#8: Tone

Tone materializes the atmosphere of any piece of literature, whether it be a script, a book, a poem, or a monologue. Essentially, the tone of a story depicts the details of its conflicts and transitions. In poetry, and especially Shakespeare, tone is necessary to convey the correct themes without obscurity. However, tone should also offer complexity in order to give the audience various perspectives on the nature of the language, as well as the story itself. Hamlet, for example, is grounded by its urgently dark tone and offers the audience suspense because of the presented setting. Moreover, tone justifies the presented actions, hostilities, prejudices, and glorifications by stressing certain principles. Without the same tonal quality, King Claudius' sarcastic speeches would sound truly sound and humble; when in fact, he pierces Hamlet's soul by mocking him under shadows and words of false despair. Tone implicitly and explicitly reveals truth behind characters lies.

#7: Diction

Diction is key in developing a rhythm, tone, and deeper connotation to the simplicity of words. Specifically, diction is most valuable in Shakespeare's works. In Hamlet, the differing diction reveals the intents of each character; for example, Hamlet's over-extended and harsh language in his 'To be, or not to be' speech indicate his indecisiveness. Furthermore, the contradicting tones of Horatio and Hamlet reveal a different set of values and outlooks, mostly an optimistic vs. pessimistic standpoint. Additionally, in Laertes' speech for example, diction adds depth to a character's prejudged necessity. In all Shakespearean tragedies, each character is created for a reason; consequently, to most readers demise, Shakespeare intently uses each word for a specific reason. The analysis of diction, then, leads to a greater understanding of a play, character, scene, monologue, dialogue, or soliloquy. Diction enables the audience to understand the language without listening to each specific word. Therefore, although it is highly overlooked, diction is most definitely one of the most important factors in deciphering the truth behind text, especially in Shakespeare's more complex characters.

#6: Imagery

The utilization of imagery, figurative language, and extensive poetic devices help depict a poem's themes through intricate details. Although hard to recognize to the untrained eye, imagery is key in deciphering the true nature of a poem's intent. For example, in Cumming's "Ponder," the repetition of personification evidently paints a rich narrative for the reader. Additionally, the use of such metaphors as "vertical worthless" and "horizontal business" supplies satisfaction for readers who understand the truth behind the disguised 'meaningless' of poems. Such imagery evokes an emotional investment from its audience and, consequently, propels a poem to a higher revelation.

#5: Poetic Sounds

Poetic sounds supply literature with a musical characteristic. In essence, poetic sounds add to the uniqueness of a story, tone, theme, or even phrase. Specifically in poetry, rhyme scheme helps depict the flow of the poem- as either harsh or elongated. Moreover, alliteration and assonance provide a poem with a consistency of emotion. For example, the repetition of 's' acts as a lulling sounds, whilst a 't' would provide sharp diction for more violent imagery. In Shakespeare, imagery and meter justify the emotions of a characters through female endings, specifically evidenced through Romeo's naivety and Hamlet's indecision.

#4: Symbols

Symbols are used in all forms of literature in order to express an author's certain tone, theme, or element. Symbols, usually, are metaphors for a deeper meaning. The subtext of the novel, and story, is therefore revealed through symbolism. In Hamlet, Shakespeare offers a variety of symbols to demonstrate chaos, conspiracy, and confusion of his title character. For example, Ophelia hands out flowers to many characters in Act IV, illustrating her recent insanity. However, on a deeper level, the flower's represent her giving away her innocence, characterizing her purity through blossomed flowers. Moreover, Austen's novel uses symbolism to further comment upon her satirical approach in expressing her novel; primarily, Darcy's Pemberley house represents all the things its owner is- crass on the outside, vibrant and misjudged on the inside. Without a doubt, symbolism is highly important in creating a creative, inventive, and intellectual piece of literature.

#3: Setting

Setting creates the novelty of a story. A sunny overlook of a newly pastured farm. The house of an escaped member of the Third Reich. An insane asylum on the outskirts of one of Boston's islands. No matter the case, the setting creates a visual representation for the audience, reader, or viewer to connect to. Setting depicts beauty through detailed sequences. Setting gives life to a stack of pages. A complicated, intricate setting offers variety to an ever-growing story. For example, Hamlet's travels to England and back to Denmark complicate the conflict, but also give the audience diversity to the play's consistent nature. Setting is key in creating an appropriate atmosphere for an intricate story.

#2: Characters

Characters automatically give audiences connection to the play. Characters help move along the plot, influence other characters to make decisions, create violence or tension to fuel the story, etc. However, the story usually centralizes around one character, the protagonist. Hamlet, for example, fights against his own restraint, his uncle's lies, and Denmark's future in his respective play. Similarly, Elizabeth wrestles with herself to find true love in an aristocratic and monotonous 19th century England. The difference in conflict between Pride & Prejudice and Hamlet are represented by external and internal. Furthermore, characters reveal these conflicts through dialogue with other characters and/or soliloquies (in Hamlet's case). A truly engaging and thought-provoking characters connects to the audience personally through deep dynamics that make the characters somewhat paradoxical. However, truly empowering characters are driven by family connection, whether it be revenge or a change in lifestyle. Video games, oddly enough, have been able to capture many characters' confusion and changes through breakthrough and engaging stories, such Bioshock and Assassin's Creed. Characters exude confidence and liveliness into a story, developing the story through intricate conflicts.

#1: Plot

Plot paves the way for a novel, play, film, dance, or piece of music. Essentially, the plot dictates events around a certain frame of time revolving round a distinct character and/or set of characters. The most conventional form of plot is as follows: exposition, rising action, climax, and then the denouement. Like most of his plays, Shakepeare turns astray from this 'conventional' outline for his tragedy Hamlet. With an intricate plot, Shakespeare offers various climaxes to stress the urgency and tension within the play itself. However, on the other hand, Austen's Pride & Prejudice follows a tight narrative of a more 'standard' approach. Each action is revealed through a clear and well-timed manner, albeit predictable; however, Austen emphasizes her mocking and sarcastic tone throughout to give the novel a fresh feeling. Ultimately, both Shakespeare and Austen succeed tremendously in conveying the thematic significances in their work: Shakespeare exploits friendship, betrayal, and violence within a war torn Denmark, whilst Austen focuses on true love within a monotonous, traditional 19th century England.

Time will tell...

Both "Ozymandias" and "Ponder" reflect the importance of time; however, through varying tones, both poems enforce different urgencies. "Ozymandias'" depressingly solemn tone emphasizes the slow passage of life and its extremeties. However, "Ponder" uses a sexually driven and uplifting tone to slowly reveal an importance of time itself, much like Marvells' "To His Coy Mistress."

Intro Paragraph for Laertes Essay

An actor must take responsibility for what each audience member hears through the language, conveying the story and characters of a playwright; specifically, an actor may further enable the audience to distinguish certain objectives and thoughts by emphasizing the playwright’s diction. Unlike most writers, William Shakespeare thoroughly dictates the illustrious language of his tragedies and comedies by implementing specific sounds, tones, and accents in order to reveal a character’s strategy. However, Shakespeare also manifests a character’s identity to help the audience realize, judge, or accept a certain conflict in the story. Furthermore, although each of his tragedies analyzes a different emotional topic of moral conviction, Shakespeare generally implements a similar set of characters in order to easily distinguish the exact plight at the core of a scene. Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark provides a potent example. Specifically, like Hamlet whose father has recently died, Laertes finds himself distraught over the eventual death of his father, Polonius, questioning the power of the government in a chaotic Denmark. However, clouded by King Claudius’ offer of revenge, Laertes is forced to struggle with an inner conflict that has the capability to inflict irreparable damage. Similar to The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet’s Tybalt, Laertes finds himself preemptively misjudged as the anti-hero because of his reserved intelligence and strikingly hot-temper. Consequently, Shakespeare depicts Laertes’ personality by juxtaposing harshly plosive articulation with eloquently calming phrases, furthering the audience’s perception of Laertes’ conflict. By submitting to Claudius’ demands, Laertes reveals his doubtful confidence in avenging his family because he struggles to find his true purpose. Therefore, Shakespeare manipulates the audience’s perception of heroism by exploiting Laertes’ actions as impetuous, when in fact Laertes struggles to accept murder as an appropriate response because of his shared grief with Hamlet over the loss of each of their fathers, as well as his expectations for a glorified, successful, and hopeful Denmark.

Prufrock: Do I Dare Disturb the Universe?

T.S. Eliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock analyzes the frailty of an erratic, love-torn man who dehumanizes himself by doubting his significance. Specifically, the line "Do I dare disturb the universe" unquestionably reveals the narrator's inability to grasp his potentially grand life. Moreover, much like that of Shakespeare's Hamlet, the narrator questions the standards, ideals, and praises of man in comparison to his own fears; in fact, the narrator doubts that his existence has any meaning in the complicated world he abides by. The narrator's ironic comparison to Hamlet reveals an emotionally distraught character who is directed by his own doubts. Therefore, although he ultimately understands a greater meaning to the power of love within his world, the narrator consistently reveals a self-conscious state of unparalleled fear, which also congruently displays the narrator's confusion on living in general.

To His Coy Mistress Mini-Essay: Make Love, Not War

In Marvell's To His Coy Mistress, the narrator implicitly criticizes the standards of sexually-repressed society through an urgently decisive tone. Specifically, through a three paragraph structure, the narrator provides time in order to lure his mistress with pastoral and reassuring writing; however, the narrator does so in order to reenforce his true feelings with the (later) more urgent, demanding paragraphs. In addition, despite his unbound love, the narrator demonstrates his sense of urgency through harsh, less colloquial, shorter-phrased language , full of harsh and plosive diction. By doing so, the narrator reveals his anxious desire to seize the moment or Carpe Diem. Essentially, the narrator believes in the importance of both physical and emotional investment in a relationship and, although he truly loves his mistress, believes in investing in sexual desire rather than rejecting it. Marvell, through the narrator, illustrates the importance of an individualistic sense of self-reliance and self-respect by succumbing to one's own fantasies, desires, and dreams rather than suppressing one's own honest passion. Therefore, the narrator's provocative diction in the last paragraph characterizes the truth of individual creation and opinion. Marvell believes natural thought, rather than conformity, exemplifies true beauty.

Had We But World Enough, And Time.

In To His Coy Mistress, Andrew Marvell's narrator suggests the importance of seizing the moment over monotonous manners. Specifically, the line "Had we but world enough, and time" illustrates the significance of Carpe Diem. Marvell poignantly depicts an eternal love in order to juxtapose a woman's ideal with more realistic truth. Moreover, 'but' re-emphasizes the narrator's belief into succumbing to one's own desires rather than shunning honest emotion in favor of idealistic standards. Evidently, Marvell suggests that people take advantage of love for life and time always fade away quicker than expected. Consequently, the narrator's persuasive tone in the first paragraph excels because he establishes an illusion of false hope. In the end, however, the narrator demands true love, including physical.

Collins is a Nightmare

Contrary to popular belief, Collins epitomizes a woman's, at least nowadays, biggest nightmare. Often crude and always selfish, Collins offers nothing appetizing in terms of physical or emotional 'character;' however, as most often was the case during the time period, Collins has a lush and wealthy lifestyle to share with any woman who can bear his repulsiveness. Moreover, as displayed by his arrogance to Elizabeth's denial, Collins is a man of few understandings. Frankly, Collins believes that woman are completely subordinate to him (and men in general) as he stereotypes women as objects. Consequently, Collins deserves no better than himself: an inadequate, selfish, rude, and simply vial man.

Essay Review

I was very please with the way my essay turned out. I hope to improve on it (and this year) by further exploring new ideas, solidifying my argument, and writing clearly. Moreover, as clear diction has been a problem of mine in the past, I am glad that I was able to move past my overly confusing sentences this essay. So, ultimately, I will continue this trend by putting in a continuous effort, like I did for this essay.

Peace out.

Bradalina

PS- Go see The Town and Never Let Me Go... yea.

Most Important Aspect to a GOOD Essay is...

...A clear and creative thesis. This idylic thesis provides the writer/reader with a sense of unity and cohesiveness. In addition, having a clear point makes the writing process much easier because it allows the author to further develop more interesting points from the original thesis. Generally, good thesis = good essay. At least, that's what I think.
Now, the creativity adds to a good thesis.
So, consequently, creative and well-constructed thesis = great essay.
That's the way to win.

Stay thirsty my friends.

Z is for Zzzzz.

Z for Zelda's essay is frustrating: it is well written, well presented, and well backed up; however, the essay is just too long and suffers from being too broad of a thesis. Specifically, because the 4 body paragraphs cover every character, the thesis seems stale and repeated- almost, in a sense, common sense after reading the book. Yet, at the same time, Zelda did an excellent job of constructing an essay around this topic.

Ultimately though, Zelda sacrifices her creativity in writing a 'risk-free' essay.

Get us interested at least, Zelda. Step your game up.

F is for functioning.

F for Foxglove's essay is quite similar to mine on a few levels: the correlations, some of the opinions, and the focus on Darcy's developed persona throughout the novel. Personally, I believe Foxglove's essay is tremendously well supported, clear, and focused. Moreover, the essay manages to stay on track on a consistent basis too. Foxglove also introduces interesting and, somewhat, fresh points within each paragraph. Even better, each paragraph is supported with rich, detailed analysis of well-chosen quotes. I believe Foxglove wrote a pretty solid essay overall. My personal taste though would include a bit of variation in diction and sentence structure. Furthermore, despite it being managed appropriately and very clear, the introduction seems a bit TOO driven. By this, I mean it offers the reader no sense of creativity. However, ultimately, the body paragraphs and conclusion make up for the lackluster introduction.

Funny how the introduction is the weakest part of an essay about introductions.

I award Foxglove a high-five.

A is for... awkward?

In A for Alfi's essay, the ideas are definitely well thought out and touched upon, creative in fact; however, the author's loquacious writing makes for an awkwardly clunky essay. Often times, we see the author present a new idea and never completely analyze/develop the point. In addition, although I am not one to talk (I love them big words), Alfi's writing style makes for an over-elegant essay. In other words, the essay's main downfall is the use of great writing. Paradox, right? If you said yes, you're wrong... in this case at least. Specifically, Alfi's essay would benefit from simple-structured writing because of the creative and intriguing ideas presented.

In conclusion, Alfi's essay could have been something quite, ehem, "magical." He should have just popped by writing lab before turning in the essay though.