Groupthink

As much as talking with others is supposed to help, it doesn't. I enjoy figuring the poems out on my own, and even though their grids helped explain their poems a bit better, I'm sure I didn't understand it on the same level as they did, since they spent more time reading it. But I did see some interesting types of poems, and some familiar ones as well from my group. We also agreed on how the poetry part will probably be the most difficult for all of us on the AP exam, but using the grids helped organize the poem into parts so we can understand it better.

Gridlock

 Blackberrying by Sylvia Plath

TPCASTT:  Poem Analysis Method:  title, paraphrase, connotation, diction, attitude, tone, shift(s), title revisited and theme
Titleof poem means	Blackberrying: the act of picking blackberries, as the speaker of Sylvia's poem is doing
Paraphraseparts of the Poem	The first stanza the speaker (maybe Sylvia) is walking alone through blackberry fields, and she talks about the berries and how they look. The next stanza the speaker notices choughs that looks like bits of paper in the sky, and realizes she won't see the sea. She goes up to another blackberry bush and describes it. The last stanza she doesn't mention blackberries at all. She walks between two hills, calling them green and sweet. She turns and sees a huge orange rock, and hears metal clanging against metal.
Connotationof some of the words – changing literal meaning to implied or associated values	Blackberry alley - a single path surrounded by blackberry fields on both sides; dumb as eyes - the color of the blackberries are dark?; blood sisterhood - could mean like blood brothers, where you cut your thumb and press it against another person's thumb, squeezing blackberries would show something like that; bits of burnt paper wheeling in the sky - the choughs? are being referred to as bits of paper fluttering in the sky
AttitudeWhat is the attitude of the author, characters or yourself?	The attitude of the author is very solemn and observant. The author has a strong emotional tie to the blackberries at the beginning of the poem. But as it progresses, we don't see that attitude again. The rest of the poem seems to be more somber, and the blackberries aren't even mentioned in the last part.
ShiftAt first we think or feel one way – then there is a shift:  identify the shifts and explain them	The first shift happens between the first and second stanzas. The speaker ends the first stanza with "I had not asked for such a blood sisterhood; they must love me/They accommodate themselves to my milkbottle, flattening their sides." Very simple description of the blackberries. Then it shifts to "Overhead go the choughs in black, cacophonous flocks-/Bits of burnt paper wheeling in a blown sky/Theirs is only the voice protesting, protesting./I do not think the sea will appear at all." It is quite a change from the last two verses of the first stanza.
Title revisitedAny new insights on meaning or significance of title?	There is some deeper meaning of the title. "Blackberrying" isn't really about the literal action that the speaker is doing. Blackberrying means something more. But I'm just not sure what.
Theme	Nature?

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