Period 4's collaboration of the Hamlet soliloquy. We decided as a class that instead of attempting to focus and record videos of boring recitations while others were reciting around us we would come together, shake things up a bit, and kill 28 (or so birds) with one stone. This way we can use tomorrow's class period to look at all our our interpretations of Act 1 and Act 2 of Hamlet. Moving into next week, we would like to continue on with Hamlet and keep our class discussions going.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
LITERATURE ANALYSIS #2
Atonement by Ian McEwan
1. The novel begins with the announcements that five of the Tallis' family members are going to be heading home for a visit. The older brother, Leon, and his friend Paul Marshall are heading home for a day's visit, while cousins of the Tallis', Lola and her twin brothers, are also coming to visit, unexpectedly. It was the summer of 1935, Briony Tallis is finishing up the poem she wrote for her brother's return home while all of a sudden her eyes come across her older sister, Cecilia, taking off her clothes getting ready to dive into the fountain to retrieve pieces of a broken vase. Oblivious to her surroundings, Cecilia's bare skin and objects are visible for anyone to see, and unfortunately visible to Robbie Turner, a family friend who Briony is infatuated by. With the amazing, graceful sight of Cecilia's bare body, Robbie is in awe and acknowledges the fact that he has then fallen in love with Cecilia. Later on, Robbie was invited over for dinner at the Tallis house, when he accidentally inserted a letter depicting the inappropriate things he would do with Cecilia into an envelope. Briony came across the letter and in disgust with what she read, was determined that Robbie was insane and a creeper. That night, Briony walked into the family library to Robbie and Cecilia doing inappropriate things and becomes so utterly confused with the interactions and feelings between her sister and her "dream boy." After witnessing the disturbing scene in the library, the family eats and finds out the twins had ran away. Frantic, the entire family went to look for them but Briony took off to try to find them on her own. While by herself, she witnesses Lola being "attacked" by a man who she thought was Robbie. When she returns home, she accuses Robbie as the attacker and reports him to the police which puts him in jail even after the long, conflicted court trial. In part two, the novel skips to the year 1940 when Robbie was let out of prison. He then joined the British Expeditionary Force in which he is in France battling against the Nazis. The war becomes extremely dangerous and Robbie ends up getting wounded and becoming delirious. The only method of communication to the outside world is letters in which he speaks to Cecilia. The novel refers back to Briony and the guilt she faces after she realizes that she had made a false accusation and that Robbie did not rape Lola. She becomes so fed up with her guilt and consequences of her accusation, that she desperately tells Cecilia that she will tell the court that Robbie was not the man who raped Lola. Cecilia and Robbie are free of accusations but continue to have resentment towards Briony and the family because of the trouble that they have created for her and Robbie. Part three also reveals that it was Paul Marshall, Leon's friend, who had raped Lola and that Lola was now getting married to him. Although not ever forgiven by Cecilia and Robbie, Briony still goes on and lives her life "guilt free." The end of the novel depicts Briony when she was 77 years old and in which she had just found out that she was dying of vascular dementia. The audience is revealed that Atonement was her book that she had not yet published and she wouldn't do so until Lola and Paul were dead. Unfortunately, she acknowledges that she will not outlive the two and that the story will be revealed while they were still alive. She also admits that the novel wasn't entirely truthful and that Cecilia and Robbie didn't reunite but died separated from one another while Robbie was at war.
2. Although the book contained several themes, I believe the one that is portrayed throughout the entire novel and serves the novel a great purpose is guilt. Both Briony and Lola experience a great amount of guilt and also suffered from its consequences after performing wrong actions. Briony having blamed Robbie for Lola's rape when it was not him, and her writing a book around the conflicting events the family faces, Briony never escapes the feeling of guilt her entire life. Lola's lies about her rape situation and not revealing who the real man was never diminished and she also had to live with that guilt for the rest of her life. Guilt is what Ian McEwan's novel was built upon and was deeply portrayed in each and every page in the novel.
3. The author's tone in the novel is resentful. When Briony retrieves Robbie's letter, she is filled with anger and resentment in which she states," How dare you! How dare you!" Briony was at fault, herself, because she had no right to go through Cecilia's belongings. Another instant that depicts the tone is at Paul and Lola's wedding when Robbie says, "I want to find him... I want to kill him." This statement is made by Robbie because he knows the truth about the rape of Lola and wants to make Paul pay for his stupid mistakes and wrongdoings. Another instance was when Briony was working as a nurse and becomes admirable towards Luc. "He was a lovely boy who was a long way from his family and was about to die." Although this quote doesn't portray resentment, it does symbolize the those innocent, kind men who were murdered for a reason that had nothing to do with them nor their lives.
4. Setting- The story takes place in the era of the World War II and portrays the difficulties experiences by the families who were affected by the war. Tone- McEwan's tone was resentful throughout the novel and gave depth to the conflicts the characters faced. Parallelism- the drastic affects the world had on its victims were, in comparison, alike the conflicts Briony faced throughout the story. Irony- At the end of the novel, the author reveals that Cecilia and Robbie were never reunited after he returned from war and the same person who had tore them apart had lied and "put them together again." Allusion- in a couple instances, the author includes Briony alluding back to her younger years such as when she recalled to the time when she had admitted to loving Robbie at the age of ten. Tragedy- Briony's bad decisions and false accusations left her all alone suffering from the consequences of her wrong doings. Foreshadowing- In part three, the book skips forward to Briony at the age off 77 in which she predicts that all hell will break lose when Lola and Paul find out that she had published a book that depicted the mean, silly games and lies they had preformed that had caused so many people to experience unneeded struggles.
Characterization
1. "Paul Marshall took control of the conversation with a ten minute monologue." This quote suggests that Paul is very courageous and proud/arrogant. "Lola had green eyes and sharp bones in her face, and hollow cheeks, and there was something brittle her reticence strong will and temper easily lost." Emily Tallis: "Habitual fretting about her children, her husband, her sister, the help, had rubbed her senses raw; migraine.. had distilled.. a sixth sense..." Robbie: "He tilted back his chair and surveyed his desk as one might a life.. He had no further use for his notes, but too much work, too much success was bound up with them and he could not bring himself to throw them out just yet." Robbie could not let go of his hard work, pride, not even after he dropped out. He still remained proud of himself and his work.
2. I would say McEwan's syntax remains constant throughout the novel for each and every situation and character. In each situation he uses little dialogue and sentence length while describing/introducing.
3.Briony is both a dynamic and round character. As the story progresses, she changed as she acknowledged the wrong doings she had completed. As she grows, she matures and notices that she needed to make up for her mistakes and fix the bonds that had broke because of her actions.
4. Throughout the novel, I felt a relationship forming between me and Briony. Like her, I was also immature as a child and did not care who I hurt or offended. But as I grew and matured, I acknowledged the mistakes I made and made amends for them. I, at first, disagreed with the family's actions, especially Briony's and Lola's, but as the story progressed, I began to form an understanding and admiration for the family and their methods of making amends
1. The novel begins with the announcements that five of the Tallis' family members are going to be heading home for a visit. The older brother, Leon, and his friend Paul Marshall are heading home for a day's visit, while cousins of the Tallis', Lola and her twin brothers, are also coming to visit, unexpectedly. It was the summer of 1935, Briony Tallis is finishing up the poem she wrote for her brother's return home while all of a sudden her eyes come across her older sister, Cecilia, taking off her clothes getting ready to dive into the fountain to retrieve pieces of a broken vase. Oblivious to her surroundings, Cecilia's bare skin and objects are visible for anyone to see, and unfortunately visible to Robbie Turner, a family friend who Briony is infatuated by. With the amazing, graceful sight of Cecilia's bare body, Robbie is in awe and acknowledges the fact that he has then fallen in love with Cecilia. Later on, Robbie was invited over for dinner at the Tallis house, when he accidentally inserted a letter depicting the inappropriate things he would do with Cecilia into an envelope. Briony came across the letter and in disgust with what she read, was determined that Robbie was insane and a creeper. That night, Briony walked into the family library to Robbie and Cecilia doing inappropriate things and becomes so utterly confused with the interactions and feelings between her sister and her "dream boy." After witnessing the disturbing scene in the library, the family eats and finds out the twins had ran away. Frantic, the entire family went to look for them but Briony took off to try to find them on her own. While by herself, she witnesses Lola being "attacked" by a man who she thought was Robbie. When she returns home, she accuses Robbie as the attacker and reports him to the police which puts him in jail even after the long, conflicted court trial. In part two, the novel skips to the year 1940 when Robbie was let out of prison. He then joined the British Expeditionary Force in which he is in France battling against the Nazis. The war becomes extremely dangerous and Robbie ends up getting wounded and becoming delirious. The only method of communication to the outside world is letters in which he speaks to Cecilia. The novel refers back to Briony and the guilt she faces after she realizes that she had made a false accusation and that Robbie did not rape Lola. She becomes so fed up with her guilt and consequences of her accusation, that she desperately tells Cecilia that she will tell the court that Robbie was not the man who raped Lola. Cecilia and Robbie are free of accusations but continue to have resentment towards Briony and the family because of the trouble that they have created for her and Robbie. Part three also reveals that it was Paul Marshall, Leon's friend, who had raped Lola and that Lola was now getting married to him. Although not ever forgiven by Cecilia and Robbie, Briony still goes on and lives her life "guilt free." The end of the novel depicts Briony when she was 77 years old and in which she had just found out that she was dying of vascular dementia. The audience is revealed that Atonement was her book that she had not yet published and she wouldn't do so until Lola and Paul were dead. Unfortunately, she acknowledges that she will not outlive the two and that the story will be revealed while they were still alive. She also admits that the novel wasn't entirely truthful and that Cecilia and Robbie didn't reunite but died separated from one another while Robbie was at war.
2. Although the book contained several themes, I believe the one that is portrayed throughout the entire novel and serves the novel a great purpose is guilt. Both Briony and Lola experience a great amount of guilt and also suffered from its consequences after performing wrong actions. Briony having blamed Robbie for Lola's rape when it was not him, and her writing a book around the conflicting events the family faces, Briony never escapes the feeling of guilt her entire life. Lola's lies about her rape situation and not revealing who the real man was never diminished and she also had to live with that guilt for the rest of her life. Guilt is what Ian McEwan's novel was built upon and was deeply portrayed in each and every page in the novel.
3. The author's tone in the novel is resentful. When Briony retrieves Robbie's letter, she is filled with anger and resentment in which she states," How dare you! How dare you!" Briony was at fault, herself, because she had no right to go through Cecilia's belongings. Another instant that depicts the tone is at Paul and Lola's wedding when Robbie says, "I want to find him... I want to kill him." This statement is made by Robbie because he knows the truth about the rape of Lola and wants to make Paul pay for his stupid mistakes and wrongdoings. Another instance was when Briony was working as a nurse and becomes admirable towards Luc. "He was a lovely boy who was a long way from his family and was about to die." Although this quote doesn't portray resentment, it does symbolize the those innocent, kind men who were murdered for a reason that had nothing to do with them nor their lives.
4. Setting- The story takes place in the era of the World War II and portrays the difficulties experiences by the families who were affected by the war. Tone- McEwan's tone was resentful throughout the novel and gave depth to the conflicts the characters faced. Parallelism- the drastic affects the world had on its victims were, in comparison, alike the conflicts Briony faced throughout the story. Irony- At the end of the novel, the author reveals that Cecilia and Robbie were never reunited after he returned from war and the same person who had tore them apart had lied and "put them together again." Allusion- in a couple instances, the author includes Briony alluding back to her younger years such as when she recalled to the time when she had admitted to loving Robbie at the age of ten. Tragedy- Briony's bad decisions and false accusations left her all alone suffering from the consequences of her wrong doings. Foreshadowing- In part three, the book skips forward to Briony at the age off 77 in which she predicts that all hell will break lose when Lola and Paul find out that she had published a book that depicted the mean, silly games and lies they had preformed that had caused so many people to experience unneeded struggles.
Characterization
1. "Paul Marshall took control of the conversation with a ten minute monologue." This quote suggests that Paul is very courageous and proud/arrogant. "Lola had green eyes and sharp bones in her face, and hollow cheeks, and there was something brittle her reticence strong will and temper easily lost." Emily Tallis: "Habitual fretting about her children, her husband, her sister, the help, had rubbed her senses raw; migraine.. had distilled.. a sixth sense..." Robbie: "He tilted back his chair and surveyed his desk as one might a life.. He had no further use for his notes, but too much work, too much success was bound up with them and he could not bring himself to throw them out just yet." Robbie could not let go of his hard work, pride, not even after he dropped out. He still remained proud of himself and his work.
2. I would say McEwan's syntax remains constant throughout the novel for each and every situation and character. In each situation he uses little dialogue and sentence length while describing/introducing.
3.Briony is both a dynamic and round character. As the story progresses, she changed as she acknowledged the wrong doings she had completed. As she grows, she matures and notices that she needed to make up for her mistakes and fix the bonds that had broke because of her actions.
4. Throughout the novel, I felt a relationship forming between me and Briony. Like her, I was also immature as a child and did not care who I hurt or offended. But as I grew and matured, I acknowledged the mistakes I made and made amends for them. I, at first, disagreed with the family's actions, especially Briony's and Lola's, but as the story progressed, I began to form an understanding and admiration for the family and their methods of making amends
Thursday, October 16, 2014
LITERARY FICTION & EMPATHY
How can reading fiction help you understand others? Use Hamlet as an example to explore your own thinking process and reactions to a character's innermost thoughts/struggles.
This article blew me away if I were to be honest. I would have thought that those who read the more popular books would interpret the novels on a more personal basis just because of the fact that the text is modern and depicts today's society. Reading literary works from the past, to me, would be "boring" in a way in which the readers would become bored while reading and would not interpret the true purpose of the story nor form a relationship with its characters. This shows to tell you that people interpret things in many different ways. I believe that reading fiction, although sometimes not the most fun, provides the reader with more realistic life situations that enables the reader to connect and relate to the character and the situation they are encountering. Like in Hamlet, while reviewing the scenes today and yesterday and acknowledging his perspective on the incest-like marriage between his mother and his uncle, I was able to relate to his emotions and feelings because if I were in his position, I would have reacted the same way. If my mother were to do that to my family, I would be furious and have great resentment towards her and my "uncle." While reading the emotions and thoughts of characters portrayed in fiction novels, the audience is able to relate to the emotions and feelings as if they were experiencing the situation as well.
This article blew me away if I were to be honest. I would have thought that those who read the more popular books would interpret the novels on a more personal basis just because of the fact that the text is modern and depicts today's society. Reading literary works from the past, to me, would be "boring" in a way in which the readers would become bored while reading and would not interpret the true purpose of the story nor form a relationship with its characters. This shows to tell you that people interpret things in many different ways. I believe that reading fiction, although sometimes not the most fun, provides the reader with more realistic life situations that enables the reader to connect and relate to the character and the situation they are encountering. Like in Hamlet, while reviewing the scenes today and yesterday and acknowledging his perspective on the incest-like marriage between his mother and his uncle, I was able to relate to his emotions and feelings because if I were in his position, I would have reacted the same way. If my mother were to do that to my family, I would be furious and have great resentment towards her and my "uncle." While reading the emotions and thoughts of characters portrayed in fiction novels, the audience is able to relate to the emotions and feelings as if they were experiencing the situation as well.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Monday, October 13, 2014
Vocabulary 6
abase - verb cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
When someone is cocky I like to abase them.
abdicate - verb give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations
With all of the commotion and chaos in the castle, the king abdicated his thrown.
abomination - noun an action that is vicious or vile; an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence; a person who is loathsome or disgusting; hate coupled with disgust
If you make fun of an individual that has a disability, you are an abomination.
brusque - adj. marked by rude or peremptory shortness
The teachers brusque shocked the kids and caused them to stay quiet the rest of the period.
saboteur - noun someone who commits sabotage or deliberately causes wrecks; a member of a clandestine subversive organization who tries to help a potential invader
A drunk driver is considered a saboteur because of their impaired driving having the potential to hurt someone.
debauchery - noun a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity
In modern day society, an everyday party or get together is an debauchery.
proliferate - verb cause to grow or increase rapidly; grow rapidly
After my heart surgery, I began to proliferate.
anachronism - noun an artifact that belongs to another time; a person who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age; something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred
The fossil the biologists found acted as an anachronism of the earliest life forms on earth.
nomenclature - noun a system of words used to name things in a particular discipline
Tour guides are limited to what they say by a nomenclature.
expurgate - verb edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
After writing my personal statement and revising it a few times, I began to expurgate it.
bellicose - adj. having or showing a ready disposition to fight
The heard headed woman my mother is causes her to be bellicose.
gauche - adj. lacking social polish
My sister, shy and awkward, is very gauche.
rapacious - adj. excessively greedy and grasping; devouring or craving food in great quantities; living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey
I cannot stand students who do not share/express their work with others and are rapacious.
paradox - noun (logic) a statement that contradicts itself
To add depth to writing, it is beneficial to utilize paradox to prove a point.
conundrum - noun a difficult problem
My family and I have encountered many conundrums throughout our lives spent together.
anomaly - noun a person who is unusual; deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
Commonly, individuals classify special students as anomalies; this I cannot stand one bit.
ephemeral - adj. lasting a very short time; noun anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
The pain was ephemeral but very painful.
rancorous - adj. showing deep-seated resentment
If you continue to perform inadequate actions I will most likely begin to act rancorous towards you.
churlish - adj. having a bad disposition; surly; rude and boorish
The grumpy teacher was churlish to the innocent girl who only wanted to ask how the teacher's day was.
precipitous - adj. characterized by precipices; extremely steep; done with very great haste and without due deliberation
The improvement in the student's writing was precipitous, increasing at a very steep rate.
When someone is cocky I like to abase them.
abdicate - verb give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations
With all of the commotion and chaos in the castle, the king abdicated his thrown.
abomination - noun an action that is vicious or vile; an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence; a person who is loathsome or disgusting; hate coupled with disgust
If you make fun of an individual that has a disability, you are an abomination.
brusque - adj. marked by rude or peremptory shortness
The teachers brusque shocked the kids and caused them to stay quiet the rest of the period.
saboteur - noun someone who commits sabotage or deliberately causes wrecks; a member of a clandestine subversive organization who tries to help a potential invader
A drunk driver is considered a saboteur because of their impaired driving having the potential to hurt someone.
debauchery - noun a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity
In modern day society, an everyday party or get together is an debauchery.
proliferate - verb cause to grow or increase rapidly; grow rapidly
After my heart surgery, I began to proliferate.
anachronism - noun an artifact that belongs to another time; a person who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age; something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred
The fossil the biologists found acted as an anachronism of the earliest life forms on earth.
nomenclature - noun a system of words used to name things in a particular discipline
Tour guides are limited to what they say by a nomenclature.
expurgate - verb edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
After writing my personal statement and revising it a few times, I began to expurgate it.
bellicose - adj. having or showing a ready disposition to fight
The heard headed woman my mother is causes her to be bellicose.
gauche - adj. lacking social polish
My sister, shy and awkward, is very gauche.
rapacious - adj. excessively greedy and grasping; devouring or craving food in great quantities; living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey
I cannot stand students who do not share/express their work with others and are rapacious.
paradox - noun (logic) a statement that contradicts itself
To add depth to writing, it is beneficial to utilize paradox to prove a point.
conundrum - noun a difficult problem
My family and I have encountered many conundrums throughout our lives spent together.
anomaly - noun a person who is unusual; deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
Commonly, individuals classify special students as anomalies; this I cannot stand one bit.
ephemeral - adj. lasting a very short time; noun anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
The pain was ephemeral but very painful.
rancorous - adj. showing deep-seated resentment
If you continue to perform inadequate actions I will most likely begin to act rancorous towards you.
churlish - adj. having a bad disposition; surly; rude and boorish
The grumpy teacher was churlish to the innocent girl who only wanted to ask how the teacher's day was.
precipitous - adj. characterized by precipices; extremely steep; done with very great haste and without due deliberation
The improvement in the student's writing was precipitous, increasing at a very steep rate.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Canterbury Tale Transmedia Essay
Geoffery Chaucer, the author of The Canterbury Tales, has endured a great literature fame for several centuries. His story, filled with satirical, humorous, comical situations, repartee, and diversity, contains a handful of stories that differ from one another greatly and hardly resemble one another. Chaucer demonstrates many different social classes, genders, characters, lifestyles, and perceptions. Utilizing these techniques, he is able to both honor and question social and literary traditions. This video depicted above includes examples of the methods Geoffery Chaucer utilized to introduce and portray his characters throughout his story. Whether he flat out provides the audience with direct characteristics of the character or hinting to the audience how the character is by dialogue, foreshadowing, etc.
This picture represents the comic sense of humor Chaucer contains and portrays throughout his piece. He describes characters whose characteristics conflict with the purpose or reputation of their occupation/lifestyle. For example, he depicts a greasy, bald, dirty man who's a cook which is unusual because commonly, cooks are required to be presentable and sanitary.
This image demonstrates Chaucer's dense descriptions of the levels of societies each of his characters consider/occupy. Whether it be the vulnerable, middle-class carpenter, or the lower-class, greasy cook, there's always differences between the characters he portrays and their lifestyles/social classes.
This picture represents the diversity that is involved between the unity of all of the social classes in the world. His intention for this story was to force the world to realize and acknowledge that even though we may all be different, if we come and work together, we can accomplish great things. We are all equal no matter what class, ethnicity, or gender. 
This picture represents the comic sense of humor Chaucer contains and portrays throughout his piece. He describes characters whose characteristics conflict with the purpose or reputation of their occupation/lifestyle. For example, he depicts a greasy, bald, dirty man who's a cook which is unusual because commonly, cooks are required to be presentable and sanitary.
This image below represents Chaucer's intent to force us to acknowledge how different people and things can be interpreted in many ways by different people. To some, this may look like a wine glass of some sort, while to others it may look like to faces/portraits staring at one another. Chaucer demonstrates this by the interpretations of others to certain characters. For instance, the carpenter that is introduced in the Miller's tale is considered insane, mad, and vulnerable to society, while to others he is seen just as a middle-class, normal man.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
CANTERBURY OUTLINE
Intro: background information about Chaucer and the story, thesis, lead into the body paragraphs
Body #1: describe and support how Chaucer portrays several different genres, characters, social classes, genders etc.
Body #2: provide examples (include tales of characters from Canterbury Tales) -Miller's, Knights, etc
Body #3: give insight to how it helped him get his point/meaning across
Conclusion: Sum everything up, restate purpose of your piece
Body #1: describe and support how Chaucer portrays several different genres, characters, social classes, genders etc.
Body #2: provide examples (include tales of characters from Canterbury Tales) -Miller's, Knights, etc
Body #3: give insight to how it helped him get his point/meaning across
Conclusion: Sum everything up, restate purpose of your piece
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
GREEN EGGS & HAMLET
a) Honestly, I do not know one bit about Hamlet. I have never been exposed to him nor his work. Although, I am excited to be exposed to explore his writing.
b) All I know about Shakespeare is that he was the author of a lovely, romantic novel called Romeo and Juliet which I enjoyed very much.
c) I believe many people frown upon Shakespeare because some interpret his work as mushy gushy, lovey dovey, attempting to be persuading and sweet, over dramatic work.
d) What we can do to make this play an amazing learning experience is to make is a class collaborative assignment where we share our interpretations of the pieces with one another, exposing us to other's thoughts and learning\thinking processes.
b) All I know about Shakespeare is that he was the author of a lovely, romantic novel called Romeo and Juliet which I enjoyed very much.
c) I believe many people frown upon Shakespeare because some interpret his work as mushy gushy, lovey dovey, attempting to be persuading and sweet, over dramatic work.
d) What we can do to make this play an amazing learning experience is to make is a class collaborative assignment where we share our interpretations of the pieces with one another, exposing us to other's thoughts and learning\thinking processes.
THE POINT OF CANTERBURY TALES IS...
Geoffery Chaucer, the author of The Canterbury Tales, has endured a great literature fame for several centuries. His story, filled with satirical, humorous, comical situations, repartee, and diversity, contains a handful of stories that differ from one another greatly and hardly resemble one another. Chaucer demonstrates many different social classes, genders, characters, lifestyles, and perceptions. Throughout the piece, Chaucer demonstrates many different social classes, genders, characters, lifestyles, and perceptions.
Monday, October 6, 2014
VOCABULARY 5
shenanigans- secret or dishonest activity or maneuvering.
-The criminal's shenanigans are finally starting to be seen by the jury.
ricochet - noun a glancing rebound; verb spring back; spring away from an impact
-Her speaking bad about others ricocheted right back and bit her in the ass.
schism - noun division of a group into opposing factions; the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences
-Often, people who do not see eye to eye on certain situations experience schism between the two groups.
eschew - verb avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
-When someone contains a bad reputation, it is smart to eschew from them.
plethora - noun extreme excess
-Unfortunately, with all of the work teachers assign and with college applications, I no loner have a plethora of free time.
ebullient - adj. joyously unrestrained
-The crowd was ebullient because the softball team had just one their first CIF championship since 1982.
garrulous - adj. full of trivial conversation
-It's a fascinating thing to watch a child, over time, improve from weak language to garrulous.
harangue - noun a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion; verb deliver a harangue to; address forcefully
-When you have a problem with someone, instead of making a huge deal about it, be mature and harangue them.
interdependence - noun a reciprocal relation between interdependent entities (objects or individuals or groups)
-The class intelligence lever from this past year and the present year is quite an interdependence.
capricious - adj. determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason; changeable
-Commonly, my mind is easily capricious.
loquacious - adj. full of trivial conversation
-A majority of my teachers aren't even nearly being able to be classified as loquacious which makes me feel that I am being taught by false educators.
ephemeral - adj. lasting a very short time; noun anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
-The pain the girl felt in her new throughout the game felt chronic but was only ephemeral.
inchoate - adj. only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
-My application is inchoate as of right now.
juxtapose - verb place side by side
-An analogy juxtaposes to alike and similar objects.
perspicacious - adj. acutely insightful and wise; mentally acute or penetratingly discerning
-Almost every word that leaves my teacher's mouth is perspicacious.
codswallop - noun nonsensical talk or writing
-Some may classify Montaigne's essays as codswallop.
mungo- things that tend to be incorrigible reprobates and are best avoided.
-Bad luck is considered a mungo to some while a common thing for others.
sesquipedalian- characterized by long words; long-winded.
-Some parts of the dictionary are sesquipedalian.
wonky - adj. inclined to shake as from weakness or defect; turned or twisted toward one side
-The argument was now wonky towards the pro abortion side.
diphthong - noun a vowel sound that starts near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves toward the position for another
-The "ou" in the word out is considered a diphthong.
-The criminal's shenanigans are finally starting to be seen by the jury.
ricochet - noun a glancing rebound; verb spring back; spring away from an impact
-Her speaking bad about others ricocheted right back and bit her in the ass.
schism - noun division of a group into opposing factions; the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences
-Often, people who do not see eye to eye on certain situations experience schism between the two groups.
eschew - verb avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
-When someone contains a bad reputation, it is smart to eschew from them.
plethora - noun extreme excess
-Unfortunately, with all of the work teachers assign and with college applications, I no loner have a plethora of free time.
ebullient - adj. joyously unrestrained
-The crowd was ebullient because the softball team had just one their first CIF championship since 1982.
garrulous - adj. full of trivial conversation
-It's a fascinating thing to watch a child, over time, improve from weak language to garrulous.
harangue - noun a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion; verb deliver a harangue to; address forcefully
-When you have a problem with someone, instead of making a huge deal about it, be mature and harangue them.
interdependence - noun a reciprocal relation between interdependent entities (objects or individuals or groups)
-The class intelligence lever from this past year and the present year is quite an interdependence.
capricious - adj. determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason; changeable
-Commonly, my mind is easily capricious.
loquacious - adj. full of trivial conversation
-A majority of my teachers aren't even nearly being able to be classified as loquacious which makes me feel that I am being taught by false educators.
ephemeral - adj. lasting a very short time; noun anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
-The pain the girl felt in her new throughout the game felt chronic but was only ephemeral.
inchoate - adj. only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
-My application is inchoate as of right now.
juxtapose - verb place side by side
-An analogy juxtaposes to alike and similar objects.
perspicacious - adj. acutely insightful and wise; mentally acute or penetratingly discerning
-Almost every word that leaves my teacher's mouth is perspicacious.
codswallop - noun nonsensical talk or writing
-Some may classify Montaigne's essays as codswallop.
mungo- things that tend to be incorrigible reprobates and are best avoided.
-Bad luck is considered a mungo to some while a common thing for others.
sesquipedalian- characterized by long words; long-winded.
-Some parts of the dictionary are sesquipedalian.
wonky - adj. inclined to shake as from weakness or defect; turned or twisted toward one side
-The argument was now wonky towards the pro abortion side.
diphthong - noun a vowel sound that starts near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves toward the position for another
-The "ou" in the word out is considered a diphthong.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
MY (NEW, IMPROVED, ON TOPIC, & ACCURATE) CHARACTER'S JOURNEY
I wake up, frantic, my alarm ringing, dreading the horrendous taste of morning breath. The clock says 7:32, I have twenty eight minutes to get to class which is all the way across campus. I do my make up, brush my hair and put it into a braid, put on a UCLA t-shirt, some running shorts, and my brand new Nike's and head down to the dining hall. Quickly I scarf down a bowl of oatmeal and a banana, jump on my bike and ride to class. Terrified, intimidated, alone, I walk into the huge, populous classroom, observing all of the other colleagues who are all here for the same reason; education. Awkwardly, I ask a girl with short blonde hair wearing a UCLA sweatshirt with running shorts and sandals, if the seat next to her was vacant, she responded yes. I took a seat, took a deep breath and acknowledged the fact that I was officially a student at the University of California Los Angeles. Surrounded by other students of all ethnicities, I begin to feel that I am an outlier of the group. They were all comfortable, suitable, and excited while I on the other hand was nervous, lonely, and intimidated. After a few minutes of me frantically observing my surroundings and preparing myself physically and mentally for the first college lecture I would ever receive, the girl who I was sitting next to with the cute, short blonde hair said, "I'm glad to see that I am not the only one that feels like they're going to throw up." I responded, "Phew, I thought I was the only one! Glad to meet someone who feels the same way I do and someone who loves to dress simply and comfortably just like me!" We both giggled, introducing ourselves to each other, sharing our life stories like we had known each other forever. It was that moment that I knew I had just met an individual who would be someone I could talk to and reach out to with anything, someone who would be a great friend for many, many years. The puny, bald headed professor cleared his congested throat and begin to introduce himself to the class. "I am not here to make you do anything I assign, you're adults now, you make those decisions, it's whether you want to be successful or not in your near future. I could care less if you turned none of the assignments in, this is not on me, its on you." Absorbing his harsh wrath in, I began to take notes on the topic he was presenting. Detailed, long, boring notes, filled with information that went in one ear and out another. Two hours later, class was excused. Side by side, the girl I had met earlier that period, Elizabeth, and I walked to the bike racks together. "So how did you like your first real-life college lecture?" I replied, It was somewhat intimidating, considering the fact that I did not comprehend one thing he discussed." We both laughed, she agreed and insisted that we get together to help one another with our struggles in the class. Excited, I was more than happy to accept her offer. We set a date and time and were off on our own ways. It was a long two miles to my dorm and just to make my first day at college worse, as I was riding home I began to hear a whooshing noise and realized that I had a flat tire. I was forced to walk the rest of the distance back to the dorm walking the object one was intended to ride. In one hundred degree weather, let me tell you, that walk was not one bit of fun. Relieved and exhausted, the dorm was in sight. I began to pick up the pace until all of a sudden something jumped out from the bushes and attacked me. That was the last thing I remembered until waking up in a densely populated room with tons of other college students. Half unconscious, I attempted to ask for help and confirmation to where I was and what had happened to me. No one would even acknowledge me. I felt nonexistent. Was this a dream or is this real life? It felt like eternity, but finally a large, masculine man in UCLA attire came and discussed with me the matter that was to be addressed. He explained what had happened and the cause for it all. Due to my "illegal" school credits given to me by Righetti, I was now required to accompany all of the other students in the room on a journey to Africa to complete the A-G requirements I needed in order to attend UCLA. I was forced, quickly, to gather the belongings I had at that moment, rush to the airport, and fly to Africa where I would attend a special school to account for the credits I was missing. Accompanied by seventy other students, I felt more alone and neglected than I did in the classroom earlier that day. I had only met one person, Elizabeth, who was most likely not on the plane. I slyly looked around, and to my surprise was excited when I saw short blond hair. It was Elizabeth! Reunited, both frantic, we gave one another a hug and prayed. She told me that a majority of the high schools in California had provided their students with the wrong classes and credit required to attend a four-year and that is why we and the several other students will have to spend at least a few months in Africa with only the belongings we have. We would have to fend for ourselves, find our own shelter and food, but will be provided with the schooling and education. I began to cry and think of how terrible the trip is going to be. I began asking myself tons of questions; What am
I going to do? What if it's not safe? What am I going to eat? My mind racing one hundred miles per hour. I thought my mind was going to explode. I attempted to fall asleep, but it was nearly impossible for an innocent, lost girl like me who just wanted to go back home. It was 18 hour flight filled with disruptive sleep, eating, and relaxation. We exited the plane onto the dry, hot land greeted by Africans who were ecstatic to see us. Speaking hardly any English, the African individuals had a hard time communicating with everyone. By hand signals and gestures, they guided us to a facility with shelter and other students. It was then around nine o'clock at night and we were all exhausted. With the skimpy amount of clothes and materials we had, we attempted to create a home-like bed and environment. It was only ten minutes later, myself and everyone around me were passed out. A beam of light shining in my face was my wake up call. I arose, dizzy, and searched for a restroom. Dirty, unsanitary, one-stalled, outdoor restroom was all we had. No door, only a sheet made out of camel hide. Accidentally, I went to go into the stall when I was startled to see a girl on the toilet. I awkwardly apologized and waited for her departure. She came out of her stall laughing saying that it was no big deal. I felt embarrassed and apologized once again. "Don't sweat it girl, shit happens!" We both laughed and she introduced herself. "Ashlynn, wow that's a pretty name, my name is Stevie, I just arrived not even ten hours ago, I'm a newbie I guess you can say." As I began to admire her big blue eyes and pretty blonde hair we were interrupted by her friend Courtney, who was also here for the make up of college credits. We introduced ourselves to one another and all headed back to camp. I woke up Elizabeth, introduced her to Ashlynn and Courtney, and we all headed to the school. We attended school for five hours a day, in classrooms with 200 other students with limited seating and no air conditioning. It was five months that consisted of the same routine, with no communication back home. It wasn't until February 25th when all four of us were qualified to attend the four year universities we were attending before we were forced to accompany others in the mission to Kenya. Excited but sad to leave all of the other students I met, memories I made, and education I received, I boarded the plane anxious to return back to my dream university. A long, boring 18 hours later, I was finally back on California soil. Saying goodbye to Courtney and Ashlynn was hard, but we exchanged phone numbers and promised one another we would stay in touch. I walked to my dorm to find a bunch of welcome home signs made by my roommates. Man, maybe I did have more friends at school than I thought. It had been a long, stressful, lonely five months. I was so relieved to be back to the place where I would better myself, make new memories, and meet new people I would make these memories with. That night as I was walking to class, I alluded back to all of the times I spent in Kenya, all of the people I met, created friendships with, all of it. I began to feel upset but then realized I was back attending the college I had wanted to go to since my first heart surgery at the age of seven. The mission provided me with a chapter in my life I would never forget, education I would not have been accessible to in the United States, and I was blessed to be given the opportunity. As I was approaching the classroom, I thanked God for all he had done for me throughout my lifetime, took a deep breath, and confidently walked into the classroom where I was to spend the next four years of my life preparing myself for a future classified by success.
I going to do? What if it's not safe? What am I going to eat? My mind racing one hundred miles per hour. I thought my mind was going to explode. I attempted to fall asleep, but it was nearly impossible for an innocent, lost girl like me who just wanted to go back home. It was 18 hour flight filled with disruptive sleep, eating, and relaxation. We exited the plane onto the dry, hot land greeted by Africans who were ecstatic to see us. Speaking hardly any English, the African individuals had a hard time communicating with everyone. By hand signals and gestures, they guided us to a facility with shelter and other students. It was then around nine o'clock at night and we were all exhausted. With the skimpy amount of clothes and materials we had, we attempted to create a home-like bed and environment. It was only ten minutes later, myself and everyone around me were passed out. A beam of light shining in my face was my wake up call. I arose, dizzy, and searched for a restroom. Dirty, unsanitary, one-stalled, outdoor restroom was all we had. No door, only a sheet made out of camel hide. Accidentally, I went to go into the stall when I was startled to see a girl on the toilet. I awkwardly apologized and waited for her departure. She came out of her stall laughing saying that it was no big deal. I felt embarrassed and apologized once again. "Don't sweat it girl, shit happens!" We both laughed and she introduced herself. "Ashlynn, wow that's a pretty name, my name is Stevie, I just arrived not even ten hours ago, I'm a newbie I guess you can say." As I began to admire her big blue eyes and pretty blonde hair we were interrupted by her friend Courtney, who was also here for the make up of college credits. We introduced ourselves to one another and all headed back to camp. I woke up Elizabeth, introduced her to Ashlynn and Courtney, and we all headed to the school. We attended school for five hours a day, in classrooms with 200 other students with limited seating and no air conditioning. It was five months that consisted of the same routine, with no communication back home. It wasn't until February 25th when all four of us were qualified to attend the four year universities we were attending before we were forced to accompany others in the mission to Kenya. Excited but sad to leave all of the other students I met, memories I made, and education I received, I boarded the plane anxious to return back to my dream university. A long, boring 18 hours later, I was finally back on California soil. Saying goodbye to Courtney and Ashlynn was hard, but we exchanged phone numbers and promised one another we would stay in touch. I walked to my dorm to find a bunch of welcome home signs made by my roommates. Man, maybe I did have more friends at school than I thought. It had been a long, stressful, lonely five months. I was so relieved to be back to the place where I would better myself, make new memories, and meet new people I would make these memories with. That night as I was walking to class, I alluded back to all of the times I spent in Kenya, all of the people I met, created friendships with, all of it. I began to feel upset but then realized I was back attending the college I had wanted to go to since my first heart surgery at the age of seven. The mission provided me with a chapter in my life I would never forget, education I would not have been accessible to in the United States, and I was blessed to be given the opportunity. As I was approaching the classroom, I thanked God for all he had done for me throughout my lifetime, took a deep breath, and confidently walked into the classroom where I was to spend the next four years of my life preparing myself for a future classified by success.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
TALE OF A CANTERBURY TALE (in collaboration with Chrystal Dulay)
The Miller's Tale
"To cross himself the carpenter began, and said, "Help us, I pray, Saint Frideswide! This example tells the audience that John is a religious man who looks up to a saint for help/inspiration.
"It was for naught, his reasons were resisted. With such great oaths the fellow was put down, he was considered mad throughout the town; each learned man agreed with every other, saying, "The man is mad, beloved brother," and everyone just laughed at all his strife." This quote gives insight to the society's outlook on John the carpenter. No matter what he said or urged for, they all continued to make humor of him and the situation he was in and considered him as a foolish, mad man.
"This silly carpenter began to shake; he feared he was to witness verily Old Noah's flood come rolling like the sea to drown young Alison, his honey dear. He weeps and wails, he looks so sad and drear as many a sigh he heaves, a mournful sough. He goes and gets a kneading trough somehow, one tub and then another, which he then has privately transported to the inn; in privacy he hangs them as instructed." This use of indirect characterization depicts John's true love for his wife, his dedication to their relationship and love, and also his determination to keep his lovely wife safe and out of harms way.
2) This tale is the funniest that Chaucer has read in many critics' opinions. It is believed that he wrote this tale because it abounds incongruity ( a young beautiful woman with a rich, old man). The story is elevated to great literary heights through Chaucer's masterful use of comic incongruity and characterization, and also by the incredible neatness of the tale's construction.
After the Knight's Tale is appluaded, the Miller is asked to match it, or even better the Knight's Tale. The Miller goes on to say he has the most noble tale, but the Host says to let a "better" man tell it. Drunk, the Miller threatens to leave, but the host stops him and the Miller goes on. He introduces his tale as a legend and a life of a carpenter and of his wife, and of how a clerk made a fool of the carpenter, which everyone understands to mean that the clerk slept with the carpenter’s wife. The Reeve objects to his profound story, but the Miller goes on. He finally began his story with a guy named Nicholas who studied astrology at Oxford and roomed with the carpenter, John. John's wife was Alisoun. Nicholas sleeps with Alisoun and goes on to caress her by buying gifts, etc. Since Alisoun ends up loving Nicholas, they end up scheming to spend one night together. Nicholas acts like he's ill and tells John that God has spoken to him and that there's going to be a terrible flood. Then goes on to tell John to get three tubs so they could sleep in them before the flood and escape. Once John falls asleep in the tubs, Nicholas and Alisoun run off to spend the night together. The run into Absalon who hopes for a kiss from Alisoun. Absalon persists so Alisoun gives him one kiss. Absalon goes in for another, but Alisoun puts her butt to his lips and Absalon seeks revenge for her prank. Absalon goes to the blacksmith with a hot iron and knocks on Alisoun's door, but Nicholas opens the door, farting on Absalon and he brands Nicholas's butt. Nicholas yells for water and awakes John. John, thinking the flood has come, cuts the tubs falling to the ground and breaking his arm. The noise attracts the townspeople and John tells the story of the flood. Nicholas and Alisoun tell everyone John is just ignorant and mad and lying about the flood. The townspeople laugh that all have received their dues, and the Miller merrily asks that God save the company.1) The central character of this tale is John, the carpenter. Chaucer utilizes indirect characterization several times to introduce this character:
"He jealously kept her as if inside a cage, for she was one both young and wild, and he had fears of being a cuckold, so advanced in years." This example demonstrates his level of protection and jealousy over his new wife, Alisoun.
"In Oxford there once lived a rich old lout
who had some guest rooms that he rented out,
and carpentry was this old fellow's trade." This specific quote portrays the social/economical class John came from and also his career.
"Not educated, he had never read Cato: one like himself a man should wed, he ought to marry mindful of his state, for youth and age are often at debate." This depicts the carpenters intelligence and knowledge, it claims that he is an uneducated man who did not take age and youth into consideration before marrying."To cross himself the carpenter began, and said, "Help us, I pray, Saint Frideswide! This example tells the audience that John is a religious man who looks up to a saint for help/inspiration.
"It was for naught, his reasons were resisted. With such great oaths the fellow was put down, he was considered mad throughout the town; each learned man agreed with every other, saying, "The man is mad, beloved brother," and everyone just laughed at all his strife." This quote gives insight to the society's outlook on John the carpenter. No matter what he said or urged for, they all continued to make humor of him and the situation he was in and considered him as a foolish, mad man.
"This silly carpenter began to shake; he feared he was to witness verily Old Noah's flood come rolling like the sea to drown young Alison, his honey dear. He weeps and wails, he looks so sad and drear as many a sigh he heaves, a mournful sough. He goes and gets a kneading trough somehow, one tub and then another, which he then has privately transported to the inn; in privacy he hangs them as instructed." This use of indirect characterization depicts John's true love for his wife, his dedication to their relationship and love, and also his determination to keep his lovely wife safe and out of harms way.
2) This tale is the funniest that Chaucer has read in many critics' opinions. It is believed that he wrote this tale because it abounds incongruity ( a young beautiful woman with a rich, old man). The story is elevated to great literary heights through Chaucer's masterful use of comic incongruity and characterization, and also by the incredible neatness of the tale's construction.
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