This is getting a little ridiculous How Absurd This is getting a little ridiculous Week 2, Day Three

Journal Writing 2 Minutes Write about your day using stream of consciousness. Stream of consciousness: a literary style in which a character's thoughts, feelings, and reactions are depicted in a continuous flow uninterrupted by objective description or conventional dialogue. Think Holden Caulfield.

Journal Writing: Follow Up 2-3 Minutes What do you notice about your writing when you use stream of consciousness? Do any of your sentences demonstrate stylistic maturity? Why or why not?

today Review characterization and determine character descriptions based on evidence from the text Discuss how absurdism functions as criticism of contemporary society

Characterization Characterization: is the way an author brings a character to life What are the essential components for characterization? Physical descriptions Actions, gestures, movements Dialogue

Characterization Characterization: is the way an author brings a character to life What are the essential components for characterization? What other characters say about them (behind their backs). Character motivations Character internal thoughts (like about how awesome they think their English class is).

Characterization Worksheet

Mr. Prosser Trait: Petulant (easily irritated and upset) Elements that support this trait: Dialogue, actions, internal thoughts. Evidence of internal thoughts: “Mr. Prosser’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times while his mind was for a moment filled with inexplicable but terribly attractive visions of Arthur Dent’s house being consumed with fire and Arthur himself running and screaming from the blazing ruin with at least three hefty spears protruding from his back” (9).

Characterization Worksheet You have 8 minutes to work on this individually. Then you will have 5 minutes to work with a partner. Image credit: https://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_ford_prefect

BACK TO YOUR SEATS You have 15 seconds.

Absurdism The Literature of the Absurd had its origins in the Theatre of the Absurd, notably following the first and second world wars.  Specifically, this absurdity is the result of a sense of disillusionment with rationalism. Disillusionment: disenchantment, disappointment, letdown Rationalism attempted to justify the exploitation of the working class and poor, the affluence of the rich, the wanton yet condoned destructiveness of two world wars, and the unquestioned belief in evolution and progress. 

Absurdism Several things eroded a sense of confidence in the future of the world at this time: The destruction of belief in automatic social & biological progress decline of religious faith discovery of vast areas of irrational and unconscious forces within the human mind loss of a sense of control over human development  in an age of totalitarianism weapons of mass destruction and mass persuasion

Function of Absurdist Literature The Literature of the absurd attempts to depict an incongruous caricature of our world; a world without faith, meaning, direction or freedom of will.  One key aspect of absurdism is the idea of alienation and isolation. Can you see evidence today of how humans have isolated themselves from the earth and each other?

Function of Absurdist Literature The meaningless and fecklessness (loss of a sense of direction and purpose) of life is depicted as rambling and often chaotic structure of the story.  Nothing is sequential and nothing follows from that which went before.

Function of Absurdist Literature There seems little rhyme or reason for many decisions that are made- they are whimsical and illogical. We often call this “bureaucratic red tape” when applied to government and corporations. The Literature of the Absurd shows the world as an incomprehensible place.  Distortions occur both in time and place that perplex us. 

Seriously, write this down. HOMEWORK Read chapters 5 & 6. Be prepared to share one example of understatement and one example of overstatement/hyperbole. Seriously, write this down.