LIT TERMS #5

parallelism: adds a balance and rhythm to sentences giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be persuasive because of the repetition it employs

parody:a humorous imitation of a serious piece
of writing

pathos: invoking a feeling of pity or compassion


pedantry: slavish attention to rules


personification: the attribution of human nature or character to animals or inanimate objects

plot: story line, the plan scheme

poignant: strong in mental appeal

point of view: the way the author speaks


postmodernism:a time when developments in the arts and literature took place in the 1970's in reaction to modernism


prose: the ordinary from of spoken or written language without metrical structure in poetry of verse

protagonist: the leading character, hero, or heroine


pun: humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meanings that are alike or nearly alike in sound but different in meaning


purpose: the reason for which something happens


realism: interest of concern for the actual or real


refrain: to abstain from impulse to or do something 

requiem: Roman Catholic Church, the mass celebrated for the repose of the sous of the dead

resolution: a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting by formal organization 

restatement: to state again, make a point 

rhetoric: in writing or speech, the undue use of exaggeration of display 

rhetorical question: a question that could be answered in more ways than one, true or not


rising action: a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the point of greatest interest 

romanticism: usually initial or capital letter, the romantic style or movement in literature and art resulting from classicalism


satire: the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like in exposing or denouncing 

scansion: the metrical analysis of verse 

setting: the time and place and location of which a story takes place 

LITERATURE ANALYSIS #4

Hard Times by Charles Dickens

1. The story is set in England like most dickens novels. Thomas Gradgrind is a rich retired merchant who lives in the industrial city of Coketown. You learn he has two children, Louisa and Tom. He doesnt really let them be children like they should when it comes to imagination. Later on when finding a school, Thomas takes in a student names Sissy Jupe when he hears her father passed. In this novel, you see all three children into adulthood with conflict at edge. This story does take place partly during the industrial revolution. It affects everyone. I believe the authors purpose was to convey how hard times were during the Industrial Revolution from different points of views. From the poor class to the wealthy class.

2. I think the theme of this novel is really just how to go about life without being selfish when going through obstacles that cause you to convey your options. Good or bad.

3. I think the tone of the story is being anxious and stressed in hard situations. In life everything will not be so easy. You go through obstacles.

• Thomas Grind takes in Sissy-Jupe knowing that he would be raising another child apart from his own 
• Due to Louisa's confession of not loving her husband anymore, It causes Gradgrind to question his own philosophy
• Josiah Bounderby is reunited with Mrs. Pegler who turns out to be his mother whom he thought he lost as a child 

4. Literary Elements:

Symbolism

• Workers who work in the industrial factories are referred to as "the hands". 
• The book title itself is a symbolic mean of the story referring to the industrial revolution as being a tough time for most.
• When Louisa is first introduced in the story, the narrator explains that "fire with nothing to burn, a starved imagination keeping life in itself somehow" simbolized the inner thoughts and fancies she created in her mind because of the loneliness.
• The fires in the factories just represent the destruction being done to the workers as they work many hours a day with little pay. How they suffer. 
• The smoke that comes out of the fires represent the blindness factory owners have to the exhaustion and cruelty they put the workers through. Like Bounderby. He was so blinded by the money he was making that he didnt see how bad he was to the people. 

Internal Conflict/External Conflict

• Thomas Gradgrind questions his own philosophy of rationalism, self interest, and fact. As problems with his children surface, he questions himself often through out the story.
• External conflict happens with Thomas as well. He gets himself into workers personal ordeals at the factory. This is ironic because he cant deal with himself quite yet or the kids. 

Foreshadowing

• When the robber escapes and flees England, Josiah Bounderby is determined to finding him. His associate calls in Mrs. Pelger who we had already learned had relations with him through Mrs. Sparsit.She turns out to be his mother. 
• Louisa and Josiah marry earlier in the book. He is a rich factory owner and accountant. Infers Louisas need for the wealthy life style in reflection of the man who raised her, Thomas. The marriage in the end turns into turmoil and eventually they split up.

Character vs Character

• Before Louisa marries Josiah Bounderby, Thomas warns her as to what shes getting into. That does cause conflict between the two and Louisa was blinded by the money. But she later learns that true love is the foundation of a happy marriage. 

Characterization 

1. Direct characterization would be Thoman Gradgrind. Dickens is very descriptive on allowing you to see where this man came from and where he as now. For example, his philosophy on life. Indirect characterization would be Tom and Louisa. The author only shows what the two think internaly and how they not being able to express their imagination growing up affected them but they never really told Thomas.

2. I think the authors syntax changes. Each character represents a different piece of Thomas Gradgrind. He really emphasizes how thomas gradgrinds philosophy affected everyone who was involved directly in his life. In otherwords, he emphasized how man can get to caught up with the morals of society. 

3. The protagonist, Thomas Gradgrind i believe is very static and flat in the beggining of the story. He is a man who cant be told his way of life or thinking or raising his children is wrong. Later on in the story i think he turns more dynamic and round due to him seeing how he affected the lives of the children he raised. Learning that he was wrong. 

4. Reading the book i felt like i knew Louisa. As a child she was taught not to have an imagination and growing up that caused her to be lonley and bitter. Because of the lonleyness she married the first man who came her way. Later that marriage ends. She struggles with not knowing how to express her thoughts or "imagination" as an adult. But learning that Thomas was wrong was about his way of life she opens his eyes. And that allows her to finally open up.  

Lit Term #4

interior monologue: a piece of writing expressing a characters inner thoughts

inversion: reversal of the normal order of words


juxtaposition: the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect


lyric: of poetry, expressing the writers emotions, usually briefly and in stanzas or recognized forms


magic(al) realism: a genre where magic elements are a natural part in an otherwise realistic environment


metaphor (extended, controlling, & mixed): a figure of speech in which a thing is representative or symbolic of something else



metonymy: rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to things around it


modernism: a movement toward modifying traditional beliefs in accordance with modern ideas


monologue: a long speech by one actor in a play or movie


mood: the atmosphere or pervading tone of something such as a piece of literature


motif: a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition


myth: traditional stories or legends


narrative: a spoken or written account of connected events, a story


narrator: a person who narrates a narrative


naturalism: a style and theory of representation based on the accurate depiction of detail


novelette/novella: a short novel, one that is light and romantic or sentimental in character


omniscient point of view: someone with the view of knowing everything


onomatopoeia: the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named


oxymoron: a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction


pacing: a horse gate used in horse races


parable: a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson (jesus)


paradox: a statement that contradicts itself yet might be true 

Lit Term #3

exposition: a description and explaination of an idea or theory

expressionism: a style of painting, music and drama in which the writer seeks to express emotional 
experience rather than impressions of the external world

fable: short story with animals hat convey morals

fallacy: a mistaken belief based in an unsound argument

falling action: event leading to the recolution

farce: a comic using horseplay and crude characterization

figurative language: describing something and comparing it to something else

flashback: a sudden vivid memory from the past

foil: to prevent from succeeding

folk tale: a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth.

foreshadowing: a warning or indication of a future event

free verse: poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter

genre: a category of artistic composition

gothic tale: a genre of literature that combines horror and romance

hyperbole: exaggerated statements or claims not to be taken literally

imagery: visually descriptive literary language

implication: a conclusion that can be drawn from something

incongruity: the quality or state of being strange because of not agreeing with what is usual or 
expected

inference: a conclusion reached based on reasoning and evidence

irony: the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect

Lit Terms #2

circumlocution: the use of many words where fewer would do 
classicism: adherence to recognize standards or forms of craftsmanship
cliche: a well known phrase uses over generations
climax: the turning point in a story
colloquialism: a word or phrase that is not formal or literary
comedy: professional entertainment of jokes and statistical sketches
conflict: a serious disagreement or argument
connotation: an idea that a word invokes in addition to it's original meaning
contrast: the state if being strikingly different from someone else
denotation: the literal meaning of a word in contrast to the feelings a word suggests
denouement: final part in a play, movie or narrative in which everything ties together

dialect: a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a certain region
dialectics: the art of investigating the truth or opinions
dichotomy: a division between two things that are represented as being opposed
diction: the choice and use of words or phrases in writing
didactic: intended to teach about moral structure as a motive
dogmatic: inclined to lay down principles as true
elegy: a poem of serious reflection
epic: a long poem narrating the legendary and heroic figures of past
epigram: a short poem expressing an idea in a clever or witty way
epitaph: a phrase or statment coming from a person who has passed
epithet: descriptive phrase expressing quality characteristic of a person or thing
euphemism: indirect word or expression meant to be harsh
evocative: bring strong memories or images to the mind

HACKING MY EDUCATION

This semester I've come to realize my  focus has been on the wrong things. I know I can pass a class with a good grade but I was missing the big picture. During first semester I knew I would be attend Allan Hancock College and later transfer, but all the talk about big universities got me thinking about scholarships. Yes a junior college doesn't cost as much as a four year but it is still money I don't nessicarily have. Therefore my main goal is to yes pass this class. But also get scholarship money to help May off my future schooling. As I was in this thought process, I came to realize "woah, this is our last semester". Like every other senior. I had a plan to become a registered nurse but as I thought about it, I realized it wasn't something I really wanted to do. I pondered through careers and other places of work and couldn't decide. I'm currently looking into psychology. Is it a for sure thing? No. And I'm having trouble deciding what I want to do. And it worries me. So another goal I have is to ultimately have an idea of what career path I want to go down. Things I'm interested in I know I can't make a living off of. And my biggest thing is to have a love and passion for what I do. Culinary arts is another things im interested in. A dream I have is to open a bakery.

To accomplish these goals I plan to keep looking into scholarships and jobs. Hopefully,
,with the help of my teacher Dr.Preston, I'll figure all of these things out. I just need to keep my head up and look for open doors.

LITERATURE ANALYSIS #3

Analysis

1. The Book I chose to read is called 'The Awakening" by Kate Chopin. This book is mainly about a women named Edna Pontellier. She is married to a man named Leonce. The story opens up with the family staying at a holiday resort for the upperclass with their two sons. Leonce is working much and has his mind on his job more than the attention he needs to give to his wife. Edna through out the story, with many influences of friends and a doctor, grows internally resulting in finding happiness in herself apart from her husband. And she learns to cope. Along the way finding a man named Robert who listens to her. She does fall somewhat for him but in the end realizes he cant fulfill the emotional, sexual, and intellectual toll.

2. I believe the theme of this story is the discipline of being alone and learning how to cope with it as Edna had to learn to. Her husband wasnt exactly a "family" man let alone abusive in words. She had to find herself again. 

3. The tone of this story is rather sad in the beggining because your learning where the roots of Ednas sadness comes from and how much she yearns for the slightest touch and affection from her husband. When she decides to leave the island for her own good and confides in Mademoiselle Reisz, theres an overwhelming sense of hope. Later on in the story Edna meets a man named Robert who in a way gives her the attention shes been wanting. And you see that Edna starts painting again like she did when she was a child. This all represents the loss in hope and how it can be recreated but to do that you have to be courageous and brave. 

 4. Literary Elements: 

• Allusion: The way Robert makes Edna feel free. She begins painting again like she did as a child.
• Allusion: Roberts sense of making Edna feel like a women again gives her the courage to learn how to swim like she never did rowing up. And while in the water she realizes her independence as a women. 
• Irony: Realizing how serious Edna and Robert himself have become. He leaves Grand Isle to avoid consummating his love for her. He is married. 
• Irony: Edna swimming, the water representing life and her husband, herself learning to swim represents her independence. 
• Imagery: "Robert and Ednas relationship is growing, and Roberts affections and attention toward Edna are inspiring her."
• Symbolism: The parrot in the cage at the beginning of the book represent Ednas unspoken feelings toward her husband. 
• Simile:  "the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings."
• Personification: Before stepping foot into the water to learn how to swim, Edna sees a bird with a broken wing struggling to survive. This bird represents Edna failure to find freedom in her marriage and herself. 
• Symbolism: The cigars are a symbol of masculinity and traditional manhood which represents Leonce, Ednas Husband. 
• Symbolism: The sea around the secluded island represents an empowerment Edna yearns for. 

Characterization

1. Robert would be an example of direct characterization. Before he comes into the story, you see that edna somewhat leads on to him to try and better herself. An example of indirect characterization would be Mademoiselle Reisz, she is friends with Edna and teachers her about independence of a women. She is brought into the story through speech and before they meet Edna kind of watched and admired her being able to be alone with no husband or children. 

2. I think the authors focus changes a lot when it comes to character. Heres Edna who is depressed and unhappy with her marriage and husband. Then you have these people around her like her "love" Robert, close aquaintence Mademoiselle who helps her become independent, and her therapist who makes her believe she just needs to stick it out. Every character around Edna influences her future decisions. 

3. I think the protagonist is dynamic simply because she goes from to depressed to happy to realizing she cant really change her marriage or herself. But also finds herself through all the hurt.   

4. I felt like i knew the character personally because she related to my family on many levels. The women in my family have been in situations like here. Maybe not exactly but similar and watching Edna grow in herself reminded me of my elder aunts who have come along way when it comes to relationships with men. The only difference between women and Edna is that edna gave up to an extent.