What Is Hamlet’s Problem?

Isaac Atayero

Sir John Campion

Advanced Placement English

March 11, 2011

What Is Hamlet’s Problem?

   Everyone has  a problem, a tiny or maybe even large crack, that hinders the from being perfect. Problems are the fateful part of every human being’s life that makes people people. Many problems can stem one from problem causing a chain of reaction of problems that extend to parties that were not involved with the original problem. In the brilliant play that is The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, William Shakespeare Introduces his audience to the tumultuous life of the fictional character, Hamlet. At the beginning of the play the audience meets Hamlet mourning his father, who was recently killed by his own power hungry brother. Hamlet learns this Information from his father’s ghost, who asks Hamlet to avenge his father.

Is the Chaucerian pilgrim (The Miller) consistent with his tale?

Isaac Atayero

Sir John Campion

Advanced Placement English Language

12/22/11

     In Geoffrey Chaucer’s collection of tales, The Canterbury Tales, all the thirty one pilgrims are given an opportunity to tell tales. The Host judges the best tale and the best story teller is awarded with a free meal paid wholly for by the other pilgrims and the Host. Robin, the vulgar and unpolished Miller, is one of the Chaucer’s pilgrims and he is consistent with the tale he tells. The reader or listener expects the pilgrim to narrate the tale he does. The Miller’s social class is also very consistent with his tale.The Miller’s Tale is also coherent with its storyteller because of the frame of mind of the Miller when he tells his tale. The Miller also tells his tale as an intentional attack on the Reeve and a deliberate satire of the Knight and his chivalrous social rank. The Miller’s audience would also probably note his poetic use of adjectives in his tale. These factors are testimonies to the consistency of the Miller and his ribald tale.

Naturalism and Naturalist Poem Study Guide

1832-1900

• Beginning of the modern period and realism.
• Reaction to Romanticism
• REALITY SUCKS.
• ROSE COLORED GLASSES have fallen off

• Alfred Lord Tennyson: Poet Laureat
• "Best Poet of the Land"
• Functions as a transition between Romanticism and Realism.

• The Lady of Shalott

• Shalott: Island, surrounded by water, in the center of a river, lady is stranded on it.

• There is a rivers all around it. Camelot is at the end of it.

• Shalott: unable to look directly at Camelot because there is a curse upon her.

• Farms are on the banks of the river.

Milton Study Guide

Milton Study Guide

• Il Penseroso:
• antithetical contrast to L'Allegro
• evokes melancholy → somewhat romantic and idealistic
• Plot: writer is depressed, resolves to isolation to find enlightenment → seeks Christian/divine reward for devotion
• Imagery:
• transition from classical imagery to Christian imagery
• evokes “Jove” in line 48 to referencing “cloysters” (l. 156) and “heav'n” (l.166)
• It appears that the writer chooses Christianity and its rewards over classicism
• Emphasizes scholarly way of life, medieval period, pastoral setting

John Keats wrote " I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections and the truth of the imagination'. Explain this quote as it applies to The Eve of St. Agnes

Isaac Atayero

Sir John Campion

Advanced Placement English Language

April 30 2012

The Eve of St. Agnes

       Romanticist poet , John Keats in a letter to his friend wrote “ I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections and the truth of the imagination”. In this quotation Mr. Keats is telling his friend that he is confident in the sacredness of things that the heart finds pleasure in and the reality that can be invoked by creativity. This notion is often reflected in Mr. Keats’ poetry in through his style of writing. In his infamous poem , The Eve of St. Agnes, Mr. Keats explores this theme by placing emphasis on the romantic aspect of the youthful sweethearts. The poem relies heavily on the devices of  superstition and imagination; which contributes to the vividity of the love poem. Mr. Keats is able to strategically apply this motif to The Eve of St. Agnes without taking away from the central theme of the poem.

Is Thomas Beckett Martyring For Himself or Martyring For Christ

Isaac Atayero

Mr. John Campion

A.P. English Language

11/14/11

    In T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral,Thomas Beckett, the protagonist, has to decide whether his martyrdom will be for the sake of Christ or a selfish opportunity to be glorified after his inevitable death. By discerning Beckett’s actions during the play, one can arrive at the conclusion that Beckett chose to continue on his road to martyrdom for his own exaltation. From the very beginning of the play, the audience can figure out that Becket is an arrogant character and would want to do something as egotistical such as allowing himself to be martyred for acclamation.  When the fourth temptor comes to entice Becket with the opportunity to become a martyr for fame, Becket admits that he has already contemplated this. Another clue the reader gets that Becket wants to be martyred for his own glory occurs during the “Interlude” when he delivers a sermon that claims he wants to die for Christ and does not want the glory for himself but implies otherwise. With these facts, the reader can come to the expected decision that Beckett’s decision to be martyred is solely for the glory of martyrdom.

Is Sir Gawain Essentially a Knight or Essentially Human?

Isaac Atayero

Mr. John Campion

Advanced Placement English Language

10/31/2011

       Knights, like everyone else,were born human and remain human but with courteous virtues. In the poem, Sir Gawain, an extremely courteous knight is faced with a decision that cause him to do a dishonorable thing. Since all knights are fundamentally human, Sir Gawain is essentially a human with knightly features. Gawain is ideally a human because he takes the green belt from Lady Bercilak because he is afraid of death. The knight shows that he is primarily human when he cringes when The Green Giant initially swings for his head.Although Sir Gawain humbly asks for forgiveness, he blames women for tempting men. These acts illustrate Sir Gawain to be human even though he does demonstrate some knightly features.