curtis-chen-lit

#laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@cindyliulit To some extent the King. If I were in his shoes, I'd also want to retain my power even though I'm aging fast. But I can also relate to how the sisters feel--having 100 knights romping around throughout your house is quite unpleasant to say the least... #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@gill_aplit Usually, the first person to die in a Shakespeare tragedy is a less serious / almost comic relief side character. Think Romeo & Juliet - Mercutio and Hamlet - Polonius. It signifies the entrance of a darker atmosphere. My guess would be Kent in this case. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@brookeaplit I mean, that's what the two daughters are trying to do. We've already seen them converse about their father's growing insanity (and consequent inability to run the kingdom), and it seems they are on the same page with draining Lear's power (like the knights). #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@rajaslit @carmenlooilit Then again, we have seen that the King can be quite rash at times. It's very possible that Lear will lash out in rage in the wake of his shock about Kent. It'd be akin to how Lear lashed out against Cordelia out of shock. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@BridgetEilers @cindyliulit Ok, now this brings up an interesting question: if the villain of Hamlet was Edmund (or an Edmund-esque character), how would the dynamic in the play change? Perhaps Edmund would (like the gravedigger) be able to mirror Hamlet's smooth intellect and flexibility. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@HannaKi81468159 Well, he wishes both to "crawl towards death unburdened" (presumably he's gotten lazy) and to keep his power. The fact of the matter is that once he's divided his land, he has handed that power to his daughters. It's these two conflicting goals that cause friction. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@nooramanalalala Perhaps not a good ruler, but I definitely think he has the capacity to have "deep" emotions. I mean, him saying "I did her wrong" already reveals some semblance of guilt and morality in him. He's by no means surface-level (despite the "love me" contest)--just rash. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@cindyliulit Fortinbras. He's framed as a villain from the start, and yet he barely has to move a finger to collapse the kingdom of Denmark. The ironic theme that Shakespeare presents through this character is splendid--domestic conflicts are far deadlier than any battle or war. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@amandaschimmel1 @bellit_ruiter Though both loyal to their kings, I'd say Kent has his differences from Polonius. He is most definitely not blindsided by his loyalty. How he openly points out King Lear's mistake regarding Cordelia and stands firm in his beliefs already sets him apart: he is no yesman. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@brookeaplit Yeah, I especially liked how he spun Gloucester's words, making a mockery of Romantic superstition. It was very unexpected to see a character in a drama (much less so a Shakespearean tragedy) pointing out the flaws of romantic philosophy. It's almost ironic. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@nikhildlit Fair point, but then again, I don't think Claudius is as rash or impulsive as Lear is... Claudius proves to be quite sneaky and subtle in his movements, whereas Lear (so far) acts in outbursts and demands. I guess we'll have to see what Lear does next. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@gracelit1 Interesting question! I think it's just her natural character. We've seen plenty of other literary characters that have natural moral tendencies (ex, EJ/Farfrae vs. Henchard/Lucetta from TMOC), and it doesn't seem like it was nurture that had necessarily separated them. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@LitMeghan It actually makes me slightly sad, now that I think about it. This person spent three years pouring his heart into this one poem, yet we as highschoolers only glance at it for some fifteen minutes and jot down a brief analysis. "An Introduction to Poetry" at its finest. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@elaineku19 Yeah, I was especially curious about how he would read "Raisin" out loud since it didn't seem to have a definitive structure when I read it. I heard him stress some of the less obvious sound devices he used in the piece that made it clear that it was indeed poetry. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@elaineku19 @AnuragArasanLit I think the key difference is a matter of art. Poetry is more impressionistic, presenting in detail a foggy snapshot of one instant, one moment. Prose is more romantic, focussing on the progression of a series of moments and how they intertwine. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@elaineku19 @AnuragArasanLit But prose can be just as precise, too. We've read Hemingway, and his "prose" was by no means roundabout or wasteful in language. Analysing his stuff takes just as much concentration as poetry. The question is then, what separates carefully written prose from poetry? #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@chrisperezlit @reneelitkinzler @BridgetEilers You can also think of birds as the spectator of nature. Being able to fly, they can look down and watch as beasts of the land tear each other apart. This spectatorial nature makes them ominous and best representative of the death that's constantly watching us, waiting. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@cindyliulit Also, the way he structured the poem was pretty awesome. When I read it to myself, each time I came across a roman numeral I heard a bell toll, like the resounding judgement of natural fate on human pride as time draws near to the event. Very effective imagery. #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@cindyliulit The Thomas Hardy poem we read. I thought the imagery of the wedding, the consummation between iceberg and the Titanic was very powerful in conveying a sense of fate. Hardy's almost condescending perspective on the incident was also something unique, to say the least! #laylit19

[curtis-chen-lit @chenc75447558]

@chrisperezlit @BridgetEilers Yeah, that's why 'connotations' is part of the TPCASTT method. Since poets are restricted both by their rhyme, metre, and flow, word choice is critical. And in terms of analysis, all the meaning is restricted to those few words, which makes it all the more interesting. #laylit19