Atsumori

Wow, printer and internet failure in the same day. The cruel irony of this situation is almost painful.

Julian Teeple
Ms. Peifer
English 10IB
May 4, 2009
Atsumori Commentary
“Unlooked for men of our condition, you say. Have you not read: ‘Do not envy what is above you Nor despise what is below you’? Moreover the songs of the woodsmen and the flute-playing herdsmen, flute-playing even of reapers and songs of the wood fellers. Through poets’ verses are known to all the world. Wonder not to hear among us the sound of a bamboo flute” (50-61)
The traditional Noh play Atsumori is used to address many issues of morality and how one should treat your enemies. This passage in particular uses a traditional parable to explain a way of thought. The author uses symbolism and repetition to convey the message dealt with in the parable. The over all message is one of humility and pride at the same time. The idea that you should be indifferent to those above and below you is a belief made so people can get along, and still retain respect for others in the world.
Symbolism is show in the end of the passage. “Moreover the songs of woodsmen and the flute-playing of herdsmen.” (54-55) This passage uses the idea of songs and the implied relationship between the woodsmen and the herders to show how people should interact. The woodsmen and the herders obviously live very different lives, as one is out on open fields, and woodsmen are confined to their section of woods. The author uses a comparison of musical talents to show that the two types of people, even though they follow two different walks of life, are on the same level, and respect each other.
The author also uses repetition, mainly in the ideas of the lines. “flute-playing even of reapers and songs of the wood fellers.” (55-56) The repetition in this idea of morality and mutual respect between two other different groups shows the equal level on which people should always be with each other. By drilling in the idea of equality in two separate lines, the reader helps to convey the message and purpose so conveniently located in the passage.
The authors purpose in this passage was to convey the message and theme of the overall work, or give foresight and a build up to it. The short parable at the beginning of the passage has a very set theme, and talks about morality and how people should feel about superiors and underlings. The message becomes apparent later in the story, when the warrior lord returns, but this passage is used as a lead in to explaining the moral, making it highly important.

LRJ's for As You Like It

Julian Teeple
Ms. Peifer
English 10IB
March 16, 2009
LRJs for As You Like It
Orlando from the get go is set as the leading male role in the play As You Like It written by William Shakespeare. He is upset at his brother for not giving him a gentleman’s education, and as such, deeply resents him. One can infer that the story takes place in England, as a Forest of the same sort is found in the area of Shakespeare’s home town. The Dukedom, or sort of principality that the first act of the story takes place is thought to be in about the same geographical location. However Orlando is living on the land owned by his father, and his brother inherited, and as such has no intent on letting Orlando have anything. Having the first act take place in the confines of his brothers land sets up the reader to believe Orlando more then his brother, and certainly to feel some sympathy for his noble quest.
Orlando’s true goal in the first act is to convince his brother to give him a gentleman’s education, however he gets side tracked. He is sent to a wrestling match with someone who is known to inflict serious pain on those he wrestles, and yet he goes anyway. There he meets the daughter of the duke, and immediately falls in love. He then realizes his true goal is to show Rosalind his love, and hopefully win her heart as well. To try to win her over, he wins the match, but this causes his exile, and the former Duke’s aswell. Over all, Orlando only has strong ties to Rosalind, as he has only interacted with his brother, who he detests.
#2
After exile, Orlando finds himself in much peril. Duke Frederick, father to Celia, suspects Orlando of kidnapping her, and as such orders guards and men to find him, so they can bring him back and try him in court. Upon hearing this, Orlando’s own brother sets off in his own search to find, and then kill him. At this point, he has escaped to the forest of Arden, and is running from both the court system and his brother. A servant loyal to their father comes after Orlando, telling him of the plot against his life. Being in the Forest is important because it would make him hard to find by both his brother, and the guards, and is sort of a traditional runaway esque scene.
At this point in the play, Orlando is simply trying to escape with his life, and get use to country life, all the while looking for Rosalind and trying to keep what courtier manners and charm he possessed. He and the servant Adam travel through the countryside together, until at a point, they become almost starved, and Orlando has to leave him to find food. He meets up with the banished Duke, in itself a large feat as the Forest is a big place. The relationship between Orlando and Adam is portrayed by the way Orlando goes back for him even after they are near starvation. Also, Duke senior and Orlando have a bond almost by association, as they are both banished, and as such, share and take care of one another for a time. Orlando still has feelings for Rosalind, however he seems to set her on hold, for the more pressing issue of escaping with his life.




#3
Orlando is safely hidden in the Forest, and his brother is currently in trouble. The current Duke gives Oliver one year to find and seize Orlando, and in the mean time, the Duke will control his land, all a plot that has nothing to do with Orlando other then his brother will be looking harder for him. Orlando has returned to his love struck state. He has decided to begin hanging poems and carvings on trees professing his love of Rosalind. Rosalind and Celia find the poems and then search out Orlando, and disguise themselves to see if they can cure him of his love.
The poems were hung in the Forest of Arden, an important setting as it provides a lot of anonymity to Orlando, as there could be many Rosalinds. Were he still in the Dukedom, he would be found out, and most everyone else would pin it on Orlando, and Rosalind’s father may not take kindly to the words he wrote. At the same time, he also is not given the sort of attention he wants, as he could possibly want all to see his love of Rosalind.
Obviously showing he loves Rosalind has become his main goal, and as such he has devoted much time to doing so. Rosalind in disguise sets off to try and “cure” him, where she is truly wanting to spend time with him, and have him treat her in a loving manner, only to see if he truly does love Rosalind, or if it is just youthful lust. To show that he loves Rosalind, Orlando plays the game, talking to the “man” as if he were his Rosalind and being generally sweet to her.
Orlando seems almost cut off from most other characters at this point in the show. He seems to like Ganymede, however he does not like his meeting with Jaques, the depressed ex-courtier, saying he desired to be better strangers.
#4
Orlando has almost married his one and true love, yet he doesn’t even know it. The opening of act 4 has Ganymede and Orlando going through a fake wedding, giving Orlando a chance to respond the way he would were he marrying Rosalind. Unannounced to him, he technically is marrying Rosalind. Celia conducts the ceremony.
Still in the Forest, it has proved to serve them well. Orlando has been able to live his life fairly undisturbed, and his brother nor the court have found him yet to kill him. He has also been able to secretly spend time with Ganymede, or Rosalind, without bringing alarm or causing trouble. Although he may not realize it, he has got a fairly good life. The Forest and its magic also seems to help in a more life threatening situation. Orlando’s brother, Oliver, has wandered into the Forest looking for Orlando. He has fallen ill, and Orlando sees this. A lion has been preying on Oliver, however out of the kindness of his heart, Orlando saves his brother, even though he was going to kill him. His brother is even grateful for the rescue, and talks well of Orlando’s deeds to Ganymede.
Orlando is still trying to win Rosalinds heart, however he doesn’t know it. He is also trying to preserve his honor and gain the gentleman education, a reoccurring theme in the play.
Orlando’s relationship with Oliver improves dramatically when he saves his brother from the lion. Oliver sees the error of his ways and is wholehearted thankful for his brother.


#5
At the beginning of act 5, Orlando finds himself a very sad man. His brother, Oliver, has fallen in love with Celia, and they plan to marry as soon as possible. However, Orlando and his love interest are still not to be wed, and he hasn’t even talked to her since they were banished (or so he thought). Ganymede promises him that if he truly does love Rosalind, then he will marry her. Ganymede says that through his magic, he can bring Rosalind to the wedding.
The Forest is said to have magical powers, so it makes sense for Ganymede to play on this idea by saying he can use magic to bring Rosalind to the wedding. Were this scene to take place in any other setting, the effect would not be that of a supernatural setting, but of either a dumb lover (Orlando) or a slightly more magical Ganymede. This idea of the magic of the Forest fits the scene, and is important to the growing drama.
Orlando wants more then ever to be married to his one and true love, Rosalind. He is still set on having her hand, and being with her forever. Nothing Ganymede has done has truly cured him of his love, and it has only made him pine for Rosalind that much more. Orlando finally gets his wish in the end of the show, where he is married to Rosalind. The Duke Frederick, the one who stole power, has even given up the throne, making a happy ending.
Orlando at the start of the wedding would feel contempt toward his brother, as his love is there, but Rosalind is not. He later forgives everyone, and proves he is a gentleman after all.

Computer Lab

Today instead of doing the presentations for English for... I'm not quite sure. We are suppose to make a new entry, edit others and look at our agregator. I don't get why, but we have to. For some odd reason (obvious sarcasm) blogging isn't something that I feel very compelled to do recently. My computer use has been cut down to gaming, typing papers and watching the entire series of "Dead Like Me". It just doesn't seem like a big necessity anymore. The idea of using technology in school was a novel concept, but in execution, it just seems easier to hand in paper copies. Sure its as fun, but there is less margin for error, human or mechanical. That, and whenever I use my computer for more then half a minute, I revert to looking for new games, playing old games, or looking at either facebook, funny pictures or sites based around other hobbies. The computers would be a good tool for homework if they were dedicated to such. If we had school laptops then maybe it would work better. Or even just something that worked. Macs are good and all, but they have such a different interface then what I call standard. Maybe in the future schools in general will switch over to a more stable format of Linux.

In recent news, we are now in the second semester and it isn't very fun. We have no breaks till spring break, and its cold. I suggest having a mass "Ditch school" day. If its to cold to walk outside in shorts for more then half a second, its too cold to be in school, let alone wait for the bus.

Beowulf Comentary

Julian Teeple
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB
December 13, 2008
Important passage from Beowulf
“‘Now that I have bartered my last breath to own this fortune, it is up to you to look after their needs. I can hold out no longer. Order my troops to construct a barrow on a headland on the coast, after my pyre has cooled. It will loom on the horizon at Hronesness and a reminder among my people- so that in coming times crews under sail will call it Beowulf’s Barrow, as they steer ships across the wide and shrouded waters.’
Then the king in his great-heartedness unclasped the collar of gold from his neck and gave it to the young thane, telling him to use it and the warshirt and the gilded helmet well.
‘You are the last of us, the only one left of the Waegmundings. Fate swept us away, sent my whole brave high-born clan to their final doom. Now I must follow them.’ That was the warrior’s last word. “
These are the final words of Beowulf in the epic of the same name. The translator, Seamus Haney, uses many different literary devices to make the epic more compelling. He uses alliteration to emphasize major plot points and action sequences. He also uses a different word scheme and choice then if someone else was writing it. These devices, and the storytelling and event points featured in this short 19 lines of text come together to create a passage with meaning to the work as a whole. The depictions of the events are very folk hero like, thus reinforcing the already apparent theme of folk lore.
Word use and vocabulary are very important to the way this work flows. In any other part of less importance, the translator could have used “breathing” instead of the way he describes it as bartering. Bartering, or trading, gives the reader the idea that Beowulf truly did beat the odds. He, even in his death, was honorable. The simple use of “bartered” for talking about his last breath of air makes all the difference in an epic of this epic proportion.
Alliteration is also used by Seamus Haney to emphasize action and characters. After Beowulf is describing how he wants to be remembered, Haney uses “Beowulf’s Barrow” to talk about the place. This shows that the resting place is important and how honor and burial are important to their society, and only a true hero like Beowulf would be worthy of such on honor.
The translation from Old English to modern day brought about the loss of a lot of the original alliteration and the kennings, but the devices used by Seamus Haney more then make up for it. Without the work her did with the literature, it would not have meant the same, and without the word choice and phrasing of his work, the passage sited at the beginning would not carry the same weight. This is the passage of an epic hero, his journey from life to the afterlife, and without the description used by Seamus Haney and the clever words, it would not carry the same impact. In the tale, the Danes lose a great hero, and in the way Beowulf was translated, we feel like we do too.


Damn, it didn't save the formatting this time. Shoot.

Creon. Inocent man, or guilty criminal?

Julian Teeple

Ms. Peifer

English 10IB

November 24, 2008

Creon. Innocent Man, or Guilty Criminal?

Creon is the king of the land. His word is that of the gods. He could never say wrong or cause harm. Or could he? Not only did Creon deny Antigone the right to bury her brother, but made punishment for doing it death. Creon was even cruel to his own son, telling him that he was infatuated with a girl, and not concerned about his father. He took his power as king to say who could receive honor for the same action. Even after he had imprisoned Antigone, he was still under the impression that he was right, until the blind prophet flat out told him he was wrong. Creon obviously has not shown innocence.

Creon declared that anyone who was caught burying an enemy of Thebes would be put to death. The brother to Antigone and Ismene was killed fighting against Thebes, but is still related. Already he is showing an unjust punishment for something that is simply classical Greek honor. Antigone was only going to bury her brother, who had already lost honor due to the fight. She was attempting to preserve what little he had left, before his desecrated body was eaten entirely by the animals he fought against. What type of barbarity would allow something like this? A man’s honor being eaten, even in death, all because he was once enemy to the great city of Thebes. He was even born of royal blood, however, even royalty can be reduced to nothing, and their family killed by a selfish king, A king like Creon.

After Creon’s son Haimon heard the news of the death sentence on Antigone, he went to talk to his father. After long talk with his son, Creon declares “Thou woman's slave, use not wheedling speech with me.” Sopocles. He told his own son that he is nothing but a slave to women. Haimon, who was slated to marry Antigone is now also paying for his father’s ignorance with his happiness. Haimon told Creon that valor and truth should have no age, when questioned, he replied with “In nothing that is not right but if I am young, thou shouldest look to my merits, not to my years.” Sophocles.

An enemy of Thebes may not receive any glory after death, or so said Creon. Even an enemy of state still has friends and siblings. Not allowing them the simple freedom of being able to die with honor is a cruelty in itself for the time. Creon was showing another example of un just behavior. He forbade the brother of Antigone to have glory on the battlefield solely because he was fighting against him. In the times, honor was very important, as was displayed by Achillies in the Iliad. Was he not of the same blood that he was fighting? Creon certainly didn’t think so, and showed it by sentencing Antigone to imprisonment and death for the simple act of pouring ceremonial wine, and covering in dust.

Creon was an un just ruler. He took his power as king and decided who had the right to an honorary burial and entombment. In the end, his actions proved him un noble. He claimed divine right to say who could be buried, and he was wrong. Not only did he learn the error of his ways by way of having Antigone’s blood on his hands, but the blood, both metaphorical and physical, blood of his son and wife. They simply wanted reason, but for fear of loosing credibility, he payed the ultimate price. Vengeance from the gods, and the death of anyone he held dear. Crime is not always black and white.

Extra Extra

Julian Teeple
Ms. Peifer
English 10IB
November 19, 2008

Antigone put to death after attempt to preserve brother!

Antigone, Oedipus' daughter was put to death today by Creon after she was found attempting to preserve her brothers soul and body. Her brother had died fighting against the city of Thebes after his brother took control. It was declared that anyone found performing ritual burial on any enemy of Thebes will be put to death. Although in Antigone's eyes, her brother was in the right, and even if he was fighting the city she lived in, he was still her brother to honor. Her sister, Ismene, was in the know about it, however decided to say nothing. She did not want to help her sister in the crime of family honor. Antigone was soon slatted to be Creon's daughter in law. His son Hiamon, who was soon to be wed to Antigone, was in tears due to this affair. Spectators saw him going into the tomb after Antigone, wanting to spend the last time of her life with her. He loved his father, and honored his wishes, but understood the right and the wrong of this situation. A blind prophet was seen talking to Creon about right and wrong. The phrophet told Creon that sending the poor girl to death was against the gods, and he needed to right the wrong before it was to late. Sadly, he was to late, and by that time, her brother's body had been raveged by beasts and made carion, and Antigone had commited suicide. Haimon, in his destraught, made a lunge for his father, and stumbled on his own sword. After hearing the news of her sons death, Creon's wife commited suicide aswell. Plunging a dagger into her heart. Creon was left with no one, loosing everything, and being left alone in to world.

Top Ten

Really. Thank you Ms. Peifer. For giving me more ways to completely kill my time and stay up at night blogging. Its one more thing to update, and grrr..... its addicting. Normally at this time I would be making food, sleeping or atleast trying to sleep, but no. I have to check my google reader and make sure I'm not missing an update or go to my blog and fill it with less then usefull posts about how I like blogging. It seriously is an addiction. I think I've accepted this new format a bit too much.

My Top Ten on "How you know you need to stop blogging"
10. "Your stomach is telling you to eat instead of blog about being hungry"
9. "You've listened to the same three songs over and over, and don't care"
8. "Your couch feels like memory foam, but it has springs in it"
7. "Your mouse is telling you to go to sleep"
6. "Your night dreaming about blogging"
5. "You're thinking about all the awesome stuff that will happen tomorrow to blog about"
4. "You have 5 tabs open, and only one is something non blog related"
3. "You are talking to yourself, commenting on your blog before its done"
2. "Your fingers are asking you to stop.... and they have faces drawn on them for laughs"
1. "You are typing up a Top Ten list at half passed midnight when you should be in bed, partying, or just doing something better then this"

And you know you need to stop if you read any of this and said "Oh man.... thats me..."

All joking aside, Thanks Ms. Peifer for showing us how easy it was to setup and create our own blog. The idea of a digital presense is really cool, and I feel like this is a place to start. I know I wouldn't have done it outside of school.