Two litterary pieces.

A clean well lighted place

Ernest Hemingway makes this story seem like it is gloomy and full of despair.
The drunk old man is a sign to the older waiter of where his life is heading. The younger waiter is full of life and is oblivious of everything that's going on in regards to the old waiter and the old drunk man. The theme of this story makes me feel like Ernest is telling me there's no hope for aging men. Once strong and full of life ready to conquer the world, are now lost souls in the sands of time.

We Real Cool

Gwendolyn makes this poem short and sweet. The whole theme of it is being lazy and slacking off doing whatever they want. By the use of "school" in it, I assume these are young men who are just doing things out of impulse and do not weigh out the consequences. This theme makes me feel good and full of life. It makes me want to go out and break the law and break things for the hell of it.

Andre's Mother

1. What is the genre of this play? How do you know?

This play is a Melodramatic. Cal is the protagonist and Andre's mother is the antagonist. Cal is in peace with Andre's death and is able to move on (that's why he easily let go of the balloon), as opposed to Andre's mother who still never really accepted her son being gay and it really took a lot to let go of the balloon in the end.

2. Identify the significant spectacle (the scenery, costumes) used in the play. What does it symbolize, and how do you know?

The spectacle in this play are the white balloons. They represent Andre's soul, and when you let them go, your letting his soul ascend up to heaven. Cal says it in the play.

3. How does the fact that Andres mother doesn’t speak in the play affect the meaning, theme, and plot of the play?

It lets us see her through Cal's point of view. Her silence just gives us a better understanding of the turmoil she is going through inside of her. You can tell by the expressions she makes during the play.

Is music poetry?

1. Song # 1

Ruby Red - By: Trick Daddy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqUn5IwNqwQ

Song # 2

Big Pimpin - By: Jay-Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnoI7Be4VZk

2. Ruby red is a poem because it has structure, Dennotation & Connotation, Symbolism, and Personification

Big Pimpin is not a poem because it lacks many of the characteristics which make a poem. Big pimpin is basically just Jay-Z talking to you and telling you something straight forward rather than him using any symbolism or Connotation what so ever.

3. I am a thematic critic. I like to understand where the artist or poet is coming from. To me by understanding, the poet and where he comes from, it gives more meaning to the piece of work.

3 poems

Do not go gentle into that good night.

1) What emotions/feelings do you have after reading the poem?

I feel sad, and depressed but at the same time accepting of the reality of death.

2) How does your chosen image reflect the emotions conjured by the poem?

It shows the grim reaper. It reflects my poem in the sense of inevitable death. The image of a grim reaper represents a final road, a lost war, a dead end. I chose the Grim reaper because this image was stuck in my head as a child for the worst of the worst. It always meant death.

We Real Cool

1) What emotions/feelings do you have after reading the poem?

I feel happy and laid back. It makes me want to do whatever seems fun at the moment and not think about the consequences.

2) How does your chosen image reflect the emotions conjured by the poem?Compose a one paragraph response for each poem.

My image is of Lil Jon and the east side boys drinking about a million cans of crunk juice. They do whatever they want cause theyre rich and they dont have a worry in the world. They live Rockstar lifestlyes, and they dont have to answer to nobody. I wish to live like that one day. I will be so happy its not even funny.

I felt a funeral in my brain

1) What emotions/feelings do you have after reading the poem?

I feel lost and confused, not to the content of it but what the content meant. I felt like is she was going crazy and she didnt know how to stop it.

2) How does your chosen image reflect the emotions conjured by the poem?Compose a one paragraph response for each poem.

This image is of a person going crazy. Their face is in despair, and the person is hurting themself with a bobbed wire. It makes me feel insane and worry about what would it be like if I ever lost my mind. What kind of world would I live in? what kind of pain would I go through? Those are all questions that come to my head about this poem.

Clean well lighted place

PART 1
1 – Describe the setting. Why is the idea of a well-lighted place so significant to this short story?

A cafe at night time probably in a spanish speaking country.

2 – Why are the characters nameless?

The story focuses on an idea rather than on anyone significant.

3 – What is the connection between the old man and the older waiter? What is the purpose of the younger waiter in the story?

The old man and the old waiter are both going through the hradships of growing old and purposeless in life and the young waiter is there to conflict that with his youth and aspirations.

4 – What is the plot? Be specific and briefly outline the 5 plot elements.

Exposition= a cafe at night, the 2 waiters and the old man, the old man not wanting to leave.

Complication= The young waiter wanting to close and the older waiter wanting to stay open some more.

Crisis Decision = They end up closing early and start talking about the old man.

Climax= The old waiter keeps on talking to himself even after the young waiter departs.

Denouement= The old waiter goes to a bar for a drink.

5 – What is the theme (in one sentence)?

The hardships of growing old and serving no real purpose in life.



PART 2Research the life of Ernest Hemingway. Compose a one paragraph biographical summary. Highlight facts about Hemingway's life experiences that are evident in "A Clean Well-Lighted Place". **Include your source(s) in your response.

Hemingway was a man who traveled alot throughout his life. He loved many times and had many experiences such as going to World war 1. He was an ambulance driver in the war. This story has alot to do with Hemingway because it talks about an old man and an old waiter who grow old and feel empty inside. Although he had many achievments and things going for him, he still felt empty and without a purpose.

http://www.lostgeneration.com/childhood.htm

Sonny's Blues

(I was in class but I'm not finnished yet)


1. Harlem was the heart of black culture in the 1920's and 30's. Harlem gave rise o very popular African American figures such as Billie Holiday and Langston Hughes. Hard economic times hit Harlem from the depression, all the way to the 1980's. Its unemployment level skyrocketed as well did the crime level. It was a tough place to live. Alot of criminals would use the Harlem streets to sell drugs and to commit other crimes like theft, and assaults.

This setting shapes Sonny into a life of drugs and crime. He is captured by his surroundings and sees no other way out but to do the same. He gets caught up on heroin and practically leaves him an addict. Aside from using the heroin, he also sells it which ends up getting him caught. Another way Harlem shapes Sonny is in its rich Jazz culture which gets Sonny out of a life of drugs and into a life of music.

http://manhattan.about.com/od/neighborhoodguide/a/harlemnewyork.htm

2. Black men were not considered at the same level as white men in the military before the civil rights movement. They were given the shaft of everything the military had to offer, and they were not allowed to fight along side white soldiers. They were separated into different bunkers and they were put more into harms way more than white soldiers. Black men weren't trusted with weapons either so the use of their arms was very limited in combat.

Its ironic that Sonny wanted to enroll in the military judging by the fact that he was always put down. He never had the opportunities that other people had, yet he was willing to sacrifice his life. he puts himself in harms way and he always did things that got him in trouble, and to want to join the military makes it so ironic for him.

http://www.history.army.mil/html/topics/afam/index.html

3. Billie Holiday (God Bless the child)

Them that's got shall get
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own

Yes, the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don't ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own

Money, you've got lots of friends
Crowding round the door
When you're gone, spending ends
They don't come no more
Rich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don't take too much
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own

Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own
He just worry 'bout nothin'
Cause he's got his own
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/billie+holiday/god+bless+the+child_20018000.html