Hamlet

Plot-
Hamlets Father died and visits him as a ghost. He tells Hamlet that he was poisoned by the new king his brother who has stolen the crown and the queen. Hamlet in a rage of anger sets a plan to kill the king. He acts crazy as he plots to kill the king. he sets up a play where the truth is revealed about what the king really did to get the crown. This makes his mother very up set and she asks to see Hamlet and while they are talking Hamlet kills a Polonius thinking it is the king. The son Laertes of Polonius becomes very up set on hearing that his father is dead and swears revenge on who ever killed him. the king lays out a plan to kill Hamlet through Laertes' anger. Laertes challenges Hamlet to a duel while the king plants a poison in Hamlets drink. The queen drinks from the poisoned cup and dies while Hamlet finds out that he has been poisoned by Laertes' sword and Laertes has also been poisoned by his own sword. Hamlet is so up set at his mothers death he stabs the king with the poisoned sword and forces him to drink from the poisoned cup. And in the end they all die. Then Fortinbras becomes king.


Characters-
Hamlet- son of old hamlet nephew to the knew king claudius. Wants revenge on hearing that the king killed his father for his mother and his crown. In love with Ophelia but cant marry her because she is below him. Kills polonius which is Laertes father which sparks the duel.

Ghost- Ghost of old hamlet tells Hamlet that the king has poisoned his father and to take revenge on him.

Claudius- knew king, and as far as the ghost has said is the murderer of old Hamlet and stole the queen and the crown.

Gertrude- was married to old Hamlet now married to the claudius and mother of  Hamlet
Ophelia- Sister of Laertes. In love with Hamlet but cant marry him. Goes crazy and is suspected to have had sex with Hamlet.

Horatio- Hamlets best friend and faithful servent. It is though that Hamlet and Horatio have a secret love but I don't know if I believe that.

Laertes- son of Polonius brother to Ophelia. When he hears about his fathers death wants to kill the man who did it. Kills Hamlet and is killed by his own stupidity.


Symbols-
The Skull- symbolized that death is inevitable and how all things come to it.


Setting- Denmark, Medieval period.

close reading

http://sundial.csun.edu/2012/11/p-day-arguments-for-who-should-win-the-election-tonight/

This Article is about how the US still needs Obama. the author uses many different techniques to make the reader take their side.
They use a lot of Imagery telling us to relax about Obama winning. They say that the "Obama administration should crack open a few beers and relax – this is no contest." giving us the image of relaxation and letting us feel that he will win.
They list a lot of details on why they think Obama should be president like the recession, how his foreign policies and military cuts will help, and also his position on health care.
The most used technique i believe would be the diction. They are really for Obama and are trying to get you to have the same opinion by boosting him up.

Open Prompt number....

1973. An effective literary work does not merely stop or cease; it concludes. In the view of some critics, a work that does not provide the pleasure of significant closure has terminated with an artistic fault. A satisfactory ending is not, however, always conclusive in every sense; significant closure may require the reader to abide with or adjust to ambiguity and uncertainty. In an essay, discuss the ending of a novel or play of acknowledged literary merit. Explain precisely how and why the ending appropriately or inappropriately concludes the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

In the end of the play the Death Of a Salesman the main character, Willy, dies supposedly having killed himself. This I think inappropriately concludes the play. After a long fight with his youngest son Biff they made up and then suddenly he is dead. The end of the play is a scene at his funeral in which nobody has come to except his family. This play a huge part because Willy has been going on throughout the whole book about how well liked he is bet then nobody shows up signaling the reader to the fact that he was not well liked at all and making us realize that is why he was unable to make any money.

Death of a Salesman

Plot- 

The Play starts with us seeing Willy come home, we find out that Willy's sons Biff and Happy who are grown men have come home. Willy has high Hopes for his son Biff but throughout the dream we realize that his dreams are not what Biff wants. Willy is downstairs and starts having one of his many flashbacks and is talking to himself so loudly it wakes up the others. At this point Linda Willy's wife explains to her son's that they are having trouble with money. Willy joins the real conversation and starts to fight with Biff. Happy tells his father that Biff plans to see a man named Oliver to get a loan making Willy very happy and ending the fight. Willy goes to see his boss the next morning to see about not having to travel as much anymore because of his age but everything goes wrong for Willy and he ends up getting fired instead. After being fired Willy goes to his neighbors work and asks to borrow money where we find out that he has been borrowing money for a long time. his neighbor offers him a job but Willy is to proud to take it. Biff went to go see Oliver but things didn't go as planned for him either. Oliver wouldn't see him and Biff out of anger ended up stealing his pen. He tells this to Happy as they wait for their dad in a restaurant Happy tries to talk him out of telling their father. But he does tell Willy the truth and Willy tries to deny it's true and fades into another flash back and the boys leave him there at the restaurant by himself, running off with two girls. In Willy's flashback we find out that Biff found out that Willy had cheated on his Linda. When they get home Linda is really up set about what they had done. This evokes a huge fight where Biff finally tells everyone he can't live up to his fathers expectations. Biff starts to cry in his fathers lap and Willy is surprised by his emotions and realizes that Biff really does love him and is not trying to spite him. In the end Willy kills himself by crashing his car. At his funeral nobody is there and Linda wonders why because Willy was always going on about how well liked he was and how it was important to be well like. the play closes with Linda telling him that she finished the house payments and that they are finally free. 

Significant Quotes-

"And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ’Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?" 

This is an Important quote because a major importance for Willy is to be well liked even though his thoughts are diluted and he is not much well liked anymore and is not making enough money.

Characters- 

Linda- Mother of Biff and Happy wife to Willy, he thinks Willy is a wonderful man and deserves a better job and better from his son's.

Willy- Father to Biff and Happy and husband of Linda's also is going a little crazy. Has flashbacks about better days when he is up set. Is a salesman and thinks its the best job in the world. Has dreams for Biff of being super successful but also has suicidal thoughts.

Biff- Son of Willy and Linda's thinks he cannot live up to his fathers expectations or just does not want to. Mad at Willy for pushing these dreams on him and also for cheating on his mother.

Happy- Brother of Biff's son to Willy and Linda. Has the same kind of mind as his father in that he will be successful and well liked one day.

Charley- Willy's next door Neighbor and is in a way Willy's foil. He owns a successful company and is giving Willy money and even offers him a job.

Bernard- Charley's son and is a foil to Biff. He is the successful son going off and doing work his father can be proud of.

Ben- Willy's Brother and is the kind of successful rich man Willy wishes he could be. Willy looks up to him and want to go off with him to work and become rich.

Theme-

One theme of this book is 'The American Dream' and how Willy is always pushing his dream onto his son Biff. Willy's impression of the American dream is to be well liked, attractive and to be successful and wealthy. He thinks that hard work will give you success but in a way his obsession with the American dream is what takes it away from him.

Setting-

1940's, in Brooklyn visiting places like Boston or New York.

Symbols-

Seeds- symbolized the failure of Willy to be a good father and a good worker and put food on the table.

Rubber Hose- symbolized his death and his suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

Stockings- Willy's need to be able to provide for his wife and kids. Also that he cheated on Linda.