The first thing we have done in class that I want to comment on is the multiple choice practice. The AP multiple choice questions are quite difficult, but I noticed that the questions were pretty well written. Whenever I got one wrong, I could see where I went wrong and why the correct answer was what it was. The thing I think I have to work on most for the multiple choice questions is reading quickly. The passages found in the multiple choice section are long and often confusing and contain long and complex sentences, composed of multiple clauses, similar to this one, which often obscure, cloud and otherwise make unclear the meaning that the author had intended. The multiple choice questions we practiced at home work took me a lot longer than the time we get on the AP test, and most of it was spent reading the passages rather than answering the questions.
In class we have finally finished Hamlet and moved on to "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead". So far this new play doesn't seem as complicated as Ms. Holmes hinted when we started it. So far the first act just seemed like a string of dirty jokes. The second act is a little better, and it seems like the author is trying to say a few things that I haven't quite picked up on yet. The thing I am wondering about most is why Rosencrantz and Guildenstern seem to switch roles for the second act. This play is also a nice break from the complex Elizabethan English from Hamlet; it's a lot easier to read and understand the normal dialogue between the characters.
I hope we don't spend as long on this play as we did on Hamlet. I'm getting a little sick of plays. It's good to study them all at once so that we remember everything and can compare the differences, but it's getting a little monotonous, and I'm excited to get to the non-play part of the course.
Hi Greg, great post! I too find that the multiple choice questions are difficult and answering them in the the given amount of time is challenging. "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" did seem easy to understand at first but it has not been my favorite play so far, I preferred reading and analyzing "Hamlet". I did find the connection between the two to be interesting though. They both question destiny and whether or not one has the ability to direct his life. Depending on how one views Hamlet's life, he could conclude that Hamlet has more control compared to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
ReplyDeleteThe multiple choice questions are a challenge. During the AP exam we want to read closely enough and carefully enough that we understand it ,but not too closely that we lose time. I liked your description of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and want to start reading books instead of plays too.
ReplyDeleteThe multiple choice practice is something that's a little hard, because, like you said, even though it's easy to get the answer wrong, it's also easy to see why you did.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead- it isn't nearly as complex to read as Ms. Holmes said it was, however, I did feel like some of the things at the end were very deep, philosophically.