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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 1524 Views
My own answers. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 04:38:33 PM 1116 Views
I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment Lordling - 30/09/2010 07:20:02 PM 1048 Views
Re: I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:14:23 PM 1041 Views
Get a copy with annotations! Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:56:12 PM 1000 Views
Re: My own answers. Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:02:08 PM 1133 Views
Powdered Soup! StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:23:51 PM 1158 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:34:06 PM 1392 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! StormCrow - 30/09/2010 10:07:20 PM 1085 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:10:32 PM 1253 Views
Well, have you seen any of the Austen TV/movie adaptations, then? Legolas - 30/09/2010 10:25:58 PM 1096 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 1101 Views
They are much, much worse than powder soup. Legolas - 30/09/2010 09:50:07 PM 996 Views
Well, since they're made of paper... StormCrow - 30/09/2010 10:09:41 PM 1069 Views
Re: My own answers. BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:35:36 PM 1108 Views
Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai - 05/10/2010 08:05:56 PM 1159 Views
Re: Cliff's notes StormCrow - 05/10/2010 09:21:06 PM 1363 Views
Re: Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai - 06/10/2010 01:40:38 AM 1160 Views
It's cool. StormCrow - 06/10/2010 04:42:13 PM 1218 Views
A classic is really any book with enduring value. Tom - 30/09/2010 05:33:35 PM 1084 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM 1100 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. Tom - 30/09/2010 10:57:23 PM 1072 Views
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Camilla, that's just because you're an atheist. Tom - 01/10/2010 09:37:34 PM 991 Views
Yes. Camilla - 01/10/2010 09:51:32 PM 989 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:20:51 AM 1163 Views
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It is good. *NM* Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:34:47 PM 450 Views
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totally problematic classics temeraire - 30/09/2010 08:07:22 PM 1121 Views
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I study them, apparently. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 08:44:40 PM 1182 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 1120 Views
Re: The Classics - general discussion / survey .. edited. Camilla - 30/09/2010 08:58:14 PM 1151 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 1160 Views
Good survey. Legolas - 30/09/2010 10:23:18 PM 1155 Views
Agreed. edited Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:37:48 PM 1115 Views
But but but Milton is beautiful Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:46:06 PM 1046 Views
Sometimes. Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:47:28 PM 1069 Views
Maybe I was unclear. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:55:22 PM 1088 Views
Re: Maybe I was unclear. Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:57:41 PM 964 Views
I'm glad you approve on the whole. Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:12:00 PM 1113 Views
I generally do. Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:19:05 PM 1075 Views
Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:40:24 PM 1246 Views
Re: Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:43:20 PM 1082 Views
Dickens StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:42:42 PM 1051 Views
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Oh, and link to the Flecker poem: Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:42:30 PM 975 Views
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My classics nossy - 30/09/2010 10:54:56 PM 1033 Views
Re: My classics StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:01:24 AM 1128 Views
Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:30:41 PM 1186 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM 1040 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 01/10/2010 05:20:10 AM 1116 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:05:35 PM 1070 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 02/10/2010 04:07:10 AM 1081 Views
Ha, we weren't that far off after all. StormCrow - 04/10/2010 08:11:39 PM 1011 Views
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I agree, thus the "confound" part in there Larry - 01/10/2010 02:53:26 AM 963 Views
I figured as much. Ghavrel - 01/10/2010 03:08:26 AM 986 Views
I expected you to have quite a few as well. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:25:06 AM 1063 Views
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Re: Glad to bring back the school days. Mndrew - 02/10/2010 05:32:47 AM 921 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 1236 Views
Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. Rebekah - 02/10/2010 11:40:48 AM 1127 Views
Re: Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. ajah - 02/10/2010 09:42:37 PM 1116 Views
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