Literature Analysis #4

1. Bless Me Ultima takes place in Guadalupe, New Mexico, during World War 2. The main character Antonio Marez. His curandera Ultima tries to stop the madness between the daughters of Tenorio (antagonist). Antonio struggles throughout the story when he witnesses the death of people. He ponders religious questions as well as moral problems. He has to choose between two lifestyles: crazy and wild or calm and sane. Religion becomes and issue in this decision because Antonio tries to figure out who he is and what religion he chooses to follow, if any at all.

2. Theme: Influence on family and religion: Antonio has to make a lot of decisions throughout the story when it comes to religion and how his family tries to make decisions for him. Different cultures try to mess with his identity and that had a big impact on who he was in life.
Personal Values: Antonio has to decide what he wants to value in life whether it is family, religion, or morals. He has to make his own decisions and balance them out with the ideas of others. He has so many people trying to change who he is that it becomes a challenge to keep his identity.

3. The tone the author used was very casual.
"God! Why did Lupito die? Why do you allow the evil of the Trementinas?"
"Hell, Andy,' Gene said softly, 'we can't build out lives on their dreams."
"Why did you allow Narciso to be murdered when he was doing good?"

4. Literary Elements/ Devices:

Tone: The author used a very casual tone that was easy to understand.
Direct Characterization: The author did a great job of directly describing characters with enough detail where I was able to imagine what the characters were like as people as I was reading.
Indirect Characterazaion: Antonio is a good example of a character that was indirectly described. He was described through actions, but in such a strong way that I felt like I knew him just as well as the other characters.
Imagery: The description of setting made me think of where it was and when I closed my eyes I felt like I was there. I felt a sense of imagery within the characters as well, and it helped with my imagining of their character.
Syntax/diction: "we can't build out lives on their dreams."
Implication: "He knows nothing; and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career."
Narrator: "Sometimes I felt like Jason, like I wanted to shout and cry, but I never did."
Metaphor: "The sun was good. The men of the llano were men of the sun. The men of the farms along the river were men of the moon. But we were all children of the white sun."

Tale of Two Cities Lecture Notes

Lit Terms #4

interior monologue- expressing a character's inner thoughts

inversion- the action of inverting something

juxtaposition- the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

lyric- expressing the writer's emotions, usually briefly and in stanzas or recognized forms

magic(al) realism- magic elements are a natural part in an otherwise mundane, realistic environment

metaphor- a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable

vehicles- a thing used to express, embody, or fulfill something

metonymy- the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, or
the track for horse racing

modernism- modern character or quality of thought, expression, or technique

monologue- a long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast program

mood- evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions.

motif- a decorative design or pattern

myth- a traditional story, esp. one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically
involving supernatural beings or event

narrative- a spoken or written account of connected events; a story

narrator- the one telling the story

omniscient point of view- narrator is a character in the story, but also knows the thoughts and feelings of all the other characters

onomatopoeia- the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named

oxymoron- a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction

parable- a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson

paradox- a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory

Lit Terms #3

exposition- The beginning

expressionism- a style of painting, music, or drama in which the artist or writer seeks to express emotional experience rather than

impressions of the external world

fable- a short story

fallacy- a mistaken belief, esp. one based on unsound argument

falling action- what happens after the climax

farce- a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization

figurative language- expressing ideas indirectly; language used in a special way to create a special effect made up of words and phrases

which don’t mean what they first appear to mean

flashback- a scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story

foil- prevent (something considered wrong or undesirable) from succeeding

folk tale- a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth

foreshadowing- be a warning or indication of (a future event)

free verse- poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter

genre- a category

gothic tale- genre or mode of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance

hyperbole- exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

imagery- visually descriptive or figurative language, esp. in a literary work

implication- the conclusion that can be drawn from something, although it is not explicitly stated

incongruity- the state of being incongruous or out of keeping

inference- a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

irony- the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect

Lit Terms #2

circumlocution-the use of many words where fewer would do, esp. in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive-tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, esp. by responding only indirectly
classicism-the following of ancient Greek or Roman principles and style in art and literature
cliche-a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought
climax-the highest point
colloquialism-a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation.
comedy-A dramatic work that is light and often humorous or satirical in tone and that usually contains a happy resolution of the thematic conflict
conflict-A problem
connotation-an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning
contrast-the state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association
denotation-the literal or primary meaning of a word
denouement-the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved
dialect- a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group
dialectics- the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions
dichotomy- a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different
diction- The choice or use of words
didactic- Intended to instruct
dogmatic- inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true
elegy- a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead
epic- a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition
epigram- a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way
epitaph- a phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died
epithet- an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned
euphemism-a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing
evocative- bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind

HACKING MY EDUCATION

My goal for this semester and what I want to know is what I previously spoke about in my last post, which is to basically put school first and hot to avoid procrastination this way I am able to eliminate a lot of stress and have more time to enjoy my last semester of high school and focus on my goals outside of high school. With my blog there is always something I can do to improve the quality and content, I would specifically like to post more personal posts of things outside of the class. And honestly I don't know what experiences I want to have before I graduate, I guess I'm just taking them as they come along, but I do know I hope to have a lot of wonderful experiences in this last semester of high school.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

My goal this semester is really just to focus on doing my best in my last semester of high school and to avoid the "senioritis" that happens to so many students in their last semester of high school because they are too focused on graduating. I want to be able to really enjoy my last semester of high school because once it's gone it's gone forever. I want to have fun and enjoy myself but at the same time avoid the procrastination and really just be on top of my work and focusing on school, that way I am able to relieve a lot of stress.