You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise
Analyzing the poem: The poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou, an African American woman living in the early 1960's, describes the internal thoughts of this woman and how they represent the rest of the African American race during that time. In the first stanza, she begins to talk about how black people will probably be remembered as something they never were, since the ones that will be talking about them are the white's. I believe she is strongly referring to women mostly when she writes about her "sassiness", her "haughtiness", and her "sexiness". She continuously asks whoever she is speaking to if they are offended or upset by all her good qualities and she does this in order to show that white people were not willing to admit that African Americans could also be talented and educated and...human. She seems to be confronting them in the fourth stanza because she knows that they really want to see her, and the black race in general, humiliated and underestimated. Using similes and repetition as her main literary devices, Angelou emphasizes how much she believes in all the black people who are being treated so badly. The phrase "I Rise" is constantly repeated at the end of each stanza to show that no matter what her race will go through, no matter how horrible times, such as Slavery, they had to face, they will always stand strong against all that deny them their rights to be equal with all the other races. The poem has a strong sense of feminism being exposed. She compares her womanhood for example to the most precious diamond and she also finds a connection between women and power vs. nature. She presents herself as a very strong and brave African American woman that can always rise through her ashes and is extremely proud of where she comes from. Lastly I’d like to say that the poem unfolds in a pattern and Angelou’s point really gets through to the reader even after one read-through. In the beginning she starts off in a low tone and as she moves on she chooses to use phrases with deeper meaning, uses more metaphors and similes, and she makes you stop and think about what she is trying to say through her twisted words. Her tone starts speeding up faster and faster as she moves on towards the end and you can sense the tension building up as she seeks to state her point thoroughly. She ends the poem in a positive spirit using words such as “dream” and “hope”, and once more repeats the powerful phrase “I Rise”, which is also the one thing that the cycle returns to. In the cycle, anything is possible to happen, but in order for it to ever be complete, the black race must RISE.
John Milton's "Paradise Lost" talks about Gods first creations, Adam and Eve, and how their lives in heaven are affected by the two sides, Angels and Demons, described in the poem. The two humans have been given strict instructions by their creator to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge but even so they are tricked by a transformed Devil, Satan, and end up disobeying God's will. As their punishment they are sent to Earth where they have to learn how to make a living on their own and soon enough find themselves regretting what they had done and praying to God for forgivness. Seeing this, God decides to show mercy upon these lost souls and welcomes them back into His kingdom.
How are you? I know that it has been a very long time since we’ve spoken to each other and for a dominant part of that period the silence has been killing me.
I have come to the conclusion that this nonsense must come to an end and as father and son we should be united. I don’t know if you can forgive me for ignoring you all the years we spent together before you left but I’m willing to make up for our lost time and I’d also like you to know that I will support you and the goals you want to achieve no matter how strongly I disagree with them.
I have tried contacting you on your cell phone but you probably aren’t using it. Anyhow, I’ve been thinking that over the past years I have supported you quite a lot as far as your expenses go and I feel that if I ever needed your help, you should be there for me. As my son, I mean.
So I’m just going to come right out and say it. Kevin, I desperately need your help and I hope you will be of assistance to me, and act like an adult for the first time in your life; take responsibility. My problem has to do with a co-worker in my building named Jonathan Frank. He’s been hovering over me, and trying to get my position for over a year now, and ever since he brought up that he was after what I had, strange things have been happening.
Strange things such as weird e-mails from people I don’t know threatening to destroy me. I feel like I’m in high school all over again where I steal the captain of the football teams’ girlfriend and he wants to pound my face out by the fountain area after school. Only this seems to be much more serious than that. This man has strong communications and I’m afraid his paranoia will lead him to the extreme and I won’t be able to stop him.
I was hoping you could help me by hacking into his email account or something that has records of who he talks to or what he plans to do. That is what you specialize in isn’t it? Well we need to be one step ahead of him if you want to continue the comfortable life you’re living now. After all this is cleared out I’ll leave you alone if that is what you wish, but until then I am begging you to look past your anger and help me overcome this difficulty.
I will be looking forward to your response, that will arrive soon I hope.
Best wishes your father, Arnold.
September 27th 2004
213 Amsterdam
and West End
Dear Arnold,
I’m fine, but apparently from what you’ve told me in your letter, you’re not. I’m not sure I can
help you and it’s not like I’m holding any grudges against
you, but I don’t feel like we can ever be connected as father and son. And I want to make it clear that I don’t believe your sudden guilt for the way you’ve acted these past years. I’m not sure if I even want to help you because even in your letters you insult me and boss me around as if I’m some little kid you think you can control; and the thing with you supporting me financially is your duty, not something that you’re forced to do.
Anyway don’t expect any miracles from me. Why don’t you send me the guy’s information; this is what I need: his email, home address and zip code, home number and cell, the name of his block, I already have his full name from your previous letter, and date of birth. I’ll take care of the rest and when I find something I’ll let you know. In the meantime you can’t show him you dislike him because if he’s into any business with anyone dangerous then he’ll know. Just play it cool and we’ll talk.
And Arnold? Don’t try to look for me okay? After all this is over I don’t want to have anything to do with you… things are better the way they are and the only thing that we would end up doing is making them even more complicated.
I hope things go well, Kevin.
October 1st 2004
114 Saint Andrew str. ManhattanNY.
Dear Kevin,
Thank you for your decision son, but I want you to know that if you ever change your mind about wanting to improve our relationship, please I beg you, let me know immediately. It’s never too late my boy but until you realize that I won’t look for you.
Okay let’s get down to business. I have all the information you need in order for you to find out who he’s working with and when he’s planning to take me out. His email is JonathanFrank@gmail.com, his address is 15691 Silver Spur rd. ManhattanNY, zip code 92504, his home phone number is 909-780-1507, his cell number is 347-479-6480, and he was born July 19th 1958.
More things have been happening Kevin; last night at around twelve thirty or so, I heard noises outside of the garage and when I walked outside to see what was causing it someone broke the bathroom window. I went back inside and I found a note tied to the piece of rock that did the damage, and it re
ad, “You don’t want to do this the hard way”.
I must admit I’m quite terrified, so please Kevin, make this as quick as possible wont you?
Again I’d like to thank you so much for this and please, think about my offer son. This is my cell phone number if you ever need to reach me: 951-264-3095. Please don’t hesitate to talk to me or ask me for anything you need. I don’t mean to be pushy but it’s unfair to both of us Kevin and I’d like you to meet me at Kelly’s Café this Friday so we can talk in person. I would love to see you and I want to be a part of your life. I have no one else but you and it’s a shame things had to come to this point for us to communicate. Let me know when and what time you can meet me please. I’m looking forward to your next letter.
Love, your father, Arnold.
October 5th 2005
213 Amsterdam and West End
Dear Dad,
How are you? Not too good I bet…
It’s been a year since you’ve been gone and I still can’t stop myself from writing you letters. I don’t know what I expect will happen by writing so many since you will never be able to read them, and I blame myself for that. I never answered your last letter and obviously I never helped you with that unfortunate situation you were in last year and look what happened… I lost you. I never quite had you, but I guess its human psychology that works in a way where when you have something, you don’t realize how much it means to you until you lose it.
Remember when we used to go fishing when I was eight years old? You showed me how to get the bait onto the fishing rod and I remember hating to wake up so early but loving the trip in the car. I look back at those times and I see how ridiculous we both were; fighting over which school I would go to, and how foolish I was to walk out on you the way I did.
I hope you can forgive me father. I tried to make it to you as soon as I could on the day of the shooting but I was too late. They tricked us both. That Frank guy made you think that I had been captured by his men, and told you that if you didn’t quit your job and showed up at the meeting point with half a million bucks they would kill me. But they never had me… then they told me that you were in this with them and all you wanted to do was shut down my business and force me to go to law school like you wanted. I can’t believe how annoyingly stupid I was to believe them.
People tell me I should stop living in the past; I should stop trying to find ways that could save you since your murderers have been shoved deep into prison, but I find it impossible. Thanks for trying to get to me first by the way. And also, thanks for wanting to be my dad even though I was a disappointment to you.
I have written countless letters since the day of your death but this is the first one I’m going to send to you. I hope you rest in peace father, and hopefully we’ll meet face to face again one day. I love you and I will until the day I die. I’ll visit you soon, I promise.
Your son, Kevin Carlson.
P.S: I’m in school now dad and I’m planning to master in Law. I found out that this connects me to you, and surprisingly I love it! I guess I’ve always had a little bit of you in me, and I want you to know, that I couldn’t be more proud to be your son.
"Could you?" asked Betty. "I don't know" said Greg. As urgent as the situation had been Greg couldn't deal with the tension at that time, but he had no other option. This was a matter of life or death and he had to make a choice. He could murder this innocent man and save his daughter, or he could walk away from the gun, no harm done, and never see his little girl again. Whatever his decision was,ten minutes was all he had. "The clock is ticking Greg." Betty urged him. "This is all you have to do and look at the bright side; no one will ever know you commited this "heinous" crime. "But I.. You.." Suddenly it was as if he forgot how to speak. This woman was mad. And to think that he knew her ever since they were young,made him sick. She was always the quiet person in the group. Always observant,but quiet. What would his wife have him do? Everything was just a blurr in his head now. He started thinking about how this all started; even worse he tormented himself thinking how this was all going to end. Then an idea struck his head and he turned his gaze towards the gun. As if reading his mind though, Betty said:"Sure,you could try killing me but that would just make things worse for you. You see, my people have instructions from me saying precisely this. If anything happens to me, your little angel is...history." "Well, what if I made you an offer?" Greg asked hopefully. "An offer? Ha! Greg darling I don't think you understand the generosity of the situation. I am giving you a chance to kill someone you don't even know yet you refuse to do it. Is that how much you really love Christie?" The ominous look on her face brought chills to his skin. "Well then tell me one thing. Why did you pick me?"he waited paitiently for her response. "I.. I..Don't Know" was all she replied. What was she really playing at anyway? How far would she go until she was satisfied? She started walking away from him. "Leave.." she croacked. "What?" "I said leave!! Go!! She's at your apartment. She never left from there. Go get her.. Before I change my mind." He could feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins, pushing through him like his cheast was going to burst. Christie lived, and he was going to be with her shortly, but ofcourse he had his doubts. What if she was twisting things around again. He had been through enough already. Even so, he was willing to take that risk for Christie's sake. A loud gunshot was heard in the air. Greg knew what it was instantly; still he did not stop to think about it. He drove on never looking back through the rearview mirror and sped down the road, like an animal escaping from it's predator, eager to hold his most important posession, Christie.
SOCK PUPPET VIDEO: Good- This video was funny and very entertaining to watch. The background was nicely set up and fit the plot. And finally I think that it was simple and that helped me understand and follow what was going on throughout the story. They seemed like they put alot of effort into it and I'm sure that if I had no idea what the play was about I would understand the main idea of the play. Bad- I noticed some sarcasm in the way they speak throughout the dialogues and I didin't like that. They also used some bad language and the fact that they were skipping scenes confused me at times. Ways to Improve- They could be more serious about the play and their acting could have bee improved. It would probably be better if they had included the scenes they skipped.
STOP MOTION VIDEO: Good- This video was very well done, they put alot of effort into it and the outcome was excellent. The fight was impressive and so was the background and toys they used. The music in the beginning wasn't very clear but the rest of the dialogues were clearly spoken and I liked it better than the first because they used the original language the play was written. Bad- The only thing I didn't like about this video is that the audio wasn't very clear and that's the only thing that needs to be improved.
THE SUICIDAL: Good- There weren't many positive things about this video. I liked some of the writing and I noticed that the idea that they used to show how much Romeo and Juliet loved each other was clever and creative. Bad- The drawings were very simple and this showed that there wasn't much effort put into it. I didn't like how they presented Juliet as an alcoholic =/ or the song that was chosen for the presentation of the video. Ways to Improve- They could make their scenes more detailed and they could have chosen a different song for it.
FLIPBOOK: Good- This idea for the play was very very creative and I thought it was good that they introduced the characters in the beginning. I also liked the subtitles that were added when the drawings didn't include text. Bad- The only thing I didn't like was the color of the drawings. They could have definitely added more colors. Ways to Improve- The audio could have been more clear and the music could have changed a bit throughout the flipping.
