Cycle 26: Performance Ideas

Here are my ideas for the upcoming final project our class will be performing using A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Characters interested to act as:

• Lysander
• Demetrius
• Hermia
• Helena

I would be interested in playing the role of one of the lovers. First off, the role of the lovers is something I could relate to more than being a King or Queen. The lovers face challenges that would be fun to act out. Playing the role of Lysander or Demetrius would be quite challenging because they are male parts, but these roles fun and exciting. The scenes I would want to act out would have to be when the lovers are having an argument. Acting out an argument would require emotion and seriousness, somethings I am willing to try.

Cycle 26: Flatworld Reflection

After completing our flatworld writing project, here are some of my ideas on this project:

1. What did you like best about the project and why?
I liked the fact that we were able to connect with different schools not only from around our Country, but around the world as well. This project connected students from different areas of the world by sharing stories about themselves. Without this project we probably wound not have been able to meet so many students from other schools around the world.

2. What did you like least and why?
The part of this project I liked the least was the way the feedback system was set up. It was sometimes confusing on who to give feedback to and when feedback was due to the other students.

3. What was something surprising that you learned about the other students (from other schools)?
I was most impressed with the students from Korea. The students from Korea were able to write unbelievably well, and for some of them that is not even their first language.

4. How do you think the project affected your writing?
I feel my writing changed for the better. By having writing partners in Korea, it taught me to be more descriptive with my writing. Most times things would have to have been explained in good detail, otherwise other students would not understand what was happening in your story.

5. Describe the most challenging aspect of the project.
The most challenging part of this project was the time differences between each of the schools. Because Korea, for example, was almost a full day ahead of us, they were often waiting on our class to finish.

6. Offer some advice to future participants.
Patience is the key. Because this project involves students from around the world, there is obviously going to be some sort of confusion. I would also suggest to try and give the best feedback possible, it really helps the writer if good feedback is given.

7. Other comments.
This is a worthwhile project. It was an interesting way to learn about other cultures from around the world, and still be able to improve our writing skills.

Cycle 25: Character Analysis of Helena (continued)

After finishing Act II of A Midsummer Night's Dream Helena feelings towards Demetrius stay the same. The more Helena continues to pursue Demetrius, the more Demetrius pushes her away. In this scene Demetrius tells Helena "Stay, on thy peril. I alone will go" (61). And still after this was said by Demetrius, Helena is still madly in love with him. For Helena to continue to chase after Demetrius after she constantly gets turned down shows that Helena has a strong frame of mind. This also shows some stupidity on Helena's part, who in their right mind would pursue a man that they had no chance with? But, love often blinds a person from what is normally a clear choice. And love is obviously blinding Helena.

Earlier in scene II Robin Goodfellow anoints Lysander with the nectar that makes him fall in love with the next person he sees. Later, when Lysander awakes the first person he sees in Helena. Because of the nectar Lysander starts telling Helena his feelings for her. But, Helena tries to remind Lysander how he truly loves Hermia and not herself. By doing this I feel Helena showed a great deal of friendship toward Hermia. Helena could have easily jumped right into Lysander's arms, but she tried talking Lysander out of it. This shows the bond of friendship between Hermia and Helena.

Also in this scene Helena makes a direct reference to herself, allowing the audience to know how she really feels about herself. Helena says, "no, no, I am as ugly as a bear, for beasts that meet me run away for fear" (61). By saying this, Helena shows the audience how little she thinks of herself. To say those things about herself shows that she does not believe in herself one bit.

Overall, Helena is going through a lot of hardships. Hopefully as this story progresses Helena will be able to gain more self confidence and will start believing in herself.

Cycle 25: Character Analysis of Helena

This past cycle our class started reading A Midsummer Night's Dream which was written by Shakespeare. When reading the first two acts of this play the major characters that were introduced were Hermia, Lysander, Helena, Demetrius, Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, Oberon, Titania, and Robin Goodfellow. Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius are four lovers. Hermia and Lysander love each other very much and want to get married, but Egeus, Hermia's father, forbids his daughter to marry Lysander and tries forces Hermia to marry Demetrius. While Demetrius loves Hermia, Hermia's good friend, Helena, is madly in love with Demetrius, who will not get Helena the time of day.

The character that interests me the most is Helena. From the reading, Helena appears to be Hermia's best friend. But, although a friend Helena's jealously and desperateness towards pursuing Demetrius overpowers Hermia's and Helena's friendship.

Hermia
I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.
Helena
O, that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!
Hermia
I give him curses, yet he gives me love.
Helena
O, that my prayers could such affection move!
Hermia
The more I hate, the more he follows me.
Helena
The more I love, the more he hateth me.
Hermia
His foly, Helena, is no fault of mine.
Helena
None but your beauty. Would that fault were mine! (19-21)

In this scene Helena complains to Hermia how Demetrius does not love her. It almost seems as if Helena is so desperate she would do anything to be loved by Demetrius, even if that ruins their friendship. Helena appears to me to be living in Hermia's shadow. Helena must feel as if she acted more like Hermia, then Demetrius will love her. In Helena's personal feelings about herself, she constantly puts herself down because Demetrius shows no love to her but rather to Hermia.

If I were to play the character of Helena I would have to show emotions of rage, jealously, and desperateness all at the same time. Helena's rage comes through when no matter what she does Demetrius just does not seem to notice her. The character Helena must express frustration. Jealously must be shown when playing the role of Helena because throughout the two acts Helena is jealous of Hermia because she is able to capture the attention of Demetrius. Throughout the play so far, Helena goes through a lot of hardship.