Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet:
Does the reflection of our time on the piece really flavor how we view it?
Does their age matter, or should we just project what they would see as a mature age into something more familiar to us, such as being 17 or 18 years old?
Do people disregard the influence that a family actually had on children back in the time that Romeo and Juliet was set and written?
Should the text been seen as a piece set in time, or as something that changes with each person that reads it?
Do different interpretations really influence the text itself, and if it does should we take a step back?
Asia:
What do people feel now?
What did people feel then?
How much influence have we had on their culture?
Do we need to pull away and let them stand on their own?
Are Americans condescending in thinking that we needed to take care of them for so long?
Does the main populace see us as being condescending?
Does anyone think that the military presence has been helpful?
If it is helpful what has the military done to improve the environment around it?
Are there more then two sides to this argument?
What if we didn’t leave?
Would there be benefits to not leaving?
Oscar Wilde:
What happened in his life to influence his work so strongly?
Who was in his life?
Who could be reoccurring characters in his works?
If the characters do reoccur does that mean that they are more important or just fillers?
Do the characters represent a position that he might take personally?
Does any of the opinions in the plays or the novel seem to be opposed to things that he would advocate?
Did any opinions change or become more temperate as the plays progress?
How long did he write for?
Was there time for change?
Does the humor have more purpose then just being there for comedic relief?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
#6 Refine List of Research Topics
Shakespeare:
I could do something about a play that Shakespeare did that has several hard and different interpretations. I know Hamlet tends to get a lot of attention, but I think that Romeo and Juliet needs a new outlook. Everyone already has a strong opinion on Romeo and Juliet, and as my least favorite Shakespeare play it would be a nice challenge. I could create an entire paper centered around the concept of age and how the 21st century mindset has projected back onto the tragedy roles that were not originally meant to be there. Or I could write about the comparison between love and obsession, and attempt to prove the love that Romeo and Juliet feel was not actual love, but an obsession that borders on insane for children of that age.
Asia:
Right now I know that there is some controversy about what to do with the troops that are still stationed in Japan from World War II. The troops either have been or are about to be pulled out, and a paper about the different reactions that are being shown by the Japanese population would be interesting. The mindset of the Japanese people is diverse, and looking into what influence we have had and how welcome that has been over all these years would be a great paper to write.
Oscar Wilde:
I could write about the life of Oscar Wilde and how that affected his writing. Over many of his different plays there is always a character that remains the same and is similar to the man he was seeing. There are also other characters that might change names, but have very similar opinions and reactions as each other. There are also entire passages that are in some of the plays that are taken from Dorian Grey. How much influence did others have on Oscar Wilde, and if he stole his own material does that mean that the plays are not as original as everyone praises them to be?
I could do something about a play that Shakespeare did that has several hard and different interpretations. I know Hamlet tends to get a lot of attention, but I think that Romeo and Juliet needs a new outlook. Everyone already has a strong opinion on Romeo and Juliet, and as my least favorite Shakespeare play it would be a nice challenge. I could create an entire paper centered around the concept of age and how the 21st century mindset has projected back onto the tragedy roles that were not originally meant to be there. Or I could write about the comparison between love and obsession, and attempt to prove the love that Romeo and Juliet feel was not actual love, but an obsession that borders on insane for children of that age.
Asia:
Right now I know that there is some controversy about what to do with the troops that are still stationed in Japan from World War II. The troops either have been or are about to be pulled out, and a paper about the different reactions that are being shown by the Japanese population would be interesting. The mindset of the Japanese people is diverse, and looking into what influence we have had and how welcome that has been over all these years would be a great paper to write.
Oscar Wilde:
I could write about the life of Oscar Wilde and how that affected his writing. Over many of his different plays there is always a character that remains the same and is similar to the man he was seeing. There are also other characters that might change names, but have very similar opinions and reactions as each other. There are also entire passages that are in some of the plays that are taken from Dorian Grey. How much influence did others have on Oscar Wilde, and if he stole his own material does that mean that the plays are not as original as everyone praises them to be?
#5 List of Research Topics
Brainstorm? Well if we’re talking about topics that I really like I love to write about novels. I have taken courses in Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and basic courses. I would love to be able to do more with the Eastern Asia history class I took. We discussed the later part of Eastern Asian history up until the present. I found everything in that class interesting, and that would be fun to do more with.
I just like to write papers about topics that I can get an opinion on. If I can’t feel something strong for the topic then I tend not to do as well. Without something to really make you look into the subject there isn’t any incentive to do it well. Something to wrap my mind around and want to find the real meat of the subject. That can be something to do with current events, or a controversial view on a classic novel. I like all of those ideas, they all seem like something to really look into.
I just like to write papers about topics that I can get an opinion on. If I can’t feel something strong for the topic then I tend not to do as well. Without something to really make you look into the subject there isn’t any incentive to do it well. Something to wrap my mind around and want to find the real meat of the subject. That can be something to do with current events, or a controversial view on a classic novel. I like all of those ideas, they all seem like something to really look into.
#4 Current Major and Career Goals
I am currently an English major with a concentration in creative writing. I want to write. Every day I find an excuse to write something. Right now my thing is to write letters to a friend going to school across the country. If I could just sit down and write every day and make money from that I would be a happy woman! I know that isn’t going to work out, so I want to be a teacher and put that passion into other people. I also love to read. To be able to spend the rest of my life discussing classic novels is something that I know I would love.
I plan to graduate in 2011 and take a year off. I’m going to minor in Russian and I might get a job in between Grad school and graduation that has to do with that minor before I really focus on the teaching. I would love to use my major and minor in my career as a teacher, and a way to do that is to teach English as a second language to Russian students. I love Russian and would love to have an excuse to speak it as often as possible, and to live in Russia. I don’t plan on being there for the rest of my life though, maybe just a year or two.
In 5 years? I’ll probably be in Russia (hopefully) or I’ll be a teacher in New England. I do want to settle down be secure in where I’m going to live out the rest of my life before I start a really serious relationship, so that will probably be the best time to settle all that. I just want to work and be happy and be near my family. That is what I want from life. I want to be near family and be doing something that makes me happy. I would like to travel a lot too, but I know that would probably not happen all that often on a teacher’s salary. I want to get as much of that done as possible before I really start teaching full time.
I know, I seem really certain in what I want to do. People tell me that my plan for life can be a little inflexible, but there is something about knowing what I want to do and how I’m going to accomplish it that makes me feel happy, and I don’t plan on changing anything in my plan any time soon. I really do think I’ll love being a teacher, and I think I would love to teach English as a second language to Russian students. I can’t wait to reach it!
I plan to graduate in 2011 and take a year off. I’m going to minor in Russian and I might get a job in between Grad school and graduation that has to do with that minor before I really focus on the teaching. I would love to use my major and minor in my career as a teacher, and a way to do that is to teach English as a second language to Russian students. I love Russian and would love to have an excuse to speak it as often as possible, and to live in Russia. I don’t plan on being there for the rest of my life though, maybe just a year or two.
In 5 years? I’ll probably be in Russia (hopefully) or I’ll be a teacher in New England. I do want to settle down be secure in where I’m going to live out the rest of my life before I start a really serious relationship, so that will probably be the best time to settle all that. I just want to work and be happy and be near my family. That is what I want from life. I want to be near family and be doing something that makes me happy. I would like to travel a lot too, but I know that would probably not happen all that often on a teacher’s salary. I want to get as much of that done as possible before I really start teaching full time.
I know, I seem really certain in what I want to do. People tell me that my plan for life can be a little inflexible, but there is something about knowing what I want to do and how I’m going to accomplish it that makes me feel happy, and I don’t plan on changing anything in my plan any time soon. I really do think I’ll love being a teacher, and I think I would love to teach English as a second language to Russian students. I can’t wait to reach it!
#3 Expand on 2 A & B
Mrs. Moldoff was the most amazing neighbor I could have ever had as a kid. She was my next door neighbor, preschool teacher, and safe haven. Young girls have so much that they go through, and having that person who was so warm and caring to turn to was the most amazing experience of my life. When I was really young I had decided I was going to run away for some reason or another, and I was going to live with Mrs. Moldoff for the rest of my life! She took me in and talked to me about why I was so upset, and what it was that Mom and Dad had done. Before I knew it I was headed home and I knew that if I needed help she would always be there.
I want to be able to help a kid like that. I know practically I can’t save everyone, or even help most of them, but I want to be able to at least put myself out there for them to come to me if they need to. I mainly want to teach high school, but elementary school also appeals to me. I love people and kids, and I want to do something that will work with them. I was able to connect my teachers to people of authority as well as safety my entire life, and it started with Mrs. Moldoff. After growing up with her I knew that I could almost always trust my teachers, and they would always do their best for me. That is what a teacher should be, right? A person that is neutral and willing to help the students in any way possible. That is what Mrs. Moldoff taught me a teacher should be, and I feel that there aren’t enough like her out there. I wish everyone had a Mrs. Moldoff when they were young.
I want to be able to help a kid like that. I know practically I can’t save everyone, or even help most of them, but I want to be able to at least put myself out there for them to come to me if they need to. I mainly want to teach high school, but elementary school also appeals to me. I love people and kids, and I want to do something that will work with them. I was able to connect my teachers to people of authority as well as safety my entire life, and it started with Mrs. Moldoff. After growing up with her I knew that I could almost always trust my teachers, and they would always do their best for me. That is what a teacher should be, right? A person that is neutral and willing to help the students in any way possible. That is what Mrs. Moldoff taught me a teacher should be, and I feel that there aren’t enough like her out there. I wish everyone had a Mrs. Moldoff when they were young.
#2B Three Significant Events
I want to be able to be there for people who can’t do anything for themselves. When I was a teenager I was so insecure, and I just wished for one person to look at me and see that something was wrong. The most important event would have to be the rejection of a bunch of my friends when I was in seventh grade. My teachers were so amazing to me when I was down, and I feel like the best way to repay them is to try and do the same thing for some kid who doesn’t have anyone else to relate to. Being a young adult is hard enough emotionally without having to be alone. Teachers who are aloof and have no connection to the children that they are teaching always make me want to work harder. I want to show that helping children is more then giving them an education, but having them know that they can respect you, and trust you all at once as their teacher.
I also want to be my next door neighbor from when I was a kid. Mrs. Moldoff was my preschool teacher and my neighbor, and every day with her was like another adventure. Even when I was older she was always teaching me new things. Specifically she would have us over for dinner and let us talk to her about things that we didn’t want to tell Mom. She was our safe haven, and I want to be able to be that to some kid one day. Maybe a little more general, but it makes me feel good to know that I’m working towards at least being able to help some kids.
The first time my mom let me help her go over some homework for her students I knew that I was right, and I wanted to be a teacher. I know that the teacher always has more homework then the student, and that excites me. Helping Mom figure out what one student had meant in this paper, and what the other had meant on this homework assignment was just too much fun to pass up. I truly enjoyed it. I do know that I will have the complete opposite teaching style from my mom!
I also want to be my next door neighbor from when I was a kid. Mrs. Moldoff was my preschool teacher and my neighbor, and every day with her was like another adventure. Even when I was older she was always teaching me new things. Specifically she would have us over for dinner and let us talk to her about things that we didn’t want to tell Mom. She was our safe haven, and I want to be able to be that to some kid one day. Maybe a little more general, but it makes me feel good to know that I’m working towards at least being able to help some kids.
The first time my mom let me help her go over some homework for her students I knew that I was right, and I wanted to be a teacher. I know that the teacher always has more homework then the student, and that excites me. Helping Mom figure out what one student had meant in this paper, and what the other had meant on this homework assignment was just too much fun to pass up. I truly enjoyed it. I do know that I will have the complete opposite teaching style from my mom!
#2A Three Significant People
My entire life my mom has been there helping and teaching people. When I was really young Mom had her own daycare that she ran out of our house. She would help the kids with their homework everyday, and taught the younger kids about the alphabet and numbers. When she was in her late 30's Mom went back to college and graduated with an English degree and promptly got a teachers license. Watching her go from creating her own business to getting her degree and helping children in a lower income area learn more effectively made me want to do something similar with my life.
My Nana has always been a big part of what I want to do with my life. My entire life I have watched my Nana look at the world around her and regret that she wasn’t able to participate in the new advances that women have made today. At 76 years old Nana is one of the most strong women I have ever met, and every time I see her she tells me how lucky I am that I live in a time where I can truly be whatever I want. I can go to college and get a degree and actually do something with it. She tells me about how when she was young she was expected to get married and take care of her family. She loves her family, but she always wished that she had been able to do something more with her life. That makes me want to work harder and do more, because I have so much more opportunity then she did.
More recently I want to do something with my life for my Dad. Growing up I almost never saw Dad because he was always working. He fought his way to the top and wanted to be something so that we would never have to worry about anything. When both of my sisters didn’t go to college I was the one that was looked to. I want to show Dad that I can do something with my life, and take my own path.
Overall my entire family is my inspiration. They always will be, and I will always look to them for role models and support.
My Nana has always been a big part of what I want to do with my life. My entire life I have watched my Nana look at the world around her and regret that she wasn’t able to participate in the new advances that women have made today. At 76 years old Nana is one of the most strong women I have ever met, and every time I see her she tells me how lucky I am that I live in a time where I can truly be whatever I want. I can go to college and get a degree and actually do something with it. She tells me about how when she was young she was expected to get married and take care of her family. She loves her family, but she always wished that she had been able to do something more with her life. That makes me want to work harder and do more, because I have so much more opportunity then she did.
More recently I want to do something with my life for my Dad. Growing up I almost never saw Dad because he was always working. He fought his way to the top and wanted to be something so that we would never have to worry about anything. When both of my sisters didn’t go to college I was the one that was looked to. I want to show Dad that I can do something with my life, and take my own path.
Overall my entire family is my inspiration. They always will be, and I will always look to them for role models and support.
#1 My Earliest Memory
I don't really remember much from when I was really young. Growing up I lived in this tiny little town in northwest Massuchusetts, and everything seems blurred together. I remember my Nana and Papa's house the best. Every week we would spend saturday at their house and visit with my cousins. They had this tiny little house that Papa had built with his own hands for my Nana when they were young, and had livd there ever since. The first place we would all go when we got there was the hall coat closet. The door was on a hinge that made it swing back shut if left open, and our little hands were never strong enough to open it without help. It would always take at least two of us to drag the big wooden door open. Usually it was me and Ellie, my cousin. The closet always smelled like Nana. It was mostly her coats hanging up in the closet, because Papa always said he only needed one.
We would dig our way to the back of the closet, and that was where all of the good toys were hidden. They had everything, from Barbie, to G.I. Joe (the original), coloring books, and dress up cloths that were amazing. And the blocks! They had amazing old wooden blocks that never seemed to run out, and we would always try and build bigger and better castles. Everything that I remember from my childhood eventually leads back to Nana and Papa. They are the most amazing grandparents, and we were always excited to go to their house.
I do remember a lot of the town events too. Every year we would have a town Christmas Pageant, and all the kids would be in it. One yeari was an angel and I was so nervous. Mom had made my costume, so it fit me perfectly, but I was only 7 and I knew that I was going to trip in front of everyone. I was just about to go on when I ran to the trash can and threw up. After that I never really participated in the Christmas Pageant again. Oh speaking of Angels though, one year when I was about 5 for halloween Mom wanted me to be an Angel. October in Massachusetts is about December for Virginia, so it was completly freezing out. I was so excited to be an Angel, until Mom made me wear my winter jacket underneath my costume. The entire time I cried about how I was a fat Angel.
We would dig our way to the back of the closet, and that was where all of the good toys were hidden. They had everything, from Barbie, to G.I. Joe (the original), coloring books, and dress up cloths that were amazing. And the blocks! They had amazing old wooden blocks that never seemed to run out, and we would always try and build bigger and better castles. Everything that I remember from my childhood eventually leads back to Nana and Papa. They are the most amazing grandparents, and we were always excited to go to their house.
I do remember a lot of the town events too. Every year we would have a town Christmas Pageant, and all the kids would be in it. One yeari was an angel and I was so nervous. Mom had made my costume, so it fit me perfectly, but I was only 7 and I knew that I was going to trip in front of everyone. I was just about to go on when I ran to the trash can and threw up. After that I never really participated in the Christmas Pageant again. Oh speaking of Angels though, one year when I was about 5 for halloween Mom wanted me to be an Angel. October in Massachusetts is about December for Virginia, so it was completly freezing out. I was so excited to be an Angel, until Mom made me wear my winter jacket underneath my costume. The entire time I cried about how I was a fat Angel.
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