Review of the Class (Extra Credit)

This class was a valuable class. I learned two things that greatly help me evaluate a piece of literature. Learning about researching the culture of a book or play was valuable because it helps me understand the book much more. It helps you understand if there are any symbols, motifs, etc. that are significant. Second, learning about how to analyze a passage for a commentary was helpful. The Their Eyes Were Watching God unit really got IB Junior English off to a good start and set the foundation for what would be happening in our reading and writing for the rest of the year. And although there was much analysis of the literature that the class read, perhaps more writing lessons could have been helpful so the essays were not so challenging. Altogether, a somewhat enjoyable and definately helpful class.

World Lit. Topic Proposal

I would like to write on contradictions in Blood Wedding, I would like to focus on the contradictions between Leonardo and the Bridegroom. The passion of Leonardo vs. the social stability of the Bridegroom. I could examining Leonardo's passion with the symbol of he horse. I could also explore the theme of people preferring passion over security, that humans want emotion, not just money.

Blood Wedding Journal 6

• "I looked at your father, and when they killed him, I looked at the wall in front of me. One woman with one man, and that's it"(10). This quote shows that marriage in the catholic church should not be gay. This is relevant because Lorca  was gay.
• "Haven't I done the work of a man? If only I were a man" (37)! This quote shows how gender was a major part of society. Equal rights were not too prevalent.
• "Your vineyards are worth a fortune" (30). This quote shows the vast economic differences during this time period. There were very rich agriculturalists and then there were poor people.

•  "Girls never leave the house"(61). This quote again plays into the gender roles during the time period. What women were expected to do is obvious.
• "It has come once again-the hour of blood! Two sides! You with yours and me with mine!" (77). This quote speaks about the Spanish civil war. It also references the two sides that were fighting.
• “To keep still when we’re on fire is the worst punishment we can inflict on ourselves” (47). This quote speaks about duende and the passions and the different emotions that duende involves.

• "But what about her honor? Where is her honor" (101)? This quote is about the high moral and social standards that women were held to during the time period.
• "You must follow the course of your blood" (79). This quote is about the civil war. Obviously a civil war divides a country and this quote is referring to that division.
• "May the Cross protect the dead and the living" (104). This quote speaks about the catholic beliefs of this life and the after life.
  

Blood Wedding Journal 5

1.  The symbolism of the woodcutter, beggar woman and moon
To me, the moon symbolized God. The moon was the catalyst in ensuring that Leonardo's blood was spilled. Without the moon's light, they would have never been found. The moon in effect killed them for their actions, that is a very God-like action in my opinion. The woodcutters seemed to symbolize society. They commented on the situation taking place in a somewhat objective way. Their opinions seem to be what the general public would feel about the situation.
2.  What happens when the runaway couple are caught?
When the couple is caught Leonardo and the Bridegroom are both killed. Since this was clearly not an execution, we can infer that some  sort of struggle or fight took place.
3.  What happens to the Mother after the death of her son?
The Mother after the death of her son, the Bridegroom, will have had all her sons and her husbands killed. Therefore she is very sad. She is also very upset as we can see when she "Strikes the Bride, who falls to the floor" (101).
4.  At least three significant lines of imagery
"I'm a round swan on the river. I'm the cathedrals' eye" (82). - The Moon
"Over the golden flower. They bring the dead from the stream"(99). - Little Girl
"Their eyes are broken flowers. Their teeth are just handfuls of frozen snow" (98). - Beggar Woman

5.  What elements of a tragedy does Lorca incorporate in Blood Wedding? The audience feels pity and fear for many characters in the play such as the Bridegroom and the Bridegroom's Mother. These feelings are pivotal in making a play a tragedy. There is also a main character who the audience can relate to. The main character is also neutral, that is, neither good nor evil.

Blood Wedding Journal 4

1.   Which characters appear to be miserable in the play and why?  When and how do the characters express their misery?  What do the characters desire and what stops them from going after what each desires? 

To me, the two characters that appear to be miserable are Leonardo and the Bride. Leonardo is unhappy because he seems to be unhappy in his current marriage, "One thing I know: I've already been tossed aside" (57)! Leonardo also appears to desire the Bride, "They ran away! She and Leonardo! On the horse" (76)! Being in an unhappy marriage and desiring a woman who is already engaged could very easily make a man miserable. The Bride seems to be unhappy because she has an internal struggle taking place within her. The Bride claims that she "loves" the Bridegroom, however it is apparent through the way the Bride acts that she is not certain whether she wants Leonardo or the Bridegroom (41). Having to make such a difficult decision as this one, especially on your wedding day would make anyone miserable. The Bride and Leonardo are not stopped from going after what each of them desire because they, "rode off in each other's arms, like a bolt of lightning" (76)! However, the thing that possibly made them stop and think was the upcoming wedding, and for the Bride, her Bridegroom.

Blood Wedding Journal 3

The Knife:
The knife is a symbol of pain, suffering, death, and destruction. The bridegroom's mother is the first to clue us into this by saying, "The knife! The knife! Damn all of them! And the monster who invented them!" (6). The mother would only feel this way because of the death and destruction that the knife stands for. The mother has experience with this death and destruction since she has lost both her son and husband to weapons.

Farming:
Farming is a symbol of maturity, wealth, and sustainability. The Bridegroom working and owning the vineyard shows that he has wealth and that he is ready to support a family. Being able to farm shows that you have reached manhood. Owning land is a status symbol; the more land you own the wealthier you are.

The Horse:
The horse repeatedly rejects the water, which is something that the horse needs to live. To me, this shows defiance of the law, the law of nature. Perhaps, the horse is a symbol of rebellion, of Independence, and individualism. Given, the context, it being a lullaby, it could be telling the baby to not be a rebel, to stay loyal to his or her parents or the consequences could be catastrophic.

To Olivia:
I liked what you said about the flowers, I think the blooming of flowers goes well with what is going on in the play so far. the marriage, young children growing, all of those go well with blooming flowers and I find that connection intriguing.

To Haley:
I liked your ideas about the subconscious and how that could possibly relate to the horse. I had analyzed those two separately. Combining the two adds an interesting dimension.

Blood Wedding Journal 2

Symbols:

• Water
• Sleep
• Horses
• Farming
• Land
• Knife

Archetypes:
Bridegroom - The characterization of the bridegroom as a son is the first glimpse we see of the bridegroom. Lorca seems to be embracing the archetype of a son. The bridegroom is a son who reassures his mother when she is worrying about him. Although he believes her worries make little sense, he entertains the idea of them and reassures his mother that she need not worry about him.

Bridegroom's Mother - Lorca also seems to embrace the archetype of a mother through the bridegroom's mother. The mother is a parent who is likely still grieving the loss of hre husband and son. Due to this loss she worries a lot, perhaps even irrationally. If this was not the nature of mothers, Lorca would be rejecting this archetype, but as we know, this is natural for mothers to do, therefore, Lorca is embracing the archetype.