Food Memoir Video (Please Pardon the Watermarks)

Food Memoir Bibliography

Bibliography

"The Archaeology of Food and Identity." Join Academia.edu & Share Your Research with the World. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.

"Eatonville Restaurant Est. 2009." Eatonville Restaurant Est. 2009. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading between the Lines. New York: Quill, 2003. Print.

"A Spoken Dish." A Spoken Dish. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.

My Glog

My Food Memoir

“Whenever people eat or drink together, it’s communion” (8.Foster).  We eat with family, with friends; it is a part of who we are as individuals. As Katheryn C. Twiss once said, “We constantly use food to express not only who we are but also who we wish to be, asserting our membership in certain groups and distancing ourselves from others.” When eating a hard roll, also called a Keiser or Vienna roll due to their origin, you are performing a singular act. This is a common food in cities such as New York, from which most of my family originates. When I eat a hard roll, I remember the culture that captivates it.

I remember short trips to Manhattan in which I excitedly walk down Broadway and watch the sun set from Time Square. I recall my grandfather’s stories of being a Newspaper boy for over 30 years, only stopping when drafted into the army. I remember aunts and uncles whose thoughts are deep and words are quicker than many of those around me. I remember the fast pace of the city streets and the glowing lights from the billboards and signs that penetrate the night. I, a teenager who has spent most of her life in Ohioan Suburbia, have always felt a great connection to the East Coast. There, things are faster. The food is cheap and the conversations are quicker.

Hard rolls have been around for quite some time. My great grandmother ate them on her way to work as a costumer on Broadway, my grandma ate them on her lunch breaks at Met Life, my mother ate them throughout her time at New York Medical University, and I shall eat them as I search for work in Theatrical Design. They are both a quick snack as well as a comfort food, tracing generations. When I bite into a hard roll, I feel the rush of the city, hear the traffic beside me, and see my family history stretched before me. “In the real world, breaking bread together is an act of sharing and peace” (8.Foster). And so we break bread together, generation after generation. For some, we cling to the past; for others, the present, and for me, the future.

There may not be many stars in the sky there, there be less traffic in Mason and less of a carbon footprint, but there, in New York, I am at home, walking under electrical stars in seas of strangers with a hard roll in my hand.

Blog Post Number 20: "The Rainbow" Essay

Part 1:
By using anaphora, repetition, and rhetorical questions, D.H. Lawrence’s “The Rainbow” amplifies the differences between the woman and the men of the time period; this shows the audience what her character is really like.

Lawrence first shows the men’s perspective through the use of anaphora, saying that “their senses always full fed, their faces always turned to the heat of the blood.” This repetition emphasizes the thought of these men being alive and what this means to them. It is senses, the blood within our veins, that makes us living after all. By emphasizing this and then going on to say “but the woman wanted another form of life”, the author makes it quite obvious that the woman has a much different, calmer, style of life. The use of anaphora is shown later on as well, when describing the vicar; “who spoke the other, magic language, and had the other fine bearing, both of which she could perceive, but could never attain to.” The vicar, a man, had a completely different way of living, with different capabilities than her. He is the “other” to her; she is the “other” to him.

In 1915 men were most definitely seen as more powerful than women, if not simply in the physical sense. The vicar, a man, didn't have power over other men but “strip them and set them on a desert island and the vicar was the master.” Lawrence points this battle of power out but does not give an answer as to why the vicar is “the master”. He simply states that "as Brangwen had power over the cattle, so the vicar had power over her husband." He hands the question over to the Brangwen: “And why— why? She decided it was a question of knowledge.” Women, filled with knowledge and that which is familiar, simply seeking more but unable to find it. Men, filled with possibilities but lacking in the same point of view, simply too focused on the sun, blood, change, life. They are two very different viewpoints and concepts.

By using literary devices such as repetition, anaphora, and rhetorical questions, D. H. Lawrence not only characterizes the woman but amplifies the differences between her and others around her, making it clear that she is both different as well as strong in her own way. The men may be well-built and adventure-seeking, but she has found a new found strength created from her own prior knowledge and experiences as a woman.

Part 2:
I scored my essay as a 5 because though I did make a fairly clear argument, it was as clearly developed as it could have been. I identified the different literary devices but I definitely could have described how they affected the characterization more. I made an argument but it was, quite frankly, underdeveloped.
I think that if I paid closer attention to the text and pulled better text examples. If i spent more time developing my argument before I started writing, I feel that I would have done much better.

Blog Post Number 18: Hamlet Essay

Blog Post Number 19: Final Portfolio Reflection

Part 1:

The assignments I am most proud of would be my Creative Project and well as Blog Post Number Three. These were my favorite pieces because both of them had a rather strong focus on creativity as well as individual work. Though I have grown as an individual within a group setting and have become much more comfortable with discussing my opinions and thoughts and creating a final presentation with others, and am introverted at heart and will seemingly always find individual work much easier to work through.

I believe that my Creative Project was not only a success but also fun to create. As a painter, I thoroughly enjoyed painting my representation of the struggles within the novel "Bring Up the Bodies." As a poet, I tend to be deep in my thoughts and see symbolism within everything I read and see, this made it fairly easy for me to add in the proper symbolism from the novel into the painting. The main weakness of this piece was definitely my explanation of it. I feel that if I used more evidence from the novel in order to be more specific about my choices within the painting and how they connect, I feel that this would have been a greater success.

When it comes to Blog Post Number Three, I actually found this rather easy. We were asked to pick two people from mythology or folklore that we connected with. Being an avid reader of much mythology, specifically Greek and Nordic, I immediately thought of the muse of lyrical poetry, Eurterpe. As someone who has spent much of her childhood in Sunday School, Esther came to mind. I feel that I made these connections very well and explained myself but that I could have expanded my argument more as well as include the Group Skill concepts we talked about, describing what Esther and Euterpe exactly would be and comparing that to myself and my own skills.

Part 2:

As someone who is rather quiet, I do not tend to ask questions in class unless prompted to. Even so, I have avidly done my fair share of work for this class both individually and in a group setting. For example, in the Group PowerPoint assignments my group members and I equally split up the PowerPoint slides in order to each participate a decent amount. Though at times we would each step in and do a bit more than others when the other people were knowingly busy that night; this, however, evened out by the end of these assignments. We each discussed our own thoughts, Megan Drake normally initiated our discussions, and eagerly listened to each other. I feel that we worked very well as a group. The American Drama Project also shows how I work in a group setting. For this assignment, I contributed to the synopsis sheet (Primarilly with the Playwright Background), typed up all of the scenes we chose, found the AP prompt, drew out the Story Boards, contributed to the bibliography, played one of the main parts in the video, and also brought in different costumes and props to use in our scenes. I feel that I contributed greatly to this assignment.

With individual assignments, I feel that I have done fairly well. I have completed all of my individual work on time (as far as I recall) and have attempted to become more comfortable with asking questions on how to improve, such as with the Creative Project. I have stayed up to speed with the reading and I feel that I have put in a good amount of effort. This, however, definitely decreased for a short while when filling out College Applications. I am sure than you can understand that. Looking back on the trimester as a whole, I feel that I have put in a lot of time and effort and have even pushed myself within group work and presentations, things that I have definitely struggled with in the past.

Part 3:

At the beginning of the trimester I set certain goals for myself in which I have tried to obtain through the trimester. Upon taking the practice test I realized that "I [needed] to take my time" and "reread any parts that don't make sense" which I have found are extremely helpful. As someone who tends to second guess herself and get caught up in the moment, when taking a test I have a problem with slowing down. I find it hard to pace myself and tend to speed through tests, putting down a certain answer and then changing it last minute before turning it in. I have realized that most of the times in which I change my answer, I tend to be correct the first time. Not to say that I should go with "my Gut Feeling" or anything of the such, but instead realize that if an answer stands out immediately and it makes sense to me there is no sense in questioning myself unless proven otherwise.

I also decided that I would create flashcards of the different literary terms we've focused on throughout the trimester, such as "paradox and metonymy". Though I truthfully never actually wrote out these flashcards, I did, however, review the different terms. I ended up typing out a list of the different terms (each on the syllabus) and find the definition and necessary examples for each in order to understand them more. This definitely helped me, making it easier for me to look back on specific terms we have used. I used this paper multiple times throughout the trimester in order to stay on top of my class work.

Though I did not necessarily follow my future goals exactly, I feel that I have definitely become better at test-taking after this trimester. This is because I have focused on what I have struggled with in the past and forced myself to properly understand the different concepts, forgetting any doubts for a short while.

Blog Post Number 17: Hamlet Post 5 (Extra Credit)

"The Funeral" by Band of Horses

I'm coming up only to hold you under
And coming up only to show you're wrong
And to know you is hard; we wonder...
To know you all wrong; we warn.

Ooooooooh Oooooooooh
Ooooooooh Oooooooooh

Really too late to call,
So we wait for morning
To wake you is all we got
To know me as hardly golden
Is to know me all wrong, they warn.

At every occasion I'll be ready for the funeral
At every occasion, once more, it's called the funeral
At every occasion, oh, I'm ready for the funeral
At every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral

I'm coming up only to show you're down for
And coming up only to show you're wrong.

To the outside, the dead leaves lay on the lawn
For they don't have trees to hang upon.

Ooooooooh Oooooooooh
Ooooooooh Oooooooooh

At every occasion I'll be ready for the funeral
At every occasion, once more, it's called the funeral
At every occasion, oh, I'm ready for the funeral
Every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral

Argument:

They have spoken as if they think me to be weak, Saying "Poor Ophelia," pitying me (IV.5.2954). They think I have suffered, they know I have struggled. Is that not obvious? Have we not all struggled? I think that to be quite obvious, quite obvious indeed.

"To the outside, the dead leaves lay on the lawn for they don't have trees to hang on" (Band of Horses). The leaves have lost their foundation, just like me. My father and brother have always told me what to believe. I have told my father "I do not know, my lord, what I should think" (I.3.594). He told me to "think [myself] a baby/That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay" (I.3.597-598). When I grew fearful, he told me what to do. As Hamlet grew angrier I spoke to my father; when asked why my love has grown to be so upset all I could say was "My lord, I do not know,/But truly I do fear it" (II.1.1045).

"He is gone, he is gone,/And we cast away moan./God 'a'mercy on his soul!/And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God b' wi' you" (IV.5.3064). God b' wi' me... If I were to die at this very moment, "The Funeral" by Band of Horses should be played. It would sing out my every emotion at this moment. I am truly finished. The mind tricks have been played. Without my father to guide me, without Hamlet's love, I know not what to do. Hamlet, the devil once said to me "I did love you once" (III.1.1812). But he did not! I believed him, I spoke with him that very day and said that "[he] made me believe so" (III.1.1812). Only moments later he spoke again, saying that "[I] should not have believ'd [him]; for virtue cannot so/inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it." and that "[He] loved [me] not" (III.1.1814). 

My father passing has only made me fall more so. "And will he not come again?/And will he not come again?" (IV.5.3066-3067). I sit here, whispering the lyrics of "The Funeral", reciting the lyrics: "I'm coming up only to prove you wrong" (Band of Horses). I wish I could have proved everyone wrong, my father, Hamlet... I wish I could be strong. But as I said before, I am merely a fallen leaf. I have no direction. I have no purpose; not anymore. "He is dead and gone;/At his head a grass-green turf,/At his heels a stone" (IV.5.91-93). I am dead and gone; "I am ready for the funeral" (Band of Horses).

I will not come again

Blog Post Number 16: Hamlet Post 4

I have found such an odd thing today: a diary entry about myself. "He is dead and gone, lady", that is what he said to me (4.2.73). My father is gone, killed by Hamlet, my love. It states "For Hamlet, as for Hamlet, Denmark has become a prison, and she is all alone at Elsinore" (Seng 218). This is truer than anything I've ever heard. We are lost; I am lost. "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (1.4.90). I have lost my father, someone who I have always listened too. To be truthful, I am lost without him. My brother and father warned me of "[My] mind's purity and [my] childlike trust" (Seng 220). They believed me to be innocent, Hamlet did as well. I was innocent, the world has taken that away from me.

I, like others, was "concerned to salvage [my] innocence" but I have forgotten that "Hamlet has sullied it" (Seng 220). It is no longer a part of me any longer. I do not wish to simply be thought of as someone others would wish "[I] shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife" or anything of the type (4.5.90). Hamlet was filled "only with thoughts of avenging his father's death" (Seng 223). He has taught me of not only true hatred, but of distrust. He has spoken to me as if he has hardly known me, as if he has hardly known himself. I have nowhere else to turn. I wish to sleep, to forget everything amongst "flowers" just as a corpse (4.5.38). Without worry, without any thoughts of distrust, I wish to dream. "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that's for thought" (4.5.76). Madness rings in the air and trust has left.

Blog Post Number 15: Hamlet Post 3

Soliloquy Analysis

• Locate imagery that refers to the uncertainty of death. "And thus the native hue of resolution/Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought" (3.1.85-86).
• Identify imagery that refers to the negative experiences of life.
• "For who would bear the whips and scorns of time" ( 3.1.71).
• "The heartache and thousand natural shocks" (3.1.63).
• Appeals: Which appeal(s) does Hamlet use to convince and/or motivate his audience? Refer to specific lines.
• Hamlet uses pathos in order to convince his audience that life is sorrowful and that it may not be worth it. Though there is some logos as he seemingly states the facts of life, they are from his perspective. He speaks about taking "arms against a sea of troubles" (3.1.60)  By questioning his own life and struggles, Hamlets causes the audience to ask this as well. This leads to empathy. 
• Literary Devices: Identify the significance of the following in this speech – Paradox, parallelism, the infinitive, synecdoche, tone, diction, metaphor. What are the two primary metaphors he will use in this speech?
• Compares and personifies life as something that fights against individuals, such as a "sea of troubles" (3.1.60).
• He compares death and the possibility of an afterlife as an"undiscovered country from whose bourn/No traveler returns" (3.1.80). 
• Identify evidence of the following comparisons: life on earth, afterlife, death, humans, thinking.
• Life on Earth: enduring "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" (3.1.59). 
• Afterlife: "The undiscovered country from whose bourn/No traveler returns" (3.1.80-81). 
• Death: "To die, to sleep" (3.1.61). "-and by to sleep to say we end/The heartache" (3.1.63). 
• Identify at least three oppositions present in the arguments Hamlet makes. What eternal philosophical questions does Hamlet ponder?
• "To be, or not to be?" (3.1.1).
• "Is it better to live or to die?" (3.1.5). 
• "To grunt and sweat under a weary life,/But that the dread of something after death..." (3.1.22-23)
• What conclusions does Hamlet draw?
• Hamlet is convinced that though it is better to die than to live his life he is too fearful of the unknown to do so.

Scene Analysis: 

Kenneth Branagh: This scene included rather simple camera angles and an interesting setting, in which Hamlet is facing his on reflection in a mirror. His movement is slow as he nears himself, the music increasing with volume as his voice goes from a questioning tone to sorrow to a sense of hatred and anger. His speech is soft and slow, this allows the audience to truly focus on the importance of what he is saying as well as understand that he is deep in thought as he speaks. By showing him in front of a large mirror, the director has shown Hamlet looking within his own eyes as he questions his own life, his past, present, and future. He knows the no one can give him the answers he is seeking.

Laurence Olivier: This adaption takes place with Hamlet on top of the castle on the edge of a cliff. He is dressed in mainly black, possibly mourning his father's death still, and is looking below to see the crashing waves, loud in comparison to his own voice. Slow-paced music plays in the background, increasing the intensity of the scene. As he speaks of sleep, of death, his voice trails off and then his lips are still. His thoughts are still heard, showing how loud they truly are to him. His words are empty as he speaks; looking into the distance in his solitude.

Mel Gibson: Hamlet moves down a stone staircase into a dimly lit tomb. There is no music or purposeful background noise, simply his voice. He speaks scornfully, looking to the bodies placed within there. Approximately halfway through this monologue, he sits and eventually lays down beside one of the many bodies within. Slowly, he struggles to get up once again, eventually looking up into the light leaking from outside as if to ask God what he should do. This adaption of Hamlet portrays him as rather scornful and depressed, wishing that there was hope for him but believing that there is none.

Ethan Hawke: This adaption was a more modern take on "Hamlet". It takes place in a secluded DVD store in which the famous monologue is at first shown as merely the character's inner thoughts. In the background an Action Film is played, the dialogue and sound effects fairly audible. Hamlet eventually speaks to himself as he strolls the aisles of the store, coming off as a mad man to anyone who may have glanced in. He has given up on what others think of him and lets out his inner thoughts. He has stopped caring; that is made clear as soon as the audience catches a glimpse of his hat. 

Blog Post Number 14: Hamlet Post 2

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip you apart." " Oh Simba, you must understand. The pressures of ruling a kingdom--" "Are no longer yours" (Minkoff.The Lion King)

Within "The Lion King" there is a strong theme of revenge due to the death of Mufasa, the king of the kingdom and Simba's father. Simba's uncle is the one who not only murdered Mufasa but took power after his death. Simba is upset, eventually seeking his revenge. His eventual wife Nala supports him but is at times frightened by his behavior. Simba kills the uncle, Scar. I, Ophelia, can definitely understand that fear. I am like Nala. We are both in love with someone who is filled with anger and thrives from revenge. Hamlet's father has passed away and his uncle has taken to his mother. He sees this as not only absurd but as incestuous. He acted insane only moments ago. I was so fearful that I told my father, who thought him to be an average lad expressing his emotions. I am still not able to see him; I think I understand that now...

He spoke with my father and said to him "For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion – Have you a daughter?" (II.2.Hamlet). He spoke to him as if he didn't know who he was. He has lost himself and has lost those around him. Simba lost himself after his father's death, he ran away, as Hamlet now has. He has become something I hardly recognize. My father even went to the king to say that Hamlet's recent behavior is because of his love for me. Simba did what he did out of love for not just his kingdom and father, but for Nala as well. Maybe this is just like that. I do hope so... Even so, I should not stray near him. He is not himself (II.2.Hamlet).

Blog Post Number 13: Hamlet Post One

Prompt: You are Ophelia and have just heard advice from your brother and father about your relationship with Hamlet. Your father has forbidden you to see Hamlet, and you, the dutiful daughter, reply, “I will obey.” Now, write as thought you had a support group of blog followers. Tell them of your dilemma, and seek their advice My dad does not want me to see Hamlet anymore. I do not think he understands how important he is to me. He is the love of my life; why can he not see that? My brother Laertes even thinks that Hamlet's not “right in the head.” I cannot believe that he sided with my father. I know that Hamlet will trust me no longer if I follow their commands but I must listen to them. He is my father, after all. He does not want me talking to or seeing him anymore. I am not even allowed to reply to his love letters anymore. I, quite frankly, think this is a bit ridiculous. They hardly even know him. I know Hamlet more than they probably ever will. Why can't the see that I trust him and wish to be with me? Why do I always have to listen to them?... Even so, I am but his daughter. I looked to my father and simply said, "I obey." I understand if you think I should stand up for myself and for what I believe I should have control over but what this really comes down to is the fact that this is my father we're talking about. Lord Polonius, a pompous old man who I'm supposed to show respect for; that is all he really asks of me. It is a daughter's duty. Even so, I wish I could see him. What am I to do? Poor Hamlet.

Blog Post Number 12: Hamlet Character Justification

I have chosen to blog from Ophelia's perspective because she is, in a way, a typical lady of the time period; however, her character goes beyond that. Her decent into madness is not a common occurrence within novels and plays. Many tend to relate her to Lady Macbeth of "Macbeth", a character in which greatly affected the plot of that play. Ophelia is the love interest of the main character, Hamlet, which leads her to be greatly affected by the events throughout the play. She is greatly influenced by her surroundings and does what is asked of her, leading her to be a character in which is affected by the events throughout the story. I have chosen her because she, like Lady Macbeth, captivates the events of this play.

Blog Post Number 10 and 11: "Bus Stop" Video and Write-Up with Story Boards

0
Write-Up and Story Boards:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?resid=6937CE0A31DD5CD!300

Blog Post Number 9: Creative Project and Explanation

Summary: Hilary Mantel’s Bring Up the Bodies depicts the fall of Anne Boleyn from the perspective of Cromwell, the one who wishes for her to be found guilty of both adultery and treason. To do this, he allies with the papist aristocracy in an attempt to find those who will testify against her. The Queen’s husband, King Henry VIII, was rather upset with her incapability of producing a male heir. She didn’t realize that this was not only a pity, but an endangerment to her own life. The king’s attention to Jane Seymour, on of Anne’s ladies-in-waiting, allowed Cromwell to easily get the Queen out of the picture. Though the evidence is scant, she is eventually found guilty. Through the course of an entanglement between truth and lies, the reader is left to find if Anne is truly guilty or not.

AP Prompt: 1970. Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literacy merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of a fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.

Thesis: Bring Up the Bodies is about the physical and emotional fragmentation of Anne Boleyn dye to her surrounding and the uptight standards of the society around her.

Explanation: My physical representation of this is a painting. The wallpaper is painted in order the depict the time period of the novel as well as the royalty Anne Boleyn was a part of for much of the book through the color choices. Due to this novel having a historical basis, I wished to convey this through the painting. By showing the distressing of the wallpaper, I wished to portray the fact that by the end of the novel, Anne is no longer of royalty; it has been taken away from her and is now a thing of the past. The black, ‘burnt’ parts of the wallpaper are seemingly reaching towards Anne. This is done to show that she is, in fact, the one being negatively impacted by her surroundings.

Atop the wallpaper, I show three figures; one of a woman, Anna, and two of men, Cromwell and King Henry VIII. The king has his arms crossed, facing Anne, and Cromwell is in the background between them, observing. The king and Cromwell are painting in light grays because throughout the novel, they are seen by the public as on the right side of events. Anne is painted in dark grays in order to show that she, however, is on the wrong side. “She knows adultery is a sin and a crime, but to be on the losing side is a greater fault than these” (259).  The king was unhappy with Anne’s failure as queen, such as being unable to produce a male heir. This leads him to become more so enchanted by one of her ladies-in-waiting, Jane Seymour. “She has lost him to Jane Seymour, and no court of law will judge her more harshly than she judges herself” (260). He and Cromwell took this as an opportunity. Anne was weakened by her surroundings and the accusations against her. They realized this and knew that they could get her out of the picture. “[King Henry] says, ‘Anne is dead to herself. We shall have no trouble with her now” (260).

This brings us to the deeper theme; throughout the novel Anne Boleyn is depicted as an adulterer, a criminal. This crime, in fact, is punishable by death. Even so, the majority of historians believe that Anne and the men who said they slept with her were innocent and were framed. Though Mantel never straight out says that she is innocent, history seemingly proves otherwise. Even so, there is no clar facts that point out Anne’s innocence; the reader is forced to choose what to believe. “What is the nature of the border between truth and lies? It is permeable and blurred because it is planted thick with rumor, confabulation, misunderstandings and twisted tales” (143). The lies within this novel are undeniable, after all, Anne and Cromwell, who cannot be speaking the truth. Even the king gets brought into these lies. These events have greatly impacted Anne Boleyn and even caused her death, however, they go on, Cromwell’s actions and lack of morals don’t simply change after she passes; Mantel makes this clear. “There are no endings. If you think so you are deceived by nature. They are all beginnings. This is one” (345). That is the last line of the novel, perfectly depicting that though Anne has met her end, Cromwell’s wrath and King Henry’s discontent has not ended and the truth has yet to be proven.

My project displays the essence of Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel because a painting, like many things in the world, has more than one meaning. It is all about interpretation. Within the novel, I found myself questioning Anne Boleyn’s morality. Mantel makes it easy for the reader to get caught between the truth and the lies, just like the characters within them. The wallpaper depicted is used as a physical representation of Anne Boleyn and her struggles; Cromwell and the king are shown in order to show who has caused Anne’s life to unravel. The darkness within the painting is not symmetrical, it cannot be explained simply and the changes within it cannot be predicted. The painting as a whole shows no true cause for Anne Boleyn’s death, it is simply used to portray the different characters whose morality is questioned throughout the novel as well as the final effects of Anne Boleyn’s surroundings upon her.

Works Cited:

Mantel, Hilary. Bring Up the Bodies: A Novel. New York: Henry Holt and, 2012. Print.

“The Anne Boleyn Files.” The Anne Boleyn Files RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013.

Blog Post Number 8: The Namesake Comparison and Contrast Essay

Though the film “The Namesake” focuses more so on specific aspects of the plot, it contains the same purposes and themes of the novel: family and individualism. This is a story about an arranged marriage between an Indian couple who must learn to adapt and raise a family in American Culture. With a strong focus on their son Gogol’s life, the film portrays how by seeking individualism, he loses himself. The novel, on the other hand, focuses more so on Ashoke and Ashima, his parents, showing that through diversity one can find who they really are. Throughout both the movie and the novel, there is much change. Change highlights which importances the characters hold close to their hearts as well as who they wish to portray themselves as. From the very first time Ashoke and Ashima meet, this is evident.

“Glancing at the floor where visitors customarily removed their slippers, she noticed, beside two set of chappals, a pair of men’s shoes that were not like any she’d ever seen” (Page 8). As Ashima is introduced to a new life and the changes that goes along with it, she is intrigued. The novel shows that Ashima not only craves tradition and approval but also wishes to grow up, become her own person, and live a life unlike the one she was originally introduced to. By placing her feet within Ashoke’s shoes the author shows that Ashima is open to change and interested by differences. Parental approval is an important part of Ashima’s culture; it is how she was raised. Though home is what she is content with, Ashima chooses to go through with her parents’ wishes. Merely upon a week of meeting each other their wedding invitations were printed (Pg. 9).Through these changes, she finds herself. By living in new surrounding in a state of pregnancy with a man she hardly knows she is able to realize that even without her family there with her, her values remain consistent. Family is extraordinarily important to her, as well as commitment and tradition. The film, though it doesn’t focus nearly as much on Ashima and Ashoke’s transition, highly focuses on their son Gogol. The novel’s strong focus on their marriage more so than simply their son’s later life portrays what is important to Ashima. “Ashima took her seat and smoothed the pleats of her sari. She sensed her mother eyeing her with approval” (Page 9). Both the novel and the film hold true to the themes of family and individualism, however, the film depicts the movement away from family values in order to find a sense of self over the importance of tradition and cultural identity. Ashima is content within her cultural identity, she has found herself within it, Gogol however is not.

In this scene, the director amplifies the author’s beliefs towards family importance, tradition, and respect for differences, emphasizing the characters of Ashoke and Ashima. The close-ups within this scene not only show how much Ashoke’s shoes stand out but also how hesitant Ashima is to place her feet within his shoes. It is improper for her to do such, yet she wishes to and does. Her cultural traditions are important to her and she is reluctant to change that, however, this short scene shows that she is ready for change. In the film, there is a close-up on Ashoke’s shoes as Ashima places her feet within them. This may seem as an odd thing to emphasize, however, the novel shows that it is worthy of attention; the novel has twenty lines focused on this simple action. The director emphasizes the shoes as a symbol of change. The shoes are American; this fact is emphasized in both the novel and the film, and are foreign to Ashima. “Ashima, unable to resist a sudden urge, stepped into the shoes at her feet” (Pg. 8). Moving onto when she meets Ashima, the film and novel portray this in about the same way. It wouldn’t make sense for the director to change these details; Ashoke is silent, Ashima awaits approval, and their parents do most of the talking. Lahiri sets up this scene in such a way to show the importance of parental approval and tradition in the characters’ culture. the film simply amplifies these beliefs within the scene. The only diegetic sound in this scene is the dialogue; this forces the audience to focus in on what the characters are saying. The lighting fills the room but isn't necessarily bright, this gives a calming mood to the scene yet makes it clear that all the characters are importance and should be seen. The high camera angle leads to the characters being grouped as one, despite their differences (Nair). This scene is, in fact, about marriage: the joining of two families. The novel is very focused on what comes from this scene, Ashima and Ashoke’s life as a married couple. The film focuses much more on their son, Gogol, and his reaction to living in an environment seemingly so far from his cultural identity. The director, Mira Nair, changes a rather large detail, instead of moving to Boston, Ashima and Ashoke move to New York. this is done in order to visually compare American and Indian culture through similarities such as the Howrah Bridge in Calcutta and the Queensboro Bridge in New York. This parallels the two cultures in a way that is visually appealing to the viewer, a way that a novel is unable to do nearly as successfully. The director also leaves out certain information in order to have a stronger focus on Gogol. For instance, he leaves out the Montgomerys, Ashima and Ashoke’s first American neighbors. By taking away these characters the cultural assumptions between Americans and Indians are not as touched upon. This makes it even more important that the facts portrayed within this scene are as accurate as possible in order to depict the values within Indian Culture. This scene is important to both the film and the novel; however, this portion of the movie holds a greater importance than in the novel. Every second in it is planned perfectly in order to not simply compare two cultures but show Ashoke and Ashima as young real people. People that can later be compare to their son Gogol. The novel uses this scene more so as a way to see Ashoke and Ashima’s growth. The choices made by the director simply gives the audience enough background information to further understand the story as well as give them the details necessary to understand Indian culture and what Ashima and Ashoke see as important: family and tradition.

Through her upcoming marriage to Ashoke, Ashima finds herself. She realizes how important family is to her and what comforts her. She holds tight to her culture yet lets go enough to become a new, more open-minded person in a new place. This is seen throughout her interactions with the Montgomerys as well as how she raises a family. Though this is important in both the novel and the film, it is a larger part of the novels plot. The film, on the other hand, needs this scene for other reasons. Gogol is predominantly the main character in the movie, this scene of true Indian culture and the way his parents were raised shows the audience who he is expected to be. Obviously, with an upbringing in America, he does not turn out completely like his parents; however, his values eventually become quite similar. This scene, simply put, is about change, physically and emotionally, but also the similarities between different cultures, upbringings, and people. It is about finding a balance between family and individualism, security and being yourself. The similarities between the novel and film strengthens their meaning, giving the audience two different ways to few the same story. The differences, though they shine a light on different characters, still keep the themes perfectly intact. These contrasting entities have made it clear that though it is the same story, different mediums (literature and film) can portray the story differently. The novel gives much more detail, as novels normally do, and due to the limited time in a movie, the director is forced to choose scenes that are seen as not just important, but visually appealing to the audience. Films tend to focus on more interesting, dramatic parts of the novel, such as Gogol’s romances and introduction to American culture, whereas novels tend to view the story from more perspectives and points in time. Even so, both the film and the movie show the importance of family and how individualism is able to either increase or destroy this.

Blog Post Number 7: The Little Mermaid Powerpoint

Blog Post Number 6: Orpheus Powerpoint

Blog Post Number 5: Psychoanalytical Powerpoint

Blog Post Number 4: The Romantic Era

Blog Post Number 4A: Lord of the Wise

Blog Post Number 3: Group Skills

When working in groups, I tend to be more quiet than others. I have always been much more of a listener than a talker. Though I do contribute, I sometimes find it hard to do so-- especially when I do not know my group very well. I enjoy listening to others ideas and the only time when I'll promptly dispute or disagree with them is when I find that something doesn't match up or make sense. Esther, from the bible, stood up for what she believed in. She was quiet, more of an observer, but when she heard of the plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia, she stood against it; however, instead of simply accusing Haman of his plot, she was patient and after silently waiting and remaining silent, she spoke to the king. This lead to the salvation of the Jews. Like Esther, I tend to be quiet and patient most of the time. I am attentive to situations but I do not speak against others unless it is necessary to. I am more of an information seeker than an information giver when things in a group are going well but when something comes up that I do not agree with I could definitely be considered a diagnostician. I am more of an observer, a listener. I also do not initiate assignments, I normally add on to them once the idea or decision is there. Whether this be a skill or not, it has helped me in past group assignments.

As someone who is definitely more creative than analytic, my skill set lies in expression. I believe myself to be a creative thinker, specifically with poetic and lyrical pieces. Euterpe is the music of lyrical poetry in Greek Mythology. She is not as focused on fact as her sisters Clio and Polyhymnia. As a muse, she is not the one who simply states facts or tells people what to do. She may try to lead others a certain way but she stays true to herself and her beliefs. I do not necessarily state the facts or state what I or others should do when in a group setting. I help encourage and push my group in the right direction with different comments both about my personal beliefs on a topic and about comments that they have previously made. I am a follower unless forced to act differently. Lyric poetry is about expression, not dictation. Also, Euterpe is the daughter of Mnemosyne, the Titan Goddess of memory and the inventor of language and words. When working with others, I focus on what we are doing at all times. I try my best to keep track of every comment and make sure that everyone is included. I try my best to be a good supporter and feeling expresser when working with others. I attempt to support others opinions and statements while still expressing my own. As a rather shy individual, it is easier for me to notice when others do not feel as part of the group than it would be for someone louder and more extroverted.

I am a rather quiet individual and tend to be in deep thought most of the time, reading into things within not only the classroom but within life; however, when I am passionate or sure about a belief, I stand up for it.

Blog Post Number 2: Practice Test Reflection

Based on my practice test, I am not terrible at literary analysis; however, I do need some practice. I answered the majority of the questions correctly but did get rather confused by a few. It seemed as if some of the answers I chose were chosen simply because they were the first choice that made sense to me. This leaves out the high possibility that there may be a better answer. I tend to overlook other choices or options once I find one that makes sense to me— this has caused me to get questions wrong on numerous occasions. My score was not necessarily bad but I do need to strongly focus on my weaknesses in order to improve it.  

I am rather good at understanding Middle English due to always having a strong interest in Shakespeare. This tends to come in handy. Being rather in love with poetry it is seemingly easier for me to interpret and understand a poem better than a story, even if it does seem rather obscure. I am talented at looking at the big picture when it comes to literature. I tend to understand why an author used certain words or phrases in order to get across their point. This is one of my main strengths.

A large weakness of mine when it comes to literary analysis would be differentiating between different literary terms. This most definitely causes trouble. I also tend to overlook small details, some of which may be of importance, when reading literature. I sometimes focus so much on what is happening in a story that I overlook facts or information that were included. Overlooking these pieces of information could lead me to be perpetually discombobulated when questions in relation to them are asked. This, quite obviously, causes difficulty. Another bigger weakness of mine is second guessing. I second guess myself on numerous occasions; I feel that it is natural for people to do so. However, it has proven to be detrimental on tests.

In order to become better at test performance and literary analysis I need to take my time, reread any parts that don't make sense, and review literary terms such as paradox and metonymy. My goals for myself are to review these concepts and to practice focusing on the literature I am reading without worrying about the time limit or number of questions left. I could even create flash cards with different literary terms in order to keep track of each one separately and not confuse them. With awareness of my weaknesses and studying I believe that my literary analysis skills could most definitely improve.

Blog Post Number 1: Design Choices

When designing my blog I wished to portray my personality while still remaining professional and structured. I chose to use the title "The Writings of an Introvert" in order to describe myself- the writer- and allude to the fact that who I am will most definitely affect how and what I write. I used the font "Dancing Script" for my title in order to give off a professional persona- as cursive tends to have that affect- as well as remain lighthearted. I also picked this font because of how it looks handwritten, unlike many of the other fonts. This, I felt, went along with the theme of English literature within this blog.

I picked this specific background because the color reminded me of parchment paper and being someone who has fallen in love with many things of the past, this fit me. The colors I use are rather dull in order to not take away attention from what I am saying because I believe that the written (or typed) word is an extremely important way to express oneself and understand. I feel as if my blog describes who I am as not only a person, but as a writer.