Midterm Assessment

Learning Outcomes

         1)     How have I gained Shakespeare literacy?

     One of the unique things about Shakespeare and literature in general is that to become literate in them or to even versed one must read the work.  There are many insights and bits of understanding that one can draw about Shakespeare and his time by studying his life, where he lived, who he grew up with, and every other facet of his life; however, it is only in reading/viewing his plays that one becomes literate.  One can study Martha Gram and her life but it is not until one views her work that one realizes why she was revolutionary.  Likewise i have gained literacy in Shakespeare's work but completing on time every reading assignment.  I have been in and enjoyed: Hamlet, The Winter's Tale, Love's Labor's Lost, Much Ado about Nothing, and The Tempest.  These works have covered a few windows of his works from tragedy and romance to comedy. 

The Pioneer Theater Company

I truly enjoyed this production!  It was an amazing experience!

One aspect of interpretation that was in stark contrast to that of Helen's interpretation of Prospero was that Prospero was very ... a bully, jerk, in a rage, don't cross him... In some ways this provided a very stark contrast for the great change that happens in him through out the play and in an other, one almost just goes wowow--not a nice guy!

One major example of this stark difference is when Ariel reminds Prospero of his promise to free him.  In the play Prospero recounts the horrible experiance of Sycorax. Here the play, Prospero forces Ariel to relive the horrible experience, in essence beating Ariel back into submission.  Here we see a very strong, manipulative Prospero.  He is set on revenge and has it in his heart.

This same scene with Ariel is completely different in the Helen production. Watch.  She is still very firm and persuasive but the inflicting of pain is not at all present.  This clip also leaves out some of the encounter.  But in the Helen production we see a much more noble and persuasive Prospero than that of the Pioneer company.  We see a truer change to compassion and virtue and a more pure forgiveness in the Helen production.  There is more of a theme of love in Prospero as well as forgiveness.

Your Affections Would become Tender

Ariel. 

        Your charm so strongly works 'em
        That if you now beheld them, your affections
        Would become tender.
Prospero. 

        Dost thou think so, spirit?
Ariel. 

        Mine would, sir, were I human.

Watch

This has become one of my most favorite passages from The Tempest.  One of the raising question in The Tempest could arguably be what dose it mean to be human?  Up to this point Prospero has been leading the islanders along in his plan.  They are being punished for their evil deeds and wrongs by rough magic.  It is here that Ariel comes in and reports to Prospero of the cast away's situation...your affections \Would become tender.  This is one of the greatest moments for this movie, for it is here that we see Prospero change in the same way that he is striving to change others.  He embraces nobility and virtue, he chooses to forgive instead instead of inflicting the full measure of justice. 

This is the great turning point of the play.  I love Prospero's character here, there is no rage nor anger only humbled enlightenment from a spirit he loves.  It adds a great deal of power and catharsis. In the words and the way they are said we get to see Prospero completely change, he becomes the great ruler, one in no need of magic, one who has power over action, and rules by virtue.

Social Report to A Rant on Education

Reaching out and getting to talk with people about Shakespeare has really been a lot of fun.  There is a kind of euphoria that comes when someone take a comment of yours and runs with it.


It also been fun to see how much people care about what you write in responce to what they have said.  Two amazing people that i have rubbed shoulders with so far are Sylvia Morris and Tue Sorensen as well as KJ.  Two of them have been trough blogs and the other email.


The point is this has been a lot of fun!  The one conversation i'm looking forward to right now is with Tue.  I told him i would be studying Lier and he sent me back some pointers, insights, and movie reviews, most of this has been through email.  I looking forward to writing him about with i learn and think.


Also Sylvia had an amazing post on The Tempest it's been fun to comment on her insight to productions that have been made.


I just reason for this post is to formally report.  I have also had some wonderful conversations with people throughout my ward.  One of my favorite answers to the question "how is school" is to bring up i'm taking a Shakespeare class--Boom!--they instantly want to know more.  One such conversation lead to Arthur writing on my blog and my post in response to his.  But this is just one public example, there have been many more.


It's been interest this Shakespeare class, it's thrown me completely out of my comfort zone, i'm no English major!  I do well with exact formula's and machines that are deterministic and finite.  So while i might fall way short of others, i have definitely grown leaps and bounds in my small book.


One of the greatest blessings of this class is that it is so open.  There is no leveling exam that damns one thoughts and experience to a universal grave.  But i'v been able to learn and explore Shakespeare with out fear of it biting me in the butt on an exam!!  I have spent a lot of time in my blog and others and in the text because i have known my grade has the potential to reflect it, versus prepping for some exam. I think in many ways those who have devised the educational system have taken the city by fire(1)!  In an effort to "increase" education and measure it, they have burn it to the ground, lost it.  Burned everything, it's come around and bit not only them but their society in the butt!  There is so much more to education and this for example has been a really neat project!  I've spent more time with it because there is hope that i will be judged on my experience and not some other course i would have had to ambiguously hunt down.  

So what has been my experience, talking with people about the plays, recording and reporting on my study, talking in groups, tying Shakespeare to my life, following courses of analysis that interest me, and diving into thoughts that interest others, revisiting the books and plays, and taking time to see the plays!  Rap that up into a standardized exam! This has been a great class! I hope to be able to articulate it when time comes!


The pic, a C Round Robin Operating System analysis of it's virtual memory address space in 320 virtual frames of memory.  And it relates to Shakespeare! That is letter B on your ENG232 final exam!

With a Bang

It is interesting to me that this play dealing with the realm of magic and the fantastic really pulls me in. For some reason i can relate to it more than some of the other plays.

I find myself saying this is my favorite play but without a whole lot of evidence to back it up other than "it just is."

It is curious to me then...
Is our culture drawn to this idea of magic more so that other themes? Or it is we are more drawn to spectacle? And if so what dose this tell us about our society?

Or is it just telling of me?

Fishing

One of my favorite lines from Much Ado is

”Bait the hook well; this fish will bite”.

Sylvia Morris really opened my eye as to the reason why Shakespeare liked this conceit of fishing. (See the Comments)

Brave New World

You never know what your missing until you loose it and you never never know what your missing out on until you are told.

Let me introduce Arthur to you, Arthur is one of my good friends, we live in the same ward and he and his family are from Japan. We spent an hour or so last night talking about my ENG232 project.  As we talked about Much Ado and reporting, The Tempest and much more, i shared my blog with him.  Hence, Arthur's Comments "To Cherish" have really got me thinking.


Miranda is a truly innocent girl she has grown up on the island and known nothing more.  Her father tells her so, [thou] Art ignorant of what thou art: naught knowing Of whence I am, nor that I am more better Than Prosper, master of a full poor cell, And thy no greater father.  For example when she sees the prince of Naples for the first time, her first man save her father ever seen, she states, What is't? A spirit? Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir, It carries a brave form.  But 'tis a spirit. I might call him A thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw so noble.


She is captivated by this new world, a world she knew nothing of, it nether haunted her nor did she dream of it.  But now she is captivated by it and can't live with out it.  I'll be his surety.  My affections Are then most humble: I have no ambition To see a goodlier man. 

Now that a map has been seen and there is a unexplored world to be had her island will not do any longer.
O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here!  How beauteous mankind is!  O brave new world, That has such people in't.  


This is why there must be opposition in all things.  If not so, happiness nor righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.  She lived on an island with little knowing no man nor relation save her father and a monster.  She knew no good nor evil, no world other than her own.  Now see the world it truth, it's grand measure, she will be happy on the island no long.

Like wise our world changes as we gain light and knowledge.  We either realize a better way one that will allow us to increase in happiness or that we are right were we belong and we receive justification for our previous actions.

We are such stuff As dreams are made on: and our little life Is rounded with a sleep.
In as much as we fail to comprehend it all we are asleep not knowing the beginning from the end and therefore failing to understand our actions and world in which we live.