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)
Great Expectations: connections with picture
As strange as it may sound I think that the character Harry Potter is very similar to Pip. Not only is Harry left with his only surviving relative petunia, who is a strict harsh woman much like Mrs. Joe. Harry also must live a very humble life in a cupboard under the stairs and then is suddenly sent into the dazzling world of magic. Pip is also given a new life when his benefactor helps him move to London.
Pip and Harry also have many near death experiences that make them reflect on there decisions and their friendships. Both characters also have very strong friendships. Pip has Joe and Herbert, while Harry has Ron and Hermione. One individual evil is also present in each story. For Pip it's Compyson and for Harry its Voldemort.
Pip and Harry also have many near death experiences that make them reflect on there decisions and their friendships. Both characters also have very strong friendships. Pip has Joe and Herbert, while Harry has Ron and Hermione. One individual evil is also present in each story. For Pip it's Compyson and for Harry its Voldemort.
Great Expectations Stage 2
In the second stage of Great Expectations Pip seems to be a little lost. He's is living in a completely unfamiliar world and is unsure of his hopes and aspirations in life. This combined with his lack of experience in the aristocratic world creates a conflict that Pip isn't prepared to face. This conflict is becoming an adult. Since he is not prepared for this, Pip created a bubble of denial to protect him. This bubble keeps him from realizing how deep in debt he is, how unrealistic his love for Estella is and how cruel he is to Joe. His bubble can't last forever though, and when it's popped he is thrust into the unfair world that he must face later in the novel.
This shroud that Pip sees the world through is unhealthy, and eventually comes back to haunt Pip when he realises how poorly his life has turned out. The theme that pervades this stage of Great Expectations is that life is a struggle and we must face our fears honestly and not lie to ourselves about the problems have.
This shroud that Pip sees the world through is unhealthy, and eventually comes back to haunt Pip when he realises how poorly his life has turned out. The theme that pervades this stage of Great Expectations is that life is a struggle and we must face our fears honestly and not lie to ourselves about the problems have.
Connecting With Romeo an Juliet
In the first scene of the play Romeo and Juliet there is a fight between the Capulets and the Montagues. In this fight Benvolio tries to separate the two house holds, but no one listens to him. Instead he is mocked and ridiculed. Later though, Prince arrives, when he tells the people to disperse they do. This conflict reminded me a lot of and school fight, where two kids get violent and another tries to intercept. This other student being Benvolio. Prince on the other hand is like a teacher. He is respected and demands the attention that Benvolio could not get. Like most children, the Capulets and Montagues listened to there "teacher" and stopped fighting. It seems like a very mundane example to be comparing with Shakespeare, but as I read the play I realise that its actually a very universal story that everyone can relate to.
This makes the book an easy read for me. As I can easily understand the basics of the characters conversations. Especially after going over the previous nights reading in class. It seems to help to know what other people got out of a particular passage or to hear the dialogue actually being spoken. The annotations on the other hand are a little confusing. Even though I know exactly what I'm looking for I'm not sure how thorough I should be or why I'm even doing them. I can grasp the information without the annotations and I know from the conversations we had in class other people can too.
This makes the book an easy read for me. As I can easily understand the basics of the characters conversations. Especially after going over the previous nights reading in class. It seems to help to know what other people got out of a particular passage or to hear the dialogue actually being spoken. The annotations on the other hand are a little confusing. Even though I know exactly what I'm looking for I'm not sure how thorough I should be or why I'm even doing them. I can grasp the information without the annotations and I know from the conversations we had in class other people can too.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Thoughts On Reading
It's been a while since we finished reading the book Great Expectations. I'm sure that's obvious because of how late this post is.( I'm very sorry about that.) But still, i feel that Pip has left a lasting impression on my creative mind. Giving me a more somber, dreary view of the romantic Victorian era. I felt that it was a good novel. Well rounded, if a little formal, even with the frequent use of low diction. I must say though that I was disappointed my the story's conclusion. It was vague and abrupt and very confusing with the double endings. I'm sure my staccato reading style didn't help my comprehension of the plot much though.
It's true I was one of the students to read the book in large, infrequent chunks. But it seemed the only way that I could squeeze in the time to look over the writing critically and try to understand what was being said. When I wasn't trying to catch up though, I was reading much like Mrs Gilman. Very early in the morning, then while I was stuck in traffic and on into my first period Art class, where for the first twenty minutes we do nothing but talk about music and students' older siblings and how it just happens to be raining. It's not the most productive class, but that's not important. what really matters is that I did, eventually, finish Great Expectations and was happy I did. It was a well written, unique book, as all of Charles Dickens's works are, that helped me to see into my future and discover my own expectations for adulthood.
It's true I was one of the students to read the book in large, infrequent chunks. But it seemed the only way that I could squeeze in the time to look over the writing critically and try to understand what was being said. When I wasn't trying to catch up though, I was reading much like Mrs Gilman. Very early in the morning, then while I was stuck in traffic and on into my first period Art class, where for the first twenty minutes we do nothing but talk about music and students' older siblings and how it just happens to be raining. It's not the most productive class, but that's not important. what really matters is that I did, eventually, finish Great Expectations and was happy I did. It was a well written, unique book, as all of Charles Dickens's works are, that helped me to see into my future and discover my own expectations for adulthood.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Great Expectations question
Why is it that Mrs. Joe is polite in public, but when she is alone with Joe and Poe she becomes a sort of military Sargent, who yells and hits them? The author points this out when he writes "My sister was uncommonly lively on the present occasion, and indeed was generally more gracious in the society of Mrs. Hubble than in other company." (23. Dickens)
Monday, February 14, 2011
Paragraph Conclusion
I'm leaving out the transition sentence because I'm not sure how it will work with Mathew's paragraph.
In this play lies are used in multiple ways, but in the end it boils down to what you can gain by not telling the truth. There are so many ways to be dishonest but it seems that the most useful methods, at least in this book, are perhaps lying in your marriage or possibly trying to get out of a sticky situation, but most of all trying to pursue your personal, singular gain. When Wilde shows us this extreme use of lies he is trying to show us that everyone is dishonest. It's how we live, its how we survive as people in the lives that are given to us.
So it appears that sometimes it's not so Important to be Earnest.
In this play lies are used in multiple ways, but in the end it boils down to what you can gain by not telling the truth. There are so many ways to be dishonest but it seems that the most useful methods, at least in this book, are perhaps lying in your marriage or possibly trying to get out of a sticky situation, but most of all trying to pursue your personal, singular gain. When Wilde shows us this extreme use of lies he is trying to show us that everyone is dishonest. It's how we live, its how we survive as people in the lives that are given to us.
So it appears that sometimes it's not so Important to be Earnest.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
another post
I edited my paragraph so that it fits a little better. I wasn't quite sure what to about the first point. Let me know what you think
The Importance of Being Earnest Paragraph
In general, lies are bad but in certain situations they can be beneficial. Take avoidance for example, dishonesty can help you get out of just about any situation. That’s not always a good thing, but Algernon certainly takes advantage of the power of lying when he speaks to his manservant. Lane is aware of his master’s lies but intentionally goes along with them to keep him out of trouble. This exact circumstance arises when the play first begins; Algernon discovers how much wine was consumed the previous night and blames it on the servants. It seems that Algernon does this to retain his pride, to somehow prove his high standards by denying the fact that he gets drunk. Another incident that Algernon avoids something in is when Lady Bracknell arrives requesting cucumber sandwiches. His response to her is. “Good heavens! Lane! Why are there no cucumber sandwiches?” (Algernon Act 1) Of course, Algernon knows very well that he ate all the sandwiches, he is trying to stay on good terms with his aunt, by avoiding any possible arguments between them. This in a way proves that although he is a hoddy proud man, Algernon is also afraid of something, confrontation. Still, Algernon isn’t the only one who avoids certain situations; Jack is also guilty of being evasive. He prefers to avoid his responsibilities. Or more specifically his duty to be a role model for Cecily. Instead Jack prefers to run away to London, pretending to be his nonexistent brother Ernest. By doing so he is not confronting the fact that he is a man now and must grow up and face reality. Although lying to avoid problems can be beneficial now, it can come back to haunt you in the future, Ernest shows us this.
Monday, January 31, 2011
New Year's Resolution
In the year 2011 I want to become more productive. I want to stay on top of my homework load, study more often, and do some of the less important things I enjoy.
In the past I haven't been the best with staying organized. I start the school year out with new sharp pencils, neat stacks of paper and everything put where it belongs, but as the year progresses I become a slob. My bag is a war zone and my lack of writing utensils is disheartening. I often lose important papers and wrinkle the ones I manage to hang on to. My grades are wonderful for a month or two but then they start to slip. I let things slide and procrastinate uncontrollably. I don't want that to happen this year! I want to get back in control.
I'm going to start writing down every assignment I get and its due date, and I wont cross it off until it's completely finished. On the nights I don't have very much homework I'm going to study so the material stays fresh in my mind.
When I've accomplished every last bit of my homework I want to do more meaningful things. Instead of spending my free time watching TV, I want to start writing again. Not for school but for me, and I want to read more. Lately I've been in a book funk. I've read everything I have three or four times and I need a new adventure. What happened to all the books about heroic quests and battles? Now all you can find are depressing, sappy vampire books! I also miss my art. I haven't drawn almost anything this year. I'm so swamped with homework and then zoning out after doing the homework that I have no time for the things I enjoy. This year will be different though. I'll stay organized and wont let things pass me by. This year I'm gonna do the things that make me feel good!
In the past I haven't been the best with staying organized. I start the school year out with new sharp pencils, neat stacks of paper and everything put where it belongs, but as the year progresses I become a slob. My bag is a war zone and my lack of writing utensils is disheartening. I often lose important papers and wrinkle the ones I manage to hang on to. My grades are wonderful for a month or two but then they start to slip. I let things slide and procrastinate uncontrollably. I don't want that to happen this year! I want to get back in control.
I'm going to start writing down every assignment I get and its due date, and I wont cross it off until it's completely finished. On the nights I don't have very much homework I'm going to study so the material stays fresh in my mind.
When I've accomplished every last bit of my homework I want to do more meaningful things. Instead of spending my free time watching TV, I want to start writing again. Not for school but for me, and I want to read more. Lately I've been in a book funk. I've read everything I have three or four times and I need a new adventure. What happened to all the books about heroic quests and battles? Now all you can find are depressing, sappy vampire books! I also miss my art. I haven't drawn almost anything this year. I'm so swamped with homework and then zoning out after doing the homework that I have no time for the things I enjoy. This year will be different though. I'll stay organized and wont let things pass me by. This year I'm gonna do the things that make me feel good!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
High Diction
The sky seemed to glow from over the horizon, as if the sun was anxious to rise into the sky this morning. As it should wish to. It was indeed quite a nice morning. Though it was bitterly cold the day felt bright and joy full. The spring grass was still laden with the night's icy dew which twinkled and winked in the predawn. Between the angelic glow of the rising sun and the diamond sparkle that covered every surface, the world seemed to take on a heavenly hue, without a discernible color but instead a palpable feeling that filled one with peace and ease and cheer.
As the sun presented itself to the sky, the ice slowly melted away, ending the moment of magic, and leaving the garden to look despairingly average. I shivered absentmindedly under my quilted blanket. I could hear the day beginning. Directly to my back there were sounds of bustle and impatience in the big manor house. The maids and servants and cooks were up, doing their morning duties so that everything was ready when Mr. and Mrs. Welton awoke. No doubt Mrs. Welton already had.
She would be sitting at her old table which was an antique and "therefore there should be no talk of selling it off", in a little rickety chair, which also was an antique, on a dusty old velvet cushion which had been fluffed and beaten to perfection for her some time earlier by a maid. She would be powdering and pinching and painting away until she had plastered on a face that looked fifteen years younger and ten older at the same time. She would be picking out picking out some dreadful perfume to douse on every inch of herself, creating a dreadful cloud of juniper and rose that made me want to gag. Then there would be a footman wailing for me to come in for breakfast. I would come begrudgingly, to sit and pick at whatever ghastly masterpiece had been prepared, and then sigh when my mother brought up how I would
"catch a terrible chill if I continued to go outside in the current conditions." we would then continue a heated conversation on what a "respectable lady" would do. I would point out to her that I was not in fact a respectable lady and she would humph and try to drag my father into the conversation. Who coincidentally would be very intrigued by his eggs, or sausage, or what have you. Then finally he would look up to say that "I was a Welton and as Weltons come I was a wondrous child." Mother would then make some furious squeak and the room would sink in to silence.
I closed my eyes and took in the moment, wishing it would last for eternity, but the unmistakable sound of the foot man calling me for breakfast shattered the moment. i sighed, yes today would be a day like any other.
As the sun presented itself to the sky, the ice slowly melted away, ending the moment of magic, and leaving the garden to look despairingly average. I shivered absentmindedly under my quilted blanket. I could hear the day beginning. Directly to my back there were sounds of bustle and impatience in the big manor house. The maids and servants and cooks were up, doing their morning duties so that everything was ready when Mr. and Mrs. Welton awoke. No doubt Mrs. Welton already had.
She would be sitting at her old table which was an antique and "therefore there should be no talk of selling it off", in a little rickety chair, which also was an antique, on a dusty old velvet cushion which had been fluffed and beaten to perfection for her some time earlier by a maid. She would be powdering and pinching and painting away until she had plastered on a face that looked fifteen years younger and ten older at the same time. She would be picking out picking out some dreadful perfume to douse on every inch of herself, creating a dreadful cloud of juniper and rose that made me want to gag. Then there would be a footman wailing for me to come in for breakfast. I would come begrudgingly, to sit and pick at whatever ghastly masterpiece had been prepared, and then sigh when my mother brought up how I would
"catch a terrible chill if I continued to go outside in the current conditions." we would then continue a heated conversation on what a "respectable lady" would do. I would point out to her that I was not in fact a respectable lady and she would humph and try to drag my father into the conversation. Who coincidentally would be very intrigued by his eggs, or sausage, or what have you. Then finally he would look up to say that "I was a Welton and as Weltons come I was a wondrous child." Mother would then make some furious squeak and the room would sink in to silence.
I closed my eyes and took in the moment, wishing it would last for eternity, but the unmistakable sound of the foot man calling me for breakfast shattered the moment. i sighed, yes today would be a day like any other.
Poetry Out Loud
For Poetry Out Loud I have decided to recite "The Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This is a very long poem consisting of 36 lines.It also has a lot of deep meaning that took me a while to interpret but after a while I got the hang of it and was able to understand that the title was very literal. Every stanza was a rule of how to live a fruitful life.
The poem expresses how small we are in the great expanse of the world, how we are all connected and must help each other through life. But the stanza that struck me most of all was the one that described how we must take charge of our lives to make a difference. How our dreams are dependent on us and to achieve them we can look only to ourselves. I have struggled for a while to take the initiative and work hard enough to achieve my goals. To run after the things I want instead of letting them pass me by. After reading this poem I decided I wanted to set goals for myself, so that I could have a better chance of achieving my dreams. Its hard to have to think about what life will be like in ten, twenty, thirty years, but I know that by planning ahead I will be ready for whatever is thrown at me.
This poem has inspired me to live a more productive life. It has taught me to "be a hero in the strife" as it has done for many people in the last 180 years and will continue to do so for as long as poetry stays close to our hearts.
The Importance of Being Ernest
Dishonesty is a wide category with many subgroups, that all have their own way to slither around the truth. In the story The Importance of Being Ernest, miscommunication and misjudgement are the most common perpetrators. They are used in many forms such as epigrams which could lead someone away from their good values by promising a better future, or satire mocking those who are in a more reasonable or steady situation. But most of all deception was used in this story to make people more appealing. This deception goes by the name of Ernest, which is ironic seeing as the definition of earnest is to be honest and serious. Which none of the characters, not even Lady Bracknell, are in this play. in fact the entire play seems to revolve around mocking people in different situations and lying about your own so you can deal with it.
By knowing that, I can infer that Oscar Wilde either hated high society people very much and wanted to share his opinions by publishing this play, or that he was himself very high and mighty and wanted to show his views on how nonchalantly people lie. Which ever it is I am steadfast in my view that he did not respect these people who spent their days eating the most popular pastry and sharing any crumb of gossip they could snatch up.
By knowing that, I can infer that Oscar Wilde either hated high society people very much and wanted to share his opinions by publishing this play, or that he was himself very high and mighty and wanted to show his views on how nonchalantly people lie. Which ever it is I am steadfast in my view that he did not respect these people who spent their days eating the most popular pastry and sharing any crumb of gossip they could snatch up.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Lobsters
In the poem "Lobsters" by Howard Nemerov, two lines drew my attention. The words "There's something underneath the world. The flame beneath the pot that boils the water."confused me and seemed to have no definite meaning. Sure they could be interpreted in an infinite many ways, but I wanted to know what Howard meant when he wrote them.Shouldn't the final lines of a poem be the most meaningful? shouldn't they hold the most symbolic weight? In "Lobsters" they obviously did and yet they didn't seem to be much of a issue for anyone else. Instead the main theme of our discussion was trying to understand Nemerov's reason for using the specific names of colors to describe lobsters. Colors? Really people? Now, I understand that these colors also carried symbolic weight, but enough to over shadow Howard Nemerov's ideas on the world and the meaning for life? I don't think so. I wish that someone could help me interpret his words. Perhaps then we could get an entire new outlook on his poem.
I am still lost on the exact meaning behind what he wrote. i wish I knew more about him so I could understand his motives. Was as he a religious man who steadfastly believed in Hell? Or was he eluding to the great enormity of the world? When he said that there was something boiling under the world did he mean that there was a liquid, molten iron and copper alloy? Or was he speaking of mans need to do and achieve?Theses two lines were very nearly not spoken of, and this confused me further. None of my questions were answered in the discussion.
I am still lost on the exact meaning behind what he wrote. i wish I knew more about him so I could understand his motives. Was as he a religious man who steadfastly believed in Hell? Or was he eluding to the great enormity of the world? When he said that there was something boiling under the world did he mean that there was a liquid, molten iron and copper alloy? Or was he speaking of mans need to do and achieve?Theses two lines were very nearly not spoken of, and this confused me further. None of my questions were answered in the discussion.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
paragraph skills
There is a wide range of things that people need to work on in their five part paragraphs. In general though people are misunderstanding how to embed their quotes, forgetting transitions, and missing commentary.
The most commonly missed skill is embedding quotes. Often people will not lead into their quote or will instead use a commentary to introduce the quote. In these cases, though, they form two sentences as there embedding. A lack of transitions is also common and can make the paragraph sound choppy. People also tend to miss understanding the definition of commentary and instead use facts they learned from the literature. Instead they should use things they inferred about the characters. Still overall the paragraphs are pretty good.
Personally, I also have some writing skills to work on. A few of them are using quotes that are far to long, leaving out commentary, and spelling things incorrectly. To begin I tend to draw out my quotes which can confuse the reader or just bore them. The real problem is that I'm just including more information than is needed. I'm also guilty of miss using strait facts where commentary should go. I'm not exactly clear on how to infer things from the literature or what to infer. lastly I am a horrible speller. Even when I use spell check I often miss a word or pick the wrong spelling for the specific definition of a word. There is definitely a lot I can work on in my writing techniques.
The most commonly missed skill is embedding quotes. Often people will not lead into their quote or will instead use a commentary to introduce the quote. In these cases, though, they form two sentences as there embedding. A lack of transitions is also common and can make the paragraph sound choppy. People also tend to miss understanding the definition of commentary and instead use facts they learned from the literature. Instead they should use things they inferred about the characters. Still overall the paragraphs are pretty good.
Personally, I also have some writing skills to work on. A few of them are using quotes that are far to long, leaving out commentary, and spelling things incorrectly. To begin I tend to draw out my quotes which can confuse the reader or just bore them. The real problem is that I'm just including more information than is needed. I'm also guilty of miss using strait facts where commentary should go. I'm not exactly clear on how to infer things from the literature or what to infer. lastly I am a horrible speller. Even when I use spell check I often miss a word or pick the wrong spelling for the specific definition of a word. There is definitely a lot I can work on in my writing techniques.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Animal Farm Evaluation
Nic Smithstad
Artwork
Depicts Napoleon in all his glory, In clothes with a beer in hand. But lacks any reference to the farm or other animals.
Britta
Poem
Can i just say, it was AMAZING! The poem outlined the entire story while still entertaining me as the reader and rhyming perfectly. GO BRITTA!
Conner
Artwork
Compared Animal Farm to the Russian Revolution perfectly and presents the story's theme without complicating things.Great project!
comic strip
Focassed mainly on the pigs of Animal Farm but portrayed the plot line well.
Cathrine
Artwork
Wonderfully displays the meaning behind the book and depicts all of the characters.
Meghann
Artwork
Portrays a pivotal point in the story but uses quotes from the book that are far too long.
Porter
Comic strip
This project portrays the main plot of the book, shows progression of characters, and is drawn well.
Maddie
Artwork
Shows progression of the story line and the out come of Napoleon's tyranny but lacks connection to the plot.
Jake
Artwork
Creatively portrays Animal Farm and highlights important characters but again lacks connection to the theme.
Olivia
Artwork
olivia shows the end result of Napoleon's tyranny over Animal Farm as he is dressed in clothes and is holding a beer while talking to a human.
I feel I Did well with my project, and I know I spent plenty of time working on it (a number of days) but it could definitely have portrayed the plot and theme better. instead it touched on the ideas in the story with the song "Beasts of England" and concentrated mainly on the characters. All in all after seeing the other students projects I know I could do better.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
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