Response to Course Materials #7

            In the last couple of weeks we have done some more AP essay practice and as much as I hate writing essays I’m glad we are doing them, because it’s helping me answer the “BIG” question of meaning.  I’ve realized that there are many different interpretations for each passage we’re given and made me feel better to hear Holmes say that even if your interpretation is different than what the scorers thought you could still do well as long as you can back up your interpretation with quotes.  I feel like these essays are harder for me because it’s very different from the writing I’ve done in my other English classes, where teachers would encourage a super creative catchy intro.  But hopefully these practices will help me do well on the AP exam.

            We finished Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, which I’m pretty happy about because I didn’t really like the book.  I think the multiple layers to the book confused me a little bit, but the group discussions definitely helped me understand the book a little more.  I found that the ideas in Hamlet were opposite than the ones presented in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.  For example there was the question of identity in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, whereas in Hamlet he knew who he was, but is issue was whether or not to take action.  There was also the example of religion, where Hamlet was a Jesus figure, but in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead there was no God.  I thought these contrasts were interesting, because it took two different takes on one story.

            We are now starting Ceremony, which I’m exited for because the summary of the story sounds interesting.  I liked learning about the history behind the story, and it made me realize how different texts can come across differently depending on the background of the person reading it.