Individual Scene Analysis

Individual Scene Analysis The Dark Knight

(I would have embedded the video onto the blog but it said "Embedding disabled by request" on YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1pyPY8w1TI

A conflict between two opposing forces is an essential ingredient of all action movies. The opposing views clash, and in the struggle for dominance the audience becomes engulfed in the story. In the movie The Dark Knight we see the classic idea of “good versus evil”, but the Director, Producer, and Writer (all three are Christopher Nolan) portray the Joker in slightly different ways to show the depth of his villainy. The antagonist in The Dark Knight acts with malicious intent and his lack of morals show his colors as a truly evil person. Through the interactions of the Joker with his environment, the Director reveals the idea of the Joker being able to corrupt and destroy the situation around him while bringing about a sense of chaos and confusion.

The Joker’s actions initiate conflict in the movie, and the way he carries out his actions are just as important to notice. The Director uses dolly-shots, close-ups, and sound-effects to help create the notion of the Joker being crazy. The Director chooses to use a dolly-shot in shots one and six. The movement of the camera flows perfectly while the buildings in the background explode. This creates a feeling of stability because the camera never loses focus and the smooth run of the camera pairs up nicely with the laid-back attitude of the Joker as he exits the hospital grounds. Then compare the dolly-shot to the reaction-shots of the civilians; the cameras in those shots are shaken rapidly to create a sense of chaos and confusion. Close-ups are another method used by the Director to incorporate the ideas of evil and immorality. In shot one the image of the Joker fills the entire screen. He has a calm expression on his face and even mimics the sound of the explosions to come. The Joker knows that the hospital will be destroyed and still carries out the actions in a humorous manner; this contributes to the idea of him being crazy because to us his actions seem unthinkable. In shot three the close-up reaction-shots of three reporters are shown, inviting the viewer to compare their expressions of terror to the Joker’s composed way of carrying himself. This builds on the idea of him being evil and crazy. The close-up at the beginning of the scene can also be viewed as expressing his dominance over the situation. The sound-effects add to the conflict. A large portion of the clip contains the sounds of the exploding hospital and this highlights the chaos and disorder brought about by the Joker. In shot six the explosions subside and the audience is led to believe that the blasts have ended. Then, after the Joker presses the detonator repeatedly the explosions start up again, The Joker, apparently surprised by the new blasts, hurries off. The idea of the Joker being startled by his own work demonstrates how chaotic the situation is. The juxtaposition of the sound effects of the Joker and the civilians contains vital information also. The scenes with the Joker in them are relatively quiet (aside from the explosions). He rarely makes any noise, and when he does, he does it humorously; compare this to the shot in the bus (4) with all the people screaming. The contrast between the two shots creates a disorienting mood and shows how the Joker differs from normal citizens; this sets him apart from the rest of society and creates the idea of him being the bad guy.

The environment surrounding the Joker plays a key role in the Director’s way of portraying him as a deranged lunatic. Through the use of aerial shots, costume, and location the Joker can be seen as a virus that infects the whole society of Gotham. In shot seven the Director films the explosion of a hospital building from an aerial view. This shows the enormity of the actions committed by the Joker and the disorganization he brings with him. The costume used by the Joker adds to the confusion of the situation. Throughout this entire scene the Joker wears a nurse’s uniform. A nurse assists people by helping them heal; this differs greatly from the way the Joker acts. The confusion of the costume he wears and the actions he carries out helps develop the idea of him being crazy. The Joker wearing the nurse’s uniform separates him from the classical “noir” and this change in the typical bad-guy brings about confusion. The setting of the entire scene contributes to the thesis statement of the Joker being able to corrupt the city. The Joker decides to blow up a hospital, a place where people go to become better, and this shows him to be a poisonous person. Near the end of shot six the Joker leaves the destroyed hospital scene by entering a school bus. The school bus (filled with innocent people) can be seen as a symbol of innocence. The Joker entering it and leaving the scene shows how he spreads throughout the city – much like a virus - spreading chaos and disorder.

Through the Joker’s interactions with his environment he can be viewed as an unrelenting antagonist who will stop at nothing to bring about chaos. The Director’s portrayal of the Joker differs greatly from the typical stereotype of a villain; this creates a disorienting mood and sets the Joker apart from the rest of movie villains because he can be viewed as someone who is truly evil and psychotic.

Group Screenplay and Scene

Group Screenplay and Scene Clip

(Conor O’Shea / Mitchell Davenport / Alan Watanabe)

Screenplay: ACT 3 - SCENE 3: BANQUO’S MURDER AND FLEANCE RUNNING MONTAGE

BANQUO’S MURDER

EXT. Castle Doors – Day establishing shot.
Shot 1
MURDERER 2 exits the front door to the left with a gun.
MURDERER 3 exits the front door to the left with two samurai swords.
MURDERER 1 exits the front door, stops and pulls out a sock and puts a nectarine into it and swings it multiple times before exiting to the left.
Shot 2
The Murderers enter their vehicle from the left side.
Murderer 1 gets into the driver seat.
Murderers 3 and 2 get into the back seats.
The car starts and backs out and then drives off the shot to the right.
Shot 3
Establishing shot of a street corner.
The Murderer’s car comes onto the shot from the left side and turns a corner onto the main street.
The car then parks on the side of the road.
Shot 4
INT. Car – Day
MURDERER 1: Who asked you to come with us?
MURDERER 3: Macbeth.
MURDERER 2: We don’t need to worry about him; he’s laid it out just like Macbeth said.
Murderer 1: Then join us; the sun is setting sending business men to their ruins, and our mark is approaching.
Murderer 3: Hold up I hear something.
Shot 5
EXT. Road – Day
BANQUO and FLEANCE enter on a road.
Camera zooms out to show Banquo and Fleance walking right by the murderer’s car.
The camera then zooms back onto Banquo and Fleance as they approach the camera and stop.
Shot 6
Shot of Banquo and Fleance on the side of the road.
BANQUO: Give us a light there ho.
Fleance hands Banquo a matchbox and a match.
Banquo strikes the match and the camera then zooms in on the match.
Shot 7
INT. Car – Day
Murderer 2: Then it’s him the others expected are all inside.
Murderer 1: His car is being brought around.
Murderer 2: A light!
Murderer 3: It’s him.
Murderer 1: Stand ready.
The murderers then exit the car and move towards Fleance and Banquo.
Shot 8
EXT. Road – Day
Banquo: It shall rain tonight.
Murderer 1: Then let it come.
Murderer 1 then strikes Banquo with a sock-nectarine.
Banquo staggers to the ground and Murderer 2 comes out and shoots him in the back.
As Banquo gets up Murderer 3 comes up from behind and cuts him with a samurai sword.
Shot 9
Banquo’s blood splashes on the ground and the camera then zooms in on it.
Shot 10
As Banquo lies on the ground dead Fleance gets on his scooter and leaves the scene to the left.
While this happens the Murderers run across the street into their car and exit the same way Fleance did.
Shot 11
INT. Car – Day
Murderer 1: Was that the wrong way to do it?
Murderer 3: That’s one down; his son got away.
Murderer 2: We’ve missed the main mark.
Murderer 1: Well let’s get back to Macbeth and tell him how much is done.
Murderer 3: Dude, what’s with the peach?
Murderer 1: It’s a nectarine.

FLEANCE RUNNING MONTAGE

Shot 12
EXT. Stadium – Day
Fleance is seen running up the steps of the stadium on the left side and then runs on the top of the stadium then down the stadium then up the stadium. The camera zooms in and out.
At this point the body of Banquo is seen next to Fleance as he runs up the stadium and the camera pans over to show Banquo’s body.
The Camera then moves back onto Fleance who runs down the stadium and out of the shot. The camera then zooms out.
Shot 13
INT. School Hallway – Day
Fleance is at the end of the science hallway as he runs down.
Then there is a poorly done slow motion scene where Fleance runs past the body of Banquo and then down the rest of the hallway and then exits the scene to the left.
Shot 14
EXT. Outside of the Cafeteria – Day
Fleance runs down the first few steps and then moves over the handrail.
He then runs down the side of the steps and does a 360 off of the little cement block on the bottom.
Fleance then runs past the body of Banquo and jumps onto another cement block.
After that he goes under a handrail and then over the handrail and runs off to exit to the right side.
Shot 15
Fleance is then seen running up the steps past the football field.
Shot 16
Fleance then stops at a chess-set where the legs of Banquo are seen.
Fleance then kneels down and looks at the set and knocks over Banquo’s pieces.
FLEANCE: King me.
Shot 17
Close up on the face of Banquo (who is dead).
Shot 18
Close up on the face of Fleance who looks deeply at the face of Banquo then runs off again.
Credits


SCENE CLIP


Due to school budget cuts the film has been downgraded and the sound crew has been fired.

Scene Analysis Proposal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1pyPY8w1TI

Movie: The Dark Knight

Scene: This scene takes place about 3/4 of the way through the movie. The Joker just met with Harvey Dent in the hospital and helps him exact his revenge. The actual scene contains The Joker exiting the exploding hospital as he enters a school bus.

Scene Run Time: 1:03

Description of the Scene: The scene starts with the Joker walking down a Hospital hallway in a nurse uniform. He mimics the sound of an explosion as he presses the detonator for the bomb; The Joker then leaves the scene and the hallway he was walking down is shown exploding in sporadic patterns. There is then a cut scene to the front steps of the hospital where it shows The Joker walking down the front steps of the hospital as more explosions are coming from within. The scene then changes to the reactions of the three news reporters standing outside of the hospital; they are shocked and quickly enter the school bus. The scene then cuts into the bus looking from the back seat to the front; the school bus is shaking violently and shows how the people inside are disoriented (180 Degree Rule). Another quick cut scene where it shows a news reporter being grabbed into the bus. The scene then changes to The Joker again, this time it shows the complex hospital structure in the background. He walks about 30 feet before the explosions begin to stop. He lifts his arms out and looks back in disbelief at the buildings still standing. He then focuses his attention on the detonator and presses the buttons on it over and over again until the explosions begin from the background. The camera then follows The Joker as he enters a school bus. The bus leaves the scene and what remains is a large building exploding. As the building begins to collapse the scene changes to a long shot of the building from an aerial perspective. The building is completely destroyed and a large plume of smoke rises from the debris.

Comparing Themes (Journal 16)

Theme 1: There is a theme of family through out most of these plays. They all support a strong unity among family members and all plays show how if a family is tightly knit they can over come most problems. In both Antigone's there is a sense of family loyalty. Antigone wants to bury Polynices even though he was not the best family member. In the same play Ismene wants to help Antigone later on in the book because she is afraid of being alone when Antigone dies. In Oedipus the whole play revolves around his family life and how it has affected him negatively. In Medea, Medea is angry with Jason because of his lack of compassion towards her; this leads to Medea killing her two sons. All these plays exhibit a large role of characters who are closely related together.

Theme 2: Gender roles were seen through out most of these plays. They were very different because of the conflicts presented and who they involved. In Oedipus, Jocasta was the only female who played a some-what major role in the story. She was there to aid Oedipus and she seemed to have a lot of power at her hands. In Medea the gender roles switch a little bit. Since she is the person most people hate women are looked down upon. Jason tells Medea how he dislikes women and how they are no good besides giving birth to children. In both Antigone's the gender roles are a mix between Oedipus and Medea almost. Antigone and Ismene commanded some power but they were still expected to do very little in the story because they are women, it is a surprise to Creon how Antigone acted because he never expected it from a women.

Antigone Word Choice (Journal 15)

In the first argument between Creon and Antigone there are sharp contrasting viewpoints between the two characters. Antigone devoted to helping her brother believes it the right thing to do. Creon on the other hand believes that it is illegal and Antigone should be put to death for it. This conflict brings about a yes/no argument. The two characters are so different Anouilh chooses to have them say they exact opposite thing, yes and no. This also brings about the idea of Creon becoming the king, he talked about how it was hard to decide yes or no on taking up the role of the leader; this can apply itself to Antigone's situation on whether she should have buried her brother or not.

This book was originally written in French and then translated into English; The fact that it is translated means that the authors voice was lost somewhere between the two versions, no matter how minuscule the change is it will still make a difference. In the English version of Anouilh's Antigone there are a lot of vague terms; this could leave the book up for interpretation to the reader/audience. One vague term mentioned was the idea of happiness. Creon and Antigone argue over what it actually means to them. They both come to their own conclusion about the idea and it is very different. This demonstrates how the characters view the situation they are in and also gives us some insight on how that person is. Antigone seems more like a person who does not care about the rules and does what she thinks is right. Creon on the other hand is the king so he has to take a lot of responsibility and cannot please everyone because there are certain things he must do as a king.

Character Traits (Journal 14)

In the play, Oedipus the King, I will be playing the part of the messenger. The messenger does not come from Thebes so he is not familiar with most of the things there except he knows that Oedipus is the king of the city. The messenger is most likely a humble person since he is speaking to royalty. He still brings bad news to Oedipus though so he messenger might have a worried tone.

"Strangers, please, I wonder if you could lead us to the palace of the king... I think it's Oedipus. Better, the man himself-you know where he is?" (211) This sentence shows that he is not from this area so he will be new to the whole experience and he will not know what has been going on.

"Polybus was nothing to you, that's why, not in blood" (218). The messenger might have a concerned tone since he knows more about Oedipus's past than most people.

Antigone 4 Literary Techniques (Journal 13)

Repetition: "He will do what he has to do, and we will do what we have to do" (11). The repetition of the word "do" shows how Antigone and Creon have different view points on the subject at hand. They will act on their own thoughts and this foreshadows future events.

Metaphor: "Wasn't I a miserable little beast when we were small?" (10). Antigone used to think of herself as a little beast when she was small. This gives us some background information on her past and shows how she thinks about her self.

Simile: "[...] clawing away like a hyena [...]" (25). Antigone is again described as an animal. She is also being related to a hyena, a wild dog that is very aggressive. This simile gives us insight on how Antigone might behave if she does not get her way.

Hyperbole: "A thousand arms will seize our arms. A thousand breaths will breathe into our faces" (12). Ismene tells Antigone how she feels about the situation and how Creon might react if they disobey his law. This hyperbole shows how fearful Ismene is of Creon, this also shows a difference in the characters of Ismene and Antigone because they might react differently to this law.

1940s Antigone (Journal 12)

The biggest thing going on in Europe during this time period was probably WWII. Jean Anouilh was also from France so he will have been affected by this war. This event will probably play a major role in the story itself. He will probably be more sympathetic towards Antigone and probably be more stern on Creon since he ruled like a dictator in the first version we read. The future outcome of Thebes might be an important topic in this book as well since France was devastated by the war.

Roles of the Characters in Antigone (Journal 11)

Antigone / Mother Teresa

"Never share my dying, don't lay claim to what you never touched. My death will be enough" (87).

"Decide. Will you share the labor, share the work?" (61)

I chose Mother Teresa to represent Antigone because they seem very devoted to their creed. They both made a lot of big sacrafices, and helped people that could not help themselves. Physically they do not share much in common though, besides the fact that they are both female.

Creon / Christian Bale

"Why, you degenerate - bandying accustaions, threatening me with justice, your own father!" (98)

"What? The city is the king's- that's the law!" (97)

Christian Bale plays Creon because they both seem to use negative words when in an arguement. They also seem to shout out a lot in angry outbursts. Physically again they are both male and hold more power than the average citizen.

Ismene / Oprah

"What? You'd bury him- when a law forbids the city?" (61)

"What's the matter? Trouble, clearly... you sound so dark, so grim" (60).

Oprah and Ismene are both females. They both seem to be law abiding citizens who follow the government or person in charge. They also both care for people, they both make a lot of sacrafices for someone.

Sentry / Newman from Sienfeld

"She's the one, she did it single-handed- we caught her burying the body. Where's Creon?" (78)

"She's the one. With my own eyes I saw her bury the body, just what you've forbidden. There. Is that plain and clear?" (79)

Newman and the Sentry both seem to care only about themselves. They will inflate a story so that they get an edge over whatever they are doing. They are again both men.

Haemon / Ice T (from Law and Order)

"What threat? Combating your empty, mindless judgments with a sword?" (99)

"You really expect to fling abuse at me and not receive the same?" (99)

They both seem very protective over people. They both make comments that could anger someone easily. They are both men, and they say negative things to people in a higher position than themselves.

Two Questions for the Tragedy (Journal 10)

Knowledge Level

1. Who was supposed to marry Antigone?
2. Who does Creon's son side with at the end of the reading?

Comprehension Level

1. Why does Antigone want to bury her brother?
2. Why does Creon become angry at Haemon?

Application Level

1. Is there a situation when the public outcry was silenced by a dictator?
2. Are there any present day countries that oppress people because of their sex?

Analysis

1. Has the power of the throne gone to Creon's head?
2. What does the Sentry symbolize in the story?

Synthesis

1. How do the actions of Ismene and Antigone contrast and compare? How does it reveal the ideals of each character?
2. The story is revealed in a way to show pity and sorrow for Antigone or for Creon?

Evaluation

1. Does Antigone pity or celebrate the fact that she will die alone without her sister (Ismene)?
2. Does Creon attack Antigone's crime because of her sex or because it was a law?

Literary Devices in Antigone (Journal 9)

Setting: "Fighting on opposite sides, the sons of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polynices, have killed each other in combat" (59). Right from the start of the play we see a negative setting set. Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, the man destined to live a cursed life, along with that her two brothers have just died fighting each other in a war in Thebes. This setting will probably add to the tragic elements in the story later on.

Symbol: "Great eye of the golden day [...]" (65) The eye is used as a symbol for the sun. Along with that there are some other positive words surrounding it such as "great" and "golden". This holds a positive connotation to the sun. The sun could possibly be a symbol of hope and change for the story.

Repetition: "Seven captains marshaled at seven gates seven against their equals, gave their brazen trophies up to Zeus [...]" (66) In Thebes there is a legend about seven warriors so the repetition of the word seven may also be an allusion to them. This creates a violent mood as the Chorus who said this line usually foreshadows future events.

Foreshadowing: "You're wrong from the start, you're off on a hopeless quest" (64). Ismene tells Antigone about her actions and how they will not be fruitful. This line could possibly foreshadow certain events in Antigone's life, most likely a negative event.

Conflict: "[...] I swear to Zeus as I still believe in Zeus, if you don't find the man who buried that corpse, the very man, and produce him before my eyes, simple death won't be enough for you [...] (74) Creon threatens to kill the sentry if the person who buried Oedipus's son's body is not found. This shows how there is a conflict already with Creon and Antigone (the protagonist in the story and the person who buried the body).

Comparing Medea and Oedipus (Journal 8)

Even though Medea and Oedipus are both tragic stories they differ in many different ways. The use of catharsis still remains through out both of the plays and more noticeably at the end of the plays. Showing that tragic situations can occur in many different places.

Oedipus

In Oedipus we see him as the savior of Thebes and that he can solve the case of the murdered king (Laius). Later in the book we find out that he has been destined to a cursed life. We notice foreshadowing done by Tiresias and the Chorus to show how Oedipus avoided this fate of his but it was still fulfilled by the very actions he took. It is tragic how we see a person of such prestige and knowledge, who saved the city of Thebes before transformed into a blind beggar exiled from the city he once ruled. As stated in the thesis statement this feeling of pity and sorrow is evoked near the end of the story. This is when we learn about Oedipus and his actions and how they tie into the prophecy. We pity his children, his dead wife and mother, and the tragic fate of his own life.

Medea

Medea has many differences with Oedipus; we tend to take pity more on Oedipus than on Medea because we see Oedipus as a person locked in by destiny. We consider Medea a person of free-will. Never the less Medea's story is still tragic. She once was a princess related to the God of the sun (Helios). In the beginning she betrays her native land by killing her brother. As we move on in the story we feel pity for Medea because of her husband's actions. Even though this may seem tragic we still see Medea in a negative light because of all of her scheming thoughts against her sons. Near the end of the story we feel pity and sorrow for Medea, she kills her own two sons and then leaves the land. Medea's inability to care for her sons show how treacherous of a women she is. The audience frowns upon her actions and looks on her negatively.

In both tragedies we notice the catharsis element in the end of the story; showing that the audience must first be able to relate to the tragic hero before they can feel sympathetic and sorry for them.

The Gods role in Medea and Jason (Journal 7)

Both Jason and Medea reference and talk to the gods. Medea who is the granddaughter of Helios seems to talk to the gods on a less formal platform compared to Jason. Medea addresses them for help and guidance through her difficult times; she even asks them for some sort of intervention by them. Jason on the other hand talks to the gods more formally but less often. He seems more distant to the gods compared to Medea but still believes they play a role in his life.

Medea talks to the gods on a more personal level, revealing her desperation over the current state of her life to show how tragic her situation is, Jason on the other hand uses the gods against Medea to try and distance himself from her; this sharp contrast in view points creates a conflict between Medea and Jason.

Medea

"Your father was a king: his father, Helios the Sun..." (46) Medea is directly related to the Gods unlike Jason. Medea uses this to her advantage by calling on the Gods for assistance much more than Jason.

"O mighty Themis, and Artemis, Queen [...]" (38) Medea pleads with the Gods and tells them how she was betrayed by a loved one.

"O Zeus, remember the author of this crime" (43). Medea directly talks to Zeus and asks him to avenge her.

"I shall not shrink from such a step, by Hectate [...] (45) Medea plots to kill her husband and his new wife, she seems hesitant at first but then references a God to give her strength to do this unwholesome deed.

Jason

"Well, as far as I am concerned, it was Aphrodite and no one else in heaven or earth who saved me on my voyage" (50). Jason tries to distance himself from Medea by telling her the Gods saved him and not her. He seems to believe the Gods play a very important role in his life and that they should.

Medea and the Chorus (Journal 6)

In Oedipus the chorus seems detached from the story. They relate ideas to the Gods and the audience rather than to the characters in the book. In Oedipus they also foreshadow many events that will happen. The chorus in Oedipus is also comprised of citizens from Thebes; a leader is also present in the chorus to interact with the characters. Overall the chorus summarizes what happens in the story. In Medea the chorus is very different. They talk directly to the characters present in the book and seem to talk about present happenings rather than the future. The chorus in Medea also seems more attached to her than in Oedipus. "Oh, my poor Medea-" (44). The fact that they are all women can also be used as a symbol to represent feminism since the main character in the story so far is Medea.

Aristotle Greek Tragedy (Journal 5 Oedipus)

Sophocles evokes the emotions of pity and sorrow through the ridiculous plot of Oedipus the King. The plot is so far off from the average life of a person it seems awkward and strange, it displaces them from their comfort zone and brings them into an area of pity and sorrow felt for the main character (Oedipus). The plot also touches on some social taboos, such as incest and murder, in a society where these acts are looked down upon they solicit an emotion of empathy and regret for Oedipus who was destined to have this happen to him. The circular structure of Oedipus the King also evokes the feelings of pity and sorrow in the audience. Through out his life Oedipus always tried to avoid the prophecy by leaving his home. He then defeats the Sphinx and becomes the hero of Thebes. Oedipus accomplished a lot of good things in his life, but as a result he fulfilled the prophecy. When the prophecy is fulfilled his life spirals out of control; his wife/mother kills herself and he blinds himself. His whole family is negatively affected and this brings out the feeling of pity in the audience. Sophocles uses this type of literature (tragedy) to touch the audience personally so they may reflect on their own lives and see the truth about the human condition and see how it plays out in Oedipus.

Greek Tragedy (Journal 4 Repeated Images)

Through out the tragedy of Oedipus the King there is a reoccurring idea of sight and truth. The city is in ruins at the beginning of the play. "Our city- look around you, see with your own eyes- [...]" (160). The priest from Zeus tells Oedipus about how the city of Thebes lay in waste. Sophocles uses the words "see" and "eyes" to relay the desperation of the society to the ruler, Oedipus. The priest directly talking to Oedipus and his own eyes show how Oedipus is directly connected to the city and its problems. This adds to the theme that not all insight and truth is good. In the next quote Tiresias speaks about the truth he sees. "How terrible-to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!" (176) Tiresias adds to the idea that truth can be negative and painful. Tiresias as a blind prophet contributes to the idea that having no sight may be helpful and less painful. Through out the play the concept of sight and truth is held in bad light. In the last quote Oedipus gouges his eyes out. "[...] looking straight up into the points, he digs them down the sockets of his eyes, crying [...]" (237) In the ending scenes of the tragedy Oedipus takes away his ability to see. Oedipus takes away his sight to show dramatically the truth affected his life. By taking away his own sight he reveals a theme, seeing the truth may not always be a good solution.

Greek Tragedy Journal 3 (Gender Roles)

Sophocles establishes a unique gender role when he introduces Jocasta into the play. When Oedipus mentions Jocasta he talks highly about her and how they both rule equally as a king and queen. In one part of the play Oedipus even tells Jocasta how he prefers her over some men; this lends to the idea that women have some power but men are still the major power players in this Greek society. When Jocasta is introduced into the play she seems like a good role model for women. She seems to act as a peace keeper between Creon and Oedipus; she even goes onto help both sides of the argument to help settle the feud. In the end of the reading though she seems to go hysterical as she puts the pieces of the story together and realizes what she has done (some could argue this as a warning to women, but her actions seem justified by the situation she is put in). Jocasta also seems to take a more sensible approach to problems compared to Creon and Oedipus; the men seem to make decisions based on the current information at hand while Jocasta wants to learn about all aspects of the story. Through out the story Jocasta is spoken to very politely; sometimes Oedipus can be very abrupt with her though. Jocasta in the beginning seems to be the voice of reason but later breaks as she learns about the horrible truth. With this being said Jocasta is not a good example of a gender role considering her social rank as a queen

Greek Tragedy (Oedipus Leadership)

The leadership of Oedipus changes through out the story. In the first reading he seems like the savior for the city. The priests and citizens gather around him and he seems capable of fixing the city from its troubles as he sends out Creon to go find guidance from the Oracle. Oedipus also vows to find the murderers of King Laius so he may bring peace back to the city. His word choice in the first reading seemed like that of a caring person looking out for the masses rather than himself.

In the next reading Oedipus seems to change as a leader and as a person. First his word choice becomes a lot more negative as he addresses the people he formerly trusted. He also seems to only care about himself as Teiresias tells him that he is the problem plaguing the city. Oedipus also turns on his friend Creon; he insults him and then wishes to have him killed because he does not agree with him. A dramatic change in personality and leadership compared to the beginning of the book

Greek Tragedy - Oedipus (was absent when assigned)

Summary

Page - 159: King Oedipus wonders why the people of his city have come to him and what may be troubling the city.
Page - 160: A priest comes to Oedipus and tells him about the negative things happening to the city and how all the people in city are being affected.
Page - 161: The priest then goes on to ask Oedipus to help fix the cities problems and return the city to its former greatness.
Page - 162: Oedipus expresses his views on the city and then tells the priest that he has sent Creon to the Oracle in Delphi for guidance.
Page - 163: Creon arrives back to the city from Delphi and brings news about the city from the oracle.
Page - 164: Creon tells Oedipus that the murder of King Laius must be avenged in order to bring back the peace to the city.
Page - 165: Oedipus is shocked by the murder and wonders why the people of city did not pursue the men guilty of the crime.
Page - 166: According to Creon a band of thieves killed Laius and the Sphinx persuaded the people of the city not to venture any further into the murder.
Page - 167: Oedipus vows to find the killer of Laius so the peace in the city can be restored.
Page - 168: The citizens gather around and pray to the Gods for help and assistance.
Page - 169: People continue to pray and reflect upon the negativity in the city.
Page - 170: The people then pray to certain Gods for help.

Literary Devices

Allusion

A Sphinx is a mythological creature. It usually stands guard of something and asks a riddle to adventurers. Using a Sphinx in this story can create the effect of something greater to come since it watches over something prized.

Personification

"And black Death luxuriates in the raw, wailing miseries of Thebes". (37-38) This sentence shows how a dark force took over this town and how it is just festering in it. This creates a problem for the main character.

Motif

Gods were mentioned a lot through out this story. This sets up a certain atmosphere for the story. The people acknowledge that there is a greater force controlling them and this may affect the story.

Metaphor

"Our ship pitches wildly, cannot lift her head/from the depths, the red waves of death..." (29-30) The city is being mirrored to a ship out of control and how it struggles to break free of this evil bond.

Dystopian Novel Journal 3 (Brave New World topic B)

An important character in Brave New World would be John the Savage. He is the child of Linda and Thomas; since natural pregnancies are looked down upon in the new society John is already at a disadvantage when it comes to conforming with it's ideas and rules. John was an outcast at the savage reservation do to his mother coming from an outside world, he was often made fun of by the other savages. John is also well read, this is highly frowned upon by community. He often recites lines from Shakespeare, this confuses the citizens of London since they take every concept literally. John first seems to like the new society; it was clean and orderly. Then as time set in more and more people wanted to see him. This annoyed John because they were just interested in his savage nature. Since he grew up in a savage reservation he has a different out look on life so most of his actions are not understood and usually taken humorously by the London community. At the climax of the book John the Savage revolts against the society by throwing out bottles of soma through a hospital window. After this John meets with the world leader, Mustapha Mond. They discuss the community and the boundaries set in it and why. John does not seem happy but accepts it. He is then seen living on his own, soon after he is rudely interrupted and hangs himself because he was overwhelmed by the new society. In both communities, new and old, John is an outcast.

Word Count: 262

Thesis Statements

Patterns (repetitions)

Analysis Notes and Observations: -The use of soma regularly, citizens of London take soma everyday to go on a holiday and to relieve all of their stress and bad feelings. -How mechanized everything is in the book, from the music to the food. -Technological advancements such as the "Bokanovsky Process", the helicopters, and the feelies. Sex is also emphasized in the book and how everyone is shared.

Significant Literary Questions: -Why does Huxley bring back the drug soma through out the book? -Why does Huxley depict the setting as highly sophisticated, mechanically. -With a large portion of the machines taking over what we would usually do today. - What is Huxley trying to tell us with the technological advancements in this book, how do they affect the people in the book.

Thesis Statement: -Through the extreme use of the drug soma and the advancements in technology, Huxley uses Brave New World as a warning of what our world might become. With this being said we see Huxley's negative out look on technological advancements in the future.

Word Choice

Analysis Notes and Observations: -When describing the story Huxley uses long words. -The dialogue is very short and concise. -Huxley also uses scientific words to describe most things. He talks about people and the social classes honestly. -A lot of describing words. -Repetition of words. -The citizens learn rhymes about soma and other things.

Significant Literary Questions: -Why does Huxley use short words to describe people and long words to describe the setting, and machines? -Why does Huxley not use a lot of literary techniques, besides imagery? -What is the purpose of adding in the rhymes taught through sleep learning?

Thesis Statement: -Huxley's contrasting word choice between dialogue and setting creates a detached sense of life for the technologically advanced citizens of London. -Proving the point that technology does not create community.

Structure

Analysis Notes and Observations: -The story goes chronologically from beginning to end. In the book there is one flashback in which we learn about the Savages life and his mother, Linda. -There are also not a lot of shifts in time and the pace of the book is pretty steady.

Significant Literary Questions: -Why does the author only have one flashback in the book about the Savage? -What is the point of putting the structure chronologically? -Why are there no big jumps in time in the story?

Thesis Statement: -Huxley structured Brave New World chronologically with a steady pace to show how monotonous each passing day is, showing that a society with many restrictions cannot grow or change.

Narrators

Analysis Notes and Observations: -The narration type in this book is third-person omniscient. -We know all of the characters thoughts. -The narrator also focuses on a few main characters (Bernard and the Savage). -We also see the views of Lenina, Helmholtz, and Mustapha Mond, but not in great detail.

Significant Literary Questions: -Why is the narrator all knowing? -Why does the narrator focus on Bernard and the Savage? -What is Huxley trying to prove by focusing just on Bernard and the Savage? -Why did Aldous Huxley incorporate the ideas of Lenina, Helmholtz, and Mustapha Mond in the story?

Thesis Statement: Aldous Huxley narrates the lives of two outcasts from different societies to show how universal acceptance is (in this case nonacceptance). This shows that the fundamentals of two completely different communities are still the same even though they may have grown in opposite directions.

Propaganda

This is a propaganda poster for the allied side during WWII taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ww2_poster_oct0404.jpg

1. The poster seems to target men in the community, asking them to join the army so they can help defeat Hitler, who looks foolish and weak in this poster.
2. It uses humor so it is more likely to be accepted by the general public.
3. They depict Hitler as a foolish and weak man by showing him with his boxers. His legs are shaking and he looks confused by the situation. They also show a lot of destroyed tanks know as "Panzer's" and they add humor to the poster by relating the word "Panzer" to "Pants".
4. The audience may feel manipulated by this poster because in reality the German army was not that weak, and in this poster they depict their leader as a fool.
5. The tone of the poster seems serious/funny because they are trying to stir up nationalism to help support the Allied side. It is unusual that they would use humor to try and relay such a message.
6. I think the message will stick in peoples minds because the picture is so ridiculous and the word "Panzer" is used with "Pants".

Dystopian Novel Journal C (Brave New World)

There are many disturbing scenes through out Brave New World that would appal many people today in our world. Everything in Brave New World has been planned out already. There is no freedom to choose what you want to become in your life because you are already conditioned to a certain class. The social ranking system in Brave New World is also very distinct. People are conditioned into a certain rank by how much oxygen they receive and how much education they get. This creates a highly organized and highly separate system when it comes to people in this book. In this book it seems that Huxley criticizes the use of machines and scientific advancements, one being the Bokanvosky, in which up to 96 identical identical twins are formed. He also seems to criticize the social ranking system because it is so hard to move up in the social latter in this book. Huxley also denounces the use of soma, a powerful drug that causes people to feel extremely happy, some people have also died from this. Even though the ideas presented in Brave New World may seem absurd to us today if we ever get to the books level technology wise it may be a serious idea. Huxley also gives us the out look on the "savages". This group of people live much like us and seem to be happier with their lives. It seems that Huxley gives us two view points in this book, one of the highly technological and planned group and one like our present day group.

Word Count: 261

Brave New World (patterns)

Patterns seen in Brave New World:

• Soma
• Machinery "Each bottle could be placed on one of fifteen racks, each rack, though you couldn't see it, was a conveyor traveling at the rate of thirty-three and a third centimetres an hour.Two hundred and sixty-seven days at eight metres a day. Two thousand one hundred and thirty-six metres in all" (7).
• Technological Advancements "Bokanovsky's Process"

Questions:

• Why does Huxley bring back the drug of Soma through out the book?
• Why does Huxley depict the setting as highly sophisticated, mechanically. With a large portion of the machines taking over what we would usually do today?
• What is Huxley trying to tell us with the technological advancements in this book, how do they affect the people in the book?

Thesis:

• Through the extreme use of the drug soma and the advancements in technology, Huxley uses Brave New World as a warning of what our world might become. With this being said we find out Huxley's view point on the advancement of technology.

Dystopian Novel Journal: Brave New World (Topic A)

"Each bottle could be placed on one of fifteen racks, each rack, though you couldn't see it, was a conveyor traveling at the rate of thirty-three and a third centimetres an hour. Two hundred and sixty-seven days at eight metres a day. Two thousand one hundred and thirty-six metres in all" (7). In this section of the novel a group of students are being taken around the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. Aldous Huxley describes this utopia as a very scientific and calculated society. The citizens of this community plan every detail out and know the effects of all their conditioning treatments. Through these actions we see that this society has taken the emotion and hard work out of the people and simplify most jobs (such as creating 96 people from the same embryo). This utopia dehumanizes humans from the beginning, determining the destiny of everyone by how they are developed. People are conditioned to like their jobs. The people are motivated to work by the conditioning treatments they receive while they are still young. This causes the government to be not as strict and allows for a small number of social misfits and rebels due to the strong conditioning system this society offers. The order is also kept by the social hierarchy, the workers at the hatchery determine the intelligence and social class of the people by using different methods (oxygen deprivation). The primary goals of the society seems to try and perfect a society where every person is satisfied with their own lives.

Word Count: 204

Stranger Journal 9 (conclusion)

At the end of The Stranger Mersault seems to come to terms with his death sentence. At first he seemed very nervous and scared about dying as he discussed the procedure and how it affected his mother and father. In the final pages of the book Mersault has an epiphany; in this epiphany he unleashes all of his ideas on to the chaplain and seems to full embrace existentialism as he talks about no one caring if he was dead. I believe that Camus wanted the reader to come to the same conclusion based on the fact that Mersault was the main character of the book and that he is narrating the book. It seems that Mersault is happy with himself at the end of the book because during the entire story he seemed detached from reality but still connected to the characters of the story. In the end though he seems happy because he finally embraced existentialism fully.

Stranger Journal 8 (thesis statement)

Through the use of symbols, dynamic characterization, motifs, and foil, Albert Camus illustrates the point that a person's actions do not need to be aligned with the ideals of society in order to find purpose.

1. Through the use of symbols, motifs, and character foils, Albert Camus illustrates the point that a person's actions and thoughts do not need to be aligned with the ideals of the society in which he lives in order for him to feel content.

The Stranger Journal 7 (comparing part 1 and 2)

Albert Camus creates a part one and a part two in The Stranger to help separate the happenings in the book. In both parts we see that Mersault is detached from reality. In part one Mersault is detached mentally from what is happening. In part two he is detached more physically (being kept in a prison cell). In part one Camus also seems to setup Mersault as a character rather than tell a story until the very end (when he goes to the beach). In part two Camus tell Mersault's story and how he is interacting with the situation of the court room. In both parts Mersault feels that sensation of being watched; in part one by the sun and in part two by the people of the court room.

Responses to the Questions

1. Word Choice: Camus makes Mersault use no emotional words to help create the character he is; a very blank person. The effects of Mersault's emotionless state helps develop the existentialist idea and helps create a unique story.

2. Sentence: Camus has Mersault use short sentences and others use long sentences to create a contrast between Mersault and everyone else. This also creates the effect that Mersault is detached, alone, and unique to the story.

3. Images: Only the sun and sea affect Mersault because they are both impersonal like himself. Mersault is affected by these things because he can relate to them, and they both seem detached from everyday activity much like himself.

4. Symbol: The sun is used to create a negative effect on Mersault, the sun is constantly interacting with him and this bothers him. It bothers Mersault because it is acting the polar opposite of himself.

5. Figures of Speech: Camus is trying to compare Mersault to the other characters in the book. Mersault and the others differ greatly because of Mersaults detached state of mind, this helps build on the existentialist idea.

6. Rhetorical Devices: Short statements are used at the beginning of every chapter to create a general understanding and connection between the last chapter and the new chapter. It also creates a sense of continuity and gives some insight on what will happen.

7. Patterns: Camus spends so much time on his prison life to illustrate how it was like for Mersault. Since Mersault doesn't care about his life so much he doesn't seem to mind the cell and this builds into the existentialist idea.

8. Narrators: Mersault isn't affected by the magistrate because Mersault is indifferent about people in his mind. Mersault doesn't hold anyone above anyone else unless he mentions their physical appearance.

9. Structure: Camus made the pace of The Stranger varied to reflect Mersault's life and how he doesn't really care about the days. Mersault does what ever he wants whenever he wants.

The Stranger Journal 6 (categories of analysis)

Word Choice: The words Camus uses are not very powerful when explaining certain events. There also seems to be a lack of dialect in Mersault. Most words seem to take a literal interpretation and Camus makes Mersault show no emotion when he speaks and thinks.

Why does Camus use simple words with little meaning when he describes Mersault?

Sentences: The sentences Camus uses are very short and concise when he writes about Mersault. Camus occasionally writes a long sentence.

Why does Camus use short sentences for Mersault and long sentences for other characters?

Images: In the book only a few images are ever mentioned more than once; a few being the ocean, the cigarettes, the sun, and Marie.

Why does Camus show how little Mersault is affected by the images around him except a select few? (the sun and ocean)

Symbols: The story uses some obvious symbols in the story such as the sky, the sun, and the ocean.

What is Camus trying to tell us with the constant use of the sun through out the story?

Figures of Speech: The sun seems to influence Mersault in a very unique and strong way through out the story.

Why does Camus make the sun's affect unique to Mersault?

Rhetorical Devices: Mersault is very dry and unemotional compared to the other characters in the book.

Why does Camus show this difference in emotion between Mersault and the other characters?

Patterns: Mersault is always going out to swim. He also constantly mentions the sun as a negative thing.

What is Camus trying to tell us with the negative effect of the sun on Mersault?

Narrators: The narrator of the book is the main character Mersault. (first person)

Why does Camus choose Mersault as the narrator of the book?

Structure: The book seems to jump from place to place, talking about the focal points in Mersault's life.

What is Camus trying to tell us with the unusual pace of the book?

The Stranger Journal 5 (applying your philosophy)

My personal philosophy affects how I view my life and definitely alters my views on a book opposed to someone Else's ideas. What I may consider acceptable someone may think the polar opposite of. My philosophy may setup certain expectations I have for a book and how I will understand the book; ultimately whether I like or dislike the book. My philosophy will also affect the way I view the author and how I will analyze the book. If a character in the book follows parts of my philosophy I may like them more, that is not to say I will dislike someone who doesn't follow my ideals. I guess how I read the book reflects my own thoughts and ideas on the subject at hand.

The Stranger Journal 4 (tracking a certain word)

The sun and the sky is what I will be following through out The Stranger.

The sun seems to be viewed as a negative thing in Mersault's life. It seems to affect Mersault more when their is more tension in the book.

"[...] the truck was bumping around on the uneven cobblestones of the quay in a cloud of dust and sun" (26). Camus is connecting the dust and the sun together.

"She lay down right next to me and the combined warmth from her body and from the sun made me doze off" (51). The sun doesn't make Mersault think clearly. His girlfriend seems to have the same affect on him.

"The sun was shining almost directly overhead onto the sand, and the glare on the water was unbearable" (52). Mersault can't stand the sunlight anymore.

"But the whole beach, throbbing in the sun, was pressing on my back" (58). The sun seems to disorient Mersault and it causes him to act differently.

"Despite the blinds, the sun filtered through in places and the air was already stifling" (83). The sun is creating this acrid situation for Mersualt.

Meanwhile, the sun was getting low outside and it wasn't as hot anymore" (105). The sun going down represents the cooling down of Mersault's life.

The sky seems to play a less active role in the story compared to the sun. The sky just seems to reflect what is happening in the story.

"Above the rooftops the sky had taken on a reddish glow, and with evening coming on the streets came to life" (23). The red sky is being related to the activity on the streets below.

"Soon after that, the sky grew dark and I thought we were in for a summer storm" (22). This sentence could foreshadow a storm. The storm could be Mersault killing a man.

"She didn't say anything so I left it there. I had the whole sky in my eyes and it was blue and gold" (20). Mersault seems to be content when he is with Marie and the blue and gold sky reflect this idea.

"It seemed to me as if the sky split open from one end to the other to rain down fire" (59). The sky here is being described very violently and this mirrors what Mersault just did.

"I was assailed by memories of a life that wasn't mine anymore, but one in which I'd found the simplest and most lasting joys: the smells of summer, the part of town I loved, a certain evening sky, Marie's dresses and the way she laughed" (104). Camus describes how Mersault misses all these things while he is in prison.

The Stranger Journal 3 (personal philosophy)

Hoboism

1. Material possessions do not define a person. A person's actions and reactions define them as a human being. I noticed this through observation.
2. People are not born into a certain life. They must experience things to figure out how to label themselves. I observed this when I saw people change their lifestyle to fit their own needs.
3. Happiness is not permanent. A person always tries to find a new way to recieve happiness. People in general are never satisfied forever.
4. Happiness and self-fullfillment must be generated from within the person. People are not born happy. I find that people who find happiness experience life more.
5. Life should not be rushed. To fully understand hoboism one should enjoy life experiences at a leisurely pace.
6. Reasoning is key to developing ones life. If you do not view things in life with reason you will never fully grasp any idea. A general idea that, you need to view life with a more logical outlook.
7. One must find change within before finding help from others. A person must realize change in themselves before others can assist. I noticed that you can't change if you don't start with yourself.

The Stranger Journal 2 (Meursault)

In chapter one Meursault goes to visit the retirement home where his mother died. While there he attends her funeral. Once he returns he goes to the beach where he starts a relationship he has left off on. He takes Marie to his house where she spends the night with him. The next day he sits outside for the whole day and describes all the people that pass by. It seems pretty strange how Meursault is going about his life. It doesn't seem like he has any goals; he just does what he wants when the opportunity comes along the way. This creates a very unique character. Camus may have created a character like this so to help setup the story and develop a character for something later to happen in the book. This character also feeds the existentialism idea because Meursault doesn't seem to have an objective, he just aimlessly wanders around in his life.

The Stranger Journal 1 (comparing the intro)

There are many differences between the two versions of The Stranger starting on the first page. One version seems more personable because the character uses the word "Maman" instead of "Mother". This could indicate a setting or dialect in the story. One version uses kilometers and the other version uses miles, this could just be for the place the book was being translated. If you were to read kilometers in America the book may seem more foreign to you though. One version the character says "boss" instead of "employer"; one version is less formal than the other. Another difference is the use of the word "sir". One version leaves it out, this might setup the tone as less formal and more casual than the other.

Structure of Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston's writing style seems to be very circular. When she mentions something in the book she usually comes back to that idea and completes it. In the beginning of Their Eyes Were Watching God Janie is talking with Pheoby and at the end of the book she is talking with Pheoby. This circular writing style can tie up a lot of loose ends in the story and shows how the characters have grown through out the book. In the beginning of the book Janie seems like a very dependent person and now that she has experienced love at the end of the book she seems a lot more independent and wise. Coming back to past ideas also creates a stronger conclusion since the reader is already informed about past occurrences.

Significance of the Title

Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of the many ways Zora Neale Hurston illustrates the ways the people perceive God in the book. The characters in the story believe that God is a almighty force that can control the fate of anyone, but they do not pay much attention to him unless there is a serious situation. When the line "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is mentioned Janie, Tea Cake, and Motor Boat are in their house listening to the storm. It seems that Janie's life has been a path of uncertainty and that she watches God to find out what to do next.

Mrs. Turner's Relationship

Mrs. Turner is a very unique character; she believes that she is superior to the black workers and this creates a conflict with her husband, and his unwillingness to help her. Her husband is described as being a worn-down man with no unique features. When Tea Cake confronts him he feels sorry for him because he does not think he has any power in the relationship. Since her husband has very little control Mrs. Turner becomes a very independent and free thinking women, and as Mr. Turner put it "strong headed". The Turners differ greatly from Janie and Tea Cake's relationship. The Turners are polar opposites, with the control being mostly in Mrs. Turner's hands. The Turners also lack the love and compassion seen in Janie and Tea Cake. The relationships can be used as a foil; The Turner's dysfunctional relationship helps show how strong Janie and Tea Cake relationship is.

Three Literary Techniques

Page 122.
"When the fellow began to pick the box the people begin to come from east, west, north and Australia."
Hyperbole.
This is an exaggeration of what literally happened in the book, the person playing the guitar is so good that people from all over the world would come and listen to him, the part where Hurston added Australia helps make this a hyperbole since Australia is very far away from Florida. In reality people would not travel this far but travelling that far highlights his playing ability.

Page 116
"Hurry up and come because he was about to turn into pure sugar thinking about her."
Metaphor.
Tea Cake and Sugar do not have much in common but Hurston ties them togeather in the idea that they are both sweet. They are sweet in different ways (sugar tastes sweet and Tea Cake behaves sweetly towards Janie) but Hurston's word play can be spotted in this cleverly written sentence.

Page 136
"A little seed of fear was growing into a tree."
Symbol.
This sentence comes right after the part where Janie feels jealousy since another woman is constantly around Tea Cake. This symbol is perfect for this part of the book because Janie's fear started out very small and now it is growing into a large tree, this shows how Janie's fear for losing Tea Cake to another woman is constantly expanding into something larger.

What Motivates Janie And How Has She Changed.

Janie is motivated by a lot of things. Now that she is free from her controlling husband she is open to try new things. She is now able to find true love because she has no control issues with other people in her life (Jody/Nanny). She is also able to try new things; she goes and does a lot of new activities with Tea Cake. Janie has a new sense of self and with this she is able to try new things and this motivates her to form her own life without having anyone else interfere.

Janie has also changed greatly since her husband had died. She mentions that she now changes her hair style daily, this is a big difference from the way Jody used to control her and how he always made her wear her hair up. She also exercises her new found freedom now that she has no one looking over her. She no longer pays much attention to how other people view her as a person, this is demonstrated by the fact that she does not care what people say about her and Tea Cake. She also seems to view people with much more detail. When she first met Jody she thought he was perfect but was later disappointed. With Tea Cake she is much more cautious and not willing to risk her freedom and love with someone as easily as with Jody.

Zora Neale Hurston Writing Style

So Jebediah started to tussle with the idea of Rage. Rage, that awkward stranger with a fiery demeanor whose tyrannical actions lay just beneath the surface of concious thought. The wicked one who dwelled in the back of the mind who occasionally reared his head to watch. What steps could be taken to restrain such a hideous site? He sits hunched, hungry for havoc and hellfire to break loose as he waits in his eternal abyss. He waits and watches silently through out the day, his long teeth and claws waiting to strike at a moments notice. His presence unknown his reasons forlorn and his form unknown to the social norm. He was vulnerable to the monster now. He was frightened and powerless. Poor Jebediah! He was alone now, the demons dancing around him. People who tried to reason were sent away. Experts were dumbstruck and holy men were lost, they had never witnessed a site such as this. He would be fine once time had cooled the mind. He would be back to his former self. That was what he thought. But they all knew the ugly truth. And if there was doubt, the next day would erase all confusion, people gathered around the depressing gray building. People who dared not move closer slowly moved in. They waited silently around the building. Denial, the vast hand, had grasped everyone.

5 Literary Techniques

Page 26
Simile
"Mah fust wife never bothered me 'bout choppin' no wood no how. She'd grab dat ax and sling chips lak uh man."
The author used this simile to compare Janie with Logan's first wife. Janie is seen as not hard working and the author is expressing this by contrasting Janie's unwillingness to work with Logan's former wife who did a lot of work.

Page 26
Figurative Language
"Long before the year was up, Janie noticed that her husband had stopped talking in rhymes to her. He had ceased to wonder at her long black ha ir and finger it"
The author does not really mean that Logan talked to her in rhymes. The author is trying to portray the idea that the love was gone in their relationship already. This style is effective because it highlights Janies attitude toward the marrige.

Page 27
Foil
"It was a cityfied, stylish dressed man with his hat set at an angle that didn't belong in these partys. His coat was over his arm, but he didn't need it to represent his clothes."
Hurston describes this man as the exact opposite of Logan. Joe is a well dressed and well spoken person compared to Logan. This style of writing demonstrates the total difference between the two men and Janie's thoughts towards them.

Page 29
Metaphor
"You behind a plow! You ain't got no mo' business wid uh plow than uh hog is got wid uh holiday!" The author uses this metaphor to compare Janie's work with a plow with a pig having a holiday. Hurston uses this literary term to convey the idea that Joe thinks she should not be using a plow because she is still a young girl.

Page 32
Epiphany
"What was she losing so much time for? A feeling of sudden newness and change came over her." The author could be using this sentence to forshadow change in Janie's life. This works well because she is unhappy with her current marrige and she just met a new man. This sentence could also be the start of a new plot in the book.

Journal 1 and 2

Journal 1.

The narration differs greatly from the dialect used in the book. The narrator speaks eloquently through out the book, utilizing similes and metaphors to often convey complex ideas. The dialect in the book was not as well spoken as the narrator but the reoccurring slang terms help portray an image of what the education was like for Southern African Americans after the Civil War. The characters often made references to religion and current events (from the timeline of the book) to help convey their ideas and emotions; while the narrator seemed more detached from the story giving a more descriptive view of what was happening. There are multiples effects created by this contrast of writing styles. The book can be viewed from different perspectives since there are multiple writing styles at use. Each writing style has something unique to offer to the developement of the story; one a general understanding (narration), and the other an emotional understanding (character dialogue).

Journal 2.

The setting in this book is key to the text. Since the story takes place in the South the characters speak with a Southern dialect. Since the African-American Civil Rights Movement has not yet arrived the African Americans in the South are uneducated and discriminated against. The characters are shaped out of their setting. Nanny who was a former slave constantly worries about Janie's safety and wants her to get married so she can be protected, this is probably because her own daughter was sexually assaulted around the same age as Janie. Janie's lack of a father and mother may be the root cause of her loneliness and her reason for getting married. The atmosphere seems to be one of despair since Janie is unhappy with her marrige, her grandmother has just died, and she she is discriminated against for being a African American woman.

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