In his play Othello, William Shakespeare uses the characters reputation to expose the insecurities displayed.
Desdemona:
Desdemona, as known as The Moor, Othello's wife has a very high reputation, as her father is of high class. Desdamona doesn't seem to worry much about her reputation as she marries Othello with out any prejudice. This exposes her as trustworthy, honest and very loyal. However her reputation as a was is something she wants to keep pure. Her kind and caring manner towards Cassio leads to Her reputation of being tarnished as she is to be unfaithful to her husband of which leads to her tragic downfall.
Iago
Iago built a trustworthy reputation with all his companions even the ones he hated the most thought he was an honest man. As Othello's ancient Othello places complete trust in Iago's word. "I know thou'rt full of love and honesty" (Act 3, iii, 199). It is because of Iago's reputation that he is able to deceive not only Othello but nearly everyone in the play. Thus in Iago's case his reputation is vital to his success.
Cassio's reputation changed at at different stages of the play. Fist Cassio was seen has an honourable made of high status. However due to Iago's clever manipulation it is later that he causes trouble. He gets involved in a drunken violent fight with Roderigo and Montano and injures Montano. Ashamed, Cassio believes that his reputation has been destroyed. "Reputaion, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial" (Act II, iii, 242-3). Iago then uses Cassio's now tranished reputation and uses it to succeed.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Character Profile-Othello
Othello is the highly respected general of the armies of Venice, although he is not a native of Venice but an area of Northern Africa. He is often not respected as he is seen to be an outsider culturally and due to his colour not for his title. In spite of his high status in society Othello seems to have insecurities. Othello is a powerful character within in the play, respected by all those around him. Othello is madly in love with his wife Desdemona and Othello's insecurities quickly turn into extreme jealousy that claims his life.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
In her poem, "Voronezh", Akhmatova focuses heavily on the weather. How does this assist in evoking a sense of atmosphere and emotion for the reader?
In the poem, 'Voroezh', Anna Akmatova focuses strongly on the environmental surroundings. Akmatova foucuses on the ice cold Russian winter to create a sense of atmosphere and emotions for the reader. By explaining the surroundings Akmatova uses this to engage with the reader feel as if the are seeing what Akmatova is seeing and feeling.The first few lines within her poem describe the landscape and the weather, "the town is frozen solid...trees, walls, snow, beneath the glass. Over crystal, on slippery tracks of ice..." Akmatova wrote and dedicated this Osip Mandelshtam who had been exiled to Voronezh for writing a poem critical of Stalin.
Akmatova mentions the field of Kulikovo, of which she discribes a "battleground" Akmatova could be using this comparison of the battle to the battle of words to create a metaphor for what she was going through at the time. A moral battle of which she and many other poets would have found themselves in Russia at the time. Towards the end of the poem Akmatova creates a comparison between the happy moment of a wedding and then to a miserable feel when she mentions the execusion of Mandelshtam,"But Fear and the Muse take turns to guard the room where the exiled poet it banised". In these lines from the poem, Akmatova explains how she had written another poem for Mandelshtam that she called 'Fear and the Muse' who had been executed because he had written a poem that had gone agaisnt Stalin's beliefs, and was banished from Russia.
In the poem, 'Voroezh', Anna Akmatova focuses strongly on the environmental surroundings. Akmatova foucuses on the ice cold Russian winter to create a sense of atmosphere and emotions for the reader. By explaining the surroundings Akmatova uses this to engage with the reader feel as if the are seeing what Akmatova is seeing and feeling.The first few lines within her poem describe the landscape and the weather, "the town is frozen solid...trees, walls, snow, beneath the glass. Over crystal, on slippery tracks of ice..." Akmatova wrote and dedicated this Osip Mandelshtam who had been exiled to Voronezh for writing a poem critical of Stalin.
Akmatova mentions the field of Kulikovo, of which she discribes a "battleground" Akmatova could be using this comparison of the battle to the battle of words to create a metaphor for what she was going through at the time. A moral battle of which she and many other poets would have found themselves in Russia at the time. Towards the end of the poem Akmatova creates a comparison between the happy moment of a wedding and then to a miserable feel when she mentions the execusion of Mandelshtam,"But Fear and the Muse take turns to guard the room where the exiled poet it banised". In these lines from the poem, Akmatova explains how she had written another poem for Mandelshtam that she called 'Fear and the Muse' who had been executed because he had written a poem that had gone agaisnt Stalin's beliefs, and was banished from Russia.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
5) The poet has written the poem to possibly explain the diffrences of autum and spring. As the in the first stanaz's of the poem explains spring " Stands a single willow tree, Fresh in spring colour" The poet then creates a contrast between autum and spring in the last few stanza's this contrast is show in stanza 6 "The ground is covered with frost, The autum is drawing to its close."
6) The landscape in the poem described in the first stanza 'The gentle slopes of the mountains' and 'the river descends far and distant' in the 2nd stanza the poet creates and image for the audience, making the audience feel like they are surrounded by the landscape he/she has created. The poet creates the sense of smell for the reader through the line "Plum-Fragrance filling the village" and a strong sense of sound in the line "Every push of the oar. Is audiable from a passing boat." These techniques used by the poet agian engage the reader and makes them feel as if they are standing right next to the poet writting the poem.
7) You can't learn much from the poem of the poet as not much of the poet is injected into the poem itself. Although the poem is a japanese poem and therefore possibly a japanese poet and poets where often women. So the poet could possibly be a woman.
6) The landscape in the poem described in the first stanza 'The gentle slopes of the mountains' and 'the river descends far and distant' in the 2nd stanza the poet creates and image for the audience, making the audience feel like they are surrounded by the landscape he/she has created. The poet creates the sense of smell for the reader through the line "Plum-Fragrance filling the village" and a strong sense of sound in the line "Every push of the oar. Is audiable from a passing boat." These techniques used by the poet agian engage the reader and makes them feel as if they are standing right next to the poet writting the poem.
7) You can't learn much from the poem of the poet as not much of the poet is injected into the poem itself. Although the poem is a japanese poem and therefore possibly a japanese poet and poets where often women. So the poet could possibly be a woman.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Comparison Exercise
In pairs you will be allocated a chapter from the novel to compare with the last chapter.
You will then be reporting your findings back to the class.
You will need to consider the following things for each chapter you are asked to analyse:
1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).
• Okonkow is only recognised when he wins the wrestling match This gives you an idea that all village men had to be strong and they had to prove it by a wrestling match
• Their system of law After an Ibo women is killed by another village that village is to sacrifice a virgin and a young boy instead of the killed being imprisoned.
• Okonkow never shows emotion “Okonkow never showed any emotion openly, unless it is the emotion of anger. To show affection was a sign of weakness.” pg 25 this shows the attitude that the tribe has towards men showing emotion.
• Beliefs Peace week they honour their peace goddess”It was unheard of to beat someone during the sacred week” pg 26 if they didn’t honour the goddess their crops would not grow. Okonkow had to sacrifice a female goat at the shrine of Ani.
• Social Structure
1. Ezeani
2. Okonkow
3. Ikemefuna
2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot).
• Okonkow is seen to be strong, powerful, brave and dominant. He is the leader of his family and he is given the job to look after the young boy who was paid by the village that was responsible for killing the Ibo woman. Okonkow is seen as very cold hearted and strict.
3. How does the author position you to view men?
The author positions the reader to see men and strong and powerful, he positions the audience to see the man as having all power they can do what ever they want within the tribe and to their women.
4. How does the author position you to view women?
The author positions the reader to see women as submissive and weak. They have no power with in the tribe there husband is their leader. If a women is to speak out or speak her mind then she is to be beaten.
5. How does the author position you to view the Europeans? (If relevant to the chapter).
It is not relevant to the chapter yet.
In pairs you will be allocated a chapter from the novel to compare with the last chapter.
You will then be reporting your findings back to the class.
You will need to consider the following things for each chapter you are asked to analyse:
1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).
• Okonkow is only recognised when he wins the wrestling match This gives you an idea that all village men had to be strong and they had to prove it by a wrestling match
• Their system of law After an Ibo women is killed by another village that village is to sacrifice a virgin and a young boy instead of the killed being imprisoned.
• Okonkow never shows emotion “Okonkow never showed any emotion openly, unless it is the emotion of anger. To show affection was a sign of weakness.” pg 25 this shows the attitude that the tribe has towards men showing emotion.
• Beliefs Peace week they honour their peace goddess”It was unheard of to beat someone during the sacred week” pg 26 if they didn’t honour the goddess their crops would not grow. Okonkow had to sacrifice a female goat at the shrine of Ani.
• Social Structure
1. Ezeani
2. Okonkow
3. Ikemefuna
2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot).
• Okonkow is seen to be strong, powerful, brave and dominant. He is the leader of his family and he is given the job to look after the young boy who was paid by the village that was responsible for killing the Ibo woman. Okonkow is seen as very cold hearted and strict.
3. How does the author position you to view men?
The author positions the reader to see men and strong and powerful, he positions the audience to see the man as having all power they can do what ever they want within the tribe and to their women.
4. How does the author position you to view women?
The author positions the reader to see women as submissive and weak. They have no power with in the tribe there husband is their leader. If a women is to speak out or speak her mind then she is to be beaten.
5. How does the author position you to view the Europeans? (If relevant to the chapter).
It is not relevant to the chapter yet.
Comparison Exercise
In pairs you will be allocated a chapter from the novel to compare with the last chapter.
You will then be reporting your findings back to the class.
You will need to consider the following things for each chapter you are asked to analyse:
1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).
Social Structure
1. Missionaries
2. Members of the Ibo Tribe
Values Okonkow is shocked that his son Nwoye abandons his father and tribe to work for the missionaries When Nwoye explains to Obierika that he is “One of them” pg 125
Attitudes The attitudes that the native people have towards the missionaries, they are shocked and confused by their arrival, their god and the kinds of objects they bring to the village e.g. the Iron Horse,
Beliefs The missionaries try to enforce their belief and their god to the people of Umofia they are confused by this.
2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot)..
The missionaries The author positions the reader to see the missionaries as trying to persuade the tribes to believe in their god and as if they need to be saved. They are positioned to kind of look like the bad guys
The tribe people
Nwoye Is positioned to be seen as a traitor to the clan as he goes off with the missionaries.
3. How does the author position you to view men?
In this chapter you are not positioned to see men in anyway
4. How does the author position you to view women?
In this chapter the author does not position you to see women in any way
5. How does the author position you to view the Europeans? (If relevant to the chapter).
In this chapter the audience is positioned to see the Europeans as the “bad guys” as they have somewhat brainwashed Nwoye into their belief and obeying their god “There was young lad who had been captivated. His name was Nwoye...” pg 28. They are seen as strange and foreign to the tribal people
Once you have done these questions for each chapter compare the similarities and differences between the two.
If there are significant differences comment on what impact this has on your understanding of the story and the overall invited reading?
When you are answering these questions be as specific as possible. Remember to use the correct terminology we have been using in class.
In pairs you will be allocated a chapter from the novel to compare with the last chapter.
You will then be reporting your findings back to the class.
You will need to consider the following things for each chapter you are asked to analyse:
1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).
Social Structure
1. Missionaries
2. Members of the Ibo Tribe
Values Okonkow is shocked that his son Nwoye abandons his father and tribe to work for the missionaries When Nwoye explains to Obierika that he is “One of them” pg 125
Attitudes The attitudes that the native people have towards the missionaries, they are shocked and confused by their arrival, their god and the kinds of objects they bring to the village e.g. the Iron Horse,
Beliefs The missionaries try to enforce their belief and their god to the people of Umofia they are confused by this.
2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot)..
The missionaries The author positions the reader to see the missionaries as trying to persuade the tribes to believe in their god and as if they need to be saved. They are positioned to kind of look like the bad guys
The tribe people
Nwoye Is positioned to be seen as a traitor to the clan as he goes off with the missionaries.
3. How does the author position you to view men?
In this chapter you are not positioned to see men in anyway
4. How does the author position you to view women?
In this chapter the author does not position you to see women in any way
5. How does the author position you to view the Europeans? (If relevant to the chapter).
In this chapter the audience is positioned to see the Europeans as the “bad guys” as they have somewhat brainwashed Nwoye into their belief and obeying their god “There was young lad who had been captivated. His name was Nwoye...” pg 28. They are seen as strange and foreign to the tribal people
Once you have done these questions for each chapter compare the similarities and differences between the two.
If there are significant differences comment on what impact this has on your understanding of the story and the overall invited reading?
When you are answering these questions be as specific as possible. Remember to use the correct terminology we have been using in class.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Abraham and Isaac Activity
What is left out?
The things that is left out in the story are the people who surround Abraham and Isaac e.g Abrahams wife, or any sisters that Isaac might have. Also there is no evidence throughout the story that Isaac tries to stop his father from killing him and there is again no evidence of objection to killing Isaac from the other men that went with Abraham and Isaac.
What are the gaps?
There are some large gaps througout this story for example the fact that Abraham didn't question or not want to kill his son, the story makes it look like he does what God tells him to do. It also doesn't explain why Abraham doesn't question the angel and it doesn't reveal if Abraham and Isaac talk about what had just happened on the way down.
What behaviours are rewared?
Abraham is rewared when he goes to sacrifice his son and an angel comes down and tells him that God has seen Abrahams devotion towards him and suddenly a sheep apears stuck in the bush and the sheep can be sacrificed.
What does the story take for granted?
The idea that God just thinks that Abraham will do what ever he is asked and also that Isaac doesn't question his father.
What questions aren't being ask?
Why God ask Abraham to sacrafice his son?
Why Abraham obey's God?
The things that is left out in the story are the people who surround Abraham and Isaac e.g Abrahams wife, or any sisters that Isaac might have. Also there is no evidence throughout the story that Isaac tries to stop his father from killing him and there is again no evidence of objection to killing Isaac from the other men that went with Abraham and Isaac.
What are the gaps?
There are some large gaps througout this story for example the fact that Abraham didn't question or not want to kill his son, the story makes it look like he does what God tells him to do. It also doesn't explain why Abraham doesn't question the angel and it doesn't reveal if Abraham and Isaac talk about what had just happened on the way down.
What behaviours are rewared?
Abraham is rewared when he goes to sacrifice his son and an angel comes down and tells him that God has seen Abrahams devotion towards him and suddenly a sheep apears stuck in the bush and the sheep can be sacrificed.
What does the story take for granted?
The idea that God just thinks that Abraham will do what ever he is asked and also that Isaac doesn't question his father.
What questions aren't being ask?
Why God ask Abraham to sacrafice his son?
Why Abraham obey's God?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Strengths
- Creative
- Reading: english texts
- Tests
Weaknesses
- Writing essays:in any context
- grammar
- spelling
What I did to improve on my weaknesses:
- I read more
- worked harder at essays, did more drafts
This year I need to start to work harder mainly on my essay writting, and getting a full understanding of the genre of essay, and also look at more examples of the essay genre.