Literature Assignment #2

Laurencia John

Literature

15th September, 2011

This incident occurred while I was in 1st form.

I had this best friend by the name of Suzette from since we were 3 years old. We attended the same pre-school and ironically, the same primary school as well. We did everything together as best friends usually would.

However, after we took common entrance and were accepted into two different schools, things began to change dramatically, which I thought was brought on because we were no longer attending the same school.

There was this girl by the name of Tabatha who was also our friend form primary school who was apparently jealous of our relationship and then decided to take it upon herself to ruin it.

After about 2 months of secondary school Tabatha started coming to me and telling me that Suzette was telling her to tell me that she couldn't stand me and so forth. I was extremely shocked and couldn't believe what I was hearing. I then decided to have a conversation with Suzette to find out what had happened but my efforts were unsuccessful since she completely blew me off and ignored me.

After that I kept to myself and decided to leave her alone although deep down inside I was hurting. It was as though I got stabbed and was left to bleed to death because I had lost my best friend of 8 years and for a reason unknown to me. Little did I know that the reason was going to find me instead.

I had friend by the name of Maria who can and informed me that Tabatha was the cause of what was happening between Suzette and I because she was telling Suzette that I was bad talking her and saying things like 'I cannot stand her' and that 'I didn't like her' and so forth.

That in itself made me extremely betrayed because we were all friends and I personally had nothing against her. However due to bad-mind and jealousy she went and ruined a good relationship.

However, after finding out that I was betrayed by my friend Tabatha, I ceased all communication with her for a good long while, but we eventually began speaking again but I decided to just tolerate her since I still have not forgiven her for her self-centered behaviour.

At times I get the feeling that I am being betrayed by someone without having knowledge of the act for sure, but in the end I am actually betrayed. So for all the times I have had the feeling I was being betrayed, I actually was so I have never misunderstood the situation.

Lists of Shakespeare’s books I have studied over the years are as followed:

·         Romeo and Juliet.

·         Much Ado about Nothing.

·         Macbeth.

·         Hamlet.

·         The taming of the Shrew.

In my opinion, characters always seem to resort to violence, trickery or evilness to vindicate themselves or to try and prove that hey are not weak individuals or in some cases, to mask their weaknesses. It could also be due to the fact that they have not learned how to deal with conflict resolution.

The Elizabethan Theater

The History of the Elizabethan Theater started with the Wandering minstrels who moved from one castle and town to the next. Any strangers were treated with suspicion during the Elizabethan era, and this also applied to wandering actors, especially when many horrific outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague were occurring. The reputations of Elizabethan actors were that of vagabonds and thieves. Traveling throughout the era was restricted and required a license. Regulations restricting actors soon followed and Licenses were granted to the nobles of England for the maintenance of troupes of players. Thus the Elizabethan Acting Troupes were formed and the History of the Elizabethan Theater started!

The traveling actors played to their audiences in the courtyards of taverns - called inn-yards. Temporary stages had to be erected and the actors moved around from one venue to the next. The biggest of the Inn-yards had a maximum capacity of 500 people. There were no purpose built theaters until 1576 when a theatrical entrepreneur called James Burbage (father of the actor, Richard Burbage) decided to capitalize on the growing popularity of plays. James Burbage obtained a lease and permission to build 'The Theater' in Shoreditch, London. The Lord Chamberlain's Men use it from 1594 to 1596 and thus begins of the History of the Elizabethan Theater.
The 'Theater' was built in a similar style to the Roman Coliseum, but on a smaller scale. The Elizabethan amphitheater was designed to hold a capacity of up to 3000 people! Similar amphitheaters were later built to house blood sports, such as bear beating at the 'Bear Garden' and Bull beating at the 'Bull Ring'. In 1577 another open air amphitheatre called The Curtain opens in Finsbury Fields in Shoreditch, London followed by the Rose in 1587.

The Theater of the Absurd

                    

 

Theater of the absurd came about as a reaction to World War II. It took basis of existential philosophy and combined it with dramatic elements to create a style of theater which presents a world which cannot be logically explained. Life is described as being... Absurd.
The “Theater of the Absurd” is a term coined by Hungarian-born critic Martin Esslin, who made it the title of his 1962 book on the subject. The term refers to a particular type of play which first became popular during the 1950s and 1960s and which presented on stage the philosophy articulated by French philosopher Albert Camus in his 1942 essay.

It expresses the belief that, in a godless universe, human existence has no meaning or purpose and therefore all communication breaks down.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 of John Shakespeare, a Glover and leather merchant, and Mary Arden, a landed heiress. William, according to the church register, was the third of eight. Shakespeare attended the free grammar school in Stratford, however he never proceeded to University schooling.

At the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway and had three children: Susanna, Hamnet and Judith.

By 1594, he was not only acting and writing for the Lord Chamberlain's Men (called the King's Men after the ascension of James I in 1603).

Shakespeare's success is apparent when studied against other playwrights of this age. His company was the most successful in London in his day. He had plays published and sold in octavo editions, or "penny-copies" to the more literate of his audiences. It is noted that never before had a playwright enjoyed sufficient acclaim to see his works published and sold as popular literature in the midst of his career. While Shakespeare could not be accounted wealthy, by London standards, his success allowed him to purchase New House and retire in comfort to Stratford in 1611.

Shakespeare wrote his will in 1611, bequeathing his properties to his daughter Susanna (married in 1607 to Dr. John Hall). To his surviving daughter Judith, he left £300, and to his wife Anne left "my second best bed”.

In 1623, two working companions of Shakespeare from the Lord Chamberlain's Men, John Heminges and Henry Condell, printed the First Folio edition of the Collected Works, of which half the plays contained therein were previously unpublished. The First Folio also contained Shakespeare's sonnets.

SOME PLAYS WRITTEN BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

·         Hamlet

·         Macbeth

·         Julius Caesar

·         The Tempest

·         King Lear

·         Romeo and Juliet

·         Much Ado about Nothing

In addition, William Shakespeare is known as “The Greatest Play Writer" because his works have been a major influence on subsequent theatre. In addition, he also transformed English theatre by expanding expectations about what could be accomplished through characterization, plot, action, language and genre.

Much Ado About Nothing Summary)

Basically, what I have gathered from the book so far is that Leonato received a letter informing him that Don Peter of Arrogon was on his way from the war where they lost few men.
However, Beatrice was inquiring about the return of Signior Benedick of Padua who she later found out returned safely.

William Shakespeare

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 of John Shakespeare, a glover and leather merchant, and Mary Arden, a landed heiress. William, according to the church register, was the third of eight. Shakespeare attended the free grammar school in Stratford, however he never proceeded to University schooling.

At the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway and had three children: Susanna, Hamnet and Judith.

By 1594, he was not only acting and writing for the Lord Chamberlain's Men (called the King's Men after the ascension of James I in 1603).

Shakespeare's success is apparent when studied against other playwrights of this age. His company was the most successful in London in his day. He had plays published and sold in octavo editions, or "penny-copies" to the more literate of his audiences. It is noted that never before had a playwright enjoyed sufficient acclaim to see his works published and sold as popular literature in the midst of his career. While Shakespeare could not be accounted wealthy, by London standards, his success allowed him to purchase New House and retire in comfort to Stratford in 1611.

Shakespeare wrote his will in 1611, bequeathing his properties to his daughter Susanna (married in 1607 to Dr. John Hall). To his surviving daughter Judith, he left £300, and to his wife Anne left "my second best bed."

In 1623, two working companions of Shakespeare from the Lord Chamberlain's Men, John Heminges and Henry Condell, printed the First Folio edition of the Collected Works, of which half the plays contained therein were previously unpublished. The First Folio also contained Shakespeare's sonnets.

SOME PLAYS WRITTEN  BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

• Hamlet
• Macbeth
• Julius Caesar
• The Tempest
• King Lear
• Romeo and Juliet
• Much Ado about Nothing

In addition, William Shakespeare is known as " The Greatest Play Writer" because his works have been a major influeence on subsequent theatre. In addition, he also transformed English theatre by expanding expectations about what could be accomplished through characterisation, plot, action, language and genre.



Jennings Village

St. Mary's Parish

Antigua

 

3rd November, 2010

The Editor

Antigua Sun

Coolidge, Antigua

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

                          I am writing this letter to express my feelings on the attack on Brother Man as well as my feelings towards rastafarianism.

      As it relates to the attack on Brother Man, I think that it was unjust. I say this because the people who were once looking to him ans asking him for healing when they themselves were sick or their loved ones, turned on him in less than a split second.

     Instead of going to Brother Man himself to find out exactly what took place, they ridiculed him even though he was innocent.

     Although he was accused of using counterfeit coins, committing murder and rape, he ignored those comments and still wished them "piece an' love".

     However, the people in the lane brutally beat him and a woman who tried to shield him with her own body.

    The accusations made were directed towards a man with dread locks and since Brother Man fits that description, so they were not going to listen to his excuses.

    In addition, as it relates to my feeling towards rastafarianism, I do not have anything against it. It is a Religion practiced by Rastafarians. Just as other religions, they have certain practices which they follow, they have leaders, followers and rules which are portrayed in the other religions. Therefore I do not seen the need t have anything negative to say about it.

    Concluding, I am still holding strong to my view that Brother Man's beating was totally unjust and also I have nothing against Rastafarianism.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

Laurencia John

Tutorials 29/09/2010

Roger Mais's Biography

 Born on 11 August 1905 was a Jamaican novelist, painter, poet and playwright by the name of Roger Mias. He belonged to a well-to-do middle class but had a lively social conscience that had a lifelong interest on the poorer class of his fellow  black countrymen. 

 His first novel,' The Hills Were Joyful Together' (1953), was written from personal experiences he faced.

 In 1978, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Jamaica for his integral role in the development of politics and cultural nationalism.

 He published two collections of stories and competed two unpublished novels.

 In addition, he published hundred of short stories.

 He won ten first prizes  in West Indian literary competitions by 1951.

 Some of his book include:

• ' The Hills Were Joyful Together' (1953)
• ' Brother Man' (1954)
• ' Black Lightening' (1955)

Literature Tutorials

Literary Terms

Forms of Prose Fiction

• Novels- a long work of prose fiction especially one that is relatively realistic.
• Novella- a work of prose fiction longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. (about 40-80 pages).
• Short Story- a fictional narrative, usually a prose, rarely longer than 30 pages and often much briefer.

Elements of Prose Fiction

• Narrative Techniques- the presentation of speech; the presentation of thought.
• Point of view- this refers to the method of narrating a short story, novel, narrative poem or work of nonfiction.
• Characterization- the presentation of a character whether by direct description, by showing the character in action, or by the presentation of other characters who halos to define each other.
• Setting- the time and place of a story, play, or poem.
• Theme- the main idea, or message, of an essay, paragraph, movie or book. The message may be about life, society or human nature.
• Plot- the episodes in a narrative or dramatic work- that is what happens.
• Style- the manner of expression, evident not only in the choice of certain words but also in the choice of certain kinds of sentence structures, characters, settings and themes.

Literary Devices

• Imagery- words and phrases that create vivid, sensory experiences for the reader.
• Symbol- a person, place, object or activity that stands for something beyond itself.
• Irony- the contrast between what is said and what is meant.
• Satire- this is a literary technique in which ideas, customs, behaviours or institutions are reticule for the purpose of improving society.
• Allusion- this refers to a historical or fictional person, place, or event with which the reader is assumed to be familiar.

Structural Devices

• Stream of consciousness- a style of fiction that takes as its subject, the flow of thought, the responses and sensation of one or more character.
• Interior Monologue- this refers to when the character speaks his/her thoughts aloud.
• Flashback- an account of conversation. an episode or event that happened before the beginning of a story.
• Foreshadowing- a writers use of hints or clues that suggest what events will occur later in a narrative.
• Time frame- the time in which a story, play or poem takes place, whether past, present or future.
• Motif- a recurring word, phrase, image, object, idea or action in a work of literature.
• Juxtaposition- the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side.

8 Types of Fiction

1. Science fiction
2. Realistic fiction
3. Mystery
4. Animal fiction
5. Autobiography
6. Humorous
7. Fantasy
8. Folktale

Literary Context

• Social- this refers to the circumstances surrounding the story, situation; what happens in society of which the story takes place. 
• Political- this reflects the environment in which something is produced indicating its purpose and agenda.
• Historical- this reflects the time in which something takes place or was created and how that influences how you interpret it.
• Cultural- this consists of the worlds of the texts or the circumstances which surface the plot and characters of the texts.