Poetry Analysis: Immigrants In Our Own Land by Jimmy Santiago Baca

My overall impression of the poem is that it is about immigrants who come to the United States, or any country that isn't theirs. They leave their country with expectations but in the end, those expectations result into nothing. The only realization that they come to is that things have "changed." The author delivers this message by comparing those who go to a new land to those in prison.


1.)There is one speaker and that speaker is one of the people in the prison. He is a male, I am making the assumption that he is a man (he also describes his boxer shorts drying, not something women wear). The speaker speaks throughout the entire poem. 
2.) I think that each stanza is a different part of the poem because each describes different things. 

• The first part of the poem is describing the situation of those who came to another land and their social status in their native land
• The second part of the poem describes their expectations of the new world but what actually waits them once they are there. 
• The third part explains why they left their land and how the land they are in now is not much different-"it's all concentrated."
• The fourth part is more directly through what the speaker sees in the "prison." It again reinstates the idea that everything is in bad conditions and not much different from the "other world."
• The fifth stanza introduces the concept of a cycle in the poem: New people will always come and each will have the same expectations....
• The last stanza introduces the reality of things. The expectations that the people came with will shatter. Most of the things that they had hoped for will never come true. Some will leave, but they will leave different people.  A lot of them may amount to nothing. In the end, the people who left their land will realize that everything has changed. 

3.)The main theme that resonates throughout the entire poem is expectations versus reality. The immigrants come 

"each with their heart hoping they'll get a chance to change their lives." The reality is that hardly anybody will achieve their goals and aspirations.

4.)

5.) The main image created in this poem is the comparison of immigrants entering a new land to that of people going into prison. Essentially, they are entering what will become their prison. This image is created very vividly through the metaphor of a prison.

6.)Diction is also plays a major role in the poem. An example is, "My cell is crisscrossed with laundry lines..." A prison cell does not have this but the fact that he uses "cell" instead of home contributes to the image of a prison. 

7.)The beginning of the poem begins with a hopeful tone: "We are born with dreams in our hearts/looking for better days ahead..." By the end of the novel it is a more serious and almost depressing tone. "In the end some will just sit around...."

8.) This poem is written in free verse, it has no particular rhyme. As already mentioned, imagery and metaphors are a key component in the poem. There is also the use of the motif of a prison, this can also be considered an extended metaphor as well. The point of view is from someone who lives in the prison. 

9.) The poem has no particular rhyme to it. It flows nicely through the use of commas and semicolons. 

Poetry Analysis: Elements of Poetry

1.Dramatic Situation
    - Speaker
           ~Male, Female, how many, era, duration, circumstances (where?)


2.)Structure
     - parts of the poem
     -Where ideas start and begin
          ~syntax [not necessarily where lines end]


3.)Theme
    -For example, not just love but what kind of love
4.)Grammar and Meaning
5.)Images and Figure of Speech
    -Senses (smell, touch, fee, etc.)
    -Figurative and Literal
6.)Important Words
      -Diction
7.)Tone
       -More Essay
       -"attitude author feels towards subject"
       -Atmosphere: mood inherit in story
8.)Literary Devices/Techniques
9.)Prosody

The patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry The theory or study of these patterns, or the rules governing them The patterns of stress and intonation in a language

Micro AP-Part 1

1. Write 1-2 paragraphs about the test in which you answer the following questions (you may post to your blog or bring hard copy to class Friday 2.17):

• What was easy/expected?
• What was difficult/unexpected?
• What did you learn about the AP questions?
• What did you learn about your own performance under pressure?
• How will this experience influence your preparation for the actual exam?

I did not find the test to be at all easy. I felt that the prompts were very complex, more than I had expected them to be. I had a hard time distinguishing what should be included in the introduction of the essay and what belonged in the body part of the essay. I learned that I should carefully read the prompt. I would read the prompt once and then write the introduction. Then I would go back and reread it only to realize that I had left out part of the prompt out. I would try to add it in, this messed up the flow of my introductions. I learned that when I am under pressure, I feel that I will fail so I give up. I will need to focus on reading the prompt carefully and completely analyzing it before  I begin writing my essays. I also need to work on my attitude while taking the test. 

Dr. Tony Williams's Gresham College lecture on A Tale of Two Cities

There was wine provided by sponsor....

• One of Dickens' inspiration was the drama "The Frozen Deep" and acting with his children, this gives the novel personal significance (he helped write the drama)
• Lucy, in the novel is meant to resemble the woman he left his wife for (Ellen)
• Many of his characters have his initials...or have them backwards "CD" or "DC'
• Public Readings for Profit
• The novel was initially published by parts. The first three chapters were published first
• Setting: London and Paris
• Dickens was sent to live in London because of his father="extensive and peculiar knowledge of the city"
• Believed Paris was the most interesting place in the world
• 
  

Big Question Research Paper: Outine

In my introduction I mainly focused on the scientific aspect of paranormal phenomena. I plan on now evolving more on the following ideas. 

• Influence the media has on the belief of paranormal phenomena
• What the Christian belief in paranormal phenomena
• What role psychics or mediums play in the world of paranormal phenomena
• More on different studies that have investigated paranormal phenomena and their explanations for it.
• Go more in depth on what is included when I refer to "paranormal phenomena." Meaning, ghosts, poltergeist, demons, etc. 

Discussion Notes: Great Expectations (Ch 1-15)

We started by discussing how we each liked the novel so far. I personally like the novel so far. I can relate to the main character Pip which makes this novel a bit more enjoyable. Most of us seemed to agree that it was a little difficult to read but manageable. We then began discussing the literary techniques we found in the text. Some of them were:
-Theme: It is evident already that social class is going to be a major theme. Pip is ashamed of being common and  
            to become a "gentleman."
-Symbolism

• The stopped clocks in Miss Havisham's home symbolize her unwillingness to let go of her past. 

-Tone
-Mood
-Point of View

• The novel is told from Pips point of view. Pip tells the reader what he is feeling when something is happening. For example, he states being ashamed of being common.

-Diction

• The novel is written in what I call "old English." The wording is not typical everyday English.

-Syntax

• There are a lot of descriptions, so there are a lot of complex and long sentences. Sometimes, making it difficult to understand.

-Imagery

• Alongside syntax, there is heavy description and detail. For example, the opening scene of the book. There is a detailed description of what the graveyard looks like. 

-Allusion

• " Hamlet (pg 20). It refers to the ghost in Hamlet. It creates for a gloomy setting.

-direct characterization

• "She was not a good looking woman, my sister; and I had a general impression that she must have made Joe Gargery marry her by hand. "

                 - This shows Miss Joe is an intimidating, scary person. 

• "He was a fair man, with eyes of such a very undecided blue that may have somehow got mixed with their own whites."

                - Unlike his wife, Joe is a more calm, relaxed man.

-indirect characterization

• "And then I entered on a fearful catalogue of all the illnesses I had been guilty of, and all the times she had wished me in my grave, and I had contumaciously refused to go there..."

          - This shows Pip has a strong conscience and is aware when he's done something  wrong

Our group assigned two literary techniques to each person. I did indirect and direct characterization.


I feel like I can relate to Pip in the novel. Pip is looking to make a better life for himself. I am looking to make a good future for myself through my education by attending a university. Pip was looking to better himself through Miss Havisham. 

Great Expectations Study Questions: Chapters 1-15

1.) What does the term "files and wittles refer to? Why does the man threaten Pip?
Pip runs into the escaped convict. The man is hungry and tells Pip to bring him some food and something so that he can remove the chains from himself. 


2.) Why was Pip at the churchyard?
Pip's parents are dead and are buried in the churchyard. He was raised "by hand" by his older sister Mrs Joe Gargery.


3.) What became of the prisoner Pip helped?
The escaped prisoner is captured and then sent off to a prisoner ship. Before he leaves, he claims to be the one to have stolen the food from Pip's house so that Pip is not blamed for it. 


4.) Why is Ms Joe excited that Pip is meeting Miss Havisham?
Miss Joe is excited that Pip will be meeting Miss Havisham because she is wealthy and can perhaps help him get out of poverty. Pip doesn't understand this and is somewhat indifferent about meeting her.


5.) How does Estelle behave towards Pip?
Pip says "she is very insulting." She behaves in a very rude matter. According to Pip, she treated him as if he were a dog. By the time Pip leaves, he is crying. 


6.)What does Joe tell Pip when Pip confesses to having lied about his visit to Miss Havishham's home ?
Pip explains how Estelle thought that he was common and inferior. Joe suggests that he remain with the common (a common scholar) instead of trying to "play with the oncommon." Pip states the memories of this day "bound" him. 


7.)Is Pip happy that he is given the opportunity to kiss the beautiful Estelle?
Pip says, "But, I felt that the kiss was given to the coarse  common boy as a piece of money might have been, and that is worth nothing." He is still ashamed that Estelle thinks he is common. 


8.)What was Pip hoping to get from Miss Havisham and what does he really get?
Pip was hoping that she would give him a fortune so that he will not be common anymore. He visits her house more often than before thinking she will give him a fortune. In the end, it results she wants to make him only an apprentice. 


9.) What happens to Mis Joe that changes her?
Ms Joes is attacked at her home and becomes mentally handicapped. It is yet unclear as to who killed her. Pip and Joe are the ones who find her.


10.) What does Pip attempt to do many times?
Pip tries to convince Joe to let him visit Miss Havisham's house. His reason for wanting to go visit the house is him wanting to see Estelle again.

Great Expectations and Charles Dickens

As I read the first 10 pages of Great Expectations I noticed some similarities with the protagonist Pip and Charles Dickens himself. To begin with, both live in poverty (not referring to Dickens when he was rich). Although not in extreme poverty like Dickens put himself through. Dickens also grew up without his parents, Pip is being raised by his sister. To quote the book, "....several of hid novels contain episodes of darkness....these episodes are based on his own childhood experiences."


* There is an allusion to the Ghost in Hamlet in the fourth chapter of the book. I felt knowledgeable knowing
this :)