Notes on Act 4 and 5/#8

Act 4

Scene 1:

F.L: You say you do not know the lady's mind? Uneven is the course, I like it not.

       F.L thinks Paris should go ask Juliet's mind. 

During the conversation between Juliet and Paris, it seems like Juliet doesn't like Paris as well as his behavior.

Juliet: O, bid me leap, rather than Paris......And I will do it without fear or doubt, to live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love.

           Juliet is so determined that implies she refuses to marry Paris extremely. And she wants to keep alone since she knows she has already married Romeo.

F.L: Thou shalt continue two and forty hours.

      This specific time period refers an unexpected tragedy in the future.

Scene 2:

Juliet: Where I have learnt me to repent the sin of disobedient opposition......To beg your pardon.

         Juliet's fake obedience makes sense to her parents.

Scene 3:

Juliet: What if it be a poison which the friar subtly hath minist'red to have me dead......For he hath still been a holy man.

         Juliet is wondering before she drinks the mixture Friar Lawrence made for her because she is not sure whether the mixture will help.

Scene 4:

Lord Capulet: I hear him near (4.5.25).

         In Shakespear's play, a music might refer to a significant character's appearance.

Scene 6: 

The situation turns chaotic after finding that Juliet's dead. And the atmosphere in this scene becomes mornful.

F.L: Peace ho, for shame!......(4.6.65-83)

      This speech shows Friar Lawrence's calmness, implying that he is the one who knows the truth about Juliet's "death".

F.L: The heavens do low'r upon you for some ill (4.6.94).

      He blames that it was the parents' fault for Juliet's "death".

The conversation between Peter and those musicians is also interesting because it implies poor men's living condition at that time in the play.

Act 5

Scene 1:

Balthasar: Then she is well and nothing can be ill (5.1.17).

      Everything in Verona goes not well because of Juliet's "death". The chaotic situation indicates a further change for Romeo's coming back.

Romeo: Well Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight (5.1.34).

      Romeo is seeking for death.

Romeo: I see the poison, thou hast sold me none (5.1.83)

      Romeo tries to comfort the apothecary and sees the poison as a way to relax.

Scene 2:

F.J: I could not send it- here it is again- Nor get a messenger to bring it thee......(5.2.14-16)

      F.J's words explains the confusing part about why Romeo didn't get the letter previously. And this accident makes up a whole tragedy.

Scene 3:

Romeo's soliloquy after Paris's death is a climax of this scene. He says the speech preparing for killing Romeo himself.

After Romeo dies, the whole tragedy takes place.

Juliet: Go get the hence, for I will not away......To make me die with a restorative.

      Juliet's determination means the end of their love story. 

Then the whole city wakes up in chaos.

F.L's speech explains the secret love story between Romeo and Juliet, which helps to end the "ancient feud".

Prince: A glooming peace this morning with it brings, the sun, the sorrow, will not show his  head......For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo (5.3.307-312).

      Prince's speech indicates the sorrowful tragedy helps end the conflict between two families and finally gives back peace to Verona.

Creative Project Link

Link: http://youtu.be/nX6E1TY56gc

Poem Revision

     Have you ever learned about the magic of the nature? Have you ever been a friend with a tree? A tree may be able to be your soulmate. The poem, Tree At My Window, talks about man and nature. "The tree" means not simply a tree in front of the window, it can also be a reflection of someone's spirit and soul. If you stay with the tree, feel about it and look at it for a long time, you will find yourself making a subconscious conversation with the tree. And it will form an internal connection between you and the tree. Eventually the tree will become another you, who is able to understand yourself more than you do. And this discovery is always delightful and relaxing. It feels like we find a soul mate who we can tell every single secret to him or her. The poem "Tree At My Window" by Robert Frost forms a subconscious and spirital conversation between the speaker and nature; this method provides readers a deeper understanding of the magic of nature.

     The first and second stanzas are mainly talking about how the poet sees the tree out of the window at night and keeps the curtain up and has a deep, subconscious and spirital conversation with it. In the first stanza, "My sash is lowered when night comes on" (Tree At My Window, Frost) means that the speaker notices the tree sufferering ffrom the storm and heavy wind outside at night. And then the speaker finds himself wants to look at the tree out of the window and "talk" to it. In the second stanza, the speaker talk about how the tree and him has a conversation on a silent night, after the tree struggles with the storm and the speaker worries about the dillema and anxiety inside. "Not all your tongues talking aloud/Could be profound" (Tree At My Window, Frost) describes a plot when the speaker and the tree are talking to each other but the voice is too low so that they cannot hear the every single word they speak. 

     In the rest of the stanzas "But tree, I have seen you taken and tossed/And if you have seen me when I slept/You have seen me when I was taken and swept/And all but lost" (Tree At My Window, Frost) talks about how the speaker has seen the tree suffering from the outside violent wind at night; the tree has also known the poet fell asleep in a state of disaster, dillema and worry. "That day she pit our heads together" means the fate connects the poet and the tree together. The tree is concerned about the harsh environment; in contrast, the poet worries about the anxiety in his mind. "Your head so much concerned with outer/ Mine with inner, weather" (Tree At My Window, Frost) show the difference between the tree and the speaker. And it reflects what the speaker thinks: he thought they are not alike, but actually the fate had already connected them because they had deep connections.

     The figurative languages can be easily found in this poem. The most obvious one is personification, which describes a tree as an alive individual and considers the fate as a woman. Using personification makes the whole poem be more vivid and attractive. The poet describes the tree as a person who has something to worry about. This allows the poet to have a deep "conversation" with the tree because the poet is suffering from the dillema in his heart. Thanks to the fate, the common experience connects the poet and the tree, and thus the poet is able to feel peaceful and safe when staying with a tree.

     Other literary techniques are consonance and assonance. In the first stanza, there are not clear figurative languages but only a repetition of the word "window". Then in the second stanza, the words in each lines, which are "ground", "cloud", "loud", and "profound", sound alike. And this is a type of rhyming style. And it's also an assonance of the vowel sound "ou". In the third stanza, words such as "slept" and "swept" sound similar, and there are repetitions of "s" and "t" letters. In the last stanza, the rhyme scheme is the "er" sound. Every last word in each line sounds alike. These make the whole poem clear and interesting and sound rhyming. Although there are 16 lines in total, it's still very easy to memorize.

     Tree At My Window is really a short but fascinating poem. Robert Frost uses a simple way to perfectly reveal the good relationship between man and nature. Also, there are many great figurative languages which help memorize the whole poem. From the poem it seems like the poet rejects the decision made by the fate, who puts the poet himself and the tree together because he thinks they are not alike. The tree cares about the storms and heavy rain; the poet worries about the dillema and emotional changes. But the fate thinks she makes a right thing to put their "heads together" because they actually have a connection. And this is the main point of the poem: man and nature are connected  and are able to understand each other. That is the magic of nature.

Rewrite Thesis Statement

The poem "Tree At My Window" by Robert Frost forms a subconscious and spirital conversation between the speaker and nature; this method provides readers a deeper understanding of the magic of nature.

Peer Feedback on Poem Recitation

     The poem analysis of Poem of My Twentieth Birthday is really a good work. It includes almost every details that a review is supposed to have, such as a good introduction paragraph, a thesis statement, and analysis paragraphs. There is also a brief hook in the very beginning of the first paragraph. Since it is a first draft, there are obiviously something needed to be checke and improved. But generally it is a complete and good essay with logical languages and good organizations.

     There are three stanzas in the poem in total. Lillian analized each of them separately in three different paragraphs. So it's obvious to see that her analysis paragraphs are logical and clear. In the first analysis paragraph, every line was explained and are cited correctly when using direct quotes. The meaning of each line was given its original meaning, and also Lillian's own thinkings during the time she read the poem. Combining with the origin meaning and her thoughts, the first stanza was clear and vivid, and was really easy to understand. 

     In the second analysis paragraph, there is a clear comparison of the growths of palm trees and human beings, which helps readers understand easily. By comparing and contrasting palm trees and human, the main point of the second stanza in the poem was explained logically- people get more mature after growing up, and those childhood memories were like a treasure. The analysis for the last stanza talks about its meaning and personal thinking. The main point of the third stanza has also been pointed out.

     The last paragraph talks about the figurative languages of the whole poem and gives a few conclusions. The explanations of the figurative languages are complete and understandable; however, I think it would be better if Lillian divides the analysis of figurative languages and puts them into her three analysis paragraphs in order to be more connective and clear. It's better to make the conclusion paragraph be an independent one. And this should be more specific because it needs to restate the anyalsis written before and reflect the thesis statement. Furthermore, the hook and and the thesis statement can be more detailed and instructive in order to make them clear. There aren't many grammar errors, but Lillian can also go back and double check if she wants. Personally I think it is really a good review.

Theater Review

     The performance of "Comedy Tonight" was a big success. Unlike the drama in the last marking period, this time the performance was relaxing and quite funny. There were two acts in the whole performance, and I think Act Two was the most interesting one which brought me much fun and laughs. Students played different roles in different small acts, and they all did well during their performances. 

     In Act One, the most impressive act for me was "Popular", perfomed by Lexi Williamson and William  An. Lexi's voice was beautiful, but actually the lyrics in the song she sang was funny. Along with her actions, she successfully performed herself as a confident woman who believed she was able to make William be popular, but not "as quite popular as her". Also, William's performance in this act was so funny and exaggerating. After he wore the clothes for women, everyone burnt to laughs. He even danced like a woman and we couldn't help laughing.

     In Act Two, "John Jiang, the Latte Boy", "Rebuttal" and "Morning Meeting Gone Wrong" were the most successful acts in the performance. I love Sam Weed's voice and her skillful acting skill. The act was based on our real life, so audience had sympathy with the actress. "Rebuttal" talked about the boy mentioned in "John Jiang, the Latte Boy" who didn't really like that girl. He laughed at how foolish the girl was and tried to escaped away from her following. The contrast between the girl and the boy was attractive and funny, but if you think about it deeply, you will find it kind of sad because it was not good to realize the person you love doesn't really into you in real life. Also, John was also good at singing. His voice was in a low pitch which was impressive.

     "Morning Meeting Gone Wrong" was my favorite act in the whole show. Every actor perfectly played their own roles as different teachers. Especially the characters such as Mrs. Anderson and Mr. Monahan. "I finally find my joke" and the high-pitched voice were like symbols of Mrs. Anderson. And Mr. Monahan always gave a speech in an official way with his low-pitched voice. When the teacher was talking about sports games, students were excited and screamed loudly. This was exactly what would happen in our school. The act reappeared the real life in Cheshire Academy. Every student had strong feeling of what happened in our daily life, so it was the most successful act in the show.

     Thanks for all the actors in the performance and their consummate acting skills. They brought me laugh and let me have a wonderful night.

Poem Analysis: Tree At My Window

Tree At My Window

Tree at my window, window tree,

My sash is lowered when night comes on;

But let there never be curtain drawn

Between you and me.

Vague dream-head lifted out of the ground,

And thing next most diffuse to cloud,

Not all your light tongues talking aloud

Could be profound. 

But tree, I have seen you taken and tossed,

And if you have seen me when I slept,

You have seen me when I was taken and swept

And all but lost.

That day she put our heads together,

Fate had her imagination about her,

Your head so much concerned with outer,

Mine with inner, weather.

Robert Frost

     Have you ever learned about the magic of the nature? Have you ever been a friend with a tree? A tree may be able to be your soulmate. The poem, Tree At My Window, talks about man and nature. "The tree" means not simply a tree in front of the window, it can also be a reflection of someone's spirit and soul. If you stay with the tree, feel about it and look at it for a long time, you will find yourself making a subconscious conversation with the tree. And it will form a internal connection between you and the tree. Eventually the tree will become another you, who is able to understand yourself more than you do. And this discovery is always delightful and relaxing. It feels like we find a soul mate who we can tell every single secret to him or her. That is the magic of the nature and this is how the poem wants to show to the readers.

     The first and second stanzas are mainly talking about how the poet sees the tree out of the window at night and keeps the curtain up and has a deep, subconscious and spirital conversation with it. Then the rest of the stanzas talks about how the poet has seen the tree suffering for the outside violent wind at night; the tree has also known the poet fell asleep in a state of disaster, dillema and worry. In an isolated place, fate connects the poet and the tree together. The tree is concerned about the harsh environment; in contrast, the poet worries about the anxiety in his mind.

     The figurative languages can be easily found in this poem. The most obvious one is personification, which describes a tree as an alive individual and considers the fate as a woman. Using personification makes the whole poem be more vivid and attractive. The poet describes the tree as a person who has something to worry about. This allows the poet to have a deep "conversation" with the tree because the poet is suffering from the dillema in his heart. Thanks to the fate, the common experience connects the poet and the tree, and thus the poet is able to feel peaceful and safe when staying with a tree.

     Other literary techniques are rhyme scheme, consonance and assonance. In the first stanza, there are not clear figurative languages but only a repetition of the word "window". Then in the second stanza, the words in each lines, which are "ground", "cloud", "loud", and "profound", sound alike. And this is a type of rhyme scheme. And it's also an assonance of the vowel sound "ou". In the third stanza, words such as "slept" and "swept" sound similar, and there are repetitions of "s" and "t" letters. In the last stanza, the rhyme scheme is the "er" sound. Every last word in each line sound alike. These make the whole poem clear and interesting. Although there are 16 lines in total, it's still very easy to memorize.

     Tree At My Window is really a short but fascinating poem. Robert Frost uses a simple way to perfectly reveal the good relationship between man and nature. From the poem it seems like the poet rejects the decision made by the fate, who puts the poet himself and the tree together because he thinks they are not alike. The tree cares about the storms and heavy rain; the poet worries about the dillema and emotional changes. But the fate thinks she makes a right thing to put their "heads together" because they actually have a connection. And this is the main point of the poem: man and nature are able to understand each other.