AP Lit Blog 3rd Marking Period

William Theune

Mr. Klimas

AP Literature

9th April 2014

Physical Journey Essay

In the novel The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, the physical journey traversed by the main character, Jack Worthing, contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. The author uses the journey along with the other elements of the novel to create a satirical commentary of the superficial nature of society during the time period.

One of the main portions of the journey is the contrasting of urban life and rural life during the Victorian Age. Jack, as he is called in the country, uses a fake brother named Earnest, as an excuse to travel to the city. On several occasions Jack’s “brother Earnest” gets into trouble, and Jack must head out to the city where his brother lives. Once in the city, Jack assumes the name of Ernest and is free to do as he pleases; without the worry of his societal responsibilities and standards that must be met when he uses his real identity. This back and forth transition from Jack to Earnest, Rural to Urban all for the sake of letting loose, shows the significance of outward appearance during this time and gives light to the shallowness of society the author wishes to portray.

In conjunction with the parallel between Jack and Earnest, comes the ironic arrival of Mr. Algernon Moncrieff. Algernon, similar to Jack, uses an imaginary friend called “Bunberry” to in the same fashion, escape to the country. The two characters can be thought of as a foil in this manner as while one lives in the country, escaping to the city, the other lives in the city, escaping to the country. Algernon uses his Bunberry character to leave and be free of the same social oppressiveness Jack faces in the country. “Bunburying” as Algernon calls it, the two traveled back and forth for sometime, without even the slightest suspicion from their friends or family.

Their elaborate scheme isn't discovered until both Algernon and Jack fall in love. Jack, in love with a women from the city who believes his name to be earnest; and Algernon, with a woman who believes him to be Jack’s brother. The realization that the two men now share one name, each races to try to be christened in their new name of Earnest. However their journey comes to a halt when the women meet each other at Jacks house in the country. Their lovers discover the deception and Jack and Algernon are forced to reveal the truth of their double lives.

The journey with which these two characters take throughout the novel enlightens the works meaning and reveals the superficiality of the Victorian Society. A time period which weighed heavily upon class, outward appearance, and public behavior, is easily deceived by the false character of Earnest.

Analysis of "A narrow fellow in the grass" -Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson's "A narrow fellow in the grass" begins by describing a boy who has found a snake. However there is a shift at "several of nature's people" that makes the poem an extended metaphor. The metaphor or the snake, reminds the narrator of people he has seen within his life time who have shocked him or placed him in a state of awe. The lines "his notice instant" and "without a tighter breaking" show the break taking feeling the narrator experiences. "Several of nature's people I know, and the know me" changes the poem to be not only about the snake, but about "several people" he knows. (The narrator is a he "but when a boy, and barefoot".)

In addition to the extended metaphor, examples of consonance can be found through out the poem. "Spotted Shaft is Seen", "Cool for Corn", "a Boy, and Barefoot", "Stooping to Secure it" all add to the shocked, astonished tone of the poem. 

I chose two of Emily Dickinson's poems because I had read her work before and wanted to compare the two. Of the couple that I read, I enjoyed "A certain slant of light" more because of its deceptive first appearance. However, I did enjoy this poem as well. It was more cheerful than the last and I found the extended metaphor interesting. It tells the reader than the narrator had met many awe inspiring people in his lifetime. While a snake might be the most interesting as a boy, there is always more surprises that life has to offer. 

Analysis of "There's a certain slant of light"-Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson's "There's a certain slant of light" is a poem that can trick the reader at first glance. The word "light" is almost instinctively thought of as a good thing. However, the symbol of light in this poem, represents more of an oppressing, ominous weight; that serves as a burden for the narrator. This can be seen in "oppresses like the heft of cathedral tunes" and "heavenly hurt". The idea that a religious song could weigh down on someone or the idea of a sort of unearthly pain, supports this burdensome light. The interesting thing about both of these quotes is the allude to religion, which could be used to reinforce the religious aspect of light.
In addition the symbol of light, there is an abundance of imagery found within the poem. The lines "heavenly hurt it gives us. We can find no scar", and "an imperial affliction" are two of the most important lines in my opinion. They are what really create the true image of light in the poem. "Heavenly hurt" leaving "no scar" suggests an emotional, no physical pain felt due to this light. "imperial affliction" is an interesting description of light; one that covers everything but is a plague rather than something that is good.
In my opinion, the tone of the poem is one of gloom and depression, much like most of Dickinson's work. However it interested me how at first glance how the poem seemed more of an uplifting one due to the use of the word light. The way in which the author transforms light into darkness within a few short lines is what really captured my interest.

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

"We" Favorite Quote and Analysis

"An instant. The hand fell, loosing the current. A sharp blade of unbearable light. A shudder in the pipes of the Machine, a crackling that you could hardly hear. The spread-eagled body was covered by a light, sparkling little puff of smoke, and then before our eyes it began to melt, and melt, and it dissolved so fast it was horrible. And then-nothing. A puddle of chemically pure water, which just a moment ago had been in a heart, red, beating up a storm.
This was all simple, we all knew about it. Dissociation of matter-check. Disengagement of the atoms of the human body-check. Still, every time it happened, it seemed like a miracle. It was a sign of the superhuman might of the Benefactor. (Zamyatin 48).

This quote describes the execution of R-13 by the benefactor. Somehow, through the advanced futuristic technologies of OneState, the benefactor has the power to turn a human being into pure water. The horror, brutal process, literally melts R-13 into nothing but a drinkable liquid. The execution is witnessed by D-503.

This quote has to be my favorite it shows 2 very important points to the novel overall. The first is the power of the Benefactor. The fact that one being, a machine, has the power to destroy a human being in a flash of light, contributes to his similarity to a god figure. It places a power in him, that even if someone did not like the society, they would be so afraid that they would stay silent. This is similar to the acts committed by the Soviet Government, who executed anyone who promoted revolution. The second point, is the rational, uncaring sense of the people there. They have just witnessed a fellow citizen be destroyed, and they do not care. D-503 is still thinking in his robotic, rational way saying, "Dissociation of matter-check. Disengagement of the Atoms of the human body-check".

Thoughts on We

The novel overall was quite an interesting read. I had read several similar novels such as "The Giver" and "The Handmaid's Tale" later on. The popularity of these Dystopian novels seems to be increasing. I think that the historical argument for the book is what separates it from many similar novels. Being that "We" is a warning against another Communist Russia-like society, Zamyatin shows the full extent of what happens when a government removes its people's freedoms. The author's use of the dual personality throughout the second half of the novel also separates it from similar books. D-503 is in a constant battle between his rational OneState self, and his irrational more human self. From reading similar novels, it wasn't hard to predict the ending of this one. Almost all Dystopian texts end with the society either falling due to rebellion, or about to fall. In addition, the people living outside the wall puzzled me. It was an element of mystery in a very predictable, yet gripping text. I found myself wondering who they were, where they had come from, and why they differed so greatly from those inside the wall, and from those in our society today. Lastly, the ending left me wanting to read a sequel, which for me is a significant point in whether or not I enjoyed a book. If one is left wanting to read more about a book, then that is a good indicator that it was an enjoyable read.