Monday, 21 September 2009
Lesson reflection.
Erm.... I probably shouldn't post this as late as I have, because I have pretty much forgotten the lesson. Well, we were looking at the opening to Dr. Fautus, and Mr.Francis evily made me read the Chorus and I had a cold. Anyway, we then moved onto Dr.Fautus's first speech and didn't get further than Alex reading it because Mr.Francis suddenly decided to go into our homework on Christian views on souls, God and such. And the class being so philosophical (or wishing to avoid formal work) began a debate about believing in God. Then twas the end of the lesson, and so I really learnt very little, however was sehr interessant.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Doctor Faustus!
Well, it took me quite a while to find a bookshop that actually had Doctor Faustus in stock, and when i finally found one it has other plays in the book as well. So, I'm hoping the version is not terribly important.
Anyway, I have not heard of this play before so am not to sure on the plot itself, nor do I have that many expectations. I have read through a synopsis of the play, so I have some idea about what I am going to read and think that the story does seem fairly interesting. Well, the only thing that really struck me when reading about the play was that it doesn't seem that dark or horrorish (I am aware that this is not a real word). However, jsut from the main plot you can tell that the whole book will be about the struggle Faustus has between good and evil. I can't actually think about this play without thinking about Cats the musical (because of the character of Mephistopheles, and yes i know this is not vey literature related or analytical).
I think that the worst thing about this play, will be the main character. I think that I may spend all of the time I am redaing it annoyed at the character's choices. Faustus, from the summary, seems to know that he is making the wrong decision and yet still go on with it becasue it seems easier in the short term. Only when his life is coming to an end does he think, wait, this is wrong and try to repent his sins. But then again, the author may have written the play in such a way that the reader feels sorrow and pity for Faustus. Oh well, I shall see, and since i have about 24 hours to read this play, I had best get on with it! :S
Anyway, I have not heard of this play before so am not to sure on the plot itself, nor do I have that many expectations. I have read through a synopsis of the play, so I have some idea about what I am going to read and think that the story does seem fairly interesting. Well, the only thing that really struck me when reading about the play was that it doesn't seem that dark or horrorish (I am aware that this is not a real word). However, jsut from the main plot you can tell that the whole book will be about the struggle Faustus has between good and evil. I can't actually think about this play without thinking about Cats the musical (because of the character of Mephistopheles, and yes i know this is not vey literature related or analytical).
I think that the worst thing about this play, will be the main character. I think that I may spend all of the time I am redaing it annoyed at the character's choices. Faustus, from the summary, seems to know that he is making the wrong decision and yet still go on with it becasue it seems easier in the short term. Only when his life is coming to an end does he think, wait, this is wrong and try to repent his sins. But then again, the author may have written the play in such a way that the reader feels sorrow and pity for Faustus. Oh well, I shall see, and since i have about 24 hours to read this play, I had best get on with it! :S
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Finally finished Dracula!!!
Okay, well I think I did quite well reading Dracual in three days. When I first picked up the book I originally thought it wasn't that long, but i soon discovered that the pages are tres thin and the print ist sehr klein. I didn't seem to be getting anywhere on Friday with it, so i spent 9 solid hours sat at my dining room table today until i finished. And despite minor neck ache, it really was worth reading.
I mean, normally I would never have read Dracula because I was convinced that I knew the story, though looking back I was realy really wrong. For a start, despite having seen the film in lesson not long ago, I was confused about many of the characters and their roles. For example I thought that the man at the start of the film who goes to Transylvania (who I now know to be Jonathan Harker) was Renfield- and that Renfield was a survivor of the ship wrecked ship. Also I am not sure if it was the film that made it seem this way, but I was sure that Lucy died fairly quickly and that her death and life was never fully explored, however near half of the book talks of her downfall and then death. I was actually really rather suprised when she died because i thought she was the character that survived (I now know this to be Mina).
Although these things have been cleared up for me, I'm still confused about the overall locatio of the book. I'm sure I was jsut not paying full attention, but I got the impression that part of the story was set in Whitby- where the two girls (Lucy and Mina) were staying, I also understand that this is where the ship was washed up. But then didn't both girls leave Whitby? The rest of the book centres around the sanitorium, and Dracula's house, I'm sure I'm jsut being dense now, but was this in Whitby still?
Oh well, geography aside, I did enjoy this novel. I really found the characters fascinating. As I have previously said, I am not a fan of first person accounts as you are never sure what has really occured, or what the character perceives to have happened. Anyway, i thought this style really worked for the book, you are able to see how the characters are feeling at different events and so no matter what is occuring you have a really good insight. I'm trying to decide on my favourite character currently, but I can't because as soon as I think of a reason, i straight away think of an equally good point about a different character. A example is I think maybe I like Van Helsing because he speaks so wisely, fairly and quite matter-of-factly to everyone, but then I think, Seward is my favourite because he shows so much compassion for all of the other characters, he does his best to help people he has no obligation to help and is loyal all the way through the book. On another point, the appearance of Dracula himself, suprised me. He is described at the start of the book as having, "a long white moustache," from all the interpretations of Dracula that I have ever seen, he is always completely dark, clothes and hair.
Erm..... i think that's all I have to say, so i think I would give this book 8.1/10. It got such a good mark because despite how long it took me to read it, I was never bored, there is always something happening, no long boring passages of meaningless description or dialogue. However, it lost some of its marks because I really didn't think of it as a horror book. Sure it has some very dark themes, I mean a lot of people die, but it lacked any scaryness pour moi. I jsut looked up horror genre on wikipedia and it says this- "Horror fiction is a genre of fiction in any medium intended to scare, unsettle, or horrify the audience." I feel this book really failed on this front and I'm not sure why, maybe I am jsut being picky and maybe vampires have really been over done, I no longer find the idea in fiction scary. Oh well, I'm waffling so will finish mon post.
I mean, normally I would never have read Dracula because I was convinced that I knew the story, though looking back I was realy really wrong. For a start, despite having seen the film in lesson not long ago, I was confused about many of the characters and their roles. For example I thought that the man at the start of the film who goes to Transylvania (who I now know to be Jonathan Harker) was Renfield- and that Renfield was a survivor of the ship wrecked ship. Also I am not sure if it was the film that made it seem this way, but I was sure that Lucy died fairly quickly and that her death and life was never fully explored, however near half of the book talks of her downfall and then death. I was actually really rather suprised when she died because i thought she was the character that survived (I now know this to be Mina).
Although these things have been cleared up for me, I'm still confused about the overall locatio of the book. I'm sure I was jsut not paying full attention, but I got the impression that part of the story was set in Whitby- where the two girls (Lucy and Mina) were staying, I also understand that this is where the ship was washed up. But then didn't both girls leave Whitby? The rest of the book centres around the sanitorium, and Dracula's house, I'm sure I'm jsut being dense now, but was this in Whitby still?
Oh well, geography aside, I did enjoy this novel. I really found the characters fascinating. As I have previously said, I am not a fan of first person accounts as you are never sure what has really occured, or what the character perceives to have happened. Anyway, i thought this style really worked for the book, you are able to see how the characters are feeling at different events and so no matter what is occuring you have a really good insight. I'm trying to decide on my favourite character currently, but I can't because as soon as I think of a reason, i straight away think of an equally good point about a different character. A example is I think maybe I like Van Helsing because he speaks so wisely, fairly and quite matter-of-factly to everyone, but then I think, Seward is my favourite because he shows so much compassion for all of the other characters, he does his best to help people he has no obligation to help and is loyal all the way through the book. On another point, the appearance of Dracula himself, suprised me. He is described at the start of the book as having, "a long white moustache," from all the interpretations of Dracula that I have ever seen, he is always completely dark, clothes and hair.
Erm..... i think that's all I have to say, so i think I would give this book 8.1/10. It got such a good mark because despite how long it took me to read it, I was never bored, there is always something happening, no long boring passages of meaningless description or dialogue. However, it lost some of its marks because I really didn't think of it as a horror book. Sure it has some very dark themes, I mean a lot of people die, but it lacked any scaryness pour moi. I jsut looked up horror genre on wikipedia and it says this- "Horror fiction is a genre of fiction in any medium intended to scare, unsettle, or horrify the audience." I feel this book really failed on this front and I'm not sure why, maybe I am jsut being picky and maybe vampires have really been over done, I no longer find the idea in fiction scary. Oh well, I'm waffling so will finish mon post.
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Starting Dracula.
Okay, well I realise I've left this a little late to start reading Dracula now, but I have been really neglecting my Gothic texts in favour of Ponsford's reading (whoops). Anyway, having read the blurb, the book does sound good. However, i think the fact that the book is so well known really lets it down. Because it's going to be predictable, I know the story line, I know the characters and I know how the book will end. So I guess it is going to have a lot less impact than it would have done, no suprises or being kept on the edge of my seat.
On the other hand, I may be able to understand the book itslef better, i won't be confused about the plot (like I was with Frankenstein). Also, as we have seen the film in lesson I will be able to imagine the book better in my mind and hopefully my opinion won't be swayed by the director's interpretation of the text. Oh well, i best get on and start reading, atleast the book doesn't look too long.
On the other hand, I may be able to understand the book itslef better, i won't be confused about the plot (like I was with Frankenstein). Also, as we have seen the film in lesson I will be able to imagine the book better in my mind and hopefully my opinion won't be swayed by the director's interpretation of the text. Oh well, i best get on and start reading, atleast the book doesn't look too long.
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