3/30/12

This week we finished up Othello and talked about final paper ideas. On Monday, the professor was talking about how Shakespeare wrote his plays and I was a little confused. To me, it seemed like a bunch of wordy nonsense that could be summarized. But then the professor mentioned the Matrix. In the movie, the little boy told Neo he could bend the spoon because there is no spoon. It was a crypitc way of saying that the Matrix doesn't exist, therefore you can do anything. Same with Morpheus when he talked to Neo about the Matrix. He went on with a cryptic speech and said the Matrix is only an illusion you can control. It's the same as Shakespeare.

When Shakespeare wrote Othello and his other pieces of work, he wrote it in a way that was new. A way where people can enjoy the English language fully understand what the characters are feeling. I have to give Shakespeare credit, I didn't know he did so much for the English language. He created so many famous sayings and different words that I didn't give him enough credit for. Maybe if i was to reread his plays more slowly, I may be able to enjoy them a little more. In high school, I don't remember reading Shakespear, but we probably did and I just don't remember. But maybe during this spring break, I might take a look at The Tempest or Hamlet.

Yesterday wasn't really a discussion on readings, but more on brainstorming ideas for our final paper. At first I had no idea what to write when I first walked into class, but then my idea came to me. It was the same process the professor talked about before class ended. He said to take a story we read in class and say why I liked it. I liked Beowulf the most because the thought that he was the first superhero ever to be told by one of the oldest civilizations is very amazing. A hero who was stronger than 10 men, who could hold his breath under water for hours, and fight a might dragon, is a great read in my book. Then I tried to relate Beowulf to things I like. I was thinking about relating him to Superman and how they're both heroes, but it seemed a little hard. Then I started to analyze Beowulf a little more. A monster came out of no where and started killing people in the mead hall. The people are scared for their lives, and all of a sudden a great hero from a far away land comes and saves them all.

That reminded me of Clint Eastwood's character The Man With No Name from the "Dollars" western series. A hero who comes into town, saves everyone from the bad guys, then rides into the sunset not asking for a reward. There's more I can say about him, but I'll save it for the final paper. I felt that by brainstorming in class, it got my brain flowing with all these ideas on how I can write my paper.

WC: 519