Friday, January 23, 2009
Compare/Constrast -JC Movie & Book
Julius Caesar is a famous play written by Shakespeare. There is only one play, whereas many versions of the movie have been created. The movie has some parts cut out, probably because it was unnecessary or irrelevant to the movie scene. In the play, the actors have to move away from the scene when performing an aside, and the other characters gave to pretend that they aren't listening. In the movie, the character can just seem as if they are thinking it in their head and the camera can zoom into their face with their thoughts being told out loud. The movie takes less than one second to change scenes, whereas the curtains have to draw close every time a scene is changed. Also, the movie seems more realistic, because the set can change into real fields and buildings, whereas the set has to be made bit by bit and put on stage.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Portia: Is Brutus sick? Structured Paragraph
Qi Pan
Ms Lindsay
January 13th 2009
Julius Caesar - Structured Paragraph
Portia: Is Brutus sick?
This important paragraph of the play Julius Caesar is narrated by Portia, Brutus’ husband. Portia thinks that she should know what Brutus is up to, so she uses rhetorical questions, ethos, and counterarguments to try to make Brutus tell the truth. One of the ways Portia uses to convince Brutus is by using rhetorical questions, for example: “Is it physical / To walk unbraced and suck up the humors / Of the dank morning?” (Caesar 2.1.261-263). This is a rhetorical question because Portia answers the question four lines later. Portia uses this rhetoric to make Brutus think about what he’s doing. Another technique Portia uses is ethos; for instance: “Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, […] Am I yourself, […] To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, / And talk to you sometimes?” (Caesar 2.1.280, 282, 284-285). Portia uses this rhetorical device to make Brutus think if what he is doing is really the right decision, because Brutus knows that after marriage, husband and wife should confide in each other. By explaining to Brutus how she is loyal to him, she can make Brutus feel guilty, because it is right, as her husband, for Brutus to be faithful to her too. Portia also uses counter-argument very tactfully: “I grant I am a woman, but withal / A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife, […] A woman well reputed, Cato’s daughter.” (Caesar 2.1.293-295). Here, Portia anticipates what Brutus is thinking – that Portia is only a woman – and says why he is wrong. Portia uses this to show Brutus how high she is in society, and that she is not only a woman. This shows that Portia believes that as her wife, Brutus should be honest to her. Consequently, Portia, through using strong persuasive skills, tries to sway Brutus’ state of mind to tell her what is wrong. The reader can infer from this passage that Portia is a caring, determined and good-willed wife.
Ms Lindsay
January 13th 2009
Julius Caesar - Structured Paragraph
Portia: Is Brutus sick?
This important paragraph of the play Julius Caesar is narrated by Portia, Brutus’ husband. Portia thinks that she should know what Brutus is up to, so she uses rhetorical questions, ethos, and counterarguments to try to make Brutus tell the truth. One of the ways Portia uses to convince Brutus is by using rhetorical questions, for example: “Is it physical / To walk unbraced and suck up the humors / Of the dank morning?” (Caesar 2.1.261-263). This is a rhetorical question because Portia answers the question four lines later. Portia uses this rhetoric to make Brutus think about what he’s doing. Another technique Portia uses is ethos; for instance: “Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, […] Am I yourself, […] To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, / And talk to you sometimes?” (Caesar 2.1.280, 282, 284-285). Portia uses this rhetorical device to make Brutus think if what he is doing is really the right decision, because Brutus knows that after marriage, husband and wife should confide in each other. By explaining to Brutus how she is loyal to him, she can make Brutus feel guilty, because it is right, as her husband, for Brutus to be faithful to her too. Portia also uses counter-argument very tactfully: “I grant I am a woman, but withal / A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife, […] A woman well reputed, Cato’s daughter.” (Caesar 2.1.293-295). Here, Portia anticipates what Brutus is thinking – that Portia is only a woman – and says why he is wrong. Portia uses this to show Brutus how high she is in society, and that she is not only a woman. This shows that Portia believes that as her wife, Brutus should be honest to her. Consequently, Portia, through using strong persuasive skills, tries to sway Brutus’ state of mind to tell her what is wrong. The reader can infer from this passage that Portia is a caring, determined and good-willed wife.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
What I think about Shakespeare...
I like Shakespeare A LOT, even though we have lots of homework because of him, because he is a phenomenal man. I wonder where he gets his ideas from... I wish I could be like him, inspirational etc... But it's just that we have to study his plays rather than read them for fun... But i guess it's for our own good. It's annoying how the main character usually dies because he/she misses or ignores the warning in his plays. it's agonizing (and annoying) to feel the pain of their death... but that's what makes the swan of avon such a great poet/playwright. I love Shakespeare' dramatic irony. He makes us feel the pain of Artimedorus etc... Did Shakespeare get his ideas from his teacher's whip? Surely that wouldn't help... He has inspired many modern writers using his amazing talent, but personally, I don't think that anyone can surpass his skill and craftiness in the art of dramatic irony and literature
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