Analyzing "The Wise"

1. Gender is unknown (Most likely male) with a first person point of view (Found by line 11). Setting/Circumstances unidentifiable.
2. Structured by three stanzas with rhyming in the last word of some lines. Total of 3 rhymes. A break in stanza two represented by a (;).
3. The theme of the poem is that wisdom is attained through age and sorrow. In order to be considered wise, one must live.
4. His grammar is characterized by commas, semicolons, and concrete ideas as lines. Typically completes a clause in one or two lines.
5. Figurative language example - "They sleep and dream and have no weight." "How long a seed must rot to grow." Literal language example - "On throbless heart and heatless brain, and feel no stir of joy or pain."
6. Important words include: "Grow" (Line 3), "Satiate" (Line 7), "Immunity" (Line 12)
7. The author's tone is informative in and optimistic sense.
8. Literary techniques include rhyme schemes, metaphors (i.e. line 3), a form of anaphora or repetition (Dead men... in lines 1, 4, and 7).
9. As stated above, the flow resembles several clauses/examples typically sorted by one to two lines.

Lecture Notes on A Tale of Two Cities

The following notes will probably be difficult to understand, as they will reflect my train of thought, not legibility.

Manchester (Third city (pun?) ) - Also involved within the novel.

"I have suffered in these pages" Dickens wrote in discussing A Tale of Two Cities.
- Why? Was it emotional for the author to write about the conflict?

Ellen Turnin (Fell in love and separated from his wife)
- Gives Lucie the final "e" in resembling Ellen, I believe.
- Sacrifices his self-being in order to allow others to live happily.

C.D. and D.C. (Characters) - Names reversed in order to symbolize their differences.

"Dickens' experiences gave him an extensive and peculiar sense of the city."
- His "Lantern"
- His genius was due to London being like a newspaper (Disconnected with all the information there)
- "Paris is the most extraordinary place in the world. It is perfectly distinct and my head/eyes ached from the novelty repeatedly being shoved down my throat."

1844-1868: 15 visits to Paris (Absolutely obsessed with the city)
- Vibrant, modernizing city. The light was exaggerated.
- Fascinated by the darker side of the city as well. Wicked and uncomfortably attractive.

London and Paris are similar (As says the famous opening to the novel)
- It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...
- It was the year of our lord, 1775.
- "It is so far like the present time."

The Victorians were haunted by the memory of the French Revolution.
- Horror of riot, or mob violence.
- Faces the fear of the Victorians in the novel (revolution).

The "Best story I have written."
- The French dramatization never happened, supposedly.
- 35 performances
- Popular image was the man stepping towards the guillotine.
- 1948 was the first television showing.

"A just and loving man." (Written about Dickens)

His words are extremely powerful and meaningful. (Refer to quotations within the novel, or lecture 42:00 - 45:00)

"I will carry my individuality to my life's end." (Possibly reflecting Pip in Great Expectations)
- Connections between the novels?
- They were written fairly close together in time.

"The answer was always the same - Almost 18 years."
- "I can't say I want to live."

45 when he met Ellen. Lucie was 17.

Feel free to comment and ask any questions if you are curious about my notes.

Literature Analysis #4

Slaughterhouse-Five Literary Analysis

Big Question Introduction

An Exploration of Black Holes

Great Expectations Title

Charles Dickens' novel is titled Great Expectations because the protagonist of the story, Pip, has great expectations for the future. After a lifestyle of poverty his entire life, an unknown man sends him a large sum of money because he has faith that the child will amount to something great. Also, the novel is titled Great Expectations because Pip himself has high hopes for what is bound to come for him in the future.

The Wise

Dead men are wisest, for they know How far the roots of flowers go, How long a seed must rot to grow. Dead men alone bear frost and rain On throbless heart and heatless brain, And feel no stir of joy or pain. Dead men alone are satiate; They sleep and dream and have no weight, To curb their rest, of love or hate. Strange, men should flee their company, Or think me strange who long to be Wrapped in their cool immunity. Countee Cullen

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.