It's all about Tone!

Pick a tone (a mood or feeling).  Then, give an example of something that reflects your tone for the following categories:

1. Clothing
2. Song
3. Movie
4. Book
5. Food
6. City
7. Hairstyle
8. Color

For example, if I chose "pathetic" as my tone, I might say:

1. Mumu
2. Ryan Adam's "Rock n Roll"
3. "Sideways"
4. Maggie Nelson's "Bluets"
5. Leftover baloney
6. Detroit
7. Mullet
8. Puce

Remember that "tone" is different from "theme"--don't pick a movie about "happiness" for example, but a movie that FEELS happy.

Break A Line or Two (or Three or Fifiy)

Choose TWO of the line breaks in the following poem and explain how they work well in the poem, or why you like them, or how they make us understand the poem differently.

Absence

I have scarcely left you
When you go in me, crystalline,
Or trembling,
Or uneasy, wounded by me
Or overwhelmed with love, as
when your eyes
Close upon the gift of life
That without cease I give you.

My love,
We have found each other
Thirsty and we have
Drunk up all the water and the
Blood,
We found each other
Hungry
And we bit each other
As fire bites,
Leaving wounds in us.

But wait for me,
Keep for me your sweetness.
I will give you too
A rose. 

Pablo Neruda

Titania! By: Lily and Taylor

Titania is loving, stubborn and bossy. These traits are shown throughout the book.  In Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 125-143, her loving nature is shown. She explains to Oberon how she promised the little boy’s mother that she would love and protect him. Furthermore, in Act 2, Scene 1, Line 64, Titania says’ “I have forsworn his bed and company.” Her stubborn ways are shown in this moment, because she refuses to spend time with her husband, just because they are having an argument. Finally, in Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 1-8, Titania’s bossy nature comes out. She tells her fairies what to do and she is quite clear on what she wants them to do and how she wants it done.

Lysander the Lion Hearted

Lysander, who is he? Persistent, passionate, desperate, and lustful? These are the four character traits that we think best represent our character. We constantly see these traits expressed through Lysander throughout the play. An example of his persistence can be found on 1.1.101-112, where Lysander is arguing with Egeus about why he is good enough to marry Hermia, his one and true love. In Lysander's eyes, marrying Hermia before she is wed to Demetrius, is his first and utmost objective. In addition to his persistence for Hermia, Lysander is also fiercely passionate towards her. In 1.1.130-131 & 134-137, Lysander expresses his passion for Hermia by comforting her in her predicament with her father. Sneaking away from Athens, to be eloped in anther city, Lysander expresses his lust for Hermia in 2.2.47-48 & 51-58, as they prepare to lie down for the night. This could also be an example of his persistence, for he is trying desperately to "get in bed with Hermia"  That is until Puck/Robin comes along and messes it all up. Placing the nector love potion Lysanders eye's, after mistaking him for Demitrius, Lysander falls madly in love with Helena and leaves Hermia. Concluding the wild fight that insuses between the four lovers, Oberon sets all right be placing the nector love potion on Lysander, restablishing  his love of Hermia. Despite his flaws, Lysander is a good hearted man, who loves with all his heart Hermia.

Helena (Evan W. and Hannah H.)

Helena is a character in A MidSummer Night's Dream.  Shakespeare presented her as a desperate, jealous, and negative character.  In act two scene two (lines 100-105), Helena is negative about herself, claiming that she is as ugly as a bear.  Act one scene one (lines 232-257), Helena shows how she envies Hermia, wishing to be as pretty and loved as her.  In act two scene one (lines 210-217), Helena desperately begs Demetrius to use her and love her.  Throughout the play, Helena wants Demetrius so badly.  She speaks in iambic pentameter and repeats "not" and "you" a lot.  When she uses the word "not," it shows how negative her character is.  Also, when she continuously repeats the word "you," she shows she is not vain of herself, but she thinks very little of herself.

The Nobles' Characteristics

By: Rhett and Alondra



                          The Nobles are have different traits that set them apart from most of the characters in the play. For instance, the Nobles display their wise thinking, eagerness towards getting things done, and how they are critical thinkers. Thesus shows his wise characteristic when he replies to Demetrius. Thesus says to him that they (Hermia and Demetrius) should not wed if they do not like each other which is not a good sign to Hermia's father Egeus. "Fair lovers, you are fortunately met. Of this discourse we more will hear annon. Egeus, I will overbear your will, For in the temple by and by, with us, These couples shall eternally knit." Then Thesus also shows that he is quite eager to marry Hippolyta, "O, methinks how slow This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires Like to a stepdame or a dowager." The Nobles are also very critical thinkers. This is showed when Thesus also states that, " The kinder we, to given them thanks for nothing. Our sport shall be to take what they mistake; And what poor duty cannot do." They all speak in Iambicpentameter and have the following motivations: Egeus wants Hermia to marry Demetrius. Thesus wants to get married to Hippolyta right now, so he may fornicate with her. Hippolyta wants to have a glorious wedding and doesn't want to have sexual intercourse before they are married.

Demetrius, What a Character!

       Overall Demetrius is a relatively simple character to understand. Demetrius almost always talks in trochaic pentameter, as one can see in line 4.1.170, and he has rhyming skills. He refined speech shows that he is a high class character in the play. Demetrius is not necessarily mean, but is a blunt man. He tells Helena that he has no love for her and will never have love for her straight to her face (2.1.218-9). Although this makes Hermia sad, it is only the truth. Shakespeare also portrays him as an ignorant character. He looks straight through Helena towards Hermia although Helena is thought of as one of the prettiest girls in Athens (1.1.233-4). Through Demetrius' dialogue it is evident that he is very headstrong. A great example of this is in Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 45-46, he never gives up on Hermia until he is changed by Oberon's potion. Through all of this Demetrius acts upright or aboveboard. He never rapes Hermia or tries to kill Lysander, although it was well within his power (3.2.77). Through out the whole play Demetrius only wants his love, Hermia, at first, and then later Helena. Although Demetrius is relatively easy to understand that doesn't mean he isn't an important or influential character.