PLOT #8: TONE/MOOD

The tone and mood are essential in any literary work because they can easily shape any readers interpretation.  For example, in Hamlet, when Claudius, Hamlet, and Gertrude are speaking in front of the court, there are many different instances in which several lines can be interpreted to be delivered with a different tone.  First, when Gertrude says "all that lives must die" (line 72), the line can be interpreted to be delivered as a sincere and motherly tone or with a condescending tone.  Moreover, another example, of the plethora, would be the line in which Claudius says "Why, 'tis a loving and fair reply" ( line 121).  This line can be interpreted to to be said in many different tones, from sarcastic to satisfied, to conciliatory to barbed. In short, the tone and mood of any work, especially Shakespeare, have the ability to create a whole different read for the reader, based on interpretation and delivery.

PLOt #7: Diction

An authors choice of words when writing are done so carefully, in any literary work, to convey a certain meaning and to communicate a certain tone and attitude.  An authors correct use of diction often enables the reader to see into the 'heart' of the poet, empowering him or her with a sense of knowing.  In 'Traveling though the Dark', William Stafford's use of diction not only allows the reader to understand the tone and attitude of Stafford, but also often has the ability to make the reader feel the same way.  In "Traveling through the Dark", as the pot encounters the dead doe in the middle of the street, all his actions come to a halt.  As he approached the doe, and finds our she was pregnant, Stafford's diction illustrates the natural feeling of sorrow within a human.  Even though the poet had no relation to the doe, and even though it was just a doe, and not a human, the poet understands the meaning of life, even to a doe.  With this said, speaker also recognizes the importance of bearing a child, and the meaning that a child has to its mother.  "My fingers touching her side brought me the reason me the reason- her side was warm; her fawn lay there waiting, alive, still, never to be born.  Beside that mountain road I hesitated".  Stafford's use of depressing diction is very unique.  First, his use of simple words such as "never" have a drastic affect on the tone and mood of the poem.  Moreover, the word "never" brings into light the severity of the accident, and how this doe will not only never meet her child.  Subsequently, something that is more interesting is how the speaker almost feels angry for the doe; this innocent animal did not even have to chance to stand up for herself or see her offspring.  An author's use of diction has the ability to create a tone that not only permeates through out the poem, but also is recognizable by the reader.        

BLOG #6: IMAGERY/FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

The visually descriptive and figurative language of a literary work often enhance the read, and even more so inject the reader with a sense of familiarity.  First of all, imagery is very essential in a poem and often has the ability to attach a reader to the theme by strong and vivid imagery.  For example, in "Slam Dunk", Komunyakaa employs the use of very vivi imagery that literally paints an image in the mind of the reader, especially for athletes and basketball players.  "Nothing but a hot swish of strings like silk"paints a vivid image that any basketball player, or fan can relate to.  As a player, the feeling of a swish is relieving and soothing, almost like that feeling of having an ice cold drink on a hot summers day.  Next, figurative language in literary works also has the ability to enhance the readers understandability of what the poet or author is trying to convey.  In the poem "Traveling Through the Dark", Stafford uses personification to intensify his poem.  The personification adds to the mood of the poem, and also enhances the readers ability to comprehend the emotion "The car aimed ahead its lowered parking lights; under the hood purred the ready engine".  This personification turns the car into the killer, almost like a predator.  The use of imagery and figurative language enhance the read or any literary work by creating a certain feeling in the reader that he or she can often relate to.      

BLOG#5 poetic sounds

Sound often has the ability to alter the mood and tone of poem.  First of all, the iambic pentameter in Shakespeare and Hamlet stress two syllables.  This poetic sound of iambic pentameter is often used to distinguish royalty.  For example, Hamlet's soliloquies and speeches are spoken in iambic pentameter, however, Hamlet Sr. speaks in normal, blank verse.  Moreover, in Ulysses, the narrator employs the use of alliteration and assonance to instill an elongated feeling in the reader.  When the reader has to focus on pronunciation, it slows down the read; thus coinciding with the idleness feeling the King has.  "The long day wane; the slow moon climbs; the deep moans round with many voices" (Tennyson 55-56) is Odysseus speaking about his job and how he feels idle as a king.  The sounds created by iambic pentameter, alliteration, and assonance often create a certain mood and feeling in a literary work.

BLOG #4: Symbol/theme

Symbol and theme in a play or novel are crucial in the development of the work, but often even create the basis of a novel or reoccurring aspect to the whole work.  First of all, an author often includes symbol on his or her work to express a different type of opinion or draw into focus real-life issues prevalent at the time of the work.  For example, in Rafael, by Ana María Matute, the metaphor of a bird in a cage ties in with Spanish Civil War that was occurring at the time the work was written.  This bird, oppressed and confined for days by the cage was finally set free.  The bird flying free in a metaphor for the spanish people who have been liberated during the Spanish Civil War.  The cage is a metaphor for the oppression of the people.  In any given narrative, there may be moments that can be understood in ways that transcend the literal, as expressed in Rafael.  In this case, the moment that the bird was liberated from the restrictions of a cage was the moment that transcends the literal.  Moreover, the bird's liberation has a thematic meaning to the whole story, and a metaphorical one that intertwines with the current events of the era in which the story was written.  Next, theme is often the basis that keeps a work moving, and arguably the most important literary aspect to a work.  For example, in Hamlet, the theme's of life and apparitions keep the whole play moving.  Furthermore, in Pride & Prejudice, the themes of class, reputation, and wealth/status determine the whole story, and what it is about.      

BLOG #3 Setting

The setting of a literary work, whether it be Hamlet, or Pride & Prejudice, is always determined by the time, location, and place of the story.  The setting of Pride & Prejudice is in Longbourn, England circa 1800.  The setting of a novel or work often has to do with the topics and themes in which the play is based on.  In Pride & Prejudice, the themes of love and class are portrayed not only through context, but also through character diction.  To express how setting affects the themes and characters in a play, one can contrast Pride & Prejudice to Hamlet.  The setting of 1800 Longbourn, and the themes that accompany that era are drastically different from the themes of life and death in Hamlet's late medieval period in Denmark.  Moreover, the themes that accompany the medieval era in Denmark, such as the mystery of death are different from the themes of love and reputation and class in Pride & Prejudice.  Next, the setting of a play or novel also affects the diction and use of syntax within that work.  For example, in Hamlet, the words and construction of sentences are diferent from those of Pride & Prejudice.  "Pray you, be round with him"(line 5, scene 4, act 3) are Polonius' words.  This type of word organization would never be said in Pride & Prejudice.  Finally, the setting of a play or novel, from the time of day to the mood instilled to the location, all affect the themes written about in the work and the diction employed by the characters.      

BLOG #2 CHARACTER

Despite the fact that the fiction Hamlet is different from the drama Pride & Prejudice, the main characters in each work are quite similar.  First, in P&P, Elizabeth is undergoes an internal problem out through the play, just like Hamlet does in Shakespeare's play.  This problem for Elizabeth, is whether or not to conform to the societal norms around her, and once she receives the proposal from Darcy, her problem become even for immense.  First of all, as the novel progressed, the reader was able to identify with Elizabeth, and also had the ability to watch her personality grow.  At the beginning, Lizzy's hate for Darcy was a mere facade of what was to come, true love.  Similarly to Hamlet, there is also character growth, and tough decision making.  In Hamlet, we watch the young man grow and gain responsibility and self-reliance.  More importantly, however, is Hamlet's tough decision's that he has to make; similar to Lizzy's predicament.  First of all, Hamlet has to decide whether or not to kill Claudius immediately or wait and be patient, as tough as it may be.  Subsequently, another and even more challenging decision that Hamlet encounters several times through out the play is whether or not to take his own life, suicide.  Hamlet, especially when talking to the skull really contemplates living, and the value of life.  These tough predicaments that both characters have to face in the play are crucial to character development, and tie both Lizzy and Hamlet together.      

PLOT post

While the plot is essentially what happens in a narrative, there is not always a similar approach to revealing plot, especially in a fiction vs. a drama.  First, it is important to notice the plot scheme in Pride & Prejudice, and then compare and contrast it to that of Hamlet.  First, the exposition in Pride & Prejudice is different from that of Hamlet.  In P&P, Austen utilizes different methods of introduction, like show to tell, to provide background information.  However, the exposition in P&P is different from that of Hamlet because of Shakespeare's ability to set up the exposition strictly through characters.  In Hamlet, there is not one narrator who narrates the whole play; rather, there are multiple characters who offer insight to the future and into the past through their diction and conversation.  While both Hamlet and P&P are different because they do not share exposition methods, they are alike because of both Austen and Shakespeare's abilities to offer insight and foreshadowing that lead up to the climax of the play, or the problems.  For example, in P&P Austen employs the use of Elizabeth in order to express problems that others are having such as Darcy while in Hamlet, Shakespeare also builds up the rising action through other characters and events that do not always correspond directly to the protagonist.  P&P and Hamlet are different in their employment of climax.  In Shakespeare, the climax is arguably the last scene, when Hamlet and the others die.  This scene was different than the climax in P&P because is was tragic, and detrimental to the protagonist; however, because the climax in P&P is Darcy's proposal to Elizabeth which is a happy and good scene for the protagonist.  On the contrary, the falling action in a fiction is much different than that of a drama.  First, P&P's falling action constituted of the turning point and what followed the proposal; but, in Hamlet, the climax was the last scene because almost everyone died, thus, there was no significant falling action.  Lastly, one of the more crucial factors that P&P and Hamlet contrasted in was the denouement.  In P&P, the denouement unraveled through out the time period of when Darcy proposed, and the end of the book.  The denouement in P&P was more of a "ever after" type that includes the happiness of Elizabeth, and her life long aspirations (and those of her mother) coming true.  However, the denouement in Hamlet expresses a sense of abruptness, that ends with the play's main characters dying.  Though Pride & Prejudice and Hamlet are different (thus have differences) in the sense of a fiction vs. drama, they do share similarities as well in terms  of several of the narrative traits.

Essay comments

After reading my comments to my essay, i feel like i have come a long way from the time of my last one.  First, I am happy with the drastic change in the amount of surface errors.  In terms of the idea, i feel like I made a strong effort to be original, while including large idea into the mix of my essay.  On one final note, i think one thing i need to do next time is have someone else proof-read my essay.  While i did print it out this time, i did not have someone else read it.  This is something that may have changed the couple small surface errors i did have.

Dying as a recognized youngster, or living too long as an idle elderly

The poem Athlete Dying Young by A.E. Houseman juxtaposes the poem Ulysses (Odysseus) by Lord Alfred Tennyson not only in the general contextual ideal, but also in a more specific and confined analytical analysis.  In Houseman's poem, the story of a boy who does not live long enough to see the glory of his own success juxtaposes to Tennyson's Odyssues through the story of an elderly king who has just "become a name" (Tennyson 11).  The poems not only differ in terms of literary structure such as imagery, syntax, and paragraph structure, but also through general contextual confinements such as theme, sound, meaning, and speaker.  Despite the fact that both poems are similar in the larger sense because of their correlation with life, A.E. Houseman's Athlete Dying Young greatly differs from Lord Alfred Tennyson's Ulysses through literary structure and general contextual confinements.  

Two poem comparison: Athlete Dying Young vs. Ulysses

While Athlete Dying Young and Odysseus share very minute similarities, they are very different.  Right off the bat, the first thing that is different is the character scenario.  For example, Houseman's poem is about someone who died too young while Odysseus is about someone who has lived too long.  Next, the two poems are different because the speaker in Houseman's poem receives nostalgia from the people around him (the dead boy), while Odysseus creates his own nostalgia for himself.  Moreover, Athlete Dying Young is in the 2nd person, "you" while Odysseus is in the 1st person, "I".  Moreover, in Houseman's poem, the syntax implies a sad feel, one of possibly grief and remorse, while in Odysseus, the syntax creates a lamenting feel- an old man's complaint about inaction.      

Ozymandias blog

In Ozymandias, Shelly expresses the significance that time has on everything in life.  Through the diction that Shelly employs, she is expressing the toll time take on life and the fear of how time leads to an eventual platonic perception of everything.  So, what Shelly is saying, especially by alluding to the slab of rock with the writing on it, is that time eventually will eliminate any accomplishment and make everything meaningless.  Shelly's choice of diction and punctuation, or lack of punctuation, coincide with the length of eternal time.  The sentences almost run-on, just like time.  Next, "Nothing besides remain" is the only straight forward line in the whole poem, and the only one that expresses Shelly's main point in a straight forward and brief sentence. 

Page 833: Number 3

Through out Hamlet, the choices of diction that juxtapose reality and appearance create a fine line between the tangible and the apparitions.  More specifically, one case when this juxtaposing language is prevalent is in the encounter between Hamlet and his father, the ghost.  First, words including appear form like and assume all convey an unreal mood and form while words such as reveal and play seem more concrete in their description of the matter at hand.  Moreover, words that can describe an apparition, like Hamlet Sr. or show the certainty that are carried in Hamlet's speech patterns while words that describe an apparition convey  tone of uncertainty, and in his speech with his father, vengeance.  So, while words can be subtle, they often imply the true motive, feel, and intention behind them, thus, drawing a fine line between reality and not.

In-class acting: Hamlet & Ghost

Adam and I decided to act out the first encounter between Hamlet and his father, the ghost the way we did because we wanted to show the vengeance a son would toward the killer have when seeing his dead father in a ghostly form, and the parenting aspect Hamlet Sr. would have when talking to son.  First of all, when someone thinks of a ghost, they think of haunted evil spirits, however, we acted our scene out so that Hamlet wasn't frightened by his fathers ghost.  We did this because we wanted to show that he loved his father, and was willing to do anything for his to get vengeance.  For example, if a child is hospitalized because he was beat up by a kid, the child's parents want nothing other than to see their son get better and to find the kid who committed the crime, and gain justice.  Similar to this situation, Hamlet saw his father dead, and he was so furious that he couldn't even hold his father again that he was sad and vengeful at the same time, thus, furious to see his dad in that state.  So, when we acted our Hamlet and Hamlet Sr. (ghost), we did it in a way that expressed Hamlet's anger and vengeance because of seeing his father like this, and also expressed the ghost's concern for his son, and how he didn't want him to do something stupid.  

Question 9 and 7, 10-28-10

9)  In Hamlet's first monologue, the reader not only learns a lot about Hamlet's personality through diction, but also through the uses of strong imagery.  First off, it is important to note Hamlet's inconsistency with speech and how his mind is all over the place.  Hamlet's thought in is first soliloquy are on no path, they are just everywhere!  First he talks about his fathers death using diction that entails time, and eternal things like G-d.  "Everlasting" refers to G-d, "But two months" refers to his fathers death, and "O G-d! O G-d!" is when he is talking to the everlasting beings that listen.  Moreover, the dashes in the speech of Hamlet express his non-consistency in speech and lack of fluidity.  Next, Hamlet's use of vivid imagery such as "Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears" to indicate to the audience and reader the mental state he is in, and his deep depression.

7)  In Hamlet, the themes of chaos and order are very central to the conflict of the play and reveal dominant themes because of their ability to shape characters such as Hamlet.  First, it is important to realize that the two reflect on one another, when there isn't chaos there is order, and vice versa.  Also, while there seems to be order when Claudius is king, there is actual chaos, especially in the mind of Hamlet.  Hamlet is so furious with the murder of his father that he is willing to do anything he can to gain vengeance, a central theme in the play.  

Page 830: #7 & #14

7)  First of all, it is important to understand that Hamlet is a brilliant man with a brilliant mind.  Not only can the reader infer this because of his obvious education, but he also speaks with "nobility" in his tone.  He has an air of superiority in his speech, yet humble, and is a very well-educated man.  With that said, Hamlet's "antic disposition" is absolutely deliberate and planned.  First, "To put and antic disposition on" clearly shows that Hamlet has this on his mind.  So, it is evident through his speech that he does this on purpose, in an ultimate plot to gain vengeance on "King" Claudius.  Finally, since Hamlet refers to it in his speech, and is trying to gain vengeance on Claudius, his "antic disposition" is on purpose.

14)  When Hamlet says "Why, then, 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so", he is admitting that he is acting (at least to the reader) through his diction.  Hamlet yearns for his father, and admits that he has felt hollow since his absence.  Also, Hamlet means that this world we live in hold no truths.  Also, Hamlet says that Denmark is a prison for his, so a bad; however, another citizen there may love Denmark and consider it a good.  Next, Hamlet is aware of his ability to conceal his lack of emotion by acting crazy, thus, proving sanity.  He should be care though, for he who acts crazy long enough may eventually be taken in by it.  

HW #4: Page 830

What is the basis for both Laertes's and Polonius's objections to Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet? Which of their arguments seems most (and least) persuasive or fair? What does their treatment of Ophelia in act I, scene iii reveal about their motivations? What does it suggests about their attitude toward Ophelia and toward women in general? How does class or station function in their arguments?

First, it is important to take into consideration the relationship between Laertes and Ophelia, and that they are brother and sister.  Just as any protective brother would do, myself included, a brother wants to protect a sister from the true intentions of a man.  So, when the issue about Hamlet is addressed to Ophelia from her brother (Laertes) and her father ( Polonius), the issue of male hormones and royalty obligations are brought up.  First, Laertes says to his sister that because Hamlet is a man who is "on the prowl", he may tell Ophelia that he loves her, but that his love is temporary and to "Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood...".  Laertes is telling Ophelia that this whole "love" thing between Hamlet and his sister is just a big flirtation.  Moreover, Laertes says "sweet, not lasting" when referring to the "love".  By this, he means that love is cute a petty but that it wont last "more than a minute".  He also warns his sister because he says that since Hamlet is royalty, he needs to find a spouse.  So, he is suggesting that Hamlet's love for Ophelia is also because he has obligations to uphold as royalty.  Lastly, Laertes says that Ophelia should watch out and not lose her virginity to Hamlet because he is full of lust.  Next, comes Polonius.  Right after Laertes leaves, he asks his daughter "what were you talking about".  Polonius then makes the argument that many people have been warning him about Ophelia and Hamlet and Polonius tells her that as his daughter, she should be restricted.  He then insults Ophelia by saying you're a fool for falling for him, he is just trying to have some fun.  I think that Laertes has a better and more personal argument.  This shows that think that women are items to be used for sex, and class plays into their arguments because they both make the claim that Hamlet has an obligation, as royalty, to find a wife.

"King" Claudius: The "well-intentioned" manipulator

In Hamlet, the speeches and monologues of King Claudius make the reader and audience aware of the recently appointed King's true intentions, as well has his actual demeanor.  After secretly murdering his brother, poor-intentioned Claudius has taken over the thrown and is now step-father to Hamlet and Husband to Gertrude, his old sister-in-law.   When the King appoints his peers, and speaks publicly, one question that always pops into the mind of  the reader and audience is: "is this how a king really is?"  From the second we meet Claudius, an air of selfishness and greed exude from his pores.  First, Claudius suspiciously brushes off the death of his brother with a light tone, using syntax that pulls the reader, audience, and peers of Claudius away from the state of mourning.  Also, Claudius speaks with such arrogance and power, as if he is the best and most dominant man around, that the individuals around him, including the reader and audience, want to know if that is how a king really is.  Claudius uses such force and aggression at times that it seems as if he is insecure with his Kingship and needs to act dominant to make sure people don't objectify him. On the contrary, King Claudius also uses wise tactics of manipulation, foreshadowing gifts and rewards for his peers, like Hamlet, in the near future.  Despite Claudius appearing to have a well-intentioned demeanor, the "King" is actually an insecure, power-hungry man who only bases his intentions off of self interest.

Prufrock: One line analysis

In Alfred Prufrock's Love song, the characteristics of the incapacitated individual are exemplified through diction and strong lines. The line, "But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen...", not only utilizes vivd imagery to conveys a message, but also informs the reader about the mental state of the individual.  This line is central in the poem because it indirectly states the emotions and emotional state of the poet; an emotional state of confusion, and lack of understanding for his role on Earth.  Subsequently, the poet's thoughts are convoluted and express confusion, thus, expressing a lack of purpose.  The line is important because it paints a vivid image.  "Just try to project my thoughts from all over my brain, billions of them, over the walls around me".  The speaker is searching for a place on Earth because he feels that he doesn't have a purpose in this world.  Next, it is evident through the context of the line that Prufrock's emotions are scattered everywhere, and the line conveys that state, for, it is almost impossible to "project" and infinite amount of thoughts on a canvas around an individual, especially if one were to try and count the thoughts and interpret them all.  Furthermore, one of the most important aspects of this line is that it is a metaphor for the whole poem, expressing how this individual is trying to express himself but it is impossible because he is feeling so many emotions and humans are so complex.  Prufrock's intent for this line may arguably be that he is trying to imply the complexity of the human mind.  "But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen..." is a line that is not only central to Prufrock, but also a metaphor.

Interesting point: "To His Coy Mistress"

In To His Coy Mistress, Marvell employs the use of many literary devices including alliteration, hyperbole and underscore to express the extent of how time affects a relationship.  Hyperbole is arguably the most effect and interesting literary device that Marvel utilizes not only because it is interesting to see how Marvell juxtaposes hyperbole to underscore, but also because it expresses the emotions of the speaker.  In the first stanza, Marvell executes an insightful use of hyperbole which informs the reader that the speaker is in love with his mistress "Thou by the Indian Ganges side".  At the turn of the 18th century, it is highly unlikely that any man will travel to the Ganges river for a woman, especially with the lack of transportation at the time.  So, Marvell uses hyperbole here to indicate that the speaker loves his mistress very much, even though it is unlikely that he will travel to the Ganges for her.  Subsequently, While the speaker expresses how time is essential in his foundation of lover for his mistress, the speaker then goes on to express how time will ruin the woman, in stanza two.  Marvell juxtaposes the use of hyperbole to express how much the speaker loves his mistress in stanza one, and how in time he will love her more, to how time will eventually ruin his love for his mistress.  "Thy beauty shall no more be found" is the speakers expression of how time will make his now beautiful mistress old, and he will no longer find her beautiful.  The hyperbole in stanza one to express how time is essential in the development of love is juxtaposed to the speakers expression that time will ruin his mistress, in stanza two.

Coy Mistress: hyperbole

In To His Coy Mistress, Marvell employs the use of several literary devices to employ string emotions felt.  Moreover, one of the most prominent, and central types of literary devices used is hyperbole.  Marvell uses hyperbole to express his emotions for his mistress, for example the distances that he is willing to travel for his love.  "Thou by the Indian Ganges side" is a hyperbole because his mistress is not truly in the Ganges.  Moreover, Marvell's employs juxtaposing hyperbole to understatement in his first two paragraphs.  For example, the hyperbole in part one is juxtaposed to the understatement in part two of how time will age his "beautiful" mistress into and ugly, unattractive being.  This is juxtaposed because in part one he says that he spends so much time investing into his mistress loving her, but in part two he says time will age her.

D.W. Harding: My Disagreement

Despite the fact that DW Harding admits he was playing "devils advocate" with the argument he posed on how Austen does not intend to use satire as a means of humorous fun about individual caricatures.  While Harding's argument is on one extreme end of the spectrum, i disagree because I interpret Austen's satire, though difficult to understand at times, as a means of poking light fun at characters who regularly ridiculed in society.  Furthermore, when an author instills emotions in a reader, like Austen did for me, the reader feels attached to the authors beliefs.  In this case, Austen's use of satire and animosity toward characters including Mrs. Bennet instill emotions of annoyance and utter disgust for individuals who even resemble Bennet.  Subsequently, Austen's satire is proven to be effective by creating an invasive emotion in the reader.  Finally, Austen's use of satire and wit to hyperbolize certain individuals in society puts into light the negative emotions people truly uphold toward individuals such as Mr. Collins or Mrs. Bennet.

P & P essay analysis

Several things I need to work on:
-Making sure that I eliminate all surface errors by reading the essay over and over again
-structuring the topics better and closer together so I can have more well-constructed essays

Some of my strengths as a writer include:
-The ability to draw inference and make strong analysis
-The ability to employ the use of strong sentences that thrive on complexity

One of my most eminent problems seems to word choice errors

REVISED assignment for monday, 9/20/10

• While there are many crucial aspects to a strong, well composed essay, I believe the single most important aspect of an essay is fluidity.  Of course, having a strong title that entices the reader, as well as a meaningful and impact-full first sentence that lure the reader are also important.  However, an essay can never be a good essay unless the reader can connect, and this can only happen if the reader has no problem understanding the essay, thus, having a fluid essay.  Out of all the essays that I read, the best one would probably be C for Cecilia because of Cecilia's ability to construct her ideas in a coercive essay that includes many strong points and had no analytical problem articulating her beliefs.  So, while there are many aspects to an essay that are necessary to have a good essay, the most important one is probably the ability for writer to construct a clear and concise essay in which her or her thoughts are explained though fluid writing. 

Critique #3, I for Imelda

I chose this essay to be the essay i write about because i was automatically enthralled by the topic at hand.  While i have seen better essays, i still thought this essay served it purpose.  I was fascinated with the writers original message of how Austen uses Elizabeth as a gateway to express her real emotions on marriage.  Despite the interesting writing position, i soon lost my interest in the essay because of choppy sentence structure, often poor diction, and a lack of analysis.  I realizes the writer had the ability to incorporate good quotes, however a transitional sentence or two were lacking; thus, creating for a choppy or fragmented read. This was a tough topic to write about and I commend the writer for making an effort.  Despite the small lack of interpretation, and often inability to use strong transitions, the topic and content of the essay were strong enough to earn a B+.  This was the best essay i read tonight, just not the best i've ever read

Essay critique, Day 2 - C for Cecilia

Out of the three essays that I read, the best one, was without a doubt, C for Cecilia.  First off, it is important to take note of the first thing that the reader takes note of, the title.  The title has the possibility of having a profound effect on the reader that can lure him in right from the get-go.  The title of C for Cecilia  is Not Knowing Anything Can Mean Something: How Not Giving Characters Any Initial Context Can Affect How We See Them.  This title is an example that lures the reader right from the beginning, and makes him or her intrigued to find out what the author's interesting argument may be.  Furthermore, the next topic of interest that stood out to me in this essay was the topic sentence of the intro.  While this sentence is simple, it allots the reader the ability to agree or disagree with the author right from the beginning.  Thus, because Cecilia has already lured the reader with a strong title and a strong first sentence, she has set high standards off the bat for the reader, which are often better than starting with low standards.  In terms of the context and grammar of the paper, they are fair.  Cecilia poses a strong and what seems to be original argument that is interesting.  However, a turnoff to any reader, and maybe even an insult to a teacher is that Cecilia has clearly forgotten to proof read her paper and has left some small, but, noticeable mistakes.  Lastly, the essay has fluidity, but also lacks some depth at some points.  While the quotes are meaningful, and well placed, they could be analyzed a little more to create a stronger argument.  In all, I would give the essay a B+ because it posed a good argument, enticed the reader from the get-go, and was very fluid; however, the essay wouldn't receive and A because it has some grammatical errors at at times lacks depth.

Rank 3 essay from the reader

I read Actions Speak Louder Than Words, The Infamous Mr. Darcy, and Faulty First impressions.  The best of these essays, even though still not amazing, was The Infamous Mr. Darcy.  I believe this because Actions speak louder than words used way too many quotes and did not analyze the text enough.  Moreover, Faulty impressions is an essay that lacks depth and analysis, and, often relies on quotes to substantiate for analysis.  Next, this essay also uses very basic language and does not use creativity or complexity in the essay.  Lastly, i feel that while the Infamous Mr. Darcy essay seems to be very elequently worded and verbose, behind all the big words, there actually is a meaning.  With that said, while this essay still isn't an amazing essay, it still has a meaning and sounds and reads very well, and also has a strong argument.  So, out of the three essays that i read, The Infamous Mr. Darcy essay was the best.

Show or Gossip & Tell, and how does Austen decide?

Thesis: In essence, Austen’s show method grants the reader the right to judge the character as they see fit and her methods of gossip and tell inform the reader of how that character is perceived in society, and why other characters act the way they do toward the character introduced.  Austen’s different methods of introduction are not only chosen wisely because of the effect Austen wants to have on the reader, but also chosen in concordance with the type of character introduced.