The Performative Utterance in Hamlet: Notes

here's the link http://www.academia.edu/383737/The_Performative_Utterance_in_Hamlet
and here's my chicken scratch notes

I just bought 1 million FB users' info for $5

(Read me first) "I just bought 1 million FB users' info for $5"

This makes me want to deactivate my Facebook but obviously not going to. When you think about it this isn't the only information of yours being sold on the internet...CREEPY! There is no way of ever being fully protected on the internet. "Once you put something on the internet, it never comes off." We all know this yet we continue to use it for its resources. Is it all apart of a government scheme? Who knows. But don't take this website offensive, I am sure you are worth way more than $.0000005 to somebody.

Vocabulary 10

aficionado - noun a serious devotee of some particular music genre or musical performer; a fan of bull fighting
browbeat - verb discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate; be bossy towards
commensurate - adj. corresponding in size or degree or extent
diaphanous - adj. so thin as to transmit light
emolument - noun compensation received by virtue of holding an office or having employment (usually in the form of wages or fees)
foray - noun an initial attempt (especially outside your usual areas of competence); a sudden short attack; verb briefly enter enemy territory; steal goods; take as spoils
genre - noun a class of art (or artistic endeavor) having a characteristic form or technique; a kind of literary or artistic work; an expressive style of music; a style of expressing yourself in writing
homily - noun a sermon on a moral or religious topic
immure - verb lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
insouciant - adj. marked by blithe unconcern
matrix - noun mold used in the production of phonograph records, type, or other relief surface;the formative tissue at the base of a nail; the body substance in which tissue cells are embedded;a rectangular array of elements (or entries) set out by rows and columns; an enclosure within which something originates or develops (from the Latin for womb)
obsequies - noun a funeral rite or ceremony
panache - noun a feathered plume on a helmet; distinctive and stylish elegance
persona - noun (Jungian psychology) a personal facade that one presents to the world; an actor's portrayal of someone in a play
philippic - noun a speech of violent denunciation
prurient - adj. characterized by lust
sacrosanct - adj. must be kept sacred
systemic - adj. affecting an entire system
tendentious - adj. having or marked by a strong tendency especially a controversial one
vicissitude - noun mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another); a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something

Literary Analysis #2

Catch 22

ANALYSIS
1. The plot of Catch 22 is about how a protagonist, Yossarian,  tries to get himself sent back home during War World Two. Unfortunately  he is faced with many obstacles along the way. The catch of catch-22, can be interpreted different ways throughout the novel. For example, you can be discharged from the army if you are insane, but Catch-22 states if you say your crazy, you're sane for realizing it. Which seems to keep everything in an on going cycle. Yossarian's tries to stay alive throughout the entire war. He is always fending for himself and keeping on his toes always which eventually makes other men think he is truly crazy. 
2. The theme of  Catch-22 is that nothing in life is ever truly changed(everything seems to go in circles in other words). Yossarian's belief was that if you had nothing to live for then you weren't living. You should only be concerned with yourself because if you worry for the well-beings of others you may put yourself in harms way. Another major theme is sanity and how most of the world seems very different to anyone who is not crazy.
3. The authors tone throughout the novel is sarcastic. My understanding of it is that nobody truly understands the war except for the men that come out of it crazy.

• "Who's they?" he wanted to know. "Who, specifically, do you think is trying to murder you?""Every one of them," Yossarian told him."Every one of whom?""Every one of whom do you think?""I haven't any idea.""Then how do you know they aren't?""Because …" Clevinger sputtered, and turned speechless with frustration.
• "His nature was invariably gentle and polite. He had lived for almost twenty years without trauma, tension, hate or neurosis, which was proof to Yossarian of just how crazy he really was."
• " He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt, and his only mission each time he went up was to come down alive."
• "They were the most depressing group of people Yossarain had ever been with. They were always in high spirits."

4. Heller's use of  irony, hyperbole, dialogue, foreshadowing, flashbacks, direst characters, and symbolism help the reader understand the themes of the novel.

Irony sets the mood for Catch 22. As you can see in this qoute irony is not needed yet the use of it sets up the entire novel.

• "There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn’t, but if he was sane he would have to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to."
•  “The next thing you know you’ll be claiming you’re Washington Irving

Yossarian signing the censored letters a “Washington Irving” during the first chapter of the book foreshadows the subplot of the C.I.D. men seeking whoever is doing this and then finally laying the blame on the chaplain.

Flashback:  

• (446-450) Yossarian thinks of Snowden and i thought back too i B-25 where Yossarian is attempting to keep Snowden alive 

Direct Characterization

•  “Colonal Cathcart was a slick, successful, slipshod, unhappy man of thirty-six who lumbered when he walked and wanted to be a general.”

Dialogue 

• " ‘Will you speak up please? He couldn’t hear you.’ ‘Yes, sir. I--’ ‘Metcalf.’ ‘ Sir?’ ‘Didn’t I tell you to keep your stupid mouth shut’ ‘Yes, sir.’ . . .” 

The whole book comes off as a hyperbole, in the sense that the author writes each character with huge exaggeration so you can really see what Yossarrian is dealing with. 

• "Why did you walk around with crab apples in your cheeks? Yossarian asked again. "That's what I asked.""Because they've got a better shape than horse chestnuts," Orr answered. "I just told you that."
• "Why," swore Yossarian at him approvingly, "you evil-eyed, mechanically-aptituded, disaffiliated son of a bitch, did you walk around with anything in your cheeks?"
• "I didn't," Orr said, "walk around with anything in my cheeks. I walked around with crab apples in my cheeks. When I couldn't get crab apples, I walked around with horse chestnuts. In my cheeks."

CHARACTERIZATION 

1.Yossarrian represents everyone who tries to cheat the system. He believes in finding and controlling his own fate. But because of his paranoia, he is separated from the group

Colonel Cathcart was a worm. Cathcart's often  manipulating his soldiers to advance his own rank. Lieutenant Cathcart has no guilt about placing his men's lives in danger. To impress his supervisor, he purposely volunteers his men for the most dangerous missions. Constantly raising the number of required missions his men have to fly, he shows the catch. 

2.The authors syntax and diction change as he addresses different characters because each character has different views on the war. Yossarrian believes the war is just putting yourself in harms way for others and it is not worth it. in fact, he is afraid to be there and tries to be sent home constantly. Then there are characters like Cathcart and Milo who prey on others weaknesses to get what they want and be on top.

3.  Yossarrian is a dynamic and flat character. He is the most rational and realistic character Catch 22. He goes into the war afraid and unwilling to participate in anything other than keeping alive which is why he fakes illnesses to avoid participating in any missions. He lived by believing that ,“nobody had a right to take such frightful risks with his life.”

4. After reading Catch 22 I feel as if I met a real person. Heller gave Yossarrian real life characteristics such as fear. He was a good man in the sense that he wasn't willing to participate but he was willing to help out those who did participate and should empathy to those who lost their lives.

Tools That Change the Way We Think

Extensive Internet/media/technology use drastically changes the way I think because it provides me with any resource I need which gives me less to think about and more to copy and paste. I have the information from the time I research it to the time I need it, then its gone. Its a crappy form of learning in some cases because once I see it has potential to be the right answer I'll copy it. Its been harder to concentrate now more than ever. Should I do homework or watch a repeat of Law and Order, tough choice right? Wrong. I know which one I should do but my attention is drawn more to the television then to a paper and a pen. It's even hard to focus while being on my blog. Its so simple to just open a new tab and go on Facebook or YouTube which is why I have set aside certain times for my homework and my Law and Order. Our generation has rapidly been transformed by technology. This advancement has provided us with an endless amount of information and resources that has drawn us away from our priorities and more towards our social networking.

Notes on Hamlet

Before we even began reading the play Hamlet, I had my mind set that I was going to dread it. The long soliloquies and outrageous diction was all I could think of. However, that idea has evolved. Hamlet is just like Lion King, or Lion King is just like Hamlet. It is full of comedy, suspense, and tragedy. I guess one can argue that it is just like one big novela. At first I left as if Gertrude didn't care much for Hamlet but after she sent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern over to spy on him I realized she was just like any other concerned mother. Although Hamlet is only acting crazy, I feel as if he may be becoming crazed with the idea of revenge and exposing his uncle Claudius. Because Hamlet was sent to England and Claudius is no longer at ease I can see things only getting worse and possibly more deaths soon to come.

Who Was Shakespeare?

I used the website Shmoop to learn more about the infamous Shakespeare. He wrote 36 plays and 154 sonnets not to mention invented dozens of new words(kudos to him). Shakespeare died on his 52nd birthday in 1616. It turns out that he didn't leave to much of his personal life behind, he was a somewhat secluded man. When students hear the word "Shakespeare" we automatically want to just run away. Its intimidating not because it is hard to understand but because we were told it was hard to understand and that lasting impression stuck with us. However, from experience, once you began to read it it is hard to put down. His writing is complex and needs a lot of analyzing but its not as drastic as we were lead to believe He was an extremely talented writer and in the play Hamlet very comical.

To Facebook or Not to Facebook?

#Facebook... Even my grandma has one-_- Facebook was initially meant to be a way to communicate with one another, however; now its a way of sharing your problems with the world and expressing your emotions( those types of statuses are drags right?!). The benefits of Facebook today are, of course, the AP lit page where we all communicate faster and the Righetti high school page to keep me informed on events and deadlines. For others it may be keeping in touch with loved ones from a  distance. The risks of Facebook are bullying, creepy old guys, and wasting time.
Reading yesterdays article made me realize that your literally never safe. Its obvious that even with the "privacy' on Facebook, there is no privacy! We are the product of Facebook.

Hamlet Act III REMIX

The breakdown of "TO BE OR NOT TO BE"

Midterm Review

I didn't do as well on my midterm as I had hoped. In the beginning I started off doing pretty well I knew majority of the words but by the 3rd list all of the words began to look and mean the same thing in my head. Next midterm I am going to take studying more serious and pay attention to what I am learning the first time around.

Vocabulary #8

abeyance (noun) A state of temporary disuse or suspension

ambivalent (adjective) Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

beleaguer (verb) Beset with difficulties

carte blanche (noun) Complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best

cataclysm (noun) A large-scale and violent event in the natural world

debauch (verb) Destroy or debase the moral purity of; corrupt.

eclat (noun) An enthusiastic approval

fastidious (adjective) Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

gambol (verb) Run or jump about playfully

imbue (verb) Inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality

inchoate (adjective) Just begun and so not fully formed or developed

lampoon (verb) Publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule or sarcasm

malleable (adjective) Easily influenced; pliable

nemesis (noun) The inescapable or implacable agent of someone's or something's downfall

opt (verb) Make a choice from a range of possibilities

philistine (noun) A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them

picaresque (adjective) Of or relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the 

adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero

queasy (adjective) Nauseated; feeling sick

refractory (adjective) Stubborn or unmanageable

savoir-faire (noun) The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations

Story coming soon...

Midterm Reflection

What went well?

Well going into the midterm I was freaking out to the point were I had to use Michelle's rosary... but turns out it wasn't that bad. As I looked at the words I was able to pair many together and just  use process of elimination for the others

What didn't go well?

Just like every other test, I let my nerves get the best of me. I had studied all week but when it came time to match the words my mind went blank. Once we hit the final list it felt as if all the words meant the same thing.

What can you learn from the experience to improve for next time?

For next midterm I am going to get more creative with my study strategies and prepare myself for the test so that I won't freak out the day of (that can help for other classes test as well)

Ophelia advice column!

Dear Ophelia,
Don't adjucate yourself to one man, you are young. Hamlet is just a boy that will come in and out of your life. 
After his fathers death the lackluster Hamlet may just need comfort and support. You shouldn't immolate yourself to take care of him for he is a grown man.Your father is acting as a harbinger but who really knows unless they try.The disparity between men and women will never be the same. You are his baby girl. Be careful however your malcontent behavior may drive your family away and they are the ones who will always be there for you.Your sublimate state of mind is to follow your heart, then do that just be careful. This is a tough situation. Do not become bane as you contemplate between the men in your life.