Vernacular

The language cultures and societies use every day differ from another. For example, the language spoken in Spain (Spanish) is completely different than the language spoken in England (English). Furthermore, the words we use within a specific language changes under various circumstances. Your vernacular is expressed as the words you use on a daily basis. For example, the stereotypical Australian will use the word "mate" repeatedly when talking to another person, and this is known as their vernacular.



As you watch this video, you can see that he tries to use an Australian's vernacular for comedic value. Sadly, he did not know that Austria is different than Australia and failed to make the connection.

Thinking Outside the Box

Plato describes the limitations of our thinking through a sense of knowledge. Through his "Allegory in the Cave" he expresses that the general people have no idea what is going on around them, and only people of greater power know the truth. When they were given permission and saw the light, they were scared and wanted to return to ignorance. However, as they stared into the light more, they realized they wanted to learn more. With this, Plato told us that we are limited to what we know by a higher power, and the only way that we can discover more and educate ourselves is by searching for knowledge. If we do not search for knowledge, we will simply be prisoners staring at what "they" want us to know.

Sarte describes the limitations of our thinking through a sense of isolation and secrecy. We are limited to what we know through other people's truths and lies. In some cases, people are not capable of determining what is true and what is false because others have control over what they know (As Inez had control of Garcin in "No Exit"). If truth and honesty is not met, then the madness generated consumes people forever. The hell depicted by Satre isn't one of physical pain and discomfort, but instead it is one of psychological torture and misery. In other words, we are limited to our thinking by the people we interact with everyday. The only way to get around this is to not seclude yourself to one train of thought. One must be open-minded and ever-changing in order to avoid suffering.

Literature Analysis #3

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

1. The story is a fictional memoir narrated by the author himself. There is no central plot because the story is written as a collection of multiple events that don't take place in chronological order. One chapter in particular, "Ambush", stood out the most, however. This chapter depicts a moment when Tim is walking down a dirt path during the middle of the night in Vietnam. As he's walking, his heart begins to pound faster and faster due to his situation circumstances. It develops a sense of suspense to the audience and you can imagine yourself in his shoes. When he hears something up ahead, Tim gets even more frightened. He readies a grenade, and is not hesitant to throw it if necessary. All of a sudden, he sees a silhouette in the night and releases the grenade. After a grueling few seconds, the grenade explodes and kills the man. From that day, he states, Tim was never able to look at the world in the same way - he had killed a man.

2. The theme of the specific chapter is that war changes people in ways that civilians will never understand. Unless you are personally faced in this position, as many soldiers are, you will fail to comprehend what happens to people when they return from the battlefield. Some might think they can relate in certain ways, but I believe that nothing compares to killing a man you know nothing about. It's a feeling a never want to experience in my life.

3. The tone of the story is fearful. Throughout the entire story, Tim is a coward, and he wants nothing to do with the military at all. He is scared every morning he wakes up and every night he painfully drifts into a sleep. The only thing that keeps him sane is his friends.

4. O'Brien's use of setting, syntax, and diction empowered the text to make it intense and seem lifelike.

• Setting:
• Syntax:
• Diction: 

The Big Question

What is a black hole and how are they created? If anything, what lies on the other side of a black hole?

Hamlet is Not an Epic Hero

Hamlet is Not an Epic Hero

            Hamlet’s language differentiates him from epic heroes, such as Beowulf, in a couple of ways. The diction and tone of Hamlet’s colloquial language are noticeably different to those of Beowulf’s. Hamlet is a confused, young boy while Beowulf is a heroic, arrogant man, and this is expressed through how the characters speak. Although both Hamlet and Beowulf are critically acclaimed characters in literature, their speech distinguishes them from one another entirely.

            Diction plays a major role throughout all of Shakespeare’s plays and literary works, and Hamlet is no exception. Throughout the play, Hamlet promotes himself as an intelligent young man through his use of words. For example, in Hamlet’s soliloquy he states, “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, and thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought…”After analyzing this quote, it is clear that Hamlet was well educated through his use of words (i.e. sicklied).

            Beowulf, among all arrogant men, speaks with words of power. Beowulf speaks highly of himself in order for his language to correspond with his actions and appearance. After all, what is a hero if he cannot express his accomplishments? For example, Beowulf states, “My father was a famous soldier, known far and wide as a leader of men.” Beowulf says this to promote himself, and his words (i.e. “…leader of men”) accomplish just that. The word “leader” is highly praised in all cultures and it allows the people to realize where he came from, and who he really is.

            The words a man uses tells you what kind of person they are, but the way a man says these words tells you what they are truly saying. Tone plays a major role in Hamlet’s language because it allows for indirect characterization throughout the play. For example, when Hamlet considers, “To die, to sleep – to sleep – perchance to dream: ay there’s the rub…” Hamlet is coming to a sudden realization when he practices self-overhearing, and we can tell through his tone. This phrase can be interpreted in a variety of ways, but Hamlet’s meaning is clear when his tone of realization sets in. After analyzing Hamlet’s language, it is clear that he speaks with an optimistic tone, and keeps an open mind through his speech.

            An epic hero requires a stern, confident tone to achieve an encouraging standard. Beowulf practices this technique throughout the epic, and his tone allowed him to attain a role model stature that he longed for. For example, immediately before diving into the lake to face his foe, Beowulf states, “And if your enemy should end my life then be, O generous prince, forever the father and protector of all whom I leave behind me, here in your hands, my beloved Comrades left with no leader, their leader dead.” This shows how Beowulf’s language expresses his determination to be the role model for his people.

            Both Hamlet and Beowulf use their language effectively to express their purpose and thoughts. Hamlet speaks in a subtle, indecisive manner while Beowulf speaks ambitiously and with heroic-like words. Although both characters’ purposes are meaningful, their languages differ between one another greatly. 

Self-Overhearing

Self-overhearing is the technique in which one says something orally, and then re-interprets the meaning of the words to create a different understanding of one's previous comprehension. It is practiced in both literary works and in real life. For example, in Hamlet, Hamlet has several soliloquies in which he develops a new mindset based on his previous thoughts and opinions. I, too, talk to myself occasionally to sort my thoughts and to attain a greater understanding of my own thinking. Critical thinking and the development of one's mind is accomplished through the practice of self-overhearing.