Prompt Revision

2009. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

In the novel Lord of the Flies written by William Golding, a conch shell is used to symbolize civilization and order.   The conch shell is used to the help keep order in the novel and it reveals the characters' views of their society as well as emphasizing the meaning of the constant battle between civilization and savagery.

The conch schell was first discovered by Ralph and Piggy and they blew into to to make a loud noise that could be heard throughout the island.  During tribal meetings whoever held the conch got to speak.  The conch is used to maintain order so the conch is a symbol for civilization  As the play progresses and Jack and his hunters separate themselves from Ralph and Piggy, both Ralph and Piggy are constantly clutching the conch schell because the are trying to hold on to the remains of civilization and order they attempted to create.  When a boulder is thrown and kills piggy, it also crushes the conch.  The destruction of the conch symbolizes all the order being overcome by savagery   Golding uses the symbol to show how Jack and his leaders have destroyed all aspects civilization and order. 

The conch reveals how the characters feel their society on this island should be organized.  Ralph believes strongly in the conch in the beginning of the novel which shows his strong views about how the children on the island need order.  As the novel progresses, Ralph begins to doubt the power of the conch, revealing his doubts that and orderly society will can actually work on the island.  Piggy keeps his faith in the conch until his death, which reveals his constant belief in the need for civilization.  Jack is the first person to doubt the conch's power and he ends up leading the savages who focus on killing instead of order and civilization.  The characters belief or lack of belief in the conch shows whether they favor civilization of savagery.     

The major theme and meaning of this novel involve the struggle between civilization and savagery.   Civilization and order are complicated and fragile just like the structure of a conch.  A conch just like a democracy is carefully constructed over time, but can be destroyed in an instant. The conch shell is used is a barometer of the level of order in the novel. When the conch is widely accepted and respected there is much more order on the island and they boys' society resembles a primitive civilization.  As the conch lost importance so the values the boys grew up with creating a island without any form of order, which almost leads to the their society's destruction. 

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Author: The play was written by Tom Stoppard and was published in 1966.  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is Stoppard's most famous play.

Setting:  The play is set within Shakespeare's play Hamlet.  The first part of the play takes place in what is described as “a place without any visible character” (Stoppard 11).  The middle part of the play takes place in Elsinore where the plot of Hamlet takes place, and the final act is on a boat along with Hamlet. 

Major Characters:

Rosencrantz (Ros)-  The play focus on him and Guil as they attempt to figure out what is going on with Hamlet.  He has a carefree and easy-going attitude towards life.

Guildenstern (Guil) -  Just like Rosencrantz he was friends with Hamlet when he was younger.  Guildenstren is constantly trying to find meaning and purpose to the things and events around him.  He believes he is much smarter than he really is, which causes him to constantly misquote and interpret various educational terms/philosophies throughout the play. 

The Player- He leads the actors that perform the play within the play in Hamlet.  The are known as the Tragedians.  The player and the Tragedians perform a play predicting Ros and Guil’s fate, but neither of them realize the play is about them.

Hamlet- The same character as he was in Hamlet.  He is more of a side character in this play, but he confuses Ros and Guil when they try to figure out what is bothering him just like in Hamlet.

Claudius- He orders Ros and Guil to find out what is wrong with Hamlet and later when he sends Hamlet to be killed in England he sends Ros and Guil along with him on the boat. 

Gertrude- Her role is essentially the same in this play as it was in Hamlet.  Her sympathy towards Hamlet is also apparent in this play.

Alfred- He is one of the Tragedians and he offered up as a prostitute by the Player.  He is forced to wear a skirt and is often treated like a woman and has to act as women in their play. 

Plot:

The play starts out with Ros and Guil playing a game where they flip coins.  Ros keeps on winning because heads continues to be flipped.  Then the Tragedians come and are willing to do anything for money including which confuses Guil.   Guil starts to play the coin game with the Player and bets him that his aged doubled is an even number.

In the next scene Claudius tells Ros and Guil to figure out what is wrong with Hamlet.  Ros and Guil try to practice for when they talk to Hamlet by having Guil pretend to be Hamlet.  They then play a question game.  Later when they speak to Hamlet he confuses them by using complicated language full of deeper meaning that goes right over Ros and Guil’s heads.  While Guil is pleased with how the meeting went, Ros realized how outmatched they were in the conversation and states that they lost badly in the question game.   They then talk to the player about Hamlet's troubles.  Later they give Hamlet's message telling the main characters to attend the play.  

Next the same play within a play that takes place in Hamlet is preformed.  The same events occur in this play as in Hamlet, but after the player foreshadows R&G's death.   Later R&G see Hamlet with Polonius's body and try to trap him, but they fail.  When they talk to him, Hamlet refuses to tell them where Polonius's body is.  

In the next act R&G are on a boat with Hamlet.  They read the letter from Claudius that orders for Hamlet to be killed which causes them to panic because they don't know what to do.   When they fall asleep, Hamlet switches the letter ordering R&G to be killed instead.  The players come out of these barrels right before the pirates come to the ship which is when Hamlet disappears.  Guil stabs the player, but it was only a stage knife so the player does not die.  Ros and Guil then ponder their inevitable deaths, before the play jumps back to the very end of Hamlet.


Narrative Voice/Author's style:

The play is mainly centered around R&G and their dialogue. This point of view proves to be very unreliable in large part to them being very oblivious to what is actually going on.  There is a sharp contrast between the tone of R&G.  Guil has a much more pessimistic and ominous tone.  He is constantly over-analyzing everything trying to find its meaning.  Ros on the other hand has is very easy going and is constantly fascinated by his surroundings.  He is also much happier throughout the novel than Guil.  There is almost no imagery in the play (described in the play as emptiness).  This helps enforce the idea that the characters are living meaningless lives in a completely empty world.  The key symbol in the novel is coins that symbolize chance.  Because the coin always lands on one side it represents how things in the world are very random and unpredictable and filled with very unlikely events.  


Theme: 

One can not fully understand particular feelings or events from a play, they have to experience it for themselves.  

In the play R&G are unable to see that play they are watching is predicting their own deaths just like how the audience doesn't understand death just from watching a play where people die.  Stoppard also emphasizes the separation between the stage and real life by breaking the fourth wall during the play.  

Quotes:

"Dying is not romantic, and death is not a game which will soon be over... Death is not anything... death is not... It's the absence of presence, nothing more" (124) 

This quote from Guil has a very interesting point of view on death.  It helps contribute to the meaning that we are are living meaningless lives and our deaths are just as meaningless.  

"We move idly towards eternity, without possibility of reprieve or hope of explanation" (121)

This is another quote from Guil that deals with the idea that are just passing through time without any purpose.  It really reveals his pessimistic outlook on life and gives his feelings that we don't really have a purpose. 

"If you're not even happy what's so good about surviving?  We'll be all right.  I suppose we just go on." (121)

This is Ros's line and his more optimistic attitude is very clear.  While he doesn't fell like he has much purpose, he just enjoys life as it is. which is the opposite of Guil who is always questioning things.  

Response to Course Material #7

Since the last response to course material blog we have finished Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, started Ceremony, and worked on closed prompts.  I felt like the most interesting part of R&G was the relationship between theater and real life.  The play brought up the interesting point about how  it is different if you experience something serious while watching a play rather than experiencing it in real life.  I agree with this point and I think makes an interesting point about how people feel like they have experienced certain events just from watching them in a play.  This is even more relevant today with movies because not only do they appear more realistic, but a popular movie can be seen by millions of people.

We have also just started reading ceremony and in class we have been introduced to Laguna Pueblo culture and I have found it very interesting.  It is a refreshing change from the constant references to the bible in the literature we have read so far.  I've barely started the novel, but so far I have enjoyed it even though it is difficult to understand.  Trying to determine the meaning of the text is even more difficult because I am unfamiliar with the main character's culture.   

In class we have also been working on closed prompts and its been rough.  I have trouble figuring out the meaning of these passages when I have lots of time to analyze them, but with the 40 minute time limit it makes it even more difficult.  The part that may be even harder fo me is actually translating my thoughts about the passage on paper.  I'm used to using informal language when discussing literature during class, so using more formal language on the closed prompts has been to be difficult.  Although I have struggled, Ms. Holms helping us during class and practicing has helped and I've started to see improvements in my writing.