Post #9: Canongate Myth Series Prompted Writing
Prompt: 2007, Form B. Work of literature often depict acts of betrayal. Friends and even family may betray a protagonist; main characters may likewise be guilty of treachery or may betray their own values. Select a novel or play that includes such acts of betrayal. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the nature of the betrayal and show how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
My Essay:
In Dream Angus by Alexander Mccall Smith, many varying examples of betrayal can be recognized throughout the text. Through first-person narration, Smith demonstrates the ability of the character to utilize their dreams and Angus to grasp a better understanding of the reality, that is filled with betrayal, around them. Smith uses multiple stories to argue that, through your dreams and subconscious, you are give the ability to rethink your reality and discover solutions to your most pressing issues.
Smith sets up the recurring theme of betrayal by introducing it very early on in the text. He does this by acknowledging the that Angus' childhood is completely built on the idea of betrayal. Dagda, Angus' father, betrays Angus' mother, Boann, by kidnapping Angus from her almost immediately after she gave birth to him. Angus is also misled for a majority of his childhood because he was told that his brother, Midir, was his father and not Dagda. Smith creates these ideas of betrayal in Angus' young life to give the reader a better understanding of Angus while also alluding to how Angus came to understand those that he helps in his dreams. Angus shows a pattern of helping those who are in a time of need and are feeling betrayed in one way or another. He also shows hostility towards those who are betraying people who cares for. This helps the reader understand the deeper connection between Angus and those he visits.
While Angus is alluded to throughout the text, he is not always directly present. In one instance we meet a keeper who takes care of pigs at a science lab. He had developed a relationship with the pigs he cares for, and while it is never directly stated that it is Angus, previous chapters and characterization allude to the idea that it could be. The keeper decides to kidnap a pig that the lab is planning to kill, despite it being a bio hazard. This entire situation can relate back to how Angus is utilized. The keeper is given a dream-like quality about him so obvious, the secretary begins to dream of him from time to time. If she hadn't been dreaming of him, she probably would've never gathered the courage to be able to ask him whether he took the missing pig. She then talks some sense into the keeper and manages to convince him to return to the pig. This particular portion of the text provides an example of a problem that was dealt with because of Angus' help. Because the problem wasn't that the pig was going to be killed. The problem was the keepers' close relationship with the pigs. He had been warned by practically everyone working at the facility that it is the best to not develop a relationship with the pigs and he simply didn't listen. But, because of the persuasiveness of the secretary, he changed his point of view and did what was for the best. By creating the example, Smith adds to the overall idea that your subconscious can completely alter your reality. The keeper betrayed the workplace that had kept him employed all those years and then fixed that betrayal because of a couple dreams his secretary had about him.
Another key example involved a woman who discovered her husband was cheating on her. She decides to see a therapist to help her cope with this issue. The therapist aids her in letting go by lucid dreaming. Smith does this to create an obvious allusion to Angus without him being directly mentioned. The woman is able to let go and her story ends with her speaking to her husband, something she wouldn't have been able to do before. Because of the lucid dreaming and the tapping into her subconscious, she was able to rethink her new reality and let go. It gave her a new perspective, a new window into her problem. Which allows her to become free.
Betrayl doesn't always come from an outside source. Smith makes that evident when Angus goes against his own ways because he falls in love with a swan maiden named Caer. Angus is knwon for having lots of affection from others. He avoids ever returning this affection. Until he meets Caer. Angus becomes dangerously ill while he send people out to track Caer down. This alludes to form of punishment against himself for letting himself catch genuine feelings for someone. In a way, Angus had betrayed himself, gone against his own rules. As a result, he attacks himself. By doing this, Smith alludes to the idea that one can betray themselves. Angus is not well until Caer is found and by then, he is content with being in love. Angus would have dreams of Caer that would aid him in becoming comfortable with the new idea that he could be in true love, despite it going against everything he believes.
Smith creates the idea that your subconscious and your dreams can help solve problems in your reality. The characters in the text, in some way, shape, or form, need Angus to help them become content with their new reality The characters all show and understanding of this in the end.
My Score: 5
Reflection:
I was being asked to write an essay analyzing how acts of betrayal contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole.
I gave myself a score of 5 because I felt like I spent too much time summarizing instead of analyzing, but I think I did a pretty good job articulating the analyzing that I did do.
What score did your teacher give you and why?: 6 because I responded with a plausible contribution to the meaning. But it wasn't very thorough.
The scores are similar/different because: The scores are different because Ms. Wilson gave me a higher score than what I gave myself. I think I was a little bit too harsh on myself.
The most relevant and useful part of the task is being given time to practice writing essays with prompts that are similar to those on the exam. Also being able to examine a completely different type of essay in which you can enter the essay with some form of preparation since it is based on text you know you are familiar with.
It is similar to the last essay we wrote, because it was an open question essay, but it was a completely different prompt.
I have learned that I need to focus less on summarizing and more on analyzing and I need to develop my analysis more.
One on one:
What score did you give yourself, and why?: I gave myself a 5 because I feel like I misinterpreted parts of the betrayal and could've analyzed more.
What are two strategies you have just learned about that you believe will help improve your score in the future?: Three sentence thesis and tone shifts
My Essay:
In Dream Angus by Alexander Mccall Smith, many varying examples of betrayal can be recognized throughout the text. Through first-person narration, Smith demonstrates the ability of the character to utilize their dreams and Angus to grasp a better understanding of the reality, that is filled with betrayal, around them. Smith uses multiple stories to argue that, through your dreams and subconscious, you are give the ability to rethink your reality and discover solutions to your most pressing issues.
Smith sets up the recurring theme of betrayal by introducing it very early on in the text. He does this by acknowledging the that Angus' childhood is completely built on the idea of betrayal. Dagda, Angus' father, betrays Angus' mother, Boann, by kidnapping Angus from her almost immediately after she gave birth to him. Angus is also misled for a majority of his childhood because he was told that his brother, Midir, was his father and not Dagda. Smith creates these ideas of betrayal in Angus' young life to give the reader a better understanding of Angus while also alluding to how Angus came to understand those that he helps in his dreams. Angus shows a pattern of helping those who are in a time of need and are feeling betrayed in one way or another. He also shows hostility towards those who are betraying people who cares for. This helps the reader understand the deeper connection between Angus and those he visits.
While Angus is alluded to throughout the text, he is not always directly present. In one instance we meet a keeper who takes care of pigs at a science lab. He had developed a relationship with the pigs he cares for, and while it is never directly stated that it is Angus, previous chapters and characterization allude to the idea that it could be. The keeper decides to kidnap a pig that the lab is planning to kill, despite it being a bio hazard. This entire situation can relate back to how Angus is utilized. The keeper is given a dream-like quality about him so obvious, the secretary begins to dream of him from time to time. If she hadn't been dreaming of him, she probably would've never gathered the courage to be able to ask him whether he took the missing pig. She then talks some sense into the keeper and manages to convince him to return to the pig. This particular portion of the text provides an example of a problem that was dealt with because of Angus' help. Because the problem wasn't that the pig was going to be killed. The problem was the keepers' close relationship with the pigs. He had been warned by practically everyone working at the facility that it is the best to not develop a relationship with the pigs and he simply didn't listen. But, because of the persuasiveness of the secretary, he changed his point of view and did what was for the best. By creating the example, Smith adds to the overall idea that your subconscious can completely alter your reality. The keeper betrayed the workplace that had kept him employed all those years and then fixed that betrayal because of a couple dreams his secretary had about him.
Another key example involved a woman who discovered her husband was cheating on her. She decides to see a therapist to help her cope with this issue. The therapist aids her in letting go by lucid dreaming. Smith does this to create an obvious allusion to Angus without him being directly mentioned. The woman is able to let go and her story ends with her speaking to her husband, something she wouldn't have been able to do before. Because of the lucid dreaming and the tapping into her subconscious, she was able to rethink her new reality and let go. It gave her a new perspective, a new window into her problem. Which allows her to become free.
Betrayl doesn't always come from an outside source. Smith makes that evident when Angus goes against his own ways because he falls in love with a swan maiden named Caer. Angus is knwon for having lots of affection from others. He avoids ever returning this affection. Until he meets Caer. Angus becomes dangerously ill while he send people out to track Caer down. This alludes to form of punishment against himself for letting himself catch genuine feelings for someone. In a way, Angus had betrayed himself, gone against his own rules. As a result, he attacks himself. By doing this, Smith alludes to the idea that one can betray themselves. Angus is not well until Caer is found and by then, he is content with being in love. Angus would have dreams of Caer that would aid him in becoming comfortable with the new idea that he could be in true love, despite it going against everything he believes.
Smith creates the idea that your subconscious and your dreams can help solve problems in your reality. The characters in the text, in some way, shape, or form, need Angus to help them become content with their new reality The characters all show and understanding of this in the end.
My Score: 5
Reflection:
I was being asked to write an essay analyzing how acts of betrayal contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole.
I gave myself a score of 5 because I felt like I spent too much time summarizing instead of analyzing, but I think I did a pretty good job articulating the analyzing that I did do.
What score did your teacher give you and why?: 6 because I responded with a plausible contribution to the meaning. But it wasn't very thorough.
The scores are similar/different because: The scores are different because Ms. Wilson gave me a higher score than what I gave myself. I think I was a little bit too harsh on myself.
The most relevant and useful part of the task is being given time to practice writing essays with prompts that are similar to those on the exam. Also being able to examine a completely different type of essay in which you can enter the essay with some form of preparation since it is based on text you know you are familiar with.
It is similar to the last essay we wrote, because it was an open question essay, but it was a completely different prompt.
I have learned that I need to focus less on summarizing and more on analyzing and I need to develop my analysis more.
One on one:
What score did you give yourself, and why?: I gave myself a 5 because I feel like I misinterpreted parts of the betrayal and could've analyzed more.
What are two strategies you have just learned about that you believe will help improve your score in the future?: Three sentence thesis and tone shifts
What can I do to help support your learning and your preparation for the next prompt or multiple choice question set?: Keep introducing new strategies that we can use and aid in sharing more about how to write essays for the AP Lit exam and what they are looking for.
My score improved since my last essay and I think that's because I was able to fit in more analysis and I articulated my essay better overall.
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