Month: November 2020

Analyzing the Text and Media

Caliban is shown covered in dirt in the photographs from the film, which parallels the words “Thou earth.” Caliban is literally the earth since he is covered in dirt.

In this photograph Prospera is protecting Miranda from Caliban. They appear much closer than they do in the play, where it seems like Prospero and Miranda do not get along. That being said, Prospero does protect Miranda from Caliban, when he attempts to take her virtue.(Act I scene 2, 350).

Prospera’s cloak adds to her description as a magician and fallen royalty. The text says (I.ii, 166) that they had been given ‘rich garments’ which have been useful — we can infer that the clothes would be worn by now, and Prospera’s cloak definitely looks old. However it also looks magical due to the colors and texture.

Analyzing the Text and Media

Analyzing the Text

Prospero is replaced as Duke of Milan by his brother. Prospero, “neglecting worldly ends” (89) gives control of the state to his brother. His brother’s ambition grows (105) and with help from the King of Naples, removes Prospero from power (125).

Prospero’s relationship with Miranda is an awkward one. It is his fault that they are on an island and she has had no other friendships, which is why he hesitates to tell her. Prospero also treats her poorly, repeatedly asking her to listen to him throughout his speech. He then puts her to sleep when she might get in the way of his manipulations. That being said, he does love her, “I have done nothing but in care of thee” (16) and he calls the storm so as to save them.

Before Prospero came to the island, Caliban and his mother, Sycorax, were masters of the island. With the arrival of Prospero, Sycorax is eliminated and Caliban is adopted by Prospero, “When thou cam’st first, thou strok’st me and made much of me” (336-7). This lasts until Caliban has shown Prospero all of the island. Their relationship changes when Caliban falls in love with Miranda and Prospero catches him, “thou didst seek to violate…/the honor of my child” (351-2). Then Caliban is enslaved.

Prospero lost his kingdom because of his obsession with magic. After he arrives on the island he takes control of the island, making up for his past neglect of the world. Caliban used to rule the island with his mother but this changes with Prospero comes. With the arrival of Prospero, Caliban is enslaved. He wishes for nothing more than to rule over others. Sebastian is Alonso’s brother, the King of Naples and he wants to take his brother’s place, as Antonio had taken Prospero’s. Ariel is enslaved by Sycorax and freed by Prospero, in exchange for a year of service.

Ariel is describing the death of Ferdinand’s father in the storm. The words, “full fathom five”(401) not only uses nautical terminology but also indicates how far into the water, Ferdinand’s father lies. The imagery of the bones becoming coral (402) and transforming with the sea (405) further emphasize water. Lastly, the ‘sea nymphs’ visually helps us picture the scene, along with the death bell.

Sea change implies a physical change created by the sea — like the body actually detonating in the scene. It also implies a change in fortune, as caused by the sea. We know this because the next line “into something rich and strange” (406) indicates the transformation of bones into coral, or a change in fortune. It implies a deep transformation.

Gonzalo’s approach for ruling the island resembles a utopia, where no one works and nature provides everything (completely contrary to society). This is different from Prospero’s way of ruling the island which emphasizes learning and tight control of resources. His speech reflects Shakespeare’s view of the English conquest of the New World, where the native people are enslaved for the benefit of the wealthy.

Critical Vocabulary

The Indian hoped to convey and make the others see him as brave and unmoving.

The sachem would worry that he would lose some of the groups of people he oversaw and they would leave to become part of another sachem’s group.

During a time of change and debate, new and different ways of looking at something may develop.

Young Indians needed to show that they were brave enough and ready to be seen as competent.

Analyzing the Text

The words “villages,” “suburban,” and “camps” have strong connotations. These words cause the reader to think of Indian settlements and lifestyles in terms that we picture modern society having. It makes us rethink inaccurate beliefs about Indians wandering and not really needing or using the land when the Europeans arrived and began to take it.

It creates an impression of a bountiful land that was cared for and cultivated by conscientious Indians with the same sensibilities that we have today toward the land.

The quote from William Wood describing the Indian homes is used to show the excellent craftsmanship employed by the Indians, contrasting it favorably with homes in Europe. The quote from Gookin about the ground maize is used to show the agricultural and culinary skills of the Indians, such that even Europeans found the food delicious. When Wood describes that Indians are stoic in the face of pain or even torture, it conveys a sense of the superior character of the Indians. Williams description of Indian wars being far less bloody and cruel is used to highlight a moral superiority of the Indian.

He includes ecological historian Cronin’s observation of the tremendous variety in ecosystems. The author also cites ethnohistorian Thomas regarding the nature of the various groups along the coastal regions and their relationships with each other. These scientific citations serve to ground the author’s narrative in facts, rather than just a seeming biased or fantastical account designed to convince the reader of the general superiority of Indian populations.

His purpose is to cause us to rethink behavior that seems to be nomadic. The simile reminds us that such behavior is commonplace in our own times among people who have the money to do so. It highlights the desirability of such behavior.

The central idea is that Indians in that time frame were not savages, that they were making use of the land that was claimed by Europeans, and that Indian society was smart and adaptive.

He cites the total population, and the fact that as the population grew, the indian groups had to develop new strategies for allocating resources and interacting with each other. He also notes that Indian society was responsive to the climate and ecology of the areas where they lived.

Mann’s overall purpose appears to be to cause the reader to rethink stereotypical ideas about Indian society and their relationship to each other and to the land. It forces us to understand the gravity of what was later taken from the Indians by imagining that they were uncivilized and did not share our values. In this piece the author highlights the coziness of home life, and the warmth of family to make us understand the Indians’ similarity to our own society. The author also describes the ways that the Indians cultivated the land and smartly adapted to the environment, so that we realize that the Indians had permanence and attachment to the land that was claimed by Europeans. He also describes the moral character of the Indian in enduring and tolerating adversity, as well as their lack of greed and desire to fight and war with others. This contrasts with images of heartless Indians as savages rampaging out of evilness or cruelty against Europeans.

Critical Vocabulary

It is difficult because there are multiple options to choose from.

I would be grateful because they would be giving me needed help.

I quit because I am giving the boss my resignation.

The would be different because I would have a number of asssorted type of shoes.

It is more like a plan to meet at a specific predetermined location.

They are more like a security guard because they are keeping watch.

I travel along the shore because I am going around in a circular path.

It determined where they would go because it described what land or property they owned.

Vocabulary Strategy: Archaic

It means previously. I can tell because it references a drink they had in the past prior to bein thirsty.

It means before the expected or usual time for something to occur.

It is used basically the way we use took in modern usage.

It means cause them to rouse themselves.

It means stuck together.