Mr_Shank

This time, I’m going to follow Rosalind. She becomes madly in love with Orlando and she still barely knows him. But more importantly, Rosalind really digs herself a hole in the last potion of this book.  She is her normal self and she says that Ganymede will marry Phoebe, but Ganymede is actually Rosalind. Rosalind (as Ganymede) wants to continue to with her wooing sessions with Orlando, even though he is tired of trying to get over Rosalind by wooing a man.  I though this part of the book was pretty confusing because Rosalind makes a whole bunch of promises.

On the day of the weddings, Rosalind is to marry Orlando, Touchstone is to marry Audrey, Oliver is to marry Celia, and Phoebe is to marry Ganymede. If Phoebe choses not to marry Ganymede, she will marry Silvius. Everybody realizes that Ganymede looks a lot like Rosalind and they draw the conclusions that he is Rosalind. So, Phoebe ends up marrying Silvius. The four couples get married all together in one ceremony. All is well and everyone is happy, especially since there is peace with Duke Frederick and Jaques.

First, why do you think Rosalind thought she could pull off being Ganymede and herself? She made promises that were impossible to keep, like being two people at one time.

Also, it doesn’t seem like anyone is mad at Rosalind for lying and being deceitful. Why do you think this is?

Mallory

The character that I want to look at now is Puck, yes he is introduced in Scene 2 but he also creates a lot of tension for the lovers that has an upside down turn of events.  It is because of Oberon that the tension has started in the first place, he was trying to make Demetrius fall in love with Helena because he was so cruel to her, but Puck thinks that Lysander is Demetrius and places the love potion on him, so that when Lysander awakes and sees Helena he falls in love with her, and when Puck tries to undo his mistake he ends up making both Lysander and Demetrius in love with Helena and they both want to fight as well as Hermia does with Helena.

Puck is a very interesting character from the beginning of the story, he is mischievous but tends to be good and make everything back to normal for our four main characters.  Do you think that Oberon should have trusted Puck in the first place with the love potion?  Do you think that Puck likes to do a good thing once in a while or is he naturally mischievous and got a good laugh out of what he did to the four lovers?  Why do you think that Puck is a follower of Oberon instead of Titania, should he have been a follower of Titania?

As for Oberon, he hates his wife at the moment but does good for the four lovers by setting them straight and having them fall in love with the right person. Why do you think this is?

-Kianat Zamir

First of all, I am so happy Shakespeare decided to show his funny side and write comedies because MAAN is a great play.  I hope everyone is fully understanding and enjoying it as much as I am.

Okay this week I would like to start off by making a connection to the title.   This connection is pretty obvious but ‘Much Ado About Nothing” is directly connected to the story in the fact that these two groups(males & females) are making a big fuss about love and trying to get people together by saying things behind their backs they purposely hear-example-Act 3 Scene 1. 

Another connection I thought about was the comparison of Dogberry and Verges to the 3 Stooges.  Although there are only two in this comic duo, Dogberry and Verges are the ones we laugh a little bit more at in this play.  The two plays off each other and their chemistry is great, Dogberry tears Verges down when he is on the job with him. Moe was always picking on Larry and Curly during an episode of the three stooges and doing funny comical acts that I could expect to see Dogberry and Verges doing in MAAN.

Did you think Dogberry and Verges were funny?

I think they are very funny, like I said before I imagine them like the Three Stooges and can see them doing funny acts.

How do you feel about the whole “behind their backs, but they are suppose to hear” situation?

I actually believe this to be a good idea.  Beatrice and Benedick won’t tell each other their feeling so they might as well find out for themselves, with a little help from their friends.

Rebecca Krick

Let’s take a look at Orlando for a moment. Not only do I admire his name [Orlando Bloom ] but I admire that he is sticking up for himself. His older brother Oliver is a jerk. Their father just died and Oliver is being selfish and won’t share his inheiritance with Orlando. Orlando ends up wrestling Oliver’s servant Charles and he wins. Oliver gets mad that his brother beat him so he threatens to burn his house down and hope he burns inside it! I don’t think brothers should act like this, especially right after their father died. I guess Oliver and Orlando don’t miss their father much, and Oliver is just after the money. But, I applaud Orlando for trying to get some of the money and he deserves it, not only because he he was also Sir Rowland de Bois son, but because he wrestled for it and proved he should have a share.

Also, there is a love connection between Orlando and Rosalind. It’a a love at first sight type of thing and it is developed after Orlando wrestles Charles. I guess being a good wrestler in this time period was a big turn on.

Orlando and his servant Adam go into the Adrenne Forest and Adam almost dies from hunger. Orlando finds Duke Senior, Rosalind’s dad. They have a meal together while Duke Senior is banished and is forced to live in the forest.

My question for y’all is do you think Orlando is deserving of some of the inheiritance from his father? Also, what do you think is going to happen between Orlando and Rosalind, will something blossom there??

MALLORY STICKLER

I am going to be honest with you guys because I wasn’t sure if Denn could actually win the Big Deal, I was holding my breath in those last couple pages…

Denn- A poker player who has been though it all: Heartache, starvation, sleeps deprivation, wins, loses, and encounters with bad people.  Throughout the book we have gotten to known Denn and see him grow as a person.  Denn use to read people and learn their signs for when they had a good or bad set of cards he has learned that using that method doesn’t always work and now thinks twice before he make a move.  Denn is a smart person and even though he made be wasting his money away it doesn’t matter because people do what they have to do in life. 

Did you honestly think Denn was going to win the tournament?  If you had your doubts what were they and why? 

Cattie- This girl was very confusing to us at the beginning of the book and we didn’t know if she was on the good side or bad side of Denn’s situation.  Cattie Hart is a poker dealer who grew up with a slut for a mother and learned how to make money herself and get what she needed in life.  Cattie Hart originally tricked Denn into a poker game with Morty and Frisk but in the end she helps Denn win the most money he has ever had. 

What reaction did you have when you read Cattie had come back to the Big Deal wearing Denn’s gold necklace? And why? 

Who do you think Cattie was helping more during the tournament Artie or Denn? Why?

Artie- The man with all the money during the poker tournament until Denn wins it all from him after a chip mix up.  Artie thought he could win his own tournament but by then end of the night he was breaking his own rules and giving up quickly.  When Cattie was dealing his table she was suppose to help him win but Cattie ended up making him lose and was sent away from his table and sat out the rest of the tournament.  Did Artie have this bad luck coming for him?  Is karma part of it? 

After Denn won the Big Deal what do you predict happened to Artie?

Morty- This guy is a friend of Arties and helped out in the first set-up Denn was a part of.  In the last chapter he has to call a shot for Denn or Artie and he picks Denn, this was very shocking!  There weren’t that many people around and Morty was suppose to help Artie, what do you think happened to make Morty choose to play fair?  This is unusual considering what we know about his character.

Jimbo- The main “narrator” throughout the story.  He also played in the Big Deal tournament and went pretty far but left his table before the last few rounds started.  We also had our doubts about Jimbo while reading the story but in the end Jimbo was just one of Denn’s friends trying to help him out.

Who was who?

What character completely changed from who they were at the beginning of the book to who they were at the end?

Who spoke Spanish over the phone with Denn?

What characters played at Lucy Lou’s?

Who drives a Lincoln Navigator?

Who drives a Camaro?

Who was your favorite character? WHY?

Who was your least favorite character? WHY?

To start things off I would like to say, ” FINAL POST!!!! WAHOOOO!!!” Now, I insist that everybody who is reading this should have a little party of their own, just like I did.  Alright, now I guess I should write about something that I am supposed to write about. =]

In the last section of the book the frenzy, I talked about earlier, has seemed to have reached its climax and then ended.  In the previous section the Time Traveler only had the want to kill the Morlocks, but now he has.

“I struggled up, shaking off these human rats from me, and then holding the bar short, I thrust where I judged their faces might be.  I could feel the succulent giving of flesh and bone under my blows, and for a moment I was free…  I determined to make the Morlocks pay for their meat.  I stood with my back to a tree swinging the iron bar before me.  The whole wood was full of the stir and cries of them.”

This extreme change I believe is caused by three things.  It is my opinion that the most obvious reason is that the threat of his own life is in play.  In this view his actions are like a defense.  Another reason is probably because he is homesick, and can not stand the Morlocks tricks anymore.  All he wants is to retrieve the time machine and go home.  The final thing that may have changed things for the Time Traveler is the disappearance of Weena.  The way this is described you can assume that she is dead, either by fire or the Morlocks.  The Time Traveler really cared for her so this may have resulted in the Time Travelers change.  Whatever the reason may have been the Time Traveler’s mental state seems to have snapped, at least for that moment, in time.

What is also interesting is how easily the Time Traveler seems to go back to his normal (or at least as normal as he gets) self.  This happens pretty much as soon as he gets back home.   Most people, after a traumatic experiance do not recover this easily.

The final thing that I would like to point out is the reactions of the Time Traveler’s guests and then the responses followed by the Time Traveler.  After telling this grand story known of his guests believe him that it is true.  They believe that it was in fact just a story.  The odd thing is that the Time Traveler even has a hard time convincing himself that the events had actually occurred.

” I’m d-d if it isn’t all going.  This room and you and the atmosphere of everyday is too much for my memory.  Did I ever make a time machine, or a model of a time machine, or is it all only a dream? They say life is a dream, a precious porr dream at times- but I can’t stand another that won’t fit.  It’s madness.  And where did the dream come from?… It’s alright now.  The story I told you was true.”

Here are my questions as usual:

1.  What do you believe is the main reason for the character’s frenzy?

2.  Would you have snapped in this situation, or would you have stayed cool and thought rationaly?

3.  Do you think that the Time Traveler did infact time travel or was it just a story?

4.  If you were one of the people hearing the story would you believe the Time Travler?

and just for fun…

If you were to be the person to have created a time machine where would you want to travel to?  Tell of your adventures and what you see.  Be creative.

Over Chapters 5, 6 and 7 we see a change in Gatsby.  In chapter 6 we learn about Gatsby’s past.  We learn that Gatsby’s real name was James Gatz and that he worked for a man on his yacht.  The man gave Gatz the new names Jay Gatsby and that name stuck with  him.  When the man died he left most of his money to Gatsby and this is when Gatsby’s poor life turned around.  What do you think of Gatsby’s past? Do you think he was happier when he was poor why of why not?

In chapter 7 we see the most change in Gatsby.  Tom and Daisy go to one of Gatsby’s parties and Daisy doesn’t have a good time.  Gatsby then stops throwing parties and fires all of his workers so the rumors about him will stop.  Do you think Gatsby should give up everything for Daisy?

Also in Chapter 7 Gatsby and Tom meet and talk.  Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy loves him and not her husband.  Tom gets angry and the relationship between Gatsby and Tom becomes worse.  Do you think that Gatsby should have confronted Tom about Daisy?

Finally Daisy and Gatsby are driving together in Gatsby’s car.  Daisy is driving and she hits Myrtle ( Tom’s other woman) with the car.  Gatsby later tells Nick that he will take the blame for the accident.  Do you think that Gatsby should take the blame?

We so in the last chapters that Gatsby has changed and not really for the good.  He has become very obsessed with Daisy and will seem to stop at nothing to win her back.  Do you think that Gatsby has changed for the better or for the worse, why or why not?

Questions:

1) What do you think of Gatsby’s past? Do you think he was happier when he was poor why of why not?

2) Do you think Gatsby should give up everything for Daisy?

3) Do you think that Gatsby should have confronted Tom about Daisy?

4) Do you think that Gatsby should take the blame?

5) Do you think that Gatsby has changed for the better or for the worse, why or why not?

~Lauren Gress~

Okay guys so a lot has unfolded during chapters 20-34.  We have learned more about the characters and Pete Hautman is getting more in-depth with their decisions and stories.

Albert Kingston- A.K.A. mystery man.  Remember at the beginning of the book when Denn bought a restaurant from a guy, well this is that guy.  This guy is a creep, he hits on younger women, Cattie, and just reading about his actions scares me.  This guy is up to no good and Denn and Cattie both know it.  Albert owns Kings Crossing which was all a set up for Denn to loss more money.  What do you guys think of Albert?  What do you think of him entering his own poker tournament, fair or not fair?

Cattie Hart-  Bad girl, not really.  Cattie has taken a beating through life, growing up in a trailer park and having a slut as a mom can rally bend your character.  Cattie is a good girl and knows what she is doing, she isn’t easy even though she can seem like a bit of a “gold digger” at times.  She knows when to say no and is quite responsible.  Cattie still likes Denn a lot and it shows when she offers him 10 grand for the Kings Crossing tournament.  If you still don’t think Cattie is on Denn’s side please explain your reasons why.  Do you think Cattie will stay on Denn’s side or go back with Albert?  Did she ever have a choice?

Denn-  Could care less about money right now, his main focus is Cattie.  He fell hard for this girl and does not want to see her get hurt.  Denn is getting better at playing poker and now we just have to wait and see if he will win the Big Deal.

It seems to me that this story is going around in a circle, that you can kind of see what is going to happen.  Do you guys agree?

Also, do you think Cattie and Denn will become a couple again now that we know they still care for each other?

-Rebecca Krick

First off since we didn’t have a chance to really discuss how much we were going to read I think we should make a decision.  The last chapter I read was chapter 10.  If you think we should read a different amount just let me know.

In this last section of few things have changed in the Time Traveler.  The frenzy which we saw growing in the previous section has grown into some new things.  One thing that has occurred is a strong fear of the night.  This is instilled in him after he has his first big interaction with the Marlocks. The character says,  “I will confess I was horribly frightened.  I determined to strike another match and escape under its glare…  That upward climb seemed unending.  While I still had the last twenty or thirty feet of it above me, a deadly nausea came upon me.  I had the greatest difficulty in keeping my hold.”  After this incident the Time Traveler no longer feels safe so he searches out a safe refuge for him and Weena to live in at night.  He decides to look at the green, porcelain palace that he saw before.

Another change we see is that the Morlocks have caused him to hold a great anger against them.  He gets even as far as wanting to injur or kill them.  This we see is mainly because he cannot picture Weena as a meal for them.  While he was down in the well-like place he saw that they ate the Eloi.  He cares for Weena and he does not want to see her become a meal.  He thinks to himself, “I longed very much to kill a Morlock or so.  Very inhuman, you may think, to want to go killing one’s own descendants, but it was impossible somehow to feel any humanity in the things.”  After he says this he searches the museum (the green palace) and finds more matches, used to scare them away, and a crow bar, which could easily kill their fragile bodies.

Another thing noticeable about the Time Traveler is that he has become  very close to Weena, almost as if he loves her.  This seems like a rather unorthodox, and an incredibly long distance relationship (to say the least), yet he does not seem to mind.  His plan is to bring Weena with him back to the present.

So my questions to you are:

1.  Do you think that you would be afraid of the Morlocks, why or why not, and do you see the Time Travelers reasoning for being frightened of them?

2.  Do you believe that the Time Traveler will ever have the courage to kill any of the Morlocks? Why or Why not?

3.  Would you have the courage that the Time Traveler had to go down into well-like place?  How would you respond differently to the situation then he did?

4.  Obviously Weena does not come back with the Time Traveler, or else we would have met her at the beginning of the book.  What do you think caused the change of plans to bring her with him back to the present?

~Erin Campbell =]

Unlike the first section of the book, the main character seems very uncomfortable.  This is due to the fact of being in a different time period.  When he is time traveling he even has the difficulty of convincing himself to stop anywhere.

He thinks to himself, “The peculiar risk lay in the possibility of my finding some substance in the space which I, or the machine, occupied.  So as long as I traveled at a high velocity through time, this scarcely mattered…  above all the prolonged falling had absolutely upset my nerve.  I told myself that I could never stop, and with a gust of petulance I resolved to stop forthwith.”

So obviously he does then stop, but this nervousness does not cease.  He says when landing, “I felt naked in a strange world.  I felt as perhaps a bird may feel in the clear air, knowing the hawk wings above and will swoop.  My fear grew to frenzy.”  He becomes even more crazed when he realizes that his time machine is moved.  He races down the hill, tears apart bushes,  rips plants out, wakes up the sleeping etc.  The next day he continues his rampage by trying to hammer a hole in the sphinx statue, thinking that the machine is hidden within it.

So my questions to you are:

1.  Do you think that the main character is going crazy or do you believe he has right to be acting so wildly, due to his situation?  Why?  Support your answer.

2.  Do you believe that the main character will act this way every time that he time travels or is it just first time jitters?

Essayish thing:  If you were in the same situation how would you respond?  Be creative and try to give specific events, emotions, actions etc.

~Erin C. =]