White Noise: Part One Discussion Questions

1. How did the elderly siblings end up at the mall?

2. What's the deal with Adele?

3. Why is Jack comfortable with death in the classroom but not outside?

4. What made Wilder start and stop crying?

5. Why is the family so fascinated by the plane crash?

Act Three: A Collective Bloglet

Scene One:

1. Scene one opens with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reporting back to Claudius and Gertrude after attempting to spy on Hamlet. Polonius still believes Hamlet is mad with love for his daughter Ophelia and devises a plan to prove it. Claudius and Polonius will hide while Ophelia is strategically reading her book where they know Hamlet will come. They will observe Hamlet’s actions to determine if love for Ophelia truly is the cause of his insanity. Hamlet walks into the room and does not notice Ophelia at first; he recites the famous “To be, or not to be” soliloquy. Ophelia and Hamlet begin to talk and Ophelia gives back “remembrances of his.” Hamlet becomes angry, denying giving her anything and ever loving her. He urges Ophelia to “get thee to a nunnery.” He again expresses his dislike for mankind and the dishonesty of women. Claudius, having seen this, realizes love has not caused Hamlet’s madness. Claudius fears Hamlet’s insanity may be dangerous for him and plots to send Hamlet to England. Polonius still believes Hamlet is mad with love and organizes another opportunity to spy on Hamlet this time involving Gertrude.  

3. Why does Polonius insist that Hamlet is mad with love for Ophelia? Why does Claudius wish to send Hamlet to England? Does Claudius feel threatened by Hamlet? Why would Hamlet deny his love for Ophelia?

5. Act one, scene three contains the famous “to be, or not to be” soliloquy. It is the most well known in the play, but I do not think it is the best one. For me, Hamlet’s first soliloquy is by far the best one we have encountered thus far in the play. Maybe it was the actor’s delivery in the movie, but I enjoyed it much more than “to be, or not to be.” I found the first soliloquy full of great lines like, “Tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature possess it merely.” No lines really stuck out to me in act three’s soliloquy.

Scene Three:

1.      In this scene, Claudius is badly shaken by the play Hamlet has put on and immediately wants him sent to England. Claudius is beginning to feel guilty for murdering his brother. He begins to pray, asking for forgiveness. However, he stops mid-prayer realizing he cannot possibly repent when he still will not give up what he has gained from the murdering Hamlet’s father. He is still king, and he is still married to Gertrude. Hamlet has slipped into the room silently with a dagger, plotting to kill Claudius. As he prepares to seek his revenge, Hamlet suddenly realizes he does not want to kill Claudius while he is praying, for his sole with go straight to heaven. He wants Claudius to suffer just like Claudius made his father suffer. Hamlet believes his father is in purgatory because he was unable to repent his sins before he died. Hamlet decides to murder Claudius when he is being lustful or drunk ensuring he will go straight to hell.

3.   Did Hamlet’s play cause Claudius to feel guilty? Does Claudius plan have Hamlet killed in England? How is it ironic that Hamlet did not kill Claudius because he thought he was praying?

4.   I enjoyed Hamlet’s line toward the end of scene three. He states: “When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage or in th’ incestuous pleasure of his bed, at game a-swearing, or about some act that has no relish of salvation in’t – then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, and that his soul may be as damned and black as hell, whereto it goes.” This line demonstrates Hamlet’s true hatred of Claudius. He wants to make Claudius suffer has his father did. It also reestablishes Hamlet’s intense disapproval of Gertrude’s marriage to Claudius. He often mentions then sinful incestuous bed which they share.

White Noise Responces

Why do people seem to like Hitler so much? (Aquaman)

I am not sure if the people love Hitler himself so much as they find him and his policies interesting to study. The book goes into very little detail about what is actually studied in the program. As Jack puts it, they are studying “Hitler’s life and work.” Perhaps they are hoping to gain knowledge to prevent things like the Holocaust and World War II in general from happening again. It is rather strange though that a whole department of study is devoted to a man responsible for the deaths of millions of people. I also find it unusual that the idea of Hitler studies was so readily accepted and successful.

Is Jack truly happy with his not-so-pleasant looking wife newest wife? (Quarter Rose)

I believe Jack is truly happy and in love. Babette’s imperfections almost prove that. There is nothing special and outstanding about her look (except her wild hair) proving their love is not superficial. Jack shares everything with Babette as he did with his other wives, but his connection with her seems deeper than this connection with previous spouses.  Jack says “Babette and I have turned our lives completely for each other’s thoughtful regard, turned them in the moonlight in our pale hands, spoken deep into the night about fathers and mothers, childhood, friendships, awakenings, old loves, old fears (except fear of death). It is this sentence that makes me believe their love is more special. Jack also claims “no detail is left out, not even a dog with ticks.” This last sentence confirmed my previous thoughts.  

Why is Jack obsessed with the idea of death, and what does it add to the novel? (Weaboo)

Both Jack and Babette are frightened of death. It consumes their thoughts though they avoid discussing it. This somewhat irrational fear is the only thing the couple does not discuss. Jack explains how they talk about “mothers and fathers, childhood, friendships, awakenings, old loves, [and] old fears (except fear of death). The reappearance of question “who will die first” suggests that Jack is constantly thinking about death. Perhaps this fear will control Babette’s and his actions. Babette is unable to handle death and injury as she was nearly inconsolable when her mother died and Jack’s daughter broke her arm. Assuming Jack reacts in a similar way, this fear of death could negatively affect the whole family.  

White Noise: Chapters One through Twelve

Chapter One: How did Jack develop Hitler studies? What does Hitler studies entail? 

Chapter Three:
Why does Murrary find "The Most Photographed Barn in America" so interesting? Or rather the people at the barn.

Chapter Five:
I've noticed numerous short sentences in this chapter and throughout the book concerning the murmer of mechanical things and technology. For instance, "Blue jeans tumbled in the dreyer." What is the significance of these seemingly random sentences?

Chapter Seven:
Babette and Jack go through old family photo albums at the end of this chapter, and Jack begins to reflect on life. He finishes the chapter wondering "who will die first?" Why are Jack and Babette so concerned about dying and how does their fear affect the novel?

Chapter Nine:
The elementry school is evacuated due to children getting "headaches and eye irritations, tasting metals in their mouths." Does this event foreshadow more troubles to come?

Chapter Eleven:
Why is Babette suffering memory loss? Is it in any connection with medical problems that caused the evacuation of the elementry school?

Act Two, Scene One Bloglet

1. In this scene, Ophelia describes to Polonius a disturbing interaction she had with Hamlet. Hamlet just grabbed her but did not speak. Polonius is convinced that the cause of Hamlet's insanity is his mad love for Ophelia. Polonius believes Hamlet has gone mad after Ophelia stopped seeing him. He rushes off to tell the king.

2. Ophelia's line describing her interaction with Hamlet is important to scene one.

"He seemed to find his way without his eyes, for out o' doors he went without their helps, and to the last bended their light on me."

It seems to me that his line is what convinces Polonius that Hamlet is mad with love. It demonstrates both Hamlet's insanity as well as his love for Ophelia. Because Polonius is convinced of this, he goes to tell the king. The king's reaction to this will set the course for several events later on in the play.

3. Why would Hamlet behave so strangely toward Ophelia? Is it all part of his "antic disposition?" Or is he truly insane? How will the king react to Polonius's claims?

Bloglet: Act One, Scene Five

2. The line "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder," is very significant in scene five. It changes the future events of the play. Hamlet's father's ghost revealed this information and wants to Hamlet to seek revenge. From this point on, I believe that this revenge scheme will dictate Hamlet's actions for the rest of the play and cause his inevitable death.

3. Why can Hamlet only hear the ghost? Because Hamlet is the only one to hear the ghost does that mean maybe the ghost is not real? Perhaps the ghost is just a figment of his imagination?

5. The ghost bothers me. Though others can see it, Hamlet is the only one to hear it. It makes me worry that maybe Hamlet is just imagining things. The ghost is possibly just a manifestation of his thoughts andn suspicions.

Bloglet: Act One, Scene Three

1. In this scene, both Ophelia's father and brother try to convince her to break up with Hamlet. Laertes tells her that Hamlet will have to marry someone of a higher social standing. Her father Polonius demands her to break it off with him. Ophelia, though in love with Hamlet, says she "shall obey, my lord."

2.Ophelia's final line, "I shall obey, my lord," is of major significance to scene three. This line foreshadows a future conflict in the play. If Ophelia did not make this promise, it could completely change the course of the play.

3. Why are Polonius and Laertes so adamant about Ophelia breaking up with Hamlet? Why did Ophelia agree to do this? Why do her father and brother not have faith that Hamlet will treat Ophelia well?

Hamlet: Act One, Scene One

2. Lines twenty-three to twenty-seven stood out to me as important. These lines establish Horatio as a sensible, reasonable character. Horatio will only believe in the ghost if he sees it himself. When he does see the specter, it offers proof that ghost Hamlet will see later on in the play is real. If Horatio, the level-headed character, sees the ghost, readers are more likely to believe that Hamlet truly did see the ghost of his father. Without these lines, Horatio would appear as just another curious, frightened man like Bernardo and Marcellus, offering no support of Hamlet's later seeings.

3. When will Hamlet arrive? Why is there a ghost? Why will the ghost not speak? Is it really the ghost of King Hamlet? What's the deal with the ghost leaving when the rooster crew?

5. I thought the ghost sightings were interesting. Ghost King Hamlet wandered through the halls but would not speak to Horatio. I am curious as to why he is haunting the castle. Typically in plays, novels, movies, etc. a ghost appears because the person's soul is not at rest (or at least that's how it was in the Haunted Mansion, well I think so at least. I haven't seen it in a while). Therefore, I believe there is something fishy regarding the king's death. Why else would he haunt the castle?

Happiness is a Bookstore

I can think of very little that makes me happier than a bookstore. Bookstores with coffee shops are particularly great. The smell of freshly-brewed coffee and literature is just wonderful. Though not a coffee drinker myself, I can't help but want to curl up in one of the nice leather armchairs, commonly found at bookstore, with a warm cup of coffee and read the book I've just purchased. I have been in a rut recently, opting to watch television rather than read. Now my bookshelf is full of lovely, unread books but none of them were appealing to me at the moment. Therefore, a couple of days ago I made trip to Barnes and Noble in search of a new novel. I first headed to the "young adult" section of the store (because its right by the door) and it turned out to be a MASSIVE disappointment for two reasons. Reason one: I recently watched Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement, maybe on ABC Family. I'm a sucker for a good love story so naturally I am fan of the movie. I decided that maybe I should read the books by Meg Cabot because they were good enough to be made into two movies. A lot of my friends read them in the middle school  years and I never did, so I figured I was missing out on something good because like I said they were made into movies. I wanted to start on the book that the second movie is based on because its my favorite of the two, and here comes massive disappointment number one: the second movie is not based on a book at all! In fact, Disney seems to have packed to whole series into the first movie! Needless to say, I did not get the book. While browsing the rest of the section looking for anything interesting I stumble across massive disappointment number two: Barnes and Noble has at least four sections of a bookshelf dedicated to "Teen Paranormal Romance." I am slightly confused as to what this entails. Is it strictly limited to our vampire and werewolf friends? Or does it expand to include the whole realm of mythical creatures like ghosties and unicorns? It's hard to say based on the covers (I was too lazy to actually pick up the books and read the backs). Nearly every book that falls under the category of "Teen Paranormal Romance" shares the same dark color palette and picture/graphic that attempts, in vain, to look intriguingly scary. Leaving the teen section empty-handed, I ventured to the expansive fiction section to look at the gloriously cheap Barnes and Noble classics. In an attempt to become more "well-read," I've decided to work my way through all the classics or at least those that are of interest to me. My latest selection is William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair. Though nearly seven hundred pages long, I am really excited to start reading it!

All the Pretty Horses - Post 4

This reading covered pages ninety-seven to one hundred and thirty-two. In the previous reading assignments, very little was said concerning horses leaving me wondering how the book got its title. Chapter two certainly makes up for the lack of horses in the prior sections. John Grady and Rawlins find work as cowboys on the Hacienda de Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion (which translate to Ranch of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception if you were wondering), a ranch owned by Don Hector Rocha y Villareal. After the boys work there for a couple days, a “spooky bunch of horses” is brought to the ranch. The sixteen colts, once wild, are frightened of the humans because in the words of John Grady “they’ve never seen a man afoot.” John Grady decides he wants to “break” every colt in four days. As soon as they start this task, John Grady excels in handling the little horses, speaking to them calming and explaining everything he plans to do. John Grady’s natural instincts contribute to his role as the Western hero of the novel. His innate ability to train the wild horses indicts that he belongs in the West.

"The Obligation to Be Happy"

"The Obligation to Be Happy" by Linda Pastan describes a woman (this can be inferred by references to housework and "narrow shoulders") failed attempts to be happy not for herself but for others. She says happiness is harder to maintain than love and beauty yet it is "expected of her casually." She puts of a façade of cheerfulness despite her inner sadness. She puts on a happy face to please those around her "as if her own fidelity to sadness were a hidden vice." She compares her obligation to be happy liking bearing the weight of "a knapsack heavy with gold coins."

All the Pretty Horses - 20 Questions

1. We mentioned in class that John Grady is a possible Christ figure. Is there in evidence of this in section one?
2. Why does Rawlins dislike Blevins so much?
3. Why is Blevins so private?
4. What is John Grady's relationship with his mother like? His father?
5. Why was it so easy for John Grady and Rawlins to leave everyone they know?
6. Why does Blevins leave the table at the boys' first stop in Mexico?
7. Do you think Rawlins and John Grady will see Blevins again? Why?
8. What does Blevins's persistence in retrieving his horse show about him?
9. We know very little about Blevins's past. How do you think he learned to be such a good rider and shooter?
10. How do the boys react when they first reach Mexico?
11. In what ways is John Grady a frontier hero?
12. What does the poverty of Mexico say about the ideal American conception of frontier life and the West?
13. Why does a man try to purchase Blevins?
14. Why does John Grady not want to tell Blevins about the man trying the buy him?
15. Why is Blevins so terrified of thunderstorms?
16. Why doesn't any body the boys run into find it odd or concerning that three teenagers are riding around Mexico alone?
17. Do you think Rocha is the girl Rawlins and John Grady saw riding?
18. Why is Blevins's horse so important to him?
19. Why does Rawlins continue to doubt that the horse actually belongs to Blevins?
20. What do you think the future holds for John Grady and Rawlins at this point in the novel?

The King's Speech

I just saw The King's Speech and by just I mean like maybe an hour ago. It was fabulous! It is based on the true story of King George VI, the father of current Queen Elizabeth. King George or Bertie as he is referred to in the movie (his first name is Albert) is trying to overcome a speech impediment he has had nearly his whole life. At the start of the movie, he is not King George but simply Prince Albert. As prince, he must go about his royal duties giving various speeches and making public appearances. Due his impediment, the speeches terrify him but he has tried almost everything to cure himself of it. His wife then seeks the help of elocution coach Lionel Logue. After much hard work and training, they have vastly improved Bertie's speech. Soon, however, the need to give impediment-free speeches becomes much more important as Albert is thrust into the position of king after the death of his father and abdication of his older brother with England on its way to entering World War II. The fact that this movie may not seem interesting to teenagers became apparent to me when my friend and I were the only people in the audience under thirty-five but the movie is not boring at all. It was witty, smart, and entertaining and I think everyone should go see it.

What?!?!

I think I am having an identity crisis. I have been reading the wrong horoscope for years! Apparently, due to a change in the Earth's alignment all the zodiac signs have changed! Not only that but there are not twelve signs of the zodiac but thirteen! The new sign is called Ophiuchus and falls between November 29th to December 17th. Check out your new sign:

Capricorn: Jan. 20 - Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 - March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18 - May 13
Taurus: May 13 - June 21
Gemini: June 21 - July 20
Cancer: July 20 - Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10 - Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16 - Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30 - Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23 - Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29 - Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17 - Jan. 20

All the Pretty Horses - Post 2

While reading All the Pretty Horses, I noticed towards the beginning of the assigned reading that John Grady's town is pulling away from the western culture (I think that is what you would call it). San Angelo is modernizing, and John Grady and Rawlins, the Frontier Heroes they are, resent it. The boys are moving away from the civilization and seek a more untamed environment. A conversation between the protagonists reveals their displeasure with San Angelo:

How the hell do they expect a man to ride a horse in this country? said Rawlins

          They don't, said John Grady.

As the boys continue their journey to Mexico, the modernization of America becomes even more apparent. Highways have been built where horses and cattle once freely roamed. Rawlins comments on the surprisingly small number of cattle in the area. Stores no longer cater to the needs of cowboys as seen when the store had no feed. Rawlins and John Grady are even suspiciously watched as they saddle their horses. The boys are beginning the separation stage of the hero quest or in this case the frontier hero quest. They're pulling away from the civilized, refined American civilization and heading into the free, untamed Mexican wilderness.

A Day Lost on the Internet

Still under the impression that school was just delayed two hours, I woke up at eight this morning only to find out not soon after that school was in fact cancelled! To my misfortune, I was past the point of no return and therefore unable to go back to bed. I would like to say I spent the day reading books but in actuality all I did was read blogs. The music video above is on the blog of a cousin of a friend and it's made completely of individual hand painted watercolors! And song's not bad either! Below are some pictures from this other blog I stumbled upon called prettybooks (Link: http://prettybooks.tumblr.com/). As you've probably guessed, it's a blog all about books. The blog dares you to take the 50 Book Challenge which is reading the fifty books from the challenge list in a year or less. I almost took the challenge but one book series on the list stopped me. I know I will regret saying (typing?) this because I will probably start receiving hate mail from J.K. Rowling's loyal fans, but that series is Harry Potter. But if anyone is interested in the challenge here's the link:
http://prettybooks.tumblr.com/50bookchallenge

The Poe Toaster to come nevermore?

The Poe Toaster

I don't know of this is of any interest to anyone but being that the following post is book/literature related I thought I would share it here. I'm not sure if anyone knows this, but next week on January 19th is Edgar Allan Poe's birthday. Every year since 1949 an unknown man has come to his grave in Baltimore on that date leaving three roses and a half filled bottle of French cognac in tribute to the late author. This man has become known as the Poe Toaster. The original toaster is thought to have died in 1998 and the tradition was passed onto another. However, last year for the first time since 1949 the Poe Toaster did not make his annual visit. Now the question is will he be absent again this year? Update to come next Wednesday!

Update:
The Poe Toaster did not come again this year which has me very concerned that the tradition might be over for good.

All the Pretty Horses - Post 1

My first impression of All the Pretty Horses was, "I like this book." Though the lack of an exposition has made the story rather ambiguous thus far, it also has given me the desire to continue reading to find out all the missing information. Each sentence is almost like a mini cliffhanger. Even within the first thirty pages bits of information are revealed and John’s story is becoming clearer. His parts of his past are mainly exposed through character unmarked dialogue (which, at least in my mind, adds to the ambiguity of the story).

            In addition to the vagueness, McCarthy’s imagery also stood out to me. The simple, clear descriptions make ordinary things and events, excuse the cliché, extraordinary. This particular passage caught my attention:

“Sometimes at night after supper he’d walk to the road and catch a ride into town and walk the streets or he’d stand outside the hotel on Beauregard Street and look up at the room on the fourth floor where his father’s shape or father’s shadow would pass behind the gauzy window curtains and then turn back and pass back again like a sheetiron bear in a shooting-gallery only slower, thinner, more agonized.”

The nearly ghostly image of John’s father really demonstrates the brutal effect the divorce has had on him. A combination the uncertainty of the story and McCarthy’s simple yet interesting imagery will certainly have me reading ahead.

This is my first post, so I thought it would be appropriate to explain the name of my blog.

I’m generally horrible at naming things so I looked to the Beatles to title my blog. She Said She Said is from Revolver, one of my favorite Beatles albums. I thought it was a pretty clever name for a blog because I mean what I post is what I say. . .but anyways please enjoy recording of She Said She Said! (Also, please excuse the lack of a music video. I don't think they had them when the Beatles were around.)