Chapter 23 - Stereotype and Identity

To all graduates class of 1940,

In the time of the Great Depression and the time where not every man is equal, one dream and inspiration can go a long way. One dream and of goal can set you through your life. People such Martin Luther King, Jr. stood up to racism and prejudges help community unite as one. Look 1940 and stand here looking at a bright future filled with hope and potential. It up to up to choose the destiny of the African American community. Everyone in this room has the ability to achieve their goals and excel to higher level. Congratulation and bless wishes of 1940.

Chapter 19 - Symbolism

Muhammad Ali (Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.) is a symbol of triumph for the African American community. Clay was a boxer during the 1960, a time Civil Rights Movement was at its peak. Racism and segregation was a part of our daily lives.  For Muhammad Ali to raise to his such a high title during this era was very difficult. The Brown Bomber and Muhammad Ali both had to deal with racism and because they were able to rise to the such hight title they became a symbol of triumph. 

Chapter 17 & 18: After the "Retreat" & The Revival

When Maya returns to Stamps, she is still recovering form her experience in St. Louis. Do to her experience her behavior has changed in many ways. "I usually gave my money to Bailey, who went to the movies nearly every Saturday. He brought back street and smith cowboy books for me (pg. 118)." Maya used to love to spend all her time with Bailey, but know instead of playing him or going to the movies she like to spend time alone. Although before going to St. Louis Maya enjoyed reading, after her return back to Stamps she spend a majority of her time reading. She use book as away to escape into her fantasy world and to a way to keep her mid off of what happened with Mr. Freeman. Maya like to left alone and doesn't trust anyone anymore except Bailey. 

I choose this quote because I feel as I was able to relate to Maya. We both enjoy reading and use it as away to escape form reality. I make both of forget about what is going on. When I feel stressed I enjoy reading as does Maya. This is a way Though Maya and I are every different, I felt as if this was the first time in the novel that I was actually abel to relate to her. 

Act III: Story Time

Once upon a time in far away country of Scotland there were three magical sister, who could tell the future, and cast spells, but they weren't very nice. One day the three sister told them a man named Macbeth and his friends Banquo there future. They said that one day Macbeth that he would be king and the Banquo's children will be king. 

Now Macbeth misunderstood he magical sister and thought they said he had to king. So Macbeth decided to become king right away rather then later. Mrs. Macbeth, his wife, and Macbeth deiced to make King Duncan, the current King of Scotland, go away forever and blame someone else for making him go away. 

Act II: Gorgon Reference

Gorgon were the three sister in mythology who are beautiful and tall. When Athene found out that her husband, Poseidon, was cheating her on her with on Medusa, one of Gorgon sister. Athene turned Medusa's hair into snakes and now everything that looks at her will turn into stone. 

When Macduff said, “Approach the chamber and destroy your sight/ With a new Gorgon…” he meant that King Duncan looked like Medusa, ugly. Macduff saw Duncan after he was killed and stabbed to death and this is a reference to what Medusa looked like after Athene made her look ugly and turned her into a monster. 

Shakespeare's Language

1. What is "blank verse"? [We discussed this yesterday, but if you are not sure, check out your poetry unit notes.]

 Blank verse is a type of poem, which has a verse of line of ten syllables with five stresses and has no rhyme.  

2. Interpret these Shakespearean lines using your Shakespeare Packet: Reading Shakespeare's English:

    a. "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?" [R&J]

Wait. I just a light in the window go on. 

    b. "Thou art more lovely and more temperate." [Sonnets XVIII]

She is lovely and has a lot of patients. 

    c. "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well." [Macbeth]

If it was done on time it would have been good.

    d. "Whither are they vanished?" [Macbeth]

Where did they go. 

3. How many creative Shakespearean insults can you come up with? Add "thou" or "thine" to the front of the lists picked up on your way in: "Thou+Column A+Column B+Column C!"

Thou yeasty rump-fed clot pole. 

Thine peevish horn-mad crutch. 

Thou haughty pinch-spotted rudesby. 

Sestina

~Algernon Charles Swinburne ~

I saw my soul at rest upon a day

   As a bird sleeping in the nest of night,

Among soft leaves that give the starlight way

   To touch its wings but not its eyes with light;

So that it knew as one in visions may,

   And knew not as men waking, of delight.

This was the measure of my soul’s delight;

   It had no power of joy to fly by day,

Nor part in the large lordship of the light;

   But in a secret moon-beholden way

Had all its will of dreams and pleasant night,

   And all the love and life that sleepers may.

But such life’s triumph as men waking may

   It might not have to feed its faint delight

Between the stars by night and sun by day,

   Shut up with green leaves and a little light;

Because its way was as a lost star’s way,

   A world’s not wholly known of day or night.

All loves and dreams and sounds and gleams of night

   Made it all music that such minstrels may,

And all they had they gave it of delight;

   But in the full face of the fire of day

What place shall be for any starry light,

   What part of heaven in all the wide sun’s way?

Yet the soul woke not, sleeping by the way,

   Watched as a nursling of the large-eyed night,

And sought no strength nor knowledge of the day,

   Nor closer touch conclusive of delight,

Nor mightier joy nor truer than dreamers may,

   Nor more of song than they, nor more of light.

For who sleeps once and sees the secret light

   Whereby sleep shows the soul a fairer way

Between the rise and rest of day and night,

   Shall care no more to fare as all men may,

But be his place of pain or of delight,

   There shall he dwell, beholding night as day.

Song, have thy day and take thy fill of light

   Before the night be fallen across thy way;

Sing while he may, man hath no long delight.