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Jaiel Lapp Yoder Public Feed

Gilead Bangers

Posted by Jaiel Lapp Yoder in College English · Kirby · X Band on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 11:02 pm

Alewife - Clairo “Alewife” is a song about reflection on a really challenging time in the artist’s life. It was a time when she was incredibly depressed, even to the point of attempting to commit suicide. Offred considers committing suicide several times throughout the book. One time in particular stands out where she describes how she could do it: “I think about the chandelier too much, though it’s gone now. But you could use a hook, in the closet. I’ve considered the possibilities.” (Page 195) After constant pressure from the rigid and controlled life she has to live, Offred wonders whether it would be better just to be dead then in her current situation. She even mentions that she has “considered the possibilities,” implying that she has thought about committing suicide several times before. In Alewife, Clairo explains that her friend’s actions were the reason she didn’t succeed in her suicide attempt. This makes me wonder if Offred has anyone in her life that would do the same for her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBjmnqewTeo

Someone New - Hozier “Someone New” by Hozier, has a completely different vibe from the previous songs. It is much more upbeat and lively, however the lyrics connect to the Handmaid’s Tale. In the chorus, Hozier says “I fall in love just a little, oh, a little bit every day with someone new.” Offred loving someone is essentially banned in Gilead, however she previously loved Luke, and later falls in love with Nick. While I believe Offred’s love for Nick is real, I also think that their relationship is a rebellion to the system she has to live with. Hozier also says, “There’s an art to life’s distraction To somehow escape the burning wait, the art of scrapin’ through.” Nearly the entire story, Offred is trying to escape her reality, like many others. Her reflections are one way to do this, and I think that they are a huge reason that she doesn’t go crazy even with all the pressure that is on her at all times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPJSsAr2iu0

What was I made for? - Billie Eilish In “What was I made for,” Billie Eilish reflects on her struggles in finding a purpose in the context of expectations from society. Some main points of this song are body image issues and finding herself in a society centered around male gaze. This shows connection to the struggles that many women must consider in Gilead. “There is no such thing as a sterile man anymore, not officially. There are only women who are fruitful and women who are barren, that’s the law.” (Page 61) While men are considered to be more than their bodies and are able to attain actual power, women are judged on whether they can reproduce or not. This is essentially the only thing that gives value to a woman in Gilead other than her ability to provide pleasure. This narrative is pushed from every angle in Gilead, causing Offred to consider the contrast between her role as a handmaid and her identity as an individual throughout the book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW8VLC9nnTo

Sun Bleached Flies - Ethel Cain This song’s dark and melancholic tone reflects the reality of Gilead, and Offred’s position in it. It seems as though there is no one who can actually help Offred. Gilead is also a society built on a distorted version of Christianity, said to be built on ideals from the old testament. Similar to Offred’s situation, “Sun Bleached Flies” emphasizes Ethel Cain’s relationship with God, saying “God loves you, but not enough to save you.” Similarly, Offred has a conversation with God in her head during one of her periods of reflection: “I feel very unreal, talking to You like this. I feel as if I’m talking to a wall. I wish You’d answer. I feel so alone” (Page 195) It is not made especially clear that Offred feels betrayed by God in this scene, but it is clear that she feels alone, and wishes God would help her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ecmtqd7LE

Fable - Gigi Perez Fable is one of the songs that I think encompasses this story the best. It brings up themes of grief, finding purpose, and religion, which the Handmaid’s Tale clearly also does. Showing the theme of finding purpose, Gigi Perez says “Someone to tell me we’re not born to be mules in this.” The handmaids are similarly “born to be mules” in Gilead, valued by their ability to fix a problem and nothing more. This song also relates Offred’s feelings of religious (and non-religious) guilt. “When I lifted her urn. Divinity says, “Destiny can’t be earned or returned.” I feel when I question, my skin starts to burn. Why does my skin start to burn?” Her “skin starting to burn” is reference to Gigi feeling guilt after questioning her beliefs, something the Offred similarly struggles with throughout the story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiCJGXnEtIQ

PROCESS DOCUMENTATION — in this box, include evidence of your mind at work: brainstorms or partial drafts in your class notebook, rough drafts of artwork, typed stream-of-consciousness while you listen to potential playlist songs, etc.

List of potential songs from my notes app: Billie Eilish - What was I made for? Olivia Rodrigo - drivers license Taylor Swift - The Man Hozier - Take Me to Church Lorde - Glory and Gore Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out Lana Del Rey - Born to Die Ethel Cain - Sun Bleached Flies Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know? Radiohead - No Surprises

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Q2 Notebook

Posted by Jaiel Lapp Yoder in English 1 · Giknis · Y Band on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 5:19 pm

My notebook has helped me by letting me have something to write all my ideas and notes down in to study later. It has helped me to study for tests and quizzes. In the future, I will maximize its potential by writing down as much as I can and studying most nights.

[My link] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W58lkIHmX9K5Qxf6o9AEYZ4HfallOX2t/view)

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My Notebook Reflection

Posted by Jaiel Lapp Yoder in English 1 · Giknis · Y Band on Monday, January 16, 2023 at 7:33 pm

This is my reflection on how my notes have been coming and my notes on Born a Crime. My notebook has helped me learn by helping me to have something to write notes in so that I can go back later and study them. Moving forward I will write as much as I can in it.

[My Notebook Reflection] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r3AsmTQ_nN8hpAXcVmeM88V2MkhRQlhn/view?usp=share_link)

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Q1 Notebook

Posted by Jaiel Lapp Yoder in English 1 · Giknis · Y Band on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 12:20 pm

Hyperlink

Our notebooks have been a big part of learning in not only this class, but almost all others. We have learned many tools to organize it. I have not used a lot of these tools, but some have come in handy. I think that the notebook is a good way to be able to look back on the work we have done in the past. I think i will use highlighting more in the future to help me.

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Q1 Notebook

Posted by Jaiel Lapp Yoder in English 1 · Giknis · Y Band on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 12:19 pm

Hyperlink

Our notebooks have been a big part of learning in not only this class, but almost all others. We have learned many tools to organize it. I have not used a lot of these tools, but some have come in handy. I think that the notebook is a good way to be able to look back on the work we have done in the past. I think i will use highlighting more in the future to help me.

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Q1 Notebook

Posted by Jaiel Lapp Yoder in English 1 · Giknis · Y Band on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 12:18 pm

Hyperlink

Our notebooks have been a big part of learning in not only this class, but almost all others. We have learned many tools to organize it. I have not used a lot of these tools, but some have come in handy. I think that the notebook is a good way to be able to look back on the work we have done in the past. I think i will use highlighting more in the future to help me.

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Q1 Notebook

Posted by Jaiel Lapp Yoder in English 1 · Giknis · Y Band on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 12:17 pm

Hyperlink

Our notebooks have been a big part of learning in not only this class, but almost all others. We have learned many tools to organize it. I have not used a lot of these tools, but some have come in handy. I think that the notebook is a good way to be able to look back on the work we have done in the past. I think i will use highlighting more in the future to help me.

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Double Take

Posted by Jaiel Lapp Yoder in English 1 · Giknis · Y Band on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 5:18 pm

This is my story

Multi-Narrative Story
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AutoJaiography

Posted by Jaiel Lapp Yoder in English 1 · Giknis · Y Band on Monday, September 12, 2022 at 9:33 pm
This is my first project. Enjoy.
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