side note about Harry Potter

I always liked Harry Potter. The movies attract all generations. There is lust, magic, good vs. evil, and anticipation. I loved how there where times the audience knew more than the characters. Unlike other famous works like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter provides an alternate world that every person daydreamed about when they were children.

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The books are so detailed to the point where you feel as if you are standing next to Harry Potter. You get to know enough about each character, which keeps the readers hooked and the audience starts to pick favorites.

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Lord of the Rings is focuses more on the current situation and the ring. Twilight mainly became popular because readers got to learn about the characters which allowed them to connect and become attached. I believe Harry Potter is very popular because it is based off fantasies this century has created. This movie brings child's make-believe stories alive and brings out our inner child. Lord of the Rings was very popular because the books came out right after a war and this good vs. evil plot is exactly what the people of that decade wanted. The pasted few decades the audiences interest have changed and this is one reason why Harry Potter was able to be this successful.








blog post #6

Prospero the magician or hypnotist

         I really enjoyed reading the first act in The Tempest by Shakespeare. This book has so many broad statements that it is easy to draw different assumptions than other people. The class was torn between Prospero having magical powers. The class could not even decide if Prospero's "magical powers" were strong or weak. This is why I love reading plays from Shakespeare; every person interprets the reading differently yet we are all reading the same play. 

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         Prospero must have some type of powers, or else how could have he freed Ariel from the tree (33). Though I do not understand why he would not just use his powers to take him home. Why did Prospero not use his powers to stop his brother from exiling him? Also, it is hard to believe Prospero freed Ariel from the tree and none reproductions happened to Prospero. A witch locked Ariel in the tree, why would the witch not set a trap? I was really hoping something more would happen or we would learn more about the witch. Putting Miranda asleep could have required magic but hypnotist do not use magic to put people to sleep (25). I do not think Prospero used magic to put Miranda to sleep, I think he used the same tactics that hypnotist use to put people to sleep.

         Maybe Prospero does not have magical powers. Ariel could just be a figment of his imagination. We are not even positively sure that Miranda was asleep. Miranda could have just zoned out while Prospero lagged on about his life. 

blog post #5

Baby Merlin

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It is hard to believe the story of Merlin. While reading, it almost seems like no one questioned baby Merlin.... I mean, he is only a baby and is talking. Why would you question a baby talking? It is one thing to be making sounds as a baby, but to be able to communicate with adults in full sentences and no help just seems odd for a baby to do. The reading made it sound like Merlin was standing and walking before he was even one. I did not know E-Trade baby was based of Merlin.

                                                          

            Now I have watched my fair share of babies growing up and if there is one thing I can tell you it is no baby can walk, talk, and stand before two. I do not care if Merlin is part devil and part god, it just does not seem believable. Maybe if I saw this with my own two eyes I might change my opinion, but even then I would question if it was a magic trick. 

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blog post #4

If you did not enjoy Merlin how about Geoffrey?

                  So I read about Geoffrey of Monmouth as well as his excerpts from vita Merlin. 

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         I just have to say, Merlin should have avoided war. It seems before he entered the war, he was a like able guy and enjoyed company. Though after the war, he did not even like crowds (4). Maybe it is just me but I think someone had PTSD. 

         I do not understand why his sister granted his wish and built him houses and anything else he asked for. Merlin ignored her request and still headed towards the woods. It was cute that Merlin invited her to visit his place once it was built (4). The fact that she fulfilled his wishes astonished me at first because I thought Merlin was not going to go back. Not only did Merlin stay in the house, his sister took him up on his offer and visited the place. Now does that not sound cute or what! He even "express[ed] his approval of [her]" (4). I enjoyed reading page 4 the most, mainly because of the sibling bonding that took place. 

         Now Geoffrey of Monmouth was a guy to read about. If you look him up, you will find blogs and articles all saying that there is little known about him. But everything I found about him portrayed Geoffrey as a remarkable man.

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         On http://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/text/geoffrey, Emily Huber will tell you Geoffrey was a clerk and teacher at Oxford University. He probably used his father's name, Arthur, until he got his own reputation. Kellea Croft's article, http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/geoffrey-of-monmouth-legend-maker-51616/, mentions that he was one of the bishops to sign the Treaty of Westminster. Geoffrey was appointed archdeacon of Llandsaff, he was consecrated as bishop of St. Asaph, and he was a secular Austin canon at St. George church. So pretty much, Geoffrey did not goof off. And if you think Geoffrey was not amazing already, Shakespeare's king of Lear was shaped from Geoffrey's writing, "History of the Kings of Britain" (Croft). This guy did some pretty incredible stuff throughout his life and I thought I would let you all know just a little about Geoffrey.

blog post # 3

My view on Margery Kempe of Norfolk

I really enjoyed reading about Margery Kempe of Norfolk. I think it was a great idea to have us read not only her history but also a few excerpts. Reading the four excerpts helped answer a few questions I got from the biography.

         How could she have been raised by such a good businessman but never taught how to read (Nelson 1). I feel like her father must have known this would hurt her future career. Which it obviously did limit her, Nelson even mentions on page 3 that her business failing could have been a result of her inability to read and write. Though I believe her business failed because she was more consumed in having babies than stabilizing and strengthening her business. 

         Another thing that really irritated me was how the confessor reacted to her confession (Nelson 2). As a confessor, you are suppose to help the sinner understand what they did wrong and help guide them back to God. What his guy did was F*** up (excuse my profanity). 

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No wonder she went crazy, theres only so much a person can take before they crack. I mean look at Britney Spears, she went insane when the fame became too much. Did this confessor even get punished? I think he should have been punished, but I do wonder if this was all part of Gods plan for Margery. I highly doubt she would have gave herself to God and believed her visions were holy if these events did not happen. 

Hopefully all of you know about this girl, if not you need to look up “crazy girl on youtube, she’s Jenna Marbles but not as hot.

                         (Side note, I love how the author added comments like, " Hence, Jesus Christ dropped in one day for a chat. (Nelson 2)". We were all thinking it and at least his side comments were funny to read.)

         For some reason I cannot help but wonder why no one re-imprisoned her after she started to cry. In the fourth excerpts it said God started to send these visions to her at anytime and any place (Jokinen). I think in a sense having her visions come to her at any time made her look crazy but also strengthened her case that God was talking to her. WHAT SHOULD HAVE WEAKENED HER CASE was the fact that she practically paid her husband off. 

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She not only stopped fasting but she also paid her husbands debts (Jokinen). The third excerpt also mentioned how she wanted to give all of herself to God, how is that possible if she followed her compromise with her husband? How could she give herself to God if she had multiple kids, stayed married, and did not fast? She ignored God's request and kept on having sex, but she was still able to give herself to God... 

Th-th-th-that's all folks!

blog post # 2