Rest in Peace, Bree.

When I heard the news I broke down. I could not handle the idea of such a beautiful soul being taken from us. Such a positive girl, with so much to live for, so much potential, so much life. I heard the news at 12:30, randomly waking up to a text message from a mutual friend. I immediately began to sob, I was completely devastated. My eldest brother, without my knowledge, was already consoling another friend of Bree's and was on his way to tell me. He picked me up, hugged me, and delivered the same message that I had already given him twice. The message that she's in a better place now, that I know God needed her for something better, that she was only being called home. My heart is still filled with a heavy sadness, but it's true, why would I ruin her memory with tears and heavy feelings when she was all about positivity. But it's very difficult to let go. Especially since I missed school Friday, and I was not able to tell her how amazing and cool she was one last time. Because luckily, I told you that almost twice a day every day. I will miss her dearly, she will forever hold a VERY special place in my heart. I will miss all our conversations, our compliment wars, your singing, our trips (where you would purposely laugh to annoy me!) and our snap chat "bae" pictures. Oh, Bree. You were one amazing person, and it is easy to see why so many people love you. Watch over us. Rest in Paradise, Bree. You and your family will be included in my prayers. #ForBree 

Tale of Two Cities: Lecture Notes

• lecture idea brought upon by French and London student swap (London to France for architecture, France to London for music based on architecture)
• Dickens conceived main idea whilst acting with his children and friends the drama of "The Frozen Deep" > gives it personal significance for Dickens
• Preface: story shaped itself, had complete possession of him, he has done and suffered what is on the pages > personal intensity
•  1857, Wilkie Collins + Dickens directed an amateur play > Dickens played the protagonist > inspired by 1845 Franklin Expedition to the North Passage (all perished)
• Dickens returns to the theme of sacrifice in the Tale of Two Cities
• 1857, production in Manchester > Dickens didn't want the play to be done by amateurs, crew: Ternans, fell in love with the daughter (Ellen Ternan and divorced to be with her)
• Lucie in Tale of Two Cities based off of Ellen
• doubleness of characters (CD, DC), considered naming character Richard or Dick
• 1858 > public readings  for profit as opposed to charity readings > established new relationship, became greatest reader of greatest writer of the age
• November 1858 > separate from publishers
• New journal 75% ownership
• April 30 > Chapters 2 and 3 of the Tale published
• suffering documented, first brought to London at age 10 (father's work), vile place yet important to his creative purposes, London is his inspiration

Edgar's Notes:

Jisu's Notes:

• First stage of the novel in March, 1860
• The most famous adaptation was called "The Only Way"- dramatization done by two clergymen with influential images
• 1935- First sound film by Ronald Coleman: The only way it was shown was through BBC Television
• Hard to overestimate the importance of Thomas Carlyle in 19th century
• Thomas Carlyle- Essayist, biographer, social thinker and historian
• Carlyle and Dickens met in 1840 and became friends
• In 1870 after Dickens' death, Carlyle described Dickens as clear sighted, loving man
• Dickens loved Thomas Carlyle's literary works- "Wonderful piece"
• Carlyle's history of French Revolution- full of flashing insights and full of events happening at night
• "Footsteps"-symbol 

Yesi's Notes:

Millie's Notes:

Collaboration: Yesenia Beas, Edgar Rodriguez, Jisu Yoon, and Millicent Angulo

WHATS THE STORY?

Why did Charles Dickens write the novel you're reading/reviewing? What in your analysis of literary techniques led you to this conclusion? (Make sure to include textual support illustrating Dickens' use of at least three techniques we've studied/discussed this year.)

Charles Dickens wrote the novel Great Expectations for the purpose of criticizing social classes, as well as the manner in which we follow examples or regulations that are set out for us. Dickens does this by using diction and syntax. He clearly defines the illiteracy of the lower class through the use of colloquialism, and the highly educated diction of the upper class. In a way Dickens seems to be implying that this gap needs to be closed, not only for certain people that are chosen, but for all. He also seems to criticize social classes through major characterization. We easily see how he describes the upper class, greedy in a sense, stuck up (Estella is a major example here), self-centered (Pip only caring about his own "expectations," completely forgets about the people that brought him up, especially people that loved him like Joe and Biddy), or even moldy, dusty, and cold-hearted (talking about Miss Havisham here). Through characterization we also see the hypocrisy of the social classes. For example, what compelled Pip's guardian to choose him? Why did Pip all of a sudden have a change in heart, from loving and admiring Joe and his work ethic, to completely despising where he came from? Another technique Dickens uses is ethos.  This he uses to show how we look up to a superior to tell us what to do and what to accomplish. In this case, the superior would not only be Jaggers, but the person who is conducting Jaggers, we also see the superiority of Jaggers above Pip and Wickman.

Lit. Terms #3

exposition - noun an account that sets forth the meaning or intent of a writing or discourse
expressionism - noun an art movement early in the 20th century; the artist's subjective expression of inner experiences was emphasized; an inner feeling was expressed through a distorted rendition of reality
fable - noun a short moral story (often with animal characters); a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
fallacy - noun a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning
falling - adj. becoming lower or less in degree or value; decreasing in amount or degree
action - noun something done (usually as opposed to something being spoken); the series of events that form a plot
farce - noun a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations
figurative - adj. (used of the meanings of words or text) not literal; using figures of speech
language - noun  a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols; the cognitive processes involved in producing and understanding linguistic communication
flashback - noun a transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to an earlier event or scene that interrupts the normal chronological development of the story; an unexpected but vivid recurrence of a past experience
foil - noun anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities verb cover or back with foil; enhance by contrast;hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
folk - noun people in general (often used in the plural); the traditional and typically anonymous music that is an expression of the life of people in a community; people descended from a common ancestor; a social division of (usually preliterate) people
foreshadowing - adj. indistinctly prophetic; noun the act of providing vague advance indications; representing beforehand
free - adj. able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint; not held in servitude; not occupied or in use; not fixed in position; not taken up by scheduled activities; costing nothing; adv.without restraint
verse - noun a piece of poetry; a line of metrical text; literature in metrical form
genre - noun a class of art (or artistic endeavor) having a characteristic form or technique; a kind of literary or artistic work
gothic - adj. characterized by gloom and mystery and the grotesque; old-fashioned and unenlightened
tale - noun a trivial lie; a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
hyperbole - noun extravagant exaggeration
imagery - noun the ability to form mental images of things or events
implication - noun something that is inferred (deduced or entailed or implied); a meaning that is not expressly stated but can be inferred
incongruity - noun the quality of disagreeing; being unsuitable and inappropriate
inference - noun the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation
irony - noun incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs; witty language used to convey insults or scorn

Books are simply amazing; individualized for every individual

Equality Among Humanity - A Masterpiece

Danielle & Erica need exposure from us, our stories and our connections (and networks).

Little explanation of their project and what they need from us, contact info is down below. PLEASE CONTACT THEM. LETS GET THIS AMAZING PROJECT GOING! Even if you just have further questions, feel free to contact them at the email provided.

 "Our masterpiece stems off of the idea that ignorance be reduced through knowledge and awareness. Seeing as this is a diversity/cultural identity and diversity project through social media, we need all the exposure that we can get. We need stories, your stories. There's so requirements whatsoever, no rubric, just you and your creation. Okay, I lied. We do have one requirement, and it is a very simple one. Your creation has to hold a piece of you, a piece of your story! Any creation is welcome (poetry, arts and crafts, photography, music, video, actual stories)."

SPREAD THE WORD THROUGH:
twitter hashtag: #equalityamonghumanity
twitter account: http://twitter.com/EAHumanity

CHECK OUT THEIR TUMBLR:
 equalityamonghumanity.tumblr.com 

CONTACT THEM:
 email: equalityamonghumanity@gmail.com 

ALSO, check out their personal blogs for other tid bits, such as poster designs (one is located below), info., and essentially watch their project grow!

"spread the word!

we want YOUR stories

we want AWARENESS

we want diversity

we want culture

we want acceptance"

 

 

Great Expectations - Thoughts so far..

100 pages in. Not enough to write my feelings on. But overall I seem to enjoy the plot and actual storyline. I enjoy the character of Pip, he is essentially a child trying to work his way through life, trying to figure out what he wants. It honestly extremely saddened me when I reached around page 100ish where Pip admitted that he was ashamed of being Joe's apprentice, of being part of the working class. Up to this point in the book he seemed to be extremely proud of Joe, even to look up to him and want to be like him, until he took Joe to meet Havisham. Pip's shame sprung from that initial meeting, and it continued whenever he would sing Joe's song, as he had sung it with Havisham and Estella. To some extent, Havisham and Estella's revenge on men seemed to have worked on Pip. Pip's admiration for Estella caused him to be ashamed of where he came from, in a sense that being the revenge. Overall, I do understand what is going on. Sometimes I have to reread, either because something did not make sense or because I seemed to understand incorrectly. Again, so far I am enjoying the story. I see Pip as an average child that makes up stories when something isn't exciting enough, or when things get uncomfortable. Especially with a child like Pip something like that should be expected since he attempts to offer what is expected of him to his sister and Pumblechook.

Lit. Terms #2

Circumlocution - noun an indirect way of expressing something

(Perfect picture at the moment)

Classicism - noun a movement in literature and art during the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe that favored rationality and restraint and strict forms

Cliché - a phrase or situation overused within society

Climax - noun the decisive moment in a novel or play; the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding

Colloquialism - noun  characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech

 

Comedy - noun light and humorous drama with a happy ending; a comic incident or series of incidents
Conflict - noun an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals); struggle or problem in a story causing tension

Connotation - noun an idea that is implied or suggested

Contrast - noun the act of distinguishing by comparing differences; the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared; verb put in opposition to show or emphasize differences

Denotation - noun the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression
Denouement - noun the final resolution of the main complication of a literary or dramatic work; the outcome of a complex sequence of events
Dialect - noun the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people
Dialectics - formal debates usually over the nature of truth

Dichotomy - noun split or break between two opposing things

Diction - noun the manner in which something is expressed in words; the articulation of speech regarded from the point of view of its intelligibility to the audience
Didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively)
Dogmatic - adj. rigid in beliefs and principles
Elegy - noun a mournful poem; a lament for the dead

Epic - adj. constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic; noun a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds

Epigram - noun a witty aphorism

"Great Expectations" Lecture Notes

• bildungsroman: novel of edu. > transformation of child to adolescent to adult > no clear marker throughout all cultures, races, nations, etc.
• fantasy story/ fairy tale
• trans. for Pip: desires fulfilled (pure, hope) > work, sacrifices
• strong sense of being unwanted > sensitive to others (more mature than other kids)
• feels above an apprenticeship, wants to work for more than just a living
• feels as though he is wicked or has a wicked beginning > doesn't know what normal is
• male characters > fill void, adopts them as role models > uses the male role models to "try on" their way of being and way of life > Pip reflects his role models*
• Havisham > "Have-a-sham" (fraud) OR "Have shame" >> left at altar, memorialize dead hope and betrayals > represents LOSS > dual meaning: fairy godmother (adopts Estella) and a symbol of decay
• Estella is Ms. Havisham's revenge > man hater
• Magwitch >prisoner, "animal," represents Pip's potential in an animalistic sense > Pip fears that he is as Magwitch (guilty and evil) > contact with Magwitch intensifies his fear 
• Pip feels uncomfortable in both situations > reason his descriptions are inaccurate
• Pip allows himself to be defined by what he has instead of who he is*
• FATHER FIGURES: Joe and Jaggers are polar opposites > similarity: power lies in potential, although its not used > J = Roman letter "I"
• JOE: instinct, doesn't judge or care about social standard, happy because of the relationships he has
• JAGGERS: doesn't trust people only facts, a blackmailer
• Victorian England > all about social standing
• Joe & Jagger (personality) > infant situation > Joe adopted the child > Jaggers bid of the child (Estella), forces mom to wed
• Wemmick > diff at home than at work > HOME: gentle, dutiful son, relationships more important than $$ > WORK: facts, all about profit > 2 mental double lives
• Magwitch (Ch 42 return) > cold, less of fear, more on the lack of human company (Siddhartha) > defined by point of life > Pip influenced him, instead of Pip being influenced
• 4 REVELATIONS: 1. Ms. Havisham not a fairy godmother 2. Estella and Pip are not meant to be, he is just her practice toy to further tear apart men 3. Pip's expectations were not his own, told by Magwitch what to think 4. ideas constantly recycle, when available, we will one day all come to understand the same ideas/concepts (BIG CYCLE)
• Pip glad to hear Orlick attacks Miss Joe (evil) > lessons apply to all of us evenly
• Pip sees life not as Jaggers sees it, but rather a place where growth can occur
• Pip wants to be practical in $ and relationships > he is a fantasist (wishes to benefit without sacrifices) and not a realist until the end
• Autobio: Pip's confession
• End: middle aged man confessing the problems of his youth, so as not to repeat it
• return to the forge > Joe married Biddy > new child, new seed named Pip (**Pip is a seed, something that hasn't yet become) > cycle of life continuing