Close Reading #3 (11/17)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/opinion/lies-murder-lexicography-dictionary.html?pagewanted=1&ref=opinion

In the article "Lies! Murder! Lexicography!" written by Ben Zimmer, sets the story straight on a dictionary scandal.  Zimmer takes a humorous approach using diction, syntax, and  to make the previous accusations toward the Oxford English Dictionary, that they omitted words from their dictionary, seem ridiculous.

The most obvious way Zimmer achieves this is through diction.  Words such as "juicier," "shoddy," and "cooked-up," are used when describing the gossip that surrounded the issue when the false report appeared.  These words might be found in the dictionary, but they are not words you would use if writing about a serious issue.  Using more "slang" words gives the impression that a silly topic deserves silly words.  Zimmer even makes up the word "wordhood" to poke fun at the admission of new words into the dictionary.

The scandal involving the dictionary is also made absurd using syntax.  For example Zimmer wrote, "All of this over some editorial decisions about dictionary entries several decades ago!" about the scandal.  The use of the exclamation point changes the tone of the sentence to emphasize Zimmer's disbelief.  Another sentence that utilizes syntax is, "How does a media-generated “scandal” like this get cooked up in the first place, especially involving a profession as unglamorous as lexicography?"  Placing a question in the article interrupts the flow and makes the reader stop.  Like the previous example, using a question here also emphasizes disbelief and brings attention to the fact that dictionaries aren't interesting.

Lastly, Zimmer uses language to prove that any gossip about dictionaries is idiotic.  When Zimmer provides the image that the offices of Oxford English Dictionary headquarters as "battlegrounds where the fate of the language is decided," or as "shadowy enterprises with secret, back-room meetings" you can't help but find humor in the ludicrous situation.  Rendering the scandal about the dictionary as ridiculous takes away all of it's credibility, as Zimmer intended.  The author certainly achieved this goal with his use of diction, syntax, and language.

Open Prompt #3 (11/11)

1986. Some works of literature use the element of time in a distinct way. The chronological sequence of events may be altered, or time may be suspended or accelerated. Choose a novel, an epic, or a play of recognized literary merit and show how the author's manipulation of time contributes to the effectiveness of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

         In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman," the main character, Willy Loman, experiences a life crisis, which triggers him to regress to certain memories.  These regressions take him away from the real world and into how he sees the past in his mind.  During the regression, the scene changes so the audience is in the memory with Willy and the other characters.  Miller's technique using the memories emphasizes Willy shortcomings, and his past as he remembers it.  Both of these things combined provide the audience with more insight into Willy.  The regressions are the mechanism Miller uses to let the reader inside his mind to strengthen the tragedy of Willy Loman. 

        Willy is taken away into a memory at times of stress or trauma.  Three of his regressions occur when Willy is taken off salary at his job, when he discusses Biff over a card game with Charley, and after he is fired from his job.  At these points in the story, Willy is so overwhelmed that he slips into the past.  Looking at what causes the regressions, the readers can see that his job and Biff's lack of success cause him much stress.  These stress triggers further emphasizes Willy desperate need to be successful and desire for Biff to follow in his footsteps.

      The events that occur in the regressions also give the reader information about where Willy's mind is in the story.  For instance when Willy is taken off salary at his job, he regresses to a memory where Biff and Happy are in high school.  The boys idolize their father in this scene and live to please him.  It is a time where Willy has hope for the future that he can pass on to his boys so they will be successful like him.  A second regression occurs while Willy and Charley start to have a conversation about Biff.  Trying to continue his conversation with Charley, Willy is ripped away by the sound of his older brother Ben's voice.  In the memory that follows, Willy shows off his sons to Ben how well-liked his boys are and how devoted they are to him.  Because the memories are in his mind, they may not be accurate, therefore the content of the regressions shows how Willy views himself and how he wants to be viewed by others.  With this point of view, the audience sees that he is a man who only wants to provide for his family so he will be appreciated and admired by them.

       The melding of past and present are not just there for the reader to think that Willy Loman in crazy.  As Linda Loman says, "a terrible thing is happening to him," and as he is slowly dying, Willy is given a last reflection of his life in an attempt to find some meaning and understanding from his past.  Willy may not have found what the regressions could have shown him, but the reader can analyze Miller's meaning behind them.  The content and placement of the memories let the reader into Willy's mind to discover what led to the death of a salesman.

       

Response to Course Materials #3 (11/4)

What I've taken away from this class lately is that I'm still confused about "incongruity."  I'm pretty sure Holmes said that it at a second glance the meaning is deep and required some kind of psychological change, or something like that.  So how can any quote from Mean Girls, especially from Coach Carr, contain incongruity?  Maybe I'm mistaken but that's really my only frustration with the terms test this time around.

I'm also frustrated because the "H" key fell off the keyboard, and then my mom lost it so there is no hope of fixing it.

Even though I missed the last day of watching Salesman, I liked the movie and I found it very interesting.  I do think that the theme is similar to the theme of American Dream but maybe it'll be interesting to examine how different styles of writing make the same point.  I think I like Salesman better than the American Dream because the characters feel more like real people to me.  In the American Dream, Grandma was the only person with  a shred of humanity so most of the time I was somewhat annoyed with the other characters.  With Salesman I can see why the characters ended up where they are, I know why Biff is frustrated with his dad, I can tell that Linda has an internal complex when it comes to Willy, and so on.  Because of this I'm looking forward to getting into it and discussing it in class.  Hopefully I'll get some things right before Holmes gives us a handout that explains everything.

The other big assignment we did was the compare/contrast essay on the poems in the textbook.  I tried really hard to remember everything Ms. Huntley taught us about this type of essay but I'm not completely confident I wrote the essay as well I could have last year.  I'll be able to reflect more on it once we get them back, but basically this assignment showed me that I need to do some brushing up on essay types and how to organize them.