Fortunately, at this point in the semester I am sort of starting to get more comfortable with the format of the AP essay. I feel as though the structure of my essays is improving, but I think that I still need to work on my ability to work within a time limit. With the close reading, I definitely need to work on the time. With an open prompt, I can work within the limit, but only if I barely have anything to say. I struggle with open prompts because I feel like I’m not doing justice to the novel if I leave some counterarguments or pieces of evidence out. This is definitely something I need to correct, because in this sort of essay it is a crippling flaw to need to analyze every bit of a novel as complicated as, say, Song of Solomon.
In class, I loved close reading The American Dream in a group discussion setting. Verbal analysis is by far my favorite part of literature. It’s just so fascinating to hear everyone’s different ideas and discover what the text means. While I completely disagree with Albee’s anti-feminist message, I find his point about the consumerism in our society a very interesting and probably true one. The looks-oriented and shallow society in which Albee’s characters live is one which I think still holds true today and is definitely an aspect of the “new” American Dream which we as citizens in 2011 are living or trying to live. I especially believe that the corporate entities that Mrs. Barker represent, and Mommy’s need to toady by Mrs. Barker as a wealthier, more powerful economic figure are definitely true today—indeed, I would venture to claim that this is the reality for pretty much all of the wealthy and powerful figures in our society. I was, however, disturbed by the cutting up of baby Johnny, but that is absurdity for you.
Interestingly enough, the only other play in this genre I have read—Endgame—also involved people with missing body parts, Ham and Clov. However, The American Dream is much easier to analyze than Endgame. I’m excited to begin our next play, especially because I have already read and analyzed it, so I have some experience with the text which will therefore enable me to access the next level of its meaning faster (that is, I will achieve the analysis of a fourth read without reading it in class four times). At least, I hope I will…
I have been drilling myself on the vocabulary, and fortunately I know most of the terms, especially those which relate to drama and comedy, those being some of my favorite things to read. However, many terms are completely unfamiliar to me and I cannot keep them straight. I keep trying to think of a vocab list I have been more confused by, but I can’t think of any. Once I learn them, however, I will feel extremely intelligent. And will hopefully get a good grade on the test.
I am extremely excited to see Twelfth Night this week, though I don’t know if that’s something I should be putting on a self-assessment. I love to watch and read Shakespeare’s comedies almost as much as I love analyzing his tragedies. I was unable to make it that time my ISHALL class went to Stratford, so I’m really looking forward to this experience.
It is great to see you relating things we read in class to other plays that you've read, such as Endgame. I agree with you as well that reading The American Dream in class was really beneficial. It made me look at things in ways I never would have on my own. I hope you enjoyed seeing Twelfth Night, I read it last year and liked it a lot!
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