Author: Anna Castagnella

A Letter to Charles Dickens

On By Anna CastagnellaIn 19th Century Literature, Creative Blogs2 Comments

Dear Charles Dickens,
I am writing this letter to commend you on your exemplary depiction of real deficiencies in human behaviour and criticism of the education system in the Victorian era seen in ‘Hard Times’. I am in admiration of your novel as it exposes the negative effect of industrialisation on society as people became overly concerned with statistics and factual information. I can relate to your feelings of great disdain towards Gradgrind’s education system that focuses on the consumption of information, specifically calculations and figures. I believe that the character of Gradgrind perfectly epitomises authoritative figures in the Victorian age who thought that people should only be concerned with facts and this is all that children should be taught at school for creativity and imaginative processes are impractical. This belief that many people carried at the time was problematic as necessary human qualities such as compassion and modesty were dismissed due to the primary focus on information. I think you portray this brilliantly through Gradgrind’s influence over his children as he becomes disappointed and manipulative when Tom and Louisa show interest in the circus. They are taught to not be imaginative and wander about the world, which creates real human deficiencies such as the inability to form genuine connections with people and the deprivation of joy. These characters are a reflection of people in society, urging for change to be made which I think is admirable. Therefore I would like to say thank you for writing your novel.

Kind Regards,
Anna

Reviewing Victoria’s Blog

On By Anna CastagnellaIn Peer Reviews, Shakespeare and the RenaissanceLeave a comment

Link to Victoria’s Blog: https://victoriamartin.art.blog/2020/04/14/would-shakespeare-be-catfishings-next-victim/

Hi Victoria, I chose to peer review your blog this week as I was immediately intrigued by your title and curious to see how you were going to relate such a contemporary concept to Shakespearean times. I think you structured this really well, first explaining the notion of catfishing, and then incorporating two texts from the Renaissance to strengthen your argument. I like your use of rhetorical questions by asking the audience “ would Shakespeare fall victim to cat fishing?” and making me think about my own opinion. My only thought for improvement is that it could have been more effective to introduce your stance on this statement earlier in your blog rather than right at the end, therefore you could use your analysis of texts to further justify your argument, rather than a short statement right at the end. Overall, great job 🙂

Reviewing Teneille’s Blog

On By Anna CastagnellaIn 19th Century Literature, Peer ReviewsLeave a comment

Link to Teneille’s Blog https://thebestofliterature.art.blog/2020/03/16/wise-passiveness/

Hello Teneille, I really enjoyed your blog on ‘Expostulation and Reply’ as you clearly have a well-developed understanding of how one must be engaged in their surroundings to evoke a deeper understanding of the world – a theme that is addressed in many of Wordsworth’s writings. I liked how you immediately acknowledged the oxymoron of “wise passiveness” and used this to drive the rest of your blog, as well as adding in your own insight and experiences. When I read this poem, I was intrigued by Wordsworth’s argument that nature is the main source of intellect and that only by engaging with nature can one truly understand themselves and the world, and access knowledge. You touch on this when you mention that “Wordsworth writes that this form of understanding is not something that can be taught from books or logical thought” and when you say that “you might find [this knowledge] on a walk in spring, where the flowers bloom and glow beneath golden hours” but I would have loved to see even more on the significance of nature as this was a strong belief of Wordsworth’s.

Milford Sound

On By Anna CastagnellaIn 19th Century Literature, Critical Blogs1 Comment

After viewing a wide range of artworks at the NSW Art Gallery, the one that made the strongest impression on me was Eugene Von Guerard’s painting “Milford Sound” as it captures the sublimity of nature brilliantly. This painting amplified my understanding of Romanticism as it dismisses Enlightenment ideals that focused on scientific reason and hierarchal status, but rather depicts the sublimity of nature. This notion of nature being superior and powerful was a typically Romantic concept.

I was instantly mesmerised by the vastness of the landscape Von Geurard has painted. My eyes were drawn to the salience of the lake, and then my eyes wandered up the mountains and into the sky. These layered elements of nature intensify the capacity of the landscape, accentuating its sublimity and thus our inferiority as humans who are minuscule in comparison to the immensity of the landscape. The large mountains that stand tall and seemingly reach into the sky remind us humans of our place in the world, humbling us into realising our subservience to nature. Also, the soft colours deliberately chosen by Von Guerard, such as gentle hues of purple, blue and grey further establish the beauty of nature which was a core theme in the works of Romantic-era writers. Furthermore, the wide shot used to capture the extensiveness of the scenery highlights the infinite quality of nature, alluding to its transcendence as the scenery extends beyond the confinements of the artwork’s small frame, suggesting that the beauty and superiority of nature is beyond human comprehension. This alludes to Romantic ideas of nature being sublime and evoking a sense of wonder and awe from the viewer.

Overall, my “virtual” excursion to the NSW Art Gallery profoundly deepened my understanding of literary themes such as Romantic ideas of nature. This was achieved by appreciating a multitude of artworks, specifically Eugene Von Guerard’s ‘Milford Sound’ which evoked a highly emotive response and stimulated a deep appreciation for the natural world.

*Eugene Von Guerard “Milford Sound” (1877-1879)

Reviewing Katrina’s Blog

On By Anna CastagnellaIn Peer Reviews, Shakespeare and the Renaissance1 Comment

Link to Katrina’s Blog: https://khuynhvo.wordpress.com/2020/03/20/hamlets-contemporary-soliloquy/

Hi Katrina, I really enjoyed your blog this week. The message behind it was really powerful and strong, and completely relevant to our contemporary society with the current Coronavirus pandemic. I also think you did a great job encapsulating Hamlet’s voice of despair and existential questioning as this blog very much reminded me of the infamous Act 3, Scene 1 ‘“To be, or not to be” soliloquy. My only recommendation would be to even further develop the language you use to be more “Shakespearean”; you do this really well at the end through your wording choices and extended metaphors.

The Shakespeare Room

On By Anna CastagnellaIn Critical Blogs, Shakespeare and the Renaissance5 Comments

I have always wondered how centuries after Shakespeare’s death, he still remains famous. His works are studied at a primary school level and university level. His plays are still being performed on stage all over the world. Even children’s films such as the Lion King have been influenced by the plots of Shakespeare’s plays. How is he still relevant? 

On Monday my Shakespeare class embarked on a “virtual” excursion to the NSW State Library Shakespeare Room where I would engage with a multitude of Shakespeare’s works and this lingering question of mine would finally be answered. 

Upon walking in the Shakespeare Room, the stained glass windows immediately capture your attention. They are seven separate images, depicting the seven ages of man from Shakespeare’s play ‘As you Like it’ (Act II, Scene VII). This consists of:

  • The “infant, mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms”
  • The “whining schoolboy with his satchel” 
  • The “lover, sighing like a furnace, with a woeful ballad”
  • the “soldier, full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard”
  • the Justice who is “full of wise saws and modern instances”
  • The “Pantaloon, with spectacles on nose, and pouch on side”
  • The last stage: death “that ends this strange eventful history”
*Image found at https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/shakespeare-library/shakespeare-room

I was mesmerised by this concept and the beautiful stained glass windows that illustrated an entire life in seven simple pictures. I also understood a little more why Shakespeare is so important as these ideas that he presented and language that he used were not only ahead of his time, but revolutionary.  

We then took a look at the First Folio which was published in 1623, yet still to this day is held in such high regard. With the exception of the Bible, this book is considered the most influential book in the English language, highlighting the importance of Shakespeare and his profound influence on society and culture. 

*Image found at https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/shakespeares-first-folio

Globe Theatre Hamlet Review

On By Anna CastagnellaIn Critical Blogs, Shakespeare and the Renaissance2 Comments

To watch or not to watch — that is the question.

I have studied countless Shakespeare plays. From year 9 English through to university level literature classes. However, one cannot truly appreciate Shakespeare’s works from the back corner of a worn-down classroom. The experience of standing on your feet in a crowded arena, watching the actors embody Shakespeare’s characters entirely is unmatched. 

The costumes in this performance were astounding. The dresses worn by Ophelia and Queen Gertrude were both fitting to the era and the character’s personas. For example, the clean white of Ophelia’s dress portraying her innocence yet perhaps foreshadowing her death. Also, the director’s choice for the actor’s to be silent and have only music playing when Hamlet performs his play for the King and Queen profoundly built tension and suspense. However, none of these choices were as courageous as the decision to have Hamlet be played by a female, Ophelia a male actor, and Horatio a female actor. Whilst initially this evoked shock and confusion, soon after I was completely on board with the idea, symbolising that Shakespeare is indeed timeless, yet still progressing and growing with modern society. 

After deep analysis and contemplation, the answer to my question is unequivocal. Yes, this play is absolutely worth the watch. 

*Images from The Guardian – https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/may/16/shakespeares-globe-michelle-terry-hamlet-as-you-like-it

Reviewing Georgia’s Blog

On By Anna CastagnellaIn 19th Century Literature, Peer Reviews1 Comment

Link to Georgia’s blog: https://georgiahoulihan.wordpress.com/2020/03/15/19th-century-literature-blog-post-2-letter-to-my-child-self-creative/#respond

Hi Georgia, I really enjoyed reading your blog this week. I think that the way you managed to analyse a poem in a creative and entertaining format is really smart. You do a great job at painting the scene as I was able to vividly picture the “glowing stars in the night sky” and the “snails climbing over dewy leaves” through your elaborate use of visceral imagery and descriptive language. Also, I felt myself being able to relate to this a lot and it gave me a sense of nostalgia as I cannot remember the last time I went outside and appreciated these little things, which I think is exactly the point that Wordsworth is trying to make. Therefore, you have encapsulated this idea brilliantly. My only suggestion for improvement is to not get carried away with listing the things you see as it can become a bit repetitive. Overall, I think you did a great job and I look forward to reading more of your work 🙂

The world is too much with us

On By Anna CastagnellaIn 19th Century Literature, Critical Blogs2 Comments

After studying William Wordsworth in class, it is clear that his poetry has a recurring theme. This is the notion that humanity has become too concerned with materialistic desires and trends, and as a result we have lost our connection with the natural world. This is particularly evident in Wordsworth’s sonnet ‘The World is too much with us’ where we are told that “we lay and waste our powers” when we engage with material rather than nature. This poem was written in the 19th century, yet personally I feel it has even more relevance in a contemporary 21st century. As new materialistic objects are designed, and as technology advances, we continue to lose touch with nature more and more, and the spirituality and wisdom that comes from engaging with nature becomes less attainable.

A line that really stuck out to me in ‘The World is too much with us’ is when the persona says “little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon”. Here the persona is condemning society for not spending more of our time in Nature and not seeing it’s value, but rather focusing our energy on consumerist ideals. Wordsworth’s choice of words in “sordid boon” was interesting to me as this is an oxymoron. “Sordid” meaning immoral and dishonourable, and “boon” meaning something that is helpful and beneficial. Personally, I think that this contradiction alludes to the conflict between human potential being overridden by selfishness and greed. This notion profoundly applies to current society as many of us continue to waste our time with monotonous routine in order to reach shallow and superficial goals. Whilst I think that people can still learn from Wordsworth’s poetry, I wonder if the nature of society will ever really change.

The Orange Mountains

On By Anna CastagnellaIn 19th Century Literature, Best Blog, Creative Blogs3 Comments

Write a poem about an experience in your life in which nature was the teacher:

This poem is about the recent bushfires in Australia and how humanity as a whole should learn from such a tragedy. Nature in this context teaches us that we should live simpler lives and treat the land with respect and care. A couple of months ago I went to a lookout in the Blue Mountains and was so in awe of nature’s beauty that the second I left I was already planning my next trip back. A couple of weeks later I went back to the same spot, only to see that it was closed off.  It had been ruined by the bushfires. 

I drive down the rocky roads; music loud and heavenly.
The trees humming in the wind.
The birds harmonise with it’s melody.
I take my seat upon this rock and cannot help but grin,
For the sun kisses my cheeks and it is the perfect remedy.

The birds don’t cheep.
The wind stands still.
The sun goes to sleep.
It’s time for me to leave, but return I will.

I drive down the rocky roads; music loud and-
Fire Danger Rating: Extreme
A ghastly orange shadow devours the land’s soul.
The forest that once sung now screams,
Shouting at us for what we stole.