The flea and valentine are unconventional poems and in both poems a metaphor is running throughout the poem, as a comparision to love. Valentine has an irregular structure- this could show that their love is not consistent. The structure of the flea is consistent to show that their love and the feelings within the relationship are consistent.
Sonnet 130 and the flea don't use conventional language- you wouldn't immediately expect it to be about love, it could be about other things too. Sonnet 130 and valentine portray the message that you don't have to have sex to confirm your love. The flea portrays themes of taking something, whereas valentine is more portraying the theme of giving something.
Monday, 9 July 2012
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Educating Rita
The play focuses on the protagonist Rita. Rita is a hairdresser who is looking to study at university to better herself. At the start of the play, she is quite abstract, and there is lots of humour used to show she isn't afraid to say what's on her mind. Her tutor is Frank. He's quite a serious character, but we see a less serious side to him when he gets to know Rita properly.
Rita has a husband, Denny, and we get the impression he is intimidated by her passion to learn. We learn that he does not agree with her seeing Frank, and it's likely to be that he doesn't want to be less smarter than her. This could link to the fact that many people in Liverpool in the 80's were illiterate- she didn't want to fit into the category of being illiterate. She doubts herself many times throughout the novel, and underestimates how good she really is. Frank tries to tell her how good she actually is, but Rita is quite a stubborn character and won't have any of it.
In the centre section of the play, Frank invites Rita to dinner, but she doesn't go- she doesn't feel as though she'll fit in with the social class. E.g- saying the wrong thing and embarassing herself. There is also the introduction of the character 'Tiger'. Rita seems quite taken by him, and tends to talk about him a lot. We get the impression Frank is jealous, or feels 'put out'. This is where we see a different side to Frank. He decides he's going to take the opportunity he has been offered, and plans to go to Australia. Rita is unsure about her future at the end of the play, but she realises the real Tiger, and we see a special connection between Frank and Rita. The reader expects something romantic to happen, but instead we see Rita put her special talent to good use- by giving Frank a haircut before they part.
Rita has a husband, Denny, and we get the impression he is intimidated by her passion to learn. We learn that he does not agree with her seeing Frank, and it's likely to be that he doesn't want to be less smarter than her. This could link to the fact that many people in Liverpool in the 80's were illiterate- she didn't want to fit into the category of being illiterate. She doubts herself many times throughout the novel, and underestimates how good she really is. Frank tries to tell her how good she actually is, but Rita is quite a stubborn character and won't have any of it.
In the centre section of the play, Frank invites Rita to dinner, but she doesn't go- she doesn't feel as though she'll fit in with the social class. E.g- saying the wrong thing and embarassing herself. There is also the introduction of the character 'Tiger'. Rita seems quite taken by him, and tends to talk about him a lot. We get the impression Frank is jealous, or feels 'put out'. This is where we see a different side to Frank. He decides he's going to take the opportunity he has been offered, and plans to go to Australia. Rita is unsure about her future at the end of the play, but she realises the real Tiger, and we see a special connection between Frank and Rita. The reader expects something romantic to happen, but instead we see Rita put her special talent to good use- by giving Frank a haircut before they part.
Monday, 25 June 2012
Possible novel choices
The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf-
This novel portrays the theme of travel and journeys, and focuses on a character that featured in another of Woolf's novels- Mrs. Dalloway. The themes of repression and freedom are portrayed, and the way the novel is written is interesting, because at this time, Woolf was suffering from depression and had attempted to commit suicide, and so because of this, her later works seemed to be more powerful, and highlighted several strong emotions within her.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath-
This novel is semi autobiographical and is based around Plath's life. It sees the protagonist Esther, traveling to New York to work on a magazine. The execution of the Rosenberg's scares her, and is worried about what she is going to do after college. She wonders if she should take the conventional route and marry, or fulfill her ambitions in life. She learns her boyfriend has cheated on her, and when she returns to Boston, learns that she has not been accepted onto a writing course. The novel from here on sees Esther try several times to kill herself. This novel is very interesting as it mirrors Plath's life in several different aspects, through the relationship the protagonist has, as well as struggles faced in the world of literature.
Uphill by Christina Rossetti- May use to compare theme of journeys.
This novel portrays the theme of travel and journeys, and focuses on a character that featured in another of Woolf's novels- Mrs. Dalloway. The themes of repression and freedom are portrayed, and the way the novel is written is interesting, because at this time, Woolf was suffering from depression and had attempted to commit suicide, and so because of this, her later works seemed to be more powerful, and highlighted several strong emotions within her.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath-
This novel is semi autobiographical and is based around Plath's life. It sees the protagonist Esther, traveling to New York to work on a magazine. The execution of the Rosenberg's scares her, and is worried about what she is going to do after college. She wonders if she should take the conventional route and marry, or fulfill her ambitions in life. She learns her boyfriend has cheated on her, and when she returns to Boston, learns that she has not been accepted onto a writing course. The novel from here on sees Esther try several times to kill herself. This novel is very interesting as it mirrors Plath's life in several different aspects, through the relationship the protagonist has, as well as struggles faced in the world of literature.
Uphill by Christina Rossetti- May use to compare theme of journeys.
Monday, 18 June 2012
Jane Austen
Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in english literature. Her realism and biting social commentary has gained her historical importance among scholars and critics.
From 1811 until 1816, with the release of Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816), she achieved success as a published writer. She wrote two additional novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1818, and began a third, which was eventually titled Sanditon but died before completing it.After Austen's death, Cassandra and Henry Austen arranged with Murray for the publication of Persuasion and Northanger Abbey as a set in December 1817.
Henry Austen contributed a Biographical Note which for the first time identified his sister as the author of the novels. Tomalin describes it as "a loving and polished eulogy".Sales were good for a year—only 321 copies remained unsold at the end of 1818—and then declined. Murray disposed of the remaining copies in 1820, and Austen's novels remained out of print for twelve years. In 1832, publisher Richard Bentley purchased the remaining copyrights to all of Austen's novels and, beginning in either December 1832 or January 1833, published them in five illustrated volumes as part of his Standard Novels series. In October 1833, Bentley published the first collected edition of Austen's works. Since then, Austen's novels have been continuously in print.
From 1811 until 1816, with the release of Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816), she achieved success as a published writer. She wrote two additional novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1818, and began a third, which was eventually titled Sanditon but died before completing it.After Austen's death, Cassandra and Henry Austen arranged with Murray for the publication of Persuasion and Northanger Abbey as a set in December 1817.
Henry Austen contributed a Biographical Note which for the first time identified his sister as the author of the novels. Tomalin describes it as "a loving and polished eulogy".Sales were good for a year—only 321 copies remained unsold at the end of 1818—and then declined. Murray disposed of the remaining copies in 1820, and Austen's novels remained out of print for twelve years. In 1832, publisher Richard Bentley purchased the remaining copyrights to all of Austen's novels and, beginning in either December 1832 or January 1833, published them in five illustrated volumes as part of his Standard Novels series. In October 1833, Bentley published the first collected edition of Austen's works. Since then, Austen's novels have been continuously in print.
Saturday, 16 June 2012
Table four representation
On this table, my group focused particularly on the extract 'A white man's burden'.
Us, and the groups before us highlighted lines such as "Fear, sorrow"- this is not only portraying a negativity, but also plays on the title, making the reader think that the white men see looking after and providing for other social groups is a burden. "Joy, devotion"- positivity, and juxtaposes what has previously been said, suggesting that people may have different opinions on this. All in one sentence there's juxtaposition between negative and positive, which could be a similie for the division of class or colour in society at this time in history, due to colonialism and post colonialism.
Us, and the groups before us highlighted lines such as "Fear, sorrow"- this is not only portraying a negativity, but also plays on the title, making the reader think that the white men see looking after and providing for other social groups is a burden. "Joy, devotion"- positivity, and juxtaposes what has previously been said, suggesting that people may have different opinions on this. All in one sentence there's juxtaposition between negative and positive, which could be a similie for the division of class or colour in society at this time in history, due to colonialism and post colonialism.
Table three representation
Speed planning essay:
Introduction: Positivity or negativity portrayed in the extract.
Parag 1: Positivity of colonialism and post colonialism extracts:Personally, all the extracts are negative, but positive aspects of post colonialism are more freedom, mixed race families, more resources etc.
Parag 2: Negativity of post colonialism: All, the titles suggest they're negative, e.g 'Far cry from Africa' and 'The Poisonwood Bible' Posion suggests people are being indoctrinated by religion and other social groups. Far cry suggests people are crying but they can't hear them- or possibly being ignored.
Parag 3: More negativity- 'Nothings changed'- post colonialism hasn't changed anything in the world, there's still suffering and racism towards certain social groups, but it depends what aspect you look from. 'Things fall apart'- post colonialism caused chaos, riots and disagreements between social groups. The different groups together do not mix as they have different views on society and how it should be ran.
Parag 4: Effect of colonialism and post colonialism on literature- it changes people's views of society and issues. Challenges people and makes them think about how others may view the same things as them; white people are likely to have different thoughts and views as black people, but this may be a good thing, not always bad.
Conclusion: Summarise how the titles play on the themes of the extracts, positivity or negativity portrayed and what it can teach us through literature.
Introduction: Positivity or negativity portrayed in the extract.
Parag 1: Positivity of colonialism and post colonialism extracts:Personally, all the extracts are negative, but positive aspects of post colonialism are more freedom, mixed race families, more resources etc.
Parag 2: Negativity of post colonialism: All, the titles suggest they're negative, e.g 'Far cry from Africa' and 'The Poisonwood Bible' Posion suggests people are being indoctrinated by religion and other social groups. Far cry suggests people are crying but they can't hear them- or possibly being ignored.
Parag 3: More negativity- 'Nothings changed'- post colonialism hasn't changed anything in the world, there's still suffering and racism towards certain social groups, but it depends what aspect you look from. 'Things fall apart'- post colonialism caused chaos, riots and disagreements between social groups. The different groups together do not mix as they have different views on society and how it should be ran.
Parag 4: Effect of colonialism and post colonialism on literature- it changes people's views of society and issues. Challenges people and makes them think about how others may view the same things as them; white people are likely to have different thoughts and views as black people, but this may be a good thing, not always bad.
Conclusion: Summarise how the titles play on the themes of the extracts, positivity or negativity portrayed and what it can teach us through literature.
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Table two representation
On this table, we identified and communicated ideas about the similarities and differences between colonialism and post-colonialism. In my opinion, things were better during the post-colonialism period. This is because when England took over colonies, they provided valuble resources for them, and thus as a result of this, gave them more freedom to do what they wanted. Some may disagree with me, due to the segregation. However, this led to mixed families, which could be seen as a good thing for people. Furthermore, another similarity between the two was the action taken. Many people tried to stop the colonisation of many countries, but the fact they couldn't stop it may have been a good thing- because of the reasons mentioned above.
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