Continuing on with the DIDLS explanation from the last course response, we went on to learn about syntax. Though we did a lot of in class exercises, I’m still struggling with trying to distinguish different types of syntax. It’s not clicking for me as fast as I would like it to. Unlike a lot of my peers, I’m not jumping at sentences and attacking papers syntactically. I guess it doesn’t come as easily as the diction, imagery, detail, and language aspect of DIDLS because it’s really not something that we’re exposed to in more basic English classes.
We’ve also been studying a lot about drama in the past few weeks. After reading the book chapter about drama, I felt like everything was pretty straightforward. Yes, I know what plot is. Yes, I know what a foil character is. And yes, I even can distinguish the different types of irony.
But then reading all the hand outs on the types of drama made me realize how vast the genre is. How changing one small thing can alter the entire course of where the drama goes. Though the different types of comedy are still processing in my brain, it’s definitely interesting to look at drama through a literary standpoint rather than from an audience perspective. It’s cool to see the different techniques come together rather nicely to gain a specific desired emotion from the audience.
What I’ve really taken away from the past few weeks has really revolved around Edward Albee’s Zoo Story. I think it’s a great text for a high school audience because it’s short, decently fast paced, and above all, has sexual jokes. Teenagers are immature. They laugh at words like poop. So of course, they’re going to love all these random sexual terms they’ve never heard of like “rub uglies” and “getting fresh” (Albee). Though I really enjoyed the play, I found it hard to apply the concepts I read in the textbook to the play.
I was glad to see that you are able to recognize when you are not understanding something completely and rather than become frustrated, pursue greater knowledge instead. This is a great characteristic to have as a student, and I feel like it will come in handy as we continue with our learning in this class.
ReplyDeleteYes! I feel the same way about syntax! I find myself constantly referring to that packet we were given in class. Without it, I can’t seem to recognize any syntax. It’s been rough with that aspect of DIDLS so far.
ReplyDeleteI agree that drama is a very large genre of writing, and it’s one that I feel we have the least experience or knowledge about. Elementary school simply didn’t prepare us for dramas as well as it did for novels.
I am guilty of loving sexual innuendo in plays. I just find it too funny. I guess your right, we teenagers are quite immature. So I guess I will go ahead and read Zoo Story. I mean, it came with The American Dream after all…
I too struggle with syntax the most!!!! And I also was amazed when we learned about the different types of drama, how much I was unaware of! I laughed at the sexual jokes part and I agree with Amir, as jejune as it is, I also like them. Nice work!
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