World Record!!!

O Music Awards: Watch Chiddy Bang Attempt To Freestyle For More Than NINE HOURS

Watch it live here:http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2011/04/28/o-music-awards-chiddy-bang-attempt-freestyle-rap-nine-hours-omas/

Discussion Responses 2

1) Why did Tweedy marry Malcolm if she hardly knows "who he is?"

2) The characters often times discuss catastrophe and its emotional appeal. Is this a real life feeling or is it exaggerated?

3) What is the point of the low humor on pages 67-69?

4) Does the strange and absurd Treadwell story mean anything? Or is it meant just to be absurd?

5) If Babette is teaching a class on sitting, standing, and walking, how did the people get there? What do the classes she teaches suggest about society?

Hamlet 3.3

1. The King enters with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern at the beginning of the scene. The King informs the two of them that he would like them to take Hamlet to England for him to be killed. Polonius then tells the King that Hamlet is going to talk to his mother momentarily. Polonius states that he will stay to over hear the conversation. The King then goes into a soliloquy where he shows that he feels the guilt of what he has done but can not ask for full forgiveness because he is still in the process of doing some of these terrible things, like killing Hamlet and marrying his brother's wife. As he is confessing his sins, Hamlet sneaks into the room and holds a sword to the King's head but draws it back because he would rather kill the King when he is doing something sinful, so he will go to hell rather than heaven (because he was confessing).

2. This scene is very significant because Hamlet had a chance to kill the King but did not take it because of his strong religious belief. He wanted the King to really pay and go to hell after the murder, rather than go to heaven because of his confession.

4. Hamlet says "that his heels may kick at heaven, and that his soul may be damned and black as hell." This shows Hamlet's strong passion to get a satisfying revenge. During Hamlet's speech, he talks himself out of killing him right there. The audience really gets to understand how Hamlet feels at that moment and is really in his head. As he speaks aloud he decides he will Kill him at a better time.

Hamlet 3.1

1. This scene opens with the the King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. They are discussing why Hamlet may be mad. Rosencrantz and Guildernstern leave and the King and Polonius decide that they will use Ophelia as bait to further understand Hamlet. When Hamlet enters, they withdraw and watch. Hamlet gives his third soliloquy and then realizes Ophelia is present. He then proceeds to argue with her until he realizes that he has been betrayed and they are watching him. The King and Polonius then decide that they will send Hamlet to England.

2. Without this scene the play would lose a lot because it is here that the King decides that he must do away with Hamlet, so time is running out for either the King to get rid of Hamlet or Hamlet kill the King.

4. The King says "Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England." This line means that not only are they going to send Hamlet to England but they are going to have him killed there. It would hurt the King's reputation if he killed Hamlet because Hamlet is incredibly popular. The deed must be done secretively out of the country. Sending someone to "England" has a deeper, darker meaning.

Discussion Responses

1. A Summer’s Day - What is the significance of the station wagons?

There is a great deal of significance associated with the station wagons. To begin with the station wagons arrival signifies the cyclic years that go by, with very little change. Jack in the first chapter acts as an observer as the station wagons arrive. As he observes, he also stereotypes the college students. He groups them all together as the same kids because they all, in his mind, drive station wagons. Him and his wife term the even the arrival of station wagons to poke fun at the conformity and lack of individuality society has at times.

2. Fifteen Miles East - Analyze the statement "Everything is concealed in symbolism, hidden by vails of mystery and layers of cultural material (37)."

This statement seems to be humorous because Murray seems to over think the world. He over generalizes that every single thing is symbolism. This is funny because it is exactly how we would expect a college professor to think. The theory he proposes seems a bit farfetched, characterizing Murray himself as intelligent but maybe a bit crazy. Murray engulfs himself in thought, rather than living in the moment. Saying everything is “concealed in symbolism” means he believes there may be much more to life and simple things than what is presented before him. This line certainly shows his enthusiasm and belief in philosophy.

3. She Said She Said- I've noticed numerous short sentences in this chapter and throughout the book concerning the murmer of mechanical things and technology. For instance, "Blue jeans tumbled in the dreyer." What is the significance of these seemingly random sentences?

These short sentences are significant because they bring a sense of normality to a very abnormal family. Jack himself has had four wives and many children, and now he lives in a household randomly composed of children from past marriages and Babette’s children. Not only do these short sentences involving technology suggest normality but they also show what social class they are of and the modern time frame. These sentences are very random but they help develop the family as middle class members of society. As technology advances and surrounds them, Jack still dwells in the past at times, teaching history.

White Noise Discussion Questions

1. Why does DeLillo use long, extensive lists with uncommon items to describe the college students and their arrival?

3. Does the title "Gladney's Hitler" make Jack seem important on the campus or unessential?

5. How is Murray different than Jack based on dialog?

7. What is the importance of the reappearing question "who will die first"?

9. Why is the school evacuation played off as not too serious? There is little discussion of it... why?

11. How do Babette's memory problems help to characterize her?

Hamlet 2.2

1. Scene 2.2 is an incredibly long scene with a great deal of action and information for the audience. At the beginning of the scene the King meets with his two new spies Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who are friends of Hamlets from school. They are to find out what is wrong with Hamlet and what is causing his extreme grief. The ambassadors then enter with news that Fortinbras' uncle has yelled at Fortinbras for preparing to attack and has sent him to attack the "polack" instead. The king gives Fortinbras permission to cross there land to Poland. Polonius then enters and states that he has found the reason Hamlet is so upset. He says that Hamlet is so madly in love with Ophelia that he is acting strangely. He reads a letter from Hamlet to Ophelia out loud to the King and Queen. Hamlet also meets with Polonius a few times in this scene, where he acts mad and mocks Polonius, although Polonius does not realize that Hamlet is making fun of him. Hamlet then meets with the spies and figures them out with haste. He is informed by them that actors have arrived and this excites Hamlet greatly. He goes to them, treating them like royalty, and even puts on a bit of acting himself before the leader of the troop acts a scene out for him. Hamlet asks the actors to do a play called the Murder of Gonzago and even add in his own lines. They agree to do it and then Hamlet begins his second soliloquy.

2. This scene develops Hamlet greatly through his dialog and soliloquy, showing how he is torn between the "golden times" and the new age of reason. Most importantly, Hamlet lays out a plan to discovering if his Uncle is truly guilty, and if so he will act.

3. Hamlet- Why have you waited so long to act and kill your Uncle. Hamlet- why do you mock Polonius, out of fun or to prove a point? King- are you sending the spies because you think Hamlet may know about the murder you committed? Hamlet- Why do you switch back and forth between faith and reason? Queen- do you really not know that your new husband killed your old one?