notes

No pop quiz today!
Mr. Laz informed us that if we hear from the other class that they had a quiz, we most likely will not have one that same day. He also mentioned that the better route for scholarship is to take notes, pay attention in class, then go home and study it.
"Guarantee. There is no guarantee." - Laz

Next Thursday: Blood drive from 7:00am-8pm
-at least 17 years old, 110 lbs, and have not given blood in the past 56 days
-appts. every 15 mins
-give your name, homeroom, and time you will be going to Mr. Laz if you are interested

BIO on Donne
- Abandoned Catholicism because 1) it wasn't worth it because of all the troubles at the time 2) his job was obtained by King James as an Anglican preacher
-Anne's father didn't make her divorce Donne because divorce was a difficult process
-King James thought John Donne would be a good preacher because he was a talented writer, he was intelligent, a good speaker, and he would make it popular to the people
-The lawfulness of suicide was unpublished because it was against almost all religious beliefs (written during his 12 years of depression)
-How did he deliver his own funeral sermon? He knew he was going to die and thought that no one could do it better then himself
-Lincoln's Inn is one of the best choices of law schools. Donne never practiced law or received any degrees. He taught department of divinity (religious concept of law)

FLEA
-easiest (broken down into developed ideas)
-all sonnet structures apply
-look up the words you don't know while you are reading because Mr. Laz said he will start doing vocab quizzes that will kill us
-never make the mistake that it is in first person. Narrative Voice
-it is really about a flea (representing marriage), the blood is co mingled, these people are not married and it is not about incest

Comprehending
"And in this flea our two bloods mingled be.
Thou know'st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead;
Yet this enjoys before it woo,
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two;
And this, alas! is more than we would do."
-loss of maidenhead= virginity
-The flea mixing their blood is the most that happens, they don't have sex.

"three lives in one flea spare"
-she's going to kill the flea

"this flea is you and I"
-if you kill the flea you kill us

"...and cloister'd in these living walls of jet."
-walls of jet=the black body of the flea

"Though use make you apt to kill me,
let not to that self-murder added be,
and sacrilege, three sins in killing three."
-3 sins: murder, suicide, sacrilege (marriage)

The last paragraph concludes that she does not buy it and kills the flea. She felt no harm from killing the flea so she has nothing to be scared of and might as well do it. Worse thing that could happen is losing a flea's worth of honor.
This is a Carpi Diem poem, which revolve around sex. This is used by Cavalier poets because it allows a connection and familiarity.

Tanya

Notes for April 28th!

Today Mr. Lazarow assigned us a 1-2 page paper. It is suppose to tie together objects (that we had on us) with an idea or feeling we have. We should use The Things that they Carried as a guide.
Mr. Lazarow then filled us in on England's background in the 17th century.
1588- Defeat of Spanish Armada which causes England to become a world power. Because the English previously feared Spain they united and forgot differences in order to fight the outside enemy. However, in the aftermath of Spain's defeat the squables and differences rose to the surface.
Queen Elizabeth becomes queen after Henry VIII. He changes England's religion to Anglican, but neglects to create any rules for the religion. When he died this left Queen Elizabeth the responsibility to do so. The era that she reigned is referred to as the Elizabethan time period.
1603- Queen Elizabeth dies and the Jacobian Era begins with James I (of Scotland) becoming king. The Puritans were very distraught about the change in religion. They were a completely orthodox religious group that believed the bible word for word. The Purtians split up around 1603 to either separate from the Anglican religion or to work from within. Those who separated were known as the pilgrims and came to the new world in 1620.
1625- James I (who was even more brutal than Queen Elizabeth) dies. Charles I becomes king and was EVEN MORE brutal than James.
1637-
King - Parliament
Monarchists Parliamentarians
Anglican Puritans
Cavaliers Roundheads
(political)
1642- Open conflict between the two groups and beginning of English Civil War
1649 - Puritans win and capture/execute the repressive and brutal king Charles I
This murder shows other countrys that England "doesn't need a king or believe in divine right"
Oliver Cromwell (The Protectorate) is put in charge as leader despite the Puritans apparently not being in favor of one person ruling. Oliver then rules England as a military dictatorship.
1658- Very harsh repressive dictatorship. Then Cromwell dies and his son becomes the next leader.
The English people are sick and tired of this so they reach out to Charles II who is an exile in France.
1660- Restoration of British Monarch. Charles II has all murders of his father executed.
John Milton, a wrtier, who supported England's right to kill a king wrote Paradise Lost after Charles II took all his belogings.
After the restoration there were many changes in English culture and they adapted many French things becuase of Charles II French background.

DONNE is who we are assigned to read tonight. His writing is bridged between the Elizabethan era and Jacobian. Cavalier and metaphysical poet!
-Emily Wallace

Notes for April 27, 2009

Today, Laz told us that we will be receiving random quizzes at LEAST once a week on the poems/biographies of poets. However, if the class average for a quiz ever goes below a 60% then we will get quizzes DAILY until the class average goes above a 60% again. These quizzes will we purely reading comprehension, no in depth analysis whatsoever, so there is a potential to boost your grade a lot.
We then started discussing the short story that was assigned on Friday, "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. After we went into some detail on how the things the soldiers carried reflected what mental burdens they carried, Laz had us make a typed list of EVERYTHING we had on us at the time. This list is due in class tomorrow.

-Mike "DANGER" Rudolph

4/23/09

Today in class we did a final review for our test tomorrow. We mainly discussed the themes of Hamlet, which are: perception vs. reality (mirrors), honor/pride, blood vengance, Maturity, etc. Then we received "The Things We Carry" which will come a along with a new writing assignment after the test is over. Kaitlyn read some of Laz's quotes throughout the year which had a few good memories in it, BUT most importantly we need to make some ceiling tiles so we can get one up there!
Jordan Levy

class notes 4/21

Today we continued our discussion of Act V scene 1 and are pretty much done the scene. We last left off with the question of whose skull was being dug up. It turns out that the body and the skull belong to Yorick, the old court jester that Hamlet once knew. Hamlet comes to realize whether a person was a court jester or a great leader like Alexander or Caesar, we all die and we all turn out to be the same-dust.
Hamlet also asks the gravedigger how long he has been a gravedigger, in which he replies since old Hamlet beat old Fortinbras, the same day young Hamlet was born. This is the only indication of Hamlet's age and it tells us that Hamlet is about 30 years old. The gravedigger also talks about how Hamlet was sent to England where he will either regain his wits or simply remain with the other crazy people in England. This was a joke about the English that the audience would have enjoyed. It is important to remember that the gravedigger doesn't know he is talking to prince.
Next a funeral procession for Ophelia enters and Hamlet is surprised that the funeral is Ophelia and is upset(or acting upset, depending on you point of view). As Ophelia is lowered into the grave an upset Laertes (we can safely assume this is legit sadness) jumps into her grave with her. Hamlet then jumps out and picks a fight with Laertes saying that he in fact loved Ophelia more than Laertes ever could and fights with Laertes. Picking a fight with the grieving family by claiming greater love is not a normal thing for someone to do and as a result Hamlet is called mad by the King and Queen. It wasn't expected at all that Hamlet would be at the funeral so it was a definite suprise to the mourners and adds to Hamlet's shown insanity. So the question is whether Hamlet is really insane or if he is continuing with his act. This act of anger would show he has no guilt and may be insane, although the anger may be him covering up the guilt. A more common reaction in a situation from most people would be to apologize or more likely avoid Laertes all together. However Hamlet may be thinking rationally and believe that Laertes is now a threat to him, since he did wrong to Laertes, and that he should take action against Laertes before he does the same to Hamlet. Hamlet may also be trying to provide more cover for an act of craziness. The question of whether he is crazy or acting crazy can be interpreted different ways and there isn't a difinitive answer. That sums up the questions and answers we covered today in class.

-Andrew Burke

Class Notes 4/20

Hey guys, sorry it took me a little while to update..I have a ton of notes so bear with me.

We mainly talked about the beginning of Act 5 Scene 1 involving the gravediggers and some of the conversation with Hamlet. The gravediggers are important in this scene mostly for comic relief. They are the last good and solid comedic moment before Ophelia's funeral and everyone else's inevitable death. This part of the scene also furthers the plot and transfers the play into Ophelia's funeral. 

We discussed the social class of the gravediggers and how they are the lowest of the low. The clearest indicator that they are in the lower class is the fact that they speak in prose, not poetry like the rest of the characters in the play who mostly are nobility. The gravediggers are actually called clowns in the play because they are rustics and are laughable. One would assume that the groundlings watching the play would be offended because Shakespeare is essentially mocking them; however, the groundlings feel superior to those on stage because their lives are better than the characters. They would rather live the lives they have than the ones of those on the stage. Therefore, Shakespeare can mock them and make them feel good about themselves all at once. 

As for what is actually said, the gravediggers ask a lot of questions. They start off trying to figure out if Ophelia drowning was suicide or not. From there, they talk about whether or not she should be buried in a Christian burial ground if she did commit suicide. By rule, suicide is obviously a sin and prevents someone from being buried on sacred ground. On Judgement Day, those buried in holy ground will rise up again, but those who committed suicide would not be allowed to do so. Then the gravedigger continues with the "logical" thought that if you go to the water, it's suicide, but if the water comes to you, it's drowning. Both men seem to think this is quite logical, even though it isn't.

Then the gravedigger says a riddle that isn't all that funny. The riddle is this: "who can build something stronger that a mason (works with stone), a shipwright (builds boats), and a carpenter (works with wood). The answer to this riddle is a gravedigger because the "houses" he builds will last until Judgement Day--longer than a house, ship, or something a carpenter would make (i.e. gallows). This is ironic because while the gravedigger was saying this, he was in the process of removing a skull and bones from a grave to make room for Ophelia. So while the "houses" may last, the "occupants" of the house have changed so the house technically didn't last at all.

At this point, Hamlet and Horatio come upon the gravedigger, singing while throwing bones out a grave. Hamlet wonders who they could be digging up and he is intrigued to ask the gravedigger. The two men have a bit of witty banter about who is to be laid to rest in the grave, and Hamlet actually appreciates the somewhat intelligent conversation he has with the gravedigger. This is the first conversation Hamlet has had with someone from outside the castle and he feels it is quite satisfactory in comparison to some other conversations he's had with those inside the castle.

(I swear I'm almost done) We finished up talking about when Hamlet asks the gravedigger how long it takes a body to rot. Hamlet once again shows his interest with death now that he is really facing it while talking to the gravedigger. And that's where we let off. Sorry that was so incredibly long. 

-Sarah Mercer

Class Notes 4/7

Act IV

-Ophelia's madness is the result of her father's death; much time has passed since the death of Polonius
-The Kingdom will eventually begin to devolve due to king Hamlet's death, and the apparent fact that Claudius has no direct heir
Flowers:
-Violets- nobody (Faith)
-Rue- some for Gertrude, some for Ophelia, possibly Claudius (Sorrow, Repentance)
-Rosemary- Laertes, possibly Gertrude (Remembrance)
-Pansies- Laertes, to think about Ophelia (Thoughts)
-Fennel- Claudius, possibly Gertrude (Flattery, Deception)
-Columbines-Claudius/Gertrude (Disloyalty)
-Dasies- Gertrude (Infidelity)
-They don't think much of the flowers because Ophelia is clearly crazy despite the flower's significance
-Claudius lies, but has not lied to himself as Gertrude has done
-Everyone has lost their faith

-Chris Balch

Class Notes 4/7

Act IV

-Ophelia's madness is the result of her father's death; much time has passed since the death of Polonius
-The Kingdom will eventually begin to devolve due to king Hamlet's death, and the apparent fact that Claudius has no direct heir
Flowers:
-Violets- nobody (Faith)
-Rue- some for Gertrude, some for Ophelia, possibly Claudius (Sorrow, Repentance)
-Rosemary- Laertes, possibly Gertrude (Remembrance)
-Pansies- Laertes, to think about Ophelia (Thoughts)
-Fennel- Claudius, possibly Gertrude (Flattery, Deception)
-Columbines-Claudius/Gertrude (Disloyalty)
-Dasies- Gertrude (Infidelity)

-They don't think much of the flowers because Ophelia is clearly crazy despite the flower's significance
-Claudius lies, but has not lied to himself as Gertrude has done
-Everyone has lost their faith