My interpretation of Sweeny Todd

SWEENEY TODD Questions

Answer all of the following in one blog posting:

1. Define: Personification.
                                  

a character portrayal or representation in a dramatic or literary work.

2. Briefly explain how personification is used throughout the story. Include as part of your explanation the importance of the objects being personified. Another way to word that might be: how does the personification of said objects advance the story/plot?

 The personification in the characters of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett added an entertaining  side to the darkness of the plot. They are full of action and a wildly unexpected in their mannerisms.
Having that unexpected twist in the character everything is a surprise.

3. What to you is the major theme of Sweeney Todd? Explain why you feel that theme makes a difference to the story as a whole.
               The revenge of Benjamin Barker to the Judge who took everything from him.

4. In your own words, describe each of the major characters—you should have at least 5. You are welcome to use mostly adjectives, but be sure that whatever words/phrases you use that you are very clear and specific.

Mr.Sweeney  Todd (Benjamin Barker) - will have revenge on Judge Turpin

Lucy Barker - was Benjamin's wife that was stolen

Anthony- the young man who is in love with Johanna

Beadle Bamford - he is a trusted friend refers to him as "My Lord"

Judge Turpin- the judge who had Benjamin Barker put in jail to steal his wife and daughter

Mrs Lovette- the pie maker who spends time helping Sweeney.

Johanna- the daughter of Benjamin Barker adopted by Judge Turpin

Signor Pirelli - the Italian barber

Toby- the young boy who was enslaved to Signor Pirelli

5. The names of the individual characters play a major role in the story, especially for Sweeney Todd and the Beadle. Do a little research and explain, especially for these 2 characters, the importance/significance of their names, especially in regards to the story itself.

Sweeney Todd - the character was a myth from the Victorian serial killer who it is said had a sideline in pie maker.
Beadle - the shape of Beadle resembles a beetle...round and stubby. As found in My Web search,

"A Beadle is a Parish bailiff. A parish is the administrative area around a church. A bailiff is the officer of the parish who deals with the practicalities of the local laws."

6. Sweeney Todd is called a dark comedy.  Define: dark comedy—in your own words.

      I feel it is called a dark comedy because the overall plot is evil but it is directed in an comical way. It adds laughter to the story and helps move the story quickly.

7. Name and briefly explain at least 3 examples of how Sweeney Todd is a dark comedy. The more specific you are, the better your grade will be.

   1)When Mrs Lovett and Sweeney were dancing and singing about killing people and making pies from them: poets, lawyers,  shepard

    2)How they designed the barber chair to lean back and drop the dead person to the basement. As this happens he sings happily almost like it is therapy.

     3)Once they started killing people and putting them in the pies, the business was booming.

      4)Mrs Lovett had flipped the sold out sign over when a man came in for a shave, she exclaimed "fresh supplies"

8. Define: irony.
     The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.

9. Discuss at least 3 examples of irony in the play. Again, the more specific you are, the better your grade will be.

  1)When the young boy ran in right before Sweeney was going to kill the judge.

   2)When a husband came into have a shave with his family, wife and daughter. He did not kill that patron.

    3)Mrs Lovett sings about all of these wonderful things they could do in the future, entertaining by the sea, yet he is always miserable, even at the wedding.

     4)How they had Johnna locked in Fogg's asylum when it was the Judge that was the lunatic.

      5)That Sweeney killed his wife after she walked into the room when he killed the Judge.

10. Consider carefully the direction of the movie. By that, I mean how Tim Burton directed it—what he did with lighting, colors, the actors themselves, etc. Take at least 3 different direction techniques and discuss/explain how they add to or take away from the overall story itself.

   1) the overall setting was dark: this added to the mysteriousness in the roles of the characters
   2) the communication of the characters in most of the movie was done in a rhythmic manner. This added to the wildly unruliness of the actions of the characters.
  3) All of the characters who may have been considered lower class where portrayed as dirty, filthy outcasts.

11. What is your favorite part of Sweeney Todd? Why is that part your favorite?

     I enjoyed the scene when Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett were dancing around the pie shop singing about different flavors of pies. Th thought of having a meat pie that was made of lawyer is extremely disgusting but the way they carried on about it was very humorous to me.

12. What didn’t you like about Sweeney Todd? Why didn’t you like that part?
   The ending by far. When Johanna was found in the trunk and almost killed in the barber chair. After that scene, when he realized the begger in the alley he killed was his wife, just heart breaking. The closing of the movie with Sweeney bleed out over his wife in the pool of blood. This added the needed closing for those two but left Johanna and Anthony's fate.

13. Even though you may not have actually seen a play like Sweeney Todd performed on stage, do you think you’d prefer the movie or the stage version? Explain your answer.

I prefer the movie. I think it would have been difficult for the director of a play to make all the effects as real as it was in the movie.

14. What didn’t I ask about Sweeney Todd that you would like to talk about? (You MUST put something here…..I’m SURE I missed something that caught your attention that I didn’t ask about!!!!)

Anthony said he was a sailor. What ship did he sail on?
Mrs Lovett was married but are we sure how her husband died? How long had he been dead or was he recently add to the supplies? Why was she one of the few main characters that were not referred to by her first name?Was it lack of respect Sweeney showed to her?

Oedipus Questions

1. Who  wrote the play?   
                Sophocles wrote the play "Oedipus the King".

2.Briefly define the Oedipal Complex.   
                 The Oedipal Complex is when a child prefers the parent of the opposite sex and competes for the love of the opposite parent.

3.What is the setting of the story, specifically, the where?
               The setting is in front of the royal palace of Thebes.

4.As the play opens , what horrible thing is going on?
               There is a plague that is effecting the land in result of the injustice act of the death of King Laius.

5.Whose death must be avenged in order for the horrible thing from number 4 to end?
               The death of King Laius must be avenged to end the plague.

6.Who was Oedipus wife?
               Jocasta is both his wife and his unknown mother.

7.Who is Oedipus mother?
               Jocasta is both his mother and his wife.

8. Who is Oedipus father?
              Laius is Oedipus birth father and Polybus raised Oedipus as his son.

9.Who killed the King of Thebes?
             Oedipus killed the King of Thebes.

10. What is Oedipus' tragic flaw?
            Oedipus' tragic flaw was his pride and intelligence. Oedipus' pride and arrogance untilmately leads to his destruction.

11.As you read through Oedipus, you'll note that sight/vision/seeing (including "second sight") is very important to the overall story--in the literal as well as the metaphorical/symbolical aspect. You don't have to do this in complete sentences if you don't want--
         The symbolic thought of vision is to see all things clear, there were no way for Oedipus to have seen this clear. Although most people know your mother and father everything has been obscured in Oedipus' life. Then after all the events Oedipus' attempts to correct he in fact will be the one to continue his life in blindness.

12.Describe/discuss/explain/list how sight/vision/seeing/"second sight" is/are used in the play to advance the plot--to advance the story as a whole. Include an explanation of why it's important as well as how it helps you ( the real audience) understand (get) what others on the stage and in the play don't understand.
             The ability to see the forth coming in the play allows the viewer to same on track and keep interest in the play. Ones imagination will help feel in the blanks when the unknown presents itself. If the participation in the play has full seeing /understanding it detracts from the expression ad drama of the play.

13.As a play, there's a lot that can and can not be done on stage. Explain why you think some things within this play in particular are done off stage.
             I feel there was a lot of conversation within the play of "Oedipus the King", an entire stage would not add nor detract from the play. There are also many of the scenes(ie. death of Jocasta) that would have offended many viewers. The use of ones imagination is the strongest setting for most views of this play.

14. Do you believe in fate? Explain fully your answer.
            I do believe in fate. Every step or choice one makes in life results in an outcome. I have known many of whom always seem to end up on top, just to find that the chosen road had a superb twist that they can not control nor avoid. I want to believe that if your soul is pure and you make choices for the best of all the road maybe bumpy but the outcome in your life will be smooth.

15. Explain how fate plays a role in Oedipus.
            The destiny had been prophesied, it was meant to be, and with all of the incomplete tasks it still came to be reality. Opedipus' life to end that was spared. Oedipus taken to another land, thought no way to meet Jocasta, and it still happened. The plight for Oedipus to find the murder of King Laius, to only find it to be himself. Fate was destined for Oedipus.

16. Have you ever thought how ironic this play is? It's weird how the events come together and make everything happen the way it does. If things wre to happen just a bit different the story would completely changed.

           All it would have needed to be was that as Oedipus grew up he met and loved someone close to him in his land. The next could have been was if he took Jocasta's  advice and drop the search for the killer of Laius, it would have not been pursued.

Extra : Name either one of the other two plays in Oedipus Trilogy-punctuation counts

 "Oedipus at Colonus"   and " Antigone" are the two other plays in the Oedipus Trilogy.

My view of "Oedipus the King"

"Oedipus the King" was a perfect example of if it could happen it would. I personally had a difficult time following the play. It seemed to move very slow to me. The pace of the play too on a whole new meaning after the retrieval of the old herdsman by the messengers. The play took lighting speed at that point. It was tragic to say the least. To have been sent to be killed by your mother, then left abandoned with a chance to have a wonderful life. A couple takes you in, you grow up and for what to meet your wife/mother. Then as a leader you attempt to right a wrong just to find you are the cause of the treacherous fate. It just seems such a twist of fate. Impossible to know that he could possibly be the guilty one, as prophesied. This play justifies the phrase " if it was meant to be, it will be".

"The Road Not Taken"

By: Robert Frost  Page 1067

I can relate so much to Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken". I myself find the interest of the road not commonly taken. Have you started down a road, where you could make one choice, but decided on the other? Did you have a a struggle or did it prove to be the best choice? I feel this is part of living. Some feel that life is predetermined. To each their own understanding, the choices we make will have an outcome. It is up to your path, your decisons, your ..road not taken.

"The Tyger"

By: William Blake  Page 769

Ok, honestly I was a little confused. I am not sure if I have it even now after I read it twice. I go from the tyger being and animal to the tyger being the power of the world. It talks a lot about power and the effects on the world. The last of the poem,

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

it is almost as if it is a literal fire, taking out everything in its path. If referring to power of God. It could be speaking of the awesome power in the world.
This is up to the readers interpretation. It will be interesting to see what everyone else will see.

"The Fish" (1946)

By: Elizabeth Bishop   Page 730

"The Fish" has a lot of imagery. As I read the poem and I saw the image of the fish. A warrior of his time. A survior of many "almost the catch". Looking into the writers eye, the fish with many lines and hooks all as ribbions of war and survial the achievment. The pattern of the poem made it easy to understand. Simple terms, simple items to relate in the enviroment. I would encourage everyone to enjoy the simpilcity of this poem. Give your mind a beautiful rest on a imaginative journey.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (1923)

By: Robert Frost  Page 637

"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" has a nice tone of relaxation. As I read this poem I can see myself on the horse, looking through the woods at the falling snow. I would take a deep breath and release it along with all the stresses I store from this world. Do you have your own escape? When life gets just a little too heavy, a little much to bare. It is good to have this place to regain your sanity.

I'm Nobody! Who Are You?

by Emily Dickinson  Page 1033

The poem "I'm Nobody! Who Are You", is so real to me. Has there been a time in your life you have felt that you are of little importance? I have experienced this feeling. As I read over the titles I knew I would relate. In everyone life there will or has been a time of depression. A time when you could not value your existence. I experienced this while married to an alcoholic husband for twelve very long years. By the grace if my God, I now know that I always had value. This value was just very hard to see through my experience. Finding ones' value is a tremendous relief. No matter how lost you may feel you are not alone in this world. Find your value!

What is poetry to you?

        The first thing that comes to mind for me is Shakesphere. "Romeo, Romeo, where forth art thou, Romeo". Totally insane right? Especially since that is not even poetry. I have not had a lot of exposure. But I am confident that is soon changing. Love letters and the childhood...Roses are red, violets are blue....everyone has had a poem read to you at some point in your life. Just what do they mean? Am I understanding it as the author meant it to be understood? To each their understanding. I am looking forward to this section of English 113.

An exerience of a lifetime

I had something happen yesterday that was awesome. Traveling back from Virginia I was on Interstate 81 almost at the North Carolina line when passing through I believe Fancy Gap. Two military airplanes, the small triangular ones, possibly MIGs came over the interstate. They maneuvered through the valley and one of them rolled and flew off over the mountain.  I was so overwhelmed with the variety of emotions. With everything going on in my "small" world, tsunami and reactor melt downs in Japan first response was fear. I was traveling alone hours from my family and waiting to see missiles drop from this plane out of no where. The next emotion was of awe how this well trained individual could handle that plane and scare the "stuff" out of me in just an instant. Needless to say the rest of my trip home was uneventful.

Just Curious

I have found myself a little stress honestly my own fault in completing the assignments. It has opened the opportunity to examine my time management skills, Thank you for that opportunity. If I am the only one feeling this stress, good for you. I know I plan to work on the poetry module at a different pace. I can say I have enjoyed the exposure to different literary examples.  Happy reading all!! I know we can make the grades we derserve.

"The Horse Dealer's Daughter" by D.H Lawrence

The following are the characters and their characteristics portrayed in the story.

Mabel  sister of the three men...a loner..aware of her own self worth: she feels she is subject to the Dr. Fergusson  because he took time to care for her

Joe  the oldest brother: without a sense of direction: felt her had control over the others. After the death of the mother, he feels he must protect the family.

four horses: two named  one the groom : the head of the group and cavalcade middle

Fred Henry: the second brother...one not to be controlled...self minded

Malcom : the youngest of the brothers

Dr. Fergusson: hired assitant

"The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe

It was just about a year ago when I met this person. She was a lot of the "perfect" things I was not. Funny, attractive had the "perfect" life growing up, silver spoon, all good things given. I had the privilege to develop her into my sales partner. We were to be the dynamic team. I poured six months teaching her all the experience of twenty three years. Then it was bound to happen, she attempted to use the skills I had bestowed to her and take an account from me.  I felt betrayed and isolated myself from her. I then watched her struggle and offered no assistance until finally she found her failure and left our company. The spirit of perverseness was sweet. I did not feel guilt only satisfaction once she was gone.

"The Curse" by Andre Dubus

I had a close friend who lead a troubled life. She was married to a man who could not appreciate the dedication of her to their family. One aftenoon she and her daughter arrived at my home. The daughter was bouncing around the house with a cute brown puppy. It had been a birthday present and turned terrribly wrong. My friend's abusive husband had the puppy locked in the garage and it chewed all the wires in his motorcycle. I listened horrified by the story of this cute little puppy becoming a the center of this evil mans anger. My guest packed up thier things, said their goodbyes and headed to the door. In just a second I looked down seeing this wide eyed puppy. I picked up the puppy and headed out the door to see my friend with her window down pleding with me to take the puppy.  Chelse has been a faithful compainon for over ten years

Blue Winds Dancing, Tom Whitecloud p.313

The mist of the air passed in front of the motorcycle.  A cool chill pressed over my skin and the hair rose in the goose bumps of my arm. I tugged at the jacket zipper of my leather coat. I passed the curve in the next turn and the mist rose from the valley. The roar of motorcycle rang on the walls of the mountain. My heart filled with the vibration of the excitement of the ride.

"Luck"

Mark Twain

An experience I recently had where I felt I was lucky happened was on a rainy Monday morning. I was headed back to my vehicle after calling on a customer and looked on the ground. A wet folded five dollar bill was on the ground. It was early in the morning and no one was in the parking lot. I picked this dollar bill up and placed it on the dash of my vehicle. During the morning the heat from the vehicle dried the dollar bill I had almost made the decison on where my found five dollar bill would provide me lunch when the air rushed into my window and the found five dollar bill was wisked out of the passenger side window into the busy highway. I learned just how quick ones luck can turn.

"A Jury of Her Peers"

Susan Glaspell

The two marriages are similar in a couple of ways.  First the  women in the stories are isolated from their husbands, not physically but mentally. The love between husbands and wives are not always perfect but these two examples are not any where close. The differences in the women is most noted how they display their emotions.  The similarities in the men could be noted by the willingness to provide for women they are unemotionally attracted. The differences would be that one of the men lived when the second perished.

Cathedral

 Raymond Carver p. 180

Even the small things in life can be the most profound.  In my day to day activites I come in contact with many different kinds of people. This day was like many of the rest. I arrived at an accounts garage. Soon I noticed a man in dark glasses walking with a cane crossing the street behind my car. I watched the man walk across the parking lot to the opposite end of the building. I knew that this man had to be turned around so being the "happy to help" kind of person I am I walked up to this man offered my arm and lead him into the building.  I listened in a little on the conversation the owner and this man were having, This man I just helped across the parking lot was running for city concil. Funny wasn't it how I was not sure this guy could make it the door will be making decisons for our entire city.

Neighbors

Raymond Carver

I see minimalism as the bare bones in a writing style. Enough to keep your interest but without the clutter.  The story line seems to flow smoothly and I can follow along with ease. Everyone enjoys diufferent styles in literature I guess it would be a mix for me. My imagination can be carried way with detail but my mind can enjoy the rest in a simplistic view of Raymond Carver's minimalistic style demonstrated in Neighbors.

The examples are endless in this piece, Neighbors. One that overall stood out to me was how when Bill entered the Miller's home he would almost go into another enchanting land. He would look into drawers taking pill bottles that was not again mentioned and trying on both  Jim and Harriet's clothing just to return across the hall back into his life. This must have been exciting to some point for him because on page 138 after Bill left the Miller's feeding Kitty, Arlene asked him what took him so long he replied"Nothing. Playing with Kitty" he said, and went over to her and touched her breasts. "Let's go to bed, honey," he said. Then later on Bill cut some of his break short to be able to leave work a few minutes early only to suprise Arlene with something on his mind.

Another overall theme that caught my attention was how most of the descriptive text was used with describing the Miller's home. It was as if that was where the action was taking place so he devoted the labor of describing the items at he Miller's home. On page 138 he describes...." opening the cupboards and naming the canned goods, the cereals, the packaged foods, the cocktail and wine glasses,the china,the pots and pans." It was almost like he was taking inventory of the kitchen. We were not exposed to any details of Bill and Arlene's home.

 By the way, what happened to Kitty. I am not certain that the Miller's returned before Kitty famished. Remember these were the responsible neighbors it may be weeks before they return, poor Kitty. The ending allowed the reader many ways to end the story.

A Rose for Emily

William Faulkner

Imperviousness
1- not able to be penetrated as by water, light,etc; impermeable
2- not able to be influenced by or not receptive to; impervious to argument

Pg 92.
"It was as if she demanded more than ever he recognition of her dignity as last Grierson; as if it had wanted that touch of earthiness to reaffirm her imperviousness."
Definition.com

While reading A Rose for Emily, I experienced a wide range of emotions.  The character of Miss Emily is a strong will woman whose imperviousness of the locals demonstrated directly to government officials. 

This story demonstrates the imperviousness in the character of Miss Emily from the beginning how the house is kept isolated from the entire world. Sunlight had not be on many of the furnishings for many years.  The impervious nature of the relationship Miss Emily has with Homer. After death Miss Emily would not separate from her love even after death. To understand the definition of imperviousness brings home the clear picture of the darkness in her soul.

 I think Faulkner successfully creates the tone of the story with the colorfulness in vocabulary.

Welcome

It looks like we are all going to have new exposure to ways of communication.

 Creating this blog has been both exciting and frustrating. 

I plan to share as much creativity that my imagination has to offer. 

Happy Reading :D