Euans Essays :D

[kieran blake]

here is my lord of the flies my friend

Lord of the Flies Essay

‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding is a novel that deals with themes of chaos and order. Throughout the novel Golding uses symbolism to show the shifts from chaos to savagery. The novel was written during the cold war and Golding wrote it to warm people of the consequences of losing control and order in this time. This leads to destruction and the fear of others cause destruction.

Firstly, when the boys first arrive on the island the boys find out the conch to bring everyone together by keeping the boys in order.
“Shut up” said Ralph absently. He lifted the conch. Seems to me we ought to have a chief”
The conch is their representation of order. If the conch isn’t used then all authority will be lost. It also represents hope. However, too much dependence placed upon the conch, as the boys are afraid that they will give into their chaotic nature. It is important that Ralph ‘lifted’ the conch because it is recognised and respected by all the boys. When you speak of something being lifted it means it is important. He uses the conch to create democracy and order. The conch brings everyone together. The word ‘chief’ is a leader which means the boys are looking for a leader which in the end they vote for Ralph. This is a democratic vote and one which shows the civilised nature of the boys.

Towards the end of the novel the conch gets destroyed. This means that all authority is lost.
“The conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist”
When the conch is destroyed, all authority is lost. Golding said ‘ceased to exist; this means all memory of the conch is lost. For the boys there is nothing to connect them with the conch, so all order and respect also disappears at the same time. Also when the conch is destroyed, Piggy dies. Piggy represents scientific and rational thought. So when order disappears, so does the kids' ability to think logically on the island.
Another symbol in the novel occurs when the boys use Piggy’s glasses as fire glasses for a signal fire and to cook food on. Roger says
“His specs – use them as burning glasses”
Piggy’s glasses represent the groups hope on the island like the conch. If one of the group has possession of the glasses, it suggests hope. The loss of Ralph represents fear that they will never return to a civilised way of life. The word choice ‘Burning’ is destructive and also it hints what destruction is coming their way. Piggy’s glasses have a lot of uses such as they can make a fire by the heat and light of the sun. Also this allows them to try and be rescued to try and create a signal fire. Also they can use the glasses to cook with and to keep them together and warm. This means if they were destroyed they would have no source of rescue, food and warmth. Piggy’s glasses are very important, and they represent civilisation, order, knowledge and technology. Early on in the novel, Piggy’s glasses are damaged. This means that they won’t have been able to cook and keep warm as well. Piggy says
“One side’s broken”
This means that there will be a lot of changes in the way they cook and keep warm. 'One side's damaged' relates to the fact that out of the 2 leaders Jack and Ralph one of them which is jack will become 'damaged' and chaotic in the novel. When it says ‘one sides broken’ it shows the steady decline in order and civilisation. Also it shows a different side of the island, one side is hunting with Jack and the other is Ralph and the other boys who are trying to be rescued from the island. It is clear to see that there is a divide in the group.

In the novel one of the most important symbols is The Beast because it brought the boys together and creates fear in the boys. In the novel as the boys are discussing the beast, they unintentionally foreshadow the fate of piggy.
“What would a beast eat / pig / we eat pig / Piggy”

This is the fear in each of the boys, but they use animalistic imagery to create this. There is no real beast, but the boys believe that it eats pigs. The beast is the evil on the island and inside the boys. When the boys become savage they kill and eat pig, and as a result in this they kill Piggy, so the beast metaphorically ‘eats’ piggy. This quote is foreshadowing the death of piggy. In the novel the beast eats piggy, much as the boys will eventually kill piggy.

One of the most important symbols in the novel is the actual ‘Lord of the flies’ which is a pig’s head with flies around it. As jack explains,
“The head is for the beast. It’s a gift”
The lord of the flies represents the evil that the boys on the island are capable of. In this quote jack calls the lord of the flies ‘A gift’ which you would normally give to close relatives or family and friends for a special occasion. In the novel the boys are afraid of the beast so they create ‘The Lord of the Flies’. The gift shows that the boys are enjoying getting something for the beast, it’s like the boys are worshipping the beast. The head of the lord of the flies isn’t for the beast; it is just to justify their own love for blood. Also this means that they are very frightened of the beast so they give the beast a gift. Simon, when confronted by the lord of the flies is actually confronting his fears.

Later on in the novel Simon is conversing with the lord of the flies.
“I’m warning you. I’m going to get angry. D’you see? You’re not wanted. Understand we are going to have fun on this island so don’t try it on. My poor misguided boy or else”
Simon, who represents good, is conversing with the lord of the flies, who represents evil. The word choice of ‘poor misguided boy’ is taunting. The lord says that the two cannot exist together. This means that evil is taking over the island. The lord of the flies threatens Simon because it is claiming that good and evil cannot exist peacefully together so one of them has to be destroyed, and it is eventually Simon This language is very threatening and is patronising Simon.

Finally in the novel the boys paint their faces and make sounds as they hunt.
“The mask was a thing of its own behind which Jack has liberated from shame and self consciousness”
In the novel the boys paint their faces with war paint to hunt. This represents a distance from civilisation and is an attempt to hide away from those responsibilities behind a mask. Jack feels ‘Liberated’. This means he is free from responsibilities.
Also the boys don’t speak any more, they use ululation.
“It was a ululation over by the seashore. And now the next savage answered and the next”
The boys are no longer communicating in language. This shows that they have forgotten about any civilisation. For Ralph this means an absolute break in society for Jack this means something powerful and something to hide behind and use as an excuse for what they are doing. This means that the boys have well and truly left behind their former selves. The word choice of ‘savage’ tells us that the boys are not recognisable anymore.

In conclusion, it is clear to see that Golding uses symbolism to show how society can change to chaos. All the symbols in the novel represent something important. Golding is trying to show how society can break down by the loss of hope. The boys lost a few members on the island and gave up hope. They also can easily crave over objects like Jack being obsessed by killing a pig. Golding is trying say that if we change society to chaos then the whole community will break down.

[kieran blake]

here is I disagreeisi my friend

Assisi essay

‘Assisi’ is a poem by Norman Maccaig that focuses on the churches ignorance of the message of st Francis which is society should look after those in poverty, and the irony of their excess. The poem concerns a beggar outside a church dedicated to st Francis who is a patron of the poor. A priest and tourists are talking about st Francis, but ignoring the beggar. In the poem Maccaig uses different techniques such as imagery, enjambment and alliteration to show his anger at the situation described in the poem.

The opening of the poem has the speaker describing the beggar sitting outside the church. He uses inhuman and negative words to describe the beggar. Through this description the reader can see the poet’s anger that is aimed at the tourists and the priest

Firstly, Maccaig uses alliteration to describe the beggar.
“Sat slumped like a half - filled sac”
This simile emphasises that the beggar is not quite complete and God has given up half way through creating him. This creates an image that he is flopped over like a half filled sac. Maccaig is angry at God because God has made a mistake in creating this person, and ‘half – filled’ suggests that God has given up on him, when he is supposedly ‘All powerful’

The second technique that Maccaig uses to describe the beggar is
“On tiny twisted legs”
This emphasises that the beggar is dwarf like and not normal. It shows his physical appearance and the beggar’s size. It shows the poet’s negative attitude. The alliteration highlights this by the‘t’ sound is a sharp angular sound, emphasising the angles of the beggars body and how his legs are tiny and twisted.

Maccaig then juxtaposes the beggar with the church that he is sitting outside of. The church was built in honour of st Francis. He uses word choice to show this.
“The three tiers of the church”
The choice of the word ‘Tiers’ shows that there is a high level of skill and size and the structure of the tier and this contrasts with the beggar, who is described as almost broken. It also shows that the church has spent the money raised by parishers on the church to make it look better, instead of helping the lives of its congregation.

At the end of the first stanza Maccaig uses irony to emphasis the beggar’s condition.
“Over whom / he had an advantage / of not being dead yet”

Maccaig uses enjambment to highlight this irony and to create a punch line at the end of the stanza. The beggar does not have any advantage over st Francis, with the only exception being his poor life, which isn’t really much of an advantage. This shows black humour to create a punch line at something that isn’t even funny.

In the second stanza, Maccaig shifts his focus from the beggar and the church to the tourists and the priest entering the church. Maccaig thinks the tourists are just animals and all they are interested in are the pictures but are not taking in the whole message behind the church. Maccaig uses alliteration and onomatopoeia to convey this.
“Clucking contentedly”
The onomatopoeic use of ‘Clucking’ suggests the tourists are not making any sense and they are all talking at the same time, drowning out each other. They are also following just like chickens and are acting mindlessly. They are not paying any attention and are not taking in any information. The use of alliteration makes this stand out. The prepetition of the ‘C’ sound is humorous and shows that Maccaig finds the tourists something to be mocked. The word choice of ‘Contentedly’ suggests that the tourists are in a comfort zone and are enjoying the tour, but are not thinking on any deeper level. The poet sees the priest as hypocritical and is not acting as a priest, but as a tour guide. He is trying to show off his church.

Maccaig uses a metaphor to continue the idea of feeding their tourists who have been compared to chickens.
“He scattered / the grain of the Word”
Maccaig describes the message of st Francis as ‘The Word’. The word ‘Scattered’ shows that he is just throwing out information left, right and centre and is not expecting anyone to take in any information. By the priest not ‘Eating’ his words. Shows he is shallow and isn’t taking in the real message of st Francis. The word ‘Grain’ suggests that it is not quite a meal and is quite insubstantial and won’t fill you up.

In the final stanza, Maccaig shifts his attention back from the tourists to the beggar. The speaker’s emotions have changed from being negative about the beggar, to seeing him as a real person.

Firstly, Maccaig uses a metaphor to describe the beggar.
“It was they who passed / the ruined temple outside”
The word ‘Ruined’ suggests that his structure is broken and damaged. Also as time has gone by no one cares about him anymore and he is forgotten. The word ‘Temple’ has several connotations.

Firstly the idea of a ‘Temple’ is a place of worship and dedication. This is important because the body is like a temple. It also relates to it being the frame of a body. Secondly the tourists are not paying any attention to the beggar but are only interested in the church. The tourists are contradicting the message of st Francis. ‘Temple’ also relates to the speakers changing attitudes. Despite the beggar having a grotesque appearance, he still has a soul and there is a human underneath his appearance.

Finally the speaker relates the beggar with a child at the end of the poem. Both the beggar and the child could be described as dependant and innocent.
“Said ‘Grazie’ in a voice / as sweet / as a child’s”
This simile shows the final feelings of the speaker towards the beggar. Firstly he means what he says. He is compared to a child and they are known for being honest, genuine person. However the comparison to a child also has negative connotations. They are both dependant because a child relies on their mother and the beggar relies on people to give him money. This leaves the poem on both a positive and negative tone.

In conclusion, it is clear to see that Maccaig uses various techniques to show his anger and pity at the scene conveyed in the poem. Through such techniques as imagery, word choice and irony the message of the poem is clear; Maccaig’s message is for us to not make big grand churches when there are homeless people sitting outside with no money. Instead of making the church we share it with the people who need it. Maccaig doesn’t understand how the message of st Francis is so distorted over time. He also doesn’t understand that the church cares more about grandeur than its people, all its gold and money rather than its people and poorer people. Maccaig sees the outer body of the church as the grand cathedral but the inner body represents what’s inside the church, when the beggar is outside the church

[kieran blake]

here is my merchant of venice my friend

‘The Merchant of Venice’
By Kieran Blake

‘The Merchant of Venice’ is a play written by William Shakespeare. The play concerns a wealthy Jewish userer named Shylock, who lends money, in return for interest to a rich merchant called Antonio, who is very depressed for no apparent reason. In the play some people say that Shylock is the most important character. The play is about money and how Antonio owes Shylock 3 thousand ducats. To what extend is Shylock sympathetic. In the play there are many differences and similarities. I will be looking at Shylock and his views on money, Shylock and Antonio, Shylock and Jessica, Shylocks religion and his bond.

Firstly, in the play it is apparent that Shylock is very greedy when money is involved. Money always comes first in the mind of Shylock. He tells Jessica about a dream he had, saying
“For I did dream of moneybags tonight”
This quote shows how greedy Shylock is towards money by the word choice of ‘bags’ because he isn’t just dreaming of a small amount of money, but is dreaming about a vast amount of money. It is almost a comical amount. This shows that money is such a large part of his life he even dreams about it when he’s asleep. This is a link to the stereotypical view of Jewish people as money hoarders. So does this make him seem sympathetic?

Secondly, the characters Antonio and Shylock both have similarities and differences but they both love money, and they both are moneylenders. In contrast, Shylock seems to love his money more than Antonio does. Shylock claims to Antonio that,
“Thou calldst me a dog before thou hadst a cause/but since I am a dog beware my fangs”
This shows that Shylock is vicious and his friendship with Antonio is poor .In the play Shylock dislikes Antonio as he is a Christian. This quote is a metaphor. The first word dog mentioned is Shylock referring to the way he has been treated by Antonio, and that he feels he has been considered inhuman by him. The second word dog is that Shylock is in effect using this treatment to justify his actions, as he is a product of his environment. He claims that he will live up to the expectations Antonio and others have of him, and stay true to his word, living up to his stereotype as an evil villain.

Another key issue in the play is Shylock’s relationship with Jessica. Throughout the play Jessica is looked on as innocent by all. Lorenzo says.
“If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven/it will be for his gentle daughter’s sake”
In the scene when Jessica ran away, she stole some of her father's gold and jewels. Shylock was upset with his daughter Jessica for leaving but at the same time he was upset that his gold and jewels were gone. The word choice of ‘gentle’ is a pun for the word ‘gentile’ which means not Jewish. It also shows that Jessica wants to be the opposite of Shylock and that she doesn’t want to be Jewish. This shows that Shylock will not change. This shows that Shylock is not sympathetic because he only cares about his jewels that went missing and not his daughter who has just walked away and left. He places his worth more on material items than that of a family member. People would normally care about that but not Shylock, he only cares about his own personal wealth.
One of the most important issues in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is Shylocks religion. Shylock argues with Salerio and Solario about his treatment because of his religion claiming,
“Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affection and passions?”
This shows how passionate Shylock feels towards being Jewish. Also that his religion is not a differential factor. In this quote Shylock changes from exterior physical qualities to his interior emotions. This shows that deep down they are all the same. This makes salerio and salario aware of his passions. Bassanio and Antonio are as guilty as Shylock for following their passions.

Another very important element in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is Shylock’s bond. Shylock says to Antonio, when arguing over the terms of his bond,
“Many a time and oft in rialto you have rated me about my moneys and my usances”
This shows how Shylock is mistreated about money. Also the phrase ‘Many a time’ shows that he has had a history of picking on him. The word’s ‘Many’ and ‘Oft’ shows how often Antonio has taunted Shylock about the way he lives his life and how he makes a living. This allows Shylock to have an excuse to act this way. The word ‘rated’ is Shylock telling Antonio that he is aware that Antonio judges him by his job, not his character. So, this makes Shylock seem sympathetic by him trying to fight for his beliefs and religion and being true to his religion and therefore he seems sympathetic.

To conclude: ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is obviously a ‘problem’ play. Firstly, reinterpretations of the play have changed the impressions of Shylock. There are obviously 2 sides to this play, a sympathetic side to Shylock or an evil side. For example there are still views that Shylock is still stereotypically evil, such as Shylock standing up for Jessica as he puts money and his religion before anything else. But there are parts where Shylock seems sympathetic like when he is always trying to stand up for his religion.