Rereads.

Recently, I've found myself rereading a lot of books. Most of these we've read in class, but a few have been personal favorites that I read on my own free time. Here's a list:

1. Great Expectations: I've forgotten how much I truly loved this book. The plot is so cynically twisted that it gives me shivers. Of course, like every reread, I've picked on little subtleties that I hadn't picked up my freshman year. For example, at Mrs. Joe's funeral, Pumblechook yells "handkerchiefs at the ready!" and systematically instructs the mourners to wipe their tears in a rather oddly general-like fashion. These fine points slipped my mind the first time through. I also loved noticing the hints to later events that seemed so blatantly evident my second read through. I became excited at my sort of omnipresence whenever I came across these. It felt that I had some secret that no one else knew about.

2. A Man for All Seasons: I came across this in my room while I was cleaning out my bookshelf the other day. I read it all in one sitting (it probably took an hour or so). I was amazed by how much my PoV concerning Sir Thomas More had changed. I had always viewed him as a martyr, but it was only after my reread that I had fully come to appriciate how he stood by his belifs so whole heartedly. I distinctly remember a fishbowl we had about this book in freshman Block. Someone had actually chided More for beign strong and not giving in to King Henry VIII. I think that if we had had the same fishbowl now, this comment would have not been made due to our increased maturity.

3. Little Women: I absolutely adore this book. It is a perfect, cheerful, light read fit for any leisure filled day. I read it in about two hours and fully understood the playful humor in the book this time around. It was definately enjoyable to reread!

4. Pride and Prejudice: I had read this book and Jane Eyre and Robinson Crusoe in 8th grade when I was over at my relatives' house, bored to death by lack of children my age. We were staying over at their house for a whopping month, and luckily, the my relatives' college aged daughter had left a few books in her bookshelf. Due to my boredom and the availability of books, I read for that month. However, as an 8th grader, Pride and Prejudice's full meaning did not entirely enter my head. This past reread has allowed me to understand not only understand the more complicated aspects of 18th century English, but to understand the major themes in the novel. On a side note, I really enjoyed Pride and Prejudice more than Sense and Sensibility.

Kindle! :D

I'm now the proud owner of a black Amazon Kindle. Initially, when my mom brought it home, I was skeptical, because I didn't think a machine could ever replace a book. But now, while I do still prefer books, I've come to enjoy the convenience of having multiple books in a compact device. (:

The only problem I see with the Kindle is the fact that it's rather difficult to maneuver through the book. Also, there's a weird black and white transition screen that pops for a split second before the next page shows up. Yuck.

Nevertheless, I've already downloaded Hamlet, and almost all of the classics are free, so I think the Kindle will soon become my portable AP Lit study companion. I'm really excited! I love the screen, which doesn't even look like a screen. It has no glare and kind of looks like a printed sheet of paper. It's really neat.

Blogging Hamlet: Act 1, Scene 2

1. Summary:
The scene opens with King Claudius's speech to his court, explaining his marriage to Gertrude. Claudius claims he misses his brother dearly, but becomes optimistic as he looks towards the future. Laertes asks for permission to return to France, and Claudius agrees, heartily giving his blessing. Claudius then chides Hamlet on how he has been mourning his father's death for to long. He does not wish for Hamlet to study in Whittenberg again, and asks Hamlet to stay in the castle. After the the king, queen, and courtiers leave, Hamlet begins to unload all his inner thoughts and troubles. However, is is cut short when Marcello, Bernando, and Horatio enter the room. They tell Hamlet of the sightings of his father's ghost, and Hamlet wishes he could have been there. He makes up his mind to look for his father's ghost when night comes.

4. Quote from the scene:
"Oh that this too too sullied flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fixed
His canon 'gainst self slaughter! Oh God, God."


I basically fell in love with Hamlet's soliloquy on pages 27 and 28. The passage highlights Hamlet's immense anguish at his father's untimely death a quite beautiful way. For example, Hamlet does not simply want to commit suicide. Rather, he wishes his "too too sullied flesh would melt... into a dew." His inner torment is expressed as he remarks how "weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable" the world now seems to him. He is tortured by the fact that in a mere month, his father passed away and his mother hastily married his uncle. He feels strangely misunderstood as he is alienated from his kingdom; it seems to him that he is the only mourner amidst an unwarranted celebration. He tenderly remembers his father, an "excellent king," and is confused by the conflicting images of his lovingly devoted mother prior to his father's death, and his blissfully apathetic mother after his father's passing. He curses the "wicked speed" but quickly quiets down when he hears someone approaching.


5. Reaction to Claudius:
King Claudius is frustrating me. His monologue on page 25 gave a strange urge to punch someone in the face. Hamelet is obviously mourning his father's death, but does Claudius leave him alone? No! He treats Hamelet's grief as a sin, condemning his nephew as one "of impious stubborness." He taunts Hamlet by calling his "mind impatient" and his "heart unfortified." He even blames Hamlet for finding "faults in heaven" and being "against the dead." In short, Claudius is actually treating Hamlet as one who is blatantly against his late father. What uncle does that? An uncle who's up to no good, that's who. You may have read my previous post about how I heard that Hamlet was like The Lion King. Well so far, it's sure turning out to be that way. In the movie, Simba has an evil uncle who gains the throne after the king's death. I'm going to make a prediction here - Claudius killed Hamlet's father.

A poem by me! (:

I wrote this poem when I was suffering from writer's block last week when writing the ATPH rough draft.

Writer’s Block.
By: Me
I’m staring blankly at the paper,
wondering which prompt I should choose.
Should I focus my paper on irony
or allusions of which there are so few?

But of course it must be symbols,
just see how they bounce off the page.
But I can’t think. What is it about McCarthy
that leaves me in such a daze?

I quickly flip through the book
and see horses, blood, and Alejandra.
I stop – my mind is sidetracked.
Suddenly I’m humming Lady Gaga.

I try to put on my best poker face
as I see my mom pass the door.
Can she tell that I’m not working?
I’ve been at this since half past four.

“Crap,” I say as my mom taps the door,
calling me down for dinner.
I guess it’s alright if I skip a meal.
It won’t hurt if I get a little thinner.

“Maybe a little break will do me good,”
I think as I open up internet explorer.
Then an hour later I find myself
still staring at pictures on Tumblr.

I open up a new blank word
(the internet tabs – I close them).
But instead of typing a masterpiece on McCarthy,
I write instead this poem.

It’s a quarter after ten
and my paper still isn’t finished.
But maybe if I show Mr. Hill these thought out verses,
I’ll earn a little extra credit.

Little Women

I recently read Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott. I think it's a wonderful book! It is set in the Civil War era and centers around the four March children: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.

Here's a quick overview of the characters' personalities:







So yeah. The novel really follows the girls as they grow up. However, it's not a tiring coming of age novel (I really dislike those), but rather a cute, fun, and easy read! I especially loved Jo and Mr. Baher together. ♥

Here is an excerpt from one of Jo's poems that I really liked.
“Hither, hither from thy home,
Airy sprite, I bid thee come!
Born of roses, fed on dew,
Charms and potions canst thou brew?
Bring me here, with elfin speed,
The fragrant philter which I need.
Make it sweet and swift and strong,
Spirit, answer now my song!”

Act 1, Scene 1

1. Summary: It is night in Elsinore, Denmark, and a night guard named Bernando is watching the grounds with a fellow guard named Marcello when Horatio, a friend of Prince Hamlet, arrives. Bernando and Marcello discuss an odd happening that has been occurring for the past two days: the ghost of the recently late King Hamlet seemingly walks about at night sporadically. Horatio, of course, doesn’t believe this. However, the ghost appears at that moment, astonishing Horatio. He notes that the ghost is clad in armor, and assumes that the ghost is warning the kingdom of an impending attack. However, before much more can be said, the vision disappears. In a few moments, however, it reappears, and this time, Horatio tries to speak to it. Unfortunately, dawn arrives and the phantom vaporizes once more before it has a chance to speak.
2. "What art thou that usurp'st this time of night,/Together with that fair and warlike form/In which the majesty of buried Denmark/Did sometimes march? By heaven, I charge thee, speak!" ~Horatio, lines 50-53
3. Coming soon!

Here's a quick illustration:

Oops. I started this before I found out about the "Odd" and "Normal" thing. Sorry.

Spoiler alert!

If you don’t know/haven’t read Hamelt, I would advise you not to read the following.

I’m really excited for Hamlet partially because it gives me an excuse to watch The Lion King again. From what I heard, the story of a prince whose father is slain by a jealous brother who flees his kingdom and lives with two great guys for years before finally returning to avenge his father’s death after seeing his father's apparition is not the brainchild of Disney, but rather Shakespeare. Of course, I’ve been told that Disney made some minor alterations. If The Lion King went perfectly with the book, Serabi (Simba’s mom) would have married Scar, and Simba himself would have died. But who really wants to see that?

Anyway, I’m super excited for Hamlet. (:
In my hype, I drew a little lion on the top of the Hamlet blogging instructions.














And then revamped it on paint:















:D
♥