Perfume: Chapters 1-10 Reading Blog Questions

1) Describe Grenouille so far; how does Suskind begin creating his character (in other words, how can you justify your understanding/interpretations of Grenouille using the text itself)?

Grenouille is first announced as a gifted and abominable person "in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages" (Chapter 1). From birth he was unwanted as his fishmonger mother and was rescued from death by bystanders. He was taken in by the church and even wet nurses did not want to keep nursing him. Nurses characterized him as the devil due to his lack of scent. From there he was raised by Madame Gaillard, along with other orphans. Throughout the chapters, Grenouille's sense of smell develops and becomes an asset to the tanner as he fought off many diseases that have killed people in the past, making him immune to them. When he was fifteen years old on the anniversary of King Louis XV's coronation, Grenouille makes his first kill, only by following his nose. While Grenouille has had a horrible life, Suskind, the narrator, speaks in an unbiased tone for the audience, keeping feelings and emotions out of the story.

2) We've never really read about a main character whose chief trait is his superhuman sense of smell. What is this all about? What might we learn from this character or story? Is scent a symbol for something else?

Grenouille's chief trait is his superhuman sense of smell, which emphasizes the grimness of the time period. France is described as a horribly smelly region and can be seen as putrid. Suskind describes the horrible smell of humans as "a sweaty-oily, sour cheesy, quite richly repulsive mixture” which can be seen in the nature of humans. During this very tense time period, crime and sin was very high in the cities of France and Grenouille's sense of smell resembles the desperation of the population.

Symbol of the Glass Menagerie: Laura's glass menagerie

In class, Kashfaa and I discussed a major symbol, Laura's glass menagerie. Laura first started collecting these animal figurines over thirteen years ago, presumably after her father left the family and serves as her primary hobby. Not only does it describe her personality, gentle, calm, and old-fashioned, but also served as a coping mechanism during tough times. Laura's prized possession allows her to live in her own world with the animals, a world that is simplistic and easy. She can be herself around these animals and is no where near shy with them.

Because Laura possesses the qualities of glass as up until scene six, she can be considered a transparent character. We never see her personality as she is often very quiet and never speaks more than ten or twenty words as a time. When light (confidence) shines through her however, it reflects a variety of colors showing that she does have much more depth to her that meets the eye.

Amanda's Apologia

Dear Tom and Laura,
As your mother, I always try my hardest to make the right choices for both of you, even though it may not seem like it at certain times. I nag you because I just worry about your future, a future that I will not always be in. Before I met your father, I had dozens of gentlemen callers and I just want you two to have the best possible life and not end up like me – alone. I act solely for you two and want you to achieve everything I know you are capable of. You may think I am annoying or bothersome, but I promise you, I do it in my best interest.

Tom, your father left us all alone, causing our family to suffer as a result, and I nag because I have a lot of fear concerning your future. I want you to be better than him, your father, and I know you can be. I want you to be an independent, strong, and smart man who achieves all of his personal and work goals. I want you to be everything your father wasn’t. I want you to be the best version of yourself.

Laura, you are and will always be my little girl. You may see yourself as crippled but I promise you that I do not see you this way in my eyes. I live in the past, because my youth makes me happy, and I hate to see you waste yours by playing with glass animals and walking around in the cold. My days of finding a gentleman caller were the best of my life and I just want you to find the same kind of delight I had during this exciting time period. I believe finding a gentleman caller will bring you some joy in your life, which is all I want for you.

My dear children, please do not make the mistakes I have. I just want what is best for you and intend to help you both flourish in the real world. Living in the past saves me from the loneliness I face every day with the absence of your father and I try to reflect my wisdom and experience onto you to help you make the right decisions in your life. I love you, and I hope you understand the reasoning behind my choices as a mother.

Love,
Amanda, your loving mother and biggest fan

Reactions, Thoughts, and Questions Regarding the Glass Menagerie

Reactions, Thoughts, and Questions Regarding the Glass Menagerie

In scene one, I thought the mother, Amanda Wingfield, was very insensitive and paranoid in regard to her two children, Tom and Laura. Amanda was nagging Tom to eat all of his food, which annoyed him to a point where he had to speak up to get her to stop. This shows that Tom himself is not afraid to speak his mind. When Amanda told the story of her seventeen gentlemen callers in one afternoon (which the children have heard many times), this shows that she wants to set up her daughter as well as find her a suitor. She tells the story about how she chose the wrong suitor (their father) who abandoned them later, which shows that she wants her daughter to choose the right man for her and not make the same mistakes.

In scene two, Laura only types when she hears her mother ascend from the stairs, symbolizing that she has not been to school. Amanda found out that Laura had not been attending business school and is sad about losing fifty dollars worth of tuition. From this, it can be perceived that they are low on money or on a budget. From this, the mother decided that Laura must get married and has to develop charm, once again showing that she is desperate to send off her daughter and that she has old-fashioned views about the dependency of women on men, which is not uncommon for this time period.

Paul Cantor's "The Nightmare of Romantic Idealism"

What is the author's argument?

Paul Cantor's main argument is that Frankenstein's alternative title, the Modern Prometheus, is named as the book has various Promethean elements that are stereotypically ambiguous. For example, in the book, Victor Frankenstein plays the role of God, however he compares himself to Satan ("All my speculations and hopes are as nothing, and like the archangel who aspired to omnipotence, I am chained in an eternal hell" (200)). The monster also compares himself to two Miltonic roles, Adam and Satan, which can be seen through the following quotation: "Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed." Cantor argues that by only having two main characters, Shelley made both characters in some sense Satanic.

2-sentence summary of article

This article is about the mythically ambiguous archetypes and stereotypes that the main characters in the novel possess in relation to Satan, God, and Eve. Throughout the novel, romantic idealism is portrayed through the good and evil of creativity (can lead to new creation but is also dangerous).

Why is ambiguity so important here?

Ambiguity is so important here as Frankenstein's characters have an "underlying moral ambiguity" and do not have morally pure motives. Shelley's myth contrasts sharply with that of her husband in Prometheus Unbound where he rejected the figure of Satan as a poetic paradigm due to the moral ambiguity of his nature. Shelley suggests that Satan has both good and bad sides and realized that it would take a struggle for Prometheus to overcome his desire for revenge and become purely good. Mary Shelley displays a deeper sense of the complexity of human nature as she was unwilling to divide up the character of Satan in the same way, parceling out all his good qualities to the rebellious monster and leaving the creator-god, Frankenstein, with all the bad. She maintains the same moral ambiguity in both characters, and in virtually the same proportions.

End of Book Review Questions: Frankenstein

What were your thoughts and reflections on this chapter and the death of Elizabeth?

For most of chapter 23, I (and I assume many other viewers) believed that Victor was going to be the one killed, and I felt as if Mary Shelley definitely tricked me when Elizabeth was killed instead. While Victor worried about his encounter with the monster, the actual death of Elizabeth was very anticlimactic and Shelley didn't drag it out unlike deaths in other books. It was also very shocking when Alphonse died of natural causes when there was no real mention of his health issues or clues foreshadowing his death in the previous chapters. 

In what ways might the Creature & Victor be considered “doubles” for each other?

The creature and Victor can be considered "doubles" for each other as both of them are incredibly lonely and were both linked to Walton. Both did not have a lot of friends or much of a social life. Both characters kept themselves isolated in different periods of time and wanted to stay away from others in order to work and learn (Victor learned about science, the creature learned about society). 

In the final chapters, Victor and the creature are involved in a mad contest of revenge. Record at least four statements made by each character that reveal his motives, feelings, or state of mind. Note the chapter number after each statement.

Victor

• All was again silent, but his words rang in my ears. I burned with rage to pursue the murderer of my peace and precipitate him into the ocean. I walked up and down my room hastily and perturbed, while my imagination conjured up a thousand images to torment and sting me. Why had I not followed him and closed with him in mortal strife? But I had suffered him to depart, and he had directed his course towards the mainland. I shuddered to think who might be the next victim sacrificed to his insatiate revenge. And then I thought again of his words -- "I WILL BE WITH YOU ON YOUR WEDDING-NIGHT." That, then, was the period fixed for the fulfillment of my destiny. In that hour I should die and at once satisfy and extinguish his malice. The prospect did not move me to fear; yet when I thought of my beloved Elizabeth, of her tears and endless sorrow, when she should find her lover so barbarously snatched from her, tears, the first I had shed for many months, streamed from my eyes, and I resolved not to fall before my enemy without a bitter struggle. (Chapter 20)
• This letter revived in my memory what I had before forgotten, the threat of the fiend--"I WILL BE WITH YOU ON YOUR WEDDING-NIGHT!" Such was my sentence, and on that night would the daemon employ every art to destroy me and tear me from the glimpse of happiness which promised partly to console my sufferings. On that night he had determined to consummate his crimes by my death. Well, be it so; a deadly struggle would then assuredly take place, in which if he were victorious I should be at peace and his power over me be at an end. If he were vanquished, I should be a free man. Alas! What freedom? Such as the peasant enjoys when his family have been massacred before his eyes, his cottage burnt, his lands laid waste, and he is turned adrift, homeless, penniless, and alone, but free. Such would be my liberty except that in my Elizabeth I possessed a treasure, alas, balanced by those horrors of remorse and guilt which would pursue me until death. (Chapter 22)
• As time passed away I became more calm; misery had her dwelling in my heart, but I no longer talked in the same incoherent manner of my own crimes; sufficient for me was the consciousness of them. By the utmost self-violence I curbed the imperious voice of wretchedness, which sometimes desired to declare itself to the whole world, and my manners were calmer and more composed than they had ever been since my journey to the sea of ice. (Chapter 22)
• "I was hurried away by fury; revenge alone endowed me with strength and composure; it modeled my feelings, and allowed me to be calculating and calm, at periods when otherwise delirium or death would have my portion." (Chapter 24) 

The Creature

• Farewell! I leave you, and in you the last of human kind whom these eyes will ever behold. Farewell, Frankenstein! If thou wert yet alive, and yet cherished a desire of revenge against me, it would be better satiated in my life than in my destruction. But it was not so; thou didst seek my extinction that I might not cause greater wretchedness; and if yet, in some mode unknown to me, thou hast not ceased to think and feel, thou wouldst not desire against me a vengeance greater than that which I feel. Blasted as thou wert, my agony was still superior to thine; for the bitter sting of remorse will not cease to rankle in my wounds until death shall close them for ever. (Chapter 24)
• 'Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy--to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim." (Chapter 16)
• "For the first time the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control them, but allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death." (Chapter 16)
• “I, like the arch-fiend, bore a hell within me, and finding myself unsympathized with, wished to tear up the tree’s, spread havoc and destruction around me, and then to have sat down and enjoyed the ruin.” (Chapter 16)

The Creature's Story: Writing Prompt

Now that you have heard the creature’s story, do you think he is justified in declaring an “ever-lasting war” against the human species and his creator? Is he justified in asking for Victor to create a mate for him?

ABSENT ON 10/25/16

After hearing the creature's story, I do believe he is justified in declaring an "ever-lasting war" against the human species and his creator. The monster is seen as a villain of society when in reality, he is just misunderstood. Because he is judged only due to his horrible looks, the creature has never truly experienced any sort of love or support throughout his life, and as someone without a family to teach him the right and wrongs, he does not learn to control his feelings in a civilized way. From the start, society corrupted the monster and he never had a support system, family, or even a friend to talk to. The creature is justified in asking Victor to create a mate for him as he just wants someone similar to him with whom he can travel the world for. After observing the family living in the cottage, the monster just wants to be as happy as them when they spend time together. 

Frankenstein Review Chapters 5-6

Summary/Actions of Main Characters
In Chapter 5, Victor successfully brings an eight-foot man to life in November of his second year in college. He is excited, yet disgusted at his creation. Frankenstein wanders around Ingolstadt when his best friend, Henry Clerval, finds him in poor condition. Henry has come to see Victor and enroll in the university of Ingolstadt. When the two return back to Victor’s apartment, the monster is missing. Victor is happy that the monster is gone and has a fit of exhaustion due to his anxiety about the monster. Henry spends the rest of the winter and spring taking care of Victor and advises him to write a letter to his family, as he received on from his family in Geneva.

In Chapter 6, Victor receives a letter from Elizabeth and is full of good news from home. Elizabeth speaks about Justine Moritz, her housekeeper and friend. Justine was treated poorly by her own family, but is a loyal friend to the Frankenstein family. Victor introduces Henry to his professors, who speak of him very highly. Victor and Henry begin their studies together, studying ancient and foreign languages in order to engage their minds. Victor plans to return to Geneva in the fall, but the weather makes the trip impossible, and winter sets in. He plans to return in May when the weather improves.

Themes, Character Development, and QuestionsA very Gothic theme is developing within the story as many descriptions as well as the overall tone are very dark and highlight the negative side of humanity (violence, creativity, murder). Frankenstein describes the monster in a very contrary way thoroughly discussing the gore and gross anatomy of it's body. This story explores the deepest fears of the main character, Victor Frankenstein. 

In the earlier chapters, we knew Victor Frankenstein as a young man with a happy childhood, however since he began his studies at the university of Ingolstadt, he has become obsessive, lonely, and frankly, unhealthy. After the death of his mother, Frankenstein keeps himself isolated from the world and focuses only on discovering the secret of life. 

A question I have is, "Why did he create the monster if he does not want to care for it or look after it?"

Frankenstein Reading Questions and Thoughts: Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1-4

Questions on Letters 1-4

1. Why exactly does Walton not have any friends or companions?
2. What does a sledge look like? It can be inferred that it is similar to a dog sled, but may have different features or varying shapes.
3. Why does the man found in letter 4 only have one living dog and missing limbs? How did he get like this?
4. Why did the men think brandy would warm up the human body (actually has the opposite affect)? Who created this theory and how was it tested?

Questions on Chapters 1-4

1. Why does the author decide to write from a first person point of view verses a third person point of view?
2. Why do Victor's parents want him to marry Elizabeth? What did they see in her as a child?
3. Did Victor really want to go to the university of Ingolstadt or did his parents pressure him to study there?

Thoughts

Based on letters 1-4 and chapters 1-4, I am trying to determine the correlation between the two at the moment. In letters 1-4, the author speaks about Walton and his journey to discover something new in his voyage to the North Pole, however in chapters 1-4, Shelley speaks about a completely different character. Perhaps these two varying stories are related as both of the characters go through a personal journey and will somehow tie them back together at the end (just my theory). 

I can personally relate to Victor Frankenstein as I believe his is very driven based on his work ethic and interest in the subject he is pursuing, which I can admire about him as a character, however I feel as if he is not very opinionated as he let his parents decide where he will go to college without a proper discussion and many other major aspects of his life such as who he will marry (did not force him to marry Elizabeth but his mother tried to make him promise to). 

The Merchant of Venice: Question #10 for Reflection and Review

When we first start to plot revenge on somebody who has hurt us, we plan for something equivalently as cruel as the initial suffering we felt. The aim when plotting revenge is to hurt those who have hurt us, however, morally, when one starts to reflect and thoughtfully think the plan for revenge through, it does not feel right. Revenge may feel like justice at first but when carried out, one stoops just as low as the one who caused the initial suffering. When we actually go through with a plan of revenge, there may be a feeling of justice and satisfaction, however later, it is usually replaced with regret.

We can sympathize with Shylock as he legally did nothing wrong when trying to collect his bond. He went to court and tried to collect his payment and was later forced to convert to Christianity as well as give up most of his wealth even though he technically was not in the wrong and didn't force Antonio to accept the conditions of the bond. While Shylock was generally seen as a villain in the play, he can be considered a victim of society as he is constantly mistreated and ridiculed. Antonio and his "squad" always spat on Shylock as well as call him names such as dog.

I feel like Shylock would not be satisfied and happy if he'd been able to kill Antonio as it would not feel good afterwards. He would have been happy only for a little while as killing Antonio over money, pure hatred, and greed would have not been worth it. When standing over Antonio's body, Shylock would have soon realized what he had done and would have probably regretted the murder. Shylock may be cast as the villain in the play however, he is the same as everyone else and does have feelings too. Similar to the average person, Shylock would have probably started to freak out looking at a limp Antonio and would have tried to revive him even though there would be nothing additional he could do.

The Merchant of Venice: Question #4 for Reflection and Review

Does Jessica love her father? Why does she take and then spend so much money when she runs away? Do you think she'll live "happily ever after" in Belmont, with Lorenzo as her husband (and with Portia and Nerissa as friends)?

I believe to some extent, Jessica does love her father as he raised her through adulthood and was the one who guided her through good as well as bad life experiences and lessons. While he did not spoil her nor show her a lot of compassion as a child, Shylock raised her and he was a father-figure who cared for her for at least fifteen years (Jessica's age is not specified). When Jessica runs away and calls Shylock the devil, she does feel some regret and guilt (“Alack, what heinous sin is it in me / To be ashamed to be my father’s child! / But though I am a daughter to his blood, / I am not to his manners” [2.3.16–19]), showing she does have some feeling for him, however, she still rejects his way of life and religion (however not wealth), thus she stays away after she leaves with Lorenzo.

Jessica takes a lot of Shylock's money when she leaves to help support her lavish life style after she leaves her very wealthy father's care. Personally, I believe she takes this with her in order to get a glimpse of what it is like to have and spend your own money. Shylock assumingly provided Jessica with everything she needed in order to maintain her health as well as barely thrive but probably didn't purchase a lot of extra extravagant items and gadgets for her. She also is predicted to do this as she does not know if Lorenzo does have a lot of wealth and wants some for herself.

I do think she will live "happily ever after" in Belmont as this is what all of the characters did at the end of Act V. Because this play is a comedy, not a tragedy, all of the characters are supposed to be happy at the end of the story. Predicting her future though however, I believe Jessica will wonder what happened to her father and may even attempt to search for him as she may want to catch up after a long span of time. I believe Jessica will eventually become unsatisfied with how she left their relationship and may even want to explain her reasoning of why she left to Shylock.

Act 5 Review of the Merchant of Venice

Act V opens with Lorenzo and Jessica in Belmont speaking about various mythology tales such as Troilus and Cressida, Pyramus and Thisby, Dido and Aeneus, Medea and Jason, and compares this to Jessica running away from her father. All of these classic stories ended in tragedy, and the couple compares their current relationship to this, which may symbolize that their relationship will end with something bad happening. A messenger comes up to the couple and lets them know that Portia is coming home that night however, she may be a little longer than expected as she keeps on stopping to pray at holy crosses on the road back. Lancelot also tells the couple that Bassanio will be coming home too. Portia and Nerissa return home and speak to Lorenzo about their husbands who are also returning home. Bassanio, Antonio, and Gratiano arrive at Portia’s estate and Portia and Nerissa demand to see the rings they gave their husbands. Gratiano and Bassanio explain the situation to them. When the two men make up excuses for why they do not have their rings, Portia and Nerissa threaten that they will not sleep with them until they see the rings. Portia and Nerissa were angry with their husbands so they pretend like they slept with the clerk and judge to obtain the rings back however, this is a lie since they were the clerk and judge themselves. The women reveal the lie and Portia gave Antonio a letter saying that three of his ships have arrived to the port safely. Nerissa also reveals that Lorenzo and Jessica will receive everything of Shylock’s after he dies. 

I personally wanted the story to end with Shylock attempting to get revenge on Antonio and his group of friends, however he just disappears after the trial. This would have frankly been more interesting than all of the couples fighting at the end of the play. This ending was very anti-climactic and I thought more would have happened after the horrible news Shylock received from the trial hearing. In my opinion, the story would have been more interesting if Shylock went to Portia’s estate wanting to kill or get revenge Antonio or one of the other main characters. All of the couples ended up together in the end which I thought was nice but resembled a not very modern fairytale. Reading the last act, the story feels unfinished, such as Shakespeare ran out of time to give the ending justice.

The Merchant of Venice Act II Review

Summary of Act II
Scene I
The Prince of Morocco arrives in Belmont and asks Portia not to judge him by his dark complexion as he is a Moor. Portia tells him that while she does not care (she did in Act I however tell Nerissa she does) and the casket test will determine their future fate as a couple. The prince asks Portia to lead him to the caskets and reminds him of the penalty (if he chooses the wrong casket, he can never propose to or marry another girl) which he accepts.

Scene II
Lancelot Gobbo, the servant of the Jew, Shylock, is debating whether he should stay working or run away. He decides to play a trick on his blind father, Old Gobbo, telling him his son is dead. Lancelot eventually tells him that is was a joke. He tells his father that he is leaving Shylock to become the servant of Bassanio. Lancelot successfully tries to convince Bassanio to let him be his servant and he accepts. Bassanio meets Gratiano who wants to accompany him to Belmont however Bassanio makes him promise that he will be well-behaved.

Scene III
Jessica, Shylock's daughter, says good-bye to Lancelot as he leaves and tells him that he made her life more bearable. Jessica gives Lancelot a letter to give to Lorenzo and he leaves. Jessica is ashamed of her father however she believes she is only his daughter by blood. She wants to marry Lorenzo and convert to Christianity.

Scene IV
Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Solanio discuss the plan to rescue Jessica from Shylock. Lorenzo assures Gratiano that they are well prepared to rescue her. Lancelot reads Jessica's letter and describes her writing as "whiter than the paper it writ on." Lorenzo bids Lancelot to return to Shylock's house in order to assure Jessica that his plan will work. Lorenzo tells Gratiano that Jessica will escape from Shylock's house by disguising herself as Lorenzo's torchbearer.

Scene V
Shylock warns Lancelot that Bassanio will not be as lenient as him, allowing him to oversleep and overeat. Shylock gets suspicious with Jessica and tells her to keep the doors locked as well as not look out the window. Lancelot tells Jessica she must disobey her father and look out the window. Shylock leaves the house.

Scene VI
Gratiano and Salarino meet in front of Shylock's house and are anxious because Lorenzo is late. Gratiano states that he tends to tire and lose interest meaning he is just in for the chase. Lorenzo arrives and calls up to Jessica who is dressed up as a page. She tosses a casket of gold and some jewels to him and they exit. Bassanio is about to leave for Belmont and Gratiano must leave to join him.

Scene VII
Portia lays the three casket test out to the Prince of Morocco where he is struggling on which casket to choose. The prince chooses the gold casket and a skull with a scroll in its eye socket is revealed. The prince leaves Belmont.

Scene VIII
Solanio and Salarino describe Shylock's rage when he found out that Jessica ran away and look gold and ducats. Solanio hopes Antonio can pay his debt but Salarino reminds him or rumors of ships that have been capsized in the English Channel. When Bassanio leaves, Antonio insists that his friend should not rush his journey.

Scene IX
The Prince of Arragon arrives in Belmont to win Portia's hand also. He selects the silver casket and is very confident in his choice. He finds a portrait of a blinking idiot and a poem that calls him a fool. A messenger tells Portia that a suitor from Venice is on his way and she hopes it's Bassanio.

New/Additional Characters
Jessica
We know that Jessica despises her father and wants to run away. She intends to marry Lorenzo and convert to Christianity. Jessica, as a character, is very direct and is not afraid to hide her feelings. She does not like to hang onto the past and believes Christianity will save her soul.

Lancelot/Old Gobbo
Lancelot is a lower-class individual who is the servant to Shylock. He is the comic relief in this story and while he is dumb, he frequently tries to act smart, however, he misuses language in a way that is witty for the audience. Old Gobbo is his father.

Themes, Motifs, and Symbols

• Greed-theme
• Race-theme
• Justice-theme
• The Casket Test-symbol
• Law-motif
• The Pound of Antonio's flesh-symbol

The Merchant of Venice Act I Review

List of Characters

Antonio-Antonio is a wealthy merchant in the city of Venice. All of his finances are tied up in his ships. He is sad and doesn't know why and is characterized in the book (so far) as older and mature. He is seen as a father figure and wise compared to the surrounding characters. 

Bassanio- Bassanio borrows money from Antonio frequently and has the tendencies of a gambler. He talks big and manipulates people into doing what he wants. He is young and very casual with his friends. 

Salarino and Solanio- These two characters do not have a big role in the story so far however their purpose is to question Antonio about why he is sad as well as support the leading characters. 

Portia- Portia is a smart, sassy, and snobby young woman who does not want to go through with the casket test her father set in his will after he passed away, however she will anyways. 

Nerissa- Nerissa is loyal to Portia and philosophical, however she can be sassy or snarky in her responses when Portia complains about her "poor" life. 

Shylock- Shylock is a Jew who loans out money to those who want it however he charges interest for it unlike Christians. He practices usury and is labeled by Antonio as a crook. 

Purpose of Act 1

The purpose of Act I is to set the story in motion as well as introduce all of the characters to the audience. Through the monologues and conversations of the story, Shakespeare describes all of the characters and establishes all of their primary human qualities. 

Merchant of Venice Introduction Close Reading Analysis Questions

What's Shakespeare trying to convey to us, the audience, here? How does he do that?

Through this short excerpt from the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare is trying to display the character traits and personalities of both Bassanio and Antonio as well as presenting their values. Bassanio, for example, is portrayed as someone who only cares about a rich woman named Portia. He depicts her as “a lady richly left” (I.i.168) and as someone who is really beautiful. By briefly describing Portia, Shakespeare shows that Bassanio is interested in Portia and he wants to win her over. In line 180, Bassanio asks Antonio once again for money showing that he isn’t financially responsible and has not paid Antonio back for his previous escapades. Bassanio uses a delicate tone in order to ask Antonio for money in a way that it is hard for him to say no. Through lines 184-185, “thou know’st that all my fortunes are at sea; neither have I money or commodity” Shakespeare demonstrates that Antonio’s money is all tied up in his businesses and is waiting for his ships to arrive before he has any physical money, however, he is known as very reliable so he has “credit” around Venice. Shakespeare accurately shows that Antonio is similar to a father-figure while Bassanio is portrayed as a child.

What's not being said here? (Subtext)

In this introduction, the subtext is that Antonio is implying all of his money is out at sea on his boats that are carrying imports. This shows that Antonio is still waiting for his ships to return and believes that they will call come in safely. Antonio also lets Bassanio know indirectly that he should not be embarrassed about wanting to borrow money from him. Antonio and Bassanio are good friends and he can be trusted with Antonio’s hard earned money. 

Are there any puns or phrases with multiple meanings? Why are they there?

When Bassanio compares Portia “to Cato’s daughter” (I.i.173), Shakespeare intended for this phrase to have a double meaning saying Portia is not only rich but also very famous. Bassanio states that Portia has golden locks that can be compared to the Golden Fleece which characterizes her as the Disney character, Rapunzel, as well as her hair to the quest of Jason and the Golden Fleece. The phrase, “Which makes her seat of Belmont Colcho’s strand, And many Jasons come in quest of her” (I.i.178-179) also has a double meaning that while there are many people on the quest to win Portia, Bassanio will be one of them and will hopefully have the same fate and luck Jason did. These phrases with multiple meanings are here in order to help compare ancient Greek mythology stories to the present in the Merchant of Venice. 

What can we infer about Bassanio, Antonio, and Portia from these lines?

From this introduction, we can conclude that Bassanio and Antonio are good friends and trust each other with money. Bassanio seems irresponsible and young while Antonio seems very trustworthy and responsible with his life choices and finances. We do know that Portia is beautiful with golden locks, wealthy, and very famous. We also know that she has many suitors hoping to get a taste of her fortune however, Bassanio also speaks about her great personality as he has already had an encounter with her. 

What's the overall mood and tone of this scene? How does Shakespeare create it?

Shakespeare sets an overall friendly and calm mood in the story as Bassanio and Antonio are just having a conversation. Antonio seems hopeful that his friend Bassanio gets Portia and wishes him good luck on the journey even though he cannot physically give him money. The tone of the passage is insistent because Bassanio is determined to win over Portia and Antonio acts supportive of him. Shakespeare creates this tone and mood through the friendly language that clearly implies trust between the two friends.

Look back over at what you've written so far, and not anything you've talked about that wasn't explicitly stated in the test itself. How did you know or infer that from what was said or written?

From this piece of literature, I can infer that while Bassanio is currently not financially able to make the trip over to win Portia, he is confident that once he gets the funds, that he will be her husband as well as able to pay back Antonio for all of the money he loaned him. “I have a mind presages me such thrift, That I should questionless be fortunate!” (I.i.182-183) shows that he believes he has the best chance of all the suitors that have come to her so far.

What are some major images or metaphors here?

Major images and metaphors include Portia’s golden hair. Bassanio compared Portia's hair to the quest of Jason to find the Golden Fleece. Antonio’s friend also paints a clear image of Portia for the reader by describing her beauty, fame, and wealth to Cato’s daughter. He also describes her sweet personality to make her seem appealing and intriguing to the audience, wanting to find out what she is actually like when Bassanio meets her in person. 

AP Literature Style Essay on Sestina

In this passage from Elizabeth Bishop's, "Sestina," the narrator describes the protective relationship between the main character, a grandmother, and her grandchild.  In the poem, the grandmother wants to shelter her grandchild off from the world of harm and suffering. By titling the poem, "Sestina," Bishop uses six words, house, grandmother, child, stove, almanac, and tears in six different stanzas, all in a different order at the end of each line. These six words, in the selected form by the speaker, all work together to narrate the experience of the characters as well as underline the true meaning behind the obvious pain and suffering of the grandmother. Bishop speaks in a dark and depressing tone to express the preceding pain that haunt the main character as well as illustrate corrupt memories.

Tears, a major theme that is referred to literally as well as figuratively, is repeated multiple times in the poem as a way to display the underlying obscure tone. First referred to in line six, “laughing and talking to hide her tears,” Bishop shows the sadness of the grandmother even though she is reading jokes in the almanac which should make her laugh and smile. Continuing the theme of sadness, line seven connects the equinox, an event that happens twice a year where the sun crosses the celestial equator, to her crying creating a tone of mystery in the reader, causing them to wonder what events in her past have caused her so much sadness and pain. At line fourteen, Bishop shifts the meaning of tears, using them only figuratively, giving them human traits. “Her teacup full of dark brown tears” (line 22) creates the illusion of real and figurative tears actually blending together into one description, melding the two definitions of tears in the poem together. 

With the six repeating words at the end of each line in the stanzas, Bishop uses personification to give these items human qualities. For example, in line 11, “the iron kettle sings on the stove,” the speaker gives an iron kettle the ability to sing, although in reality, it could never as it is an inanimate object. The repeated usage of the occurrence of the stove is used as a distraction to the grandmother. Giving her a job to do, the main character tends to it and adds more wood to it as needed. Another object that provided a major role in this poem was the almanac. The almanac symbolizes a recent event that records the horror that has impacted both the grandmother and the child. These repeated symbols make the audience feel as if both the feelings of the grandmother and child are repressed and haunting the characters.

The poem ends with the almanac speaking to the grandmother telling her to “plant tears,” literally telling her to move on from the past as well as the child drawing another rigid house. Due to the form of a sestina the author chose, Bishop uses her final three lines in the seventh stanza to utilize all six words that have been repeated over and over again. By accomplishing her goal of convincing the audience of sorrow and death in her poem, Bishop accurately allows the reader to visual the set scene, succeeding in the initial goal of writing the piece in the first place. 

Similarities and Differences between Ars Poetica and Sonnet 18

Introduction of Each Poem

In Sonnet 18, William Shakespeare speaks of his “immortal” love, overcome by passion, and uses romantic language to compare her to “a summer’s day” (line 1). All of the lines in his poem rhyme, wanting it to seem romantic and easy-going on the audience, casting the subject of his poem in a positive light. Shakespeare writes his poem in classic sonnet form including two quatrains and a couplet however in the last section of the poem where the indented couplet is located, the speaker shifts his tone from romantic to futuristic. By using ambiguous phrases, such as “thou art more lovely and more temperate,” the speaker compares his lover to a summer’s day. The word, temperate, when applied to a human means that the person shows restraint however when applied to a day mean having a mild temperature.

On the other hand, in Ars Poetica, Macleish is very open-ended, allowing the audience to determine their own views about the topic. Macleish refers to poetry as an art form, rather than an outlet of emotion. The speakers uses a very impersonal, seemingly-arrogant tone and never officially addresses the audience. Macleish structures the poem in a way that the reader moves from line to line in confusion, allowing the reader to avoid assuming anything about the art of poetry.

Similarities and Differences between Both Poems

In both Sonnet 18 and Ars Poetica, most if not all of the individual lines rhyme in one way or another. Each, due to their specific format, have different rhyming patterns and amounts of syllables per line. Shakepeare's sonnet rhymes throughout and is very easy going. Macleish rhymes throughout most of his poem but is very unrestricted for the reader allowing the audience to make up their own thoughts and assumptions about the topic of poetry. The speaker in Ars Poetica is very straightforward and blunt with his audience while Sonnet 18 is full of romantic language to describe someone who is obviously very special to Shakespeare. Shakespeare uses a more rigid format while Macleish is more tranquil with the structure of his poem. Ars Poetica is based off of Horace's treatise, a guide on how to write poetry, while Shakespeare originally came up with his own poem. Both speakers have the same views on the usage of poetry but Shakespeare is very clear and precise in his meaning while Macleish uses a lot of symbolism to provide his audience with a deeper meaning behind his words. Both believe poetry is immortal and eternal, and both speakers believe that it should be impactful to an audience. The language used between both Macleish and Shakespeare differ due to their different subjects. Both poets use personification to classify the objects they are comparing things to. Macleish specifically uses personification to make his poem seem more sophisticated rather than if he used rudimentary English, while Shakespeare categorizes periods of time using specific language to make the non-human topics in his poem come alive to the reader. Macleish and Shakespeare never officially address the audience and only talk about their specific topic, however they both indirectly refer to their subjects as art. While Macleish is talking about a subject, poetry, Shakespeare talks about an immortal lover. 

An In-Depth Analysis of Ars Poetica

Ars Poetica, written by Archibald Macleish, is a poem similar to a treatise originally inscribed by Horace in 19 B.C., which was a guide on how to write poetry and drama. In this specific poem by Macleish, the author expresses extravagantly that poems should be able to move around freely and should heighten emotions rather than meanings. Writing his poem’s title in Latin, Ars Poetica translates in English to the art of poetry, which leaves the audience with an open-ended interpretation about the true meaning and refers to poetry as an undefined art form.

Throughout the poem, Macleish uses an impersonal tone and unofficially seems to think of himself as “the god of poetry.” The speaker communicates with a confident tone, however he never addresses the audience as a way to stay professional and prove his point. The poem structure itself contains three stanzas made up of four couplets each. In each of the stanzas, the language is very choppy and jerky, immediately moving the reader around in confusion to keep them on their toes, helping to avoid assumptions about the art of poetry.

In Ars Poetica, the speaker uses different objects such as globed fruit, the moon, a flight of birds, moss, and winter leaves to show that poetry can be found anywhere and can be inspired by a number of objects. Macleish uses these objects in similes as a way to appeal to his audience and to compare them back to the rights and wrongs of poetry writing. Wanting to intrigue his audience, the speaker used consonance in line five, "silent as the sleeve-worn stone" and line 12, "twig by twig the night-entangled trees", to emphasize specific words to which he is comparing things to and make the audience think deeper into the meaning behind the words that rhyme in the poem. The speaker commonly uses anaphora, specifically repeating, "a poem should be," throughout the literary work, allowing the audience to anticipate his next line and to increase receptiveness to the emotional resonance he is trying to reflect onto the reader. Macleish's attempt to be very straightforward and blunt with the audience about the true meaning and usage of poetry shows that he believes that his "art" is just as important as sculptures and paintings in art museums and galleries.