Open Prompt #2 Revision

Open Prompt #2

2009, Form B. Many works of literature deal with political or social issues. Choose a novel or play that focuses on a political or social issue. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the author uses literary elements to explore this issue and explain how the issue contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

        

         In early 20^th century America, frustration, poverty, and unpleasant working and living conditions were commonplace for the working class. Upton Sinclair, a renowned muckraker, wrote “The Jungle” in 1906 in order to expose the dirty secrets running rampant in America that were ruining lives and killing families. Sinclair unveiled the turmoil using tone, characterization, and imagery.

         The story is about Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant, and his struggling family. Sinclair takes us into the lives of the Rudkus’, an ordinary, middle-class, immigrant family. By using an everyday family, the reader was able to relate to the characters. He brings heartbreak to the reader with his use of pitiful characters like the hurt, suffering children and wife. By using characters that the reader related to and felt bad for, his publication of the horrid working conditions and the cruel treatment of the less fortunate were understand by all. With his use of sensitive yet lovable characters, he makes the reader full-heartedly take the side of the suffering family.

The dark tone and vivid imagery  Sinclair uses imprints his message into the brains of all readers. The powerful tone transports the reader into Jurgis’ life, making every blow from the awful political creatures lurking behind the book feel like a blow to the reader them self. Sinclair changes the tone from aggressive frustration to sadness at points in the book too. When the tone transforms into pity and desperation, the reader feels the hardships the characters are going through. Since the book represented how the world truly was at the time, these feelings really made the reader want to make a change. This technique strengthens Sinclair’s message by putting the reader on the level of the characters. The imagery found in the book is grotesque and makes one cringe with disgust. The aggressiveness of the images make the horrors jump off the page. Since the book is exposes a social issue, the loud images and tone bring the message to life.

        Sinclair wrote The Jungle hoping to show how lives immigrants and those living in poverty were. He takes the reader through a real-life example of an American family in order to show the world what was truly going on in the streets of early 20^th century America. He was a muckraking journalist on a mission to reveal the deep secrets that laid within the streets of the early 20^th century in America. With the use of aggressive tone, imagery, and characterization he proved his point to his readers and successfully influenced the passage of multiple laws for a happier, safer America. 

Summary and Analysis: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Author: Tom Stoppard

Setting:  The play jumps around from an unknown forest (no-man’s land), Elsanor, in the stage in the Player’s trailer, and on a boat at sea.

Plot: Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead opens with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in an unknown forest flipping a coin. They unmistakingly get heads every time. This is the first sight of the games/gambling motif present in the play. When they stop the game, they wonder how they got to where they were. Unable to recall any memories, they can only come up with the conclusion that they were sent for by a messenger. As they venture through the forest (no-man’s land) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern encounter a group of actors called the Tragedians, led by the Player.

All of a sudden, Ros and Guil are in Elsanor with Hamlet and Ophelia. Claudius mistakes the two men for one another as he explains he sent for them to try and figure out what is going on with Hamlet. In preparation for their talk with Hamlet, they play word games. One of them then pretended to be Hamlet while the other questioned him. They are unable to find insight as to why Hamlet has gone insane. They talk to Claudius and explain they have no clue as to why Hamlet went crazy. They continue to think about Hamlet, which leads them to pondering the idea of death. Ros and Guil are then invited to a play performed by the Tragedians. This play is the same one from Hamlet that shadows the affair between Claudius and Gertrude. During the play, they see characters that represent themselves die. These deaths foreshadow their death later in the play.

In the next scene, Claudius tells Ros and Guil they will be accompanying Hamlet to England. On the boat ride to England Rosencrantz and Guildenstern try to figure out where they are going and how everything has happened. As they talk about the future, the letter from Claudius to the king of England is opened. They read it and discover it says for the King of England to kill Hamlet. They decide that they have to deliver the letter. Hamlet, who overheard them reading the letter earlier, changes the letter with a different one. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern wake up to find that the letter instructs the King of England to instead execute the two of them instead. Horrified, the characters try to figure out how life has come to this before the scene ends. Horatio ends the play with the speech he gives at the end of Hamlet.

Significant Characters:

Rosencrantz: Childhood friend of Hamlet who was called to Esalnor to get details on Hamlet’s transformation. Right-hand man to Guildenstern.

Guildenstern: Childhood friend of Hamlet who was called to Esalnor to get details on Hamlet’s transformation. Right-hand man to Rosencrantz.

Player: Leader of the Tragedians. He presents a mysterious, god-like presence throughout the play with his accurate predictions of what is going to happen.

Alfred: One of the tragedians. A depressed man who is used in examples in all of the plays put on for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Hamlet: Prince of Denmark who went crazy after his father’s death and mother’s marriage to his uncle. He is the reason Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were called to Elsanor.

Claudius: King of Denmark- the man who called for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Narrator: Since this is a play, there is no narrator.

Quotes:

“Life is a gamble, at terrible odds- if it was a bet you wouldn’t take it.” –Player

-This quote encompasses the idea that the Player had some sort of control over the fate of Ros and Guil. It also showcases the motif of gambling and emphasizes one of the themes present in the book.

“Words, words. They’re all we have to go on.”

-This quote shows how Ros and Guil had no idea as to what was going on in their lives. They had no ability to change anything or remember anything.

Symbols/Motifs:

Death- Death is a common motif throughout the play. This motif symbolizes that fate is inevitable.

Falling/Stumbling/Clumsiness- Throughout the play Ros and Guil stumble, fall, trip, etc. very often. This goes along with the existentialism idea that people go through life this way.

Confusion/Loss of Memory- Ros and Guil are confused and don’t remember anything for the majority of the play. This goes along with an existentialism idea. It also shows their uncertainty and inability to control their own lives.

Games/Gambling- Games are a motif throughout the play. They show the chance in life. They also shadow how Ros and Guil have no control over their lives.

Theme: Life is random and predetermined.

Response to Course Materials #7

FINALLY everything that has to do with Hamlet is done. I really shouldn't be this excited about it...but I am. I am so happy that we are finally on to novels. So far, Ceremony seems like a pretty good book. Somewhat confusing, but still interesting. And on the plus side, it makes more sense the R & G! 

We have been doing more multiple choice and writing. Both of these things, tedious and difficult, are necessary. I can't believe the AP test is approaching so soon. I feel like I need to improve drastically on the multiple choice and my open/closed prompts could use some work. I need to better understand the formula for writing AP Lit papers. Reading examples from past AP's really helped me see what I should be doing. The AP test also means I have to refresh my memory on not only all of the terms but all of the critics, comedy terms, writing periods, etc. from the beginning of this year. 

As the class has progressed, I have noticed things becoming more second nature. Didls examples just jump off the page and not analyzing every single word just seems asinine. Even poems and even Shakespeare are becoming somewhat more comfortable. This is definitely a good and exciting sign.