Seventh Reading

Blackberrying by Sylvia Plath

At first, this poem confused me. The first stanza I seemed to understand a little, since it seemed to be referencing the title. But then the next two stanzas had nothing to do with it. After reading it for the seventh time, I was able to pick out the difference between the first and the last two stanzas. The first is so happy, and the last two have such a somber tone. Ordinarily I wouldn't have been able to find something like that reading a poem once. But reading it over and over again actually helps the comprehension of the poem!

My Poems!

Here are the three poems I've picked:

Digging by Seamus Heaney

Blackberrying by Sylvia Plath

Helen of Troy Does Countertop Dancing by Margaret Atwood

I shall start reading!

Analysis of my Test Performance

As I'm thinking about it right now, I actually think I did quite well. Surprisingly, pre-writes actually help me! And I know, people always are saying how helpful they are, especially Preston, but I wasn't really into listening about it. Now that I actually organize my thoughts before writing the essay, it doesn't take time away, but actually increases the rate at which I'm writing. I'm pretty sure that it will help my performance on the AP Exam. A successful essay, I'd say. As for the multiple choice... I'm probably going to have to speed up. I know I can't take forever on each question and all their choices, but 15 seconds is... well.. I don't know. Not enough time. But I will definitely work on my speed!

Responses to Lit Circles: Essays

As I wasn't here this Friday, and have tried to look for as much info as these books as I can, I'm only attempting prewrites and not the essays themselves.

Slaughterhouse Five

Explain how war affects modern life and society as it did in Slaughterhouse Five.

Slaughterhouse Five - how war affected main character Billy Pilgrim
Modern Society - rallies people -> people help by rationing, donating, etc.
                          - disgusts people -> protest, try to disuade govt from being involved, complain
                          - strikes fear in people -> panic



Kafka on the Shore

Throughout the novel the “primary character” Kafka struggles internally, these internal struggles by novel’s end characterizing the character. Write an essay wherein you identify Murakami’s use of shifting (or static) style/rhetoric/prose to characterize Kafka (or any supportable character within the novel). Try to support with examples of indirect/direct characterization.


Life of Pi (I)

Is there a relationship between religion and story telling? Is religion a form of story telling? Is there a theological dimension to story telling?

Religion and storytelling are indeed related, in a way. And I don't mean it in an offensive way, as in religion is just a story, or stories have to have a deep meaning involving religious. But both can utilize each other to help their cause, just not in every religion or ever story. For example, in the Bible, there were a few parables Jesus told to his disciples to teach a lesson. Every AP student should know, of course, that a parable is basically a story teaching a lesson or a moral. Parable is the best example of the relationship between religion and storytelling.

Life of Pi (II)

Write an essay about a novel (Life of Pi) that reveals a sense of self identity through a momentous plot of hardships and obstacles.  Identify the self awareness, and explain its significance to the work as a whole.

Life of Pi - protaganist: Piscine, self-awareness moment- "?", how it could be significant to the whole - major turning point in the story

Responses to Lit Circles: Multiple Choice

Slaughterhouse Five

1. D
2. C
3. D
4. A
5. A
6. B
7. B
8. B
9. C
10. C
11. C
12. D
13. C
14. B
15. B
16. A
17. C
18. B
19. C
20. A
21. C
22. A
23. A
24. D
25. A
26. D
27. A
28. C
29. A
30. B
31. B
32. D
33. D
34. C
35. B
36. D
37. B
38. D
39. A
40. B
41. A
42. C
43. B
44. C
45. A
46. D
47. B
48. D
49. A
50. C

Kafka On the Shore

1. C
2. C
3. A
4. D
5. A
6. C
7. B
8. D
9. D
10. A
11. C
12. B
13. A
14. C
15. D
16. C
17. A
18. C
19. A
20. A
21. D
22. B
23. A
24. C
25. C
26. A
27. A
28. B
29. B
30. A
31. C
32. D
33. A
34. A
35. B
36. B
37. A
38. B
39. C
40. D
41. A
42. B
43. A
44. A
45. B
46. C
47. B
48. B
49. C
50. A

Life of Pi (I)

1. B
2. D
3. C
4. E
5. C
6. A

Life of Pi (II)

1. A
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. A
9. A
10. B

Life of Pi (III)

1. C
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. C
6. C
7. B
8. C
9. C
10. A
11. C
12. D
13. C
14. C
15. C
16. D
17. B
18. B
19. A
20. A
21. B
22. C
23. C
24. B
25. D
26. B
27. B
28. A
29. A
30. A
31. C
32. A
33. B
34. D
35. A

Prose Essay Prompts

1. Analyze the protaganist Carrie, and how Stephen King uses literary techniques to reveal her character's development.

2. Stephen King is famous for his many horror stories. Carrie was his first novel published. How does King create such a terrific story about bullying? What literary elements are used? Does the supernatural aspect increase the horror?

3.  Carrie is on a list of the most banned books in history. Are King's elements/devices/techniques/stories too graphic for schoool?

4. Analyze the techniques that help instill horror when reading about Carrie and her mother's relationship.

Jane Eyre Question Answers

1. B
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. E
6. A
7. B
8. C
9. B
10. E
11. E
12. A
13. E
14. D
15. E
16. B
17. D
18. E
19. C
20. C
21. C
22. A
23. C
24. A
25. B
26. D
27. A
28. D
29. C
30. E
31. D
32. A
33. B
34. E
35. C
36. C

1. D

2. A

3. B

4. D

5. C

6. A

7. D

8. C

9. B

10. D

11. A

12. C

13. B

14. A

15. C

16. D

27. E

28. A

29. C

30. C