Practice AP

This passage characterizes a relationship between the young man and his father in which the father's affection for him absolute, but the son is conflicted because he wants to distance himself from his father.
The boy is extremely conflicted about separating from his father to pursue his own personal interest. The author begins by telling the reader about the long and personal tradition the son and his father have. It is simply stated that the young man and his father used to prefer each other's company. The idea that the son would rather spend time with someone also is, to the son, "a very serious thing" and "the end of something". These descriptions of his inner thought make it clear that following his desire is bring him some degree of unhappiness. Furthermore, his discomfort with the idea of leaving his father is shown in his request to go fishing with Bill Harper. There is absolutely no punctuation in the sentence that tells the reader what he said. This type of formatting brings to mind the the rushed speaking of someone who is nervous.

Sound and Sense #5

In the poem "Mind" by Richard Wilbur, the human mind is compared to a bat in a cave through the use of an extended simile which is supported by a series of secondary comparisons. After the initial metaphor of that bat in a cave is introduced, it reads "Contriving by a kind of senseless wit/
Not to conclude against a wall of stone" (Wilbur 3-4). This comparison evokes the image of a bat attempting to navigate in the dark, but the use of the word wit, also allows the subject to be interpreted as human thought. The essence of the metaphor is that they are both able to guide themselves safely without direction. In the second stanza needs of the bat and the mind are compared: "It has no need to falter or explore;/ Darkly it knows what obstacles are there,/ And so may weave and flitter, dip and soar/ In perfect courses" (Wilbur 5-8). Both having an innate nature of their surroundings. The bat can find obstacles while the mind can identify problems or lack of understanding.  In the third stanza, this comparison is shown to be flawed: "Save/ That in the very happiest of intellection/ A graceful error may correct the cave" (Wilbur 10-12). The mind can think and change it's self, while the bat's cave reamins static. Ultimately this poem is interesting because it shows a possible failing of metaphors in simplifying an idea.

Hamlet #3

In this section of the play, the themes of deception and lying are brought to the forefront of the plot and become an essential part of understanding the characters. When Hamlet speaks to the ghost of his father, he is told by the apparition "the whole ear of Denmark/ Is by a forged process of my death/ Rankly abused" (I.v. ). The lies surrounding the circumstances of his death are presented as an attack on the state its self.  This description closely parallels the facts of the king's murder. He was killed by Claudius who he says, "in the porches of my ears did pour/ The leperous distilment" (I.v. ). Just as poison in his ear killed the king, lies in the ears of the state threaten Denmark. Hamlet himself imitates this method of destruction through deception by behaving with a strange and bizarre front concealing his vengeful intentions. This theme of deception continues into the next scene Polonius instructs Reynaldo in the arts of manipulation and deception.

Hamlet #2

Here, Hamlet aligns himself with the response to death which he find to be the more acceptable. As previously established, he has little respect for the response that Claudius and his mother have had to his father's death. At start of scene for there is an ongoing celebration in the interior which Hamlet has chosen to distance himself from, saying "indeed it takes/ From our achievements, though perform'd at height," (I.iv). He feels that such behavior deteriorates the reputation of the state and its people. At this time, the ghost appears to him and Hamlet must decide if he trusts it enough to follow it, but eventually he reaches the conclusion that is does not matter, and falls back to Christian beliefs "And for my soul, what can it do to that,/ Being a thing immortal as itself?" (I.iv). The decision to go against his fears and to follow the ghost, a lingering representation of death, alongside his admission that he does not care what happens to him because his souls is immortal most likely serves as foreshadowing for the tragedy that will affect him,

Hamlet #1

In this section of the reading it becomes apparent that there is something unusual about the way the character are reacting to death. As the Hamlet, the king, and the queen are introduced, they are not in a situation of mourning. Only Hamlet seems to be preoccupied with sorrow over his father's death. His mother dismisses his concerns by simply stating, "Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die" (I.ii) and Claudius says "to persever/ In obstinate condolement is a course/ Of impious stubbornness" (I.ii). They disregard the death of a loved one with a disturbingly nonchalant attitude. However, outside the castle the very opposite is true, a ghost, perhaps the very embodiment of lingering death has troubled the minds of the living. Thus in this section two unnatural and disturbing, yet completely opposite, ideas of death present themselves. 

Othello Outline

Prompt: Othello is described as many things: “an honorable murderer” (V.ii.345); a “rash and unfortunate man” (V.ii.333); a “dolt, as ignorant as dirt” (V.ii.199-200); and “one that loved not wisely but too well” (V.ii.404). Decide on one of these descriptions and argue against the others.

Othello is best described as a “rash and unfortunate man” (V.ii.333) man, because more than any other cause, his tragic downfall can be attributed his personal insecurities and strong emotions.

1. The description of Othello as an “an honorable murderer” (V.ii.345) is inaccurate because while he thought that he was carrying out justice by killing Desdemona, his actions up to that point show that he was distressed to the point that all morality was discarded.
1. "Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuade Justice to break her sword!"
2. "Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men"
2. Othello cannot simply be dismissed as a “dolt, as ignorant as dirt” (V.ii.199-200) because he was so thoroughly fooled by Iago. His feelings were dramatically altered by his own fear and uncertainty, which Iago preyed upon to great effect. 
1. "Rude am I in my speech, And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace"
2. "And say besides, that in Aleppo once,Where a malignant and a turban'd TurkBeat a Venetian and traduced the state"
3. The tragedy of Othello and Desdemona's marriage does not occur simply because Othello was "one that loved not wisely but too well" (V.ii.404). No flaw is apparent in their relarionship that was not induced by Iago.
1.  "So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord"
2. "I fear, My soul hath her content so absolute That not another comfort like to this Succeeds in unknown fate."
4. All other options having been eliminated, Othello is best described as a "rash and unfortunate man" (V.ii.333). His emotions are quick to change when he is given justification to a feeling, but unfortunately he is manipulated by his trusted companion Iago.
1.  "As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me, Show me thy thought"
2. "Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne To tyrannous hate!"