#8 Tone/Mood

Although tone and mood can often be categorizes as being similar, the two are very different and represent emotions felt by the speaker and by the reader. Tone represents the speaker’s attitude, while the mood reflects the reader’s experience as a result of the speaker’s attitude. A great example of this difference is made clear in Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”. The tone of this poem, as in the speaker’s attitude toward the subject, is initially quixotic in that the speaker portrays time as everlasting. He asserts that he would spend hundreds of years praising her body parts. (13-15) Then while the previous quote might instill a satisfied mood in the mind of the reader, there is a change in tone to being more vicious and severe as the speaker alludes to what will happen if his “mistress” goes through life without being proactive and taking advantage of the present time. In the mix of all of this, the mood, or the feeling the reader experiences, plays a big part. The initial mood that corresponds with the quixotic tone is euphoric and almost so pleased due to all of the speaker’s impractical promises. Also, a depressing and horrific mood is felt by the reader due to the speaker’s severe tone. An example of this would be when the speaker says that his coy mistress would be alone in a “vault” where “worms shall try that long preserved virginity”(27-28). Again, the use of the words, “vault” and “worms” depicts a frightful image that dutifully addresses the tone and mood of the poem, and specifically the second stanza.  

#7 Diction

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, each character’s diction helps portray the character’s emotions and allows the reader to be ready to perceive each character’s unique identity. The diction of the queen differs from the diction of Hamlet, himself. For example, in act one, scene one, the very touchy subject of the death of Hamlet’s father is being discussed. Both the queen and Hamlet react separately; this difference in their reactions is seen in their different uses of diction. On the one hand, the Queen responds almost unaffectedly by stating that death is “common” and that “all that lives must die.” In opposition to the queen’s insensitive reaction, Hamlet retorts that “it [ his father’s death]is” a big deal. Their opposite reactions help the reader identity with their individual characters. For example, the Queen’s diction and her seemingly unconcerned responses actually reflect her nature to put things off and to lack proactivity. As the play progresses, this assumption becomes fact. Similarly, Hamlet’s uneasy character and tenseness of diction in the first few pages foreshadows his uneasy character that persists later on in the play. Moreover, as demonstrated by the examples from Hamlet, the diction used in poetry, separately by each character, gives the reader a frame of reference for identifying with the characters and their unique emotions. 

#6 Imagery/Figurative Language

The use of figurative language and imagery in poetry help paint a picture of the moods and themes the poem is trying to portray. E.e Cummings’ poem “Ponder” employs different techniques of imagery and figurative language. For example, personification is used when the speaker describes “the stone cringes clinging to the stone”(L 4-5). Here the use of personification helps the image come alive and helps the reader paint a visual image. Next, imagery is very strong in “Ponder”; this is especially true with the powerful language that is used to describe the “motheaten forum” is mentioned. As the poem continues, many more aspects of imagery can be recognized, evidently with phrases such as “vertical worthless” and “horizontal business”. Additionally, the use of “horizontal business” suggests a possible euphemism by disguising the actual implications of the term. In a unique way  these devices evoke emotions, feelings and, meaning through simple words and phrases. Moreover, the elements contained in imagery and figurative language help the poem speak out to the reader and assist the reader in attaining the complete meaning of the poem. 

#5 Sound

Shelly's poem "Ozymandias" employs many of the techniques of sound. Specifically the poem makes use of enjambment. A majority of the poem flows very nicely with few punctuations or stops. This helps support the cheerful and more positive aspects of the poem. However, in order to emphasize a significant poem within the poem, Shelly makes use of caesura with the line “Nothing besides remains”. With this line, the nice flow comes to an abrupt stop. In addition to Shelly’s use of a caesura, the poem contains harsh sounding words such as “cold command” and “sneer”. The sounds of these words causes the reader to stop mid-way into the line. The use of “cold command” gives off not only a harsh sounds, but also an eerie feeling. Similarly, the s sound in the word “sneer” is very strong and adds to the mood of the poem.

#4 Symbol

Symbols are important in poetry and help hint at the meaning of the stanzas they are in and the poem as a whole. For example, in Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” unique symbols are used in the three stanzas that help allude to the emotions and promises of the speaker. In the first stanza symbols help support the idea of time as everlasting. The use of “rubies” and “empires” suggests riches and corresponds with the speaker’s attempt to lure in his “mistress”. Additionally, in the second stanza the speaker asserts that if his coy mistress does not take advantage of the present time, then she will end up in a “marble vault”. This reference to a “marble vault” connotes a stone, cold, and deadly image, which is exactly the environment that the speaker is trying to describe. To continue along with this theme of death, are the “iron gates of life”, that are mentioned in the third stanza, paint a picture of the loss of life and all hope. Ultimately, the speaker uses these images as symbols to point out what could be if his coy mistress does or does make the most of the time she is given. 

Blog #3 Setting

The setting in a fiction or drama is the item by which the time and place and the when and where are indicated. (Jago 67) Detailed, the setting hints at the overall atmosphere that the story is going to take on. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, references to the time of day, the season, and the weather help crystallize the image of the separate environments. For example in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, there is an opening graveyard scene where the setting is described as a castle in Elsinore sometime in the middle of the night. Usually the word “castle” suggests a dark and spooky scene; this connotation is quite accurate in predicting the eerie events that follow in scene one. Similarly, in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice setting helps mold the image of the Bennet sisters’ surroundings. Austen’s novel, however, presents more of a social scene where the attitudes and personalities of each character are introduced right in the beginning. This insight provides the same kind of information that the setting does in Hamlet, just with points about people and their reactions rather than physical details. Both help to form the storylines and hint at the subsequent scenes or situations. Therefore, setting in a fiction or drama is very crucial and helps relate to the meaning of the stories as a whole. (Jago 67). 

Character

Character is an essential element in every fiction and drama, especially because it ties directly into the plot. Without any characters, it would be difficult for the plot to unfold. The plot is laid out and the characters are introduced and the presence of protagonists and antagonists becomes apparent. In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the characters and their backgrounds are very complex. Hamlet, the main and dynamic character, is the protagonist who also acts in conflict with Claudius, the antagonist. The interactions between both characters aid in the development and progression of the plot. For example, Hamlet’s character reaction to the sight of the ghost, his deceased father, helps present the major conflict of the play, which gives meaning to his need for revenge against Claudius. Similar to the importance of character in Shakespeare’s drama, Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, presents more internal characters. One of these characters is Elizabeth Bennet, who is the protagonist. She fosters the most conflict because of her judgmental beliefs and reactions against opposite character, Mr. Darcy. Her behavior can be justified by categorizing her as a round character with a range of emotions that change over the course of the story (p64). This justification helps give meaning to Elizabeth’s character and her unexpected actions to fall in love with Mr. Darcy towards the end. Both Hamlet and Elizabeth have foil characters that help their unique character and personality stand out. Moreover, character in Shakespeare’s drama and Austen’s fiction goes “hand-in-hand” (63) with the respective plots and helps give meaning and value to the storylines. 

Plot in Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice

The way the plot is unfolded is similar in both Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice. Both stories lay out a series of events and present background information that is necessary to follow the story line. For example in Hamlet the introduction of the characters in the beginning grave scene is a necessary component for understanding the death of Hamlet’s father and why the ghost is so relevant. Like Hamlet, Pride and Prejudice also presents the characters and story line in chronological order. This arrangement helps the reader stay connected with the characters and become familiar with their distinct reactions to certain situations. For example, Elizabeth is introduced as the sister of a very complex family and her reactions in the first few chapters help the reader see that she is very judgmental; an observation that is essential to understanding the overall meaning of the novel and her place in it. 

Although similar, the plots of Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice prove to be different. While both do follow the basic stages of a play, including the exposition, rising actions, climax, falling action, and denouement, their physical arrangements contrast. Hamlet, opposed to Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, is broken up into acts and those acts into scenes. This fragmented arrangement helps keep the reader in line and focused, while giving them a break in between critical moments to absorb all of the events that previously occurred.  In Pride and Prejudice there are chapters, and in the first chapter Austen employs “in medias res” by using a show not tell method. Specifically, Austen throws the reader into an unfamiliar conversation between unfamiliar characters, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Although, at first this may seem strange to the reader, it actually forces him to hesitate asking questions until more information is revealed. 

Evaluation of Turnitin.com Essay

Overall, I felt like I was more focused while writing this essay, especially on narrowing down my topics. However, I need to be more clear and refrain from writing sentences that trail off because I loose the main point. For next time, I need to aim at making clearer sentences so that I can effectively communicate my points. Specifically with this essay, I may have lost sight of the prompt a little ways into the essay, so next time I can make sure that all of my body paragraphs refer back to the thesis, and ultimately to the prompt.

Ozymandias and To the Virgins to Make Much of Time:

Percy Shelly’s “Ozymandias” serves as a justification to Robert Herrick’s “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” by illustrating how quickly life and time come and go. The main idea of Ozymandias lies in the transient nature of time: the fact that even the most powerful beings be torn down or overcome just as quickly as time afforded them notable titles.  The ability for time to decay even the greatest royalties becomes an incredible, yet depressing truth. Inevitably, the “Mighty” Ozymandias was remembered only with a plaque on a remnant sculpture.  Furthermore, the idea of a short-lived life perfectly gives light to the request by the speaker in Herrick’s poem; the idea of carpe diem. The entirety of Herrick’s poem stresses the importance of seizing every moment of the day, seeing as there is not enough time to accomplish all the enjoyable things in life while still youthful. Although, the speaker in Herrick’s poem primarily alludes to relational requests, his urgent tone is justified by the bigger picture portrayed in Shelly’s poem. Moreover, Ozymandias serves to explain the importance of seizing the day by showing the “bare” and “lonely” aftermath that awaits life after death if opportunities are not sought out and accomplished. Therefore, both poems use time as a vehicle to hint at complementary main ideas; While To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time stresses that time is of essence; Ozymandias explores time’s ephemeral nature and explains exactly why it is so important to take advantage of the present moment and the available possibilities. 

Acting Notes: Make-up

Pg. 728 Dialogue between King, Hamlet, and the Queen
My character: The Queen
When I was deciding how I was going to go about the acting notes for the queen during this moment, I first read the scene outloud and discovered an almost forced tone that was attempting to be genuine. More specifically I felt like the Queen was trying to be persuasive as a mother in order to calm or pacify Hamlet; therefore, I believed the queen should take on a pacifying and soothing tone. But I also felt like she was holding some of her own feelings back: perhaps they were shut down by the king's authority; as a result I simultaneously adopted a somewhat insecure attitude for the queen . There were also a few moments where The Queen was trying to make logical claims with a furthered effort to placate Hamlet. For example the line " all that lives must die" --- Here I find it appropriate to acquire an assuring tone as well as a persuasive one...in order to satisfy Hamlet.
Overall, in my opinion, the queen's tone of voice is very gentle-- exemplifying her motherly role--- while at the same time, she is not fully absorbing all of Hamlet's emotions enough to give credit to his mournful state because she is inherently insecure.

To the Virgins to make Much of Time

This poem reminds me of Marvell's To His Coy Mistress. Both emphasize the necessity to take advantage of time because it is very short. The pace is rushed and the tone is urgent and persuasive as demonstrated by the line: "Then be not coy, but use your time." The speaker also introduces the concept of time and " the glorious lamp of heaven, the sun" and that the more one waits the more time and opportunity is wasted. Both Marvell and Herrick stress the importance of carpe diem and taking advantage of "youth."

To An Athlete Dying Young

To An Athlete Dying Young
This Poem follows a traditional rhyme scheme. The main idea of this poem lies in celebrating youth and the accomplishments that were able to be achieved. The first stanza really paints a picture and presents the imagery of a joyful time in the athlete's career. This poem emphasizes that it's better to be have than a have-not and to have fame forever as a young and able man.

Compare/Contrast Two Poems:

These two poems have differing tones and main ideas. Whereas Ozymandias’ tone is depressing and ironic, Ponder presents a facetious tone that is quite rushed. While both poems hint at the concept of time and its ephemeral nature, they each separately use time as a vehicle to hint at different main ideas. Ozymandias presents the idea of greatness that seemed everlasting but then counters that feeling of timelessness by describing how quickly vast loneliness can tear down something so powerful. This poem suggests the presence of a wonderful empire that expects to take on an everlasting legacy, however over time it decays into “nothing.” Ponder uses the concept of time to illustrate that time is of the essence and similar to Marvell’s “Coy Mistress” the pace is rushed and harsh in order to allude to his main request that all that's important is “horizontal business.”

Question #7 and 14

7. I believe that Hamlet delibrately puts on an "antic" disposition in order to see if he is being spyed on. His bipolar actions give incite into a possible jokester attitude.
14. I feel like this statement highlights Hamlet's state of confusion, especially considering all the events and tradegies he has had to experience, i.e. his father's death and mother's remarrying Claudius. However, I also feel like Hamlet could be putting on a show and acting, so that he displays an artifical public self. I feel like Hamlet feels insecure and that he needs to act in order to see if people are being truthful to him. At the same time, he seems to be traumatized by all that is occuring.

Question #4 page 830

Both Laertes and Polonius warn Ophelia that Hamlet could be unfaithful to Ophelia and even though at one moment he may profess his love, in another instant he could be running away with someone else. Laertes warns Ophelia to be afraid in her relationships and basically tells her not to trust Hamlet. Polonius says that Ophelia could be lowering her status by being with Hamelt and that she should make herself more expensive. Evidently, both Laertes and Polonius do not favor Hamlet. Some of Laertes's argument presents an element of hypocrisy and is therefore, less fair. Polonius' argument is very long and pretentious but being her father, Ophelia is put in a position where she must be obedient. Both men readily expect Ophelia to take their warning and advice to heart and to be compliant. In a way, Laertes and Polonius demean her and make her inferior to their instructions.  Class fits into this situation because of Hamlet's superior class subjugating Ophelia's chances with him because of her lower status.

“It is impossible to say just what I mean! But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen”

Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, is a dramatic monologue in which the speaker’s perpetual indecisiveness gives incite to his highly insecure nature. The speaker constantly makes decisions and then doubts himself in the decision he made. He presents himself as a very fragmented character and never offers up a fully thought out point, but rather he proposes ideas and then dismisses them quickly after his proposal. The speaker, Prufrock is continually unable to express himself: “It is impossible to say just what I mean! But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen” (104-105). Prufrock’s uncertainty about his life and his position in it is demonstrated by this quote. The description of the “magical lantern” suggests a public display of confusion of all the thoughts circulating in his head. This quote seems to give light to the fact that Prufrock is not following any real direct path, and therefore, he has definite trouble in finding meaning and purpose in all aspects of his life. 

Manipulation in "To His Coy Mistress

In Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” the speaker makes exaggerated claims and describes the ephermeral nature of time in order to manipulate his “coy mistress” into seizing the day. The speaker begins his argument with a conditional statement that “had” he “ but world enough and time” he would spend eternity adoring and loving his mistress.  Despite the soothing and reassuring tone that permetates through the first stanza, the speaker uses hyperbole and makes impractical claims such that he would spend one hundred years to “praise her eyes and forehead,”in order to lure his mistress in and persuade her of the speaker’s endless love.  The speaker’s calming tone suddenly takes a turn in the second stanza when he discusses  the unfortunate but harsh reality of death. It is now, that the speaker really begins using terror to frighten his “mistress” into taking advantage of the present moment, given that now contrastly time is scarce. He graphically claims that “worms shall try that long perserved virginity.” Here the speaker could not be more dramatic in his mission to tempt his “coy mistress”. Finally in the last stanza “Now, therefore”  demonstrates the speaker’s attempt to attain ulimtate authority over his innocent and “youthful” mistress. Unlike the slow and calming pace of the first stanza, the third stanza is rushed, almost as if the speaker foresees that time is of the essence. In his final claim and act of mainupultion, the speaker asserts that the mistress is active and able to make the most of the present moment with him because of her appropriately youthful “hue.” All of the claims that the speaker makes, from the everlasting nature of time, to death eating up her virginity, serve to lure his “coy mistress” into believing that there is not time like the present, and, therefore, the message of carpe diem is espoused.

Marvell’s “Coy Mistress”

“Now, therefore, while the youthful hue..”

Throughout “To His Coy Mistress,” the speaker presents a logical argument and finally concludes it with “therefore,” to make a final and reasoned out claim. The chronological order of which the speaker follows aims to convince and persuade his “coy mistress” that now is the time to seize all opportunities, “while the youthful hue” is still fresh and ready. The pace of this line seems to be rushed, almost as if the speaker foresees that time is of the essence. The speaker’s use of “youthful” suggests innocence, fertility, and ability; all are characteristics of which he believes is very much existent in the mistress’ present and vigorous state. He suggests that the mistress is active and able to make the most of the present moment with him because of her appropriately youthful “hue.” All of this being said, the speaker appears to offer forth the chorological order of events and mention of her “youthful hue” with the intention of first startling her by describing death and the scarcity of time, then persuading her to believe that there is no time like the present, (or carpe diem). One could say that the speaker is either deceitful or brilliant in the methods he uses to court his mistress by praising her ephemeral youth. 

Is Collins a nightmare or funny?

 D.W. Harding presents his views toward writer Jane Austen. At the time Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice she includes satire in her novel because judgments were taken very seriously and Austen, being a woman, had to be cautious of how the ideas she portrayed and the characters she created because one could have said that she was too radical. Harding, however, appears to be quite harsh in his analysis of Austen and seems to discredit the presence of satire in Pride and Prejudice. Harding asserts that Austen brings, “ caricatures into direct contact with the real people” (298) and he feels like she makes it blatantly obvious. Mr. Collins then becomes a topic for discussion. Harding seems to argue that Austen, in an attempt to appease herself, portrays characters in an overly dramatic way, like with Mr. Collins in order to create character’s to laugh at and to make obvious the satire behind obnoxious characters like Mr. Collins. However, here is where I would have to disagree with Harding’s degradation of Mr. Collins a character in Pride and Prejudice and his dismal of the presence of satire. Harding says that Mr. Collins is not as funny as he may seem and that Austen is rather inadequate in portraying him as a character that reveals satire because she displays his character so plainly that she presents an amateur approach to satire. I would have to say that Harding has it wrong; I feel like Austen had a deeper meaning in all of Mr. Collins’ funniness and obnoxiousness. I fee like Austen was trying to convey a real world aspect within Mr. Collins aside form his tiresome nature in which sophisticated individuals would be able to associate with. Moreover in my opinion Harding presents himself as the amateur in that he only sees above the surface and fails to dig deeper to connect with Austen’s overall portrayal of Mr. Collins. Deeper down I see that what Austen portrays is much more profound than Harding suggests.  

Apperance VS Reality: Evaluating My Essay

After reviewing my comments from the turnitin.com essay, I realize that I need to be more clear in the way I present my ideas. I need to focus on the smaller things to make my essay come together as a whole. Small things such as awkward phrases,word choice, and passive voice. I feel like I can organize my ideas better so that I can be more specific and help guide the reader more clearly. While I attempted  to analyze my ideas, next time I will look to make my analysis flow better within the overall paragraph. I look forward to the next essay and creating multiple drafts where I can catch the errors I made this time.

What makes a strong essay

I believe that a strong and to-the-point thesis is essential to creating a strong essay. The thesis serves as a guide to the reader and helps direct the readers argument. Another important aspect that an essay has to follow is focus and clearity, the reader must be able to soak in all of the ideas presented and feel as though they are clearly layed out. Good transitions and examples are important, too.
One of the essays: C Mrs. Bennet: Austen's Punching Bag in my opinion exemplies all of the qualities a good essay needs. It presents a clear thesis and claim as well as using sophistocated diction, yet it does not loose the reader's focus. This essay stays on track and uses mainly one example, Mrs. Bennet. The use of less in this essay is definitely more. And his one example is effectively explored and broken down into more in depth examples. I also feel like this essay possess a lot of the writer's own claims; staying original is very important.

C. Mrs. Bennet: Austen's Punching Bag

1. Keeps the reader interested.
2. Very sophistocated writing and very focused.
3. Gives a great character description of Mrs. Bennet in his own words.
4. Gives good examples to back up his claims.

N for Natasha

1. The writer presents a very catchy, original topic sentence to his introduction that makes me want to find out more.
2. His writing and analysis seem to be very sophistocated, yet relatable.
3. In the introduction the writer effectively presents contrast yet he is able to also bring the two authors together and present a comparison in between them.
4. I really appreicated this writer's display of knowledge for the two topics and he is able to go in depth into the material, while staying on track, and summing everything up by the end.

H for Helga

1. He introduces complexity from the start (in the introduction)
2. Thesis- is clear and to the point and gives the reader something to look forward to
3. He provides good context information, however, maybe he goes a little overboard.
4. He describes the different techniques used by each author.
5. He is very focused in his writing, stays on topic, as in talking about town gossip.

Impressions vs. Reality

Working Thesis:

While at first it may seem that both authors allot a great deal of freedom to the reader to interpret the character’s for themselves, in actuality each author manipulates the reader by employing town gossip and dubious first impressions of characters as foils, all by means to generate within the reader an overall judgment of each character even before he can investigate characters for himself.