Use Figurative Language Again Woody (Taken from "Play It Again Sam")

 While study figurative language this week in English we were given this definition;"words or phrases that require interpretation and inference to determine the meaning." To check for my own understanding I tried to think of examples on my own. The first thing that came to me was this, "Some guy hit my fender, and I told him 'be fruitful, and multiply.' But not in those words." This is a joke from the great Woody Allen, one of my favorite film makers of all time. This got me thinking about the use of figurative language in not only literature but film as well.

 The biggest difference between a novel and a dictionary is figurative language. Perhaps this can also be used to distinguish between a comedic film and a documentary, or a dramatic film and a slasher. Writers, of film or literature, use figurative language to stir the reader's imagination. Get them involved in the text, by adding new layers of emotion and understanding. This can only be done by using the right connotations, not denotations, or through metaphor, simile, analogies, or symbols. In many of Woody Allen's films he plays very similar characters that are supposed to be a fictionalized version of himself. An old or middle aged Jewish man that's unlucky in love, has a phobia of death, frequently visits an analyst, and feels cynical about life. 

 Some of Woody Allen's best uses of figurative language come from his jokes about death; "I am not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens" or "The difference between sex and death is that with death you can do it alone and no one is going to make fun of you." and finally "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying." Allen's use of figurative language to express his character's irrational fear of death is very humorous in that it pokes fun at people who over think death. If Allen were to say these famous quotes again with out any figurative language they would just be morbid and confusing. "I'm very afraid of death and I want to avoid it" or "Sex and death are similar except death is more serious. People laugh at me during sex" and finally "I don't care if my work remains popular after I'm gone, I just don't want to die." Hence why figurative language is necessary; it makes the jokes.

 During our unit on figurative language I plan to look at everything we read with an open mind. Figurative language is very interesting to me, personally, because it can have a comedic effect. Also I just enjoy the fact that it's definition is so open, figuratively speaking (pun intended). Figurative language is all the ways of pushing past the literal meaning of a word or phrase to make the reader see something else.

The World is Too Much With Us

By: Audrey T 
     Figurative language is one of those things that I always knew was there, but I never really understood it's purpose. I could pick out what was literal and what was figurative, for the most part, because I understood the basic concept, but I usually just stopped at that point. While reading The World is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth this past week I finally started to see how figurative language adds layer upon layer of deeper meaning to a poem -- or to any piece of literature for that matter.
     When I first read Wordsworth's poem, I'm not going to lie, I was utterly lost. I figured that the author was upset about something and that his point had something to do with nature, but other than that I had no idea what was going on. Poems have never really been my strong suit, so when we were asked to analyze it, I pretty much just gave up and waited to be told what the poem was saying. I was being lazy. I let the Wordsworth intimidate me with his complex ideas, unfamiliar references, and heightened vocabulary.   
     After Mrs. Elliott told us slow down our reading and look at the figurative language one piece at a time, I quickly started to pick up the numerous underlying meanings within the poem. When Wordsworth speaks of nature he is using it as a symbol. Nature stands for everything that has been created by God, and therefore represents our spirituality. The oxymoron "sordid boon" is speaking of our vile blessing which is the way that we "give our hearts away" or devote ourselves too obsessively to our secular world. It is a blessing in the sense that it is good for us, as humans, to be deeply connected with something, but it is shameful because we are devoting ourselves to the wrong thing. Also, when looking more closely at the word "suckled" it is obvious that Wordsworth means more than just feeds. He is using this specific word to symbolize a maternal, intimate connection, and in turn, he is pointing out how people today lack intimacy with nature and spirituality.
     Through his figurative language Wordsworth artfully makes a statement about how people are abandoning their religion for more secular things. His tone conveys just how disappointed he is with people and the way that they are too focused on day to day life, losing sight of spirituality. Wordsworth exhorts his readers to reconnect with nature on a spiritual level in order to be part of something more than their simple secular world.
     When I slowly take apart a poem it doesn't seem so scary. I understand that the figurative language isn't there to further confuse readers, but to help them along to a deeper understanding. It may take longer, but when I finally figure out what the author of a poem is trying to say it is more satisfying. Dealing with poetry isn't as much of a chore anymore, and with a better understanding of figurative language and it's many uses, I am ready for a poetry-filled year.

Literal vs. Figurative

Literal language refers to words that do not differ from their actual meaning. On the other hand, figurative language refers to words, and groups of words, that alter the usual meanings of the words and may exaggerate its true meaning. Both traditional systems of analyzing language are used throughout our lives however depicting on which system used can change the meaning of a passage entirely.

Literal language as defined above is simply how we write academically in class. There is no meaning behind the word other than what it states already. For example, "the ground is dry," is letting the reader know that the ground is dry without need of any extra insight. Literal language is described as straight-forward or word for word, it isnt much used in Literature when trying to form different insights or depictions of this language.

Figurative language on the other hand has a different meaning behind a word or passage. Figurative language can be used and read in many poems. This language can be viewed or read in many different ways and can differ in meaning depending on how the reader depicts the purpose. For example, "the ground is thirsty," can tell the reader that the ground is dry or hot. It also may show to another reader that the ground is in need of water or shade. As you can see, figurative language gives the reader more of an undertanding of the word or passage. It puts a greater emphasis on the meaning giving the language a voice to the reader in which is greatly important to allow the reader better comprehension of whats being said.

Definition of Literature

Throughout  all of human history, story telling has been the most universal way for people of all backgrounds to pass their morals from one generation to the next. Although these stories were once only able to be passed down orally, technological advancements have allowed mankind to share their stories  through writing, books, and even the Internet. With that said, it is evident that humans naturally desire to share their stories with others, which, for most of mankind, has been expressed through the art of literature. To me, literature can be defined as an art that puts life into perspective. An answer to many of life’s unanswered questions. As C.S. Lewis once said, “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become.” This quote demonstrates how literature holds the ability to nourish the soul, feed the spirit, and release the mind into worlds unimaginable in reality.
For many people in the world, literature is a way to not only escape reality, but to make one’s own reality more substantial. For myself, reading a book that I truly enjoy is like feeding my soul. Literature allows me to expand my thoughts, and enter places in my imagination that I had before thought to be unreachable. Upon finishing “Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland” by Lewis Carrol this year in my AP Literature class, I began to reflect upon my life, and how it connected to the main character’s. “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” allowed my imagination to travel far beyond the norm of reality through the book’s use of personification and its lucid dreamlike plot. I then realized how quickly my childhood is ending, and that the transformation from adolescence to adulthood is rapidly approaching despite my considerable opposition. My things about my life were put into perspective after reading lines such as, “But it's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.“ (Carrol) This is example of my connection to the main character in Lewis Carrol’s book illustrates how literature is able to bring about revelations in some people, and allow them to realize certain things about themselves.
For many people around the world, certain pieces of literature have the ability to alter their lives, and change them forever. In the song “Killing Me Softly With His Song”, by Roberta Flack, the artist tells the story of a stranger who sings a song about a woman with problems identical to hers. The artist is dumbfounded because she has never met the singer who sings of her problems, yet she feels like his song is purposely directed towards her. This situation is common with the reading of many holy texts such as the Bible, the Qur’an, and the Tipitaka. These pieces of literature are so influential that many people are willing to kill, and die, for the prophesies mentioned in them. Muslim holy suicides are an example of the extreme impact literature can have on a person’s life. The Qu’ran reads "Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for God loves not transgressors. And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter... But if they cease, God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful... If they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression" (2:190-193) Many Muslims around the world find this piece of literature so important that they are willing to kill those who disagree with it. Western culture and morals are all centered around the Christian teachings of the Bible, which was written over 4,000 years ago. Even though many may not realize it, most of the worlds practices are centered around literature. Although loosened within the past few decades, many social morals and federal laws concerning marriage, sexuality, and fidelity which are based on Christian preaching’s are still in effect today. Exodus 21:24 reads, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot.” It is inferred that many state’s laws on capital punishment are derived from this excerpt of literature. Many other Christian beliefs in the Bible, such as those on homosexuality and divorce, are valued by many world citizens still today.
Almost since the beginning of time, man has passed down their stories, traditions, and morals from generation to generation. The use of literature has allowed for revolutionary ideas to be sparked, imaginations to flourish, and lives to be dramatically altered forever. For me personally, the definition of literature is not something that can be defined through words. However, it is a universal tool that we all have bear inside of us which can help us overcome almost any obstacle. With knowledge of literature, almost all things are possible, and it is my belief that “Every man’s memory is his private literature.”, quoted from Aldous Huxley.

Archetypes of Alice in Wonderland.

John Park
Mrs.Elliot Per.3

When analyzing the archetypal factors in Alice in Wonderland, the Rabbit is a reoccurring subject. Usually a rabbit represents luck and cunning, but in this case, it is the opposite. The Rabbit is portrayed as sloppy and eventually leads Alice to the "Wonderland" which is unlucky because it just causes more trouble for Alice. Another detail about the Rabbit is archetypal: his white fur. The color white symbolizes purity and goodness/innocence; however, the Rabbit leads Alice to not only the world of madness but also the queen, who is the mean, rude, and the total opposite of the archetypal white color. In addition, the Rabbit also stones Alice while she is at his house. All of these things just add to the irony that the Rabbit is not a typical archetypal Rabbit.