our fearless leader in the windowsill.  what do you guys think of this picture?

ENGL 230 Great Narrative Works

Potential Questions – Exam 2

April 19, 2007

Past texts

Odyssey by Homer

Aeneid by Virgil

Inferno by Dante

“Ulysses” by Tennyson

Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Most recent texts

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

“My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Each of the following questions is a potential for the exam. On exam day you will be given one of the following questions at random, and you will be expected to make a direct, concise answer.

YOU SHOULD CREATE ANSWERS FOR EACH QUESTION BEFORE THE EXAM AND THOROUGHLY PREPARE FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS IN ESSAY FORMAT IN CLASS BY CREATING OUTLINES/CLUSTERS/ETC. You will not be able to use your notes/books/exam preparations during the exam, but these pre-generating answers will make your answer much more accurate (and your brief exam time less stressful). In your preparation (and on the exam) you should focus on generating a thesis statement based on the potential question; you will then be expected to support your argument with descriptive evidence. ***I REEMPHASIZE, IF YOU WANT A DECENT GRADE ON THIS EXAM, BE PREPARED TO USE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE AND MULTIPLE EXAMPLES FROM THE TEXTS TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

1. In many of the texts we have read, “manhood” and masculinity have been frequent themes. Choose two of the three most recent texts and one of our past texts to tie ideas on the formation, maintenance, and/or fall of one’s manhood. Stress the symbols, metaphors, etc. that the author uses to show the characters’ transition through this phase. You must create a solid thesis, engaging all three texts, that makes a common central argument regarding the topic.

2. Choose two of the three most recent texts and one of your past texts to demonstrate how man’s idea of the good wife/bad wife is portrayed. How are these representations of women historically contextualized? Stress the symbols, metaphors, etc. that the author uses to show how this idea is embodied in characters in the texts. You must create a solid thesis, engaging all three texts, that makes a common central argument regarding the topic.

3. Choose two of the three most recent texts and one of your past texts to demonstrate how historic prejudice influences a character in each text. Stress the symbols, metaphors, etc. that the author uses to show how prejudice affects the character. You must create a solid thesis, engaging all three texts, that makes a common central argument regarding the topic.

Another reminder:

As the syllabus suggests, if you earn more than three absences in our class, you also earn a letter grade drop. Several of you already have three-four absences. See the class attendance policy for more information: Attendance Policy.

Four absences = two weeks of missed class. For some of you, I have excused absences, but not many. Don't throw your grade away by missing classes.

Missing Person

Well this is me, looking very much like a homeless person.  This is because at this point in the semester I'm really broke.  I'm also projecting my future on myself right now.  I'm not really putting any hard work into school and i'm apathetic to everything and that also makes me think about how I'll be homeless due to my seemingly useless degrees.  I'm standing at a bus stop because i'm trying to figure out where I'm going and what I'm doing.  Notice that even though I'm homeless and crazy looking I still have cool hair!!

This image portrays me well.  I love nothing more than nights in a snowy woods.  Also, i am very laid back, perhaps to much so for my own good.  However when I do become stressed, it is quickly remedied by coffee or tea!

Well.. this is a great representation of how I look and feel I believe. I'm just exhausted from my classes. I have a lot of reading in all of my classes. I try to release myself by listening to music.. but this semester has just flown by and right now I am so in depth with all my classes I feel as if I have no time for myself or to hang out with friends as much as I want. That's why there is the beverage in my hand in the picture. Think of it as you want, but it represents friendship and good times. I hope by the end of the semester I will be able to balance friendship, school work, and other activities or engagements.
The hat is keeping my head warm. I love the snow back home, but it's really depressing down at Purdue when you can't walk around, or you have so many people who should not have a licsense. It's just depressing to not experience the snow like how I am able to at home with the snowmobile or fourwheeler.

Right now I'm just kind of hanging in there.. Trying to attend class and just keep going.

I could not figure out how to save and attach my picture.  But in the picture, I am completely bundled up with gloves and a scarf and waiting at the bus stop.  This is because I feel like that is ALL that I do.  I'm continuosly layering up to go outside and waiting for the bus.  My facial expression is tried, frustrated, and fed up with everything.  My hair is completely frayed and going everywhere.  I am SO TIRED of snow and I feel like it's never going to end.  A few of my classes are really frustrating and I'm trying to work I really hard, but sometimes I don't feel like it's paying off.  I'm ready for a break from classes and exams.  I can't wait for spring break so I can go somewhere without snow and not have to think about school for a while.

ENGL 230
Great Narrative Works
Potential Questions – Exam 1
March 8, 2007

Odyssey by Homer (O)
Aeneid by Virgil (A)
Inferno by Dante (I)
“Ulysses” by Tennyson (U)
Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry (UtV)
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (HoD)

Each of the following questions is a potential for the exam. On exam day you will be given one of the following questions at random, and you will be expected to make a direct, concise yet detailed answer. YOU SHOULD CREATE ANSWERS FOR EACH QUESTION BEFORE THE EXAM AND THOROUGHLY PREPARE FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS IN ESSAY FORMAT IN CLASS BY CREATING OUTLINES/CLUSTERS/ETC. You will not be able to use your notes/books/exam preparations during the exam, but these pre-generating answers will make your answer much more accurate (and your brief exam time less stressful). In your preparation (and on the exam) you should focus on generating a thesis statement based on the potential question; you will then be expected to support your argument with descriptive evidence.

1. Throughout our readings, we have seen multiple interpretations of Odysseus/Ulysses. Citing specific examples in each of the texts, discuss how Odysseus/Ulysses is conveyed in these texts. Be sure to discuss how and why Odysseus/Ulysses changes in relation to the historical and cultural context and narrative structure of each text. Use O, A, I, and U.

2. Find a commonality among perceptions of and discuss the role of women in the chosen texts. Focus specifically on gender as a social construct and how it affects power structures in the texts. Cite specific examples from each of the texts to support your argument. Use O, A, I, HoD, and UtV.

3. Analyze and draw common connections between the uses of material, natural, and/or abstract symbols in the chosen texts (i.e. find a common symbol between the texts and discuss how it is employed in and between the texts and for what purpose). Determine how they are employed to build and resolve/enhance conflict and characterization, citing specific examples from the texts. Use O, A, I, UtV, and HoD.

4. Analyze and draw connections between the uses of sensory imagery (e.g. in setting, props, memory, characters, etc.) in the chosen texts (smells, tastes, touches, sounds, sights of the characters). Determine how they are employed to build and resolve/enhance conflict and characterization, citing specific examples from the texts. Use O, A, I, UtV, HoD.

5. Discuss in detail, citing examples from the texts, how punishment of the soul is interpreted and how it changes over time. Cite specific examples from each of the texts to create a critical evaluation of the historical progression of punishment and its historical context. Use O, A, I, and UtV.

I thought the film was pretty intense.  There was a lot of anger and nobody really ended up happy in the end.  It was just a little unsettling or something.Ofelia was portrayed as the innocent who is was curious and searching for something-not really sure what she was looking for or where to start.  Her mom was seen as a weak and needy figure who was sick throughout the movie.  Mercedes was portrayed as the heroine who in the end conquered the evil dictator.Ofelia succeeds in defeating the toad, getting away from the eye-less monster, and giving of herself instead of another.  She failed when she broke the rules and ate some of the food at the banquet.  Ofelia is trying to break away from her reality-that of living in a place that she feels unwanted and hidden.  Her function is that of the journeyman-who goes searching for something.  Her road of trials is all the requirements that she has to meet to become the princess.  I feel like she becoming a woman in the journey because she is learning what is important in life and who she is.  The first task involves a key-which will unlock a door to another path.  The second involves a dagger-this can show the danger that’s imminent in the future.  The third involves the baby-this could represent her coming into womanhood.  The captain expects everyone to obey him-no exceptions.  Everyone else in the movie has people to please.  Ofelia has her mom, the captain, and the faun.  The mom and Mercedes have the captain.  With the mom, there is lots of trauma-she is torn emotionally with her feelings for the captain and her husband who passed away and she is physically ill with complications from the baby.  Much of the storyline is centered around the baby and him being healthy so he can take on the role of his father.I thought of different love stories like Romeo and Juliet because of the hidden meetings between Mercedes and the men in the woods.  I know it was her brother-but there was that forbidden factor.  Also the resentment between the dictator and those in the woods is a common theme in many movies/books.The faun was filling the role of Pan.The watch represents the need for the captain to fulfill the dreams of his father and the reason why nothing is ever good enough for him.  The root under the bed represented the believing in something is sometimes better than what is proven to work.  The key to the storeroom also was a symbol of trust and faithfulness.

This is me as of now during this semester. I have a suit on because I am looking for a job up in Chicago and have been interviewing a lot. Also it shows how I am going to be a "grown up" in a few months and enter the real world. So the suit with the hat represents the transitional period that I am going through. I am going to be working soon. However, right now I am trying to have as much fun as possible. That is why I have two drinks in my hand. I have bags under my eyes because I am a little stressed out. I'm not that bad though, that is why I am still smiling. I am in a few tough classes that I obviously need to pass to graduate in May and also because I am trying to live it up for what should be my last semester here.

This is my image it is larger in the attached file w/my blog

This is how i'm feeling at this point in the semester.  I feel bogged down with trying to find an internship for the summer.  Also i feel all my teachers laying down way to much work at the exact same time.  I guess that's typical in college tho.  On top of that the situation with the ladies isnt goin that great.  It seems like i'm not doing anything right this semester.  I can't wait for it to be warm and for this semester to be over.

So, it seems I am one of few not overly depressed with the semester or the weather. I am happy with where I am at the moment. School is good. Life is good. Snow is good. I still enjoy layering on clothes and jumping into the nearest pile of snow. I have included a set of wings in my picture...representing the dozen snow angels I have carved these past few days. The heart is added to my shirt to express a sparked desire towards missions and social service This past weekend I signed up to participate in a medical mission trip to Honduras this summer. I just feel good at the moment.