Huxley Interview Essay

Our society is in a way living in the Brave New World. The idea of mass production is all too familiar. Costco attracts a myriad of customers from everyday denizens to small business owners as the cheap, abundant quantities of a variety of products are not only convenient, but also financially more affordable in the long run. Huxley also claims that "impersonable forces" are pushing in the direction of less freedoms most visibly, overpopulation. For example, because of the "baby boom," there are currently more older people residing in the United States. Overtime, it is predicted that the social security act will have to be reformed as there would be more money being taken out to give to the elderly, over the money coming from the younger generation through taxes. Lastly, Huxley predicted the overwhelming power of technological advancements.

Today, technology serves a very important role in our lives as society revolves around it's function. A common goal that our society shares is constantly advancing to becoming a "better" community. Aldous Huxley made several predictions of the future about limited freedoms and am overpowering dictatorship. The communist element is not shown in politics today but socially may be true with the ethical and social issue of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is becoming more popular and it manipulates different species to produce the "fittest." Although Huxley's visions of the future are a little extreme and on the border of crazy, we are slowly headed in that direction of overorganization.

Brave New World Notes Ch. 1-4

Page One: 

Figurative language:

Personification "the light was frozen, dead, a ghost" 

Juxtaposition "bleakly shining"

Irony, Dichotomy "fertilizing room" when previously talking about death

Symbolism "shield"

Restatement "wintriness responses to a wintriness"

Chapter 1:

Director doesn't have a name, a name creates personality. 

Cold presence of cruel, artificial, external, imposed, freezer of death

"Director of Hatcheries" not mammal, industrialized

Operant conditioning: rewards and punishments alter one's behavior

Chapter 2:

"single window" dark isolated 

Students are introduced to Nurseries with babies who are being trained by being shocked when playing with flowers and books. 

Director manipulates the babies mind to dislike books in order to "be safe from books and botany all their lives."

Boys blush at "parents." Why?

Viviparous: bringing forth live young that have developed inside the body of the parent

In Elementary Class Consciousness, children listen to tapes that emphasizes their duties in their specific caste. 

These names seem very distant and unrelateable, fake and industrial.

Chapter 3:

Naked children play in a garden.

I have a very difficult time understanding this chapter with the children in the garden and then the end of the chapter with three different conversations.

Chapter 4: 

The Love of Learning

Often times students, especially high school seniors, question the importance of schooling and it's purpose. The valuable enrichment of knowledge is forgotten as instead, we get caught up in "completing assignments" and "writing research papers" which are assigned to enhance our knowledge. The value of educating's one self is to inspire life goals and to find an aspiration that one is really passionate about. Through "trials and tribulations" we learn what we're good at and what we're not good at, what we fall in love with and what we absolutely cannot stand. Learning "boring" materials is also a valuable resource as we can learn something that may not be of interest to us. The love of learning helps us to broaden our perspectives on wordly matters and discover different passions that together help create a vision that every individual has. The vision is formed through experiences and knowledge on that subject. Though some might not think so, every person enjoys learning. It may not be the textbook type of education, but learning to knit or learning to discover new species can be someone's joy. These visions can only be created if we value the importance of learning and love to appreciate it.

Lit Terms #6

simile - noun a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with `like' or `as')

soliloquy - noun a (usually long) dramatic speech intended to give the illusion of unspoken reflections; speech you make to yourself
spiritual - adj. lacking material body or form or substance; concerned with or affecting the spirit or soul; resembling or characteristic of a phantom; concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church; noun a kind of religious song originated by Blacks in the southern United States
speaker - noun someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous); the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly; electro-acoustic transducer that converts electrical signals into sounds loud enough to be heard at a distance
stereotype - noun a conventional or formulaic conception or image; verb treat or classify according to a mental stereotype
stream of consciousness - 
structure - noun a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; the manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts; a particular complex anatomical part; the complex composition of knowledge as elements and their combinations; the people in a society considered as a system organized by a characteristic pattern of relationships; verbgive a structure to
style - noun a slender bristlelike or tubular process; a particular kind (as to appearance);editorial directions to be followed in spelling and punctuation and capitalization and typographical display; (botany) the narrow elongated part of the pistil between the ovary and the stigma; a pointed tool for writing or drawing or engraving;distinctive and stylish elegance; how something is done or how it happens; the popular taste at a given time; a way of expressing something (in language or art or music etc.) that is characteristic of a particular person or group of people or period; verb make consistent with certain rules of style; designate by an identifying term; make consistent with a certain fashion or style
subordination - noun the quality of obedient submissiveness; the grammatical relation of a modifying word or phrase to its head; the state of being subordinate to something; the act of mastering or subordinating someone; the semantic relation of being subordinate or belonging to a lower rank or class
surrealism - noun a 20th century movement of artists and writers (developing out of dadaism) who used fantastic images and incongruous juxtapositions in order to represent unconscious thoughts and dreams
suspension of disbelief - noun w
symbol - noun something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible; an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
synesthesia - noun a sensation that normally occurs in one sense modality occurs when another modality is stimulated
synecdoche - noun substituting a more inclusive term for a less inclusive one or vice versa
syntax - noun the grammatical arrangement of words in sentences; studies of the rules for forming admissible sentences; a systematic orderly arrangement
theme - noun a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work; (music) melodic subject of a musical composition;(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed; an essay (especially one written as an assignment); the subject matter of a conversation or discussion; verb provide with a particular theme or motive
thesis - noun an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument; a treatise advancing a new point of view resulting from research; usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree
tone - noun (linguistics) a pitch or change in pitch of the voice that serves to distinguish words in tonal languages; the quality of something (an act or a piece of writing) that reveals the attitudes and presuppositions of the author; a steady sound without overtones; a musical interval of two semitones; the quality of a person's voice; a quality of a given color that differs slightly from a primary color; (music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound); a notation representing the pitch and duration of a musical sound; the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people; the elastic tension of living muscles, arteries, etc. that facilitate response to stimuli; verb give a healthy elasticity to; change to a color image;change the color or tone of; vary the pitch of one's speech; utter monotonously and repetitively and rhythmically
tongue - noun the flap of material under the laces of a shoe or boot; a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity; a manner of speaking; the tongue of certain animals used as meat; any long thin projection that is transient; metal striker that hangs inside a bell and makes a sound by hitting the side; a human written or spoken language used by a community; opposed to e.g. a computer language; a narrow strip of land that juts out into the sea; verb lick or explore with the tongue;articulate by tonguing, as when playing wind instruments
in - adj. currently fashionable; directed or bound inward; holding office; adv. to or toward the inside of; noun a state in midwestern United States; a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot; a rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite
cheek - noun either side of the face below the eyes; impudent aggressiveness; either of the two large fleshy masses of muscular tissue that form the human rump; an impudent statement;verb speak impudently to
tragedy - noun drama in which the protagonist is overcome by some superior force or circumstance; excites terror or pity; an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
understatement - noun a statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said
vernacular - adj. being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language; noun the everyday speech of the people (as distinguished from literary language); a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
voice - noun a means or agency by which something is expressed or communicated; the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech; the ability to speak; the sound made by the vibration of vocal folds modified by the resonance of the vocal tract; something suggestive of speech in being a medium of expression; a sound suggestive of a vocal utterance; (metonymy) a singer; (linguistics) the grammatical relation (active or passive) of the grammatical subject of a verb to the action that the verb denotes; the melody carried by a particular voice or instrument in polyphonic music; expressing in coherent verbal form; an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose; verb give voice to; utter with vibrating vocal chords
zeitgeist - noun the spirit of the time; the spirit characteristic of an age or generation

AP Exam Preview

The AP test materials don't seem extremely difficult, but reading comprehension and writing has always been my weakest point. I have a hard time concentrating while reading these type of materials  but I hope with a bit of practice, I will improve. The exam contents don't seem too strenuous. As long as I get practice in being able to point out the writing techniques more easily, I think the writing and multiple choice should be easier.

Literature Analysis #1

A Child Called "It"

1.  David is a child who lives with an abusive, manipulative mother. He also has two brothers who are actually treated the opposite of him and are not hit. He has a very passive father who cares about David but does not have the will to confront his alcoholic, aggressive wife. David lives in cruel conditions where he is basically a slave who is ordered around by his mother. He has to do chores in order to eat and wash. Often times he is timed to finish a certain housework and beaten before he can eat his "food" which is often left overs from his brothers' plates. Most times he is starved. This leads him to steal snacks from kids at his school but news arrives to his mother and get's a painful beating. Sadly, he accepts it because he was so hungry, he was willing to take the risks. At a young age, David "masters the game" in which he learns to act like he is seriously in pain before she becomes more aggressive. Before, four year old David remembered his loving, perfect mother who gave him warm hugs, always kept the house clean, and took care of them while their dad often worked long days. She then began to change, spending hours on the couch still in her pajamas and her discipline soon changed to violence but little David adapted to accept it and keep quiet. He had a painful childhood where his mom threw him across the room, kicked him, shoved ammonia down his mouth, at one point stabbed him, shoved his face in his little sisters poop, and attempted to burn him on the stove. He was often covered in bruises but of course in unnoticeable places to avoid trouble. His brothers would even turn on him because they were scared of being beat themselves. His mom would never abuse him in front of his dad but he catches on and is also a dog on her leash. He tries to sneak David scraps of food while she is not looking. David grows to be a dark, cold child. More than fear, intense anger begins to build up in him. He's bullied often and has moments of rage. Soon, his dad leaves his life and now he is left alone in the "hell house." 

2. Stand up for yourself. Sometimes, it's very hard to leave. Whether it be something happy you're leaving or even something terrible, habits and routines stick with you. There were many times David wanted to stand tall and leave, but he was too afraid to leave the life he had learned to always live.

3.  The authors tone is dark, consistent and melancholy.

Pg 141 "My morale had become so low that in some self destructive way I hoped she would kill me, and I felt that eventually she would."

Pg 127 "Even though I had begun to accept my fate, I never felt as alone, as I did on the mornings that Father went to work." 

Pg 73 "I simply wished mother would beat me and get it over with." 

4.  Characterization pg 17 "My father, Stephen Joseph, supported his family as a fireman, working in the heart of San Francisco."

Setting pg 17 "We lived in a modest, two-bedroom house, in what was considered a "good" neighborhood in Daly City. I can remember looking out of our living room bay window on a clear day, to gaze at the bright orange towers of the Golden Gate Bridge and the beautiful skyline of San Francisco."

Flashback pg 26 "I never felt as safe and as warm as that moment in time, at the Russian River."

Inference pg 34 "With both arms stretched out and raised, mother came at me. As she came closer and closer, I backed my chair towards the wall. Soon, my head touched the wall." 

Simile pg 48 "At night I was so hungry, my stomach growled as if I were an angry bear."

Juxtaposition pg 79 "In the darkness of the garage I closed my eyes, dreaming I was a king dressed in the finest robes, eating the best food mankind had to offer. As I held a a piece of frozen pumpkin pie or a bit of a taco shell, I was king, and like a king on his throne, I gazed down on my food and smiled."

Personification pg 84 "As June turned to early July, my morale dwindled."

Symbolism pg 94 "Within a few seconds my sparked fizzled out."

Stream of consciousness pg 141 "My morale had become so low that in some self-destructive way I hoped she would kill me, and I felt that eventually she would." 

Allusion pg 153 "...and deliver me from evil."

Characterization: 

1.  Indirect characterization:

Pg 59 "As the prince, I knew I could end the charade of acting like a servant any time I wanted."

Pg 126 "Deep in my heart I had known mother was being nice to me for some reason other than wanting to love me." 

Direct characterization:

Pg 17 "He stood about five feet ten inches tall, and he weighed about 190 pounds."

Pg 18 "His thick black eyebrows matched his hair." 

2.  The author's syntax and diction is pretty consistent throughout even when focusing on the character. 

Pg 58 "Father occasionally try to sneak scraps of food to me, but with little success." 

Pg 84 "At the first syllable of her order I snap my head level, stood up and sprinted up the stairs."

3.  David is a dynamic, round character. Over the course of the book, he becomes a stronger person but he continues to live under the shadows. He lives in pain and fear but is scared to escape it. The book ends with him seeming to run away from his "family."

4. This book was so personal and descriptive of his life that I felt like I met the child. The author was very descriptive of his daily routines and life that the reader is able to take a look into his life.

Pg 68 "Sometimes at night I would wake up and try to imagine I was a real person, sleeping under a warm electric blanket, knowing I was safe and that somebody loved me. My imagination worked for a while, but the cold nights always brought me back to my reality. I knew no one could help me. My teachers, my so-called brothers or even my father. I was on my own, and every night I pray to God that I could be strong both in body and soul. In the darkness of the garage, I laid on the wooden cot and shivered until I fell into a restless sleep."

I cried as I read this book. It makes me livid that someone who calls herself a mother could possibly so such cruel things to a child. What infuriates me even more is that his teachers don't take notice of his ragged, ugly clothes and instead blame him and distance themselves from him. How could someone who is with a child for six hours, five times a week not pick up the signs of insufficient lunch boxes, clothes with holes, and bruises? My masterpiece relates to children and wanting to be a teacher. I want to make at least a small, positive difference in a child's life and build empowerment and purpose in their life. It sickens me that there are people who bring down people's dreams and I believe a big dream starts at a young age. Kids need guidance before they can get there so I hope that I can I inspire an idea or dream in children.