Example Socratic Seminar

In this article Joan Didion emphasizes the idea of self-respect.  She talks about innocence as another "big idea" through the beginning of the piece.  I believe the authors perspective and opinion on self-respect is very narrow.  She only talks about this one view on what self-respect is, completely disregarding actuality.  Her opinion on self-respect is black and white; it is all or nothing, there is no in between.  But in reality, there is an in between.  You can have self-respect while feeling upset over a goal that was not met or any other type of "failure".  


I personally think that in order to achieve self-respect you must accept your flaws and imperfections.  You must be able to take in the bad, with the good.  Once an individual is able to do this and understand that they are not perfect, just like every other human being on this planet, they can achieve a level of self-respect that allows them to go on in life, face its challenges, and grow as a person.  I think experience has a lot to do with self-respect as well.  We are complex, spiritual beings that have emotions and we all have our good and bad days.  When our peers berate and degrade us it is a direct attack upon our self-respect.  It is only natural to feel upset about this but it does not mean you have any less self-respect.  


My last point about this article is character.  Didion mentions that when an individual has self-respect they "exhibit a certain toughness, a kind of moral nerve; they display what was once called character".  I agree that this may be true for many people but not all.  This is what I mean by an all or nothing.  A person who may exemplify character may not have a strong sense of self-respect, and vice versa.  Self-respect is not a concept which is absolute.  It can be analyzed through several different perspectives.  


Overall, I believe Didion does a good job defending her argument as to what self-respect is, but there is no particular method in order to define it.  Each person is different in regards to their behaviour, thought process, etc.  Self respect can be defined and demonstrated in many different ways.  


1. Joan Didion speaks of innocence as a direct relation to self-respect.  What is her opinion on the concept of innocence?  Do you agree or disagree?  If so what is your opinion?


2.  Do you agree that self-respect is in no way related to the approval of others? Why or why not?


3.  Do you agree that without self-respect one is just living a life filled with only failure and no accomplishments?


4.  Recall the part in this piece where Didion mentions that people who exemplify self-respect display character through their behaviour.  Do you believe that one's character is directly related to their level of self-respect? Explain.  



Yours Truly, yummyichigo;)

Jane Eyre Blog Post 3 [Chapters 21-27]

1.     Discuss Jane’s major internal and external conflicts in these chapters.  What is your assessment of Jane based on these conflicts and her responses to them?  What is your assessment of Rochester?


The 2 major internal and external conflicts that Jane has in these chapters would be her love for Mr. Rochester and her trust.  In the first few chapters Jane struggles to hide her feelings for Rochester due to the false conception of Rochester marrying Blanche.  She knows she loves him but she believes that she means nothing to Rochester.  
Jane also is warned by Mrs. Fairfax to not let her guard down around Rochester and that it is queer that Rochester would decide to marry Jane based off of love.   Jane is offended and aggravated by her comment but does seem to keep it in mind.  
Jane is very composed throughout all her conflicts, she handles them quite well and never seems to be flattered by Rochester's comments, always remaining the same as she was when she first fell in love with him.  
Rochester is very affectionate towards Jane now that they have confessed their love for one another.  He seems to always want to flatter her, but when it fails he is still happy because he knows that Jane is unique and different from other ladies.  
241489030_70cac3d2e3_m.jpg
I chose this picture because I think it portrays what Jane was feeling when Mrs. Fairfax was telling her that she "cannot be too careful" with Rochester.  She didn't know why she was saying this but it was kind of like the devil was provoking her while her inner angel was tell her to do as she felt right.  




3. Examine Jane’s love for Rochester.  Has it had a negaive or positive impact on her life and her character? 


When Jane first moved to Thornfield she claimed that Mr. Rochester was not a very attractive man.  Soon she got to know him better and enjoyed having conversations with him; while unknowingly falling in love day by day.  Soon enough Jane was excited for the night to end and the new day to begin so she could see Rochester.  She felt like she had something to actually look forward to.  Her life became less empty.  Jane began to smile and laugh, as colour began to return to her pale cheeks upon Rochester's presence.  
I believe that Jane's love for Rochester has impacted her life in a positive way by  making her happy.  Jane had always lacked happiness, she may have been content with life, but never truly happy.  She never had something to live for or look forward to, her childhood was horrible and she grew up never being exposed to happiness.  
I would not say Jane was blinded by the love she has for Rochester, but it definitely caused her to trust him with all her heart.  But is it okay for Jane to put all her faith in Rochester?  I still don't believe Rochester would do anything to harm Jane because I think he truly loves her, regardless of the cautious warning Mrs. Fairfax gives Jane.  The only problem is Rochester still has many secrets and although he may love Jane dearly he does not share all of these secrets with her.  His mysterious aura has not yet been lifted; therefore, I think Jane's love for Rochester has not only had a positive impact on her life, but also a negative one due to her unwithering trust in him.  


My comment:
http://englishlovee.blogspot.com/2010/09/jane-eyre-chapters-22-27.html



Yours Truly, yummyichigo;)

Jane Eyre Blog Post 2 [Chapters 11 - 21]

1.     Though Jane Eyre is not a gothic novel, it contains gothic elements, especially when Jane is at Thornfield.  Discuss these elements and the effect they have on both Jane’s development as a character and the novel as a whole.


Jane Eyre contains quite a few gothic elements, such as supernatural things, mystery, and dark, ominous, gloomy settings.  At the very beginning of this novel Jane is locked up in a room and she is sees this white light, which she believed to be the ghost of her uncle.  Jane then goes into a state of shock and gains a fever; never allowing herself to forget that day (as she claims).  
As the story progresses Jane makes her way to Thornfield, only to find more mystery.  The strange laughter she hears, and the unanticipated attack on Mr. Rochester.  
All of these elements aid in the development of Jane's character by showing the reader that Jane strives to come up with a conjecture as to who the culprit was. It also shows how Jane cares for Mr. Rochester.  The novel becomes an ongoing mystery as to what secrets there are in Thornfield, and why everyone but Jane is aware of them.  
I chose this picture because it reminds me of the time Jane saved Mr. Rochester's life during the fire, another mysterious aspect of Thornfield.  


alone_in_the_dark-xbox_360screenshots19788192_168_3_33-image3.jpg

3.     Discuss the development of Rochester.  Is he an ideal romantic interest for Jane?  Why or why not?  What do we know about him that appeals to Jane?  Is there anything we know or do not know about that might not be appropriate for Jane?  Is he trustworthy?


Mr. Rochester is portrayed as a very moody person, who at times can be very critical.  Once the novel progresses the reader discovers that he is actually a very kind man who has seen much of the world.  The only problem is he has this mysterious aura that surrounds him, never allowing Jane to penetrate through it and discover his secrets.  I wouldn't have thought that Jane would fall in love with a man more than twice her age, but as far as an "ideal romantic interest" goes, I believe that Mr. Rochester is suitable due to his maturity.  Jane is a very mature young lady who hasn't seen much of the world and because of this is extremely attracted to Rochester.  The thing she likes most about Rochester is how talkative he is.  He confides in her and tells her all sorts of stories and speaks to her that makes her feel comfortable.  This causes Jane to look forward to seeing him everyday.  
Well, speaking of things that might not be appropriate for Jane, I would definitely say Mr. Rochester is old enough to be her father, as Rochester himself states.  But that is not the only thing, Rochester is very mysterious and has secrets that he hides from Jane.  Why is it that he was attacked? Why is Thornfield enriched with mystery?  All of these things must be examined.  Overall, I do think that Mr. Rochester is trustworthy.  He cares a lot about Jane and I don't think he would do anything to harm her or bring her misery.  This is what is important, but the mystery must stop!



My comment is posted here:
http://englishlovee.blogspot.com/2010/09/jane-eyre-chapters-11-21.html


Yours Truly, yummyichigo;)

Personal Response

How does this poem represent social commentary?

By: Aysha Chaudhry

            Poetry has been an art form used to express one’s feelings and thoughts since the beginning of time.  It has existed even before the written structure.  Many poems contain a deeper meaning behind the text.  In Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess, there are several examples of society and its operation during the Victorian age.  Browning’s literary work exemplifies men as superior beings, women as objects (no freedom/say), and the importance of social class.  As a result, the written composition, My Last Duchess, displays social commentary by articulating specific aspects of society during the Victorian era. 

            Throughout history men have been viewed as greater beings.  Accordingly, this common misconception prevailed during the Victorian age as well.   Browning does an exceptional job portraying the Duke’s maniacal personality and ludicrous belief of his superiority; enriching the text with these very concepts.  While explaining to his future father-in-law the story of his last Duchess, the Duke expresses that even if he were to point out her flaws to her, he would be “stooping” down to her level, which he believes himself to be above.  In addition he claims, “I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together”.  In other words he ordered one of his underlings to rid him of her; once again articulating that his Duchess was beneath him.  Furthermore, the details of the Duke’s dialogue within this piece represent the recurring theme of a man’s superiority. 

            In the past women have been viewed as beings inferior to men.  Unfortunately there are various countries where this mistaken belief still exists.  In My Last Duchess there are quite a few examples of how women were seen as a secondary existence and didn’t have much say in society.  Browning characterizes the Duke’s Duchess of having a very lively personality.  She was full of joy and this aggravated the Duke, causing him to believe that, she had a heart “too soon made glad, too easily impressed; she liked whate’er she looked on, and her looks went everywhere”.  The Duke of course assumes his accusation of her promiscuity is correct, never allowing his wife the opportunity to voice the truth of the situation; hence, proving that women had no say during this period in history. 

            The social class system used to be one of the greatest tools for identifying and defining the human race.  During the Victorian era there were several men and women belonging to the royal family.  It was of extreme importance that one knew his or her place in society and acknowledged their status, allowing individuals to be treated accordingly.  Brown first provides the reader with a glimpse of the vitality of social class when the Duke so calmly condemns the Duchess of viewing and treating his “gift of nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody’s gift”.  Essentially stating that she committed a blasphemy by behaving the same towards him as with other men.  The Duke then continues to accuse his dead Duchess.  When speaking to his future father-in-law, he proclaims, “she smiled, no doubt, whene’er I passed her; but who passed without much the same smile”.  In other words he meant that he should have been treated in a special manner due to his belonging to the royal family.  As a result, Browning portrayed the idea of social class, during the Victorian era, by accusing the Duchess of treating the Duke as an ordinary person, disregarding his family status. 

            Overall, when composing this piece, Browning did a magnificent job embedding it with traces of the function of society.  He used the superiority of men, the mistreatment of women, and social class.  In conclusion, Browning exemplified specific elements of society during the Victorian age to display social commentary.  

Jane Eyre Blog Post 1 - Comment

Due to the fact that I do not have a livejournal account I wasn't able to post my comment onto this persons blog.  This is why I decided to write it here and provide a link to their blog.  


Comment:
I really like the picture you used.  I provided a picture of a child lifting a weight for this same question, but I enjoyed your reason as to why you believed this picture to be significant.  I also agree with many of your points in your response to the first question.  Good Job!


http://ros1995.livejournal.com/

Jane Eyre Blog Post 1 [Chapters 1-10]

1.    What is your initial opinion of Jane?  What aspects of the narrative help to develop this opinion?  What can you determine about her character by her statements and her surroundings?

When I first began reading I saw Jane as just another ordinary girl, until the story progressed.  Jane had a difficult past; her parents had died when she was very young causing her to live with her Aunt, Mrs. Reed.  Her aunt was very strict with her and on several occasions cruel towards her as well.  Jane questioned why she was “always suffering” and in the same instance asked, “Why could I never please?” (pg 14).  This revealed Jane’s innocence and strong sense of justice.  Jane fully understood that her horrible treatment was unjust; she knew that whatever she would do, it would never be good enough. 

Jane doesn’t seem to really care much of riches and luxury.  When she goes to Lowood she obviously notices the difference between the two households, but doesn’t pay much attention to it.  I believe Jane just wants to be happy; which isn’t much of a task in her case, since she is quite content with her life at Lowood thus far.  Once again, Jane’s innocence is displayed when she vocalizes her thoughts to Helen about her mistreatment by Miss Scatcherd.  Jane sees things in simple terms and doesn’t care much to strive towards a deeper meaning behind words, actions, etc. 

The fact that Jane Eyre is written in Jane’s perspective, it gives the audience a greater sense of how she feels and interprets things.  We see all of the events in the book, as Jane perceives them to be.  Accordingly, Jane’s innocence and sense of justice are exemplified within the narration of this novel.  

2.    Mr. Brocklehurst says that hardship builds strong character.  In your opinion, is this true?  Using the text, discuss how Jane proves or disproves this statement.

In my opinion it is true that hardship builds character.  Personally, I believe that all men and women make the effort to pursue their full extent of happiness.  Accordingly, if a person is going through rough patches in their life, they will attempt to fix it or at least move forward.  One gains strength by moving forward in their life when faced with troubles.  Life goes on, and as cliché as that may sound, it holds a great deal of truth. 

Jane picks up her life and turns it around.  When she grows older she becomes a teacher in her previous school, Lowood.  From Lowood she moves to Thornfield pursuing a new job.  Her whole journey has shown her growth and accomplishments; she was able to go from hating all aspects of her life to becoming a successful woman.  All of this proves Mr. Brocklehurst’s statement. 

article-0-027CF98B00000578-226_468x630.jpg

I chose this picture because I believe the weight this child is lifting is symbolic of all the hardships he has faced.  This young boy has used all of his strength to lift the stress of all his problems off his shoulders.  Acknowledging the fact that this weight lifter is so young, I believe it better relates to Jane and her past.  


My Goals ={D

1. I hope to learn some new vocabulary and use it in my writing.  I want to actually take something from doing word within the word tests weekly.
How - Well, I plan on actually studying this year for those tests and trying new ways of learning and remembering the words in the future.

2. I want to keep up with all of my english work this year.  So far this has been a bit challenging due to the work load I have in all of my other classes.  I also had a religious event to attend that affected my ability to finish all of my work on time, causing me to request an extension. 
How - I believe I can do this by NOT PROCRASTINATING, which I really don't have a problem with but sometimes I get lazy.  I can also try to be a bit more organized allowing myself to break down assignments giving myself mini due dates to keep up.