Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Yes, it's true for those of you who slept through the reading of this book and nodded off during the viewing of the humorous movie, they are both dead. No surprise for those individuals who read Shakespeare's Hamlet, but hey, we're not all fortunate. When we first began this book, I thought, no problem. Easy peasy, right? No. This play feels meaningless at times-theater of the absurd- yet I don't want to pick the first thought that comes to my mind. There's meaning in this play. We're all on a boat, either steering it or sitting in our own corners of the deck lost to the sway of the ocean. Some of us have free will. Some of us are controlled by others. Yippee.
I found it interesting though, that Stoppard chose to invent the brief(more detailed) existence of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. I can't say this piece is entirely original, but there's genius in what Stoppard has laid down for us.Odd sentence...He took a risk and from the chatter and analyses of critics and AP classes, I'd say he made a great decision. However, I find this book infuriating. My mind has little minions working furiously to determine the big secret right at this moment. I want to know the meaning of this play. The grand kahuna of meanings. I want to know it NOW!
Recently, we read a less than interesting paper by Ian Johnston about Ros and Guil. No lie, I could have done without reading this paper. It didn't help me one bit. Not even a little. Just like Precalculus is the dumpiest subject ever. There's math involved, but I know how to count. I don't need to know DeMoivre's principle. Yes, this paper discusses how Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have absurdest elements and how it shares some similarities to other works..wow. Okaaay, tell me something I don't know. At least attempt to be as elaborate as math class is . It's got the dull part down to memory though.Like a second skin. Sorry, math lovers.
During this period, we also learned more about the structure of the open prompt. The day in the library was...oh the horrors. Let's just say I'm a little rusty on the open prompt. I need help. Much more help than one stressed hour in the computer lab. How about, twenty-four seven practice with an expert kind of help. Ehh, maybe not that extreme. But I'm sure the practice will do me good. When I was younger I used to hate reading because well, I couldn't read. There were tantrums and moments where the snot and the tears were mixing...gross. But the lesson is that I practiced( my mom made me) and now I'm an avid reader. So, open prompts, you know where to stick it!
Wow Ludia. You are very passionate here. I know from sitting by you in class that you're good at pulling ideas and analyses from passages, so I'm sure you'll perfect your open prompt strategy in time for the AP. But yeah in all honesty that essay we read was boring to me as well. It was not as bad as many of the others, though. Maybe that's because R and G is such a complex play and there is no clear right answer, so we had stronger individual opinions to discuss. I always feel bad because I usually hate reading the essays we are assigned and find them dreadfully slow and tough to get through. But then in class everyone says things like "Oh I thought this was fascinating!" or "This was a really good read" and I worry that I missed something.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that to just label the play "Absurd" is kind of a cop-out and there certainly is meaning. You say that some are drifting helplessly and others are steering their boats. That's a different perspective! Most people argue it's all or nothing and everyone's all in the same situation of fate or free-will. Interesting. Your connection to real life is super creative, Ludia! I always enjoy reading your posts. Good work!
Ludia, you have such wonderful voice in all of your writings, and as a peer reviewer, I must thank you for your gifted writing skills because it makes my job easier and more exciting :) I'm sad to see that you didn't include the viewing of the R & G movie in this post, however! I would have liked to see how that may or may not have effected the way you see/saw the play itself. I agree that this play does seem to have some meaning, and isn't entirely absurd, but I don't think that this play is fully formed enough to have a clear, direct answer. I think that it is a play full of gibberish and nonsense and at times profundity rears is lovely (ha, see what I did there?!) head and then promptly leaves again. Also, I never would have guessed that you were at some point NOT interested in reading -- seems like that Ludia only exists in an alternate universe.
ReplyDeleteOoh girl, (ahem, cough-cough) I mean, Ludia,
ReplyDeleteYou are a writer. Plain and simple. That's why I enjoy reading your posts. I sympathize for you falling asleep reading the Ian Johnson lecture, because I too did not feel that it helped me understand R & G. However, I think it did help me start to understand the difference between a "good" college and above - level paper and a distressing one. The main thing I got out of his lecture was that he's an opinionated man, and not many facts. And by the way, I HATE math. Like it acually, physically pains me. So I didn't take offence to your analogy:)
And I too need practice with the open prompts, so don't feel bad about it. I think everybody who has taken, is taking, and will take A.P. Lit has been rode aboard this board before. Your in a good place along the boat ride, which means you're gonna find your way. I'd feel more confident if I were you:)