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.

Poetry assignment

Pg. 640  On My First Daughter
by Ben Jonson

Once again this poem is about a child.  This particular poem is centered around the loss of a child.  This poem was "special" enough for me to share because this is a part of life that everyone goes through, losing someone special,.  Having to endure the death of a child is just unthinkable for me.  I would be beside myself but this happens everyday.

Poetry assignment

pg. 627  Here a Pretty Baby Lies
by  Robert Herrick

Here a pretty baby lies
Sung asleep with lullabies:
Pray be silent, and not stir
Th' easy earth that covers her.

I chose this poem because it deals with babies.  I love children.  Actually my job profession is centered around children.  This poem is special to me because "children" are special to me and I wanted to share it.  I think this poem is worthy of sharing because when you read it, it makes me think of babies or children sleeping and if you've ever had children, when they are sleepy you definitely want them to be at peace.  Babies are a special gift and you want the best for them even while sleeping.  You want to give them the security of knowing they are safe and all is well even during sleep.

What Poetry is to me...

When I think of or hear the word Poetry.  I think of rhythm or the rhyming of words.  Poetry to me tells a story in short phrases or sentences which speaks to one's heart, mind, or soul.

Description

These two are my world,  I wouldn't turn back the hands of time and trade them in for no one.  They are the reason I enjoy my job, the are my inspiration.  Where would I be without these two joys in my life.  Before they were mine, I had no idea I could love something so much as to I don't think I would be able to live without them in my life.  Waking up in the mornings and seeing smiles on their beautiful faces gives me the strength to press on, encouragement to fulfill my dreams and set positive examples for them to follow.  My children are my world and I love them so very dearly.

"Neighbors"

Now this was a very interesting short story.  I like the way Raymond Carver left some of this story for you to predict your own outcome of the situations in this story.  I mean, when Bill was going over to the apartment he could have been rummaging through their belongings, taking their medications, anything but you could actually let your mind go to work and fulfill the outcome of what the characters in this story were really up to.

Most Likeable Short Story

The short story I most liked reading was "A Rose for Emily".  I don't really know exactly why I like this particular story other than it fascinated me that someone would go to those extremities to find or have a relationship with an unwilling partner.  If you look at the news or read your newspapers, these kind of acts are still going on this present day which is very heartning.  For one to know that their are people in this world that need to feel loved by someone that they would actually hold someone captive against their will and eventually deprive them of a normal life because you, yourself are not living one.  In the short story "Emily"  wanted to be loved so very badly that she held her lover captive, by tying him to a bed and deprived him of outdoor sun and air, probably even witheld food from him and still would not let him go even after his death.  We still live in a world where we take each other and our lives for granted, not truly knowing who were hurting and it's a sad thing.  I really did enjoy reading this story because I never would have thought the story would have ended the way it did.  It took me by surprise and that's probably another reason I enjoyed reading this particular short story.

"LUCK"

I've always believed I was born for a purpose in this world.  I was brought up in a Baptist church, my dad is a Pastor, and I believe in God.  I've read a book called "The Purpose Driven Life" and I do believe everyone on God's earth has a purpose.  This was not very clear to me until I was pregnant with my first child and starting having complications around my 26th week of pregnancy.  I had a lot of health problems, high blood pressure, edema, pre-eclampsia, each week I got sicker and sicker.  I started having signs of stroke one night so my mom rushed me to the ER, and they immediately got me stable and hooked up to lots of monitors for me and my unborn child.  Doctors came in mumbling amongst themselves but me I didn't worry, I prayed.  Yes, I was scared but when you believe in God like I do the scary stuff seems to fade away.  I was shipped to Forsyth Medical Center 2 days later to deliver my child.  The plan was to keep me down there kinda on bed rest until I was at least 38 weeks.  God had another plan, I had my son at 33 1/2 weeks pregnant a healthy beautiful baby boy weighing 3lbs. 9 oz.  They had to use forceps to help pull him out of me and little did they know they tore me on the inside.  So while my son was willing himself to live, I was dying and did not have a clue.  When I did realize what was going on, I was scared and didn't know at the time but God had sent me an angel to watch out for me because the hospital I was at was so busy they had to put me on the heart floor and the nurse I had already seemed frazzeled that they were giving her another patient but a sick one at that.  I kept bleeding ALOT and this nurse didn't like it.  Every doctor she called she would tell them my condition and they would say oh, it's normal.  I could vaguely hear her say this doesn't look normal to me and she called the Head Doctor who had me rushed to ER immediately, which saved my life.  I had to recieve 2 blood transfusions from losing so much blood.  After a couple of months I tried contacting the nurse who undoublty saved my life and they had no record of her.  This made the hairs on my neck stand up but of course this is how God works.  I must say this is the closest to "luck" I've ever been.

Marriage and Relationships

In both stories, when comparing the two relationships, the similarities are the two relationships are not very happy relationships.  It's more like it was an arranged marriage versus actually being in "love" with one another.  The two women probably act the way they do because of the time era.  Women were expected to keep quiet and had no say in most decisions especially decisions involving themselves.  The difference between the two women are their race.  One woman was African American " A Jury of her Peers", and the other woman was Caucasian " The Story of an Hour".  The African American woman was poor, the Caucasian woman was from money or at least some money.  The similarities was that both women did not want to physically be in their marriages or relationships.

Life Lessons

I've learned not to take other's job title's for granted.  Being in certain positions at work you tend to think you know everyone's job or the different tasks they perform while doing their job.  Everyone has different duties and when your on the outside looking in and thinking you know what they are suppose to or can be doing can be very blindful especially if you don't perform their job task on a daily basis.  I just recently got a promotion and being in this position, I knew what was expected but the reality of the matter is I didn't know how much work it was going to take and the extra amount of stress that comes along with the job title.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy what I do, even though it is very challenging, I just didn't fully know the amount of work others had to put in when I wasn't in this position.  I was one of the one's on the outside going they can do this or all they do is thant when they can be doing this.  Now that I have that particular job I'm like wow, this is easier said than done.  Lesson learned don't walk around and assume you know what others have to endure on a job.

Minimalism

Minimalism to me means short and to the point.  Expressing your point minimally.

Specific examples from "Neighbors" that illustrate minimalism are when Bill went to feed the cat at the neighbors but searched through the medicine cabinet finding Harriet's medicine and slipping it into his pocket.  Raymond Carver doesn't go into detail what kind of medicine he finds but soon after feeding the cat Bill is going home wanting to have sex with his wife, which is out of the ordinary for her because she asks him what's gotten into him.

A Rose for Emily

tarnished

"A thin acrid pall as of the tomb seemed to lie everywhere upon this room decked and furnished as for a bridal; upon valance curtains of faded rose color, upon the rose-shaded lights, upon the dressing table, upon the delicate array of crystal and the man's toilet things backed with tarnished silver, silver so tarnished that the monogram was obscured."

(found on pg. 94)

Tarnish- to dull the luster of (a metallic surface), especially by oxidation; discolor.
definition found at dictionary.com

The word tarnished in context to the story to me explains not only the silver that once shimmered but also the person who has been held hostage in the room along with the furnishings in the room.  This word helps me understand the story because it sheds light on the situation at hand.  Ms. Emily Grierson's life had been tarnished for a long time and using the word tarnished to explain how the room looked also explains the life of Emily.  Knowing the definition of this word only enhanced my knowledge of the story of A Rose for Emily.