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Re: Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai Send a noteboard - 06/10/2010 01:40:38 AM
Are you missing something? Yes. What makes it literature. The reason why it is good. Cliff's Notes are like ... powder soup. It is not soup. It is just a powdery, boring extract of soup and it lacks the soupness of it.

I agree 100%

Let me state that I did not rely on Cliff for every single reading project. Just the few that I found unappealing. I'm a slacker, but I do like to read certain things! I meant more about missing something that might make Austen / Bronte more appealing to me.

Oh, sorry if I sounded judgmental. I just meant that Cliff's notes gives you the highlights and someone's interpretation of the meaning, but you don't see how it actually makes you feel. And I've not read Austen or Bronte, so I can't tell you specifically what you miss there.

For some inexplicable reason in my AP English class my teacher said we were going to study Paradise Lost by the Cliff's notes. It was supposed to prepare us for college, but from reading the notes you completely miss the beauty of the piece you are studying.

This is weird. That it was mandated by the teacher. My AP teacher knew I was doing it on a few (and definitely did not approve). I very much enjoyed Paradise Lost, sans Cliff's notes.

I thought it was weird too, but then again that teacher and I never really saw eye to eye on much.

Now, I appreciate the sidebars in works like Shakespeare that let you know how a word may be used differently in the play than it is now, but that's all the help I want with my literature.

This is a helpful aspect of Cliff on more difficult reading. I never used him in this capacity. Outside of avoiding certain assignments, I left Cliff on the shelf.

Edit: Apparently I'm not reading very carefully today, this response actually addresses what you said, not what I thought I read.
This message last edited by Seriana Sedai on 06/10/2010 at 02:16:51 AM
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The Classics - general discussion / survey StormCrow - 30/09/2010 03:52:53 PM 1586 Views
My own answers. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 04:38:33 PM 1198 Views
I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment Lordling - 30/09/2010 07:20:02 PM 1099 Views
Re: I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:14:23 PM 1102 Views
Get a copy with annotations! Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:56:12 PM 1043 Views
Re: My own answers. Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:02:08 PM 1218 Views
Powdered Soup! StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:23:51 PM 1216 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:34:06 PM 1441 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! StormCrow - 30/09/2010 10:07:20 PM 1156 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:10:32 PM 1300 Views
Well, have you seen any of the Austen TV/movie adaptations, then? Legolas - 30/09/2010 10:25:58 PM 1143 Views
Oh yes. I even made the mistake of purchasing the new Pride and Prejudice for her. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:10:05 AM 1143 Views
They are much, much worse than powder soup. Legolas - 30/09/2010 09:50:07 PM 1040 Views
Well, since they're made of paper... StormCrow - 30/09/2010 10:09:41 PM 1108 Views
Re: My own answers. BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:35:36 PM 1157 Views
Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai - 05/10/2010 08:05:56 PM 1205 Views
Re: Cliff's notes StormCrow - 05/10/2010 09:21:06 PM 1402 Views
Re: Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai - 06/10/2010 01:40:38 AM 1218 Views
It's cool. StormCrow - 06/10/2010 04:42:13 PM 1277 Views
A classic is really any book with enduring value. Tom - 30/09/2010 05:33:35 PM 1147 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM 1164 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. Tom - 30/09/2010 10:57:23 PM 1162 Views
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Camilla, that's just because you're an atheist. Tom - 01/10/2010 09:37:34 PM 1050 Views
Yes. Camilla - 01/10/2010 09:51:32 PM 1053 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:20:51 AM 1218 Views
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I could post you over a copy to borrow. Rebekah - 30/09/2010 08:58:08 PM 970 Views
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It is good. *NM* Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:34:47 PM 478 Views
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totally problematic classics temeraire - 30/09/2010 08:07:22 PM 1168 Views
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I study them, apparently. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 08:44:40 PM 1238 Views
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More admiration of your discipline than assuming you were having fun with it. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:31:06 AM 1166 Views
Re: The Classics - general discussion / survey .. edited. Camilla - 30/09/2010 08:58:14 PM 1228 Views
I knew you would have a rather lengthy list. I was worried until the edit came through. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:26:34 AM 1234 Views
Good survey. Legolas - 30/09/2010 10:23:18 PM 1216 Views
Agreed. edited Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:37:48 PM 1184 Views
But but but Milton is beautiful Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:46:06 PM 1092 Views
Sometimes. Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:47:28 PM 1117 Views
Maybe I was unclear. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:55:22 PM 1131 Views
Re: Maybe I was unclear. Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:57:41 PM 1010 Views
I'm glad you approve on the whole. Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:12:00 PM 1207 Views
I generally do. Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:19:05 PM 1134 Views
Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:40:24 PM 1297 Views
Re: Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:43:20 PM 1142 Views
Dickens StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:42:42 PM 1093 Views
Re: I generally do. BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:54:11 PM 1182 Views
Oh, and link to the Flecker poem: Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:42:30 PM 1021 Views
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My classics nossy - 30/09/2010 10:54:56 PM 1086 Views
Re: My classics StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:01:24 AM 1177 Views
Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:30:41 PM 1256 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM 1102 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 01/10/2010 05:20:10 AM 1162 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:05:35 PM 1147 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 02/10/2010 04:07:10 AM 1129 Views
Ha, we weren't that far off after all. StormCrow - 04/10/2010 08:11:39 PM 1056 Views
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I agree, thus the "confound" part in there Larry - 01/10/2010 02:53:26 AM 1005 Views
I figured as much. Ghavrel - 01/10/2010 03:08:26 AM 1019 Views
I expected you to have quite a few as well. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:25:06 AM 1108 Views
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Re: Glad to bring back the school days. Mndrew - 02/10/2010 05:32:47 AM 967 Views
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the bf and I are going to do a "Paradise Lost" book club... ajah - 02/10/2010 08:29:38 AM 1295 Views
Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. Rebekah - 02/10/2010 11:40:48 AM 1171 Views
Re: Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. ajah - 02/10/2010 09:42:37 PM 1170 Views
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