Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Poem Analysis: Lines

Lines

Martha Collins

Draw a line. Write a line. There.
Stay in line, hold the line, a glance
between the lines is fine but don't
turn corners, cross, cut in, go over
or out, between two points of no
return's a line of flight, between
two points of view's a line of vision.
But a line of thought is rarely
straight, an open line's no party
line, however fine your point.
A line of fire communicates, but drop
your weapons and drop your line,
consider the shortest distance from x
to y, let x be me, let y be you.

1. Define the dramatic situation
- This poem isn't about lines, it seems to be about have to always do things perfectly in a relationship and having to abide by the rules of a "line".

2. Structure
-Repitition with the constant use of the word line. This poem is one stanza with no rhyme scheme.

3. Theme
- Just be in love and don't worry about all the little intricacies

4. Grammar and Meaning
- The entire poem is a metaphor for love, and the word line does not mean the dictionary definition of "line" in this poem, but rather would represent love.

5. Important Images
- "A line of fire communicates, but drop your weapons and drop your line,consider the shortest distance from x to y, let x be me, let y be you." I feel like this line sums up the entire poem and message.

6. Important Single Words
-LINE. This poem is based around the word line and its multiple meanings.

7. Tone
-The tone is persuasive making the reader rethink their view of not only the word line, but also relationships and expectations of those relationships.

8. Literary Devices
-The most evident literary device used in this poem is metaphor. The entire poem is a metaphor for love.

9. Flow
-The continuous use of the word "line" connects the poem together and makes it flow.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Gresham College Lectures

Tale of Two Cities
-Manchester-third city involved
-1857 Dickens assisted in writing The Frozen Deep; Dickens played Richard in this play; was to be played in Manchester
-Dickens fell in love with Ellen Turner, who played Lucy in The Frozen Deep, which is referenced in The Tale of Two Cities with the character Lucie
-Parallelism between The Frozen Deep and A Tale of Two Cities
-1858 Dickens started public readings of A Tale of Two Cities; became "The greatest reader, of the greatest writer, of this age."
-Dickens lived in London as a young child, "an extensive and peculiar knowledge of the city"
-This inspired his writing in A Tale of Two Cities
-Dickens first visited Paris in 1844
-London and Paris are the Two Cities
-Dickens visited Paris at least 15 times; span a time of political change
-"Wherever I turn a see some astonishing new works, doing or being done."
-Written around the time of the French Revolution
-was not a fan of Revolution, yet confronts it in this novel
-Novel was sent out in parts, like a series; episodes
-Wrote as he went along
-The events of the Revolution constitute one layer of the novel




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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Study Questions

Questions

1.How did Pip gain such a name?

2.Why does the convict, whom jumped out of the bushes at Pip, request a file?

3.How is the scene with the policeman bursting through Pip's door ironic?

4.What advice does Joe give to Pip after he learns that Pip has lied about his experience at the Satis House?

5.Why does Pip decide to focus more on his schooling and even take on an extra class?

6.What does Pip hope to get out of visiting with Miss Havisham and Estella?

7.To Pip's dissappointment, what title does he earn?

8.How did Orlick frighten Pip as a child?

9.What tragic accident occurs to Mrs Joes?

10.What unruly trait does Pip develop as he learns he will soon inherit a fortune and become a gentleman?

Answers

1.Pip, really named Philip Pirrip, was unable to pronounce his own name as a child and thus decided to call himself Pip.

2.The convict plans to use the file to saw away his leg irons, or shackles.

3.This scene is ironic because the reader expects Pip to be in trouble because he helped covicts escape, but surprisingly and unexpectedly, the policemen end up recruiting Joe and Pip to help them capture these escaped convicts.

4.Joe tells Pip to keep company with his own class for the present and that he can succeed someday only if he takes an honest path.

5.He realizes he doesn't want to be seen as just a "common" person to people like Estella.

6.Pip hopes Miss Havisham will raise him from his low social standing and give him a gentleman’s fortune.

7.Pip earns the title of apprentice rather than gentleman.

8.When Pip was younger, Orlick convinced him that the devil lived inside the Forge.

9.Mrs. Joe is attacked and shot, leaving her unable to speak.

10.Pip becomes a snob.