Journal Prompt 9/11

Most of you were too young to remember this day, but a number of people undoubtedly recall this day as if it were yesterday.

Is it . . . appropriate? (perhaps it’s never appropriate) Is it okay [tolerable] to allude to this day in literature, in film? Is it ever okay? As a society, where do we draw the moral line? Where do you draw it as an individual?

Language Play!

Puns & Double Meanings

Shakespeare put

3,000 puns into his

plays.

He drove his expensive car into a tree and found out how the Mercedes bends.

The Ticks Douglas Florian

Not gigan-tic.Not roman-tic.Not artis-tic.Not majes-tic.Not magne-tic.Nor aesthe-tic.Ticks are strictly parasi-tic.

Invented Words• Shakespeare invented over 1,000 words that are now full-

fledged members of the English language including . . . – Amazement– Gossip – Torture – Tranquil – Dwindle– Entomb – Coldblooded– Deafening

Jabberwocky—Lewis CarrollTwas brillig, and the slithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe:All mimsy were the borogoves,And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!Beware the Jubjub bird, and shunThe frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;Long time the manxome foe he sought—So rested he by the Tumtum treeAnd stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!He left it dead, and with its headHe went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?Come to my arms, my beamish boy!O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!” He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe:All mimsy were the borogoves,And the mome raths outgrabe.

If you are going to invent words, make sure your reader

understands the context.

Idioms & Expressions

• An idiom is a phrase whose meaning cannot be determined by the literal definition of the phrase itself, but refers to a figurative meaning known only through common use.

• Examples . . .– I thought we were on the same page.– I dodged a bullet when Mike picked up the check.– I have one more trick up my sleeve.

Where do these idioms and expressions come from?

• Myths & fables: Achilles heel, sour grapes• War: shell-shocked, bite the bullet• Theater: break a leg, bring down the house• Sports: two strikes against you, down to the

wire• Business: downsize• Aeronautics: pushing the envelope and

Houston, we have a problem• Religion: turn the other cheek and an eye for

an eye, a tooth for a tooth

And of course . . . Shakespeare

• A laughingstock • A sorry sight• As dead as a doornail• Fair play• I will wear my heart upon my sleeve• In a pickle • Send him packing• There’s method in my madness• Too much of a good thing• Vanish into thin air

Allusions

• An allusion is an implied or direct reference to almost anything: a person, place, myth, movie, or historical event.

• Although some allusions are direct and explicit, writers frequently do not explain their allusions. By not explaining an allusion you create a space, making room for the reader to become cocreator.

More play!

• Metaphors • Similes• Hyperbole• Onomatopoeia• Alliteration • Anagrams

Anagrams

Look at meOnly one I seeVeryExtraordinary

William Shakespeare= I'll make a wise phraseThe eyes = They seeA Decimal Point = I'm a Dot in PlaceChristine = Nice ShirtiPod lover = Poor devillisten = silent

So . . . Why play with language?• to give emphasis to a particular section of text• to sharpen the meaning• to create a surprise or unexpected effect• to make one part sound more melodious • to be playful for its own sake• to be clever• to inject a jolt of humor• to be rebellious• to keep my readers on their toes• to keep myself alert

Practice

Find three examples of language play in . . .– Newspaper– Magazine– Previous student work– Poems– Previous text message?

Record or cut and paste these examples in your journal

What do all of these facets of play have in common?

• Movement • Engaging on multiple levels• Appeals to the senses• Use of space• Technique – There needs to be an understanding of the basics

in order to enhance play (example: a child’s play)

What are basic elements of writing?

• Sentence structure (referring to sentence combination and arrangement)

• Organization• Diction • Voice • Clarity• Unity

Practice

• In groups of three or four, each person writes down a sentence (try to avoid simple—try compound, complex—incorporate details and images). You are writing for one minute until I say pass. The next person reads the sentence(s) and adds to the story/poem/whatever is happening on the page. After two minutes, you will pass it. Then the next person takes three minutes, and so on.

commonly overused words?

p. 650