http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the-ultimate-hunger-games
Syntax- From start to finish, the piece relies on short, choppy sentences to convey the absurd seriousness of the author's Thanksgiving-survival plan. For example, the first sentence of the piece "I wake up in a cold sweat" as well the final "VICTOR" show readers that the author means business. Even longer sentences are broken down into easily digestible pieces which forces readers to understand the severity of the author's message . The sentence of "when, by the end, I'll be yelling out in horror...." as well as "that's why it only happens once a year: Thanksgiving..." use two different punctuation marks, comas and colons, although both are for the purpose of breaking the sentences down. Therefore, the choppy syntax functions in a way that allows readers to understand the seriousness of the author's battle to survive Thanksgiving dinner.
Language- The language of the piece follows an organized, anecdotal pattern providing a humorously serious atmosphere. Almost every paragraph begins with the word "I" indicating a first person narrator. These topic sentences which include "I sprint to the kitchen" and "I enter the dining room" suggest that the body of the paragraphs will detail the narrator's subsequent actions, similar to an anecdote. Additionally, the fact that the action of the piece occurs in present tense indicates the seriousness of the action. For example, the line "she leaves in a rush, the smell of loss, burning flesh and meat juice trailing behind her" demonstrates the profound seriousness of the matter that is enhanced through use of the present tense. Through this, the author allows readers themselves to feel a part of the author's Thanksgiving Dinner.
Diction- The diction of the work also demonstrate just how seriously the author takes Thanksgiving. The diction, reminiscent of that of a sports announcer, reveals the narrator's competitive drive. Throughout the piece the author repeats "NOOOOOO" as a new disaster arrives at the Thanksgiving dinner. Reaping the benefits of her family members' failures, the following line always contains the words "down" and the number of family members left "to go". In addition, the last line of "VICTOR" illustrates the author's aggressive attitude towards surviving Thanksgiving.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Response to Course Material 10/23-11/20
It seems strange that already a quarter of the year has flown by. Already, we’ve tackled another book, Death of a Salesman, as well as explored more ways to approach the closed prompt.
While I loved The American Dream, I have found Death of a Salesman to be even more powerful. Maybe its because the characters are founded more in reality. Or maybe it’s the fact that their struggles are more relatable than those of the detestable Mommy and Daddy. Either way, Arthur Miller’s work is brilliant and provides a heartbreaking representation of the American Dream.
Our revisit of the closed prompt has also proved useful. The first time we did the closed prompt, I was a little lost. Even after the second time we re-wrote our Eros essays, I felt like I was making no improvements. It was only after we did the closed essay the third time did I begin to understand what a good closed prompt should look like. Through our careful analysis of the prompt and then our examination of the two poems, I started to understand what I had been missing. Thanks to my previous classes, I had gotten into the habit of rushing through the prompt and getting to writing as fast as possible. However, I’ve since learned that I need to spend more time with the prompt in order to see the subtle nuances of the piece and to use them in my work.
The last few weeks seem to have gone by in such a blur- it’s strange to think that it’s almost December. Nonetheless, I feel like I’ve leaned a lot and that I’m starting to see improvements in my skills.
While I loved The American Dream, I have found Death of a Salesman to be even more powerful. Maybe its because the characters are founded more in reality. Or maybe it’s the fact that their struggles are more relatable than those of the detestable Mommy and Daddy. Either way, Arthur Miller’s work is brilliant and provides a heartbreaking representation of the American Dream.
Our revisit of the closed prompt has also proved useful. The first time we did the closed prompt, I was a little lost. Even after the second time we re-wrote our Eros essays, I felt like I was making no improvements. It was only after we did the closed essay the third time did I begin to understand what a good closed prompt should look like. Through our careful analysis of the prompt and then our examination of the two poems, I started to understand what I had been missing. Thanks to my previous classes, I had gotten into the habit of rushing through the prompt and getting to writing as fast as possible. However, I’ve since learned that I need to spend more time with the prompt in order to see the subtle nuances of the piece and to use them in my work.
The last few weeks seem to have gone by in such a blur- it’s strange to think that it’s almost December. Nonetheless, I feel like I’ve leaned a lot and that I’m starting to see improvements in my skills.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Open Prompt #5
1975. Although literary critics have tended to praise the unique in literary characterizations, many authors have employed the stereotyped character successfully. Select one work of acknowledged literary merit and in a well-written essay, show how the conventional or stereotyped character or characters function to achieve the author's purpose.
Ironically, one-dimensional characters sometimes allow readers to glimpse multiple dimensions of an author’s meaning. Due to this, plays like Edward Albee’s The American Dream, rely on stock characters in order to better illustrate the playwright’s meaning. In The American Dream, Albee crafts the stock character of Mommy in order to amuse audiences while simultaneously demonstrating the fallacies in the American society.
One of the most humorous yet horrifying characters, Mommy best exemplifies a typical stock character. Her childish and controlling personality remains immutable throughout the play. In the opening scene, Mommy forcefully directs Daddy to listen to a story of dissatisfaction. She continuously repeats phrases like “What did I just say?” to keep Daddy’s focus directed on her and giggles when Daddy responds saying that he’s “all ears”. While Mommy’s phrase repetition itself might serve to characterize her as child-like, her inability to comprehend Daddy’s idiom further emphasizes her immaturity. Her name itself even exaggerates her child-like qualities as her personality stands in sharp contrast with her ironic name, Mommy. In a darker segment of the play, Mommy’s literal interpretations have disastrous effects. When Mommy brings home her adopted son, her discontent with him “having eyes only for his Daddy” and other subsequent complaints compel her to slowly disfigure her own son. This mutilation can be attributed to the the fact that Mommy cannot stand Daddy having more power than her in any sphere of influence- including their child. She therefore sees it fit to mutilate the child in order to bring the power back to her.
On the surface, Mommy’s actions might lead to comedic effects, however as the play unfolds and the major themes start to emerge, it’s clear that Mommy’s character provides other uses as well. Mommy’s characterization allows the audience to both laugh and shudder at her, yet it becomes apparent that Mommy represents something much deeper than a character in a play. Mommy signifies the American people who Albee believes have since become simultaneous childish and power-hungry. Never satisfied, they mutilate things before they even have a chance to grow. The stock character of Mommy allows audiences to shift from being entertained to enlightened about Albee’s thought on the weaknesses of the American society.
Therefore, Mommy serves as a stock character in order for Albee to draw out the flaws within the American society. As a stock character Mommy is amusing and unassuming. However, only as the rest of the play unfolds does the audience begin to understand that Mommy resembles the antithesis of what America should be.
Ironically, one-dimensional characters sometimes allow readers to glimpse multiple dimensions of an author’s meaning. Due to this, plays like Edward Albee’s The American Dream, rely on stock characters in order to better illustrate the playwright’s meaning. In The American Dream, Albee crafts the stock character of Mommy in order to amuse audiences while simultaneously demonstrating the fallacies in the American society.
One of the most humorous yet horrifying characters, Mommy best exemplifies a typical stock character. Her childish and controlling personality remains immutable throughout the play. In the opening scene, Mommy forcefully directs Daddy to listen to a story of dissatisfaction. She continuously repeats phrases like “What did I just say?” to keep Daddy’s focus directed on her and giggles when Daddy responds saying that he’s “all ears”. While Mommy’s phrase repetition itself might serve to characterize her as child-like, her inability to comprehend Daddy’s idiom further emphasizes her immaturity. Her name itself even exaggerates her child-like qualities as her personality stands in sharp contrast with her ironic name, Mommy. In a darker segment of the play, Mommy’s literal interpretations have disastrous effects. When Mommy brings home her adopted son, her discontent with him “having eyes only for his Daddy” and other subsequent complaints compel her to slowly disfigure her own son. This mutilation can be attributed to the the fact that Mommy cannot stand Daddy having more power than her in any sphere of influence- including their child. She therefore sees it fit to mutilate the child in order to bring the power back to her.
On the surface, Mommy’s actions might lead to comedic effects, however as the play unfolds and the major themes start to emerge, it’s clear that Mommy’s character provides other uses as well. Mommy’s characterization allows the audience to both laugh and shudder at her, yet it becomes apparent that Mommy represents something much deeper than a character in a play. Mommy signifies the American people who Albee believes have since become simultaneous childish and power-hungry. Never satisfied, they mutilate things before they even have a chance to grow. The stock character of Mommy allows audiences to shift from being entertained to enlightened about Albee’s thought on the weaknesses of the American society.
Therefore, Mommy serves as a stock character in order for Albee to draw out the flaws within the American society. As a stock character Mommy is amusing and unassuming. However, only as the rest of the play unfolds does the audience begin to understand that Mommy resembles the antithesis of what America should be.
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