Group Video

Group Screenplay

Becca Scheurich

Ben Smith

Ben Sax

Sidney Tan

Tristan Weitkamp

Act 2 Scenes 1 and 2 Screenplay

Scene 1

(Long, low angle shot of Banquo and Fleance.)

Banquo: How goes the night, boy?

Fleance: The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.

Banquo: And she goes down at twelve.

Fleance: I take’t, ‘tis later, sir.

(Camera cut to a shot where camera is mostly focused on Banquo.)

Banquo: Hold, take my sword. (Camera zooms in on Banquo.) There’s husbandry in heaven. Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, and yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers, restrain in me the cursèd thoughts that nature gives way to in repose!

(Cut to scene where camera is shooting the back of Fleance’s back and Banquo’s front.)

Banquo: Give me my sword! Who’s there?

(Cut to shot of Macbeth and Servant and pans as they walk.)

Macbeth: A friend.

(Cut to shot of Banquo.)

Banquo: What, sit, not yet at rest? The king’s a-bed: He hath been in unusual pleasure, and sent forth great largess to your offices: This diamond he greets your wife withal, by the name of most kind hostess; and shut up in measureless content.

(Cut to long shot of Macbeth, Banquo, Servant and Fleance. Macbeth and Banquo closest to the camera. Fleance at Banquo’s side and servant at Macbeth’s side.)

Macbeth: Being unprepared, our will became the servant to defect, which else should free have wrought.

Banquo: All’s well. I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: to you they have showed some truth.

Macbeth: I think not of them. Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve, we would spend it in some words upon that business, if you would grant the time.

Banquo: At your kind’st leisure.

Macbeth: If you shall cleave to my consent, when ’tis, it shall make honor for you.

Banquo: So I lose none in seeking to augment it, but still keep my bosom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counseled.

Macbeth: Good repose the while!

Banquo: Thanks, sir. The like to you!

(Camera pans to follow Banquo leaving with Fleance and stops at a long shot of Macbeth while still seeing Banquo exiting.)

Macbeth: Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, she strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.

(Cuts to a low shot as servant leaves and Macbeth turns his back to camera as he watches servant leave. Macbeth then turns around again and faces the camera and cuts to a split second shot of the dagger and immediately cuts to a reaction shot of Macbeth.)

Macbeth: Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.

(Camera starts dolly panning around Macbeth.)

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight, or art though but a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain? 

(Cut to a long shot of Macbeth, turned slightly to his right side and at a slight high angle.)

I see thee yet, in form as palpable as this which now I draw.

(Cut to shot of dagger with Macbeth voiceover.)

Thou marshal’st me the way that I was going; and such an instrument I was to use.

(Same angle of the “I see thee yet” shot.)

Mine eyes are made the fools o’ th’ other senses, or else worth all the rest. I see thee still; and on thy blade and dudgeon

(Cut to shot of dagger with voiceover.)

Gouts of blood, which was not so before.

(High angle shot of Macbeth from behind and a slow pan around.)

There’s not such thing. It is the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes. Now o’er the one half-world nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse pale Hecate’s offerings; and withered murder, alarmed by his sentinel, the wolf, whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, moves like a ghost.

(Cut to a front and slight high angle and follows Macbeth as he walks.)

Thou sure and firm-set earth, hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear thy very stones prate of my whereabout, and take the present horror from the time, which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives: words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.

(Cut to a shot where camera is behind Macbeth looking into the darkness when bell rings. Then Macbeth turns to the camera, but does not look directly at it.)

I go, and it is done: the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven, or to hell.

(Lights fade.)

Scene 2

(Shot straight on Lady Macbeth.)

Lady Macbeth: That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold; what hath quenched them hath given me fire. Hark! Peace! It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, which gives the stern’st good-night. He is about it. The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets, that death and nature do contend about them, whether they live or die.

Macbeth: Who’s there? What, ho?

(Keep same angle shot but Lady Macbeth looks surprised and camera begins to zoom out slowly.)

Lady Macbeth: Alack, I am afraid they have awaked and ’tis not done! Th’ attempt and not the deed confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready; he could not miss ’em. Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had don’t.

(Camera stays the same as Macbeth enters.)

My husband!

(Camera cuts to a close up of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth at a low angle.)

Macbeth: I have done the deed. Didst though not hear a noise?

Lady Macbeth: I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak?

Macbeth: When?

Lady Macbeth: Now.

Macbeth: As I descended?

Lady Macbeth: Ay.

Macbeth: Hark! Who lies i’ th’ second chamber?

Lady Macbeth: Donalbain.

Macbeth: This is a sorry sight.

Lady Macbeth: A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

Macbeth: There’s one did laugh in’s sleep, and one cried “Murder!” that they did wake each other. I stood and heard them. But they did say their prayers, and addressed them again to sleep.

Lady Macbeth: There are two lodged together.

Macbeth: One cried “God bless us!” and “Amen” the other, as they had seen me with these hangman’s hands: list’ning their fear, I could not say “Amen,” when they did say “God bless us!”

Lady Macbeth: Consider it not so deeply.

Macbeth: But wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen”? I had most need of blessing, and “Amen” stuck in my throat.

Lady Macbeth: These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad.

Macbeth: Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”-the innocent sleep, sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, the death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, chief nourisher in life’s feast-

Lady Macbeth: What do you mean?

Macbeth: Still it cried “Sleep no more!” to all the house: “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more.”

Lady Macbeth: Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, you do unbend your noble strength, to think so brainsickly of things. Go get some water, and wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there: go carry them, and smear the sleepy grooms with blood.

Macbeth: I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; look on’t again I dare not.

(Camera starts to zoom out.)

Lady Macbeth: Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. (Keep camera at zoomed out angle.) The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures. ’Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, for it must seem their guilt. (Exit. Cut to high angle shot. Knock within.)

Macbeth: Whence is that knocking? How isn’t with me, when every noise appalls me? What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes! Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red. (Cut back to long shot as Lady Macbeth enters.)

Lady Macbeth: My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white. (Knock.) I hear a knocking at the south entry. Retire we to our chamber. A little water clears us of this deed: How easy is it then! Your constancy hath left you unattended. (Knock.) Hark! More knocking. Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us and show us to be watchers. Be not lost so poorly in your thoughts.

(Cut to close up of Macbeth.)

Macbeth: To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself. (Knock.) Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst! (Exit.) 

Scene Analysis

Becca Scheurich

Mrs. Wecker

Block 1

June 14, 2009

Illumination of Love

In The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks’ book comes to life in a beautifully made movie. No other story of two lovers has ever been so compelling. Noah, the poor country boy, and Allie, the rich city girl. The two go through every obstacle imaginable, including in the end of their lives, when Allie acquires Alzheimer’s Disease. However, Noah refuses to leave her and reads the story of their lives to her everyday in order to help her remember. The director, Nick Cassavetes, uses the lighting and reaction shots in order to reveal how much Allie means to Noah, and how he would never leave her, no matter what.

Throughout the scene where Allie remembers and then forgets Noah again, the lighting remains bright on Allie. In every shot, either a spotlight remains on her face, or backlighting illuminates her. This helps to keep the audience’s eyes focused on her. To add to this, she wears bright red clothes and light tan shoes, and has very light blonde hair. However, in comparison, Noah wears all dark clothes, has darker hair and the light does not usually focus on him. This emphasizes Allie even more and at all times. Through this, Cassavetes reveals how much Noah focuses on Allie, in turn revealing how much she means to him.

Cassavetes also uses the reaction shots of Noah in this same scene to reveal how much Allie means to him. While the couple dances, the camera cuts to a reaction shot of Noah. The audience sees his extremely loving expression, and can immediately realize just how much he loves her. Then, when the nurses rush in after she forgets him again, the camera cuts to yet another reaction shot of him. Tears fill his eyes, and his heart begins to bother him because of the stress the event puts him through when he already has heart problems to begin with. The sheer emotion that the reaction shots of Noah show reveal how much he cares about her. The fact that he still refuses to leave her later in the movie even though it worsens his own health shows how he would never leave her, no matter what could possibly happen to him.

The Notebook uses different techniques to display the degree of love between Noah and Allie. The camera emphasizes how Noah focuses on Allie by putting her in bright clothing in contrast to Noah’s dark clothing, and by putting her in the light for the majority of the scene. It also uses reaction shots of Noah to show just how much he cares for her. Although being with Allie ultimately hurts him, he sticks with her to the end. He refuses to ever leave her, even when his children ask him to come home. The degree of the couple’s love truly goes “’til death do us part”. 

Scene Proposal

Movie: The Notebook

Running time: 2:45

Scene Description: The scene begins after Allie remembered who Noah was. There is a close up on the couple dancing and talking about the kids and how the time flies by. There is a little bit of blacklighting, but the scene is still pretty dark with old music in the background, giving the scene a romantic feeling. Every now and then, there is a long shot of the couple dancing. After talking for a while, Allie suddenly forgets who Noah is, and panics. The music grows louder as she starts yelling for help and the lights come on. The camera puts focus on the nurses rushing through the doorway and follows them as they take Allie and sit her down. The focus then goes to a doctor rushing into the room and looking like he gives her a shot to calm her down. Every now and then the camera does a close up reaction shot back on Noah, with the lights on, the music playing loudly still, and him crying from seeing what they are doing to his wife. This scene then goes on to another scene showing old pictures of what looks like Allie and Noah together when they were younger.

Antigone

Choose two themes and discuss how each theme is similar or different to a theme in the other plays.

One theme shown throughout Anouilh's Antigone is strength within women. Antigone is the main character who displays strength within women and how women should fight for their beliefs just the same as men do. This is shown in Medea as well because no matter what happens, Medea does not sway with her decision to ruin Jason's life. She becomes strong enough to stand up for herself and express how she feels when she feels that Jason has betrayed her. However, in Oedipus the King, Jocasta displays herself as weak. She does not want to hear the truth about Oedipus because she is afraid, so she kills herself. There is also a part of Antigone where weakness in a woman is shown. Eurydice cannot deal with the death of her son, Haemon, so she kills herself. Although there are some examples of weakness in women, a motif of strength within women is more prominent.
Happiness is also a theme which appears throughout Anouilh's Antigone. It is portrayed differently for each character. This also appears the same way throughout Sophocles' Antigone. In Oedipus the King, happiness is talked about, but is really only associated with Oedipus. People continue to talk about how he was destined for misery and Oedipus addresses how he and his children will never experience joy. Happiness is also addressed in Medea in the same way as in Oedipus the King in the way that Medea is also miserable. She then destroys all happiness for those who betrayed her.

Antigone: Word Choice

• During Creon and Antigone's argument Anouilh repeats many words and ideas. Choose a word or idea and discuss how Anouilh uses the term.
  
• Sometimes Anouilh uses ambiguous terms, identify how the terms affect your interpretation of characters and their motivations.

One word that Anouilh uses constantly during Creon and Antigone's argument is happiness. Both Antigone and Creon argue about what true happiness is. "Life flows like water, and young people let it run away through your fingers" (Anouilh 41). Creon believes that life is what gives people happiness, and that people should live life fore happiness, even if you may have to sacrifice some of your wants to get happiness. However, Antigone's idea of happiness is extremely different. "I spit on your happiness! I spit on your idea of life- that life that must go on, come what may" (Anouilh 42). Antigone does not necessarily believe that one has to be living to be happy. She believes that people should be happy to sacrifice themselves for a cause that they believe in, that they should not be afraid to lose their lives for something so important to them. Antigone does not believe in sacrificing her wants and beliefs for anything.

Anouilh makes terms such as happiness ambiguous because each character has a different interpretation of what it means to them. Because of this, the reader is allowed more insight into the personality and beliefs of each character. It also allows the reader more insight into Anouilh's interpretation of who each character is. For example, using the quote from Antigone from above, the reader is able to see that Anouilh thinks that she will not sacrifice her beliefs and wants for anything.

Antigone

Think about the character you will be performing. What motivates him/her? What role does this motivation play? Use evidence from the play to defend your response.

In Anouilh's version of Antigone, Creon is motivated by his reputation. He doesn't want anyone to know that someone has dared to break his rules. "You are all guilty of neglect of duty, and you will be punished; but if the rumor spreads through Thebes that the body received burial, you will be shot- all three of you" (Anouilh 22). Creon does not want anyone to step all over him. He wants to make sure that he stays known as the king who no one can take advantage of or sway some other way than his own way. This motivation makes him come across as tyrranical, power-hungry, and uncaring. "Sir, I've got two kids" (Anouilh 22). The guard tries to convince Creon not to execute him because it couldn't have been him, but Creon insists that he is either brought the traitor or the guard dies. Even when the guard tells Creon about his family, Creon does not care.

Antigone

One thing that is different in Anouilh's version of Antigone is that it is written with more modern language. "So we tossed a coin to see which one would come up and tell you about it" (Pg. 20). This causes the reader of the modern world to be able to relate to the characters more, therefore creating a modern day tragedy.

Anouilh also uses the gender roles like Sophocles, except in a more straight forward way. "It's all very well for men to believe in ideas and die for them. But you are a girl!" (Pg. 13). There is a clear stereotype of women not being able to do certain things, but Antigone defies these stereotypes. In a way, this raises her above the other characters, contributing to the idea of tragedy.

Another similar element between Anouilh's Antigone and Sophocles' Antigone is that Anouilh displays Creon's attitude in the same way. On page 21, Creon keeps interrupting the guard and hurrying him along, acting very disrespectful. He acts very power hungry and irrationally, and this ultimately brings about his downfall and is an interesting contrast to the person he used to be. In many ways, he is like Oedipus. This can also cause the reader to feel either no sympathy for him, or some sympathy for him because they know that this irrational behavior will only bring him pain and suffering, and he will regret it later.

Not only does Anouilh use more modern language throughout his version of Antigone, but he also adds in extra things in order to make the story more modern and therefore more relatable to the modern reader. "Promise me that you will never scold her again" (Pg. 15). Anouilh adds Antigone's dog Puff into the story, which makes the story more relatable because many people now have pets. When these sorts of small details are added into the story, the characters become more relatable.

Journal 12

What do you know about the 1940s in Europe and how do you predict that will influence Anouilh's version of Antigone?

World War II was going on in Europe in the 1940s. During this time, because all of the men were away fighting, the women played a much bigger role in the work force. Because of this, the gender roles in Anouilh's version of Antigone could be influenced. The women even in just the first pages that we have read already show signs of independence from others in general. For example, Antigone goes out by herself to do something without telling anyone else. It will be interesting to see how the gender roles differ in Anouilh's version of Antigone.

Journal 11

Antigone:
"I'll hate you all the more for silence- tell the world!" (Pg. 64).
"No, he has no right to keep me from my own" (Pg. 61).

Physical Description: Red hair, in her teens or older, slim

Personality: fiery and bold personality but still acts morally

Actress: Kate Blanchett (made to look younger) based on her performance in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; she seems like she can act with a very strong-minded personality, but still act morally as well

Ismene:
"So fiery- and it ought to chill your heart" (Pg. 64).
"I'd do them no dishonor... but defy the city? I have no strength for that" (Pg. 63).

Physical Description: younger than Antigone, brown or dirty blonde hair, slim, in her teens or a bit older

Personality: very innocent, very attached to her sister, follows the rules and fearful of the consequences of not following the rules

Actress: Alexis Bledel; she plays Rory in Gilmore Girls and her character is extremely innocent, afraid of breaking the rules, very attached to her mother; she plays this part perfectly

Haemon:
"No marriage could ever mean more to me than you" (Pg. 93).
"It's no city at all, owned by one man alone" (Pg. 97).

Physical Description: brown hair, slim but muscular build, young

Personality: obedient to his father, although he disagrees with him at times; his father is the most important thing to him

Acter: Zac Efron; he has played characters in the past who have been very loyal to their parents, but sometimes disagrees with them and goes against what they want, he was successful in these roles

Creon:
"And is Thebes about to tell me how to rule?" (Pg. 97).
"What? The city is the king's- that's the law!" (Pg. 97).

Physical Description: older, tall, intimidating by his build and his height

Personality: intimidating also in his personality, tyrranical, doesn't listen to others or want input from others, always wants to do things himself and for himself

Actor: Vin Diesel; he can be intimidating in the way he looks and in the movie The Pacifier, his personality is intimidating as well

Leader:
"You'd do well, my lord, if he's speaking to the point, to learn from him, and you, my boy, from him" (Pg. 96).
"A temper young as his... hurt him once, he may do something violent" (Pg. 100).

Physical Description: average looking, slim build, brown hair

Personality: gives advice, seems to be the knower of everything

Actor: Adam Sandler; in some of the movies he does like Mr. Deeds his character helps others

Sentry:
"But set me free, it's only right- I'm rid of this dreadful business once for all" (Pg. 79).
"There. Is that plain and clear?" (Pg. 79).

Physical Description: seems to be just another citizen of Thebes, slim build, nothing really special about him, maybe even almost weak

Personality: only cares about the consequences that will affect himself, kind of rude shown above in the way he speaks to Creon, almost like Creon is stupid

Actor: Charlie Sheen; in Two and a Half Men, he plays an extremely selfish and rude character, and does it well, making him perfect for this part

Journal 10

Knowledge Level (The recall of specific information):

What is Antigone caught doing?

What is the fate that Creon decides for Antigone?

Comprehension Level (An understanding of what was read):

Why does Antigone bury Polynices against Creon's orders?

Why does Ismene ask to be executed as well even though she did not take part in the crime?

Application Level (The converting of abstract content to concrete situations):

What does the burial of Polynices reveal about the character and nature of Antigone?

Does the similarity of actions between Creon and Oedipus foreshadow Creon's downfall?

Analysis (The comparison and contrast of the content to personal experiences):

What does the motif of strength reveal about society?

How do the gender roles reveal a truth in society?

Synthesis (The organization of thoughts, ideas, and information from the content):

How do the series of actions of both Antigone and Ismene reveal their differences from one another?

How do Creon's actions compare with Oedipus' actions?

Evaluation (The judgment and evaluation of characters, actions, outcomes, etc…):

Should Haemon turn against Creon because he is going to kill Haemon's wife?

Is it morally right to tell even family that they cannot bury or honor another family member?

Journal 9

3 literary techniques and their effect from you reading:

Pg. 61: lines 54-60: There is a contrast in the characters Antigone and Ismene. Antigone appears to be stronger and bolder than Ismene, and it seems that this could bring about her downfall because she refuses to obey Creon's new law that states that no one should bury or mourn their brother, Polynices.

Pg. 64: lines 105-106: There is a motif of strength throughout the beginning of the reading. This reveals the character of Antigone, and how she will do what is morally right to her no matter what, even if that means she will be put to death. This sets the stage of what to expect from Antigone from now on.

Pg. 75: Creon treats Sentry how Oedipus treated Teiresias in Oedipus the King. Since Oedipus brought about his own downfall, and Creon is showing similar characteristics to Oedipus right before he realized the truth, it gives the feeling that Creon will find out a truth about himself. Furthermore, it gives the feeling that Creon could possibly bring about his own downfall in this play.

Journal 8

Compare the elements of tragedy in Medea and Oedipus. Look specifically at at the use of catharsis. Pay attention to how you organize your comparison. Be sure you start with a thesis/topic sentence.

Both Medea and Oedipus the King cause the audience to feel a deep pity for the main characters Medea and Oedipus. The audience feels pity for Oedipus because he does not realize that his horrible fate has come true, and the audience feels pity for Medea because her husband left her, and this caused her to kill his new bride, his bride's father, and Medea's two sons. She ended up losing everything she had left. Both characters ultimately bring about their own downfall. They are simply the victims of fate and free will. Oedipus' parents tried to avoid his fate of killing his father and marrying his mother, but theirs and Oedipus' free will led him to that fate. Medea's free will along with her fate led her to kill or lose every person she held dear. Both characters also seem to raise themselves above everyone else, contributing even more to the idea of tragedy.
Lastly, both characters are motivated by either pride or anger. This causes the audience to be fearful that these same emotions could motivate them to bring about their own downfall as well. The important part is that the audience is able to compare and relate themselves to the main characters.

Medea: Journal 7

Although Medea and Jason both have very different attitudes towards the gods, the thing that they share in common is that they both have very close relationships with the gods. Medea and Jason call on the gods all throughout the play, showing the close relationship that they both share with them. However, both call on the gods differently. Medea chooses her relationships to be with the gods who preside over magic, wickedness, and other such things. "I shall not shrink from such a step, by Hecate, no: the goddess who abides in the shrine of my inner hearth- the one I reverence most of all the gods and have chosen to abet me" (Page 45). Hecate is the goddess who presides over magic and witchcraft, and Medea reveres her the most. This reveals the true nature of Medea. She seems to be evil and manipulative.
Jason, on the other hand, begs the gods to look upon what Medea did to her sons. He begs them to see her true nature and how evil she really is. "Zeus, do you hear how I'm at bay, dismissed by this ogress, odious woman, tigress besmirched with the blook of her young?" (Page 77). Jason seems to assume the position as a mere mortal to the gods, someone who can be manipulated by the emotions of the gods. This appears different from Medea, who seems to beg to the gods very little for anything. This then gives off the impression that Medea is almost an equal alongside the gods. This fits in with the end of the story, when she turns Jason's life into misery from the revenge from her anger. He seems to be just as much manipulated by Medea as he is by the gods. This idea of Medea being at a higher level than Jason or anyone else contributes to the idea of tragedy.

Medea: Journal 6

The chorus is different in Medea than in Oedipus because they show pity and sympathy for Medea right away in the beginning of the story. However, in Oedipus, the chorus calls on the gods for help most of the time, and it is not until the end that they show pity for Oedipus.
The role of the chorus has to do with the fact that they show pity for Medea right from the beginning of the story. This creates the depressed tone, which contributes to making the audience feel pity and sympathy for Medea and her situation. The chorus also talks many times about the inequality of women and men, and how the men do not respect the women. This contributes to the understanding of the perspective of a woman. The chorus is able to give insight into a woman's position in this society.

Medea: Journal 5

One way that Sophocles evokes fear and pity is with the way everything is described. For example, Medea's gaze is described as "bull-mad". This shows how she is ready to strike at anything and anyone. This creates the feeling of fear. The fact that she looks at her children with that gaze evokes even more fear along with pity as well for both Medea and her two boys.
In Medea, there is also a lot of rhyming. There is a rhythm to the writing that the reader can feel inside of themselves. I think because the reader is able to feel the rhythm, it gives them another sort of connection to the story. I believe that this is why the reader is able to feel fear and pity for Medea and her family.
The significance of all of the techniques that Sophocles is that with all of them combined together, the audience is able to feel an extreme pain, fear, and pity for the characters in the story. This is essentially what creates the tragedy.

Oedipus the King: Journal 4

"O lord of the stormcloud, you who twirl the lightning, Zeus, Father, thunder Death to nothing!" (Pg. 170).

The chorus, representing the people of Thebes, are always calling on the gods. For example, here, when they call on Zeus to rid the city of corruption. Zeus is only one of the many gods that they call to on page 170 and throughout the entire play. It is interesting to compare how Oedipus looks at himself as being able to rid the city of all the corruption himself, but the people still call to the gods instead of to him.

"You pray to the gods? Let me grant your prayers" (Pg. 171).

Oedipus tries to get the people to trust in him. He believes that he is able to cure the city of all disease and misfortune. However, throughout the rest of the play, the people continue to call on the gods for help in their terrible situation. This reveals the nature of the relationship between Oedipus and his citizens. The people do not truly believe in him to be able to rid the city of its corruption. They still believe the gods to be all powerful over him.

Oedipus Journal 3

What are the gender roles that Sophocles establishes for men and women? Based on Jocasta's response to her husband and brother, do you think she is a strong model of how women should act or is she a warning to women? What about Oedipus' or Creon's actions? How do the genders speak to each other and how do they speak to themselves?

Women, based on seeing the role of Jocasta, seem to have a lot of respect in society. Oedipus speaks respectfully to her and even does not mind hearing her opinion. However, he becomes so desperate to learn about his birth that he refuses to do what she wants him to do, or even consider really listening to what she says. Oedipus is always so desperate to do what he wants or believe what he wants that he doesn't listen to anyone else. He does what he wants to or believes what he wants to regardless.
Both genders are very respectful to one another. There is not much reason to think that the women are controlled by the men or vice versa. Both genders (based on seeing Jocasta's and Oedipus' role and interaction with each other) express their opinions to one another and for the most part listen to what one another says. However, this becomes until one or the other wants to do something or believe something so desperately that they do what they want regardless.

Oedipus: Journal 2

Oedipus has the qualities of a deficient leader. As the story goes on, Oedipus does not listen to anyone if their story does not fit in to what he believes happened. For example, Teiresias tells him of the future like he asked him for, but when Teiresias reveals the truth, Oedipus does not want to hear it and believes that it has been conspired against him by Creon. Then, acting completely on rage and not sensibly, he says that he wants Creon either dead or banished from the land. Not being able to listen and acting out of rage instead of sensibility are qualities of a deficient leader.
Creon on the otherhand has good qualities for a leader. He listens to others, and thinks sensibly when he could otherwise act out of rage. He also acts as a good and loyal friend to Oedipus, although Oedipus doesn't think so. Teiresias always holds the truth, although no one ever believes him. Therefore he becomes accused of being untruthful to his own people. He tends to become angry when a person either tries to force something out of him that he does not want to tell, or when he becomes accused of being untruthful. He probably becomes angry when accused because it happens so often, since people never believe him. Both him and Creon seem to be similar in that they both tell the truth, but Oedipus refuses to believe them.

Oedipus The King: Journal 1

One Sentence Summary for Each Page:

Pg. 159: A plague struck the city and priests kneel before Oedipus with branches wound in wool. Oedipus asks the priests what they need from him.

Pg. 160: The priest explains to Oedipus how the city is devastated and in ruins. This is caused by the plague, cattle and crops dying, women dying in labor, children stillborn, etc.

Pg. 161: The priest begs Oedipus to help all of the people in the city the same way he had once before.

Pg. 162: Oedipus says that he hurts as well, for himself, for the people, and for the city. He sent Creon to Delphi to find out what he should do to help the city. Then Creon came back, and Oedipus hoped that he brought good advice, a rescue plan for the city.

Pg. 163: Oedipus talks to Creon, trying to find out what the god had told him. Creon tries to pull him away to the palace to tell him privately, but Oedipus wants all of the priests to hear the news as well. The news sounds like it is good.

Pg. 164: Creon tells Oedipus in front of the priests that Apollo says that they must banish or kill the man or men who killed their old leader, Laius.

Pg. 165: Oedipus asks Creon where they could find the killer or killers, and Creon said that Apollo told him that they would be found in Thebes. Oedipus questions where, and if there was anyone who could help them find them, but Creon does not know where, and there is no one to help them. The one person was too terrified and could not explain anything clearly. Although Creon offers hope when he says that there was one thing that the man told them.

Pg. 166: Creon describes how King Laius and the people he was with were attacked by thieves, and Oedipus cannot believe that they wouldn't have tracked down the killers then and there. When he asked why, Creon said that Sphinx told them to let it go.

Pg. 167: Oedipus decides to rid their city of corruption himself by finding the killers. He is confident that they will triumph. The priests feel like they have recieved a good answer to their problem because Oedipus is offering himself to save his city. Oedipus calls on the guards to call the city before them.

Pg. 168: The chorus (citizens of Thebes) talk to Zeus, asking what news came to their city and asking what he will bring. They also talk about their terror. They mention the godesses Athena and Artemis as well.

Pg. 169: The citizens cry how their city has numberless griefs and miseries and how it is a city of death. They beg for mercy a rescue from the gods.

Pg. 170: The citizens are still begging for the gods to stop the god of death that has raided their city and turned it to ruins.

Literary Techniques:

"Here are boys, still too weak to fly from the nest" (Pg.160): Personification is used here to display how bad the conditions are in the city by showing how the men are too weak to support themselves.

"our ship pitches wildly, cannot life her head" (Pg. 160): Personification is used again to reveal the terrible conditions in the city.

"Thebes is dying" (Pg. 160): The personification emphasizes, yet again, how the city is completely in ruins.

"And black Death luxuriates in the raw, wailing miseries of Thebes" (Pg. 160): The personification of death reveals how death has appeared everywhere in the city.

"But my spirit grieves for the city, for myself and all of you" (Pg.162): Personification of Oedipus' soul reveals how sad he feels for everyone in the city including himself, and to show how he wants to help.

"groping, laboring over many paths of thought" (Pg. 162): This figure of speech reveals how much Oedipus was trying to find a way to save his city.

"Lord Apollo, let him come with a lucky word of rescue, shining like his eyes!" (Pg. 162): This simile shows the hope for the city which would come with an idea to try to rescue the city.

"I tell you even the hardest things to bear" (Pg.163): This reveals how Creon would tell Oedipus anything.

"don't nurse it in your soil- root it out!'" (Pg. 164): Apollo tells them to get rid of the corruption that is in their land that they are nursing at the moment. This reveals how the city did not know of the corruption that was in their land.

"the trail of the ancient guilt so hard to trace?" (Pg. 165): This foreshadows how difficult it will be to find the killer or killers and save their city.

"I'll start again- I'll bring it all to light myself!" (Pg. 167): This reveals Oedipus' desparity to save his city by ridding them of corruption.

"What word from the gold vaults of Delphi comes to brilliant Thebes?" (Pg. 168): The gold vaults represent the hope that the citizens have for the triumph of their city. This is also seen in how they still describe Thebes as brilliant.

"terror shakes my heart" (Pg. 168): This reveals how even though the citizens are hopeful for their city, they are still very fearful.

"Tell me, child of golden Hope, warm voice that never dies!" (Pg. 168): The citizens describe Zeus as the child of hope. They are looking to him for an answer, and hoping that they will be provided with one. By saying that his warm voice never dies, it again emphasizes the hope that he provides them with.

"you hurled the flame of pain" (Pg. 168): The citizens are begging the gods for help in their struggles in the city. After discussing their past here, they beg for the gods to come down again to help them like they did before.

"heart of the market place enthroned in glory, guardian of our earth" (Pg. 168): The citizens beg for Artemis, the protecter of their earth, to help them.

"Thebes like a great army dying" (Pg. 169): This simile emphasizes again the horrible conditions in Thebes.

"and there is no sword of thought to save us, no" (Pg. 169): The citizens feel like there is nothing there to save them, no plan for rescue.

"like seabirds winging west, outracing the day's fire" (Pg. 169): The dead are compared to these seabirds, which reveals just how many are dying. They "outrace the day's fire".

"Thebes is dying" (Pg. 169): This personification shows how the city is completely in ruins.

Page 170 is filled with imagery of the gods fighting the god of death in order to save the city of Thebes.

Dystopian Journal: Topic B

Serena Joy struggles with the society the Republic of Gilead in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. She is the wife of Offred's Commander, and just like Offred, struggles to come to terms with what goes on in the society. Everything that happened seems to have aged her. She hates how her husband has sex with Offred, and she has to sit there and watch. She gets to the point where she is willing to disobey the rules in order to have a child and get Offred out of her house. This resistance, however, is not successful and had horrible consequences for her. The man Serena Joy had Offred have sex with, Nick, not only did not get her pregnant, but helped Offred escape and made Serena Joy look bad.
Serena Joy also realized that Offred had been sneaking around with her husband. The two of them, Offred and Serena, always had a rocky relationship because of everything that had to be done for the society. Specifically, sex between the Commander and Offred. Then, the Commander started wanting to see Offred privately in his office at night. They would play Scrabble and everytime she left, Offred would be obligated to give him a kiss "like she meant it". When Serena Joy realized all of this, she was extremely upset. She ends up more miserable in the end than when the story began. The interesting part about Serena Joy's struggle is that it never resolves, but rather gets worse. Everyone else but her seems to have some way to console themselves to cope in society.

Word Count: 263

Dystopian Group: Quotes that Support our Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement: Margaret Atwood's word choice throughout The Handmaid's Tale makes the reader feel uncomfortable and creates a distance from the story to reveal the truths in society that are not often discussed.

"I hope they get hard at the sight of us and have to rub themselves against the painted barriers, surreptitiously" (Atwood 22). (Surreptitiously means acting in a stealthy way.)

"Beside the main gateway there are sic more bodies hanging, by the necks, their hands tied in front of them, their heads in white bags tipped sideways onto their shoulders" (Atwood 32). (Atwood describes the bodies in detail, making the reader feel uncomfortable.)

"Her fault, her fault, her fault, we chant in unison" (Atwood 72). (The handmaids are in class. Janine is being blamed for being raped.)

"Why bash your head, said Aunt Lydia, against a wall?" (Atwood 64) (Aunt Lydia is talking about the handmaids wondering where their families are. Why make things worse? This is what she is saying.)

"Naughty puss" (Atwood 89). (Offred is bitter towards Aunt Lydia.)

"Below it the Commander is fucking" (Atwood 94). (During the Ceremony. She talks about her word choice and why she does not use "making love".)

"It's only women who can't, who remain stubbornly closed, damaged, defective" (Atwood 204). (Offred is talking about how only women are defective, and men never are. These are the ideas of this new society, and it's bound to make many readers feel uncomfortable.)

These are some of the quotes that I found that can support our thesis statement. We will probably need some more from the end of the book, but this will get us started.

Dystopian Group Thesis Statement

I didn't see that a new blog was created for our group, so I just started with this thesis statement...

In Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, the use of the short sentences of direct facts conveys how much the society has constricted the women's thoughts; however, the long sentences of their thoughts reveal how even though they are not thought to be very capable of anything but reproducing, they are much smarter than they are thought to be.

Propaganda

http://www.crestock.com/uploads/blog/2008/propagandaposters/us_propaganda-21.jpg

This propaganda works because the message is not overbearing. It is not scary, but empowering. It portrays strength and hope. The message is positive, and because of that and all of these other things, it will most likely stay in people's minds.

Literary Feature: Sentences

Variation (long/short), declarative, complex, compound, interrogative (rhetorical questions), use of participles, infinitives.

Analysis Notes and Observations: Atwood uses a lot of short sentences and some long ones: the use of the short sentences conveys a direct statement or fact and the use of the long sentences is when she is painting a picture for the reader. She also uses an excessive amout of description in some very long sentences to make the reader feel uncomfortable. Also, when Offred talks about the past, quotations are not used in the dialogue, which is most of the time. This creates a distance between the reader and the story and its characters.

An example of a short sentence that conveys a direct statement or fact is this situation, where Offred is describing the whispering between her and Ofglen. "It's more like a telegram, a verbal semaphore. Amputated speech" (Atwood 201). It seems as if most of the time, Offred states the facts and the story as it is. I do not remember many times throughout the book that she has stated her opinions about all of the events that occur, only her feelings, such as being scared or sad. This could be showing how her mind is restricted by this new society which thinks so little of women.

Significant Literary Questions:

• Why is the author trying to create a distance by not using quotation marks in the dialogue?
• Why does the author write in a way to make the reader feel uncomfortable?
• What do the short sentences of direct facts reveal in the story?
• Why does the author include an excessive amount of imagery in the story?

Thesis Statements: In Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, the use of the short sentences of direct facts conveys how much the society has constricted the women's thoughts; however, the long sentences of their thoughts reveal how even though they are not thought to be very capable of anything but reproducing, they are much smarter than they are thought to be.

Although many might argue that The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is not a very good book because it discusses uncomfortable topics such as the main one of human sexuality, it is in fact made this way to portray how women are treated in society, and how this needs to change and they need to be treated better and given more rights.

http://johntrinh.blogspot.com/

http://thanjrenglish.blogspot.com/

Dystopia Journal 2: Topic C

The author of The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood, is a feminist. This is seen in the book as the women in the society, the Republic of Gilead, are oppressed by the men. They are not allowed to work (except for household chores or work of that sort), unable to read or write, and are really only valued for their ovaries. However, Atwood makes the men look very stupid throughout the book. She makes them seem oblivious to the fact that all the women are against the society, and that most of them are disobeying so many of the rules. She portrays the women as being smarter than the men think they are. This shows her view of women. Atwood believes that women do outsmart men.
What makes this book so powerful and uncomfortable to read is how so much in the book relates to our lives as they are today. Offred's old life was what society today would consider a normal life. I think that this makes this possibility of the future even more believable because it is not a distant subject from the reader. It is in fact the reader's life that they are talking about. It is scary to think how much society could change. Especially here in the case of women's rights, which we have worked so hard for, to disappear in the blink of an eye.
In The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood really does not offer much hope. The one thing that seems to offer some kind of comfort is the fact that mostly all of the other women are on the same page. They mostly are all afraid and disagree with how the society has changed. There is comfort in knowing that they are not alone in such a strange and horrible society for women.

Word Count: 299

Dystopia Journal 1: Topic A

" 'I was coming to find you,' he says, breathes, almost into my ear. I want to reach up, taste his skin, he makes me hungry. His fingers move, feeling my arm under the nightgown sleeve, as if his hand won't listen to reason. It's so good, to be touched by someone, to be felt so greedily, to feel so greedy. Luke, you'd know, you'd understand. It's you here, in another body.
Bullshit" (Atwood 99).

This passage holds great significance in the book. Offred has disobeyed certain minor rules before, but never has she disobeyed such a major rule. The fact that she has disobeyed a major rule by messing around with another man besides the Commander shows her desire for passion, love, and to feel, not just touch. Throughout the entire book, she is not able to fulfill any of these desires. Offred and many other characters in the book crave to fulfill their wants and desires, but are left frightened seeing those who disobey the rules dead and hanging on the Wall. Offred's desire for love is especially seen here as she talks about her old husband, Luke. He has become a motif throughout the story as she reminisces about the old times. Here she feels the need to justify her actions with the man, which shows how her love for Luke still remains.
Another need which is seen in this passage is the need to feel valued or valuable. Offred says,"It's so good, to be touched by someone, to be felt so greedily, to feel so greedy". She feels as if she is worth something, which is showed in how she is "felt greedily". All the man wants is her, and she wants him. Here, she has the option to feel that way. It is in the darkness of the night that she is disobeying the rules.

Word Count: 245

Journal 9

What conclusion does Meursault come to at the end of the text? Does Camus want the reader to come to the same conclusion? Do you believe Meursault is happier or less happy at the end of the novel?

Meursault comes to the conclusion that he was happy with his life and he had come to terms with the fact that it was inevitable that he would die. I think that Camus wants the reader to realize a theme from Meursault's epiphany. However, I think he wants the reader to be frustrated with Meursault's inevitable death, therefore forcing the reader to come to a conclusion on why Camus would end the book that way. I think that Meursault is finally happy at the end of the book because he has come to terms with his life and realized that he has had a good life.

Stranger Thesis

Through his writing, Camus reveals the truth about society that many people live life standing still worshipping a higher power which may not even exist.

Journal 8

Why does Camus create a part 1 and a part 2? Identify parallel ideas or scenes that occur between the two parts. What does Camus accomplish by comparing ideas between the two parts?

Camus creates a part 1 and a part 2 in order to show not only how Meursault has changed throughout the story, but surprisingly also how he has not. In part 1, Meursault really does not talk about being happy or unhappy, but realizes when he is in jail in part 2 just how happy he was with his life. This illuminates a theme of not knowing what you have until it's gone. However, in part one he doesn't really seem to care one way or another if he marries Marie. Then in part 2, he looks at her during his trial and says his heart doesn't feel a thing. It is interesting how Camus has used part 1 and part 2 to convey two totally different things.

Journal 7

1. The narrator wants the reader to feel the disconnect to the character like the disconnect to emotions that there is in the story.

2. The lack of dialogue in the story shows the disconnect between Meursault and his opinions. Since there is that disconnect, he does not voice his opinions, resulting in the lack of dialogue.

3. The sun represents the emotions that Meursault should be feeling, but doesn't. Therefore, it appears in the story to show the emotion that should be there.

4. Camus does use the sun to represent two different things. It could represent two opposites such as happiness and unhappiness.

5. Camus personifies the sun in this situation to show a change in emotion and situation.

6. Dialogue is not used much and when it is used is very simple because it represents how Meursault is not a very opinionated person.

7. He does use the repetition of the old man and the dog to represent a theme that people do not know what they have or do not show gratitude for what they have until it is gone.

8. The narrator and Meursault could in fact be the same person. Because Meursault is so objective about everything, he could in fact be telling the story.

9. Camus does this to highlight certain events in the book that are the most significant and that he wants the reader to pay the most attention to.

Journal 6

1. Word Choice: This includes the level of vocabulary that is used, whether the author uses passive or active verbs, the dialect used, the denotation and connotation of the words, and how powerful the verbs used are.
When dialect is used, it often helps the reader connect to the character. With that said, is there a reason that Camus did not use dialect in the book?
2. Sentences: This includes the syntax of the sentences, rhythm to the sentences, whether they are short or long, or interrogative or declarative.
Camus generally does not use much dialogue. Is there any significance in the lack of dialogue?
3. Images: These are what appeal to the sight, sound, taste, touch and smell.
Is there significance in when Camus mentions the sun in the story? Why does he mention it at certain times instead of others?
4. Symbols: These are the images which represent more than themselves. They go beyond the literal.
Does Camus use the sun to represent two completely opposite things? At first I thought it lightened the mood, but Camus used it before part two like it was almost attacking Meursault.
5. Figures of Speech: This includes irony, similes and metaphors and what two things are being compared, and personification.
Why does Camus personify the sun and heat to be attacking Meursault when at first the sun and heat seemed to lighten the mood?
6. Rhetorical Devices: This includes the dialogue and narration, parallelism, and balance.
Why does Camus use so much narration but so little dialogue? And how come when he does use the dialogue, it is basically the same as the narration?
7. Patterns: This includes motifs, symbols, objects, alliteration, assonance, words, phrases, and theme.
Does Camus use the repetition of the dog and Meursault’s neighbor to illustrate a theme for the book?
8. Narrators: Is the narrator an observer, active participant in the story, or both? What is the narrator’s role in the story?
Why does Camus make the narrator switch from being an observer to being Meursault some of the time?
9. Structure: This is the chronology, space, timing, mind, and pace or the story.
Why does Camus explain certain events which such detail, but skip through others so quickly?

Journal 5

How does your own philosophy affect your reading?

I have noticed through reading The Stranger that I tend to get annoyed or bothered by characters who act completely opposite of me. Meursault tends to be very unfeeling or unopinionated towards many things. However, I am completely the opposite. I was very shocked when it didn't seem like he was sad at all about his mother's death and it really bothers me how his responses to everything seem to be something like, "I don't care". He does not seem to do anything because he wants to or because it is right in his opinion, but does everything either because he has to or for no reason at all.

Journal 4

Start tracking the sun and one other image, word phrase, or idea. For each time you see this image write the quote, page, and one sentence about what it is doing.

"The office overlooks the sea, and we took a minute to watch the freighters in the harbor, which was ablaze with sunlight." (Camus 25)

It feels like the sunlight comes into the story to brighten the mood. Normally, the book has had a gloomy and unfeeling mood, but here I finally feel some feeling in the mood.

"The four o'clock sun wasn't too hot, but the water was warm, with slow, gently lapping waves" (Camus 34).

Again, I feel like the mood has been lightened. The way the sun's warmth is talked about gives it a relaxed feeling.

"A little later old Salamano growled at his dog; we heard the sound of footsteps and claws on the wooden stairs and then 'Lousy, stinking bastard' and they went down into the street" (Camus 35).

Salamano keeps saying this to his dog. It makes me feel very sad for the dog, and wishing that he was not treated so poorly and that he was loved. I feel sympathetic for the dog.

"I barely heard him mumble 'Stinking bastard,' and he went on fidgeting around" (Camus 38).

Again Salamano says this to his dog. A motif of sympathy seems to be in the story.

Journal 3

Realitism: The importance in life is in reality, not in the escape from reality. One cannot live fully if they are always trying to escape reality.

1) The purpose of living is to find what makes you happy- People thrive off of happiness and we live to find something we are passionate about to live for. It is extremely important to find something we are passionate about so we can enjoy our lives.

2) Do not sacrifice someone's feelings for your own happiness- People go around a lot of the time hurting people in order to get what they want. However, it's really important to have what makes you happy, but not hurt people to get it because it is also important to have good relationships with others.

3) Do not waste your life trying to escape reality- Many people do everything they can to escape reality for find a security blanket for life. However, by doing that, you are only wasting your life away. While there are some scary things to face in life, there are many more happy moments.

4) Do not discriminate against different lifestyles or cultures- Just because people live differently does not mean that the way they live is wrong. We need to be tolerant and acceptant of others. If we're not, how can we accept the same from them?

5) Do not judge or assume anything about a person- Many people are judged just because of the way they look or dress or talk. No one should assume anything about a person until they get to know them.

6) Believe that there has to be some good that comes out of everything- Many people are way too pessimistic. There is always at least a little good that comes out of every situation.

7) Try to look at every day with a new light- Just because yesterday was bad does not mean that today is going to be bad. Wake up in the morning and try to be optimistic about the new day.

Journal 2

Describe Meursault's actions/activities. How do you respond to Meursault's activities? Why would Camus create a protagonist like Meursault - what is he trying to accomplish?

Meursault seemed like he was only doing everything involving his mother's death because he had to. He kept telling everyone it wasn't his fault and he kept saying that he felt guilty. I got the feeling that he didn't really care at all that his mother died. Maybe Camus created a protagonist like Meursault to show people how routine things have become. In the first two chapters, it seems as if Meursault does everything just out of a routine that he has to do.

Journal 1: The Stranger

How are the two translations different? What effects do these differences create?

There seems to be a much different mood in each translation. The one used in the book has a much more bland and unfeeling mood. The other translation suggests more emotion in the death of his mother, or at least more emotion to come. In the other translation the word mourning is used and the character said that it didn't even seem like she had died. However, in the one used in the book, there is no mentioning of mourning at any time. The passage seems to be more focused on the doubt and questioning of when it happened than anything else. It also mentions the "usual vigil beside the body". By saying usual, it suggests that the attitude is just like oh it happens all the time. There is no feeling in it.

Journal 9

How does the structure affect the text: re-examine the opening and closing of chapters or the opening and closing of the novel?

The beginning of the novel starts with the horizon and closes with the horizon. This helps to close the story and make it feel finished. I think it also helps to draw the reader into the story more. It starts with a powerful image of the horizon, drawing the reader in and making them want to know more. Then it closes with the same powerful image, finishing the story with a great ending.

Journal 8: Chapter 18

What is the significance of the title? What does Hurston suggest about the relationship between the characters and God?

The significance comes with the hurricane in the story. Everyone is watching God and waiting to see what will happen next, hoping that he is looking out for them. In the chapter, it almost seems as if Hurston is suggesting that God is only comparing his might to theirs. It seems as if the hurricane is just survival of the fittest, like a test from God. This would show that God is completely powerful over everyone, and that one should respect his power.

Journal 7: Chapters 16-17

How does Mrs. Turner's relationship with her husband affect her character? Discuss their roles in marriage, and compare them to other couples in the chapters.

Mrs. Turner has an interesting relationship with her husband compared to the many other couples we have seen throughout the book. In most marriages in the book, the man is in complete control over the woman. However, Mrs. Turner seems to have total control over her husband. She has a very strong personality, and her husband seems to be almost afraid of her.

Journal 6

"The train beat on itself and danced on the shiny steel rails mile after mile." (Pg.116)

Hurston personifies the railroad tracks to show Janie's happiness at the beginning of chapter 13. She is on the train on her way to meet Tea Cake, her soon to be new husband. She is extremely excited for her new life with him because he is the only love in her life who has expected more from her than to cook and clean and take care of things. The submissive expectations no longer exist. She is finally allowed to express herself and let her voice be know.

"When the fellow began to pick the box the people begin to come from east, west, north and Australia." (Pg. 122)

Hurston uses a hyperbole here in order to show how good Tea Cake was at playing the guitar. People are not actually coming from Australia, but it shows that he is so good at playing music that people would come from there just to listen to him. The exageration that Hurston uses helps the reader to understand the character better and his abilities.

"She got to be a better shot than Tea Cake." (Pg. 131)

The situational irony used in this quote helps to show Janie's capabilities. One would never expect that Janie would become better at hunting than Tea Cake, but she does. She also learns how to fish and play checkers, and does each much better than anyone would expect her to. For most of the story, Janie is underestimated but has been developing in the past couple of chapters and showing her true abilities.

Journal 5

"What motivates Janie and how is she changed?"

Ever since Janie was a child, she wanted true love, but not at the expense of her voice. That was her dream, but instead she followed her grandmother's dream of power and security. Janie finally starts to think for herself again, with the help of Tea Cake, and her childhood dream is what motivates her. She is changed in that she now thinks for herself, and is no longer afraid to let her voice be heard. No longer does she let herself be oppressed by a husband. And it seems that she doesn't even need to worry about that anymore. Tea Cake is the one who helps Janie to discover herself again, and the one that she loves. He teaches her how to play checkers and takes her fishing and hunting, but most importantly, teaches her how to be Janie again.

Journal 4

She began to act on anger. Anger, that fiery creature who strives to intimidate anyone in his path. The one who lives in the passion of one's mind. His temper so easily swayed every which way. He sits watchful and waits, as his red eyes burn with passion. Until the moment comes when he strikes with the venom of a snake. Been sitting there since the beginning of time. The event was liable to trigger this beast at any moment. She was hot with feeling. Poor woman! She was left alone in a cloud of fury with no way out. Every person who tried could not talk any sense into her. Not one person knew how to extinguish the fire in her eyes. She would be just fine, so long as she was left alone in her fog of rage. The beast could not conquer her. At least she thought. But the others realized, she would never be the same again. Even if not at the time, the realization would come in meeting her again as they saw the fire pits remained in her eyes. Ones who once ventured into her thoughts never dared to go there again. The cloud now followed her wherever she went.

Journal 3

Pg. 27: Simile: "Logan held his wad of tobacco real still in his jaw like a thermometer of his feelings while he studied Janie's face and waited for her to say something."

This simile shows how nervous Logan is about how Janie feels about him. As their marriage continues, they seem to grow further and further apart as Logan treats Janie with less respect. It seems as if whenever he says something to her, he holds his breath because he is afraid she will leave him. The comparison between the tobacco and a thermometer shows his stiffness and nervousness in waiting to see what she will do next.

Pg. 29: Symbol: "Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon."

The pollen and blooming trees is a symbol which Janie uses for love. At the beginning of the book, she says that she wants to feel what she feels when sitting underneath the pear tree. But she wants to feel that feeling with a man. At the end of chapter two, it seems as if she's given up her dream of feeling that way with a man, however this sentence shows that the subject of true love still lingers in the back of her mind.

Pg. 31: Personification: "The sun from ambush was threatening the world with red daggers, but the shadows were gray and solid-looking around the barn."

The author includes this to create a clear picture in one's mind, talking about how the sun was rising. However I think that the shadows around the barn represented how Janie was feeling about her marriage and situation. The next sentence includes how Logan "looked like a black bear doing some clumsy dance on his hind legs". This situation is set up to show the reader how Janie feels towards her husband.

Pg. 33: Motif: "They sat on the boarding house porch and saw the sun plunge into the same crack in the earth from which the night emerged."

Throughout the book so far, there has been a motif about night and day. At the beginning of the book, the author describes how when the sun goes down, life comes back into people. The sunrise always seems to "threaten the world" in some way. This sentence is the last in the chapter, and I believe it is included there to set the scene for the next part of the book, just as this motif does at the beginning of the book.

Pg. 28: Southern Dialect in the Narration: "Kept hearin' 'bout them buildin' a new state down heah in Floridy and sort of wanted to come."

Throughout this part of the narration, the text becomes southern dialect. For me, this gave the story more of a personal feeling. I felt as if I were talking to the character myself. I believe that that is the very reason the author included it here, to be on a more person level with the reader.

Journal 2

How does the setting affect the text, atmosphere, characterization, motivation...?

The text in Their Eyes Were Watching God is especially affected by the setting. Because they are in the South, the dialogue in the book is in Southern dialect. The atmosphere is also hugely affected. The main characters in the story are African-American, so the South is a controversial setting for the story at the time period in which the story was written. One of the characters mentioned, Nanny, talks about her experience in slavery in the South and all of her horrible experiences with discrimination and mistreatment.
The characters are shaped a lot by the environment where they grow up. Having grown up in slavery, Nanny especially wants to make sure that her granddaughter, Janie, is safe and protected because of her own life experiences. That is essentially the only thing she wants before she dies so that she can feel good that her family is safe.
Nanny is very concerned for Janie's safety. Because they live in the South (specifically in Florida) where there is so much potential for violence against African-Americans, the setting motivates Nanny to try and find Janie a husband. She wants Janie to have a husband so that she will have someone who can protect her, even when Nanny passes away. She also wants Janie to have a stable roof over her head. Janie having a husband gives Nanny the peace of mind she needs.

Journal 1

How does the narration differ from the dialect?

Their Eyes Were Watching God has a Southern dialect. This means that when a character talks, the dialogue is spelled how it would sound if someone were saying the words out loud. However, the narration has all regular spelling and is the story being told by the narrator which could be any character in the story or just the author. In this case, the author, Zora Neale Hurston, is the narrator.