Open Prompt #4

1972. In retrospect, the reader often discovers that the first chapter of a novel or the opening scene of a drama introduces some of the major themes of the work. Write an essay about the opening scene of a drama or the first chapter of a novel in which you explain how it functions in this way.



The cliche that hindsight is always twenty twenty is especially applicable in the world of literature. Often, the opening scene allows readers to glimpse at the author's major themes as well as over-arching meaning although these glimpses only become apparent in hindsight.This holds true for Edward Albee’s The American Dream. In this play, Albee conveys in his stage directions, in the play’s opening line, and in Mommy’s hat anecdote The American Dream’s major themes as well as his meaning that consumerism and a focus on outward appearances without regard to substance can only bring dissatisfaction to the American people.

Although Albee includes few stage directions, they nonetheless convey pieces of both The American Dream’s theme and its meaning. Albee describes a layout of a simple living room consisting of two chairs and sofa. These directions, purposefully vague, create an atmosphere that is cold and generic. Furthermore, the spartan living conditions suggest the family inhabiting the room comes from a lower social class. However, the fact that there are more furniture than people hint at excess characteristic of the upper-middle class. Therefore, the opening scene leaves the family shadowed in ambiguity allowing them to fall anywhere on the social-ladder and to represent anyone, anywhere. Therefore, Albee’s stage directions help the audiences to understand that the family and their greivances as depicted in the American Dream, reflect that of America at large.

The opening line of the play also helps to illustrate Albee’s themes. After the curtain rises, mommy announces “I don’t know what can be keeping them”. Ordinarily, this would not seem like a strange line, or at least one that would carry on thematic significance. However, the “they” mommy is referring to is actually one entity, the character Mrs. Barker. Mrs. Barker is unique in that while she is the only named character, her character is actually the most vague. Throughout the piece, Albee suggests that Mrs. Barker represents a faceless, shifting authority that grants either disapproval or approval. Throughout the play, Mrs. Barker takes on various titles such as “the chairman of the woman’s club” and the “lady who does Good Works” and abides strictly by conventions, always replying “I don’t mind if I do” in the face of a question. Clearly, both Mommy and Daddy crave the attention of this nameless authority, evidenced by the fact that the two are waiting for her arrival with only complaints of her tardiness to entertain them. Therefore, the opening line helps to introduce the concept of an ambiguous “they” that serves as the sole-authority for the American people.

Mommy’s reflection on her incident at the store also illuminates many of Albee’s key themes. In response to Daddy’s complaints about dissatisfaction, Mommy begins a story about her purchase of a hat. The juxtaposition of these two ideas allows readers to see that Mommy also dissatisfied, sublimates her satisfaction through consumerism. Without leaving out a single detail, Mommy reveals how she was talked into buying a “beige” hat only to become embarrassed as the chairman of her woman’s club, (or the faceless authority) decrees that Mommy’s hat is “wheat”. This introduces the theme that the rural, and the traditional of America are undesirable. Furthermore, as her anecdote progresses, it becomes clear that the sub-sequent fit Mommy throws and her demand for satisfaction at the hat-shop foreshadows the mutilation of Mommy’s adopted son, said to resemble the American Dream. Therefore, Albee seems to suggest that the American focus on shiny exteriors and consumer goods will only leave people dissatisfied in the end.

In conclusion, the opening section of The American Dream brings to light several of Albee’s key themes as well as his over-arching meaning. Through his stage directions, opening line, and Mommy’s hat anecdote, Albee allows readers to preview the key components of his play before delving into them in earnest.

Closed Reading #3, "I'm Sorry I Bit You During My Job Interview"

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/im-sorry-i-bit-you-during-my-job-interview

“I’m Sorry I Bit You During My Job Interview”

Diction: The strictly professional-type word choice in juxtaposition with casual, loose diction creates a highly comedic effect throughout the piece. Words such as “mitigate” and “disclosure” are words which convey that the narrator is comfortable using words popular in an office setting. However, when the narrator begins to use revert to colloquial words such as “curveball” the narrator’s professional facade slips and his true colors begin to reveal themselves. Furthermore, when the narrator begins to use diction such as “tender” in a description of the interviewer’s flesh, and “snarling” when describing himself, the reader can clearly the ridiculousness of the narrator.

Language: The narrator attempts to conceal his lunacy with elegant, professional language. He uses polite phrases such as “please don’t hesitate to call or email” and “thank you for taking your time”  in order to feign that the interview was perfectly typical. In mentioning his digression from professional conduct, the narrator politely compliments his interviewer with the phrase “a testament to your professionalism” further indicating his sense of rigid politeness despite the circumstances.



Syntax: The syntax of the piece effectively convey allows the reader to be caught off guard by its sudden shifts. The long, flowing sentences such as “Thank you.... ...Rawles and Hilt” and “I hope you can look past this... ….final decision” are typical of professional-type papers. However, these in juxtaposition with the short choppy sentences such as “I panicked.” and “The third time I bit you it was supposed to be a joke.”  creates a highly comedic effect. Furthermore, the choppy sentences are a departure from the professionalism the narrator attempts to cloak his lunacy in illustrating the craze of the narrator.

Response to Course Material 10/09-10/23

In these past two weeks we’ve stayed pretty focused on the American Dream. As this was our first experiment in closed reading, we had a slow progression towards independently analyzing. At first Mrs. Holmes guided us through the section and pointed out key details which she found significant and that added to Albie’s message. Then we made a baby step towards independence by dividing the next section into group work. We each analyzed our sections and then the class discussed while Ms. Holmes added tidbits here and there. The next day, Ms. Holmes wasn’t even in the classroom. Yet still, we organized ourselves and managed an effective discussion. I think the progression worked out quite nicely.

However, I am slightly concerned that our independence will hinder us from understanding Albie's message effectively. While everyone can interpret text differently, and I’m well aware that in literature there are no “correct” answers, I am concerned that through our amateur attempt at interpretation we will miss key points that a more well-versed mind would have caught. For example, if we had not read the packet which presented the idea that Grandma resembled an older version of the American Dream, I would have never recognized that and would have missed a major chunk of the play’s meaning. Furthermore, most of us are only at the level of literary interpretation which allows us to feel a vague sense of significance when we encounter a certain passage although we cannot explain why. Although sometimes through our discussion we can flesh out the answer to the “why” question, often we are left with more questions than answers.

Hopefully, our guided discussion on Thursday will help us to aliviate some of these concerns.

Open Prompt #3

Many plays and novels use contrasting places (for example, two countries, two cities or towns, two houses, or the land and the sea) to represent opposed forces or ideas that are central to the meaning of the work. Choose a novel or play that contrasts two such places. Write an essay explaining how the places differ, what each place represents, and how their contrast contributes to the meaning of the work.


Authors constantly rely on an dark counterpart to beloved place in order to add depth and create meaning for their work. For example, JRR Tolkien employs this tactic in his masterpiece The Lord of the Rings. In this work, Tolkien uses details and imagery to create a world divided by starkly different cities to ultimately illustrate that good has the power to conquer evil by resisting temptations and maintaining a pure heart even through dark times.

Tolkien uses  the cities of Minas Tirith and Mordor as foils to one another which resemble the forces of good and evil. Tolkein is quick to point out that the two cities were once identical as they were founded together as twin cities. Mordor however is plagued with evil on account of its leader, Soron, marking the only contrast between the two. This detail allows readers to understand that the two cities are meant to be considered foils to one another. Minas Tirith, known by the epithet the “City of Kings”, is distinguished with honor and bravery. Mordor on the other hand is considered to possess “[an] evil that does not sleep”. This imagery allows readers to envision the dark city’s baneful atmosphere and foreboding qualities.

Although the tale weaves its way through all of the corners of Middle Earth, in its final section, the main characters, Frodo and Sam, find themselves departing from Minas Tirith for the land of Mordor. Throughout their journey, Mordor has been an unobtainable goal; it is always just in sight, but never close enough. As they approach the city however, more trials, both spiritual and physical, hinder the travelers on their quest to destroy the ring, the epitome of evil. However, to destroy this evil, the travelers must bear through the most of evil of places and survive the temptations and hardships it presents. In the end, the ring is destroyed illustrating that evil, as well, can be conquered with a pure heart and the ability to undergo trials and tribulations. Therefore, Tolkien uses the journey from Minas Tirith to Mordor to show that sometimes people must depart from what is good and comfortable and advance into the heart of darkness to do what is right.

Therefore, the Lord of the Rings is a tale which explores the powers of good and evil. Good, represented by the mythical city Minas Tirith proves to eventually conquer evil, symbolized by the dark city Mordor. However, it is only by facing the evil itself and resisting  its dark tantalization that the forces of good are able to do so.

Closed Response #2, "You Look at Me Like You've Never Seen a Neo-Hipster Before"

**Hey peer reviewers! My note on the course overview applies here as well.**

“You Look at Me Like You’ve Never Seen a Neo-Hipster Before”
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/you-look-at-me-like-youve-never-seen-a-neo-hipster-before

Each generation brings with it a new group of trend-setters. The twenties had flappers, the sixties, hippies and our own generation? Hipsters. The word seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue, yet, what, is a hipster exactly? A good general definition seems to be that a hipster is someone who prides him or herself on individualism which is often reflected in a unique personal style. Of course, this definition, coupled with the fact that hipsters are the trend setters that they are, presents a series of problems. What happens when what’s mainstream become, well, hipster? In this article, Pacey confronts this contradictory nature of “hipsters” by using diction, language and details to suggest that hipsters in all their self-righteous dignity are really just another trend.

Pacey carefully chooses his words in order to demonstrate the paradox of hipster-ism. The word “ironically” is used ten times in the piece in order to emphasize that the speaker’s sarcastic, hipster perspective never changes. The word has a huge effect upon readers because not only is irony a pillar of what being a hipster is all about but the repetition allows readers to see that Pacey, himself is employing sarcasm and irony to describe hipsters. Furthermore, Pacey uses words such as “pleb” and “popular” and “mainstream” in order to demonstrate hipsters’ constant obsession with being completely distinct from common people. This allows the irony of the speaker’s attempt to follow hipster traditions by in fact, becoming normal to ring loud and clear.

Language also allows Pacey to create a psuedo-hipster voice.  Through it, Pacey captures hipsters in their entirety: their desires to be completely unique, somehow better than those around them, and to constantly be able to say something through their style. Pacey weaves in phrases like “ so mainstream” and “they totally didn’t get it” to capitalize on the hipster obsession of being different. Furthermore, phrases like “it will take you awhile to understand, that’s all” illustrates the supposed-belief that hipsters are more advanced than others around them, because they have gained a higher understanding of the world.

Pacey marvelously uses details in order to support his work. He describes the “typical” wardrobe of hipsters as “skinny jeans and a sonic tee-shirt”. Amusing, since following the definition, a true hipster would have no “typical” wardrobe. Furthermore, Pacey describes his classic, hipster playlist of “The Decemberists, Dirty Projectors, Nouvelle Vague, Beirut, Belle and Sebastian, Tears for Fears” in order to again illustrate the hipster-ism’s twisted of irony as an original hipster would have a completely unique pool of music.

Clearly, the speaker senses the contradiction of being a hipster. However, Pacey’s solution to become a “neo-hipster” (i.e. normal) only exaggerates the problem. Therefore, through use of details, language, and diction, Pacey effectively challenges the hipster trend.



Kudos to Matthew for getting me interested in this site from his last closed reading response!

Response to Course 9/26 - 10/08

**Hey guys, I’m sure you are about to notice that some of my sentences are a bit disconnected and that my thoughts don’t really flow well to create a unified response. Please understand that I just got my wisdom teeth removed yesterday, and I’m having a lot of trouble writing well. Holmes knows this, but if you could just cut me a break on my actual style and just look at my ideas I would really appreciate it. Thank you!**



In this section of the course, we finally got a chance to look at syntax! Despite all of the negative hype, I don’t feel like the concept is too difficult to understand. What is difficult for me though, is discovering how it applies in all forms of literature. The carefully-chosen examples of syntax in our syntax packets made a lot of sense to me, but I think it will be much harder to find examples of syntax in other, perhaps not so obvious, pieces. Nonetheless, I’m glad that we finally tackled the last element of DIDL’s.

In our pursuit to further understand how to best analyze fiction and drama, we read chapter three of our textbooks. The section dedicated to fiction wasn’t so helpful; we had already learned about DIDL’s in class and reviewed the techniques using supplementary packets. However, I thought the drama section proved useful. I really liked how the textbook titled the section: “Special Considerations for Analyzing Drama”. Instead of making drama seem like a completely different sect of literature, instead the words “special consideration” bridged fiction and drama and allowed readers to understand that the same techniques in fiction are apparent in drama although drama uses different tools to achieve these techniques. For example, in plays, symbols are often more clear as they often take the shape of commonly used props. This point about drama also proved useful in our first read of the American Dream.

We relied on other tools as well in order to prepare for our first read of the American Dream, such as comedy packets. It was interesting to me how straight-forward the packets made comedy seem. I never considered there to be any logical aspects to what makes us laugh. The packets were interesting, but only through our reading of the American Dream was I able to see how applicable they were. As strange and twisted as the play is, I really enjoyed the American Dream. Although often, I find the theatre of the absurd to be annoying or flat out dumb (think: any Will Ferrell movie), I found the American Dream to be a worthwhile piece. I think perhaps it was because the play had such a rich sub-text that it wasn’t hard to see that Edward Albie wanted to create a work that did more than just make people laugh. Although right now it’s a little bit hard to see exactly what Albie was attempting to convey, I hope that the meaning of the American Dream becomes more clear later.

Open Prompt #2

1983. From a novel or play of literary merit, select an important character who is a villain. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the nature of the character's villainy and show how it enhances meaning in the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

When a criminal is charged with a punishment, it is under the belief that society has the responsibility to provide a just punishment for the perpetrator’s crimes. However, if the responsibility to create such a punishment fell instead to the criminal, would the offense all but be forgotten? Shakespeare explores this topic in his play Macbeth through the use of the villain, Lady Macbeth. In the play, Shakespeare uses details and language to illustrate that evil deeds must always be atoned for.

At the play’s opening, three witches predict that Macbeth will one day become King of Scotland. Skeptical, Macbeth returns home to his wife who understands that the prophesy can be realized through the murder of King Duncan. Standing as a foil to Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is ambitious and strong. The moment she learns of the prophesy, ambition sets ablaze in her heart and she schemes a way to become Queen. She attempts to dash away her womanly inhibitions and to become a person capable of murder. Macbeth on the other hand, is wary, and does not want to kill the king despite the temptation of becoming king himself. Despite this, Lady Macbeth easily manipulates her husband by challenging his manhood  when he doubts her plot. Even after seeing his bloodstained hands, Lady Macbeth tries to sooth her husband by stating “a little water clears us of this deed”. Throughout the work, the detail of bloodstains become synonymous for the guilt of murder. This line therefore, illustrates that Lady Macbeth initially believes that the murder can easily be forgotten. Her only focus remains on the prize of becoming Queen of Scotland and she is determined not to let her mind wander to the weight of her actions.

However,  as Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s evil deeds start to mount, Lady Macbeth can no longer use “a little water” to clear her mind of the Duncan’s murder. Soon afterwards, the murder of Duncan drives Lady Macbeth drives into a state of sleepless rage. Shakespeare provides of the imagery of a tortured woman walking endlessly in the night attempting to find rest by continuously washing her hands of  imaginary stains that will not leave. “ Out, damned spot; out, I say”! she cries as she attempts to wash away the guilt. The stains will not subside however, and she is forced to commit suicide by the torture and madness driven by her guilt.
Soon afterwards, she is forced to commit suicide driven by the torture and madness of her guilt-ridden conscience .

Lady Macbeth’s demise is clearly the result of her original crimes. Therefore, Macbeth reminds readers that wrongdoings cannot always be forgotten. Instead, guilt stains the conscience permanently becoming the ultimate way all crimes are expiated.