Assignment # 3 / Post Modernist Literature / Contreras, Francisca

1. Which 2 readings did you choose, and why did you choose them?
I chose “Do androids dream of Electric Sheep?” by Dick P.K. and “Crash” by J.G. Ballard; first because their names attract my attention and second because when I started to read I found interesting the plot which being strange and disturb, it gets you to ask about a lot of things related to the life and the reality, and to think about what is the power of the technology on our lives?. However, this kind of story is shocking for me and sometimes I get nauseous; but there’s always curiosity with a book that talks about the future and of course I’m not the exception.

2. Are these readings very good or excellent examples of post-modernist literature, basing your analysis on the ppt presentations given in class? Why/Why Not?

In my opinion, they are excellent examples of post-modernist literature. The Dick’s reading reflects the entropy of the world where most of the humans are living in Mars because of a nuclear holocaust; moreover it shows absurdity and pushes things to the limit when in the story talks about the animals as owners of the world which is considered both a status symbol and a sign of righteous empathy. While the Ballard’s reading portrays the transformation of human psychology by modern technology, and consumer culture's fascination with celebrities and technological commodities, other important characteristic in the book is the characters where they don’t feel passion or sexual excitement to other people unless some kind of technology is involved, so in some way this represents important themes: go to extremes and reprobation full of a virtual and disturb reality.

3. Of all the readings you did this semester, which one was your favourite? Why?

Of course my favourite reading was “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe because I’m an admirer of him and I enjoy reading his mystery stories full of suspense and horror but full of astuteness and intelligence at the same time, inciting not just to read more and more but also to think and use our analytical thoughts. Finally, I like this reading because you become part of the story being caught of it until the last line, until the solution of the crux. However I would like to mention that I enjoy reading some modernist stories of Raymond Chandler who wrote in a very similar style of Poe where he includes suspense, intrigue and a clever detective who has to solve the mysteries.

4. Of the 3 time periods we looked at this semester (Victorian, Modernist & Post-Modernist), which did you enjoy the most? Why?
I really enjoyed the Victorian era, on the one hand because is the Edgar Allan Poe’s era who is one of my favourite writers and on the other hand being loyal to my gender, I like the style of Victorian era because is positive and optimistic, rural and natural, including happy endings, where the good gay and the bad gay are clearly defined what allow to understand easily the plot of the stories. However, I enjoyed with the others periods but not so much like Victorian because they have something that cause on me disturbing feelings what obviously I don’t like.

Assignment # 2 / Modernist Literature / Contreras, Francisca

1. Which 2 readings did you complete from the reading list provided (or from your own selections)?

Dubliners: “A Little Cloud” and “A Painful Case” by James Joyce. Trouble is my Business: “The Lady in the Lake” by Raymond Chandler.

2. Based on these readings, compare (3 examples) and contrast (3 examples) the works you read with the themes from the ppt presentations in class on Modernist Culture and Literature.

In the reading “A little cloud” it is clearly represented the pessimism in Little Chandler when he thinks about Gallaher’s life and feels envy, after that he thinks how his life would be if he was alone, i.e. without his wife and his child and all he finds it is coldness. Finally, negative feelings come to him and he just cries.

In the reading “A painful case” we can see a sense of frustration and disillusionment in main characters (Mr. Duffy and Mrs. Sinico). Mrs. Sinico was married, however she feels as lonely as Mr. Duffy, full of coldness and disillusionment, but this became a reason for to be friends until Mrs. Sinico wanted something else than a friendship. Because of this Mr. Duffy cut the relationship causing more disillusionment and a big frustration too. On the other hand, Mr. Duffy demonstrated a sense of spiritual loneliness when rejected to Mrs. Sinico but he felt so guilty at moment of knowing that Mrs. Sinico has committed suicide so the sense of disillusionment continues in his life.

The reading “The lady in the lake” is situated during the Second World War and it is full of passion, corruption and crime represented by common people. Other point that is presented in this story it is the individualism of Mr. Kingsley because he seems to be worried about his wife who disappeared however; the only important thing for him is not to be in a scandal and not to damage his reputation.

Such a contrast we can use the Victorian era and we can say that it is clearly a rejection of that. First, these are not positive stories and have no happy endings, and all happen in the city or in the suburbs full of dark and negative things.

3. Do you feel the works you read are very good or excellent representations of Modernist Literature? Why/Why Not?

I think they are excellent representations because contain intrigue, emotion and action but at the same time are in some cases illogical, pessimistic and negative which are the main themes of this era. Moreover, it is really clear the change of the way that stories are written, i.e. the difference between Victorian era and Modernist era are represented very good by R. Chandler who is sarcastic and cynic, he writes about the capitalist society, where the money and the search of the power are the real engines of the human relations.

4. Would you recommend the readings to friends or family? Why/Why Not?

Of course I would recommend these readings because the stories catch you, and you cannot leave them until you do not read the last line. One of the best things is that in these stories, nothing is what seems and everyone has something to hide. Moreover, these are interesting books and it is easy to read them.

Assignment # 1 / Victorian Literature / Contreras, Francisca

1. Which 2 readings did you complete from the reading list provided (or from your own selections)?

I chose: Irving, W. Rip van Winkle (USA, 1819-short story) and Poe, E.A. The Murders in the Rue Morgue (USA, 1841-short story).

2. Based on these readings, compare (3 examples) and contrast (3 examples) the works you read with themes from the ppt presentations given in class on Victorian Culture and Literature.

Clearly one of the themes present in one of these stories is the application of reason logically and the use of the scientific method in “The murders in the Rue Morgue”, however we can contrast the fact that the story is many times a bit fantastic almost epic allowing us to liberate every idea that we want.

Another theme that we can find is the American Revolution related to Victorian era which was in large wars for a long time.

Also we can find another theme which is the change. When Rip van Winkle gets up from his nap, the entire world has changed. Everything he was used to before be gone--even clothing styles has changed. So we can say: “the one that winks loses…”, this story has few reality however we can learn a lot of this “saying”, thinking about how many times we live without living and when we react the life is gone.

3. Do you feel that the works you read are very good or excellent representations of Victorian Literature? Why/Why Not?

I think they are good representations because they are written by middle class people to middle class people, want that the middle class realizes how the lowest classes live because it is believed that the social reform has to depart from the highest classes. Moreover, they want to entertain people through didactic stories. However, sometimes the stories lead to a real degradation of the social and spiritual values or like Poe in his story is not worried about the social business because he considers the reality is a mental process and not a physical fact.

4. Would you recommend the readings to friends or family? Why/Why Not?

Of course because Poe in his "analytical" stories, which share with other an implacable reason of the horror, we can find distinctive elements - the suspense, the invention of climates and the incredible way to arrive at the solution of the crux, inciting the reader to want to read more and more, making you feel caught by the story. And the other hand, Rip van Winkle is a good story to read too, however it’s a little more fantastic than Poe’s story but not because of it less interesting.

Assignment # 3 / Shakespeare and Early Modern English / Contreras, Francisca

1. Define and explain, The Great Vowel Shift.
The Great Vowel Shift was a major change in the pronunciation of the English language that took place in the south of England between 1200 and 1600, it was æ in Old English. The Great Vowel Shift is one of the historical events marking the separation of Middle and Modern English, mainly in the pronunciation.

2. Name 5 dialects of Modern English.
American English, Australian English, Indo-Pakistani English, New Zealand English, Philippine English.

3. One of the problems with Early Modern English was a lack of uniformity in spelling. Which 2 people (1-English, 1-American) helped establish standardized spelling?
English: Samuel Johnson, American: Noah Webster.

4. How many countries in the world have given Modern English official status?
Fifty three countries

5. The most recent statistics show that approximately how many people speak Modern English as a:I. First language? 309–400 million
II. Second Language? 199–1,400 million
There are over 508 million speakers of English.

6. When was Early Modern English spoken?
It was spoken between 1500 – 1650 AD.

7. How are the use of Pronouns different between Early Modern & Modern English?
In Early Modern English, there were two second-person personal pronouns: thou, the informal singular pronoun, and ye, which was both the plural pronoun and the formal singular pronoun. In Modern English the pronouns were much the same as today. One difference is that, much as a becomes an before a vowel, my and thy became mine and thine before vowels as well; hence, mine eyes, thine uncle, and so on.

8. Which language families does Modern English belong in?
American English, Australian English, British English, Canadian English, Caribbean English, Hiberno-English, Indo-Pakistani English, New Zealand English, Philippine English, Singaporean English, and South African English.

9. Name 4 worldwide uses for Modern English.
There are diverse uses as controlling airplanes, developing software, conducting international diplomacy, and business relations.

10. In your opinion, what was the greatest influence on the spread of Modern English around the world? Why?
I think one of the most important was the literature because people could know different stories, share and enjoy with other seeing plays and after obviously an important thing was the music.

11. There has been a lot of controversy over the true authorship of Shakespeare's writings. Which 3 people are also candidates as the possible authors of Shakespeare's plays?
The possible authors are Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, and Edward de Vere.

12. Briefly explain The Oxfordian Theory.
The Oxfordian theory of Shakespearean authorship holds that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (1550-1604), wrote the plays and poems attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon. The case for Oxford's authorship is based on perceived similarities between Oxford's biography and events in Shakespeare's plays and sonnets; parallels of language, idiom, and thought between Oxford's letters and the Shakespearean canon; and underlined passages in Oxford's Bible that may correspond to quotations in Shakespeare's plays.

13. Shakespeare wrote 38 plays, which according to the Folio Classification, fall into 3 categories. Name the 3 categories.
The categories are: Comedies, Histories and Tragedies.

14. In which town was Shakespeare born?
He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.

15. Which famous London theatre (built by actors, for actors) is connected with Shakespeare's plays?
The Globe Theatre.

16. Even though Richard III is the most performed play, Hamlet is Shakespeare's most famous play. In your opinion, what does this portion of Hamlet's famous soliloquy mean:

To be or not to be, that is the question;Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,And by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep;No more; and by a sleep to say we endThe heart-ache and the thousand natural shocksThat flesh is heir to — 'tis a consummationDevoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub,...

17. Name 5 post-Shakespearean artists whose work was heavily influenced by the writings of William Shakespeare.
Thomas Hardy, William Faulkner, Charles Dickens, Herman Melville and Henry Fuseli.

18. Which of Shakespeare's plays are included in The Wars of the Roses series?
19. Shakespeare wrote most of his works in blank verse composed in iambic pentameter. What is blank verse & iambic pentameter?
This means that his verse was usually unrhymed and consisted of ten syllables to a line, spoken with a stress on every second syllable. Its sentences tend to start, pause, and finish at the end of lines, with the risk of monotony.

20. Name 4 actors from Shakepeare's original company.
Richard Burbage, William Kempe, Henry Condell and John Heminges.

21. What were the Wars of the Roses (1377-1485)?
The Wars of the Roses were a series of bloody dynastic civil wars between supporters of the rival houses of Lancaster and York, for the throne of England.

22. Why was this war called the Wars of the Roses?
It has its origins in the badges associated with the two royal houses, although the roses were occasionally used as symbols during the wars, most of the participants wore badges associated with their immediate feudal lords or protectors.

23. What were the names of the 2 houses which fought in this war?
The White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster.

24. What prompted this civil war to begin?
The overthrow of King Richard II by his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, in 1399. Richard II's government had been highly unpopular and Bolingbroke returned from exile, initially to reclaim his rights as Duke of Lancaster.

25. How did the war end?
The war ended with the victory of the Lancastrian Henry Tudor, who founded the House of Tudor which subsequently ruled England and Wales for 116 years.

26. Which Kings of England were participants in the Wars of the Roses?
The Yorkists: King Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III, Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, and Duke of York.
The Lancastrians: King Henry VI, Duke Somerset, Henry VII, Margaret of Anjou, Duke of Buckingham, and Thomas Percy.

Assignment # 4 / Thesis & Dissertation / Contreras, Francisca

1. What do the words thesis and dissertation, mean?
Thesis is an intellectual proposition or an academic work and Dissertation is a detailed exam or discourse and it could be about History, Science, Art, etc.

2. What is the difference between a thesis and a dissertation?
Thesis is utilised as part of a Bachelors or Masters course and dissertation is normally applied to a Doctorate.

3. List 10 (ten) components of a thesis.
1. Title page, 2. abstract, 3. table of contents, 4. introduction, 5. body, 6. materials and methods results, 7. indices and appendices, 8. glossaries, 9. images or figures, 10. bibliography.

4. Define the following terms:
a. title page: it’s the sentence that should describe what thesis is about.
b. abstract: it’s like a summary of the thesis which should refer to the problem, the possible solutions and the probable impact into the field.
c. table of contents: it’s a list about items of information, an index (indice).
d. annotated bibliography: It’s a bibliography that gives a brief summary and an evaluation of the research sources.
e. introduction: it should be an overall view of the contents of the thesis, such as: information about the topic, the importance of the topic, the motivations for the tesis, etc.
f. materials and methods: materials are the elements that you have to use in the thesis or dissertation, and method is the way that you have to follow according the thesis or dissertation.
g. results: it is the final consequence of our investigation based in our initial question or title.

5. What is a style guide?
It’s the pattern that candidates have to use for writing a thesis document. Sometimes the institutions have their own pattern but there are national and international standards and recommendations for the presentation of theses.

6. What is an examining committee?
It’s a thesis committee formed for a group of professors from the student's university plus his or her primary supervisor, an external examiner and a chair person. They will have to ask questions about the thesis itself and the subject matter.

7. In Canada, how many pages is the average undergraduate thesis?
A typical undergraduate thesis might be forty pages. Masters theses are approximately one hundred pages. PhD theses are usually over two hundred pages.

8. What are the 4 verdicts, you can receive on your thesis?
1.- Accepted / pass with no corrections
2.- The thesis must be revised.
3.- Extensive revision required
4.- Unacceptable

9. What is a thesis committee?
It is a committee that supervises a student's dissertation. The committee is chosen by the students.

10. Describe the process of submission of the thesis?
It’s the last formal requirement for most students after the defense.

11. Define the term, thesis statement.
The thesis statement declares the thesis or argument of the author. A thesis statement answers a research question and could be expressed in one or two sentences the focus of the essay.

12. Now that you've answered these questions, do you feel that writing a thesis will be hell? Explain.

Assignment # 3 / Biography Paragraph / Contreras, Francisca

AN ETERNAL DREAMER

22 year old, María José is a little girl in her family, but a big woman in her life. She’s made important dreams come true, such as: to visit other countries or to enliven parties as a DJ. However, it’s not enough for her. She’s always thinking of more dreams and feeling calm about herself (impossible is nothing, because her dreams will never end).

Assignment # 3 / Autobiography Paragraph / Contreras, Francisca

THE PAST WILL BE ALWAYS BETTER

I studied in six diferent schools. In fact, I’ve lived in more than six places. My favourite place was the countryside, full of happiness and peacefulness. I lived there for two years in my grandmother’s house and now I’m waiting to go back one day and relive the greatest time in my life.