matilda is the prototype of a young genius. 19. sycophant-A person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer. ex: Sycphants are kiss-asses. 20. tautology- A phrase or expression in which the same thing is said twice in different words. ex: No matter how you say it, "We need to talk", and "It's over", mean the same thing! 21. truckle- to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely; A small barrel-shaped cheese. ex: I love sushi so much it makes me truckle.

Reading Notes/ Reading Quiz pages 64-82

1. An epic is a long narrative that celebrates the adventures of legendary heroes. 2. The function of a hero in an epic is to be role model of their time. 3. Reading an epic four thousand years later helps us understand that society because we get a look into the diction of the individuals as well as their perspective on life. 4. Three epics are The Epic of Gilgamesh, Atrhasis, and Enume Elish, all written in the 10th to 20th century B.C. in Mesopatamia and the Chaldeans. 5. Uruk is the city of Gilgamesh and is an ancient Sumerian city. 6. The prologue of Gilgamesh suggests that he is a strong leader and one who cares for his people and doesn't care for his enemies. 7. Ishtar is is the Babylonian goddess of love. 8. Gilgamesh is 2/3 god and 1/3 man. This compares with Beowulf because Beowulf was part god as well. 9. Achaians are also called Greeks. 10. Zeus is the father of all gods. 11. Hektor is is the best trojan warrior. 12. Athene snatched the bronze spear and gave it back to Achilleus. This suggests that the gods must stick together and cheat whoever they need to in order to do so. 13. Hektor asks to "not let the dogs feed" on him, and Achilleus answered with calling him a dog. 14. Bede was a monk. He described the conquest of Britain by the Anglo-Saxon tribes after the departure of the Romans. 15. The purpose of the work was for King Alfred. Bede's version was available only in Latin. 16. Britain was formerly known as Albion. 17. The scarlet dye was extracted from edible shellfish with two heart-shaped shells which remained untainted by sunshine or rain. This suggests that that people of this era were just as tough and strong. 18. Ireland is broader than Britain, and its mild and healthy climate is superior. 19. The fact that the Vikings broke up was a big deal and affected a lot. They were greatly broken by the slaughter of cattle and men, which scarcely made the response "united" Not only that, the king's best lords in Anglo-Saxon society in the land had passed away. 20. Including this information adds the idea that each Anglo-Saxon is a brother to another and truly care. I notice that each American tragedy ends in death, but I suppose that has become a given.

Fall List #5

acumen: The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain. example: He is a busniess acumen. adjudicate: 1.Make a formal judgment or decision about a problem or disputed matter. example: Tthe committee adjudicates on all disputes. anachronism: A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, esp. a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned. example: An ipod in a "Different Strokes" episode would be an example of an anachronism. apocryphal: Of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true. example: Rumors prove themselves to be apocryphal. disparity:A great difference. example: There is a disparity between poverty and wealth. dissimulate: Conceal or disguise (one's thoughts, feelings, or character). example : He dissimulates his wealth beneath ragged pullovers. empirical: Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic. example: It was an empirical experiment that the Earth was round and not flat. flamboyant: Tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness. example: Neon colors are flamboyant. fulsome: 1.Complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree. example: They are almost embarrassingly fulsome in their appreciation. immolate:Kill or offer as a sacrifice, esp. by burning. example: It was common to immolate tribe members in indian tribes in order to reach a common goal. imperceptible:Impossible to perceive. example: Why that man killed his mother is imperceptible to me. lackey:A servant. example: Being lackey for others doesn't make you nice, it makes you a pushover. liaison:Communication or cooperation that facilitates a close working relationship between people or organizations. example: An alliance is an example of a liaison. monolithic:Formed of a single large block of stone. example: A boulder is an example of something monolithic. mot juste: The exact, appropriate word. example: A dictionary is a source to find the mos juste. nihilism: The rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless. example: People who are nihilist probably think that they have no purpose in life. patrician: An aristocrat or nobleman. example: There were many patricians in The Pride and Prejudice. propitiate: Win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them. example: Those who propitiate have to experience rejection first. sic: Set a dog or other animal on example: In order to sic something, you need an animal first, which can be very dangerous. sublimate: (esp. in psychoanalytic theory) Divert or modify (an instinctual impulse) into a culturally higher or socially more acceptable activity. example: Those who sublimate are looking for higher status.

Bepwulf Translation

Meanehwæl, baccat meaddehæle, monstær lurccen; Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht. Ðen Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl, Æsccen æwful jeork to steop outsyd. Þhud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! Ðe bigge gye Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe; Wicced Godsylla wæld on his asse. Monstær moppe fleor wyþ eallum men in hælle. Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bamaccen wæs; Hearen sond of ruccus sæd, "Hwæt ðe helle?" Graben sheold strang ond swich-blæd scharp Stond feorth to fyht ðe grimlic foe. "Me," Godsylla sæd, "mac ðe minsemete." Heoro cwyc geten heold wiþ fæmed half-nelson Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen Beowulf belly up to meaddehæle bar, Sæd, "Ne foe beaten mie færsom cung-fu." Eorderen cocca-cohla yce-coeld, ðe reol þyng. Translation: Giving credit to where credit is due, I got the translation from here: Apparently you should out words. On some words I was right but others I was way off so this site helped me to check my translation. Meanwhile, back at mead hall, monster lurkin', Full few too many drinks, he lookin' for fight. Then gobbilty, son of gobbilty gook, Askin' awful jerk to step outside. Thud! Bash! Crash! Boom! The big guy All of his bone break, bite his nose off; Wicked Godzilla wailed on his ass. Monster mopped floor with all them men in hall. Beowolf in backroom phonecall be makin' was; Heard sound of ruccus said, "What the hell?" Grabbin' shield strong and switch blade sharp Stand forth to fight the grim foe. "Me," Godzilla said, "make the mincemeat." Hero quick getttin' hold with famed half-nelson And flying him like frisbee back to fen Beowulf belly up to meadhall bar, Said, "No foe has beaten my fearsome kung-fu." Orderin' coca-cola ice cold, the real thing.

My Hero :)

My ultimate hero is my mother, hands down.  After experiencing a traumatic divorce in her home, my mother felt it was best to move out and take responsibility for herself.  She left home at the ripe age of seventeen, ready to make the best best of her life, reguardless of any challenge.  Successfully, she finished high school and went on to pursue higher levels of education.  Unfortunately, my father passed away when I was only a year old, leaving my mother to be a single parent with her two young children.  Reguardless of our situation, my mother never made my brother and I feel different than other children from two parent homes.  She showed us to never feel sorry for ourselves or to even make excuses.  Although my brother and I came from a single-parent household, we never went without or hurt for anything.  I'm proud of my mother and all she has achieved in her life.  After putting her children first for nearly twenty-three years now, I'm to happy to see her go back to school to complete her Master's program. You go mom! :)

Fall List #4

apostate- a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.

One who apostates a lot is indecisive.

effusive- pouring out; overflowing.

Her feelings were effusive as she was watching "The Notebook."

impasse- a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock.

After failing every class, a student may be impasse from summer school.

euphoria- a state of intense happiness and self- confidence.

Being at Disneyland brings me complete euphoria since it's "The happinest place on Earth."

lugubrious- excessively mournful.

After losing a loved one, the couple were lugubrious.

bravado- swaggering display of courage.

A hero must have bravado in order to fit the traditional "hero" requirements.

consensus- general agreement.

The consesus in 2008 was that Obama would be our president.

 

dichotomy- division into two parts, kinds.

 

The dichotomy of the class made it easier to control.

constrict- to draw or press in; cause to contract or shrink; compress.

 

When an anaconda eats, they constrict their meal in their stomachs.

gothic- charactierized by gloomy or mysterious settings.

 

Gothis tales can be depressing at times due to the gloomy settings and sad tone.

 

punctilio- a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or procedure.

 

Saying "I do" is a punctilio at weddings.

 

metamorphosis- a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation.

 

In order to become a butterfly, a caterpillar was go through a metamorphosis.

raconteur-a person skilled in telling stories.

 

A habitual liar may also be a raconteur after great practice.

sine qua non- an essential condition or requirement.

 

A high G.P.A. is sine qua non to getting accepted into an elite university.

quixotic- impractical.

 

For families of eight, the Smart Car is quixotic.

vendetta- any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, or contention.

 

Large fights often lead to vendettas that last a lifetime.

non sequitur- a statement containing an illogical conclusion.

 

Being illogical is just part of making non sequiturs.

mystique- an aura of mystery, or power.

 

Witches often have a mystique presence about them.

quagmire- anything soft or flabby.

 

Whales often appear quagmire due to their large bosy masses.

parlous- dangerous.

 

The men in Jackass often do parlous things.

Literarue Analysis # 1

For my first literature analysis, I have selected the book The Road by Cormac McCarthy.  I have selected this book because I have heard great things about it and based on the book summary, it seems interesting.