Blog #29: AP Final Blog Link

http://upsidedownkellywu2016.blogspot.com/

Blog #28: Final Drama Project

Powerpoint/Video

Script

Prep Materials

Blog #27: Hamlet Essay

Blog #26: Hamlet AP Test Prep

Thesis: In Hamlet, William Shakespeare is able to convey the tragic psychological downfall of Ophelia. He uses imagery, personification, and selection of detail to show Ophelia's true thoughts under the guise of her insanity.

Blog #25: Hamlet Act 5

Blog #24: Hamlet Act 4

My father is dead. Hamlet is gone. What on earth shall I do? I'm sure many people are worried about me, in fact, just this morning I came across an open journal in the castle library and discovered someone has been writing about me! Analyzing my every action. My songs may come from a loss of sanity but the true source of both of these is the lose of my adolescence and my emotions towards my father and Hamlet. My brother should have noticed but he himself is inhibited and blinded by his emotions as well. He once told me to beware of Hamlet's love, that I should view it as "a fashion, and a toy in blood;/ A violet in the primy youth of nature" (1.2.15) and now I tell him, through the same words "I would give you some violets, but they/ all withered when my father died" (4.2.76-77). The journal I read was correct in saying that these songs I sing "are related to the tragic fortunes to [my family]" (Seng.223). Such sadness has fallen over myself and Denmark.
My adolescence demolished should not alone bring me to insanity, though it is a great factor, this journal identified another component. I have realized, like Hamlet, that "Denmark has become [my] prison" (Seng.222). Hamlet has mentioned this when his father dies, all alone in the throne room he spoke of his grief to his father's death (1.2) and I now know it is like to mourn alone. A father gone is like a god taken away, for now "my lord" (2.1.74) will never return, he is "dead and gone" (4.2.35)
I hope that these words spoken will not forever haunt me as should living here in Elsinore still, but I hear the gravedigger's song, and I fear he may "be digging a grave for Ophelia" (Seng.227)

Blog #22: Act 3 Blog

Close Reading

Hamlet; To Be or Not To Be Soliloquy; Directed by Kenneth Braugh

Analysis
One of the key components of this enactment that Ii believe makes this soliloquy the best of the ones we watched was the use of the mirror. Hamlet is literally and figuratively reflecting on his life, considering whether or not he should let himself continue to suffer. As Hamlet continues to speak going deeper and deeper into his thoughts he walks closer to the mirror and the camera zooms in to a close up of Hamlet's face, this emphasizing again how these are Hamlet's thoughts that he is saying out loud. When Hamlet says "with a bare bodkin" (3.1.74) he pulls out his dagger, and though one may not know that a bodkin is a weapon, from this choice we can infer due to Hamlet words right before, "when he himself might quietus make"(3.1.75).  During this entire scene there is good lighting, which I believe to be a good choice because we can really see Hamlet, he is having a moment of clarity and the mis en scene choice reflects that.

Blog #21: Hamlet Act 2

"My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die." This quote is so soooo relatable to the situation that Hamlet finds himself in, although revenge will probably come easier to him as he doesn't have to search for his father's murderer for twenty-five years of his life like Inigo. In this classic story Westley and Buttercup reunite after years of lost love and fight the mythical kingdom of Florin.

Oh how I am in awe of this story, such romance, adventure, and fantasy. I find myself in such a similar situation as to Princess Buttercup. Although the surface story may seem like a prince saving a princess I feel that is not all there is. Princess Buttercup is also saving him. When Westley returns as the man in black I believe that Buttercup probably feels the way I am at this very moment. I feel as if Hamlet is not being himself, he has been overtaken, consumed in something else and it leaves me "so affrightened!" (2.1.74). Westley does this to find information and I really hope that in time, Hamlet will reveal his thoughts to me Further, the king and prince are trying to tear Buttercup from Westley. Although I believe my father has my best wishes at heart, at times it does feel like he is ripping love away from me. "My lord" (2.1.83) does admit that his judgment is not always correct. He admits that with "better heed and judgement" (2.1.108) we could have just avoided this whole relationship drama fiasco. This plot of Inigo's revenge is quite concerning to me. I know that Hamlet is concerned with his fathers death and has come to really dislike his uncle. I fear he may seek revenge and this revenge will bring on paranoia that I may have already seen him "as if he had been loosed out of hell" (2.1.81).  There is so much happening with the death, the funeral, the marriage, the potentiality of war with Norway, my brother now gone, and Hamlets strange behavior that "I do not know;/ But truly, I do fear it" (2.1.82-83).

Tweets:

1) AGHGhghsghdfjhdsgflakuwe #sofrustrated #scaredformylife #soaffrightened

2) My dad is pretty much a god, always right #daddysgirl #luvu

3) Not all advice is good advice #lessonlearned "illdobetternexttime

4) My boyfriend is going crazy, and not a the good way #badboy? #relationship probs

5) The future is fast approaching, and it is scary #featoftheunknown #college apps

Blog #20: Hamlet Act 1

Oh, woe is me! My father does not wish that I see Hamlet, and my brother agrees. My family is more important to me, however, so I agreed, and "I did repel his letters and denied/ His access to me" (1.2.106-107). Though I do want to see Hamlet, alas, it cannot be so. I am still under the instruction and mentor-ship of m father, "my good lord" (1.2.105). I do not know where Hamlet would lead me but I do know that my own father would not lead me astray. He is, after all, the adviser to the King! Someone held in high regard and trusted beyond all others.
Although I will obey my father and brother, I cannot help but feel bad for Hamlet. A few days past he came to my chamber "with a look so piteous in purport/ As if he had been loosed out of hell" (1.2.80-81). My father prompted me if he were mad for my love, but I am unsure! Nevertheless, "I fear it"(1.2.83). What shall I do if Hamlet does not release me? With the recent loss of his father and the marrying of his horrible uncle to his just recently widowed mother, Hamlet must feel so sad, grieving on his own. If only I could be with him, to aid him. No, my kinship is more important to me than romance, I will obey. I must.
This knowledge, as my father says, "might move/ More grief to hide than hate to utter love" (1.2.116-117). I must be ignorant of Hamlet's love, there are for worse possibilities should I choose to accept it  instead.

Tweets:
1) I sent back his love letters, message received? #gatesclosed #rejected #stayaway

2) My lord, my savior, my father #daddysgirl

3) Poor Hamlet looks like he just walked out of hell #badhairday #sorryaboutyourfather

4) Scared that my ex will try to win me back #ughhhh #tooprettyformyowngood #stalker

5) Have to think of my father's reputation before galavanting off with random boys #richgirlprobs #richfatherprobs

Blog #17

Day 1:

In our memoirs, many of us decided to write about our heritage and foods that our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents made but I really like how you wrote about your friends because we act most like our friends and we grow up with them creating a greater sense of understanding about each other. I'm sure much of the high school, myself included, can relate to the fact that we have almost no idea to do when we finally "reach adulthood". During the fishbowl I liked how you and your group related sacrifices to something more like a trade-off. A point I especially liked was how even though with all her husbands she had to work, whether in the garden, the store, or in the muck, yet her willingness to work was greatly different with each person, and that she was not necessarily making sacrifices for Tea Cake as much as just wanting to be with him. I think this points shows great development in Janie's quest for self-actualization. Amazing job!

Day2:

I have never made a souffle before but yours was great! I really liked your video because it showed the cooking process. Your story of how your family makes this for only special occasions and how its a Easter food but you don't eat it then really stuck with me. I like that how it shows that this food means something more special to you than the general public and how each person has their own reasons and ways for celebrating. I enjoyed during the discussion when you spoke about identity advancing when moving from place to place and people around you changing as well. Great job!

Day 3:

First of all, fried rice is always amazing and I'm glad you brought that in because I was particularly hunger on that day. Your presentation showed a good integration of time as you went from your childhood to you grandparents to your life now, it was very cohesive as as you made sure that all your points connected. During the discussion I liked how you talked about the husband and wife roles, and how though one is considered "dominant" it does not necessarily mean one has more voice overall. Husbands have their own fortes and so do wives and one generally for women is food. Connecting Janie and Jody's relationship back to the fundamental of food and the things that we learned during the writing of our food memoirs shows a great ability to synthesize different information. Great Job!

Day 5:

I really enjoyed your story of how your life is so very different from your sisters' because although my sister and I were both born in the United States I still feel a huge gap by our ten year age difference and how my life has changed in the time before she was born. I also really enjoyed eating your dish, although I will probably never be able to pronounce it correctly! I think one of the best things about reading or hearing all these memoirs is that you can see how each person has been affected by their culture and heritage and I think you did a great job connecting your "old" culture to your "new" culture. During the fishbowl discussion I like what you said about connecting who we are with how others expect us to be and how people change us but that is not necessarily detrimental. In your fishbowl notes I saw how you analyzed Janie's actions with respect to Jody, and how after he died she was set free as she was no longer next to Jody and she didn't have his reputation to worry about anymore so she was then able to advance throughout her life. Great job and great food!

Blog#16