Class Evaluation: 3

To be perfectly honest, this is my second time taking this class - i failed it last semester and i don't mind if others see this. Now, the traditional format of this class is to constantly read class after classic after classic...ah! Don't get me wrong, i love some the classic, but every class period? Obviously that did not work so well with me :) But, i really enjoyed the readings we did in this class. As an "interpreter" i really had a much easier in having the actual desire to analyze the text because they were actually something new and interesting. Compared to progress of last semester and the beginning of this class, I believe that I have improved greatly. I really liked the format of five shorter papers and two major. I'm the type of person that really believes that quality is far more important than quantity...I like making my point (interesting and powerful of course) and that is it.

I guess i can say that i had the most problems with Shakespeare...because I always have had trouble with shakespeare. But i really enjoyed the idea of watching a live version while reading along with the play - that indeed was helpful.

Overall, i really enjoyed this class. It truly has made me appreciate the art of English literature all the more.

Class Evaluation: 2

At the beginning of the semester I definitely remember not being a fan of graphic novels whatsoever; and i can say that only reading Shakespeare in a graphic novel format still made me kind of not enjoy reading graphic novels. But honestly, I have never enjoyed reading Shakespeare...but after this class, i think my opinions towards shakespeares works are starting to change into a more positive nature. Anyways!

Coming towards the end of the semester, I have fallen in love with graphic novels. I guess I am not against the idea of "adults" reading story books with illustrations. I really do believe that a word to illustration connection is really important. I know that I have a really vivid imagination and as a reader (when I am reading a novel filled with words) i love to picture different scenes in my head; and with graphic novels...all my reading dreams come true. After reading the book on how comics were made, i had no idea so much draining time and effort goes into making these novels what they successfully are...it has kind of made me want to be a graphic artist at times.

Class Evaluation: 1

1) In my opinion, the classic novel that had the most relevance...I don't know if I can really chose a single classic. Honestly, I loved all of them from The Bluest Eyes to Night, they were all excellent. I really enjoyed how each novel displayed so much truth and passion. I admire the authors who go beyond the "safe writing" boundaries and speak of controversial issues that need to be brought up: racism, homosexuality, The Holocaust, or even the simplest thing as self image. I would have to say that the classic novels we have read have really opened my eyes to these particular themes. Yes, i have seen programs on TV and have read some other novels in past English classes but i don't know, these programs did not make as much of an impact.

As for the graphic novels, I would have to say that my favorite was Blankets. Of course, i loved the theme of a typical, high school romance...but this one was not as typical. The way in which all the panels were drawn in an old fashioned black and white style along with a wispy deformation - like the path of snow in the wind. These characteristics and the love story combined make this graphic novel all the more powerful. Besides the love story, Thompson did a fantastic job to not allow the readers to get smacked in the face with another load of religious or self image type of controversy. I also enjoyed how the ending was not satisfactory. I personally believe that such an ending brings forth a perspective of truth towards the reader: each different stage of life will not have a happy ending. I don't know if you're a fan of the anime artist William Kentridge...but his style is much like Thompson's in Blankets; and like Thompson, in most of his works, Kentridge brings forth the difficulties between the black and white race of South Africa.

Shekespeare

I actually got a head ache reading this version of Gaimen's - too many random things going on. Though I really liked how he incorporated the view point of the audience into his work, but most of the comic was really disconnected and not a lot of great connections. I thought it was interesting as to what characters he chose to be in the audience that were actually part of the real play.

Gaiman created the audience by using a group of average joe's who loved to act. It is an interesting way of creating such a classic play because readers for centuries have been fantasizing over shakespeare's works but as readers, we never got to see/hear the praise of Shakespeare on his own work so this comic is great. The key player in this comic was obviously Hamnet (hehe)...the mysterious son of Shakespeare (or shekespeare ). As i had metioned earlier, the the choice of audience members were interesting: titania, Auberon, Shakespeares's shadow and the mischievous fairies.

As for Shakespeare's personal life, I thought it was kind of weird or unnecessary. I really can't explain why. Are these facts actually true? Maybe we'll talk about such question during class, today. I guess it was interesting how Hamnet played the little boy that Titania adopted because it kind of symbolizes how he spent a lot of time with his mother and has barely seen his father. Is there a significance behind his name? In all honesty, the boy doesn't really have a substantial role in this comic. But maybe Shakespeare in the audience that he wants to see his long lost son but only from afar.

I really liked the third and fourth panels on pg. 70 - the conversation between the dumb sprite and the smart sprite. This type of conversation goes on throughout the play and i just like it because it reminds of a person or even myself that would talk about a play during the play if i new a lot about the plot...it was the only humor in the story, really.

Evaluations for my Research Project

Student Evaluation #1:

1) The lead in is wonderful. It perfectly sets the stage and draws the reader in!

2) The thesis focuses on the media's influence on black women's view of themselves. The thesis is very focused and supported well.

3) The writer used portions of The Bluest Eye and extrapolated on them very appropriately. Outside research is used well.

4) The conclusion was not focused on the main point. Use the conclusion to wrap up the main idea of the project.

5) Yes, the close reading is very good.

6) The beginning of the paper was the strongest section. It really drew me in.

7) The conclusion was the weakest. Again, just tighten it up a bit.

8) I thought that project was very well done. The lack of color in the first portion helped set the mood. The project drives home it's point very well. Good job, well done!! :)

9) Michael G.

Student Evaluation #2:

1) The writer begins with a letter from Pecola Breedlove. Yes, it does work. This letter is written by the author. It grabs the reader's attention.

2) The main focus if the pressure of the media on the black women. The main idea is focused. It got a little more confusing by the end. I felt some of the pieces were just added in - the reader needed some more clarification.

3) The writer does not use pages from the book. She makes up her own story past the ending of the book - it does work for the paper though. There is no other research added into the text.

4) The paper concludes with the author explaining each piece added into the paper. This ties up all the loose ends.

5) The author does not have much support from the text added into the paper. The author does explain how Pecola really wants blue eyes

6) The strongest section of the paper is the beginning few papers. These papers the author made herself. This idea is very original. This interested the reader and got the reader's attention.

7) The weakest section was towards the end of the paper. The readers got a little confused with the importance of pieces included. Why did the author include this?

8) Overall, you was very original idea to cover! I really enjoyed your letter from Pecola and the letter from Claudia. The interview was written very well. This made your paper enjoying to read. To strengthen you paper, I would put notes from the author on each paper - myself as a reader got lost in you paper. I kept asking myself, "why is this included?' By putting notes of importance, you will be able to keep your reader's attention. Some more outside research needs to be added into the paper. For an example, how people go crazy from trying to someone else. Try to tie your theis - influence of media on African Americans - more into the paper. I felt the paper was written in three parts - Pecola's craziness - black women in society - songs, poems. Try to tie all 3 of these elements together. Overall, this paper is very creative. Nice job!! :)

9) Kimberly

Self - Evaluation:

From Kimberly's remarks, I do feel that my letter was the strongest part of my project. I did indeed have a difficult time trying to incorporate probably too many different, creative ideas. I do like her idea in incorportating some author notes within the actual page. All in all, I've learned that it' probably better to stick to the more traditional research paper format. But we'll see what Michael has to say.

Michael basically states the same idea: my concluding thoughts really don't tie in with the main point of my paper. Thus, instead of just doing notes, I may try a "concluding paper" not sure what that exactly means yet, but I'll have a better ending for sure!

More Shakespeare

Adaptations

William Beatles

This has nothing to do with A Midsummer Night's Dream, but i just thought it would be interesting to see The Beatles do an interpretation of Shakespeare

Adaptation: Good or Bad?

I think adaptations are a marvelous idea!
One reason i would to point out is that many different cultures interpret Shakespeare's works different. Thus, i think it would be important if the English world would feel open in seeing these interpretations.

Example of Adaption
Macbeth: The Manga Version

To be honest, i have only scene the movie of Macbeth. Thus the scene i would like to point out is the ending scene of the very last act - the sword fight. Sword fights are always meant to be acted out in a very dramatic fashion and sexton and his fellow authors do a pretty good job in doing so. Since i've only read snippets of this play, after gazing over this book, the overly violent nature of these characters encourages me not to read this play. When i think of Shakespeare, I think of elegance- this is not elegant. But after talking this over with the class, i now find out that Macbeth is actually a very violent play so...i think i should actually read the play, no?

Character to Character: Oberon and Titania

I rather enjoyed the relationship between Oberon and Titania. I believe their relationship refers to the modern relationship of a loving couple. Like how Oberon basically wanted to get rid of Titania at some point, modern spouses of today do the same thing - sometimes, they just want some alone time. Unlike the couple arguments of today, Titania's and Oberon's arguments were beatufil and i really enjoyed it - not like Jerry Springer - core.

Soiloquoy of Acts I & II

Bottom:

That will ask some tears in the true performing of

it: if I do it, let the audience look to their

eyes; I will move storms, I will condole in some

measure. To the rest: yet my cheif humour is for a

tyrant: I could play Ercles rarely, of a part to

tear a cat in, to make alll split.

The raging rocks

And shivering shocks

Shall break the locks

Of prison gates;

And Phibbus' car

Shall shine from far

And make and mar

The foolish Fates

This was lofty! Now name the rest of the players.

This is Ercles' vein, a tyrant's vein, a love is

more condoling.

To get the technical language stuff out of the way, i believe this soliloquoy to have an iambic pentameter rhythm for the most part- every other word is stressed. I believe this soliloquoy to be a combination of blank verse and rhyme: as you can see in the first six lines and the last three lines, there is no rhytmical pattern whatsoever. But in this core of thisspeech, there is an interesting rhyme scheme occurring: a-a-a-b-a-a-a-b; and as it's stated in the study guied that most of Shakespeare's work consists of couplets, this particular soliloquoy actually kind of has a triplet feel. Plus, one can notice this by looking at the rhyme scheme.

To all of you, this may not seem like a soliloqouy at all and if it does, you may think it's not the typical eye - catching shakespearian tangent - that's the exact reason as to why i chose Bottom's spiel about the certain role he wants to play in this play. I love the playful and bouncey tone in the middle of this tangent (watching the clip definitely made me like it all the more!) I just think this whole rant is absolutely hilarious and rediculous. Bottom just reminds me of one of those over confident theater rats (Tabias on Arrested Development...anyone, anyone?) When watching the play and hearing Bottom speak, the image of the cowardly lion from The Wizzard of Oz popped up in my head. Ya know, the lion's who spiel about how he's so courageous. Also, i thought it was funny when bottom does his own impression of what a lion sounds like later on in that scene. But anyhoot, i really enjoyed the playfulness of this section...the other sections are just soo typical Shakespeare. All in all, i've enjoyed reading the first few acts of this play very much so.