The Conclusion To My Blog

     In this year of blogging I have covered so many unique and interesting topics. I have analyzed plays, poetry, motifs, symbols, ancient literary works, conflict and a plethora of others. As I was reading over some of my old posts, I was struck by how much I have grown and matured, not just as a writer, but as an analyst. At the beginning of the school year I would write about the prompt provided and just skim the surface of the deeper literary meanings. I would go on about the obvious answers and explanations but didn't bother to dig deeper. Now, I am a much better writer and have improved significantly in the area of analyzing for literary meanings. One of the most memorable blogs I posted was one about the poem "Lobsters" by Howard Nemerov. This poem was brilliantly written and is very thought provoking. In my blog I went below the surface and tried to uncover the deeper meaning in the poem, aside from the obvious. I enjoyed this poem because it uses very well-worded imagery to capture the audience, but also has a darker, less known meaning. At first glance, this poem appears to be about lobsters sitting in a tank at the supermarket, waiting for their death, but that image is just a metaphor for our inevitable fate. Poetry has played a role in my interpreting skills as it demands quite a bit of interpretation.

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them."
Henry David Thoreau

This quote by Henry David Thoreau in his book "Walden" is one of my favorite quotes of all time. It captures the idea of motivation to accomplish really anything. It says that you should set high goals for yourself and they may seem unattainable, but goals be high. This means that something worth working toward will be difficult, but it will be worth it. This was true for my growth as a writer this year in english. I had a somewhat hazy goal of becoming a better writer and reader in 9th grade honors english. But after many hours of overloading my brain with endless lists of motifs, symbols, conflicts, diction, character development, figurative language, inagery, and poetic devices I can now say that i have accomplished my goal of becoming a better writer and reader. I now appreciate words more and understand the deeper meanings in works of literature. Thus concludes my 9th grade honor english blog!

Memorable Assignment

     This year of English has entailed so many assignments including blogs, word power quizzes, essays, papers, posters, and discussions. If I had to chose my favorite assignment of this entire year, it would be my Great Expectations essay. When I first started reading the book, I despised it and thought it was a complete waste of time. I didn't understand the language and thought it was too hard. But as I read further, I was amazed at how deep the novel really is. There were so many motifs, symbols, allusions, and below-the-surface meanings that I hadn't initially caught. This book was brilliantly written and I realized that reading this book stretched me as a reader and helped me expand my literary "horizons."
     The essay, likewise, was difficult at first. But it forced me to dig even deeper into the novel and uncover the themes and motifs. I labored over how I was going to effectively convey the theme of the entire novel in five paragraphs. I was surprised at how easily it flowed and came together. I am proud of the final product and of my final grade on this essay. The Great Expectations essay is definitely my favorite assignment of honors English.

Experience With Poetry

     Since I was a young child, I have loved poetry. I don't remember my very first experience with poetry, but I never remember not enjoying it. I started reading Shel Silverstein's poetry when I first learned to read and from then on was hooked. My dad purchased three of his poem books for my siblings and I. I would sit on his lap in a huge arm chair and giggle as he read aloud rhyming tales of deep-sea monsters and mischievous little children. My dad noticed my love for poetry and gave me a book of Robert Frost poems at the age of ten. While burying myself in this book I soon discovered another side of poetry, a side that didn't involve children's rhymes. I developed an passion for words and trying to unearth the deeper meaning in poems.
     In sixth grade, we did a poetry unit in my class. In this unit I was introduced to a multitude of emotions expressed through the words in a poem. We read many poems by Edgar Allen Poe and I recognized how specific word choice can convey such passionate emotions. I think one of my favorite parts of poetry is how it forces you to stop and really think about it. I love the imagery and figurative language used to describe thind. The beauty of poetry is that it is somewhat hazy in meaning yet can express such passion. At this point, I am still in love with poetry and am excited to learn how to better decode its hidden meanings.

Conflict In Romeo and Juliet

     One of the main conflicts in the play Romeo and Juliet is that the two have a forbidden love that goes against their families and the society in which they live. The Montagues and Capulets hate each other and for their children to fall in love is the worst possible thing that could happen. So this is a case of person vs. society. Another huge conflict is the person vs. self when Juliet has to decide for herself whether to go along with her parents plan for her life or choose her own path. In Act 4, Juliet's parents have chosen her husband and are planning her wedding, not even considering her feelings. She would rather die than marry Paris and plans to fake her own death to escape this terrible fate.

     Personally, I want to choose my own path for life and if I were in Juliet's situation, I would also rebel. All teenagers want to break free from authority and make their own decisions at some point. This is shown when Juliet goes to Friar Lawrence to vent about having to marry Paris. She claims that she would rather die than marry him and longs to somehow escape. I do this all the time, I just don't plan on killing myself. Sometimes I don't want to listen to my parents and just feel like slipping away to do what I please. But I have to reason with myself and know that rebelling would get me into more trouble. Person vs. Self is a very common conflict because everyone has trouble deciding what to do in certain situations. The difference is that our decisions usually aren't so extreme as Juliet's.

Romeo and Juliet: It's Everywhere!

     There are many similarities and references to  Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in modern culture. In the novel The Luxe by Anna Godbersen, the main character is in a situation similar to Juliet. Juliet's parents want her to marry the wealthy, respectable Paris. But they don't know that she is secretly in love with Romeo and longs to marry him instead. Juliet knows she could never marry Romeo because he is the son of her family's greatest enemy. Similarly, in The Luxe, when Elizabeth discovers that her family's money has run out, she is pressured to marry someone wealthy so she can support her family. But she is also in love with someone else, someone her mother would never approve of. She is forced to make the decision to either marry for love or marry for money to take care of her family. Both girls secretly go against the status quo and the desires of their families. This novel captures a major theme  in the play that love conquers social status and wealth.

Connecting With Romeo and Juliet

     Because this book was written 400 years ago and society is very different now than back then, it seems hard to connect with the characters, especially when you can't understand half of what's being said. But I was surprised how the characters can relate to us as teenagers. I can definitely relate to Juliet in that sometimes my parents don't understand me and want me to go along with their plan. Her mother wanted her to marry Paris despite her age and wish to remain unmarried. I think all teenagers feel like this at some point. I can also relate to Romeo in that sometimes I would rather talk about a situation with my sister or friend than tell my parents. He only tells Benvolio what is on his heart about Rosaline but won't tell his parents.
     I think that reading the scenes independently and then in class helps me a lot in comprehending the language. The old language can be difficult to navigate and makes the book much harder to read. I often have to read the scenes twice to fully understand it. Sometimes I'm so confused and have no idea what the characters are talking about that I miss the hidden metaphors an imagery. It also helps to have Mrs. Gilman clarify what I don't understand and reword it in way that makes sense.

Wrapping Up Great Expecations

Throughout all three stages of the novel, one main message has been communicated. This message is that friends and family are more important than money and a high social status. This message is portrayed in Pip's life as he acquires his expectations and becomes a gentleman in London. When he first meets Estella and Miss Havisham, he becomes ashamed of who he is and what his life is. He becomes dissatisfied with everything he has and even the people he loves. He longs to be of a higher social status and have more money. But when he does receive this, he finds that it doesn't provide the happiness he desired. His endless supply of cash not only makes him unhappy, but it separates him from those who love him, like Joe and Biddy. Pip finally does learn this lesson in stage three when he sees that his relationships are more important than his social standing. He and Joe become friends again and he even becomes friends with Estella. He is reunited with his old self and it brings a satisfying conclusion to the novel. This lesson is what the reader wants Pip to understand from the beginning of his expectations and he finally does.

Thoughts on Reading

     Great Expectations was an interesting novel that was so much deeper than I had expected. It had so many twists and turns that created the intricate plot. I, personally, did not enjoy the ending of the book at all. I felt that it didn't complete the whole story and left a lot of loose ends. All that happened was Estella and Pip meet again after a long time (two years?) and Pip realizes her unhappiness. She has had a terrible marriage to Bentley Drummle and is leading a life of heartbreak. She and Pip reconcile their past differences and decide to remain as friends. What is so unsatisfying about this is that Pip does not end up marrying Biddy or Estella or anyone. I can't believe that Biddy and Joe marry, considering their huge age difference. On a positive note, Pip does discover himself near the end of the novel and becomes a likable protagonist once again. He becomes his old self and this brings a sigh of relief from the reader. I did enjoy Dickens' language at times but most often, found it confusing and hard to follow. The whole story would have been easier to read had it not been writen two-hundred years ago.

     Staying caught up on the reading was not usually a problem for me. Most often I would read the chapters and annotate right before I went to bed. Sometimes I would read in the morning before school. I did use sparnotes when the chapters were confusing (which they most often were) to help clarify my understanding of the plot. Once in a while I would not read and get behind, but most often I stayed caught up. Reading the chapter and then sparknotes helped me understand the novel by seeing what I could figure out on my own and catching what I missed.

Picture Post

     This picture captures the story of Great Expectations well. In one way, the princess trapped high in the tower is the beautiful Estella. Pip is madly in love with her but can never reach her. She taunts and belittles him so he constantly feels inferior around her. The dragon guarding the tower is the class system in society that has been a major theme throughout the entire novel. Pip would do anything to be with her and eventually does scale the ladder of society.

      In another way, Estella represents the thing that Pip wants most but cannot have. He is constantly wanting something better, something more for himself. In a way, the dragon and the tower could represent Pip himself because he stands in his own was on the path to happiness. He never feels good enough so he must always strive to be better. The princess locked up in the tower is Pip's      own happiness.

Making Connections

     The story of Great Expectations has many similarities to the story of Annie. Both begin with the main character (both orphans) in a dark place early in life. Pip is the abused little boy living with his sister, destined to work in the forge and never have a chance at a better life. Annie lives in the orphanage and has learned to fend for herself at an early age. She can only dream that someone will adopt her and she can have a normal life. Mrs. Joe and Mrs. Hannigan play the roles of the abusive "caretakers" of the children and in reality, make their lives miserable.
    
     They are both unsatisied with their lives and long for something better in the future. Then each of the stories take an unexpected turn. The two children find themselves with the promise of a bright future. Annie is sent to live with billionare Mr. Warbucks for a week and Pip is given a fortune by an unknown benefactor.
   
      Besides the plot similarities, the two stories also have common motifs. The most major being how each long for something better throughout the story. Annie is desperate to meet her real parents of be adopted. Pip longs to be a gentleman and to discover his own destiny.

Great Expectations, Second Stage

     In the second stage of the novel, Pip explains how he has settled into his new lavish life and has become accustomed to the lifestyle. He says that he has the expensive habit of spending large amounts of money. This he does with ease because whenever he needs money, he simply goes to Mr. Jaggers who gives him the desired amount. This shows Pip to be somewhat selfish, as all the money he is spending is from his benefactor.
     Pip's habit of spending money fits into his new image as a gentleman because it is exactly what he imagined. When he still lived with Joe, he longed to be a refined gentleman who didn't work and had all the money he wanted. Pip has worked for none of his money and has therefore fulfilled part  of his "dream" to be a gentleman. This is a huge letdown for the reader. Pip is no longer a simple, inocent boy but a wealthy, arrogant, lazy man who looks down on the lower class he used to be a part of. He fits the theme of "being a gentleman" because he is no longer humble but complacent and spoiled.

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 information of the first link on one memorable day."

When he says this Pip is referring to how his attitude toward being Joe's apprentice has changed. He was once excited to finally learn this trade. The forge was his path to adulthood that he revered so much. But now he is ashamed of his "coarse hands and thick boots" and the lowly status of the blacksmith. The moment his view was altered was when he met Estella. Before he met her, he knew of nothing that could be better in life. He had a home, food, and some companionship. He had nothing to compare his life to so he was content. She changed his whole view of himself and the way he viewed other people. This is a negative change because it twists how Pip sees everything in his life from now on. He is no longer content with his simple life but is ashamed of it. He describes how is house was once a suitable and sturdy home, but now reminds him of his low status and fuels his wish for a better life.

This quote could also relate to me in the area of swimming. The day I joined the swim team nearly 6 years ago really turned my life in a different direction. I had tried other sports but nothing really grabbed me. I knew that I loved to swim and wanted to try something new but I didn't know the commitment it took. I had no idea how much time I would spend at endless swim meets, the lazy, care-free Saturdays I would never have, and the hard training it would require. But the upsides outweigh the downsides and I have learned to much self disipline as a result. Swimming has become a huge part of my life and continues to be my passion.

Great Expectations

Chapter 5 was really confusing for me because I didn't understand where Pip and Joe were going with the sergent and his men. I re-read the passage and I think they are hunting for the escaped convicts in the marshes, but I am not sure. I also didn't understand what they were talking about before they left. Pip states, "The sergent took a polite leave of the ladies, and parted from Mr. Pumblechook as from a comrade; though I doubt if he were quite as a fully sensible of that gentleman's merits under arid conditions, as when something moist was going." This stiflingly formal diction is hard to process and I did not understand what Pip meant when he said this. Please answer my question and help me better understand this passage.

Dishonesty in TIOBE

Hey Rachel and McKenzie! I am so sorry this blog is so late, I have been at a swim meet all day and just arrived home. I have been having some trouble thinking of a way to transition from our first paragraph to our second. I think it should be unique and interesting. This would help the essay flow nicely and make it interesting to read. I have also been working on my commentary for my body paragraph. My goal is to elaborate on the concrete detail without stating the obvious.
Questions:
How should we transition from the first paragraph to the second (small lies to identity lies)?
Should we connect our intro and conclusion with the hook (mother's wanring) or should we use something different?
Should we stay in the same format as the 5 part paragraphs (transition, detail, two commentary etc.) or should we just write the paragraphs and check to see if we have everything?

The Importance of Being Earnest

In "The Importance of Being Earnest" satire is used almost everywhere. The institution of marriage is shown to be a 'business transaction' in that time period of the Victorian era. Especially in the upper class of society, people married for money and social security. The quality of life is said to decline after one is married. Education is made fun of (especially by Lady Bracknell) because it 'tampers with natural ignorance' and makes no impact on society. The upper social class is shown to be shallow and lazy. None of the wealthy characters work and instead spend their lives falling in love and spending their money. Religion is displayed as something of little importance and the act of getting baptised/christened is just the time when someone receives their name.

Dishonestly is twisted throughout the entire story and is the cause of conflict. Jack and Algernon are alike in the fact that they each invented someone to visit whenever they wanted to avoid responsibility. Jack invented a troublesome younger brother (Earnest) who lived in London and would go 'visit' him whenever he wished to escape to the city. Algernon invented a sick friend (Bunbury) who he would also 'visit' whenever he wished to escape dinners with his relatives. This dishonesty is used to show how the upper class did nothing but pursue their own pleasures and this provided them yet another way to do so.

Animal Farm Project Evaluation

1. Melanie (power point) I think Melanie's project showed all the elements of the book. It clearly showed how the pigs controlled the farm. She obviously spent a lot of time on her project.

2. Grace, Sara, Molly (movie trailer) Their trailer was very realistic and showed tons of effort. It was filmed on a real farm and showed the elements of the story.

3. Brook (song) Brooke's song was very creative and used different instruments to create a story. The instruments were well chosen to represent the events on the book and made sense overall.

4. Alena and Mackenzie (movie trailer) Their movie trailer showed the pigs rise to power very well. It clearly explained the events of animal farm and was well made. I enjoyed watching it.

5. Kayla (animal pyramid) Kayla's pyramid clearly showed the classes of the animals. It was creative and made sense with the story.

6. Sean (comic strip) Sean's comic was creative and showed the elements of the book. It was well made and enjoyable to read.

7. Rachael (game on slide show) Rachael's project was very creative and showed lots of effort. It obviously took time to make and she incorporated themes from the book in to her game.

8. Olivia (poem) Olivia's poem was very short but she does capture some elements of the book. She showed how the pigs take over once Jones is gone.

9. Sara (picture) Sara's picture was very creative and captured the story well. It showed animal farm and the corruption that had taken place.

10. D'andra (poem) D'andra's poem was creative and had lines that were repeated for emphasis. She showed the events on the farm well with her words in the poem.

I feel I did well on my project and captured the elements of the book in my poem. I showed the five major points in the story and used the words to show the events on the farm. I had the overall theme of tyranny woven into my poem to show it as a major element of the book.

Animal Farm Project: Poem

Animal Farm Poem


torn.
counTry and farm,
greed for power,
justice silenced,
how long?

hope.
future, promise,
dictator overthrown,
freedom from oppression,
the scepter shattered.

rebuild.
piece bY piece,
Rise from the dust,
heal the wound,
a new Age has begun.

twisted.
webs of deceit,
slowly wiNding,
thickly veiling truth,
sileNced by fear.

greed.
slylY corrupting,
whip in trotter,
scepter in hand,
one and the same.

what is this? TYRANNY