Zeitgeist

The feelings of a particular era or time in history
or
The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time

To memorize vocabulary words in general, I will connect something in the word (such as a letter) to something in the definition (such as a word).  For example, I can take the "e" in zeitgeist and connect it to the word era, or I can take the "t" and connect it to the word time.  This sounds ridiculous but for whatever reason, this actually works.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-4-worst-times-to-be-internet/

Thinking Outside of the Box

Plato illustrates our mental limitations by using an allegory.  He makes humanity seem like they are in this dark cave that is filled with lies and we are chained inside this cave.  We are unable to break free unless we find this new way of thinking that can break the chains to reveal the true world.  He shows that we are responsible for our way of thinking and that we need to break free for ourselves.  Sartre shows our limitations by isolating people in a room.  He expresses his story through dialogue of different characters that are trapped in this room and want to leave.  We learn that they are in hell for various sins each committed.  With Sartre we see that we need to learn through each other.  We must be able to change and connect with one another.  Without one another, we will be stuck in only one way of thinking without learning what others think or feel which is the true hell.

Literature Analysis 3: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

1. The Road is the story of a man and his son who are trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.  The father keeps the son safe in this dangerous territory as they face scavengers and cannibals.  The father feels that it is important to keep his son as sane as possible during this time so he won't end up like the crazy people around them.  The son feels safe with his father as they venture until the father begins to grow ill.  This illness causes the father to die and the son is left with a choice to join a colony.  He decides to join this colony since they can keep him safe and he thinks of them as a new family.
2. The theme of the story is the power of family and love.  The father loved his son and wanted to see him safe and unharmed.  He gave his son morals to give him humanity in the inhumane times.  Without the father's love for his son, the father would not have lasted as long through his disease and the son would have been lost.
3. The book has a depressing tone.  The father and son must survive through these difficult times.  They are constantly facing death without food or water.  When they do have food and water, scavengers are trying to take it from them.  The father is also trying to keep his son sane in this insane world.  It is tough for the audience to watch this child grow up in this environment.
4. McCarthy uses setting, characters, and syntax to represent the theme and tone of his book.  The setting is a desolate wasteland which immediately connects with the depressing tone and gives the reader a feeling of emptiness.  His characters are constantly struggling to survive and face death often.  His syntax shows how the characters connect with each other and the importance of family in these trying times.

Big Question

why

Performative Utterance in Hamlet

Performative utterance plays an important role in both Hamlet the character and Hamlet the play.  It allows us to see into Hamlets psyche and progresses the play as Hamlet is deciding whether or not to act.  Performative utterance doesn’t only affect the play, it affects our own thought and the world around us.  The ability to hear our own thoughts allows us to shape the way we think.  Performative utterance shapes the theme of the play and our lives.
    The role of performative utterance is very important towards understanding the play, Hamlet.  Hamlet shows this importance throughout the six major soliloquies in the play.  Through these soliloquies, the audience is able to see the tough decisions that Hamlet must go through inside of his head.  Each day for Hamlet is a struggle over the ordeals that have occurred to him and what he must do to fix them.  It is never clear to Hamlet and their is always a gray area where Hamlet cannot decide what is right to do.  This also drives the play and the drama around Hamlet.  Hamlet’s conflicts also control the other characters.  The other characters throughout the play wonder what Hamlet is up to and why is he has gone mad.  This makes them create plans that possibly stop Hamlet from executing his own plans in the manner that best suits him.
    Performative utterance reflects on our lives and the world we live in.  I often reflect on my thoughts and find that some are relevant to the topic while others are not.  This allows me to establish the relevant from the irrelevant.  As I write this essay, I am constantly reviewing my thoughts and presenting them in the best manner that I know possible.  Even during class discussions, I am reforming my thoughts as new information is presented and using performative utterance to combine my old thoughts and these new thoughts into my own way of thinking.  While studying Hamlet, I often reflected on my own thoughts as Hamlet had.  These ideas exist inside of each person’s mind which allows us to collectively change the world around us.
    Performative utterance is an important concept to understand in Hamlet and a key element in life.  It allows Hamlet to reflect on his thoughts of current and events and allows the audience to get a sense of Hamlet’s controversy.  This is also important in life when people need to see or hear their thoughts.  Performative utterance is the reason Hamlet is who he is and the reason we are who we are.  It distinguishes each person from one another.

Hamlet and Beowulf

     Hamlet's and Beowulf's diction differentiate completely.  Hamlet is a young, angst-filled kid while Beowulf is in the prime of his life and is a strong capable man.  Hamlet is still a boy who has very different problems as Beowulf which causes him to approach them in a different way.  Hamlet is calculating and clever, while Beowulf just punches monsters to solve his problems.  Hamlet is not an epic hero because he uses language to solve his problems rather than punches and superior muscles.
     Hamlet must be clever to solve his problems, while Beowulf must be confident and arrogant to overcome his challenges.  Hamlet will use his vast vocabulary and education to play word games with characters to show his superiority.  Beowulf is arrogant and will never back down from a fight because this is what society has demanded from him as an epic hero.  Hamlet is able to deduce that Claudius had killed his father by setting up an elaborate scheme in which he re-enacted Claudius killing his brother and taking the throne.  This is something Beowulf would have never done because he has his fists to do the talking for him.  Beowulf would have just crushed the face of Claudius if any suspicion arose that murder was involved in the death of his father.
    Hamlet is more complex than the average epic hero.  Hamlet has many flaws about his character rather than just one epic flaw like Beowulf.  Hamlet can't control his emotions after his father's death even though this is against social customs.  Hamlet also is unable to trust anyone after the ghost of his father tells Hamlet that his father was murdered by Claudius.  Hamlet also contemplates suicide several times throughout the book which is something that an epic hero would never consider.  This makes Hamlet seem more Human and allows the audience to connect with him easily.  This differs greatly from an epic hero like Beowulf.  Epic heroes will be perfect human being, almost god-like, except for one flaw.  This was used in stories to show that even one human flaw can cause the downfall and death of great men, but it causes them to seem less human.
     Hamlet differs from the epic hero from his use of language.   Hamlet is human in his language which makes the audience able to connect with him.  He also must use language to solve questions and problems that are presented to him.  This shows Hamlet to be a very clever person while an epic hero would just use his demi-god abilities to throw his problems into the deep recesses of the earth. 

I have learned how to Embed a Video

Embedding a video is an important skill to any person.  The vast opportunities that present themselves to those who know how to embged videos on a website will become present to those with the knowledge.  Embedding a video is an extremely difficult process that only a select few can master.  I am glad that you have taught me this important skill so that I may use it for further expand my intelligence and skills.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

1. George and Lennie are cousins and they are trying to find work during the Great Depression.  George is intelligent but arrogant while Lennie has a mental retardation but has incredible strength.  George and Lennie find work at a ranch where they meet Curly and Candy.  Curly is the ranch owner's son and doesn't like either Lennie or George.  George and Lennie's plans are to make enough money until they can buy a ranch of their own.  This is what motivates Lennie and George to keep work during these rough times.  Eventually Curly's wife flirts with Lennie, and Lennie hugs her until it breaks her neck.  This is of course an innocent hug and Lennie did not realize his strength, but Curly doesn't care.  Curly gathers men to hunt Lennie, while George takes Lennie to run away.  George can hear the men right behind them and George3 is forced to kill Lennie himself to save him from the torture the men would put him through.
2. The theme of the book is the corruption of the American dream.  John Steinbeck has written other books that have a similar theme such as Grapes of Wrath.  He shows this theme by expressing George and Lennie's desire to make enough money to own their own ranch one day, but that never happens for them.
3. Steinbeck tone throughout the book was empathetic.  Readers can identify with the main characters and truly feel sorry for them when things go awry.  George has a difficult task of looking after Lennie.  Lennie is the most innocent strong man there is and yet when George is forced to kill Lennie, not a single reader will be left with a dry eye.
4. Steinbeck uses indirect characterization to identify with the characters.  George shows his personality by talking to Lennie.  The reader finds out that Curly is an arrogant hot-head when he tries to pick fights with Lennie.  He uses a serious diction when George and Lennie are speaking to show their deep connection with each other and show that George really cares for Lennie.  George also speaks to Lennie very seriously to show that George doesn't try to treat Lennie any differently.  This shows the serious syntax of the book that Steinbeck presents.

In Search Of

I learned from this video that the filter bubble is limiting the information we receive. Instead of getting all the information we should see, we will only see the information that is relevant and understandable to us.  The video makes me wonder how long this filter bubble has been in place and whether my entire life searching the web has been personally tailored to me.  Where can I find the information im not getting?  Why is the filter bubble in place for those who do not want it?  Now when I search the web I would wish to use a search engine that does not have a filter bubble if one such exists.  After redoing my Shakespeare search, I realize that wikipedia is the first link because I will often use Wikipedia for research.  There is also a complete works of Shakespeare which makes sense since I often google books.  Though I am confused because I have a link to a fishing tackle store, and, though i love to fish, I have never made that apparent over the internet.  I wonder which factor causes Google to think that should be one of the top links for me whether it be my computer or location.

Notes on Hamlet

At first I thought Hamlet was going to do act irrationally based on is emotions after his father's death.  I understood that he wanted revenge on Claudius, but I was confused as to why he would openly consider suicide as possible option.  I can now see that Hamlet is a master strategist.  He has gradually gained control over his emotions and is ready to reveal Claudius.  He has slowly been damaging Claudius's psyche and wants to kill him soon.  I think the rest of this book is going to end with a blood bath.  Hamlet is going to set his plan in motion but Claudius knows that Hamlet knows, so he will naturally be trying to counteract Hamlet's plans.

Who was Shakespeare?

Shakespeare was the father of the English language.  Many words that exist today can be traced back to one of Shakespeare's plays.  Also the way we speak English today can be seen as a change that first started during Shakespeare's time.  I think of Shakespeare as this noble gentlemen who was highly regarded during his time and famous among all royals.  Of course, this isn't true.  Shakespeare was actually a commoner and was very poor.  Though he was a master of the class system and the English language, it still didn't grant him any merits among nobility.  I am confused as to why people would want to discredit Shakespeare as a writer/playwright and give this credit to Edward De Vere, even though this is is egregious.

To Facebook or Not To Facebook

At first I thought that Facebook was a way for people to socialize and find people they once knew.  Of course this is true, but there is more to Facebook then what is seen on the surface.  There are risks to using Facebook like strangers reading posts, lurkers, and Facebook selling your information.  Facebook's privacy settings are atrocious and won't help anyone hide information.  It is now to my understanding that my information is being sold to corporations after today's discussion.

Be Hamlet

     Hamlet is an emotional wreck.  His father has recently died, his mother quickly remarried his uncle, and he discovered that his uncle had killed his father in order to become king.  Hamlet is currently deciding whether or not he should commit suicide because of these atrocities that have occurred to him. Though these awful things have happened to him, I still believe that Hamlet should live.

     Hamlet still has a lot to live for.  Hamlet should continue to live his life to one day take revenge on his uncle.  If Hamlet were to die, then Claudius wins.  Claudius got everything he wanted and didn't have to suffer the consequences of killing his own brother.  Claudius deserves to be punished for his crimes and Hamlet is the only person who is able to do that.  Hamlet can also overcome this adversity to apply this experience when he becomes king.  Even if he doesn't kill Claudius, one day Claudius will die and Hamlet will become king.  He could use this knowledge to understand that no one should be trusted when he is king, not even a brother.

     Hamlet should not commit suicide.  Suicide should be the last thought on his mind right now since Claudius is the one who should die.  Hamlet has plenty of reasons to continue and life, and I think that enacting revenge is one of those reasons.  Hamlet should be able to focus his mind on the task at hand and do what must be done.

The Stranger by Albert Camus

1. The stranger is about a man, Mersault, whose mother dies.  After going to her funeral, he goes on a date with his coworker, and they decide to get married.  He later goes on vacation with a few of his friends, where they run into two arab men.  One of the arab men attacked his friend, so the protagonist decides to kill one of these men.  He is forced to go to court where he admits he doesn't believe in god.  They sentence him to death because he wont admit that god exists.  He decides before he dies that life doesn't matter.
2. The theme of the book is life has no meaning, so be happy.  This is made apparent after the main character is sentenced to death and he is contemplating his own life.
3. The authors tone is that of the protagonist.  The book is nonchalant and the protagonist often doesn't care about many thing.  For example, when he gets engaged, he isn't excited, he only agrees because  that's is what Marie wants from him.  Mersault also doesn't care that he is going to be executed, and actually accepts his death as joyous.
4. The literary elements the author uses is diction, syntax, characterization, tone, and symbolism to convey his theme and tone of the book.  The diction and syntax used by the author makes me want to read each word as if it were said with a melancholic, monotonic voice.  The author uses indirect characterization for Mersault, which is shown through is indifference to everything happening to him in his life.  The tone helps to identify the theme of the book.  Since Mersault doesn't care about anything, life shouldn't matter and is, therefore, meaningless.