Response to Course Materials

So we finished Ceremony. Yeah. Good stuff. Remember when I was all psyched up about it and was like, "Yeah, it's the first novel we're reading this year, so I'm curious as to how it turns out." Yeah, let me know when you figure it out, cause I don't think that I did. Basically, what I got from the book was that, "Hey, it's all good if you're of mixed races/cultures/(insert other here,) just keep life in balance and then everything will work out well. But ya gotta make sure to find that balance and discover who you are in the world, or else you'll be a nutso and throw up a lot and suffer from PTSD and have friends that torture and kill each other." Those are my best friends. But in all honesty, I think that I need to do another read through or talk to a buddy about their interpretation, because I think that I'm a little lost. But over all, I did enjoy it. It was interesting to read something that is not like Western Literature, and if I use this story (once I understand it better) on the AP Exam, I might be able to score some secret club brownie points for using a book that ain't quite the same as others found in the AP suggested books column. So that was Ceremony. Silko is a pretty smart gal. 

Now we're starting to read our second novel of the year. BTW, it's our last book (yay!) and we don't have to annotate it (double yay! but I'll grudgingly admit that annotating does help in understanding the book more deeply... don't tell anyone I said that... as I write this on the internet for it to never be erased.) I really like it so far. The thing about it that's interesting is the narration style. The book is written in the form a of a letter (a decently sized letter to say the least) to the narrator/protagonist's boss at his job that he just retired from. See, he's apparently this bro that decided "Ugh! I'm so embarrassed that this fart-nugget that no one cares about or reads called me Corky! I was called that once! Why did that stupid name stick? You know what I should do? I should solve this problem. To solve this problem, I'm going to write a gruelingly long letter to my former boss to regain my dignity!" Sweet! But I do in all honesty like his narration style. Although, I do have to say that, while we studied Jung and his philosophies, I'm having a hard time seeing them in here. See, I know that they're there, because Ms. Holmes told me they're there. I just need to find them, and then be able to connect their meaning to the plot. No big. Old Grandpa dude/mentor, "clown," fun stuff. Maybe if I read more then I'll understand instead of trying to apply 8 different ides to a short amount that I have read. Probably a good idea. But this Carl Jung dude... I like him... Yeah, all psychologists are weird, but there's a reason we study them. They're freakin' sweet! ...Probably should go hunt down that powerpoint again though...

Response to Course Material

Wow. We're done with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. I will admit, I found it rather tedious in times, when the characters just bantered back and forth with each other. It was cute and funny at first, but at some point, you have to realize that you are grown men and need to calm down and talk through your problems differently than a three-year old would. But all in all, I enjoyed it. Yeah, it was hard to decipher through at first, but once Ms. Holmes taught us what to look for with hidden meanings and double meanings and funky allusions, the work became rather witty and enjoyable. Although, it also made me a bit sad, to think that "we," when Stoppard is making his point of the story, don't have control over our lives. Boo. Aw well. There are worse things I suppose. Now I have an excuse for being lazy. "It's not my fault. I was written to be like this." I don't think that I can use that as an excuse though... Hmmm... I think that I'll try it out.

Anyway, so now we're starting this novel. We haven't read any novels yet this year, and this one looks to be a bit strange. Not that I don't love strange things, for they are my life, but it's called Ceremony and has a giant silver feather on the front. Now, I haven't really read all that much of it, but I have noticed that it has been really helpful to have that background knowledge study session that we had when we were in some World Language teacher's classroom while people were MEAPing. The info talked about the differences between Western Literature and this type of literature. Basically meaning that most, if not all, of what we learned in Foster's book How to read Literature Like A Boss (AKA Professor) does not apply. Great. So finding symbols and meaning in things will be different in what things mean and how they represent things. But I'm excited about reading this book. We haven't read a novel yet, so I'm curious as to how this one will be, especially since it is very different from what we are used to reading. And I'm WAY more excited about this stuff than I am the other stuff we've been starting to do. As in AP exam stuff. Yay.

I know that we need to know how to do this stuff and practice for it, but multiple choice practice and essay writing, while being the purpose of the class, isn't actually all that fun. Shocker. It's about as fun as taking a splinter out of your finger. Yum. But I know that I need to practice this stuff and take it seriously, because if I don't, my score on the exam will reflect how much effort I put into this practice. Gaaaahhhhhh. Better start studying up. I will be a millionaire. ... Eventually... ... I need to find that list of definitions first though... Yay for AP Exams!

Response to Course Material

Don't get me wrong, Hamlet and I are tight now. We're like BFF's. Yeah, it's pretty sweet. But we've finished studying up on him and his awesome life and are now moving on. Although, before we part, I would like to recognize the play one last time. I do have to say that I think this may be Shakespeare's greatest play. Yeah, you gotta love the classics, and I know that a bunch of people will either agree or disagree, but I think Shakespeare really had an idea with this one. The way he made the play was interesting because, while it was able to describe a story and plot with great imagery and allusions given (but only understood if one speaks Elizabethan English, which I must say I need to study up on,) it is also left open for much interpretation. It was interesting as we watched many renditions of the same scene, just seen differently by different directors. Whether it's because they wanted to make a point or because that is how they interpreted the scene, in each rendition the play still worked and made sense with the basic them gotten across. However, different styles did create different tones of scenes throughout the play, allowing for directors to have more freedom. I think that's an interesting thing that Shakespeare does, allowing for us to read something of his, but not everyone seeing it the same way. 

Alright. Love you Hamlet. Trust me, with AP's coming up, we'll stay in touch bro. 

So now we're starting to read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. I actually really like. Tom Stoppard is very witty and cunning in his portrayal of these two characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet. By using the allusion to the final lines of Hamlet, Stoppard is already taking on a pretty hefty role: if you're going to make allusions, especially specific ones like what you just did, then dude, you best do well and make the Bard proud. What's really interesting about the play is that it has lots of meaning and actual sense to it, but it's hidden behind this exterior screen, where if one didn't look hard enough, he'd miss the concepts Stoppard is trying to get across. The well-hidden meanings in the play make finding them even more meaningful and more fun to read. I especially enjoy the banter between the characters. 'Tis a jolly good time indeed. 

Responses to Course Material #3

Uh. I do pay attention in class. Honest. Despite my lack of speech and willingness to share my ideas, I really do pay attention. So why is it difficult to recall what I've done in class recently? Oh, wait. How could I forget about you. You. I've been studying for you for quite some time. And apparently incorrectly as is apparent in my grade. You.
The terms test.
I paid attention in class, I played enough Who Wants To Be A Millionaire that I now don't want to be a millionaire anymore if that's what it takes to be a millionaire. Thanks Ms. Holmes. You've ruined being rich for me. Just kidding. Please don't fail me for saying that. I confused many of the words with each other, and to be honest, some just seemed to run screaming from my brain as I started the test. On the bright side, it did seem easier the second time. That's probably good, right? This test was a nice wake-up call in showing me that my current study methods are wrong and will not work. Tough love, but effective.
My class really likes those... What would you call them... Ya know, those warm-up thingies that we do before class starts that eventually end up taking up half of the class period for us because we're so methodical in what we write. Even the day we just copied what second hour said. Third hour, all the way. Those reading and responding challenges. I do enjoy those as well, but I need to learn to speak up more in class, because I never seem to get my opinion out there. I think it's because I feel like, "I'm not qualified to say what the author was trying to say. Who am I to judge what this means?" If I keep thinking this way, AP Lit is going to be a long, hard year. This is what we do everyday. I just need to get my ideas out there, and not just in the challenges but in class discussions as well. I'm just too afraid that if I say something no one will agree and everyone will give me strange looks and then I'll question my reading comprehension and then... I need to remember the big question though: Who cares? Not everything said makes sense in class. And it could lead to interesting discussions. I should volunteer more.
Let's see. We started to watch Death of a Salesman. My dad is an AP Lit teacher as well and he's taught this book before. He told me he doesn't like it that much. Great. It is a bit frustrating to watch. They all seem to have communication issues and Willy seems a little... I don't want to say "nuts", but doesn't seem to be "all there in the head" if you get my drift. I mean, he looks pretty old, so that's understandable. And  selling might be pretty tough, so... Again, I don't want to make assumptions quite yet. I'm interested though, because I've never heard my dad say he didn't really enjoy a work of literature, especially one as famous and often-used as Death of a Salesman. I should probably start annotating soon, so what happened with The American Dream doesn't happen again. New study habits being implemented now.