Dear readers,
Today in literature class we read a short story containing very difficult and descriptive language. The short story we have not finished. So far it's about a women who has just come home to collect her boy and take him to an unknown place which will be revealed the further we read on.
Comment on the settings, how does the author depict (show) the people's surroundings?
D H Lawrence uses strong descriptive language; 'The pit-bank loomed up beyond the pond, flames like red sores licking its ashy sides, in the afternoon's stagnant light', 'A large bony vine clutched at the house, as if to claw down the tiled roof'. He'll use at least three or more describing words instead of usually using one or two.
What are the people like in the extract?
The mother is proud of being middle-classed but not satisfied with the current surroundings they live in; She wished she wasn't living there. The young boy is almost adult like; 'He stood quite still, defiantly'... 'The boy did not move or answer'.
What is the overall theme or message of the extract?
He wants to depict an environment that is unhappy and lifeless. The people feel trapped in their own life; the mother disillusioned; 'Her mouth closed with disillusionment'. The boy resentful; 'The lad advanced slowly, with resentful, tactician movement.
It gives the idea of what its like living in poverty and what women and children were exposed to.
Place the story in it's context, how it relates to the events.
After queen Elizabeth died and before world war one; the world feels dark and gloomy.
The factory system is becoming more important than people; The horse gets frightened and bolts, the women steps back'.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Superman and Paula Brown's new snowsuit - (1955)
Dear readers,
today in class we read a short story giving some insight what life was like when the war broke out, in the eyes of a little girl.
What extent is the story autobiographical?
The writer Sylvia Plath, born on October 27, 1932, uses her own past experiences to tell the story. For example when the girl (in the story) recalls the breakout of war, this was an experience Sylvia went through.
Sylvia Plath's life tragically ended in sadness, anger and eventually suicide on February 11th in 1963. The ending in Superman and Paula Brown's snowsuit wasn't quite that extravagant but it certainly contained some of those distraught feelings in the end.
Who in real life is Otto?
Otto Plath was Sylvia Plath's father. He was diagnosed with diabetes and after suffering for years from his Ill health he eventually died on the night of November the 5th, 1940. Sylvia was only eight years old at the time and announced "I'll never speak to God again".
How old was the author when the war began?
She was nine years old when the war began on September 11th, 1941.
Did she come from Winthrop?
Yes she came from Winthrop in Boston. After the tragedy of her father's death, the Plath's moved with Sylvia's grandparents to massachusetts and lived in Wellesley.
Did she attend Annie Warren F Grammar school?
Yes when she was in primary school. She also studied at Gamaliel Bradford Senior High School (now Wellesley high school), Smith College and later Newham College.
Her brother's name was Warren.
today in class we read a short story giving some insight what life was like when the war broke out, in the eyes of a little girl.
What extent is the story autobiographical?
The writer Sylvia Plath, born on October 27, 1932, uses her own past experiences to tell the story. For example when the girl (in the story) recalls the breakout of war, this was an experience Sylvia went through.
Sylvia Plath's life tragically ended in sadness, anger and eventually suicide on February 11th in 1963. The ending in Superman and Paula Brown's snowsuit wasn't quite that extravagant but it certainly contained some of those distraught feelings in the end.
Who in real life is Otto?
Otto Plath was Sylvia Plath's father. He was diagnosed with diabetes and after suffering for years from his Ill health he eventually died on the night of November the 5th, 1940. Sylvia was only eight years old at the time and announced "I'll never speak to God again".
How old was the author when the war began?
She was nine years old when the war began on September 11th, 1941.
Did she come from Winthrop?
Yes she came from Winthrop in Boston. After the tragedy of her father's death, the Plath's moved with Sylvia's grandparents to massachusetts and lived in Wellesley.
Did she attend Annie Warren F Grammar school?
Yes when she was in primary school. She also studied at Gamaliel Bradford Senior High School (now Wellesley high school), Smith College and later Newham College.
Her brother's name was Warren.
Walkabout - Nicolas Roeg (1971)
Dear readers,
Instead of reading a short story in class, we watched a short clip from an old film called the 'Walkabout'. After watching this film we then had to evaluate and extract ideas and themes from the film.
1)Concentrate on the images that occur in the film.
Brick walls: Separating people or blinding them from what they're really seeking in life. Limiting their communication from society
Shots of people (mostly legs): It's impersonal and anonymous, like people growing up in the city lack purpose and personality. They travel in a mass of people completely anonymous to each other rather than individuals.
Buildings: The buildings dominate the city rather than the people. They make the people look small, insignificant and almost lonely.
2)Comment on what points/themes you think the film makers are trying to make:
-When all the girls are breathing in synchronization it demonstrates how robotic and almost perfect they seem to be. This is similar to the city people walking in unison, also robotic.
-The marriage between the mother and father is strained and disconnected; they're in separate rooms of the house, there's no communication between them, it's very silent.
-the city isn't a very comforting place to live; it is demonstrated clearly on the family's face's that it is a very unsatisfying place to live and that there is barely any life in it; it feels gloomy and very dull.
-In some scenes in the film there are reoccurring images of city walls and buildings. Splashed across some of these buildings and walls are rays of light reflecting off them. These rays could almost symbolize that in this dull and gloomy city there is the occasional bright light bringing life into the dark and motionless walls.
-labels on the tree's take away the beauty of nature.
Instead of reading a short story in class, we watched a short clip from an old film called the 'Walkabout'. After watching this film we then had to evaluate and extract ideas and themes from the film.
1)Concentrate on the images that occur in the film.
Brick walls: Separating people or blinding them from what they're really seeking in life. Limiting their communication from society
Shots of people (mostly legs): It's impersonal and anonymous, like people growing up in the city lack purpose and personality. They travel in a mass of people completely anonymous to each other rather than individuals.
Buildings: The buildings dominate the city rather than the people. They make the people look small, insignificant and almost lonely.
2)Comment on what points/themes you think the film makers are trying to make:
-When all the girls are breathing in synchronization it demonstrates how robotic and almost perfect they seem to be. This is similar to the city people walking in unison, also robotic.
-The marriage between the mother and father is strained and disconnected; they're in separate rooms of the house, there's no communication between them, it's very silent.
-the city isn't a very comforting place to live; it is demonstrated clearly on the family's face's that it is a very unsatisfying place to live and that there is barely any life in it; it feels gloomy and very dull.
-In some scenes in the film there are reoccurring images of city walls and buildings. Splashed across some of these buildings and walls are rays of light reflecting off them. These rays could almost symbolize that in this dull and gloomy city there is the occasional bright light bringing life into the dark and motionless walls.
-labels on the tree's take away the beauty of nature.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Snowdrops
Dear readers,
In literature class today we read a short story that clearly portrays Growing up and grief. We had to discuss the characters and the heading.
Discuss as symbol:
Snowdrops are really fragile and represent some of the characters feelings; Miss Webster and the boy. It also symbolizes new life; after one life ends another begins
Characterization:
Edmund: He's mature in some ways but thinks very simple, "It's only bacon". He's not very curious unlike the boy.
The boy: The boy is very curious and has certain expectations about things. He's curious about "What's inside the sandwhich". He's sensitive and has a wide imagination. He believes only what people tell him and is quite obsessed with flowers. He doesn't pick up on adult social que's and understand social pain. The boy lives in a fantasy world and is very observant.
Miss Webster: She's mourning over the young man who died who she shared a quiet relationship with. She is wearing black and her voice is quite hoarse during the story which she didn't continue. She instead took the children to see the snowdrops though she is secretly seeking to see the funeral march of the young man.
In literature class today we read a short story that clearly portrays Growing up and grief. We had to discuss the characters and the heading.
Discuss as symbol:
Snowdrops are really fragile and represent some of the characters feelings; Miss Webster and the boy. It also symbolizes new life; after one life ends another begins
Characterization:
Edmund: He's mature in some ways but thinks very simple, "It's only bacon". He's not very curious unlike the boy.
The boy: The boy is very curious and has certain expectations about things. He's curious about "What's inside the sandwhich". He's sensitive and has a wide imagination. He believes only what people tell him and is quite obsessed with flowers. He doesn't pick up on adult social que's and understand social pain. The boy lives in a fantasy world and is very observant.
Miss Webster: She's mourning over the young man who died who she shared a quiet relationship with. She is wearing black and her voice is quite hoarse during the story which she didn't continue. She instead took the children to see the snowdrops though she is secretly seeking to see the funeral march of the young man.
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