Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Masterpiece Questions

Masterpiece questions 
What do I need? 
Time. Opportunities. People. Resources and Materials. 
What do I want?

Great Expectations Notes

Bildungsroman is a novel of education. - a human version of chrysalis.
Great expectations is a Bildungsroman designed around a fantasy. 
Protagonist has his life given to him because of things he expected. The fantasy is even more for Pip because he is an orphan. He acts more intelligently than characters his age might. Pip sees himself above the regular family. He is focused on fame and fortune. He is aware of being taken advantaged of, so he is concerned if he is worthy of what he is about to experience. Pip having a hard time with his identity and is trying on other characters personality to see if they fit. 
Magwitch is the boogie man. Because he is a stranger. He eats like an animal. It implies selfishness, capacity for wickedness. When Pip meets Magwitch he represents what Pip might become. He could end up guilty, and unwanted, and not worthy to be born. 
Miss habbasham is two faced. Her name could be shown an having shame. Her house is full of dust and gloomy. After she was left at the alter she left everything in her house the way it was. The dinner from that night is still on the table. She is a monster. 
Pip plays a game with Estella called beg a your neighbor. Estella's purpose is to destroy men. To pip miss habbasham symbolizes his future. She is wealthy. She represents a family because she adopted Estella. Pip doesn't describe these characters honestly to others. He's insecure that these people are in his life. When pip goes to London habbasham and Estella go away. When he gets there we meet father characters. When pip sees joe and Jagger's he incisions himself. He questions if he should embody them in his life. Joe is a strong man but doesn't bully people. Jaggers can blackmail people but he doesn't. When pip sees Joe he doesn't see success because he isn't wealthy. Jagger's doesn't trust people, he trusts facts. Jagger's life is compartmentalized. Jaggers is wealthy. Jaggers takes advantage of people. Jaggers is only there because of business. He doesn't let Pip create a personal relationship.     
Whemick is more like Joe at home and Jagger's at work. At work he is practical and focused on money and advantage all the time. He acknowledges being one person at work and one person at home. Magwitch is different over time. At first he looks like Pip but under worse circumstances. 
The resolution comes from Pip realizes his expectations. Miss Habbasham is not his godmother. Estella is not his future loved one  in his fantasy. 
Without suffering you don't get to the good stuff. Pip wants the good stuff but he doesn't want to half to endure the hardships and consequences of life. Pip cuts people off when he wants the benefit and not the hardships. Pip reminds himself who he is so he doesn't forget him. Pip is an unrealized potential it's a seed. 

Friday, January 16, 2015

AP PREP POST 1: SIDDHARTHA

1. What was Siddhartha's purpose for staying with the Samanas?
a) to become empty
b) to learn meditation
c) to become enlightened
d) to deprive himself of food
e) to be reincarnated
 The answer is A.

2. Why is Siddhartha ultimately disappointed with the meditative techniques he learned from the Samanas?
a) Siddhartha was always uncomfortable.
b) He could have learned these things from his father.
c) They lead to too much physical and mental sufferings.
d) Siddhartha always returned to himself
e) Govinda is progressing at a faster pace.
The answer is D.

3. Siddhartha eventually realizes that the techniques used by the Samanas to achieve their goals are
a) insufficient
b) abusive
c) too efficient
d) necessary
e) disciplined
The answer is A.

4. In the passage, Siddhartha's primary attitude toward normal human life was that it appeared
a) out of reach
b) too cerebral
c) commonplace
d) commercial
e) illusory
The answer is E.

5. In order to experience the entirety of birth, life, death, and decay, one technique that Siddhartha uses is
a) starvation
b) astral projection
c) meditation
d) studying
e) concentration
The answer is C.

All of these questions are from: http://www.learnerator.com/ap-english-literature/q/1041/siddharthas-techniques

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Siddhartha Notes

The author used repetition with the word "awakened" to emphasize the importance of the word. He used a simile to give the audience something to relate to in the text. The author used rhetorical questions to specifically give the audience something to ponder about. This way the audience would think about what he wanted them to think about. 
Theme: Loneliness can be bitter, but it brings you closer to yourself. 
When you are by yourself for periods of time your thoughts truly become your own. It sounds like are thoughts should always be our own, but not neccessarily. With other people around you they influence what you think and affect your thought process. It's just like the way you speak. Your speech is affected by your peers and how they talk.