When freshman year began I was scared and confused and often lost in the mess of halls that make up OHS. But when I first sat down English I thought,” Now I'm home, now I know what I'm doing", that is, until you told us we would have to write a weekly blog. That scared me even more than the bearded seniors did (they really are frightening). In the begging my blogs sucked, they were short, emotionless and riddled with spelling errors. Now there still hopelessly miss spelled but I've become comfortable enough with the idea of writing to the public that I make my posts meaningful to me, a little comical and surprisingly fun to write. Of course I still have a long way to go before my writing gets up to my standards but that’s where this activity helps. If we hadn’t of done the blogs I wouldn’t be writing and I think that’s the point isn’t it. You just wanted us to be able to write as often as possible, any thing that came to mind. What I don’t get is why we had to use blogs! A journal or notebook works just fine! Now I've got more than just my teacher reading my work, but my parents and friends and random Internet surfing people! I guess that was my biggest fear this year, not just with the blogs but with the discussions and poetry readings too. I was afraid of standing up and speaking up in class, having my feelings and ideas shared with the group. That doesn’t seem to bother me any more though. I guess its just exposser, having to do it over and over again I guess I just got used to it. With that I can say that this year has definitely been a learning experience, I must also say though that I have a lot of bad habits that I still need to stop, like spelling words the way they sound, that rule of just sounding things out no longer applies, and not writing in paragraph form, notice this entire post is one big blob of words, and of course chewing my nails, but that’s not related to English at all. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've come to enjoy writing for an audience, people who can give me feed back on what I can improve on and what I did well. I also need an outlet, somewhere I can just go and write once a week, once a day. Someway to keep up the skills that I've learned this year. Which is why I hope you keep reading. In other words, “I’ll be back”.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
experience with poetry
As much as I love poetry I don't have many experiences with it outside of school. The few memories I do have of poetry are from books. Not poetry books like Where The Sidewalk Ends (which I did not like by the way) but instead fantasy books like Eragon, The Night Angels trilogy, the Deltora Quest series, Septimus Heap and yes, Twilight. I regret to say that reading Twilight first introduced me to Robert Frost's poetry. I'm sure you know that the book begins with the poem "Fire and Ice". As disappointed as I was in the book I was equally and oppositely intrigued by "Fire and Ice". For being so short, the poem conveys and relates to so much. Each person who reads it comes up with a different meaning, as I learned from our discussion in class.
The other books that I listed have a less popular kind of poetry in them, either the author, or more appropriately the character's, original work, or songs that the author creates. This form of poetry is also used in The Hunger Games. Katniss remembers her father singing a song about a dead man and his lover. The song is only written in the book though so I read it like poetry. Like any other poem the song uses metaphors, rhyme, poetic irony and lots of other figurative language that I cant think of.
The point is that poetry is all around us and we are absorbing it even if we don't notice. All song lyrics are poems. Expressing ideas, feelings, and situations often in an obscure or inferential way. Musicians often write their music to work through issues in their life, just like poets.
I love music and with that comes a love of poetry. Poetry is the quickest and simplest was to express an idea in a way that people will understand no matter what the year. Poe and Shakespeare and Longfellow's work will still be speaking to people in five hundred years. Poetry speaks to peoples' most deep routed feelings, and that's why I love it.
The other books that I listed have a less popular kind of poetry in them, either the author, or more appropriately the character's, original work, or songs that the author creates. This form of poetry is also used in The Hunger Games. Katniss remembers her father singing a song about a dead man and his lover. The song is only written in the book though so I read it like poetry. Like any other poem the song uses metaphors, rhyme, poetic irony and lots of other figurative language that I cant think of.
The point is that poetry is all around us and we are absorbing it even if we don't notice. All song lyrics are poems. Expressing ideas, feelings, and situations often in an obscure or inferential way. Musicians often write their music to work through issues in their life, just like poets.
I love music and with that comes a love of poetry. Poetry is the quickest and simplest was to express an idea in a way that people will understand no matter what the year. Poe and Shakespeare and Longfellow's work will still be speaking to people in five hundred years. Poetry speaks to peoples' most deep routed feelings, and that's why I love it.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
My Favorite Project
Out of all of the amazing, and often difficult projects that you put together for us this year I have to say that my favorite was the outside reading assignment with a visual aid. Personally I love art. And even though its very disconnected with English I always enjoy when you add in something artsy. For that project in particular I chose to read The Count of Monte Cristo, the longest and probably hardest book I could have chosen. What was I thinking! I struggled to finish the book in time, often behind the other people in my group. I would inevitable read in the car on the way to school, in art, at lunch or even with a flash light late into the night. To be honest I didn’t like the book very much, it was written for a different era, one that appreciated subtle irony and literary newonses. I sadly can recognize neither and continually got confused by the abundance of intertwined characters and prolonged anecdotes. Still I must say the story was well written, and once I get through it left a resonating mark on my creative mind.
This of course led to my need to create the perfect visual aid. So that others could understand the complexity and transformation of Dantes the main character. Obviously this led me to create the split poster of the young Dantes and the aged count. Now I say create and not draw because my poster is made up of hundreds of little pieces of ripped construction paper. Even though the project looks relatively simple it took hours for me to find the correct clothing for the appropriate year, age, and social placement of the two men. After that I had to find a reference picture for the way each character was standing so that the perspective would look right. Then came the actual assembly of each piece of torn paper. At one point, probably around twelve, I just about gave up. I was surrounded by heaps of various colors of paper and glue and scissors and discarded drawings. Not to mention an aggravated and exhausted Chihuahua. Regretfully my big melt down was because I had run out of yellow paper. That’s right yellow construction paper. How was I supposed to create respectable lightening without yellow paper? It sounds silly now but then with four hours of artistic work used up and only a half finished, so-so poster to show for it, I was pretty upset. How was I going to show the class what a complex and in depth book The Count of Monte Cristo was when all I had was a flimsy piece of card board that looked like it had been made by a kindergartener? A cup of tea and a sorely needed serving of creative problem solving later I was able to rally together the dwindling supply of energy I had left and finish. In the end I was still disappointed. The poster still looked like a little kid made it and the count of Monte Cristo looked frail and short instead of ominous compared to his younger counter part.
On top of my disappointment I fumbled and stuttered my way though my description, of a book that deserved a lot more credit, in class the next day. So, I was quite surprised when my poster was selected to go on the famous Wall along side your other favorite visual aids.
After a few weeks though I began to think that it had been a pity selection since the poster had fallen over and was laying face down on top of a bookshelf. It wasn’t till just recently when you said that it was one of your favorites and said something to the class about my artistic talents that my pride for the flimsy piece of cardboard swelled. That’s when I realized how instrumental your support of my work and talents has been this year. Freshman year has been hard for me, and I know I haven’t put my best fot forward. Thankfully you’ve been there to make sure I take the right turns. Mathew and Meaghan are right you know, you really are the best teacher in the world!
This of course led to my need to create the perfect visual aid. So that others could understand the complexity and transformation of Dantes the main character. Obviously this led me to create the split poster of the young Dantes and the aged count. Now I say create and not draw because my poster is made up of hundreds of little pieces of ripped construction paper. Even though the project looks relatively simple it took hours for me to find the correct clothing for the appropriate year, age, and social placement of the two men. After that I had to find a reference picture for the way each character was standing so that the perspective would look right. Then came the actual assembly of each piece of torn paper. At one point, probably around twelve, I just about gave up. I was surrounded by heaps of various colors of paper and glue and scissors and discarded drawings. Not to mention an aggravated and exhausted Chihuahua. Regretfully my big melt down was because I had run out of yellow paper. That’s right yellow construction paper. How was I supposed to create respectable lightening without yellow paper? It sounds silly now but then with four hours of artistic work used up and only a half finished, so-so poster to show for it, I was pretty upset. How was I going to show the class what a complex and in depth book The Count of Monte Cristo was when all I had was a flimsy piece of card board that looked like it had been made by a kindergartener? A cup of tea and a sorely needed serving of creative problem solving later I was able to rally together the dwindling supply of energy I had left and finish. In the end I was still disappointed. The poster still looked like a little kid made it and the count of Monte Cristo looked frail and short instead of ominous compared to his younger counter part.
On top of my disappointment I fumbled and stuttered my way though my description, of a book that deserved a lot more credit, in class the next day. So, I was quite surprised when my poster was selected to go on the famous Wall along side your other favorite visual aids.
After a few weeks though I began to think that it had been a pity selection since the poster had fallen over and was laying face down on top of a bookshelf. It wasn’t till just recently when you said that it was one of your favorites and said something to the class about my artistic talents that my pride for the flimsy piece of cardboard swelled. That’s when I realized how instrumental your support of my work and talents has been this year. Freshman year has been hard for me, and I know I haven’t put my best fot forward. Thankfully you’ve been there to make sure I take the right turns. Mathew and Meaghan are right you know, you really are the best teacher in the world!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Conflicts in Romeo and Juliet
A large conflict for Juliet in the play is her need to obey her parents verses her love and need for Romeo. As the story begins we see Juliet as a dutiful daughter with high moral standers. As the play progresses though and Juliet meets Romeo she becomes more and more disobedient and disloyal to her family the Capulets. This conflict of love over family comes to a boiling point with Tybalt's death. Nurse tells Juliet "Tybalt is gone and Romeo banished. Romeo that killed him - he is banished." (3.2.75). When Nurse says this Juliet makes a pivotal decision and sides with Romeo, the man she loves, even though he murdered her cousin. This singular decision creates a chain reaction that causes Juliet to refuse to marry Paris when her father demands it, seek guidance from the friar as to how to be with Romeo, and to ultimately fake death to escape with him.
On a less drastic level I am sure that every teen has fought with themselves as to whether they should obey there parents or to do something they feel is necessary. Rebellion is a natural occurrence with teenagers. It is the expression of the need to be independent and the idea that, as teens, we know what's best and won't get hurt. Of course this isn't true, as is expressed in the play Romeo and Juliet. In the end, because of one little mistake and a lot of over dramatic emotions, two very young people died. Because of adolescent ignorance this often happens in real life too.
On a less drastic level I am sure that every teen has fought with themselves as to whether they should obey there parents or to do something they feel is necessary. Rebellion is a natural occurrence with teenagers. It is the expression of the need to be independent and the idea that, as teens, we know what's best and won't get hurt. Of course this isn't true, as is expressed in the play Romeo and Juliet. In the end, because of one little mistake and a lot of over dramatic emotions, two very young people died. Because of adolescent ignorance this often happens in real life too.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Romeo and Juliet is everywhere
It may seem like a bit of a stretch but the way I see it most of the Disney princesses movies all connect to some the the main themes and motifs in Romeo and Juliet. Like in every good love story the two love stricken people have something or someone separating them. For Romeo and Juliet its their parents feud. For Pocahontas and John Smith its their cultural differences. For Ariel and Eric its the fact that she's a mermaid, and for Aladdin and Jasmin, Cinderella and her prince and Tiana and Naveen (in The Princess and The Frog) its social status. In all of these stories the the theme of forbidden love is prominent, and helps to form the entire plot. From what I've seen every romance is connected to Romeo and Juliet some how. That is why it has become such a classic, because it touches all of our lives somehow.
Pip's Quote
"Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."
What Charles Dickens is trying to say with this quote is that there is a a series of decisions, or "chain" that make up our life, and often there is one situation that can affect the proses of all the other decisions following it in our lives. For Pip this is when he first meets Estella and Miss Havisham. After meeting them his entire outlook on his life changes. He goes from being happy in his small home with Joe and the forge and the marshes. To being ashamed of his home and friends and wanting to become a gentleman. This one occurrence shapes the entire plot of the novel. After just one meeting with Estella Pip has already begun to form his great expectation.
Looking back at my life though I can't seem to find one individual occurrence that has affected my outlook on life. I suppose the biggest "link in my chain" would be the death of my little brother Ethan. Even though I never saw him alive, he died only minutes after his birth, it still felt like I had lost a close friend. At the age of six, nine months of expectancy can feel like an eternity and to me Ethan had been my brother since the moment I found out my mother was pregnant. Because of this his death made a big impact on my beliefs and the way I perceive myself. I definitely feel more of a burden with being an only child. Being the only child out of four to survive a rare genetic disorder that both of my parents carry causes me to think a lot about how my decisions affect them and how I have so much to live up to to make them proud. Ethan's death also makes me think a lot about the beauty and gift of life. I am so very lucky to be alive today.
What Charles Dickens is trying to say with this quote is that there is a a series of decisions, or "chain" that make up our life, and often there is one situation that can affect the proses of all the other decisions following it in our lives. For Pip this is when he first meets Estella and Miss Havisham. After meeting them his entire outlook on his life changes. He goes from being happy in his small home with Joe and the forge and the marshes. To being ashamed of his home and friends and wanting to become a gentleman. This one occurrence shapes the entire plot of the novel. After just one meeting with Estella Pip has already begun to form his great expectation.
Looking back at my life though I can't seem to find one individual occurrence that has affected my outlook on life. I suppose the biggest "link in my chain" would be the death of my little brother Ethan. Even though I never saw him alive, he died only minutes after his birth, it still felt like I had lost a close friend. At the age of six, nine months of expectancy can feel like an eternity and to me Ethan had been my brother since the moment I found out my mother was pregnant. Because of this his death made a big impact on my beliefs and the way I perceive myself. I definitely feel more of a burden with being an only child. Being the only child out of four to survive a rare genetic disorder that both of my parents carry causes me to think a lot about how my decisions affect them and how I have so much to live up to to make them proud. Ethan's death also makes me think a lot about the beauty and gift of life. I am so very lucky to be alive today.
(I'm sorry my picture is kind of small)
One of the main motifs in the second stage of Great Expectations, in my opinion, is disappointment. The first time this motif is brought up is when Pip first arrives in London. Pip is disappointed in the city because it is so solemn and filthy and corrupted. He describes it as being "rather ugly, crooked, narrow and dirty ". (Dickens 161)
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