Sunday, November 23, 2008
Best of the Week: Revolutions and King Lear
One of the concepts introduced and explored this week by Mr.Allen are "revolutions" within King Lear. This concept of bottom to top, and top to bottom can signify a shift in the order of the world and add a different level of interest to the novel Shakespeare would not have been able to achieve elsewhere. The Powerful King Lear revolves from king, to a second child as his sanity starts to depleat. Another revoltion which worked coincedingly was as King Lear got older, Goneral and Regan went from the children to the caretakers and the followers to ones in power. These revolutions are helping add to an already ironic play. I would like to apply this to my short stories, as irony is a depth that makes the reader think deeply and profundly about certain circumstances. I believe the readers should be engaged in the novels they are reading as opposed to an 'easy read'; "revolutions" have the reader evaluate where a character begins, ends, and the means and methods that get them there. It gets one to delv much deeper into the thoughts and process of actions. As I personally read, I started to think about revolutions in life. Specifically in our class, there was a voluntary devoltion from teacher to student and student to teacher as we were allowed to choose our Essay test date in English, and in spanish as Mitch was told to try to teach one of the new grammar rules. It made me wonder if a sense of order was relient on a balance system, acheived through revolutions. The more I think about it, the more examples emerge. As you continue with the week, be reflective of what revolutions occur which may be sustaining your life.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Connection: King Lear & The Notebook
King Lear is comparable to the timeless classic, teen favorite film, The Notebook. In both there are tests of love and revolutions used to portray and frame the setting.
In King Lear, King Lear settles his inheritence with proclamations of his love by his daughters. Although the claims were contrived, he fell for the sweet talking words none the less. In The Notebook, the main character Allie is not so swooned by the kind words said by Noah. What is interesting is how the romances fall into place afterwards. Cordelia is disowned by her father and has no dowery for a husband. Despite the interference Lear has played, King of France has taken Cordelia by the hand. While it took some convincing, Allie eventually agrees to date Noah; it is her parents whom also interefer on their relationship. While Noah and Allie stay apart for seven years do to the distance, in the end, their love prevails and reunites them. I find it interesting the message that is sent through both of these literay works; It is essentially true love that matters and will win in the end. Both Regan and Goneril's relationship with Lear worked no better than Allie's relationship with her fiance Lon, while Cordelia found her love as well as Allie eventually did.
A concept that is within many pieces of work is "revolutions." In King Lear, Lear himself revolves from a child, to king, to a second child as with his age, goes his sanity. In a more literal connection, the Notebook portrays this very transformation as Allie is depicted in her youth and as an old woman with Alheimers. In a more figurative sense, Allie and Noah's relationship goes through the trials and stages of a revolution. It starts as honest young love, grows into a fierce passion, dies out as the distance seperates them, and then rekindles with their reunion. These revolutions are in both inorder to play a sense of irony and bring depth to a simple story. It adds a concept which makes your mind go through the entire process only to result in a solution which was known from the beginning.
In King Lear, King Lear settles his inheritence with proclamations of his love by his daughters. Although the claims were contrived, he fell for the sweet talking words none the less. In The Notebook, the main character Allie is not so swooned by the kind words said by Noah. What is interesting is how the romances fall into place afterwards. Cordelia is disowned by her father and has no dowery for a husband. Despite the interference Lear has played, King of France has taken Cordelia by the hand. While it took some convincing, Allie eventually agrees to date Noah; it is her parents whom also interefer on their relationship. While Noah and Allie stay apart for seven years do to the distance, in the end, their love prevails and reunites them. I find it interesting the message that is sent through both of these literay works; It is essentially true love that matters and will win in the end. Both Regan and Goneril's relationship with Lear worked no better than Allie's relationship with her fiance Lon, while Cordelia found her love as well as Allie eventually did.
A concept that is within many pieces of work is "revolutions." In King Lear, Lear himself revolves from a child, to king, to a second child as with his age, goes his sanity. In a more literal connection, the Notebook portrays this very transformation as Allie is depicted in her youth and as an old woman with Alheimers. In a more figurative sense, Allie and Noah's relationship goes through the trials and stages of a revolution. It starts as honest young love, grows into a fierce passion, dies out as the distance seperates them, and then rekindles with their reunion. These revolutions are in both inorder to play a sense of irony and bring depth to a simple story. It adds a concept which makes your mind go through the entire process only to result in a solution which was known from the beginning.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
TED Presentations
A group of eight students working against the clock as they scramble to think, write, discuss a video meant for the brightest of the bright. It wouldn't be the Academy way if there were no last minute acknowledgments of new members and the grading rubric.
After the "weeks" of preparation, the TED presentations have come to a semi-successful close. I felt my group had run smoothly and were able to fully complete our presentation within the allotted time. It was a stretch, but enough practice let us smush in what we felt was the needed information. I felt disappointed when the other groups did not run on the "strict" schedule, but eventually got over it as my group (scheduled to go last) was allowed to run over the 10:00 stop time consequentially. The talks after ward were a nice reflection and heartfelt story time moment, but I felt that they weren't worth the 30 minutes we dedicated to them.
Ofcourse, as with every project, there are ways to improve. Collaboration was a large issue amongst every group I talked to; 3 out of 5 groups I know had last minute contributers realize they had to start working. Those who were working, constantly were on a different wave length then the sophomores. I know in my group, Jenna and I would comment to make sure everyone was completing the requirements when we would be told "I don't think my teacher cares about that." I think TED has potential benefits, but won't be achieved unless we don't use all 4 grades, and we take one day to go through the requirements together. This may be asking a lot, but I cleaner, smoother start would reduce a lot of stress and make for better presentations.
After the "weeks" of preparation, the TED presentations have come to a semi-successful close. I felt my group had run smoothly and were able to fully complete our presentation within the allotted time. It was a stretch, but enough practice let us smush in what we felt was the needed information. I felt disappointed when the other groups did not run on the "strict" schedule, but eventually got over it as my group (scheduled to go last) was allowed to run over the 10:00 stop time consequentially. The talks after ward were a nice reflection and heartfelt story time moment, but I felt that they weren't worth the 30 minutes we dedicated to them.
Ofcourse, as with every project, there are ways to improve. Collaboration was a large issue amongst every group I talked to; 3 out of 5 groups I know had last minute contributers realize they had to start working. Those who were working, constantly were on a different wave length then the sophomores. I know in my group, Jenna and I would comment to make sure everyone was completing the requirements when we would be told "I don't think my teacher cares about that." I think TED has potential benefits, but won't be achieved unless we don't use all 4 grades, and we take one day to go through the requirements together. This may be asking a lot, but I cleaner, smoother start would reduce a lot of stress and make for better presentations.
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