Reflection On Hamlet

Hamlet was an area that I struggled on the most. I found it difficult to find purpose in this book, because I couldn't relate to it at all. Although, I did benefit from reading this play because it expanded my knowledge of analyzing context, and reading comprehension. Specifically, Hamlet helped me to achieve outcomes 1.2.1, 2.1.1,2.1.2, as well as 2.1.2. The Hamlet assignments were appropriate for these outcomes because it helped me consider new perspectives. The vocabulary was a drastic change between Romeo and Juliet, compared to Hamlet. Also, the themes were immensely different from each other. Outcome 2.1.1and 2.1.2 were achieved because i had to interpret what was going on during Hamlet, but by using the charts we were assigned to fill out, and no fear shakespeare, I was able to comprehend the play.

Truth And Bright Water Revision

In the novel Truth And Bright Water, the author, Thomas King, proposes the idea that there is a definite struggle within an individual’s quest to restore honor and certainty. The struggles that these individuals are faced with are presented through the characters Lum, Auntie Cassie, and Monroe Swimmer. These characters develop throughout the novel and demonstrate their growth through the actions, and choices that they must make, and how they will renew their reputations.

Lum, when first introduced, is described as having black eyes, and is holding a gun. From just reading this, the reader can assume that Lum has a troubled life, and by playing with a gun, the judgment made is that he does not value life. As the plot progresses, Lum does not mature the way that Tecumseh does. When the boys find the skull, Lum becomes obsessed with it. Lum searches for the certainty that he is not sure exists. Lum lost his mother, and throughout the book, often is not sure of whether or not his mother is alive. “Sometimes Lum remembers that his mother is dead, and sometimes he forgets.” Certainty is having faith in the future. From the beginning of the novel, it is evident that Lum does not care for his future, but Tecumseh does. Due to prejudices of today’s culture, the future is not bright for Many Native American teenagers. The novel directly relates to real life in the fact that these young people struggle to pursue bright futures, and there is a struggle to restore honor. After watching Reel Injun, many students were shocked to discover that Native Americans do not act the way they do in the movies.  The author presents this topic discreetly, and by showing us what lum has been going through, she can be presented with the idea that the struggle for restoring honor and certainty is a large task for one individual, whereas it must take more than one person to do it, and for a culture to be unified it needs to have a want for change, and want to regain their original reputation, and one that is not created by society’s views and opinions.

          Auntie Cassie is another important key in this theme. She starts out as just a side character, but subtly becomes one of the most important people we are shown. We don’t learn much about Auntie Cassie, but what we do learn shows us her growth in the novel and her search for certainty. King uses Cassie as a symbol of how an individual may think that they have done something right, but in reality they find themselves regretting it right after. Auntie Cassie struggles to restore her honor because she feels that once her honor has been brought back, she can forget about Mia and how her troubled past is still haunting her. When an individual seeks to regain certainty in their life, they often try to forget what has been troubling them. Throughout the novel, Auntie Cassie often spoke of Mia, and when she did she became very melancholy. “” I suppose this is about Mia,” says my grandmother. Things go quiet then as if somebody has done something rude and no one wants to admit what they did. Auntie Cassie looks at the floor.” The grandmother has brought up a touchy subject, and by analyzing the scene, the reader can easily comprehend that the subject of Mia is a negative topic.  King uses this to show the reader that there is a subject that has yet to be understood by the narrator, and gives us foreshadowing of why Auntie Cassie really went back to Bright Water. Nar the end of the novel, and after Cassie’s character has developed more, there is a scene that impacts the reader the most and proves Cassie’s restoration of her certainty and honor, by letting go of her memories of Mia. “She opens the quilt and puts it around her sister’s shoulders, while Auntie Cassie takes each piece of clothing out of the suitcase, deliberately, one at a time, and casts them all into the flames.” P 260. The  significance of this scene placement is that it takes place at the giveaway, while everybody is having a good time receiving gifts, Cassie can finally let go of what has been hurting her. Cassie struggled to restore her honor, but King presents the idea that even though it may seem to be too much of a struggle, it also must be done for an individual to reinstate their certainty in themselves.

          The third character that demonstrated the most understanding of reinforcing certainty in themselves was Monroe Swimmer. Monroe struggled against society’s ideas of what Native American culture was like, and struggled to grasp onto what history he still had. By working in the museums, he was able to “rescue” the bones of the residential school children. King used Monroe to demonstrate that individuals not only seek to restore honor and certainty in themselves, but in other people, objects, and in history. When Monroe painted the church he wanted the prairies to look the way that they should. Natural and untouched. Monroe was symbolic of what people today should do, respect the land that was given to us. King uses the scenes of Monroe painting the church to show us the relationship between man and land that should exist, but often goes unheard of. The giveaway is an important scene because it shows how Monroe wants others to restore certainty in friendships. Many people do not think highly of Monroe, but at the giveaway they begin to become keen to his kindness, and start to realize that if they treat others with the same respect that they want, they can easily bring back their respect. Monroe was a significant character in the plot development because he was a symbol of the way Native Americans should be- proud and willing to stand up for themselves and to reinstate their self image.  Monroe also brings back the bones of the children from museums, because he believes that they belong at home, and by restoring them into their natural place, they can be at peace. “This is the centre of the universe. Where else would I bring them? Where else would they want to be?”

Throughout the novel Truth And Bright Water, Thomas King has developed the thematic idea that to regain an individual’s honor and certainty, there is a struggle that makes the effort worth it. By using Lum, Auntie Cassie and Monroe, the reader can analyze the key events in these characters lives that has lead them with the need to restore their certainty in themselves, as well as in the life-altering choices they must face.

Truth And Bright Water Reflection

I  really connected with truth and bright water. The themes stood out to me, and it was easy for me to recognize what was going on. I personally connected myself to Lum and Auntie Cassie, so that is why I chose to write about them in essay. Truth And bright Water was our largest unit, and had the most affect on me personally. The outcomes that I have chosen for the essay are 4.1, 2.2, 2.3. I didn't do as well on the essay as I would have liked, but I feel if I had worked harder I would have been able to do a better job.  We had to understand the deeper meaning of the book in order to be able to do a visual project on it, so I liked that we were given an idea and got to run with it.

Truth And Bright Water Critical essay

In the novel Truth And Bright Water, the author, Thomas King, proposes the idea that there is a definite struggle within an individual’s quest to restore honor and certainty. The struggles that these individuals are faced with are presented through the characters Lum, Auntie Cassie, and Monroe Swimmer. These characters develop throughout the novel and demonstrate their growth through the actions, and choices that they must make, and how they will renew their reputations.

Lum, when first introduced, is described as having black eyes, and is holding a gun. From just reading this, the reader can assume that Lum has a troubled life, and by playing with a gun, the judgment made is that he does not value life. As the plot progresses, Lum does not mature the way that Tecumseh does. When the boys find the skull, Lum becomes obsessed with it. Lum searches for the certainty that he is not sure exists. Lum lost his mother, and throughout the book, often is not sure of whether or not his mother is alive. “Sometimes Lum remembers that his mother is dead, and sometimes he forgets.” Certainty is having faith in the future. From the beginning of the novel, it is evident that Lum does not care for his future, but Tecumseh does. Due to prejudices of today’s culture, the future is not bright for Many Native American teenagers. The novel directly relates to real life in the fact that these young people struggle to pursue bright futures, and there is a struggle to restore honor. After watching Reel Injun, many students were shocked to discover that Native Americans do not act the way they do in the movies.  The author presents this topic discreetly, and by showing us what lum has been going through, she can be presented with the idea that the struggle for restoring honor and certainty is a large task for one individual, whereas it must take more than one person to do it, and for a culture to be unified it needs to have a want for change, and want to regain their original reputation, and one that is not created by society’s views and opinions.

          Auntie Cassie is another important key in this theme. She starts out as just a side character, but subtly becomes one of the most important people we are shown. We don’t learn much about Auntie Cassie, but what we do learn shows us her growth in the novel and her search for certainty. King uses Cassie as a symbol of how an individual may think that they have done something right, but in reality they find themselves regretting it right after. Auntie Cassie struggles to restore her honor because she feels that once her honor has been brought back, she can forget about Mia and how her troubled past is still haunting her. When an individual seeks to regain certainty in their life, they often try to forget what has been troubling them. Throughout the novel, Auntie Cassie often spoke of Mia, and when she did she became very melancholy. “” I suppose this is about Mia,” says my grandmother. Things go quiet then as if somebody has done something rude and no one wants to admit what they did. Auntie Cassie looks at the floor.” The grandmother has brought up a touchy subject, and by analyzing the scene, the reader can easily comprehend that the subject of Mia is a negative topic.  King uses this to show the reader that there is a subject that has yet to be understood by the narrator, and gives us foreshadowing of why Auntie Cassie really went back to Bright Water. Nar the end of the novel, and after Cassie’s character has developed more, there is a scene that impacts the reader the most and proves Cassie’s restoration of her certainty and honor, by letting go of her memories of Mia. “She opens the quilt and puts it around her sister’s shoulders, while Auntie Cassie takes each piece of clothing out of the suitcase, deliberately, one at a time, and casts them all into the flames.” P 260. The  significance of this scene placement is that it takes place at the giveaway, while everybody is having a good time receiving gifts, Cassie can finally let go of what has been hurting her. Cassie struggled to restore her honor, but King presents the idea that even though it may be hard, it also must be done for an individual to reinstate their certainty in themselves.

          The third character that demonstrated the most understanding of reinforcing certainty in themselves was Monroe Swimmer. Monroe struggled against society’s ideas of what Native American culture was like, and struggled to grasp onto what history he still had. By working in the museums, he was able to “rescue” the bones of the residential school children. King used Monroe to demonstrate that individuals not only seek to restore honor and certainty in themselves, but in other people, objects, and in history. When Monroe painted the church he wanted the prairies to look the way that they should. Natural and untouched. Monroe was symbolic of what people today should do, respect the land that was given to us. King uses the scenes of Monroe painting the church to show us the relationship between man and land that should exist, but often goes unheard of. The giveaway is an important scene because it shows how Monroe wants others to restore certainty in friendships. Many people do not think highly of Monroe, but at the giveaway they begin to become keen to his kindness, and start to realize that if they treat others with the same respect that they want, they can easily bring back their respect. Monroe was a significant character in the plot development because he was a symbol of the way Native Americans should be- proud and willing to stand up for themselves and to reinstate their self image.  Monroe also brings back the bones of the children from museums, because he believes that they belong at home, and by restoring them into their natural place, they can be at peace. “This is the centre of the universe. Where else would I bring them? Where else would they want to be?”

Throughout the novel Truth And Bright Water, Thomas King has developed the thematic idea that to regain an individual’s honor and certainty, there is a struggle that makes the effort worth it. By using Lum, Auntie Cassie and Monroe, the reader can analyze the key events in these characters lives that has lead them with the need to restore their certainty in themselves, as well as in the life-altering choices they must face.

HamletEssay

In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the author develops the idea that there is an interplay between fear and foresight when individuals make life altering choices by using the character Hamlet. By looking at this character, one can analyze their reactions to fear by what the character says, and how they act towards others.

          In act 1, scene 2, Hamlet is speaking to his friend Horatio, a scholar. Hamlet is speaking of his mother and how she has been incestuous with Hamlet’s uncle, the dead king’s father. “It is not, nor it cannot come to, good; But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue!” Line 158. Hamlet is speaking of his anger towards Claudius and his mother for their adulterous acts, but he does not say anything about his plot for revenge to Horatio, because he is the only human who has seen his father’s ghost, an his plot for revenge is secretive. This shows the relationship between fear and foresight because Hamlet is procrastinating the murder of his uncle, furthermore showing his fear of doing the deed. It relates to foresight when hamlet indirectly announces his plan. Also, in lines 77-89, Hamlet speaks of cowardness and revenge. “Who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death...Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, An thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought..” in this quotation, Hamlet explains that Fear of death makes us all cowards, and our natural boldness becomes weak with too much thinking. Actions that should be carried out at once get misdirected, and stop being actions at all. This plays into fear and foresight because hamlet admits to mankind as being afraid of death, and foresights more towards his murder of Claudius.

          When Characters are faced to make life changing choices, their true personality comes out. Some examples of the consequences of acting upon fear are Polonius’ death, Ophelia’s suicide, Rosencrantz’s and Guildenstern’s death. Polonius’ death could have been avoided, if Hamlet had been more careful. Hamlet’s madness is greatly demonstrated in this scene, due to the fact at his mockery of Polonius’s death. Hamlet tells Claudius that Polonius is “In heaven. Send hither to see. If your messenger find him not there, seek him i' th' other place yourself. But if indeed you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby” line 38. This has to do with foresight because it is showing us deeper into Hamlet’s madness, and also demonstrating that Hamlet has become cold hearted, and does not fear death or death’s consequences anymore.  Ophelia’s Suicide demonstrates that when fear takes over, our decision making can be easily persuaded by emotions. Ophelia was driven mad by her father’s death, and based upon her own life or death choice, Ophelia chose death, showing the audience that her fear of madness and power that had taken over Hamlet’s life took over hers too.  Rosencrantz’s and Guildenstern’s deaths could have been avoided, had they not chosen to take Claudius’ side. Hamlet had to make a choice to save his own life or sacrifice his friends, and on his path of revenge and rage he ultimately chose to give his friends the death penalty.

          In act 3, scene 4, Hamlet explains his cruelty through the quotation “I must be cruel, only to be kind.” Line 179.  This ties into life altering choices, because when it comes down to it, one must be able to make that choice and know exactly why they made it, Hamlet chose to be cruel to his mother when speaking with her about her adulterous behaviour with Claudius because he knew that if he had spoken softly to her, and not made her admit to her wrong, he would get no point across. Hamlet understands that he must tell his mother of her wrong doing, even though it causes her much pain. Hamlet fears that his mother will not see how she has been betraying him, and hurting him by being with Claudius. Also, Hamlet already has his plan to kill Claudius in place, and does not want to kill his own mother, so by detaching her from Claudius, he hopes to have her for himself.

          By examining Shakespeare’s Hamlet, one can determine the relationship built by Shakespeare about the connection between fear and foreshadowing, by looking at the main character of the play. Throughout this piece of literature, we are shown many examples of how an individual may make life altering choices, and how reacting to fear, or reacting to foresight may alter those changes for good or bad.

 

 

Living Glossary.

• abstract:a short statement that describes the main argument and points of an essay or paper 
•  aerial shot:a photograph taken from a plane, crane, or helicopter  allusion:a reference, explicit or implicit, to someone or something with which a text creator assumes the audience will be familiar with,often a historical, literary, or mythological person or event
  archetype:a pattern that appears repeatedly in literature  
•  aside:a short speech in a play that is heard only by the audience, not by other characters cadence:a sequence of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates a rhythm  
• dollying:moving a camera mounted on wheels while filming a scene dramatic irony:a form of irony in which there is a discrepancy between what a character believes and what the audience knows to be true
• extended metaphor: an explicit comparison that's carried throughout a text and is based on several similarities between two things 
• foreshadowing:the dropping of hints that indicate events that are to come, thereby preparing readers to accept the outcome of a story 
•  hamartia: error in judgment ,a bad choice that leads to tragedy
•  metacognition:a process involving focused thinking about thinking to create effective strategies for learning
•  parallelism:the juxtaposing of sentences or parts of sentences of exactly the same length,structure, and weight so as to achieve a sense of balance
• sardonic:derisively mocking; bitterly sarcastic 
• satire:the ridiculing of human vices or stupidities; a text that ridicules human vices or
• stupidities 
• situational irony: a form of irony that involves a contrast between what is expected and what really occurs 
• stereotype:an oversimplified, standardized, and often exaggerated portrayal of a type of
• person, group, race, or issue 
• verisimilitude:the quality of seeming realistic of appearing to be true and plausible