Imagination

When reading the play, there are a lot of side notes and stage directions. The author specifically writes what he wants the actors to do and what he wants the stage to look like. Being said, the stage is not exceptionally decorated. There are a few props and the writer repeatedly makes note of the fire escape and landing, but other than these things, there is not a lot of exquisiteness. I think the author did this so that the audience would focus more on the meaning of the play rather than the stage. Although in some plays a stage is essential, in this one, the author moves beyond it. In certain scenes, like in scene 2, some spotlights illuminate certain objects. In scene 2, the picture of the father is lit up to so a significant value and to make Tom's point stronger. I think that seeing this play acted out would be really enjoyable.

Othello- Stage

By only reading a play, readers get a sense of understanding about the plot and some aspects of the characters. Adding various physical effects definitely adds to the advancement of the play. Only reading the story seems one dimensional. For example, when we watched a scene from the movie Othello today in class, we got to see emotions and facial features. We saw Othello have his convulsions which made me realize how upset he really was about Desdemona. I think Shakespeare did a fine job with stage directions and stage actions. They are just better shown through physical actions acted out on stage. With these actions, I fell like the play is better understood and, at times, enjoyed by the audience.

The Drunkard

Since this story is titled "The Drunkard," readers have a good idea of what it is about. At the beginning of the story, the narrator explains how his dad turned to drinking and would go out every night, get drunk, and not go to work in the morning. The mom would get really upset and the father's drinking caused problems at home. The central irony in this story is the fact that readers assume the drunkard is the dad when it really turns out to be the son. The father's drinking ultimately leads to the son becoming drunk which then leads to the end of the father's drinking. And in that sense, the irony is shown.

A Worn Path

"Is the grandson really dead?" I can see why someone would ask this question after reading the story. Phoenix annually walks numerous miles to town to get medicine for her sick grandson. After meeting different people, like the hunter who helps her out of the ditch, she always explains her situation and why she walks that far. I think if her grandson was dead, she wouldn't be walking. Taking a look on the other side, she could be walking to cope with the death of her grandson. It could be a way to remember what she had to do with him.

next to of course god america i

I found this poem to be very interesting and creative. The lack of punctuation aided the author in achieving the central purpose. The author wanted to criticize politicians and patriots and express his view of military actions. The punctuation (or lack of) increased the speed of the poem and made it like a stream of thoughts. Readers could not really tell where one sentence ended and where another began. Also, pieces of patriotic themes, like the Star Spangled Banner, were used to add to the point the author was trying to make. Ultimately, the author ends with "He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water" (14). I feel like this line enforces the passion of the author and how he disregards politicians and some of their views. He wanted to make a statement and I think like this poem was a clever way to do it.

Dream Deferred

The central theme of the poem is having a dream that one puts off, but keeps bugging them. The goal is unreached and put aside. If the dreamer does not go after this dream, it will sit there and fester like a sore (4). They could eventually get mad and have the situation get out of hand. Instead of doing the work to reach the goal, the person kept it on the back of their mind and did nothing. The whole theme and lesson that Hughes was trying to convey was to go after one's dream and don't let it fester. He was encouraging people to go out and fight for what they wanted, especially since the time period he wrote this in was during the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes wanted people to act.