Open Prompt Practice (Dec. 9)

1992. In a novel or play, a confidant (male) or a confidante (female) is a character, often a friend or relative of the hero or heroine, whose role is to be present when the hero or heroine needs a sympathetic listener to confide in. Frequently the result is, as Henry James remarked, that the confidant or confidante can be as much "the reader's friend as the protagonist's." However, the author sometimes uses this character for other purposes as well. Choose a confidant or confidante from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you discuss the various ways this character functions in the work. You may write your essay on one of the following novels or plays or on another of comparable quality. Do not write on a poem or short story.

Since the beginning of Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Horatio was Hamlet's loyal companion. The two had gone to school in Wittenberg together, becoming close friends, able to share even the most confidential of secrets. All throughout the play, even in the strangest situations, Horatio kept the secret of Hamlet's alleged madness and acted as his confidant when no one was around. He was the outsider, the only one left untainted by the deception that prevailed in the castle Elsinore.

Everyone trusted Horatio. At the start of the play, he was the first person the guards went to for advice about the ghost they had seen, even before Hamlet was notified. Being a scholar of philosophy, he was well respected by all. He acted not only as Hamlet's counselor and companion, but also as an adviser to the queen about Ophelia and even as Ophelia's caretaker. Even Fortinbras, without ever once meeting Horatio in the past, chose to speak with him rather than with any one of the nobles in the room when he arrived. Horatio was the voice of truth, telling things as they were and not as was most convenient for himself.

Time elapsed: 45 minutes

Open Prompt Practice (Nov. 11)

2009. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Sometimes, perhaps more often than not, a person's most prized possession is not the most costly, but the one with the most sentimental value--the one that holds the most meaning. In Tennessee Williams' play, The Glass Menagerie, Laura Wingfield has an clear attachment to her set of glass creatures, especially a unicorn which loses its horn later in the story. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that the unicorn is meant to represent Laura, and the fragile zoo is her connection with the outside world. She, being the unicorn, feels singled out for her differences in a world of "normal" creatures.

After the Wingfield family is introduced, Laura is seen polishing her glass figurines. She, though shy, fantasizes about the outside world, creating an idealized picture of her interactions. However, she lacks the confidence to step out of her sphere and shrinks from opportunities her mother brings to her because she feels crippled by her slight deformity in her leg. Hoping to avoid further disappointment in her failure to connect with the world, she hides her true desire, to become a part of society--represented by the glass menagerie--under the table as her mother steps in.

Later, Laura's brother Tom, after a heated discussion with their mother about his job, throws his coat across the room, breaking some of Laura's glass figures. Tom worked in a factory to pay the bills, but he had been visiting bars at night and risked being fired. Without his income, the family would be unable to support itself and, as represented by the broken glass, Laura's chance to connect with the world would be shattered. Somewhat regretful of how he impacted his sister, Tom picks up the pieces and promises to himself that he would try to help her reach her goal.

Some time later, Tom invites one of his friends, Jim, to dinner, intending to hook him up with Laura. At first, Laura is traumatized and separates herself from the others, preferring the company of the record player; but soon, she peeks out of her shell and shares her glass menagerie with Jim, effectively showing she has gained confidence in herself in making her first connection. In their interactions, the unicorn takes a fall and loses its horn, to which Laura says the unicorn has become just a normal horse. She has forgotten her differences in the moment and understands she can be accepted into the world even if she is a little different from everyone else.

Being a "unicorn" is not an especially easy task in a world of normal creatures. Laura hid her menagerie from her mother, herself from the world, because she feared she would be judged for her differences. When her brother was on the boarder of losing his job, her fragile connection with society was nearly shattered completely. With his assistance, however, she was able to pick up the pieces and share her menagerie. Unfortunately, the relationship was fleeting, as Jim was already engaged, but with bolstered confidence, she was able to, at least temporarily, step out of the glass walls she built around herself and become a part of the world she lived in.

Open Prompt Practice (Oct. 14)

1987. Some novels and plays seem to advocate changes in social or political attitudes or in traditions. Choose such a novel or play and note briefly the particular attitudes or traditions that the author apparently wishes to modify. Then analyze the techniques the author uses to influence the reader's or audience's views. Avoid plot summary.

In "An Inspector Calls," by J. B. Priestley, the audience is forced to reconsider the British capitalistic ideals of the time. The aristocratic family on display is slowly revealed to have, through the thoughtless, self-rewarding actions encouraged in a capitalistic society, driven a girl, who's name is unsure, to her miserable death. Through the use of all three pillars of argument--pathos, ethos, and logos--embodied within the characters of the play, Priestley attempts to show the reader the fallacies behind the capitalistic system and that each person's decisions ultimately affects everyone around him.

Throughout the play, Sheila Birling acts as Priestley's voice of pathos, the emotional argument. She got the girl fired because the girl's superior appearance hurt her pride. However, she feels remorseful about what she has done, vows never to treat anyone like that again, and encourages the others to do the same. Priestley uses her emotional reaction to show the emotional damage caused by the inconsiderate behavior of the Birling family.

Eric Birling, Sheila's brother, the drunkard, is the representative for Priestley's moral argument. Eric's immoral exploits with the girl are intended to disgust the audience. The girl he knew as Daisy, though in a poor and vulnerable situation, maintained her sense of morality as depicted by her refusal to accept the stolen money. Meanwhile, Eric, born into a rich family, takes advantage of her and does the unspeakable--he impregnates and abandons her in her dismal state. The audience realizes, then, that the people in the upper class of society are not there because they are better in any way than the lower class. In fact, the upper class is often more immoral than those below them because they have more tools with which they can cause destruction and chaos. Therefore, Priestley believes they hold more responsibility and should be held responsible for their actions more so than others.

Finally, Inspector Goole is both Priestley's representative in the story and the courier of logic. He pieces together the story of the girl's death, allowing his audience, both in and out of the story, to see the effects of what the Birlings had done. He brings everyone to the final point Priestley wishes to make: that everyone lives in this world together, and how we act changes the lives around us as well.

J. B. Priestley was a major advocate for socialism and his play, "An Inspector Calls," was designed to illustrate the dangers of a highly capitalistic society. Through the characters of the play, he uses all three pillars of argument to push the audience to the understanding that every decision should be made carefully because somehow, somewhere, each action we make will affect someone, and whether it is in a positive or negative way is up to us to decide.

Open Prompt Practice (Sept. 16)

2010, Form B. “You can leave home all you want, but home will never leave you.” —Sonsyrea Tate

Sonsyrea Tate’s statement suggests that “home” may be conceived of as a dwelling, a place, or a state of mind. It may have positive or negative associations, but in either case, it may have a considerable influence on an individual. Choose a novel or play in which a central character leaves home yet finds that home remains significant. Write a well-developed essay in which you analyze the importance of “home” to this character and the reasons for its continuing influence. Explain how the character’s idea of home illuminates the larger meaning of the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

For a small individual, home often means security, comfort, and predictability. Without these, he feels out of place, exposed to the dangers of the outside world. No doubt, this was how Bilbo Baggins felt as he was carried away from home to begin Tolkein's novel, The Hobbit. Not even a day's journey from his house, he already began wishing for his handkerchief. Utilizing Bilbo's original fear of leaving his "comfort zone," Tolkein emphasizes his message for us that, insignificant as we may appear, each of us has the capacity to use the skills learned inside our own fields to greatly affect the world beyond.

To start the novel, Tolkein immediately describes Bilbo's character, explaining that he comes from a land where the inhabitants ostracize, and even despise, adventurous people. He likes to think of himself as a typical hobbit, avoiding all unexpected conflict. Later, this aspect of Bilbo becomes his most influencing characteristic. Realizing the dwarves intended to wage war on the very people who helped them, he becomes the key individual pushing for peace between the groups.

Time Elapsed: 40 minutes (cut off at where I got within 40 minute period)