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.