Hairspray

1.  Define:  Setting.  Setting is the place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place.  The setting in the movie "Hairspray" took place in Baltimore, Maryland in 1962.  Tracy wakes to signing "Good morning Baltimore" as she gets ready and walks to school.  Giving us a tour of her neighborhood.

2.  The setting is important b/c it displays the time era in which the story took place and also that the neighborhood was prodominatly white.

3.  The major conflict of the story is Tracy is wanting to audition for a dance competition to be a dancer on a local television show and to protest racial discrimination and segregation.

4.  The conflict advances or influences the plot when Velma says no to Tracy being a part of the show b/c of her size and height, but Corny sees her dance at school and lets her be a part of the show.

5.  Maybe the title "Hairspray" was intended to catch the veiwers attention and b/c the story is based around a television show which happens to have dancers who have very intact hairdo's.

6.  Define Theme:  (verb):  Give a particular setting or ambience to (a venue or activity)
(noun):  The subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic.
Three themes:
1.  When Tracy auditions for the dance television show and is told no b/c of her weight but then Corny says yes.
2.  When Tracy befriends Seaweed who is a black student at her school and also wanting a chance to dance on the Corny Collins show.
3.  When Tracy's mom celebrates being big, blonde, and beautiful and being comfortable in her own skin even though she's overweight.

7.  This song means you can't stop a person who's determined to do something in life if their heart is set to accomplish a certain goal.

8.  The way we dress, the way we wear our hair, how women feel about their size and appearance. 
Things are changing and she's telling her mom she needs to keep up with the change of the world.

9.  Because women were of bigger build in the 1960's.  Wow if I'm right I found out it's a traditional thing b/c in the original "Hairspray" a man got the part.

10.  Who was Tracy's best friend?  I wonder why she was Tracy's best friend b/c she really didn't have that many speaking roles in the movie so what was her importance in the story?

Oedipus questions

1.  Who wrote the play?  Sophocles

2.  Briefly define Oedipal Complex?  Fate, what Oedipus parents tried to get out of, still came around and was fulfilled.

3.  What is the setting of the story, specifically, the where?  During the day, in front of the Royal Palace in Thebes

4.  As the play opens, what horrible thing is going on?  A terrible curse has befallen Thebes

5.  Whose death must be avenged in order for the horrible thing from number 4 to end?  Laius

6.  Who is Oedipus wife?  Jocasta

7.  Who is Oedipus' mother?  Jocasta

8.  Who is Oedipus' father?  Laius

9.  Who killed the King of Thebes (the answer for #5)?  Oedipus

10.  What is Oedipus tragic flaw?  He has killed his father and is married to his mother.

12.  The prophet Teiresias is blind but can see clearly Oedipus' past, present, and future.

13.  I believe the things we could not see was relevant to the story but we did not actually need to see it play out on stage.

14.  Yes and no.  I believe we were put on this earth for a reason, and we all are going to die but, I don't know if I fully understand prophecies.  I do know there were prophecies in the Bible and they were fulfilled.

15.  Fate plays a role in Oedipus because when Oedipus was just a child his parents were prophosized that Oedipus would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother.  His parents tried giving him away thinking the prophocy would be broken but it still played out.

16.  This play is very ironic especially in the terms of fate

Extra:  Oedipus at Colonus

Personal questions for Oedipus

1.  I wonder how Oedipus's fate will impact the other members of his family?  Don't you?  I mean we know how the fate of his mother/wife ended.  I wonder how his daughters and sons felt about the whole ordeal? 
Did they feel ashamed or embarrassed of their parents actions, etc?

2.  If Oedipus's parents would not have given him up or tried to kill him do you think his prophecy/fate would have been fulfiflled?

3.  Do you think Oedipus should have sought the truth of his true identity?

4.  Did you notice Oedipus's attitude at the beginning of the play versus the end of the play?  Why do you think this changed?

Oedipus

I've tried and tried to really get into the Oedipus the King play but I just couldn't stay focused.  I wonder if I am the only one who has had this problem.  Anyway, I know I really need to read and understand this play and I made myself read it.  I still could not get a full understanding so I looked the play up online and it was summarized before my eyes.  After getting a quick run through of the play I must say I really enjoyed going back and actually reading the play that I once found boring very interesting.  What a predicament to be in this Oedipus.  Seems to me he was dealt a sorry hand according to fate.  This was an assignment I thought I was doomed for because I just could not get into.  Lesson learned it pays to stick to something you feel like you cannot accomplish.

Poetry assignment

Pg. 811 homage to my hips
by Lucille Clifton

This poem caught my eye when I saw the word "hips".  This poem is funny and special to me because me and my sister are some "big-boned" girls and we always joke about our wide hips!  I thought this would be a terriffic poem to share because no matter how big or wide your hips are you should be proud because they are a part of who you are.  Too many people today are not comfortable in their own skin but guess what, I AM!

Poetry assignment

Pg. 749 If you Love for the Sake of Beauty
by Friedrich Ruckert

I really like this poem because it speaks volumes in so many ways.  I so strongly love for the sake of love not Beauty.  Beauty is just an added bonus to me.  You know the saying "beauty is only skin deep?"  I thought this poem was special enough to share because sometimes we lose sight on the basics of love.  You can find yourself in a world of trouble trying to love based on beauty.

Poetry assignment

Pg. 644  Rush Hour
by Elaine Terranova

This poem caught my eye because it started out describing children.  I felt like it was special enough to share because after reading the poem it was very obvious the children and their mom are victims of abuse.  Their body language shows signs, when they are asked questions their mom speaks up for them making excuses about the way they look or the wounds that they have.  It makes me think how so many people today in the world suffer from domestic abuse.  I thought this poem should be shared with my peers.