Antigone

"Oedipus Rex" written by Sophocles was one of the three outstanding plays in the "Oedipus Cycle" trilogy. "Antigone", is the last play in his trilogy and is an impressive piece of work written by Sophocles. Here is an online verson of the play for those who are interested to keep reading. http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/antigone.html (Jebb R.C.)

Oedipus Rex Movie Clip

Although animated, this short video clip provides a synopsis of what happened during the play "Oedipus Rex"

 

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Greek Gods

Here are the names, as well as some photos of Greek Gods and Godesses. For more information about the history and story behind each God and Godess http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0881990.html. (The Olympian Gods)

Zeus


Hera


Poseidon


Hades


Apollo

Short Story Essay Literary Devices 2/20/13

Characterization is a popular literary element that authors use to show the common gestures, actions and personality traits of characters in their writing.  Edgar Allen Poe and Ernest Hemingway both use other formal elements to help develop such characterization in their stories. In "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe, and “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” by Ernest Hemingway both authors use irony, setting, and point of view to all create better characterization in their stories.

            Poe uses many examples of irony in "The Cask of Amontillado" to help form characterization in his writing. The name Fortunado can be viewed as someone fortunate, or someone who has wealth, and it is soon discovered that Fortunados fate is not “fortunate”. Another example of dramatic irony shown by Poe is how Fortunado states that a cough will not kill him, "Enough, the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough."(Poe 6)  As a reader, it is understood that although his cold may not kill him that something else will. This irony used by Poe helps give the reader more insight about the character and can also foreshadow their actions. Ernest Hemingway also uses irony to characterize in “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”. A clear example of irony used is the fact that both the old man and the "older" waiter prefer to stay out late while the young man in the story prefers to go home early. This shows how although typically a younger man would enjoy staying out later a lonely old man would rather stay at the bar with no friends then to leave and be on his own.

            The setting of "The Cask of Amontillado" is used by Poe to help form the demeanor of his characters. Showing where their actions are being held help to understand more about the characters. Fortunado is originally found during the carnival season wearing cloths similar to a jester. You can infer from this how Fortunado is a quite foolish character and may be gullible to others. The rest of the story takes place in the cold, dark and musty catacombs of the Montresors.  This setting draws to conclusions that Montressor is a dark and shady person with no good in mind. The dark and damp setting of the catacombs also ties very well with the conclusion of the story as Montressor has taken Fortunado to this unpleasant place as his death bed. Setting is also used to create better characterization for Ernest Hemingway as well. Taking place very late at night in a café with not a soul left besides the waiters helps to grasp the loneliness of the man still drinking alone. This setting truly makes the reader realize how this man has nothing else going for him in his life.

            Another important literary element used to build characterization is the point of view. This is important when creating a character because the narrator’s point of view plays a large role with what we know about a specific character and how we feel about them. This is important in "The Cask of Amontillado" because with Montresor as the narrator we may assume although we never know what Fortunado did so badly to deserve a sentence of death. This shows how Montresor is a shady person to trick Fortunado to his death while acting as a friend. Point of view also plays a large role in “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” as it does not tell you what hardships the old man may be facing in his life in which he does not want to leave the café.

Poetry Essay 3/10/13

Poetry Essay Topic 2

 

            James Mercer Langston Hughes was an African American poet who lived through some of the toughest times in America as a Negro. He was forced to grow up and live in a world where African Americans were not treated equally by white Americans. Throughout his hardships, he became an inspiration, as well as an innovator to the new form of jazz poetry. Hughes was most commonly credited for his work during the Harlem Renaissance (Langston). In the poems “I, Too” and “Mother to Son,” Langston Hughes displays both powerful and unique language within his writing through literary elements to display its message to the reader.

            In the poem “Mother to Son,” Langston Hughes has a very unique use of language within his writing. In this poem the reader is embraced with words of wisdom as Hughes uses literary devices to show the constant uphill battle in life. This poem gives the reader an impression that an African American mother is speaking to her son; although uneducated she has many life experiences that she shares with her son. Hughes, who is highly educated and skilled in writing, uses the literary element of informal writing to give the reader the image that this poem was actually written by an African American woman to her son. He writes, “Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.” (Hughes 1,2) These lines show proof of how informal his writing was by using the phrase “ain’t been no”. He also used other examples of this unique writing later on in his poem by saying “I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners,” (Hughes 9, 10, 11). These examples are all part of the building blocks which make Langston Hughes’s such a talented and unique poet through his language.

            In “I, Too,” Hughes conveys not only a unique style of writing but he also expresses very powerful writing within this poem. Langston Hughes did not write these poems to complain to his audience, but instead he wanted to educate them on the suffrage that was going on during this time period. “I, Too” is a great example of his powerful words that were heard around the world. Hughes states, “I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.”(Hughes 2-7). These lines use vivid imagery and powerful language to show his feelings on racism. “I Too” as a whole shows the injustice of racism and is an anti-discrimination poem. Hughes also uses powerful imagery making the reader truly understand what it must have been like living in his position.” Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then.”(Hughes 11-14). This can make someone who did not live through this struggle understand how Hughes feels about the discrimination that was taking place, and how he wanted to make a stand against it.

            Langston Hughes will always be remembered as one of the most famous poets of all time. He used unique and powerful forms of writing to form a clear message for his readers. His poems “I Too” and “Mother to Son” both carry very strong messages to their readers; and no matter what time period they may be read the interpreter will always be able to understand the hardships that Langston Hughes faced and the theme of his poems through his language.

Hemingway

   "It was a nothing that he knew too well. It was all a nothing and a man was a nothing too. It was only that and light was all it needed and a certain cleanliness and order. Some lived in it and never felt it but he knew it all was nada y pues nada y nada y pues nada. Our nada who art in nada, nada be thy name thy kingdom nada thy will be nada in nada as it is in nada..."(Hemingway 146)

I believe that this passage perfectly describes A Clean Well Lighted Place a short story by Ernest Hemingway. This passage is very effective because it does a good job explain the nothingness of the mans life, which can also reflect Hemingway's feelings about his own life.

About Me

My name is Chris Garrity, born February 8, 1994. I went to Willaim Floyd High School and graduated in 2012. I currently live in Levittown, Ny and attend Farmingdale State college. I also currently work three jobs. At Farmingdale i work as a secretary for Transfer Services, I also work at a shooting range called Suffolk County Trap and Skeet and deliver kitchen cabinets for my grandparents business Family Kitchens and Baths. During my free time from school i enjoy all of the work i have to continue to save money. In my life my family and friends are very important to me. I have my mother, father, my sister Christina, and my two brothers Liam and Michael. My grandparents are also very important to me as i live with them now as I attend school. I'am also fortunate to have my friends Vinny, Nick and Adam. One last person who is very important to me is my girlfriend Kacie, she has always been there for me no matter what and I couldnt imagine not having her in my life. Although I want to succeed and one day become a Physicians Assistant, I do not enjoy doing schoolwork. I have become such a procrastonator to get my work complete and it is something that I do not look forward to doing. Besides work I also enjoy playing sports and going to the gym. Atlthough I have suffered a bad case of tendonitis and it has held me back from working out this year, it was always be something that i enjoy doing. As this semester draws to an end the studying becomes more difficult and the workload increases but it brings us all just a step closer to our common goal of graduating college.

                  - Chris Garrity