Favorite Learned Thing

My favorite thing we did this semester was acting out Shakespeare. It was so much fun to read lines, figure out how to portray them, and then give a scene in front of the whole class. On top of its thrill, acting helped me understand and remember Shakespeare so much more than i ever thought i could! It made me enjoy Shakespeare more and have a deeper understanding. When i would re-read lines and think about each character it made me see certain characters in different lights and even both at once. I also liked seeing the other choices my friends made and how they see the characters. The acting was such a relief and a great way to learn Shakespeare. I really hope we can act more because it was indeed my favorite learned thing!

Performance Choices

The performance choices in our class were quite interesting and ranged from a sweet king to a mean king and a loving queen to a selfish queen and a quiet hamlet to a loud hamlet. Ryan and I choice to have Ryan be a sweet king and me a loving queen. Ryan seeming sweet actually proves more to claudius's wicked and deceitful nature. Also my sarcastic remarks as hamlet show my reluctance to be disciplined and sweet son. And be being a sweet queen displays gertrudes deep care and concern for hamlet's well-being. The performance by Ella izzy and had was my favorite because of ellas ability to stay stern and izzys and hads chemistry with Ella! Good job!!

T.S. Eliot

We are all marked for death, from birth. So what shall we do with the time we have here? Eliot tries to create this isolated and solem wisdom with brilliant techniques. Eliot's use of stream of consciousness respresents both his hesitation and his inner-chaos. His many unanswerable questions challange life and the audience itself. His juxtaposition of clashing points helps to emphasize them even more for ex: trivializing and grandizing. The use of Biblical references add to his strong and powerful emotions within him. In short, there is a confusion and inner turmoil that haunts Eliot and it's almost unescapable as it is human condition itself. Mankind is at war with himself and man is shattered- the only way beyond this, beyond the human condition towards wholeness is death.