Now that you've finished reading this play, what is your reaction to it? Explain what you like about it and what you dislike. Be specific. Does it deserve the critical and popular reception that it has receive over the years? Why or why not?
Under the theme of drama, I read The Caretaker, a three-act play. While reading it, I thought that there was too much description. Even though that made the play come to life, it made it boring as well. For example, in the first paragraph, the setting is described in a great amount of detail. Also, the positions of objects and people are clarified with stage directions (L, C, R). The plot was very slow moving, and not a lot of important events took place. However, I liked Pinter's portrayal of procrastination in the play. Davies kept saying that he would go down to Sidcup for his papers, and Aston keeps referring to his plans of eventually building a shed. Through the characters' dialogues, a strong image of real life is shown. Other than the message, I didn't enjoy reading The Caretaker, and don't think it deserves the critical and popular reception it has received.
March 21, 2009
October 12, 2008
IOP Reflection
1.For my Individual Oral Presentation, I discussed the protagonist and antagonist in the novel The Rock of Tanios. My argument and thesis statement was that they are foils. In order to introduce this, my hook was a skit of a scene between the two characters, Tanios and Raad, which portrayed a major conflict between them. I presented my argument through a Power Point presentation and supported it with evidence and quotes from the text.
2. Before I started working on my presentation, I scanned the book for quotes to make sure that my argument could be well supported. By doing this, I also came up with another argument based on the events in the story which was that the major events in the novel happened because of the conflicts between Tanios and Raad. This argument also supports my thesis which is that they are foils since that is the reason conflicts arose between them. I then came up with my hook. I picked a passage which included a major conflict between Tanios and Raad and also showed how they were foils, and I used it as a skit for my hook. During the presentation, I rushed through my points because I didn’t want to go over the time limit, and as a result, it was shorter than it should have been. In addition, I hesitated a lot. I know that I should have been more confident in giving my presentation since I had a well supported argument. After, I watched my presentation, and I found it very helpful since I was able to see the way I presented, its effectiveness, and the weaknesses I had in my argument.
2. Before I started working on my presentation, I scanned the book for quotes to make sure that my argument could be well supported. By doing this, I also came up with another argument based on the events in the story which was that the major events in the novel happened because of the conflicts between Tanios and Raad. This argument also supports my thesis which is that they are foils since that is the reason conflicts arose between them. I then came up with my hook. I picked a passage which included a major conflict between Tanios and Raad and also showed how they were foils, and I used it as a skit for my hook. During the presentation, I rushed through my points because I didn’t want to go over the time limit, and as a result, it was shorter than it should have been. In addition, I hesitated a lot. I know that I should have been more confident in giving my presentation since I had a well supported argument. After, I watched my presentation, and I found it very helpful since I was able to see the way I presented, its effectiveness, and the weaknesses I had in my argument.
September 8, 2008
My Reaction to Oracle Night
2. How did you like the multi-layered plot? Was the plot too complicated or did you find it engaging? Which plot did you like the best: Sid and Grace's story or Nick Bowen's?
One of the main reason's I enjoyed reading Oracle Night was because of the unique style it was written in. I found the plot engaging rather than complicated. However, since it was a multi-layered plot, it was annoying when the plot would switch since I would be so curious to continue the plot line I was reading first. Since Nick Bowen's story is shorter and with no plausible solution, I prefered that of Sid and Grace. Ang even though many of the characters in both stories were similar, since the ones in the book were based on people in Sid's life, I liked the main plot much more.
May 25, 2008
My Reaction to " The Rock of Tanios"
1. In what way or ways do you "connect" with the book The Rock of Tanios by Amin Maalouf? In what way is it accessible or familiar to you?
While reading The Rock of Tanios, I really enjoyed it. One of the reasons for this is because I could really connect with the characters, their daily life styles, and the setting, having lived in Lebanon all my life. The names of the characters were mostly very familiar and easy to remember. In addition, I was familiar to many of the traditions, such as making “meghleh” when a child is born or the idea of a Sheikh ruling over a certain region. Also, some Arabic words are used throughout the novel, some of which are slang. Because I can understand them, they give the novel a more familiar feel and make the setting seem more realistic.
While reading The Rock of Tanios, I really enjoyed it. One of the reasons for this is because I could really connect with the characters, their daily life styles, and the setting, having lived in Lebanon all my life. The names of the characters were mostly very familiar and easy to remember. In addition, I was familiar to many of the traditions, such as making “meghleh” when a child is born or the idea of a Sheikh ruling over a certain region. Also, some Arabic words are used throughout the novel, some of which are slang. Because I can understand them, they give the novel a more familiar feel and make the setting seem more realistic.
April 20, 2008
Byron and his Poetry
3. Compare the poetry of Lord Byron with the poetry of another famous poet (e.g. Shakespeare's sonnets). How does Byron's poetry rate in comparison? Whose poetry do you prefer and why?
Lord Byron and Shakespeare are both poets and play wrights with famous works, for example, Byron's Don Juan, and Shakespeare's sonnets. Both of these works are made up of sonnets written in iambic pentameter. However in Don Juan, they are all linked in an epic poem about a character Don Juan, and also satirizes humanity in general. The individual stanzas are made up of 8 lines each, with a rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b-a-b-c-c and are written in ottava rima. On the other hand, Shakespeare's 154 sonnets are not meant to be as part of a story. They are put into groups and touch upon themes such as love, beauty, procreation, and mostly revolve around a young boy and a dark lady. Each one consistes of 14 lines (3 quatraines and a couplet), the 9th one being the volta or turning point. And they follow the general rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b-c-d-c-d-e-f-e-f-g-g. In comparison to Byron's Don Juan, personally they are not as engaging to read and have harder language to understand. Because Byron's poetry has a plot and characters, it is more interesting and quicker to read.
Lord Byron and Shakespeare are both poets and play wrights with famous works, for example, Byron's Don Juan, and Shakespeare's sonnets. Both of these works are made up of sonnets written in iambic pentameter. However in Don Juan, they are all linked in an epic poem about a character Don Juan, and also satirizes humanity in general. The individual stanzas are made up of 8 lines each, with a rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b-a-b-c-c and are written in ottava rima. On the other hand, Shakespeare's 154 sonnets are not meant to be as part of a story. They are put into groups and touch upon themes such as love, beauty, procreation, and mostly revolve around a young boy and a dark lady. Each one consistes of 14 lines (3 quatraines and a couplet), the 9th one being the volta or turning point. And they follow the general rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b-c-d-c-d-e-f-e-f-g-g. In comparison to Byron's Don Juan, personally they are not as engaging to read and have harder language to understand. Because Byron's poetry has a plot and characters, it is more interesting and quicker to read.
April 6, 2008
March 30, 2008
My Reaction to Disgrace
What is your reaction to the novel? What did you like about it and what did you dislike about it? Does it deserve the international acclaim it has received? Would you recommend it to others?
When I first started reading Disgrace, I enjoyed it. Its uncomplicated plot and ability to be read quickly made the novel light and kind of enjoyable. However as the story progressed and reached the turning point in David Lurie's life, it became really slow and boring. When the setting was at Lucy's farm, everything was so routine and the plot was very slow, I felt as if I was living at the farm too. After finishing it though, I didn't like it at all. I felt that the ending was too abrupt and that there was no real solution. Also, even though the characters were very realistic, I didn't like their personalities, which is another reason why I didn't like the novel. If I don't like the main characters, I can't really empathize and feel with them, making the novel dry and boring. On the other hand, one thing I did like was the writing style of JM Coetzee. I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone, I didn't find it worth reading, however I'm sure there is someething about it that I missed, it did get the Booker Prize.
When I first started reading Disgrace, I enjoyed it. Its uncomplicated plot and ability to be read quickly made the novel light and kind of enjoyable. However as the story progressed and reached the turning point in David Lurie's life, it became really slow and boring. When the setting was at Lucy's farm, everything was so routine and the plot was very slow, I felt as if I was living at the farm too. After finishing it though, I didn't like it at all. I felt that the ending was too abrupt and that there was no real solution. Also, even though the characters were very realistic, I didn't like their personalities, which is another reason why I didn't like the novel. If I don't like the main characters, I can't really empathize and feel with them, making the novel dry and boring. On the other hand, one thing I did like was the writing style of JM Coetzee. I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone, I didn't find it worth reading, however I'm sure there is someething about it that I missed, it did get the Booker Prize.
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