F Bell Final Blog!!

Throughout the novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephen Dedalus's belief and reliance on the Catholic religion slowly deteriorates as he decides to live freely as an artist. At the conclusion of the novel, Stephen's friend Cranly is questioning Stephen's belief in religion. Stephen says, "I neither believe in it or disbelieve in it" (260). When Cranly justifies the normalcies of these doubts Stephen replies, "I do not wish to overcome them" (260).

Since the decline of Stephen's belief is gradual throughout the novel, find any quote supporting his eventual wish to be completely free from the societal restraints of religion.

This will be due on Friday, May 7th

B Bell- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

In Kevin J.H. Dettmar's work entitled The Illicit Joyce of Postmodernism, Dettmar argues that much of Joyce's works are filled with an epiphany, or a moment of illumination of one's mastery over the situation. However, Joyce, being the modernist/postmodernist writer that he was, used epiphanies "to impose closure where in fact none inheres; it is, in other words, a way to fight off the intense disquiet caused by Joyce's 'scrupulous meanness.'" Therefore, Dettmar suggests that Joyce instead used what's known as an epiclesis, or a gradual submission to mystery that allows for a soft, gradual and hard won appreciation for the characters' situations and the falsehood of the epiphany. In other words, Joyce used epiphanies when in fact there wasn't one.
In A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephen is constantly challenged with his faith and the Catholic Church. However, according to Dettmar's theory on the use of epiclesis in place of epiphanies, many of the characters, not just Stephen, are subjected to these false epiphanies, and we in turn are subjected to a constant epiclesis. Please discuss a character or characters who exhibit this false sense of epiphany, whether it be through the Catholic Church or through politics. Quotes are welcome.


Moderated by Gary and Elizabeth. Due Friday April 30.

Portrait of the Artist as A Young Man- F Bell

Modernism is a literary movement that focuses on individualism, skepticism of institutions such as the government and religion, and the mistrust of absolute truths. As sociologist Georg Simmel once said, "The deepest problems of modern life derive from the claim of the individual to preserve the autonomy and individuality of his existence in the face of overwhelming social forces, of historical heritage, of external culture, and of the technique of life." Provide an example in which Stephan went against society, the government, or religion and embraced individualism. Quotes are encouraged!

Mythology- F Bell

Edith Hamilton's Mythology, is basically a huge guide of myths, offering a detailed overview of the myths of ancient Greece and Rome and a brief overview of Norse mythology. For this blog, have some fun and briefly summarize a myth that you have created on your own that involves any Greek/Roman character from Hamilton's Mythology and/or relates to any of the myths that are included in the book.

This blog is moderated my Channing, Alice, and Alyssa

B Bell Mythology Blog: Due April 23rd

Just like Hamlet, the Greek gods had relationships that were full of tension, deceit, and strife. There was revenge, lust, and humor in both worlds. Find one relationship between a Greek god/ess that you find fascinating, and compare it to another in Hamlet. Due April 23rd.

Blog moderated by Yousra, Diana, and Grace.

Hamlet Act IV & Act V - B Bell

Hamlet is rich in irony of all types. We see various examples of irony interspersed throughout each act of the play. For example, we see dramatic irony in the third act in the scene where Hamlet confronts Queen Gertrude. When Hamlet notices someone listening in on his conversation behind the curtains, the audience is aware that it is not King Claudius hiding, but rather Polonius. Hamlet impulsively murders Polonius, simply creating more conflict for himself.

Acts IV and V contain especially ironic twists of fate as the story closes in on its conclusion. Find at least one example of irony in these final two acts, identify the type of irony, and explain the ironic device's function in the plot.

F Bell Hamlet ACT IV

All of what happens in Act IV is a direct consequence of Polonius's murder by Hamlet and his subsequent outrage with his mother, which further solidified her theory that her son was mad. At the end of Act III, Hamlet confesses to Gertrude, after he sees his father's ghost during a rampage with her for her marrying Claudius after he stabbed Polonius, that he has been feigning madness the whole time. He also tells her not to give this news to Claudius. Not easily convinced after hearing her son hold a conversation with an apparition that she cannot see, the first scene in Act IV involves Gertrude running back to her husband to relay the news that Hamlet is completely insane, more so than to begin with. While it is agreeable to see how she would be led to believe this, this action can be seen as strike number two perhaps against her son, number one being her marrying Claudius. While she does not tell Claudius that Hamlet is pretending to be mad, she does slyly hand his throat over to the King, and thus begins the chain of betrayal that unfolds in Act IV. But thats not all that keeps us entertaiined in Act IV. If any of our suspicions about Hamlet actually being insane were raised n Act III, they reach a peak in Act IV. However, everything is falling apart. He is being exiled to Englad(only to return at the end of Act IV), Laertes will kill him, Ophelia drowns herself, Gertrude has sided with her new spouse, and the state of Denmark is beginning to mirror the health of its King.

Is Hamlet actually crazy, or is he the product of this destructive enviroment? How does he respond to this betrayal? Pick a quote an examine it in context that you will use to defend your statements.

F Bell Hamlet Act III

In Act III Scene I, Hamlet is confronted by Ophelia who wants to return the things he gave her. Describe Hamlet's reaction to Ophelia's sudden need to return his gifts and forsake his love for her.

B Bell - Hamlet Acts I and II

In Act II, Hamlet is considered mad by most of his peers. Whether by Hamlet's purposeful scheming or an actual madness caused by realizing his father was murdered, he decides to act the part. Compare some of the justifications that Hamlet's family and peers use to the conclusions that they draw and the actions they plan to take. Do you think they were too quick to judge or their evidence didn't match up to their conclusions? Basically, was any argument they gave to Hamlet's madness a sound one? Were they justified in their assumptions?

If you think they were quick to act, examine any evidence you find later in the novel, and how it could have provided a better argument. If you don't, could there have been a better conclusion or course of action, taking into account the characterization of everyone involved. Consider how the course of the novel would be affected by a better course of action or a difference in plot.



And here's a sneak peek at the Spectrum's cover (which is my way of saying sorry this blog is late):
http://i39.tinypic.com/n483dw.png