Essay 1

Edgar Alan Poe and H.D. both chose Helen of Troy as a topic for a poem. Helen was not native to either time period of the aforementioned poet but she inspired so much lore that they drew upon stories of her for inspiration. It is fascinating how such similar subject matter can project unto such unique yet similar works. The style is very contrasting between the poems.

Poe’s “To Helen” takes a more personal approach to the subject. Using words like “you” and “to me” makes it seem like Poe is directly addressing the woman. H.D. on the other hand takes a third person stance by using “Greece” as the subject of many of the movements.

Poe also talks about her positive traits like she is a Goddess. H.D, on the other hand, has a harsher tone that reflects on how when she is feeling negatively all of Greece feels negatively to. H.D. focuses on the darker aspects of her existence, while Poe is writing a love letter. H.D. uses diction such as “reviled”, “hated” and “funeral”. Perhaps in his poem Greece is jealous of her beauty.

Slaughterhouse-Five, a literary analysis HACK

My absolute favorite part of junior year was reading "Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut. 

I started reading it because it was assigned to me, so I thought, well, might as well give it A SHOT. Within the first couple chapters I was laughing and crying and all together QUESTIONING by very existence on this earth.

Because really, what is Postmodernism without the underlying existential crisis, amirite?

Anyway, my teacher for 11th grade english was moving to a foreign country (We miss you, NyNy!) so she was getting rid of all the books that had taken residence in her classroom. I stumbled upon "Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons" by Vonnegut, which was a collection of short stories and essays by the man himself. 

Since my book budget is very low recently (and I've been purchasing certain Shakespeare plays and Kafka on the Shore), I haven't had a chance to read other books by Vonnegut yet. But, i DID read Slaughterhouse over winter break and absolutely FELL IN LOVE with it.

It's more than just an anti-war novel. If anything, its more of a "war is a part of life and its ugly but since there's nothing we can change we have to accept it but you need to understand it first" novel. Vonnegut was an outspoken pacifist, and this comes out a lot in his writing. 

One of the more interesting things about Slaughterhouse-Five is how Kurt Vonnegut basically lived it. He was captured in Dresden and held in the ACTUAL slaughterhouse. It's debatable whether or not he is writing as himself in the book, but the events he describes he was there to witness. There's a very personal, edgy tone that he takes with the Dresden bombing, because he was there.

You may have seen a picture of my "So it goes" tattoo. 

Without giving a way too many spoilers, one of the pseudo-philosophies introduced into this book is that time is not chronological, but is one big picture. If one person dies, for example, they aren't really dead because all of the moments where they are alive still exist. "So it goes" is what they say when someone dies, because they cannot change it and they are still alive in those past moments. 

  

Life of Pi, MacBeth and a rat.

I found an AWESOME multiple choice cite for Life of Pi questions.

http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/life-of-pi/multiple.ht

Just sayin.

I read Life of Pi over spring break at a beach house, where I could see the vast Pacific right before me. God, it was magical, considering the amount of imagery in that book to begin with.

Speaking of magical...

If I'm ever lucky enough to be a part of a production of "MacBeth" I'm going to audition for the part of Hecate. Why? Because she's a bad ass. A witchy other-worldy feminist bad ass.

"Have I not reason, beldams as you are,

Saucy and overbold? How did you dare

To trade and traffic with Macbeth

In riddles and affairs of death;

And I, the mistress of your charms,

The close contriver of all harms,

Was never called to bear my part

Or show the glory of our art?

And, which is worse, all you have done

Hath been but for a wayward son,

Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do,

Loves for his own ends, not for you.

But make amends now: get you gone

And at the pit of Acheron

Meet me i' th' morning. Thither he

Will come to know his destiny.

Your vessels and your spells provide,

Your charms and everything beside.

I am for th' air. This night I'll spend

Unto a dismal and a fatal end.

Great business must be wrought ere noon.

Upon the corner of the moon

There hangs a vap'rous drop profound;

I'll catch it ere it come to ground:

And that, distilled by magic sleights,

Shall raise such artificial sprites

As by the strength of their illusion

Shall draw him on to his confusion.

He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear

His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear:

And you all know security

Is mortals' chiefest enemy."

Or maybe I'm just interpreting her that way. Regardless, thats a part I could sink my teeth into. 

Well, now my beloved rodent friend is getting into some trouble so I should nod off. Good night, bloggians.

Thursday noodles with Jackie

I've been out sick the past couple days.

Every Thursday I get a cup of noodles from school with my friend Jackie, and that made me think about how easily we settle into routines. there's nothing wrong with that...I like noodles, and I like Jackie. But routines always fall away, and after we graduate I'm probably going to miss these noodly mornings. New routines will take its place, and that's the way life is.