My bad. Here's the embedded video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhaDxJNwjPw&feature=PlayList&p=D903D897A8E23D28&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=58

The first two minutes and forty seconds is my scene.

Analysis here.

The executive producer of The Island, Michael Bay has produced many great films. He is also the producer of Transformers and Rise of the Fallen. With the high budget that he usually spends on movies, Michael Bay did an amazing job with his work on The Island, casting two incredible actors for the lead roles with an excellent supporting cast. Through the starting scene of The Island, Michael Bay starts by showing that the island will not be a positive place for Lincoln and Jordan; he also shows us that people will never be content with where they currently are.

Michael Bay shows us through the first scene that the island will not be a good place for the protagonist; he does this through his camera angles, music, and dialogue. The camera angles in this scene are mostly high shots or close-ups. This shows us that the characters are being suppressed by a force that is greater than them. This is one way the Michael Bay shows the viewers that his characters will not have a good experience if they go the island. The higher angles on the cameras, looking down on the characters makes them seem less significant and powerful. Holding them down with the angle of the camera. The music of this scene also brings suspense and hate of the island, the music is very suspenseful and dark. This serves as a warning to the viewers that everything is not as it seems as far as the island is concerned. From the get go they have a feeling of dread about whether or not the island is a good thing. The music sets this suspenseful tone very well. The dialogue in this scene is also setting the viewers up to fear the island. An ominous old man says, “You want to go to the island.” This automatically shows the readers that the island is not a good place. The old man seems like a manipulative being due to his facial expressions and vocal tones. These rather frightening details set the viewers up to fear the island and to hate the institution that created it and is manipulating the people.

He also shows that people will never be content with where they are in the first scene, he shows this with the constant camera movement, the way he portrays Jordan, and the feeling of being drowned that Lincoln feels. The constant camera movement gives the viewers a sense of discontent and restlessness. This reflects Lincoln’s feelings that something isn’t right and that there should be more to the world than what he is told. The camera movement helps to portray this to the audience through the restless feeling it gives them. This genius part of this film is easily recognizable if examined closely. This feeling of discontent with the world is also shown through this scene’s almost godlike portrayal of Jordan. She looks very wise and thoughtful in this scene, very quiet and laid back, however beautiful simultaneously. This shows how Lincoln feels like he needs to have change in his life. Except for the change he is looking for includes her. This constant motion and discontent with what he has is a theme presented often in this film. The final piece of how Michael Bay portrays this constant discontent is the drowning that Lincoln experiences in his dream. This drowning is symbolic for how he feels trapped in this false world that he knows doesn’t exist. This trapped feeling is made clear in this scene as well.

The way that Michael Bay begins his movie The Island is an excellent picture of how the rest of the movie goes. The themes and articles presented in the later movies are all begun in this first three minutes. Michael Bay sought to create a fear of the island, and a restlessness in his characters from the very beginning of the film. Through these themes, we can see his agendas for the film and for the audience.

Journal # 3 - Antigone II

Theme I - The first theme I will discuss is the theme throughout Antigone by Anouilh is the theme that death is final. This theme is brought up many times in his version of the play. However, it is much different from the beliefs and themes presented in the other three plays we have read thus far. The beliefs in the other plays are that death is not the end, that after death, there is another life of some sort, either good or bad. But Anouilh's Antigone comes from a less spiritual, more chaotic viewpoint, and therefore states the exact opposite.

Theme 2 - The second theme is that of happiness being impossible to reach. It often refers to happiness as a thing that is unreachable, at least by the tragic hero/heroes of the play. This is very similar to themes presented in the other plays in the fact that it makes it seem impossible, either by fate or choice, for the heroes to attain happiness on this Earth or ever. These tragedies, though dark and gloomy, open up all new possibilities for the heights that humanity can reach in happiness, and sadness.

Journal # 2 - Antigone II

1. Metaphor - "It's like a post card, all pink and green and yellow!" (Anouilh, 6)
Anouilh uses this metaphor to show us how beautiful the world can be to such a young mind as that of Antigone's . We envision the beauty of the early morning light touching all the images that Antigone sees. It must be even more beautiful for her this morning as well, knowing how the day will end.

2. Foreshadowing - "Creon will have us put to death!" (Anouilh, 10)
Anouilh shows the foreshadowing of Antigone's death here to make us feel suspense and pity for Antigone. We fear for her and the inevitable end that she will meet tonight. He uses the foreshadowing to make us fear for Antigone.

3. Alliteration - "Willful, wicked girl" (Anouilh, 11)
Anouilh uses alliteration here to reiterate what she says Creon thinks about herself. The repitition of the "w" sound accents how "wicked and willful" she is. She says those words exactly to prove to Ismene and the readers that that really is how Creon feels about her.

4. Personification- "Terrible noonday sun." (Anouilh, 17)
Anouilh uses this personification of the sun in Antigone as a force of nature. He uses her personification as a way of shifting the blame from the tangible action that Antigone takes against Creon, to the forces of fate for her future death.

Journal # 1 - Antigone II

I think that this Antigone will be more uncaring and less emotional than Sophocles' Antigone. I believe that instead of an emotional battle, it will be a battle of ideals. It will be the idea that her brother should be buried, not the respect she has for the gods, that is the idea behind her battle for justice. The basic plot will be the same as far as who lives and dies, but i think the emotions will not be as high strung. I think this because of the existentialist view that most philosophers had surrounding the early stages of World War II. The rise of evil politicians like Hitler will greatly affect the writers views of the story and the book will be much more depressing than the first Antigone, using less elements of tragedy.

Journal # 2 - Antigone

Antigone - Angelina Jolie - With red hair dye.
I picked Angelina because of her excellent acting abilities to seem on edge. She would fit the part of Antigone very well.

Ismene - Zooey Deschanel - Tall, dark haired girl who is rather reserved and unconfrontational.
I picked Zooey because she would play the passive Ismene very well. She is very similar to how I would imagine Ismene's personality to be like.

Creon - Sean Connery - His voice and facial hair is perfect for Creon
I picked Sean because his intense acting skills would be great at portraying how I picture Creons voice and personality.

Haemon - Gerard Butler - He seems like how I would imagine Haemon to look like.
He is a good actor who would play the part of Haemon well. Plus, he dies in every movie I've seen him in. So that would work out well too.

Journal # 1 - Antigone

Knowledge - What did Antigone do to her brother's body?
What did Creon decide her punishment would be?
Comprehension - To what extent was Creon's reaction rational?
How was Antigone's refusal to allow Ismene to die with her indicative of her inner feelings?
Application -What character do you most relate to?
Predict what will happen to Antigone at the end of the book.
Analysis - How does Antigone's foil with Ismene show what will happen later in the play?
Explain why Haemon begins his conversation with Creon as a supplicant?
Synthesis - Compare Antigone with Oedipus, her father.
What similarities can you find between Creon and Oedipus?
Evaluation - Would you have done what Antigone did?
Is Creon's death sentence the right way to punish this crime?

Journal # 3 - Medea

Both Medea and Oedipus use catharsis, however they show it differently in the two plays. In Medea, the catharsis of pity starts in the beginning with our pity for Medea's situation. However we also fear her because of her past brutality and the foreshadowing near the beginning. Oedipus, on the other hand uses a different kind of catharsis. Instead of making us feel pity for him in the beginning, we wish that we were in his position, everything seems pretty good in the beginning. However, as we learn of his fate, we begin to pity and fear him, however it's not because we pity his situation, it's because we pity the presence of fate in his downfall, instead of his own actions. In Medea, we fear Medea herself, whereas in Oedipus, we fear the use of fate against us from "the gods". This is the primary difference. The pity and fear are also purged in different ways in the plays. In Oedipus, the ending and his leaving are what purges the fear, while in Medea, our hatred for Medea's character purges the pity and fear. Because of the disgusting views of her actions, the pity is purged, whereas in Oedipus, we know that he would not do those things on purpose, and the pity is pured that way.

Journal # 2 - Medea

Medea often uses the gods Themis, the goddess of justice, and Artemis, the protector of women. These gods are often evoked in her long speeches, "O mighty Themis and Artemis..." (Euripides 38) Medea is very pissed off in this passage about her husband leaving her, so she evokes these gods, asking them why they have allowed her to suffer so much in the name of men. This is one example of how Medea uses the gods, she uses them when she is trying to make a point to others, trying to manipulate others, like when she talks about "Hecate, no: the goddess who abides in my inner heart" (Euripides 45), she is trying to persuade Creon to let her stay one more day, she uses the gods a a way to manipulate others into her own way of thinking, and to get them to let her weave her plots.

She also speaks of the god Helios often, this is usually when she tries to frighten people of her, she warns them that she is his granddaughter. This is why she is sucha powerful sorceress and why people fear her so often. So she also uses the gods to instigate fear of her into others.

Jason is rather different from Medea in the way he uses the gods. He uses the gods when he is truly asking for help or was helped from a situation, like in his conversation with Medea, stating that "Aphrodite and no one else on Heaven or Earth who saved me from my death", in this instance, he uses the god as a "replacement" helper for Medea, trying to convince her that she acted not on her own power, but on the power of Aphrodite. He calls out to help from the gods often in the end of the play too, once he finds out the horrors that Medea has commited, his asking for help and retribution from the gods becomes much more desperate and continuous.

Journal # 1 - Medea

The chorus plays a very unique role from the role of the chorus in Oedipus in Medea. The Medean chorus seems more close to Medea than the Oedipus chorus did. It uses more specific and endearing language, making it seem more intimate with Medea. The chorus in Oedipus was more of a "summarizer" so to speak, they sympathized with Oedipus, but his downfall did not seem to bother to them personally. Whereas in Medea, the chorus seems much more concerned about Medea's fate than the chorus in Oedipus. The chorus is a way that Euripides uses to create pity and sympathy in the audience, rather than a way to summarize plot, like in Oedipus.

Journal # 5 - Oedipus Rex

Sophocles creates fear and pity in the audience primarily by our similarities to the characters. The similarities and downfalls of Oedipus can be connected to by any human being. We all freak out when we find out horrible things, and we are all sometimes the victim of fate. This fear of fate and trouble creates that catharsis for us. The beauty in Oedipus is the purging of fear and pity in the ending of the play. He doesn't give us anything surprising or shocking, nothing happens that we wouldn't expect, and that is a beautiful reminder for the audience that life goes on. The catharsis of Oedipus is where we find this beauty. The fact that he falls to his own fated mistakes is the tool that Sophocles uses to create that fear and pity.

Journal # 4 - Oedipus Rex

Sophocles uses many images in the tragedy , Oedipus. The one that I most commonly found was the repeating image of blindness. Tiresias is a blind prophet, yet he sees all. Sophocles uses the image of being blind to show a wisdom when used in the physical sense, but a stupidity when used to show someone's mental blindness. When Tiresias calls Oedipus blind, he does not mean in the sense that he cannot see, but in the sense that he is blind to the truth. However, once Oedipus finds out the truth, this knowledge is too much for him to bear, and he creates physical blindness in himself. This shows that his wisdom/knowledge has become too much for him to bear, much like Tiresias' burden of knowing everything. Therefore, in Oedipus, we can see that Sophocles uses the image of blindness to demonstrate the pain one goes through when not blind to the horrible truth, but also the pain one takes in order to ease themselves of that truthful burden.

Journal # 3 - Oedipus Rex

The gender roles established in Oedipus are quite clear. In general, the men are the ones who have conflict in their lives. They rush blindly into argument and are the slowest to realize the truth. This case is especially evident in the exchange between Oedipus and Jocasta, she realizes before he does the truth about her marriage to him, while he takes much longer, and still hasn't found out. However, women are also more disrespected in society, although Grecian society was the best of its time for equality of the sexes, it still had a long way to go before it became the relative equality we have achieved in America. Jocasta seems like a strong example to women, she tries to do the right thing, but due to a lack of judgment, tragedy strikes her as well. This is rather similar to the situation Oedipus was put in during this play so far. The gender's don't seem to change when addressing the other gender. Men are slightly less aggressive towards women, but are still slightly disrespectful.

Journal # 2 - Oedipus Rex

Oedipus shows some qualities of a good leader. He is protective of his people and a strong willed leader. He also donates all of his time to helping his people. However, he is also very quick to anger, his words against Tiresias are very derogatory when the blind prophet makes his accusations. This is a quality the could be his downfall. His anger at his accuser shows us that he is self-righteous and unable to take criticism. This hubris could be his downfall. He is also quick to make assumptions about others. He quickly accuses Creon of being a conspirator against him. This is another character of a bad leader. In the words of the Leader of the Chorus "Those who jump to conclusions may go wrong" (Sophocles, page 194, line 693). His attitude becomes more and more aggressive. He seems more on edge as I continue to read. Tiresias seems ominous, all-knowing, but sad about it. He would rather not know the things he does. Creon is a powerful man as well, the equal of Oedipus in many ways.

Journal # 1 - Oedipus Rex

Page 159 - Oedipus Rex comes to the common people. He sympathizes with a kneeling old man.
Page 160 - The priest addresses Oedipus, telling of the troubles of Thebes.
Page 161 - The priest goes on, calling Oedipus the best of men and asking him to help once again in Thebes.
Page 162 - Oedipus states that he feels the pain of the entire city. He feels pressure from them to succeed.
Page 163 - Creon says that he brings good news from his trip to Delphi.
Page 164 - Creon tells Oedipus that the Oracle says that Thebes must cleanse itself of the murderer/murderers of Laius, the past leader of Thebes.
Page 165 - Laius' means of death is revealed, he was killed on the way to meet the Oracle.
Page 166 - Thieves killed Laius and the Sphinx commanded the people of Thebes not to pursue this mystery further.
Page 167 - Oedipus begins to take action against these killers.
Page 168 - The Chorus asks Zeus what is going on in the city. Hoping for good news from Oedipus.
Page 169 - The Chorus states that Thebes is dying, slowly but surely.
Page 170 - The Chorus asks the gods for help with Thebes problems.
Page 171 - Oedipus asks the people if anyone knows who killed Laius, but is met by silence both times.

Dystopian Journal # 3

Topic B

Winston is the main character of 1984. He is the dystopian protagonist and becomes a victim of the society. The society's oppression of any emotion against the Party becomes a great burden for him near the end of the novel. He is locked away into the Ministry of Love for committing thoughtcrime, in this way he is oppressed by the society. He is tortured by OBrian, who is a power figure throughout the book, respected by Winston. He tricks Winston into becoming part of the Brotherhood in order to get him to commit thoughtcrime. Winston then has his mind slowly destroyed by the torture process that is used in Oceania, the slow, mentally taxing torture process breaks him down into admitting automatically any crime he is accused of, and actually believing that he had commited the crime. This eventually breaks him down to the point where, after the ultimate torture in Room 101, he even feels love towards Big Brother. This is the worst instance in which the society destroys his final instincts to hate the society. This is why the society is so effective, it creates an environment in which, it is impossible to rebel, and therefore create the perfect society for its own existence. It is impossible for this society to fall within itself, the only way that it could fall is by an attack by another, outside nation.

Dystopian Journal # 2

Option # 2 -
Orwell criticizes the use of propaganda in society through comparing it to the Totalitarian societies of his time. The society is constantly oppressed by the use of propaganda, and through this, Orwell shows us the problems with society. George Orwell uses propaganda throughout the book as a symbol for the darkness that lies behind the ideals of the Party and Big Brother. The writing around the propaganda has an ominous tone when he writes about the usage of propaganda by the party. A prime example of this is when he is thinking of the face of Big Brother constantly surrounding him, “Even from the coin the eyes pursued you. On coins, on stamps, on the covers of books, on banners, on posters, and on the wrapping of a cigarette packet~ everywhere. Always the eyes watching you and the voice enveloping you” (Orwell 26). This shows us Winston’s feeling towards the propaganda supporting Big Brother everywhere. Since he feels oppressed by the eyes of Big Brother, we can clearly see that Orwell feels that this kind of propaganda is not optimum for societal growth. He shows us through Winston that the use of propaganda to keep people acting correctly and to oppress is damaging to society.
Orwell also shows us that propaganda in the form of language is hurtful to a healthy society. He uses throughout the book references to a language called “Newspeak”. This is the idea that Big Brother came up with to oppress the English language. He created Newspeak to cut out superfluous words from the English dictionary, disallowing people from expressing themselves as well as they could using standard English. One instance of this is during a conversation Winston has with Symes, a co-worker that is working on writing the newest edition of the Newspeak dictionary, “Or again, if you want a stronger version of ‘good,’ what sense is there in having a whole string of vague useless words like ‘excellent’ and ‘splendid’ and all the rest of them? ‘Plusgood’ covers the meaning. Or ‘doubleplusgood’ if you want something stronger still” (Orwell 46). The changing of language classifies as propaganda as well due to the fact that it is also the distribution of information used to change the attitudes or, in this case, the ability to express oneself. Orwell describes this changing of language as a terrible thing by using Winston’s negative view of it to demonstrate to the reader that it is disgusting to change how people speak. Especially since this particular language is being created simply to stop people from being able to think of words that would compromise the ideas of the Party.

Word Count. 425

Dystopian Journal # 1

Topic A: Choose a passage that reveals something important about your society.

"The fabulous statistics continued to pour out of the telescreen. As compared with last year there was more food, more clothes, more houses, more furniture, more cooking pots, more fuel, more ships, more helicopters, more books, more babies- more of everything except disease, crime, and insanity," (Orwell 52).

The Telescreen
-The telescreens are a video monitor placed on walls all around Oceania, inside of buildings, outside, and pretty much everywhere that party members ever would need to go.
-They both display information and play music, but monitor what happens inside the areas where people are.
-Video cameras are within every telescreen, and big brother can watch the party members at any time.
-This allows the government to control and view every action ever taken by anyone within view of the telescreens.
-Creates a constant awareness in the party members that they could be watched at any moment, and so disables them mentally from doing anything wrong or frowned upon.
-Suppresses the urges and basic instincts of all party members.
The Manipulation of Media
-The moment anything happens in Oceania, all media that is or was ever written contradictory to the event is destroyed, and new media is written immediately after to replace the old.
-The government manipulates all statistics and anything that is told to the public is alterable, and probably untrue in the first place.
-This allows the government to make it appear as if the society is going perfectly well when, in fact, it is not going well at all.
-This puts most people in the party under a mental idea that what is happening now is what has always happened and is the best thing that could happen.
-The government also uses thist power in choosing enemies. For instance, in the beginning of the book, Oceania is at war with Eurasia, and allied with Eastasia and most of the society believes that this is how it has always been. However, Winston recalls a time when they were at war with Eastasia, and allied with Eurasia. The government does such a good job at altering history, that anything that is currently happening is seen as the only thing that matters, and all other history is either erased, or is irrelevant.


Word count~250

Journal # 6 - The Stranger

Journal # 6 - The Stranger

Camus uses Mersault's tendencies to listen to others unemotionally and give them control over his actions to show how dependence on the needs of others introduces conflict into a persons life.

Journal # 5 - The Stranger

Journal # 5

Camus creates a part one and a part two to highlight an important change in Mersault. He changes from being forced into doing things, like going to his Mother's funeral, or going to the beach, to doing what he wants to do, and being less controlled by others like in prison. His character is also less affected by nature, whether from the absence of nature or from a change in character I'm not sure.

Journal # 4 - Philosophy affecting reading

My philosophy puts a different point of view on reading than other people. I am open minded to the philosophies that I read, and judge them based on what I believe to be truth. Sometimes I take them into my own, and sometimes I don't. It depends on what the philosophy is.

Journal # 3 The Stranger

Benjamminism... :)
1. There is an omnipotent, omnipresent God that controls/allows every thing and action every taken by anyone to take place.
2. People and the world are inherently evil, but can become good if God works through them.
3. Things happen because of a master plan, but that master plan has an order to it.
4. Religion as an institution may be unneeded in the future.
5. People are all, at their core, Hedonists.
6. Nihilists are suppressing their emotions and disallowing themselves to feel attached to anything.
7. Anyone is capable of making any available choice at any time. (I am relatively unsurprised by anyone doing anything, whether it seems against their character or not.)
8. There is Absolute Truth, although I don't believe we can know what it is until whatever is in the afterlife...
9. The choices people make matter most when they affect others.
10. Teenagers rarely have sturdy philosophy. And I am no exception.
11. This is but a small taste of what I may or may not believe. One night is really not enough time to come up with a decent philosophy of any kind in my opinion. I didn't feel like I had enough time to fully explore my true feelings on these issues.

Stranger Journal 2

Journal # 2, Chapters 1 and 2.

Mersault is an average man, who has average needs and desires. However, he is also detached from the world, very straightforward, immoral, and unemotional thus far. His actions show that he is unreligious and probably an Atheist, which would fit with the general philosophy of existentialism as well. Camus creates his protagonist and has him do these actions to demonstrate that existentialism is a good option. After Marie leaves, for instance, Mersault doesn't seem to care. He realizes that his relationship with her doesn't matter, niether does his Maman's death or anything. Nothing has changed.

Journal # 9 - Beginning to End

Journal # 9 - Beginning to End

Hurston uses the same setting in the beginning as the end to help the reader think back through the plot and recall many of the important points in the plot. This is a good way to end the book on a good note. It also helps to sum up the book and wrap it up. It allows Hurston to tie the end to the beginning, making the transition out of the book smoother.

Journal 8 Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Journal 8 - Chapter 18

The significance of the title is that although people may do things to change their lives or make them better, God can step in and, in the case of this novel, ruin what was good. This novel suggests that God does not seem to care about or help any of the characters, the only real mention of God in the book is during times of crisis, such as the hurricane in chapter 18. This suggests that people achieve the things that happen, and God's primary "job" is to screw things up. Although this is a rather pessimistic view of God, that is what I took Hurston to mean throughout the book. People achieve things, and after these things are achieved, they must keep their eyes watching God to make sure that he doesn't change things up for them.

Journal 6 - The Turner's

Journal 6 Chapters 16-17

The Turners are different than any other couple in this novel in that the woman wears the pants in the relationship. She makes all the decisions and is generally more harsh with Mr. Turner than he is with her. This is juxtaposed with every other couple in the book where the man is in charge. In this culture it is not unnatural for a man to beat his wife now and again, whereas in the Turners relationship it is more likely that Mrs. Turner will beat Mr. Turner than vice versa. It acts as a foil to all the other relationships in the book, including Janie's marriages and all of Janie's friends marriages. Mr. Turners feelings about Mrs. Turner are also shown when he doesn't stand up for her at the bar fight in her restaurant.

Journal 6 What motivates Janie? What changes are seen in Janie?

Journal # 6 - What motivates/changes do we see in Janie? Chapters 11 and 12

Janie's motivations are rather complex. She wants to find the love she has never had from her other two husbands, while also wanting to protect herself from being damaged yet again by another illegitimate man. This is why she approaches Tea Cake so carefully in chapters eleven and twelve, she doesn't want to be hurt by Tea Cake if his feelings are illegitimate, but at the same time she wants to know if he truly is the one that she will love for the rest of her life. She tries to talk herself out of Tea Cake, but finds that she really feels the connection with him this time, and therefore feels that it is worth the risk.

The changes we see in Janie throughout the book are subtle, and yet very significant. At the start of the book she is gullible, and quick to believe what Granny says about marriage. But after Logan, she feels cautious about men, but initially Joe Starks has a spark that she thinks she wants, so she goes with him. But Joe's true nature is too oppressing for Janie, and after his death she tries to find someone new, someone who will let her be herself, and be there for her all the time. I truly hope that this is what Tea Cake is, but who knows, he could be another failure too...

Journal # 5 Personification of an Abstract Noun

Journal # 5 Personification of an Abstract Noun Chapter 8

Then Tyler began to wrestle with Fear. Fear, that hideous thing with monstrous jaws, residing in the deepest depths of the human psyche. The hunched one who stays in the prostrated palace with the twisted trapdoors and the screaming slaves. What does Fear need to do to protect itself, what attacks can affect it? It crafts in its savage abode, using the world as it's puppet. Gazes piercing and still all the time, with his jaws held tight in suspense, waiting for the right time to strike at the heart of man. Been drooling there since before there was a where or a when or a then. He was dreading the day that scaly letter came from the Pennsylvania Penitentiary. He was hoping and praying that the day wouldn't come. Poor Thomas! He needn't have to sit in that tiny cell alone, waiting his inevitable sentence. Tyler sent magazines and books in, but they just came right back out. The meaningless drab of literature won't help with my dilemma, they don't know how I feel. I'll be alright as soon as this stupid smack kicks in. The sentence probably won't be carried on with anyways, they know it's just a mistake. At least that's what Thomas thought. But history told Tyler differently, he knew that death sentences were never withdrawn. And if he hadn't known this, Thomas's letters to him would have told him this, for he wrote how the guards came by his cell every day at noon and laughed and ridiculed him under the cement ceiling and through the metal bars. Guards who were usually quite quiet and unassuming came to mock and jeer at Thomas. They just came over and joined the rest in their horrible chanting of death. Hopelessness had began it's slow stalking into Thomas's mind, the battle was already lost.

Journal 3 - Chapter 4 Literary Techniques

Journal # 3 - Chapter 4 Literary Techniques

1. page 26: Consonance: "'Scuse my Freezolity Mist' Killicks, but Ah don't mean to chop the first chip.": Using the double "ch" sound at the beginning of "chop" and "chip" allows the reader to focus on the fact that Janie really will not chop her own wood. It highlights the words and how she will not do them. It's her own way of cutting off all possibilities of this happening in the future.

2. page 27: Personification: "But springtime reached her in there.": Hurston uses this technique to demonstrate and clarify that the weather "reached" Janie. It makes it seem as if the "springtime" wanted Janie to come out, so it reached into the barn for her. This shows Janie's love of the outdoors and freedom that we have seen demonstrated in her actions in the past.

3. page 28: Foreshadowing: "Yeah Joe Starks was the name, Joe Starks from in and through Georgy.": Hurston tells us his name and we immediately realize that, since her last name later becomes Starks, she will run away with him and marry him. This foreshadows what happens in the near future and also acts as a hook to keep the reader reading to see what happens in her life next. This really helps to demonstrate the importance of this character, since it also includes repitition.

4. page 28: Repitition: "Yeah Joe Starks was the name, Joe Starks from in and through Georgy.": The repitition of Joe's name highlights him as an important character in the story. It makes the reader focus on the name and helps to display her feelings for him right off the bat. The repitition allows the reader to understand that Janie thinks about him twice, showing us that he is important to her from the start.

5. page 27: Simile: "Logan held his wad of tobacco real still in his jaw while he studied Janie's face and waited for her to say something.": The simile focuses on the stillness of the chewing tobacco in his mouth, showing that he changes his normal stance in order to focus on her reaction to his suggesting that she work the fields. A thermometer also connotates temperature, which could be interpreted also as temper or mood. This shows that her reaction to his words will create a strong reaction in him as well. Which is a hinging point in the plot.

Journals 1 and 2 - Their Eyes Were Watching God

Journal # 1 How does the narration differ from the dialect and what is the effect?

The narration is superbly intelligent and savvy with words and language, while the dialect spoken between characters is rather unintelligent and coarse. Hurston does this for an atmosphere of a story being told by a wiser character/being, looking back at her past and narrating. I believe that she does this to achieve an effect that shows that African Americans, though perceived as unintelligent and coarse in this time period, are actually intelligent, amazingly important parts of society. It creates a language and communication barrier between narrator and subject, but this barrier highlights the intelligence and beauty of the subject.

Journal # 2 How does the setting affect the text: atmosphere, characterization, motivation...?

The setting of Their Eyes Were Watching God affects the text in numerous ways, it changes the atmosphere of the book. In the book, the African Americans are just beginning to try their hand at striking out on their own. This creates an uncertainty and untrusting feel to some of their characters. The women in the beginning of chapter 1 gossiping about Janie shows some of this untrusting attitude. They feel as if she is hiding things from them that they have a right to know, when in reality this is none of their business. Also, this time period of change creates in Janie the tendencies she has towards freedom and happiness. From the beginning of the novel, we can see through her words and her actions that she will, if unhappy, change her situation. Her comments to Nanny about how marraige does not necessarily create happiness show that her spirit will not linger in a place where she does not feel satisfied. This may be foreshadowing that she will go through multiple situations of hardship and unhappiness before she finds the life that she wants.