RR10

In "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke" there is two ways it can be viewed specifically what convinced me was " still clinging to your shirt". Because of the beginning lines "The whiskey on your breath/ could make a small boy dizzy" i first assumed his father probably  is an alcoholic. Along with unpleasent words like "death" and "beat" it seemed like maybe his father was abusive and used the word "waltz" as a way to describe the occurrence of  this experience happening in a repeated cycle somewhat like waltzing where the dancers go in circles. But then after reading it more i thought maybe  his father did come home drunk but not in such a negative way. Suppose "but i hung on like death/such waltzing was not easy" actually means the child hung on to his father while he danced around in a waltzing style. Seeing it this way shows a more cheerful manner. Overall what i see more is the more optimistic side of it; to me it mostly seems like a drunk and playful father dancing his kid off to bed.

RR9 - opt 1

Personally after reading "The Lamb" and " The Tyger" I did not recognize a significant difference between the two. Perhaps it is because of  my lack of reading anything with emphasis or not reading them in a sanguine matter of comprehension. Actually as a side note, I think what partly convinces my brain there is not that much great of a difference is because they are both written by  the same guy. Nevertheless I will still attempt to project what I interpreted from both of the poems. In terms of diction the style of both don't seem incredibly contrasting other than "The Lamb" containing the word "thee" in seemingly every line which keeps it adequately fluent. "The Lamb" has repetition with one word whereas "The Tyger" does not have one distinct recurring word. However they both have a considerable amount of rhyme to them.  It is apparent that they both have questions within them. It seems like the reiterated questions in both are used at the beginning and end to attempt to sum up something about the poem. The reiterated question in "the Lamb" is "Little Lamb who made thee?/ Dost thou know who made thee?" and in "The Tyger" the reiterated question is "...could frame thy fearful symmetry?". As far as imagery, I can accumulate more imagery from " The Tyger"  I think this is mostly because I can relate to more words in " The Tyger" that provoke me to envision some type of picture. It is difficult for me to contrast the views between  the creator in both but I think "The Tyger" incites a more adverse view on account of  the imagery of something burning. 

RR8 - Poems

Out of the poems given I was drawn to "Here a Pretty Baby Lies" by Robert Herrick. What really intrigues me is that it is so short and makes you think for a little while. As you start reading it it seems like a scenario we all can imagine; just a pretty baby pretty much sleeping. Then it takes a turn "Pray be silent, and not stir/ Th'easy earth that covers her" this part of the poem indicates and makes the audience realize the poem is not nearly close enough to what most we were expecting. For the most part the reader's initial  impression of the poem is drastically changed in just a matter of one final  line. At first when reading the second to last line "... be silent, and not stir"  it images to not disturb the sleeping baby but it provokes more meaning after the last line. It is not simply just the concept of disturbing a sleeping baby but changed to not disturbing the ground that she is buried under "Th'easy earth that covers her". The baby is dead and the poem is no longer sweet as it started out to be. The fact that the poem is able to accomplish all this in only four lines intrigues me and is why I decided to choose it. On the other hand a poem I did not particularly like as much was  "Sir Patrick Spens". Although the rhyming aspects of it are fairly enjoyable in making it easier to read fluidly. Bluntly I did not get the impression of it being as provoking and striving to pertain some type of meaning as compared to " Here a Pretty Baby Lies". To me it seems like some story that has been shortened in poem form. What I mean by this is that it seems like it can be a full out short story but is written in a form to entertain with a rhyme scheme, somewhat like a catchy rhyming child's book. I cannot ignore that the poem does provide some emotions in the last two stanzas to provoke some type of thinking. In the last two stanzas the emotions can make someone ponder about why the poem does not explain exactly why Sir Patrick is sent to sea by the king. Ultimately " Sir Patrick Spens"  is not the kind of style I enjoy. Particularly in my response to "Here the Pretty Baby Lies" it can be assumed it does serve an understanding of how I  formulate my own definition of poetry. In my own definition of poetry it can be in many forms and in order to define it it would take an abundance of in depth analysis.  There are different types of poems, I compare it to music in where there are many ways to define it in depth due to all the different types; along with what fundamentally defines each type in terms differences of instruments rhythm and other factors.

RR7 - Fences

The reason for naming the play fences is probably because it is pretty much about fences and the idea of fences.For instance using the term fence symbolizes a difference between sides because a fence is essentially a barrier or divider used for some purpose. all the characters seem to have some type of barrier between them. Troy has  fence in which he parallels his marriage with. Rose has a fence for spiritual reasons. Everyone's fence represented something about them. Most notably what caught my attention was the separation  between Troy and Cory. They have a pretty rough relationship. It seems at times he does not have so much pride in his son because he does not even believe the situation about paying back money. He wants the best for him but it seems they have trouble getting on the same page. For the most part I think this play was a projection of overall relationships. Ultimately this play made me think about the term of fences differently.

RR6 - Claudius

In Hamlet Claudius is a very unique character in my eyes. I do not think he is purely evil but he is close to it. what makes him not purely evil is the fact he does seem to have some knowledge that what he did was wrong and shows a glimpse of remorse "  It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, a brother’s murder. Pray can I not" (act 3 scene 3 lines 36-37). This shows that he might actually have true remorse about his brother's death, or possibly  he only tries to convince himself   it was a bad decision for the sake of getting a chance at heaven. Along with being evil I believe he is also a major flawed human being. He is flawed because he killed his brother for selfish reasons. The evilness of the matter is he actually did it and does unthinkable actions within a short period of time. He marries his brother's wife which is definitely weird, maybe in the belief of keeping up the power now that his brother is gone, but still it is disturbing. Maybe at that time the quick out of the ordinary marriage was justifiable after the king's death, but I think it dramatically shows his morals are not very high. Claudius killed his brother, married his wife, sent people to spy on Hamlet, and tried to pin the death of Hamlet Sr. on Hamlet. Overall his actions are unsettling which makes him a very flawed person. He is evil but not purely because of the fact he shows some remorse but at the same time the remorse could all the while be artificial. Although there is the  possibility of Claudius expressing counterfeit guilt nothing has indubitably convinced me he is purely evil. 

RR5 - Hamlet

Hamlet's father's death seems like it changed him a good amount but did not bother him as much as the events after. The death of his father definitely made him feel he had to avenge his death. Through attempting to avenge his death, Hamlet seems very reluctant most of the time about killing his uncle. There are many reasons for this, but for the most part I think it is because he does not seem to find the right opportunity. Also it seems like he is not completely sure he should do it. One of the opportunities where he had a good chance of killing Claudius is when he is praying. I am not completely sure why he did not do it but I believe it had to do with something religious. In act 3 scene 3 line 74 he has the opportunity "Now might I do it pat, now a' is a-praying, and now i'll do't [draws his sword] and so a' goes to heaven". I think the religious belief was that if he killed him while praying he would go to heaven so that is why he did not do it then. What troubles him greatly is his mother's overall behavior. I think what really troubles him about her is the lack of good faithfulness. he does not like that fact that his mother is fundamentally disrespectful to the death of his father by seemingly rushing into a new life "Let me not think on't; frailty, thy name is woman a little month or ere those shoes were old with which she followed my poor fathers body like Niobe all tears, why she, even she O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason Would have mourned longer" Act 1 Scene 2 line 146. From all of this it seems to change his mental state greatly. He seems pretty crazy but also at the same time seems like he is in just great grief that overwhelms him and does not know how to handle it. I think what drives him even more crazy is that he holds much in and it irritates him that he has bite his tongue "She married. o what wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets; it is not, nor cannot come to good, But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue." Act 1 scene 2 line 156

RR4 - Option 2

   In "The Lady with the Pet Dog" by Anton Chekhov, love does play a prominent role. I believe the theme is somewhere along the lines of gaining morality through love experience, or essentially the consequences of love. The fact that Gurov pretty much is portrayed as treating women without compassion and takes them for granted initiates the possibility as morality being included in the theme. Through the experience of the somewhat sudden overwhelming love, Gurov starts to be more concerned about the consequences of his actions. This little change in character could be a sign of the change in morality through love experience. Also the love can be seen as more of a problem for the characters. The consequences of the love effect their lives in that the sudden love creates a barrier between current responsibilities  and the pursuit of greater happiness. Ultimately the love in this story may possibly seem more of cause than solution to problems.
   In "The Horse Dealer's Daughter" love is also a prominent role to the theme. I am not exactly sure on a exact theme but i know it does deal with love because Mabel essentially wants to feel love and be loved after going through her experiences. She experiences a sense of death and is changed by the experience immensely. In a way the deaths she had experienced killed a part of her and with death came new beginnings. In a way Mabel and Jack's love is kind of a solution to most of their problems. Also i think the change from the wet clothes can be a symbol expressing the new beginnings. Love is definitely prominent in both stories and i think what contrasts the stories is that; in one story love is a solution to problems and in the other, love is more of a cause of problems.

RR3 - Setting the Irony

The setting Poe uses in "The Cask of Amontillado" is very dark and sinister.  Most of the story is set in a catacomb which progressively gets smaller which creates uneasiness and ultimately creates a very dark setting. Throughout the story the catacombs are described in a manner that pretty much foreshadows that the story will probably not have a happy ending. The catacombs Montressor and Fortunado are walking into are described as damp which makes sure that the location is definitely not a comfortable setting. From the beginning we know Montressor is essentially out for revenge against Fortunado. He is out for revenge for "the thousand injuries"  Fortunado has done to him. It is unclear exactly for what but we know he had done something to greatly upset Montressor. Poe utilizes the use of irony pretty well, for example Fortunado starts coughing more and more and Montressor suggest they should go back because he would not want to be responsible for any illness; Fortunado then says " the cough is mere nothing, it will not kill me i shall not die of a cough". Therefore Montressor presents a drink and Fortunado says " I drink to the buried that repose around us" and cleverly Montressor responds " and I to your long life".  This simple gesture is actually the most ironic and dark humorous events in the whole story. Considering how the story ends this simple toast is what showcases and brings together the dark setting and irony to the story. Altogether the use of  setting and irony helps the reader decipher the overall darkness of the story.

RR2 - A Useful Point of View

Lorrie Moore's use of point of view choice in " How to Become a Writer "is very useful in creating a sense of depth to the story. The reason for that is  because the main character, Francie who is also the narrator can manipulate and hide things from the reader which provokes more critical thinking. Also in using the word "you" throughout the story we do not know exactly if the character is talking directly to the reader or possibly somebody else. By not knowing exactly who the character is writing to it brings ease to many different interpretations. I feel the choice of point of view makes the overall story easier to relate to and easier to read because it is written almost as if somebody if talking directly to the reader in a conversation. If the author were to use another point if view it would definitely create a different and more distant feeling to the story because the chosen point of view gives the reader a sense of a more personal perspective about "becoming a writer".For example throughout the story we learn about events in the characters life through her own words; if most of the events were told in a different perspective, the reader would probably not view the character as believable compared to the way it is written. The character is pretty comical throughout the story and nails many cliches about writers , and also seems like she is always misunderstood when it comes to her writing. I thought it was funny how she explained many of her stories briefly and they mostly ended up with somebody blowing up. She also explains that many teachers and students commented that her stories lacked a plot. I believe the same can be said about "How to Become a Writer" but I believe it was done with a purpose. I do not know the exact purpose but the authors use of essentially pointing it out within the story through the main character's point of view has to have some reason. Overall I think the choice of point of view was ultimately chosen because there is no better way to explain how to "become" a writer than to have it from a "writer's" point of view. It is one factor and perspective of becoming a writer since all writers are different and it would be hard to explain, pin-point, and define the process of becoming writer.On the contrary  maybe writers are not fabricated, but born.

RR1 - Building Character

In Eudora Welty's " A Worn Path" she uses more than one technique to disclose the main character. In the story we learn much about Phoenix Jackson while observing her journey all the way into town. Many of her actions provide insight about her overall character such as her encounter with a hunter. The hunter pretty much pointed a gun at her within point blank range and she did not flinch or show any sense fear. Considering the bigot hunter seemingly taunted her with the gesture, it convinced me that she was a strong old lady. What also convinced me that she was strong is the the fact she is even attempting such a challenging walk at her age. What makes this old lady seem even more stronger is the way the author describes her appearance which also reveals a little about her economic status.The author states "She carried a thin, small cane made from an umbrella..."  The mere fact that her cane is described as made from an umbrella says much about her economic status. The author also describes her shoes being unlaced which makes me believe how much more of a challenge this old lady is opposing with the long arduous journey to town. The author's use of dialogue made me immediately conclude that the old lady was also poorly educated. We learn she is indeed poorly educated because Phoenix Jackson herself confirms it, but even without the confirmation it can be pointed out immediately. excerpts of dialogue such as " The time getting all gone here" and "my senses is gone. i too old, i the oldest people i ever know" along with other parts reveals her education status and actually made reading the story slightly confusing and difficult. Even though a majority of the story is just about an old lady walking from one place to another accompanied with brief encounters among other people, we learn plentiful details as a result of the way Welty conveyed the character of Phoenix Jackson.