I feel as if there are pros and cons on how the Internet changes our thought process. We are in a time and generation where information is just a click of the search button away. Are thoughts are no longer "our thoughts" but more so of a remix of the things the Internet brings to our attention. Though the Internet brings a lot of current events to our attention, the price comes with a bountiful list of distractions. Music, videos, games, social media; all of these things are factors to the list of distractions that may keep us from doing productive work. You go from thinking about the issue of ObamaCare to thinking what crazy outfit is Miley Cyrus rockin' that day.Time seems to melt away when you're tuned into the internet. "Just checking your Facebook" leads to an hour of "Reading through my Newsfeed and recruiting more friends for Candy Crush." It becomes more difficult to focus on non-stimulating priorities when you're constantly having entertaining and euphoric interests popping up in the sidebar. The Internet is a tool that provides an endless amount of information for each individual without ever having to leave the comfort of their own home. This information is only resourceful if the individual can manage to steer away from the "wants' and prioritize the "needs". It takes a certain mental endurance to stay focused while on the Internet. Considering the Internet is now shaped around our interests, it's not uncommon for two or three of the things we like to be suggestions while we do our research. These interests also filter and tailor our results to relate most to the things we enjoy most. For this reason we most likely wont get accurate results for Shakespeare if we spend most of our free time on the Internet trying to figure out "What the fox says." Aside from distractions, the Internet/technology also seems to limit our learning experience in some ways. For example, most teenagers seem to lack the understanding of proper grammar, punctuation and vocabulary because we have become accustomed to technology doing it for us. I being one of those teenagers can vouch for my accusation of technology being both the pro and antagonists of education. I spent years growing used to auto correct editing and filtering my spelling mistakes and using text abbreviations to write. For this reason, my English skills have been diminished. Even now I'm sitting here clicking on auto correct to edit all of my spelling mistakes. All this rambling aside, the Internet is a setback and a advantage at the same time. It allows us concrete and limitless sources for research and informational purposes but has terrible side effects of laziness, short term memory, grammar mistakes and lack of full understanding. We've become a generation dependent on how fast our browsers can refresh and how accurately Siri can follow our commands. Internet/Technology are such powerful and resourceful creations that were designed to make our lives easier. Too bad nobody ever put a warning label on the negative impact it can have on our future generations if it's not utilized right.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
THOUGHTS ON HAMLET
My memory on my feelings towards the beginning of Hamlet are vague but I'm almost positive I didn't feel that he was evolving into a psychopath. The story of Hamlet is beginning to somewhat remind me of my favorite murder show "Dexter". Dexter becomes a serial killer after witnessing his mothers death. He vouches to find the man who killed his mother and kill him too. Dexter ends up killing many people on the way to finding the man who kills his mother. In the end, Dexter loses everything he loves and cherishes due to his blood lust and is forced to retreat to a life of solitude as a lumberjack. (I know, the ending was terrible but you get the gist.) To me Hamlet has become Dexter. He has found out his father was murdered and swears to kill the man who killed his father (Claudius). As a result, he ends up killing others before he gets to the killer (Polonious) until he loses the ones closest to him (Ophelia) and is killed for his actions. They're so different yet I see them as so similar. Hamlet started off as a character people could love and grow to care for, now he appears to be delusional. He no longer cares who he has to hurt or kill in order to get revenge. I once believed that Hamlets insanity was just a pseudo to fool those around him so that he could mourn for his father. It appears that Hamlet has fooled all of us. Now that his true colors are revealed he has nowhere to hide. The consequence for his will pay in bloodshed.
Monday, October 28, 2013
WHAT I THINK ABOUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT ACT III
Act 3 was somewhat as I had interpreted. I felt like this part of the play would be the rising action or climax of Hamlet.I was a bit surprised to see the outcome of Hamlets "play within a play". I truly felt that Claudius would have been smart enough to hide his reaction. My original analysis was that Claudius would watch the play and remain silent, his face would lack expression and he would appear to be very observant. After the play ended he would either choose to be alone so that he could think out loud in order to figure out how Hamlet became aware of his dirty secret or confront Hamlet about knowing of his wrong doings. I was disappointed to see the Claudius reacted almost instantaneously and left so abruptly after he came to realize that Hamlet had known that he was his fathers murder. Normally those capable of murder are mentally prepared to tactfully escape accusations of their crime if someone is to find out. Apparently Claudius isn't as intelligent as I had assumed. This Act was really all over the place. Hamlet seems to be losing sanity at an accelerated rate, this results in lack of empathy. It becomes apparent that Hamlets mission for revenge soon turns into an uncontrollable blood lust that will only lead to his own death. Something really is rotten in the state of Denmark.
"Before there is peace, blood will spill, and the lake will run red." - Erin Hunter
"Before there is peace, blood will spill, and the lake will run red." - Erin Hunter
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Literature Analysis #3
The book I'm about to do my literature analysis on was not my first choice. I started off reading Memoirs of a Geisha (Which I had seen previously approved by another student) but ended up dropping the book when my attention was brought to another while I was in the library. Though the book was simple and short, it had properties that had spoken to me in various ways and I feel as if it should be shared. If this book is not approved, I will gladly choose a different book and do a different literature analysis.
1. The book I read is called "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake. As stated earlier, though this book was a simple read and had a few flaws, it's theme tied to a personal struggled I had spent many years battling when I was younger. This book is about a girl named Maleeka who struggles with self confidence issues. She is constantly picked on and bullied by kids around town and at her school due to the complexion of her skin. Ever since her father had passed she has been surviving off of his social security money with her mother. Filled with grief and heartache, Maleekas mother began to sew all of Maleekas clothes. Due to her mother's lack of sewing skills, Maleeka was also picked on due to her clothing. This strays her to "befriend" a churlish and immature young girl named Charlese. She lends Maleeka clothes in exchange for her completed homework. As a result Maleeka begins to fail her classes due to the lack of time she has to do her own homework. Everything seems hopeless for her until a new teacher, Ms. Saunders, makes her way into Maleekas life. She suffers a skin condition that caused her many insecurities in her past. With her experience of what it's like to be the little guy, Mr. Saunders gives Maleeka some much needed tough love that will enable Maleeka to love the skin she's in.
2. Though I was told to avoid cliches, the theme is rather simple. I apologize ahead of time for the amount of cliche themes I am about to throw together at once. Sticks and stones may break ones bones but word's should never hurt you. Love who you are because it's what's on the inside that matters. Maleeka had to learn that our first and last love should be self love. Though I cannot seem to phrase the theme in the articulate way that I would like to, the entire book is about loving oneself.
3. The author was speaking as Maleeka. Maleeka's tone throughout the story was very negative. She took anything and everything negative that came her way and never stood up for herself regardless of if she truly thought otherwise. She's always talking down on herself and second guessing everything she does. Every time the author says something positive she shoots herself down with something negative.
*Please keep in mind that this is written in Maleekas perspective, the vocabulary and wording of the story aren't very structured.*
-"Before I know it, three more boys is pointing at me and singing that song too. Me, I'm wishing the building will collapse on top of me."
-"It's bad enough that I'm the darkest, worse dressed thing in school. I'm also the tallest, skinniest thing you ever seen."
-"Skin the color of potato chips and cashews and Mary Jane candies. No Almond Joy colored girls like me."
4.
Characterization: Though this isn't the most descriptive book, the way the author describes some of the characters helps me picture the story better so that I can make connections with my life as well.
"She's tall and fat like nobody's business, and she's got the smallest feet I've ever seen. Worse yet, she's got a giant white stain spread halfway across her face like somebody tossed acid on it or something."
Setting: The setting is what made this story so easy to relate to myself. Most of my struggles being an African American woman have come from a school area, especially in Jr. High.
Antagonist: The main antagonist of the story, Charlese, reminds me a lot of a girl I spent time with in Jr. High. She pretended to be my friend because I helped her with homework and bought her stuff, then threw me under the bus and made fun of me in order to make herself look better.
Flashback: There are times that the main character has flashbacks of things certain people had told her to help her keep it together even when times get rough. This is also something I experienced a lot when I was younger.
Conflict: The entire book is filled with conflict. The struggle of loving who you are instead of hating what people say and think you are.
Diction: The authors tone and style of writing is what made this character come to life. Though we have different speech levels, I felt as if I was speaking and expressing my similar struggles with the character.
Irony: The book was rather ironic. The characters making fun of Maleeka for her dark skin tone were also black. Though they may not have been her exact shade of black, their skin tones we're simlar.
Point of view: The author told this story in Maleekas point of view instead of her own. Seeing through the characters eyes and thinking her thoughts helped the reader better sympathize for her.
Satire: Maleeka was made fun of for her dark skin tone, though it made her weak in the beginning. She learned to overcome it and come out as a better person in the end.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Direct Characterization:
-"Charlese is the baddest thing in this school. She ain't gonna forgive you or loud talking her."
Indirect Characterization:
-"When she does, her Gucci watch flashes."
-"Seem like people been teasin gme all my life. If it ain't about my color, it's my clothes. Momma makes them by hand."
Flake uses both direct and indirect so that the reader can understand who the reader is and also see how they are. This allows the reader to develop stronger feelings and opinion towards certain characters.
2. The author uses diction to better outline a characters voice. It's easier to distinguish a characters educational background and develop a better understanding on how the character thinks.
3. The main character starts off very static, it isn't until the end where she seems to make more progress and become an dynamic character. She has a few erratic dynamic moments of change but they quickly fade as she resorts back to her old ways of thinking. After the character develops a better understanding of who she is and what she's capable of, she is able to make permanent changes to her personality.
4. I read this book because the character was me. Maleeka and I share very similar Jr. High experiences. We both have different backgrounds that put us on different paths but in the end the intertwine. I was the darkest girl at my junior high. There wasn't a day where someone didn't make a rude comment on how dark my skin was or crack a joke about how black I am. None of my friends were really my friends, they all used me and took advantage of my longing to have friends.People often took advantage of me and made me believe that they cared about me and went around telling others the opposite and belittling me around others. I spent my entire Jr. High will self esteem issues. My "friends" made me believe I was ugly and worthless and often told me how pathetic I am. It got to a point where I became so lost in their words that I had become delusional. After so many months of being used and abused I had reached my breaking point and become very suicidal. I looked in the mirror and saw black as a hideous color that doesn't blend in. I spent my nights dreaming of what it would be like if I had a lighter skin tone and eventually started to "punish myself" for being such a wretched color. I'd hit myself and cry myself to sleep wishing to escape into the fantasy land of being "Light skinned." It wasn't until I had met my best friend Kaylan at the end of my eighth grade year that I had snapped out of that negative state of mind and realized that black is beautiful. It took me three years to gain the confidence to love the skin i'm in and embrace every inch of it. Just like Maleeka, I had onced believed that black was nothing more than the ugly color that stains everything it touches. It wasn't until I met my Ms. Saunders that I learned to love the way God made me. Her struggle was so different yet so similar to mine. That's why I felt so compelled to do my Literature Analysis on such a gut-wrenching novel. This was more than just a book I needed to read for a grade, this was my life.
1. The book I read is called "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake. As stated earlier, though this book was a simple read and had a few flaws, it's theme tied to a personal struggled I had spent many years battling when I was younger. This book is about a girl named Maleeka who struggles with self confidence issues. She is constantly picked on and bullied by kids around town and at her school due to the complexion of her skin. Ever since her father had passed she has been surviving off of his social security money with her mother. Filled with grief and heartache, Maleekas mother began to sew all of Maleekas clothes. Due to her mother's lack of sewing skills, Maleeka was also picked on due to her clothing. This strays her to "befriend" a churlish and immature young girl named Charlese. She lends Maleeka clothes in exchange for her completed homework. As a result Maleeka begins to fail her classes due to the lack of time she has to do her own homework. Everything seems hopeless for her until a new teacher, Ms. Saunders, makes her way into Maleekas life. She suffers a skin condition that caused her many insecurities in her past. With her experience of what it's like to be the little guy, Mr. Saunders gives Maleeka some much needed tough love that will enable Maleeka to love the skin she's in.
2. Though I was told to avoid cliches, the theme is rather simple. I apologize ahead of time for the amount of cliche themes I am about to throw together at once. Sticks and stones may break ones bones but word's should never hurt you. Love who you are because it's what's on the inside that matters. Maleeka had to learn that our first and last love should be self love. Though I cannot seem to phrase the theme in the articulate way that I would like to, the entire book is about loving oneself.
3. The author was speaking as Maleeka. Maleeka's tone throughout the story was very negative. She took anything and everything negative that came her way and never stood up for herself regardless of if she truly thought otherwise. She's always talking down on herself and second guessing everything she does. Every time the author says something positive she shoots herself down with something negative.
*Please keep in mind that this is written in Maleekas perspective, the vocabulary and wording of the story aren't very structured.*
-"Before I know it, three more boys is pointing at me and singing that song too. Me, I'm wishing the building will collapse on top of me."
-"It's bad enough that I'm the darkest, worse dressed thing in school. I'm also the tallest, skinniest thing you ever seen."
-"Skin the color of potato chips and cashews and Mary Jane candies. No Almond Joy colored girls like me."
4.
Characterization: Though this isn't the most descriptive book, the way the author describes some of the characters helps me picture the story better so that I can make connections with my life as well.
"She's tall and fat like nobody's business, and she's got the smallest feet I've ever seen. Worse yet, she's got a giant white stain spread halfway across her face like somebody tossed acid on it or something."
Setting: The setting is what made this story so easy to relate to myself. Most of my struggles being an African American woman have come from a school area, especially in Jr. High.
Antagonist: The main antagonist of the story, Charlese, reminds me a lot of a girl I spent time with in Jr. High. She pretended to be my friend because I helped her with homework and bought her stuff, then threw me under the bus and made fun of me in order to make herself look better.
Flashback: There are times that the main character has flashbacks of things certain people had told her to help her keep it together even when times get rough. This is also something I experienced a lot when I was younger.
Conflict: The entire book is filled with conflict. The struggle of loving who you are instead of hating what people say and think you are.
Diction: The authors tone and style of writing is what made this character come to life. Though we have different speech levels, I felt as if I was speaking and expressing my similar struggles with the character.
Irony: The book was rather ironic. The characters making fun of Maleeka for her dark skin tone were also black. Though they may not have been her exact shade of black, their skin tones we're simlar.
Point of view: The author told this story in Maleekas point of view instead of her own. Seeing through the characters eyes and thinking her thoughts helped the reader better sympathize for her.
Satire: Maleeka was made fun of for her dark skin tone, though it made her weak in the beginning. She learned to overcome it and come out as a better person in the end.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Direct Characterization:
-"Charlese is the baddest thing in this school. She ain't gonna forgive you or loud talking her."
Indirect Characterization:
-"When she does, her Gucci watch flashes."
-"Seem like people been teasin gme all my life. If it ain't about my color, it's my clothes. Momma makes them by hand."
Flake uses both direct and indirect so that the reader can understand who the reader is and also see how they are. This allows the reader to develop stronger feelings and opinion towards certain characters.
2. The author uses diction to better outline a characters voice. It's easier to distinguish a characters educational background and develop a better understanding on how the character thinks.
3. The main character starts off very static, it isn't until the end where she seems to make more progress and become an dynamic character. She has a few erratic dynamic moments of change but they quickly fade as she resorts back to her old ways of thinking. After the character develops a better understanding of who she is and what she's capable of, she is able to make permanent changes to her personality.
4. I read this book because the character was me. Maleeka and I share very similar Jr. High experiences. We both have different backgrounds that put us on different paths but in the end the intertwine. I was the darkest girl at my junior high. There wasn't a day where someone didn't make a rude comment on how dark my skin was or crack a joke about how black I am. None of my friends were really my friends, they all used me and took advantage of my longing to have friends.People often took advantage of me and made me believe that they cared about me and went around telling others the opposite and belittling me around others. I spent my entire Jr. High will self esteem issues. My "friends" made me believe I was ugly and worthless and often told me how pathetic I am. It got to a point where I became so lost in their words that I had become delusional. After so many months of being used and abused I had reached my breaking point and become very suicidal. I looked in the mirror and saw black as a hideous color that doesn't blend in. I spent my nights dreaming of what it would be like if I had a lighter skin tone and eventually started to "punish myself" for being such a wretched color. I'd hit myself and cry myself to sleep wishing to escape into the fantasy land of being "Light skinned." It wasn't until I had met my best friend Kaylan at the end of my eighth grade year that I had snapped out of that negative state of mind and realized that black is beautiful. It took me three years to gain the confidence to love the skin i'm in and embrace every inch of it. Just like Maleeka, I had onced believed that black was nothing more than the ugly color that stains everything it touches. It wasn't until I met my Ms. Saunders that I learned to love the way God made me. Her struggle was so different yet so similar to mine. That's why I felt so compelled to do my Literature Analysis on such a gut-wrenching novel. This was more than just a book I needed to read for a grade, this was my life.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Vocab #8
Abase (v.) : to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation or estimation; humble degrade.
It's common for ones grade to abase after a bad test score.
Abdicate (v.): to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, claim, responsibility, or the like, especially in former manner.
The amount of trust my parents had given me was abdicated after getting in trouble.
Abomination (n.): great loathing or dislike.
She had the mindset of a perfectionist, anything below a ninety percent was an abomination.
Brusque (adj.): abrupt in manner; blunt; rough.
I'm often known for my brusque honesty.
Saboteur (n.): a person who commits or practice sabotage.
People with personal vendettas often become saboteurs in the process of getting revenge.
Debauchery (n.): excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.
Proliferate(v.): to grow or produce by multiplication of parts, as in budding or cell division, or by procreation; To increase in number or spread rapidly.
Mice are known to proliferate in very large numbers.
Anachronism (n.): something or someone that is not in its correct historical history or chronological time.
My character Jasmine is an anachronism time traveler from the future.
Nomenclature(n.): the names or terms compromising a set or system.
Nomenclature is similar to genre.
Expurgate (v.): to purge or close of moral offensiveness.
Radio stations place expurgated music to avoid explicit content.
Bellicose (adj.): inclined or eager to fight.
Alcohol is a common gateway to bellicose thoughts and feelings
Gauche (adj.) : lacking social grace, sensitivity or acuteness; awkward, tactless.
I had a gauche presence in middle school due to my shy personality.
Rapacious (adj.): very greedy.
Many children become rapacious during their toddler stage.
Paradox (n.) : a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd.
Superheros are often designed with paradox personalities so that they can selflessly defend their loved ones.
Conundrum (n.): a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play or words.
Conundrums help people think outside of the box.
Anomaly (n.): a deviation from the common rule; someone abnormal who doesn't fit in; an odd or peculiar condition.
Girls who wear shorts and dresses in the winter are common anomaly's at Righetti High School
Ephemeral (adj.) : lasting a very short time; short-lived.
House flies are ephemeral insects, they have a lifespan of one week.
Rancorous (adj.): full of or showing resentment.
It's not uncommon for people to be rancorous towards those they are jealous of.
Churlish (adj.): rude behavior.
I make an effort to refrain from being churlish towards those around me, you never know who you may be speaking to.
Precipitous (adj.): extremely steep.
Riding a bike down a precipitous hill can result in a serious injury.
It's common for ones grade to abase after a bad test score.
Abdicate (v.): to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, claim, responsibility, or the like, especially in former manner.
The amount of trust my parents had given me was abdicated after getting in trouble.
Abomination (n.): great loathing or dislike.
She had the mindset of a perfectionist, anything below a ninety percent was an abomination.
Brusque (adj.): abrupt in manner; blunt; rough.
I'm often known for my brusque honesty.
Saboteur (n.): a person who commits or practice sabotage.
People with personal vendettas often become saboteurs in the process of getting revenge.
Debauchery (n.): excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.
Proliferate(v.): to grow or produce by multiplication of parts, as in budding or cell division, or by procreation; To increase in number or spread rapidly.
Mice are known to proliferate in very large numbers.
Anachronism (n.): something or someone that is not in its correct historical history or chronological time.
My character Jasmine is an anachronism time traveler from the future.
Nomenclature(n.): the names or terms compromising a set or system.
Nomenclature is similar to genre.
Expurgate (v.): to purge or close of moral offensiveness.
Radio stations place expurgated music to avoid explicit content.
Bellicose (adj.): inclined or eager to fight.
Alcohol is a common gateway to bellicose thoughts and feelings
Gauche (adj.) : lacking social grace, sensitivity or acuteness; awkward, tactless.
I had a gauche presence in middle school due to my shy personality.
Rapacious (adj.): very greedy.
Many children become rapacious during their toddler stage.
Paradox (n.) : a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd.
Superheros are often designed with paradox personalities so that they can selflessly defend their loved ones.
Conundrum (n.): a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play or words.
Conundrums help people think outside of the box.
Anomaly (n.): a deviation from the common rule; someone abnormal who doesn't fit in; an odd or peculiar condition.
Girls who wear shorts and dresses in the winter are common anomaly's at Righetti High School
Ephemeral (adj.) : lasting a very short time; short-lived.
House flies are ephemeral insects, they have a lifespan of one week.
Rancorous (adj.): full of or showing resentment.
It's not uncommon for people to be rancorous towards those they are jealous of.
Churlish (adj.): rude behavior.
I make an effort to refrain from being churlish towards those around me, you never know who you may be speaking to.
Precipitous (adj.): extremely steep.
Riding a bike down a precipitous hill can result in a serious injury.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Dear Ophelia
Dear Ophelia,
It sounds like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, aren't you sweetie? You've come to the right girl, I've helped many of my friends through similar situations and look forward to bringing you mental peace in your hardships. Before we get sentimental and sweet let's get our facts straight first, shall we ? My first and foremost question is, do you really think it's worth it? If you're to choose the prince that is. What has he done to show that he really loves you and that this whole thing isn't a scheme for personal gain? You need to weigh out the pros and cons and consider your options. You're basically choosing between your family, which is forever if i might add, and the maybe not so love of your life. Are you really willing to give up a blood bond for someone who can so easily change their thoughts and opinions towards you? I've always felt that fathers and brothers should have a small dislike towards their sister/daughters lovers, that being said they should also approve of them at the same time. Whether you like their opinion or not, they know a lot more about your man than you may think they do. Don't make your decision solely on what your dad and big brother say, but also don't make your decision without giving consideration and consent to what they think and feel about the prince. Love is something that takes time but also something you have a whole lifetime to find. Don't rush into anything. Don't forget to be realistic, we're talking about a prince after all. You can either become his queen or his concubine and sadly, the decision is not yours. Once you become the prince's lover, you can have no other chance at finding love. Make sure you think this over thoroughly and consider every possibility. This decision will determine your future. Choose wisely.
It sounds like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, aren't you sweetie? You've come to the right girl, I've helped many of my friends through similar situations and look forward to bringing you mental peace in your hardships. Before we get sentimental and sweet let's get our facts straight first, shall we ? My first and foremost question is, do you really think it's worth it? If you're to choose the prince that is. What has he done to show that he really loves you and that this whole thing isn't a scheme for personal gain? You need to weigh out the pros and cons and consider your options. You're basically choosing between your family, which is forever if i might add, and the maybe not so love of your life. Are you really willing to give up a blood bond for someone who can so easily change their thoughts and opinions towards you? I've always felt that fathers and brothers should have a small dislike towards their sister/daughters lovers, that being said they should also approve of them at the same time. Whether you like their opinion or not, they know a lot more about your man than you may think they do. Don't make your decision solely on what your dad and big brother say, but also don't make your decision without giving consideration and consent to what they think and feel about the prince. Love is something that takes time but also something you have a whole lifetime to find. Don't rush into anything. Don't forget to be realistic, we're talking about a prince after all. You can either become his queen or his concubine and sadly, the decision is not yours. Once you become the prince's lover, you can have no other chance at finding love. Make sure you think this over thoroughly and consider every possibility. This decision will determine your future. Choose wisely.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
The Art of Hosting Good Conversations Online
Fiction novels are prominent in getting readers to think. By using both Direct and Indirect Characterization, Fiction novels use the readers thought process to develop thoughts and feelings towards specific characters. In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Shakespeare allows the reader to understand Hamlets mental struggles and current situation. By doing this, the reader is given the ability to try to understand what these actions are doing to Hamlet and make an assumption on how they will affect him later on in the story. After spending a decent amount of time reading books that allow you to read and profile the character, it's only natural to begin to start profiling people outside of books as well.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
GREEN EGGS AND HAMLET
a. Honestly, I don't have much knowledge on either. I do know that I've been meaning to watch the Hamlet movie before we dive into the story. Visuals always help me become more engaged with the story.
b. If I recall correctly, Shakespeare is a famous poet and playwright whose work is known around the world. He has written many famous stories that have been taught throughout high school for decades. Though his work is genius and creative, the language used can be so difficult to decode that many high school students won't see or understand the true nature and purpose that is hidden within the vocabulary.
c. Many students frown on ready Shakespeare mainly because of the language used. It is uncommon and difficult to interpret. Considering high school students like to think that they know everything, being introduced to such difficult literature is hard for them to process thus resulting in their hatred towards the poet.
d. I'm actually not too sure about this one, but I look forward to brainstorming with the class about it !
b. If I recall correctly, Shakespeare is a famous poet and playwright whose work is known around the world. He has written many famous stories that have been taught throughout high school for decades. Though his work is genius and creative, the language used can be so difficult to decode that many high school students won't see or understand the true nature and purpose that is hidden within the vocabulary.
c. Many students frown on ready Shakespeare mainly because of the language used. It is uncommon and difficult to interpret. Considering high school students like to think that they know everything, being introduced to such difficult literature is hard for them to process thus resulting in their hatred towards the poet.
d. I'm actually not too sure about this one, but I look forward to brainstorming with the class about it !
Vocab #7
Click here to view our group Etherpad! It contains Vocabulary definitions and also our group story !
Sunday, October 6, 2013
IF I JUST HAD MORE TIME !!
Honestly, lack of time isn't an excuse for why I did poorly on my midterm. Reality is, if you really know you stuff, time isn't an issue. If I had all the vocabulary memorized like the back of my hand, I would have almost had all of it down in thirty minutes and the essay knocked out in twenty or less. It's a matter of familiarization and understanding. Giving me all of the time in the world would not have guaranteed myself a better grade. Thus my title should not be "IF I ONLY HAD MORE TIME !!" it should be "IF I ONLY STUDIED HARDER !!" Because how much I really knew is what it boils down to in the end.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Lit Analysis #2 : Of Mice and Men.
1. Of Mice and Men is the story of two unemployed travelers named George and Lennie. George is a smaller man, but his size in height doesn't account for the size of his heart. Regardless of George's constant ranting about how life would be so much easier without Lennie, he continues to watch after and care for his friend. Lennie's size is very different from George's , somewhat like a giant. He 's bigger than the average man but due to his lack of mental abilities, this strength can be dangerous due to the fact that he isn't fully aware of how strong he really is. In the beginning of the book, Lennie unintentionally killed a small mouse due to his lack of control. Regardless of Lennie's lack of self-control, he is a overall sweet and innocent character. These two friends both share a dream to own land and grow crops of their own when they can obtain more money. Sadly, finding jobs isn't so easy with Lennie's illness, he constantly hurts others unintentionally and it makes it very hard for the two to secure a nice job. Eventually the two find work on a ranch where they quickly befriend the other laborers with the help of Candy, a man who too shares the friends dream. Things seem to be running smoothly for Lennie and George until they meet Curley and his coquettish wife. Curley's wife makes advances on both George and Lennie, these flirtatious actions soon lead to the death of Curley's wife, unintentional of course. Her death was caused by her attempts to flirt with Lennie. Due to Lennie's lack of self-control, he end's up breaking Curley's wifes neck and becoming the target of every laborer on the ranch. He flees the scene in a panic and is later found by his friend George. George is aware that Lennie's only chance of freedom is death. George mercifully kills Lennie himself to save him from a brutal murder by the ranch laborers.
2. The theme is friendship. George sticks by Lennie through thick and thin even in knowing he could be more successful without him by his side. Even though George killed Lennie in the end, it was still out of compassion to save him from a more brutal death by other workers.
3. The book was pretty depressing and somewhat lonely ? Every character seemed so lost and isolated, as if they have nothing to really live for.
*"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They ain't got no family. They don't belong no place . . ."
The character Lennie is probably what made this novel so depressing. For one he was mentally handicapped and his handicap caused him to hurt and kill animals and humans accidentally. It's somewhat cruel and twisted, the fact that he can't control himself even if he really tried. It's a terrible way to live.
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
-Imagery
-Personification
-Flashback
-Foreshadow
~
CHARACTERIZATION
1. DIRECT
George: "The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features."
Lennie: "- A huge man, shapeless face, with large pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders-"
INDIRECT
Lennie: Speaks as if he's uneducated. The author uses broken English for the characters Dialogue
Curleys Wife: She constantly throws herself towards other men, making her seem desperate for attention from others.
I feel like the author uses both to help the reader form an opinion of the character. Direct characterization provides the imagery that allows the reader to create a visual image of the character. Indirect allows the reader to build an opinion of that specific character.
2. The author appears to use both syntax and diction during character dialogue. They speak in a very uneducated and improper way. The words are all over the place and barely put together. The quote
"You now shut up." appears to be the best example to represent both syntax and diction.
3. I consider George to be a very round character, mainly because Lennie's mental illness makes it difficult for him to evolve. In the beginning he has a dream to own his own land, though he only sees it as just a dream. Candy then provides money for his dream making it seem like a reality but it is then crushed to pieces when he is force to kill his best friend to spare him from suffering. Basically he goes from hopeless, to hopeful, to hopeless again.
Lennie on the other hand, is a very static and flat character, he has the same mindset throughout the story and it makes it difficult for him to grow or acquire various hopes and dreams.
4. I had somewhat felt like I met Lennie, mainly because I have a handicapped uncle. When he killed Curley's wife I had felt incredibly sad for him because I knew that he really couldn't help it. Alas, the connection was somewhat breif, mainly because I didn't have the "connection type mindset". My only goal was to finish the book and that's what I did. Connections can be difficult to achieve in only two weeks. I feel like I could have really connected with this character had I allowed myself to read deeper.
2. The theme is friendship. George sticks by Lennie through thick and thin even in knowing he could be more successful without him by his side. Even though George killed Lennie in the end, it was still out of compassion to save him from a more brutal death by other workers.
3. The book was pretty depressing and somewhat lonely ? Every character seemed so lost and isolated, as if they have nothing to really live for.
*"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They ain't got no family. They don't belong no place . . ."
The character Lennie is probably what made this novel so depressing. For one he was mentally handicapped and his handicap caused him to hurt and kill animals and humans accidentally. It's somewhat cruel and twisted, the fact that he can't control himself even if he really tried. It's a terrible way to live.
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
-Imagery
-Personification
-Flashback
-Foreshadow
~
CHARACTERIZATION
1. DIRECT
George: "The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features."
Lennie: "- A huge man, shapeless face, with large pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders-"
INDIRECT
Lennie: Speaks as if he's uneducated. The author uses broken English for the characters Dialogue
Curleys Wife: She constantly throws herself towards other men, making her seem desperate for attention from others.
I feel like the author uses both to help the reader form an opinion of the character. Direct characterization provides the imagery that allows the reader to create a visual image of the character. Indirect allows the reader to build an opinion of that specific character.
2. The author appears to use both syntax and diction during character dialogue. They speak in a very uneducated and improper way. The words are all over the place and barely put together. The quote
"You now shut up." appears to be the best example to represent both syntax and diction.
3. I consider George to be a very round character, mainly because Lennie's mental illness makes it difficult for him to evolve. In the beginning he has a dream to own his own land, though he only sees it as just a dream. Candy then provides money for his dream making it seem like a reality but it is then crushed to pieces when he is force to kill his best friend to spare him from suffering. Basically he goes from hopeless, to hopeful, to hopeless again.
Lennie on the other hand, is a very static and flat character, he has the same mindset throughout the story and it makes it difficult for him to grow or acquire various hopes and dreams.
4. I had somewhat felt like I met Lennie, mainly because I have a handicapped uncle. When he killed Curley's wife I had felt incredibly sad for him because I knew that he really couldn't help it. Alas, the connection was somewhat breif, mainly because I didn't have the "connection type mindset". My only goal was to finish the book and that's what I did. Connections can be difficult to achieve in only two weeks. I feel like I could have really connected with this character had I allowed myself to read deeper.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
The Comparison Tale
I feel like all of our characters were the same in the aspect that they all go against their stereotypes. The knight wasn't noble and the cook was always wasted off of his own wine. Chaucer's characters were so different yet so similar in so many different ways. Each character had a different story and tale but they all share the same diversity when it comes to the groups they're stereotyped in. In my point of view, each character shared the same tone/theme/style. I saw all of their themes as Chaucer's way of saying not everyone is who they seem or say they are and that their true colors reflect who they really are, regardless of their title and rank. Of course the style was the same,considering Chaucer wrote and created all of the characters, the tone just happened to be a bonus. Every tone was basically describing who they say they are and who they really are. I suppose you could say my outlook on the Canterbury Tales as different and somewhat simple minded. But, I honestly feel like Chaucer used all of these characters to prove a point about human nature and who we really are, not the title that covers our true identities.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
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