OVERVIEW/REVIEW POST

Alright, so just a recap here:

The point of this blog was to be an informational blog about classic lit. As I said previously, I find that many people tell me they don't read older literature on the basis that it is bland, boring, irrelevant, and slow. This blog was created to disprove that argument. I hoped to show any readers that classic lit can be exciting, thrilling, adventurous, humorous, and above all, relevant to every day life. 

In so far as convincing you to read classic lit, my success is entirely up to the reader. If you feel the need to brush off an old book after reading something on this blog, yay! I've succeeded. If not, I'm not really surprised---I know that people don't like to change any habits, so why would they change their reading habits?

However, with regard to demonstrating that classic lit and poetry is relevant to every day life, I feel that I've done a good job; I've addressed numerous topics and discussed the potential relevancy for each (excluding this week's post, which was just about the beauty and expressiveness of English). There was so much more I could have done (and wanted to do) but being limited to 8 weeks and having an audience that I'm assuming has little to no background in literature greatly curtailed my content.

As for things I would have done differently, if I were to do this project again with the same topic, I would have done more research, and really searched for quotes that fit a particular topic. What I had been doing was reading, highlighting things  I liked, and then on Fridays, scroll through my highlights and find a few quotes that worked together. I think it would've helped the audience more if I had planned my posts more thoroughly.


And that's about it! Thanks if you powered through this blog and my gushing about my favorite books. If you didn't, I don't blame you, I can understand that it's hard to get into, but please try to make an effort. Don't forget to check out the "Links" tab---I've posted a bunch of cool stuff there!!!!


Claire

Lesson #8

Last week guys! For these, I'm just going to give you the quote and let you form your own opinions of the language used. Maybe you could comment your favorite?

1) One of my favorite poems by Walt Whitman:

2) A snippet from William Wordsworth's poem, Louisa

can you read that?

3) Also, one that's not related but I just glanced over and thought was pretty funny:

(Keep in mind, divorce was either not allowed or caused one to be in disgrace afterward at this point in time)

That's it!
I'll be right back for the overview post!

Hope you enjoyed this
Claire

Lesson #7

So, quotes that apply to life in no particular category or order---just some notes for higher thinking


1) From the Napoleon of Notting Hill, by G.K. Chesterton:

More often than we would like, things we become attached to, whether it be people, animals, or an object, turn out to be different than we thought, so different that we can no longer look at them the same way. Think about a person that was close to you, a politician you believed in, a pet you loved, or a concept/belief that you held, that upon further inspection turned out to be much different than you thought. Its a terrible feeling (I know from experience) when this realizations hits you, a sort of coldness washes over you and you feel like sitting in a corner (or at least I do) and holding your head in your hands. You want to bang your head against the wall, cry, be comforted, or just be by yourself for a long time (I experience a confusing mixture of all these). It feels terrible. Everyone feels this at some point or another---its part of our humanity. So in this way, old books can be comforting, knowing that people hundreds of years ago felt the same pain, experienced the same disappointment, and struggled through the same problems that you are experiencing at that moment.

2) Also from the Napoleon of Notting Hill:

Again, very relatable to our current world: how often do we let someone rise in power or authority without really examining whether or not they deserve it? How many times has someone been given awards or honors without really earning it? We want those in power, who govern and direct us to be smart people, who make our entire population not only content, but informed and smarter. And yet we award those in power who have done little to this effect. Not exactly comforting to know that people had this problem back in the time of Chesterton, but at least we can say its not something our generation has done on its own.

3) Also from the Napoleon of Notting Hill (Chesterton was a genius, I can't help but include a bunch of his work):

I was going to explain a bit, but instead I think I'll just let this sit here and let you guys think about it quietly.

4) I'm gonna try to lighten this pessimistic mood....hold on while I dig a happy quote out of my pile of quotes:

From the Importance of Being Earnest, a play by Oscar Wilde:

Not completely humorous, but definitely made me chuckle a little to myself when I read it. We put a lot of thought into what people wear, how they do their hair, what car they arrive in, and while that's all great and has some importance, we often don't involve a lot of sincerity or honesty in a lot of our "matters of great importance".....


I'm spent. This week was really hard, what with our school's peculiar circumstances,  a busy school week to begin with, and an unclear plan for the following week. Next week I'll be focusing on the beauty of the English language in old literature and poetry---cool words and phrases that make you feel nice inside.


Hope you enjoyed....
Claire

Lesson #6

We're almost done with the project! And just as I was finding lots of great quotes for discussion.... We'll just have to continue after the project is over, just for fun :)

This week, I'm continuing the humor section, and if I have time, I'll put in a little bit of the other stuff I've been finding....Also, Happy April Fool's Day.

1) Once again, I find myself returning to the perfect humor of Jeeves and Wooster:

Wooster: "In handling the case of Augustus Fink-Nottle, we must keep always in mind the fact that we are dealing with a poop."
Jeeves: "A sensitive plant would, perhaps, be a kinder expression, sir."
Wooster: "No Jeeves, a poop. And with poops one has to employ the strong, forceful, straightforward policy."

A nice disgusting color to address a nice disgusting comment.

2) Also comes from Wodehouse's genius, though this one is more of a chuckle to oneself:

This picture is really long, but hopefully it will make it more readable ( I personally don't like reading long quotes in Blogger text, its gross)---you'll probably have to click to enlarge the picture.

Yup. A grown man. In a bath. Enjoying shoving the duck underwater and watching it shoot up again. Good ol' fashioned humor :)

3) This one comes from "The Napoleon of Notting Hill", by G.K. Chesterton, the book I am currently reading, in which a crazy man is randomly selected to be King. In speaking to one of his courtiers, he replies:

"Rapid and symbolic movements of the left leg." Great stuff. :)

4) Also from the Napoleon of Notting Hill, after the King dictated an important proclamation he said to the secretary:

So, this proclamation is very important, he just dictated, and already he can't remember it. :) Also, could you send him some coffee and the kind of cigars we give to the people who are rich but probably don't deserve it? Thanks....

5) Finally, also from the Napoleon of Notting Hill, The King calls one of his favorite people into court, who happens to be his favorite person because of the way his beard looks.

Next week, I'm not sure how to categorize the quotes I want to include. They mainly are just relevant to our present world. They don't pertain to any particular part of current life, but I feel they still hold some relevance and could generate some stimulating discussion...


Enjoy,

Claire

Lesson #5

This week we're doing humor!!!!! YAY!

Like I said last week, a few of these will require context (which I will happily provide) and some won't require context at all. Some of these will require a bit more experience in reading classic lit to be able to fully appreciate, so I hope by now, after 4 weeks of becoming acclimated to the style and diction of older literature, hopefully you'll be able to better understand how all of this is amusing :)


1)

Okay, so if this isn't slightly funny to you right off the bat, you're probably already prejudiced against old books....If this is kinda funny to you from the get go, then hey! I'm in a much better position to explain this to you.......So, a bit of context:

Bertie Wooster, the narrator/speaker here, is watching someone's son for a bit while the mother travels the coast to learn about prisons (sounds a little like Alexis de Tocqueville....). Well, as it turns out, Wooster isn't such a good babysitter to the son, who happens to be wild. The boy has ended up in prison, (not Wooster's fault) and the mother has come back a few days early to collect her son and return home. She enters at an hour far too early for Wooster, and so Wooster, though tired, was trying to be a gracious host and offer this guest breakfast: 

(Wooster as narrator, re his guest) There was something sort of bleak about her tone, rather as if she had swallowed an east wind. This I took to be due to the fact that she probably hadn't breakfasted. It's only after a bit of breakfast that I'm able to regard the world with that sunny cheeriness which makes a fellow the universal favourite. I'm never much of a lad till I've engulfed an egg or two and a beaker of coffee.

WOOSTER: "I suppose you haven't breakfasted?"

LADY MALVERN: "I have not yet breakfasted."

WOOSTER: "Won't you have an egg or something? Or a sausage or something? Or something?"

LADY MALVERN: "No, thank you."

(Wooster as narrator) She spoke as if she belonged to an anti-sausage society or a league for the suppression of eggs. There was a bit of silence.

Ta-da.......Hopefully you found that at least slightly amusing; my fellow classic lit friends will have enjoyed it a bit....

2) I don't think this one will need much explanation: I'll just introduce the characters and situation.....

1) Wooster's friend, Gussie, has just returned from an unsuccessful marriage proposal. 

2) Gussie loves newts. And when I say loves, I mean, Gussie is obsessed with newts. Breeds them. Studies them. Moved to the countryside to better focus on their well being.

3) Wooster is terrible at giving advice. Just now, he has suggested that Gussie just try proposing again. Here is what ensues:

GUSSIE: "And I should get cold feet if I tried again. It's no good, Bertie. I'm hopeless, and there's an end of it. Fate made me the sort of chap who can't say 'bo' to a goose."

WOOSTER: "It isn't a question of saying 'bo' to a goose. The point doesn't arise at all. It is simply a matter of-----"

GUSSIE: "I know, I know. But it's no good. I can't do it. The whole thing is off. I am not going to risk a repetition of last night's fiasco. You talk in a light way of taking another whack at her, but you don't know what it means. You have not been through the experience of starting to ask the girl you love to marry you and than suddenly finding yourself talking about the plumlike external gills of the newly-born newt."

(I bolded the part I find particularly funny so you don't miss it in case you aren't paying attention.)

What's great about Jeeves and Wooster is that not only are the books hilarious in their own right, the show does an incredible job of portraying the characters and humor. And most of them are on Youtube (hint hint nudge nudge)...Here's one of my favorite episodes:

Jeeves and Wooster: Arrested in a NightClub

Jeeves and Wooster: How Does Gussie Woo Madeline

Yup. They're all beautiful. Watch as many as you can and become acquainted with the impeccable style of humor that PG Wodehouse provides

Next week I'll continue the humor section, with more Jeeves and Wooster and some other samples as well.

Claire

Lesson #4

So, for this week I found more quotes on enjoying life and general life lessons.
Without further ado:

1) This is a quote I came across when I was reading "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins. It's from Robinson Crusoe, a book that the narrator finds comfort in:

Can you read this? Click image to enlarge.

So: Fear of Danger is more terrifying than the Danger itself....I definitely think there's some truth to this and its relevant to every day life. How many times do we stop in our tracks and refuse to do something because we don't want to put ourselves in danger: at that point in time, we are more afraid of how we feel in danger than the actual danger. To give a (soft) example: in swimming, one of the most dreaded events is the 200 butterfly. In my own experience, as well as the experience of others I've found that I'm more nervous and anxious before the event just thinking about swimming the event. So in this case, the fear of danger---the fear of being in pain and swimming something I don't want to----outweighs the swim itself. I've had to swim it often enough to know what it's not that bad and I can do it, but before each swim I still get nervous just thinking about it. (Wish me good luck---I'm swimming it this Saturday!)

NOTE: the word "Burthen" is an archaic form of "Burden"

2) So this next quote is more about being happy in life, though it may sometimes be at the expense of another:

Context isn't super important here, you just need to understand what he's saying. And think about it----taking the term "neighbor" as a general term meaning "those around you"------how often do you tease and poke fun at those around you? With my own friends, its something we do regularly (though we make sure not to be really hurtful, so some of our teasing is along the lines of "Haha, you're so much like (insert least favorite literary character here)". Don't laugh at me, it can be hilarious if you know what you're talking about)

With my friends that don't have great understanding of lit characters, our teasing jousts are more "normal".....So know think about your own friends and how you guys interact and make fun of each other. Even think about the people you and your friends make fun of (your enemies? Frienemies? Which ever)......in those cases, you are "making sport of your neighbors" and "laughing at them in your turn". 

3) Finally, one short one more, just because I thought it was funny. Context here is a little more important: A precious Indian stone has just been stolen from a house, and we don't know who did it (we're pretty sure as to why). The butler is the narrator here and is telling about what they did the morning they found out the diamond was gone:

I don't think this needs much explanation: its pretty self explanatory: EVERYONE LOVES FOOD. Breakfast is supposedly the most important meal of the day and food is comforting. So in the event of a robbery (especially in England) BREAKFAST IS IMPORTANT

That's it!

PLAN FOR NEXT WEEK:

So next week I'm going to delve into the humor of classic lit more than the relevance....a lot of it will need a context explanation, but some of it you will be able to find amusing on your own.

Until then,

Claire

Lesson #3

Alright, let's just get right into this. As I said last week, this week I'm going to show how lit is relevant to relationships. To be perfectly honest, I didn't do a whole lot of prep for this week's post, but I'm gonna try to make up for it in the 90ish minutes I have for this.

1)

K, so this bit is relevant in specific cases, and within context, it makes perfect sense. Allow me to explain....

So, in the book, two friends, Charlotte and Lizzie, are discussing the budding relationship between Lizzie's extremely shy sister Jane and a wealthy neighborhood man by the name of Bingley. Charlotte is advising Lizzie to advise Jane to be more outgoing and encouraging in the relationship, so Bingley will understand how Jane feels as opposed to thinking her indifferent and not pursuing her (which would be a tragedy, as Jane and Lizzie's family is not rich and Bingley is very much so. Marrying into wealth is what we call success in classic lit.)

So, now back to the present day, this quote may hold true for individuals who are really shy (for extroverts, not so much. That might be a little weird and overdoing it). Introverts may want to show more affection than they normally would in order to keep their partner interested and happy. Don't show more than you feel, and don't be fake (that's worse than showing more than you feel), but definitely try to make an effort. If you really like the person, this effort will be worth it.

2) We're gonna shake it up and go with poetry (Shakespeare) for this one:

Can you read that?

This is an excerpt from Shakespeare's Sonnet 116.

So, let's analyze this a little: "Love is not/ Which alters when it alteration finds". Pretty self-explanatory: real  love (I don't want to say 'true love' that seems too fairy-tale-esque) will not change if you find some change in the other person's feelings. It shouldn't matter what the other person thinks or feels, its what YOU feel. 

Next bit: "Or bends with the remover to remove"---a bit trickier, I'm gonna go with "love won't change or die if someone tries to prevent it from happening". Then, the emphatic "O, no! It is an ever-fixed mark, / That looks on tempests and is never shaken;". Here Shakespeare is saying that real love does not change; even in the face of adversity or hardship, it remains solid.

3) This next one is about 

I had to.....

Here you go: (This is from the end of "The Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie; Tommy and Tuppence just simultaneously came to the conclusion that they should get married.)

Part of the reason I chose this one is because up until this point, I'd been practically screaming for Tommy and Tuppence to just get married already and now they're there! YAY! And also, I think it's amusing. Tuppence is such a funny character :)

To discuss the quote, I agree with Tuppence: marriage is called a lot of things (including bondage, a sleepover with your best friend for your life, a refuge, a mutual agreement for non-romantic reasons, etc)

Her interpretation of it is a bit harder to think about, as "sport" could take on different meanings. I think (in context, given their previous relationship) that she means the kind of sport you play: something you always want to win, but its friendly banter and competition instead of blood-thirsty fighting. :)

That's all folks!

Next week I think I'll do a continuation of how to live an enjoyable life: I just found some more general life is good quotes that I'd like to post.

Until next time then,

Claire