Thursday, October 16, 2014

Literary Fiction and Empathy

Reading Literary Fiction changes things for the reader a lot in my opinion. For me personally, I find literary fiction quite boring and hard to follow, but the internal messages and lessons that I learn is why I also like literary fiction. Literary fiction allows the reader to make the decision and forces the reader to work its mind. For example, in Hamlet, I as the reader, am forced to question whether Hamlet feels anger and frustration towards his mother or resentment and betrayal. The author is not coming out and giving the emotions that the character will feel, the reader must infer what is happening. This helps many people because it is like they are practicing for real life situations. I believe that people can do better on the tests, in which the article is talking about, because they can practice the skills they need in real life while reading. Instead of putting themselves into the situation and seeing how they would react or what they would do, the reader is now trying to figure out how to read other people, which is very difficult at times. For example, in the Hamlet it is hard to read Hamlet or the other character's emotions because of the language and techniques the author uses. I believe the tricks that the author puts in the story to create the confusion within the reader resembles real life events or happenings that cause confusion when reading someones emotions. Like she is frowning, yet her face looks so relaxed. Well is she calm or angry. I find this article to be very accurate in that literary fiction can help readers with reading emotions and so forth. It's like practicing for softball every day, or in this case reading the literary fiction, and then playing the game, or reading someones real emotions in life. In all, this seems to be something that should be more recognized because it may be of benefit to some people. Although many people do not like literary fiction, it can be a great learning experience in which the reader is actively engaged with decision making on important topics of the book.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Hamlet: Act 1 Scene 1 Reading Notes

The play starts at the changing of the guards. Bernardo is taking over for Francisco. We now know the time of the play which is midnight. 
Horatio and Marcellus arrive and ask if Bernardo has seen anything suspicious and Bernardo informs them that he has seen nothing. 
Marcellus has brought Horatio to witness the ghost because Horatio does not believe that this could possible by true.
The ghost enters and Marcellus and Bernardo see it to be the king. Horatio is very frightened tries to get the spirit to speak but it will not. It seems to be offended when Horatio asks it to speak therefore it leaves. 
The dialogue also tells us that the story is taking place in Denmark.
Horatio now believes that the ghost story was true and that it resembled the king that had recently passed away. 
Horatio explains that the ghost came to to warn the guards that the fortinbras seek revenge and will be coming to take back the kingdom soon. Horatio also explains how the king himself had been in combat before his death.
Allusion to Julius with vivid imagery
Usurpts: to take the thrown or give away power 
The ghost enters again and the men try to get it to speak again, just as it was going to speak the cock crows.
The crow is known to keep the spirits away.
Horatio and Marcellus decide that they should tell young hamlet about their experience because they are sure that the spirit will soon visit him as well. 
Exeunt: plural exit 

Hamlet Act 1 Scene 2 Reading Notes

The play is now taking place in a more formal setting. They seem to be at a sit down dinner with the king and queen and hamlet. 
The king talks about how everyone is sad about the death of the king but it is time to move on now and continue on with the line of royalty. 
After king hamlet died the uncle became king and married Hamlet's wife.
King sends Cornelius to give a message to fortinbras. 
King talks about laertes who is the child of a good family friend and how he encourages him to go to England to study more.
Hamlet "A little more than kin, and less than kind" situational irony from the aside audience knows something to be true while the character does not 
Not letting him in just taking it in not being rude back. Denying his assumption 
Hamlet is saying the things happening are just ritual not what is happening inside of him
Visage- facial expressions 
Hamlet is acknowledging that you can do all those things but it doesn't mean you are unhappy. You don't know a persons inside. He is beginning to call out those who are or may be faking the ceremonies but don't feel the same inside. He feels horrible inside and is hiding them.
King (uncle) find something he can honor them stabbing his ideas. Grow up and snap out of it you are acting unmanly. And by the way you aren't going back to school. Your next to the thrown but we are going to treat you like a baby. Making hamlet seem crazy or mentally unstable. The idea of keep your friends close and your enemies closer. King is keeping Hamlet close. 
He says he will try to obey his mother.
See directly into the mind of the character through Hamlets monologue 
Hamlet is pissed. Characterizes his dad as such a great king then his uncle to satyr which is a goat and horrible acts. Hamlet implies that he wishes he didn't have to sit here and see all of this happen. Hamlet is now thinking about suicide because he doesn't have to see this not because he is sad or crazy. He's not giving up he's pissed. Also bashing on his mom. Implying that she did not love his father, that she was a slut, and recognizing incest. Ashamed of her and feels betrayed. Should have mourned a lot longer. Allusion to bible about suicide and being a sin. Against biblical references. 
His tone of the questions was now investigative detective, asking very detailed questions. Fact based questions. Dispassionate more interested in details. Contrast between passionate and dispassionate. Very intelligent teenager who is in his wits. Very appropriate and mature conversation with Horatio and Marcellus.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Connecting With the World Around Me

In order to have resources from other students and/or classes studying Hamlet, I emailed two teachers from within the United States to inform their students about my blog and explain to them what I am looking for, which of course was with someone to collaborate with. I also signed up to comment on this website that talked about teaching Hamlet through digital media. I commented on one of the posts and hope to hear back from the people who had already commented. This took me quite awhile as I was unaware how or where to find other people studying Hamlet. After about an hour looking and browsing the Internet, I found three contacts to try and get in touch with. I am now awaiting their responses and will get back to you on what they responded or if they responded at all!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Vocabulary Fall List 6

1. abase - verb cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
The teacher abased the students when she told them that her prior classes were much smarter than her class this year.
2. abdicate - verb give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations
The king abdicated his throne to his brother because he was unable to fulfill his responsibilities.
3. 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
The abomination from the crowd, resulted in the performers decision to never return.
4. brusque - adj. marked by rude or peremptory shortness
The brusque comment really upset the co-worker, which resulted in no affiliation between the works for many weeks.
5. saboteur - noun someone who commits sabotage or deliberately causes wrecks; a member of a clandestine subversive organization who tries to help a potential invader
The saboteur was torturing the journalists for writing about his country and people.
6. debauchery - noun a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity
The basketball team had a debauchery after winning the NCAA championship, as they deserved it.
7. proliferate - verb cause to grow or increase rapidly; grow rapidly
The plant proliferated due to the excessive amount of sun that it was exposed to.
8. 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 man said that he had seen dinosaurs in the park, which was obviously an anachronism.
9. nomenclature - noun a system of words used to name things in a particular discipline
The scientist talked of the nomenclature, which was used to name all of the possible theories he had come up with.
10. expurgate - verb edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
The teacher expurgated the personal statement, leaving a lot of work for the student.
11. bellicose - adj. having or showing a ready disposition to fight
The group of bellicose boys were always getting in trouble for fist fighting during physical education.
12. gauche - adj. lacking social polish
The gauche girl had no friends and was very difficult to talk with, many felt bad for her.
13. rapacious - adj. excessively greedy and grasping; devouring or craving food in great quantities; living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey
The rapacious lion was taking all of the food supply and eating all of the animals in the jungle.
14. paradox - noun (logic) a statement that contradicts itself
Many authors use paradox in their writing to reveal a truth in an unusual way.
15. conundrum - noun a difficult problem
In Advanced Placement Chemistry, the students come across conundrums every day, due to the difficulty of the course.
16. anomaly - noun (astronomy) position of a planet as defined by its angular distance from its perihelion (as observed from the sun); a person who is unusual; deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
The writing was very anomaly, which the teacher really appreciated because it wasn't the original five paragraph essay.
17. 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 ephemeral holiday only lasted one week and then everyone was headed back to reality.
18. rancorous - adj. showing deep-seated resentment
The rancorous player was still bitter that someone had taken her starting position.
19. churlish - adj. having a bad disposition; surly; rude and boorish
The churlish student always made fun of the students who needed help and did not understand the lesson.
20. precipitous - adj. characterized by precipices; extremely steep; done with very great haste and without due deliberation
The precipitous mountain was very intense and only the expert hikers would attempt to tackle this mountain.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Canterbury Tales Transmedia Final Essay

Geoffrey Chaucer, the author of the Canterbury Tales, writes about the tales of others with different tones and syntax in order to reveal the irony that extends throughout the story and shows the bad or negative side of society. Through the actions of the characters individually and as a whole,Chaucer can both question and honor the literary and social traditions. By using different stories and social statuses, Chaucer shows how unity can be found in unusual circumstances. 


This picture resembles all of the different personalities and social statuses coming together into one. In a puzzle there are hundreds, sometimes thousands, of puzzle pieces that come together to make one picture. Chaucer uses the same idea to show how even totally different people can be connected in some way. In the Canterbury Tales, all of the characters are very different, but all there for the purpose of paying respects. 

This video represents the excessive amount of irony used throughout this story, specifically as a literary technique. Chaucer uses irony to reveal the message. He uses irony when discussing the group as a whole, but also throughout each individual story. One example of irony is in the Cook's Tale, he is kicked out of his apprenticeship and ruins his reputation, but still does not care and continues with his bad decisions. 


This picture reveals the irony in the story as an overall message of the story. All of these people are essentially the same, but the contrast between light and dark show the differences between them. This is shown in the Canterbury Tales when the entire group of people are going to pay their respects to the dead, but they are in it for winning the competition. The irony reveals that all humans have flaws and are the same in never being perfect. Chaucer shows this by first separating the group entirely by class and appearance, but brings them together through the journey. 


This picture resembles how Chaucer used each character to represent the different levels of society, yet they were all together doing the same thing, accomplishing the same thing. Chaucer does this by using different point of views. One story may be told through the red people's point of view or the blue people's point of view, yet it is the same topic. The group is only doing better and making more understanding by using all of the point of views together.  
These two videos show characterization in a way that every one can understand. This is similar to how Chaucer uses both direct and indirect characterization. Chaucer uses this technique to show the different sides of people and to develop a character more profoundly. By doing this Chaucer can reveal the similarities within the mass of different people. 


This picture shows how Chaucer reveals the negative side of humanity and how humanity is connected through their flaws and mistakes. Chaucer focused on the negative aspects rather than the positive aspects because it is easier to find flaws in people than it is to find positive things. The trees unite in the picture in the dark side and as the light becomes more noticeable, the trees start to separate, yet they all lie within the same field. 


This pictures shows the unity that Chaucer hoped to achieve. His purpose was to show all the differences and bring them together by the end. The story overall resembled unity in that they all came together to accomplish the same thing. The point being no matter how different and/or rich or poor people are they can all come together in order to be bigger and better, but also can unite through the flaws that each person has. 

Literature Analysis #2

The Color Purple
By: Alice Walker
1. Exposition: Nettie and Celie are sisters that live in the South with their mama and pa. Celie is the chunky and unattractive sister that no one really likes, while Nettie is the extremely pretty and intelligent sister that everyone likes. The sisters pa is only their step-father, which they find out later. Celie and Nettie's mom die, which means pa aims his focus on Celie. Celie is raped by her pa multiple times, which was why her mother had resentment towards her before her death. Celie has two children, which are both from her pa. As soon as the children are born they are taken from Celie and she never sees them again. She never knew if they were killed or given away, she only knew that she would never see them again. Pa starts to get tired of Celie and wants to have sexual relations with Nettie, but Celie tries to keep him satisfied for as long as possible.
Rising Action: Mr.         is a neighbor of the family, who recently lost his wife. She was cheating on him and ran home to go be with her husband and her "boyfriend" shot her. Mr.       needed someone to take care of his children for him so he went looking for a new wife. He went to pa and asked if he could purchase Nettie from him. Pa refused to give Nettie away as he still wanted to have sexual intercourse with her. Pa offered Celie to Mr.     , who at first did not want her whatsoever. Finally, Mr.        decided to take Celie, not because he loved her or wanted her, but because he needed someone to take care of his children for him. His children were very evil and extremely mean, which is why it was hard for him to find a "wife." Celie does not want to leave her sister with pa and is afraid she will never see her again.
Conflict: While Celie is living with Mr.        , she is physically abused, forced to have sex with him, and treated very poorly by his children. She hates her life with him and always obeys everything that he says, so that she wont be beaten. Nettie escapes from pa's house and comes to stay with Celie. They enjoy their time together, but Mr.          tells Celie that Nettie must leave and find another place to stay. Celie doesn't want her sister to leave, but rather would leave with her and live a much better life. Also, Celie had gone to the market with Mr.       and saw her daughter with another women; she was absolutely sure that it had been her daughter just by her looks and personality. Celie wants to try and find her daughter again and take her back.
Climax: After many years with Mr.       and Shug, which was a friend of Mr.        who lived with them for a few years, Celie finally announces that she is going to leave Mr.       . She had tolerated his abuse for too many years and now Shug was helping her to get away from him. What triggered Celie to leave was when she found all of the letters from Nettie from over the years that Mr.      had been hiding from her. She was so upset that he had taken her sister from her that she decided to leave.
Falling Action: Celie goes to live with Shug and spends a lot of her time sewing pants. She makes pants for all of her friends and family, but then starts to make a business out of it. She is extremely happy and enjoying life, writing letters back and forth with Nettie, who was now in Africa with Celie's children. Celie gets a call from pa's new wife and finds out that he had passed away and the house was left to her and her sister. Celie decides to move away from Shug who had now become her secret lover. She goes to live in her new house after being heartbroken by Shug who decided to be with a young guy that was half her age.
Resolution: While living in her new house, Celie begins to talk to Mr.      again but in a way that they respected each other. She would sit with him and joke, talk, and sew pants all day. He was all she had since Shug had left her and Nettie had not come back from Africa. After a long time she accept Mr.      as a friend again and they hung out every day. Shug comes back and wants to be with Celie again and Nettie returns from Africa with Celie's children. They all live together between Celie and Mr.     's house.
The story fulfills the author's purpose of wanting to break through the barriers of always being held back and treated poorly. Also, to show the connection between two loved ones and how no matter how far away they are from each other, they will always be together in their hearts. The author shows these messages through the relationships between Celie and Nettie and Celie and Mr.     .
2. The theme of this story is to show people that if you keep trying and keeping working for what you want, no matter what comes across your path, you will get what you want someday. Celie is raped, cheated on, physically and mentally abused and is still an amazing, loving person that finally has her own house and own business. Another potential theme is that true and real love will always keep a connection. Nettie and Celie did not talk for over ten years and were at opposite ends of the world, but still prayed to each other and used each other as inspiration every day without knowing if the other one was still alive.
3. The tone is bitter and tragic because Celie is so angry at all of the bad things that have happened to her and her family.
"I say it cause I'm a fool, I say, I say it cause I'm jealous of you. I say it cause you do what I can't." Pg 40 This shows how Celie is bitter towards Sophia because she can stand up for herself, while Celie cannot.
"My daddy lynch. My mama crazy. All my little half brothers and sisters no kin to me. My children not my sister and brother. Pa not pa." Pg 177
This quote shows all the tragic and horrible things that Celie has been through. She is almost giving up, but Shug helps her to get back to herself.
"You a lowdown dog is what's wrong, I say. It's time to leave you and enter into the Creation. And your dead body just the welcome mat I need." Pg199
This shows Celie's anger towards Mr.      and all of her resentment towards him for everything that he has done to her.
4. Imagery: "First he put his thing up gainst my hip and sory of wiggle it around. Then he grab hold my titties. Then he push his thing inside my pussy. When that hurt, I cry. He start to choke me, saying you better shut up and git used to it." Pg 1
This quote creates vivid pictures in my mind and shows just another struggle that Celie must face throughout her life.
Anaphora: "By time I git back from the well, the water be warm. By the time I git the tray ready the food be cold. By the time I git all the children ready for school it be dinner time." Pg 2
This use of repetition is used to show and reiterate that Celie is unattractive and not liked by many people.
Vernacular: "Don't nobody come see us. She got sicker an sicker. Finally she ast Where it is? I say God took it." Pg 2
This shows how Celie was uneducated and talked with a southern accent, which was yet another struggle she encountered, not being intelligent enough.
Metaphor: "And your dead body just be the welcome mat I need." Pg 199
This shows how bitter Celie really is even though she had never expressed it out loud before.
Point of View: "When I told Shug I'm writing to you instead of to God, she laugh." Pg 198
This shows that Celie talks in first person and is the narrator of the story.
Idiom: "Such good peoples, that's the truth. The salt of the earth. But-time to move on." Pg 199
This explains why Celie needs to leave and move on to something that doesn't remind her of all the pain she has endured.
Symbolism: "I remember one time you said your life made you feel so ashamed you couldn't even talk about it to God, you had to write it, bad as you thought your writing was. Well, now I know what you meant." And whether God will read letters or no, I know you will go on writing them; which is guidance enough for me." Pg 130
God symbolizes Celie's safe place and where she can vent about how horrible and tragic her life is, but God also symbolizes the relationship between Nettie and Celie. Through God, the sisters were able to stay united and be connected.
Personification: "It all I can do not to cry. I make myself wood. I say to myself, Celie, you a tree. That's how come I know trees fear man."
This shows how Celie truly fears all men because of the bad experiences she has been through.
Motif: "Dear God. Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear everything. Dear God." Pg 285
Letters are the recurring motif in this story, whether the letter are between Celie and Nettie or Celie and God. The letters allow for emotion and inside thoughts, rather than just the simple events being told.
Allusion: "It's time to leave you and enter into the Creation." Pg 199
Celie refers to going into the Creation in which she is referring to heaven. She is finally being lifted by God and into a better place, her Heaven, away from her past.
Characterization:
1. Direct Characterization: "I am fourteen years old. I have always been a good girl. Maybe you can give me a sign letting me know what is happening to me." Pg1
This quote shows how innocent and confused Celie was in the beginning about why this was all happening to her.
"I ain't never struck a living thing, I say. Oh, when I was at home I tap the little ones on the behind to make 'em behave, but not hard enough to hurt." Pg 41
This quote shows how Celie is against violence because she has experienced it so much in her own life.
Indirect Characterization: "I think bout this when Harpo ast me what he ought to do to her to make her mind. I don't mention how happy he is now. How three years pass and he still whistle and sing. I think about how every time I jump when Mr.       call me, she look surprise. And like she pity me. Beat her. I say." Pg 36
This quote shows Celie's hate and jealousy towards Sophia because she had never been beaten like Celia had. She had so much anger and resentment in her, that she made a foolish decision and gave bad advice to Harpo.
"I talk to myself a lot, standing in front the mirror. Celie, I say, happiness was just a trick in your case. Just cause you never had any before Shug, you thought it was time to have some, and that it was gon last. Even thought you had the trees with you. The whole earth. The stars. But look at you. When Shug let, happiness desert." Pg 259
This quote shows that Celie has a hard time finding happiness because all she has ever known is sadness and tragedy.
The author uses both approaches to show the opposite sides of her. The direct characterization makes Celie seem so innocent and unaware, but the indirect characterization shows her evil and resentment side. I feel like I was able to see both sides of Celie through the authors approach.
2. When Celie is describing someone close and important to her the diction and syntax change in that there is a light rather than the darkness that is often revealed throughout the story. Throughout most of the story, the diction and syntax stay the same; she is still uneducated and still has resentment because she is the ugliest and least intelligent, but when she talks about Shug and Nettie, there is a sparkle that isn't seen throughout the rest of the story. Example: "Shug Avery was a woman. The most beautiful woman I ever saw. She more pretty then my mama. She bout ten thousand times prettier then me." Pg 6
3. Celie is the protagonist of this story. She is dynamic because she goes from being taken advantage of and always obeying others, even when she didn't want to do what they said, to holding her own and doing what was right for herself. She is a round character because she is fully developed and her true person is shown, whether it be her good side or her bad side.
4. I believe that I truly met a person. Celie tells her story as if she is talking to someone extremely close to her. I feel like I am her best friend and she is sharing all of her problems and struggles with me. "First he put his thing up gainst my hip and sort of wiggle it around. Then he grab hold my titties. Then he push his thing inside my pussy. When that hurt, I cry. He start to choke me, saying you better shut up and git used to it." When Celie said this, I felt like she was directly talking to me because people don't just share these stories with anything or anyone. They only share these types of experiences with people that are really close to them. So already at page one I felt like I was Celie's close friend.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

TRANS-MEDIA DRAFT

... of problem gambling in both women and men, a new study has found 

I wish that I could write essays using pictures and quotes to reveal my thoughts. I am not entirely sure if I did this right, but I chose not to include words because I wanted to convey my thoughts and ideas without using words. I did that in the last post. This was a different approach and helped me to figure out what direction I want to go towards and what I want to include in my essay. Also, I wish that instead of writing an essay I could create a video that expressed all my thoughts on Chaucer. I feel that a video would be much more meaningful and show more then a paper that can only do so much. This was my first time doing something like this, so improvement will be seen from here on, but so far I like what I have done.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

CANTERBURY OUTLINE

Introduction Paragraph:

  • Chaucer uses indirect and direct characterization to reveal the irony of characters and their actions. 
  • The Cook's Tale and some background information on his character. 
  • This tale falls under the genre of the moral tale. 
  • Thesis
Body Paragraph One:
  • Background of Perkin Revealer (more extent)
  • Fight with himself, opposite of protagonist. 
  • Examples of him fighting himself but losing to the "bad side"like being warned to stop gambling, but continues to do so anyways.
  • Irony is his role in society and how he lives his life. 
Body Paragraph Two:
  • Chaucer's use of direct characterization further in depth with examples
  • Chaucer's use of indirect characterization further in depth with examples
  • Chaucer's use of tone, syntax, diction, and irony to help reveal the overall theme and message
Boyd Paragraph Three:
  • Explain the genre of the moral tale. 
  • Explain how Perkin resembles an immoral person. He represents everyone in his social status, this was how people saw them.
  • Give examples of immoral actions. 
Conclusion Paragraph:
  • How the story may be different if it were one of different gender or social status.
  • Restate the thesis.
  • Give a suggestion as to how something added or taken out may help to further explain the role of the cook and what he resembled. 
  • Talk about showing humanity at its worst and most evil moments as opposed to its best and most moral moments. 

NEW & IMPROVED NARRATIVE

I walked into a campus that seemed to suck you in as soon as you set foot into the area. Millions of people surrounded me and I went from the well-known girl in high school to a dot in the mix of thousands of others. The nerves kicked in. It was my first day and I had gotten in to my dream school. I was now a bruin, but I knew no one. The way that I kept myself calm was by reminiscing on my difficult yet exciting journey to this point. It started with the beginning of my senior year, which was incredibly stressful and chaotic, but my personal statements, SAT scores, grades and scholarships would all pay off in the end. After submitting my application I dreadfully awaited my acceptance/rejection letters. It was March 20, 2015 and my letter from UCLA had just arrived. I remember it like it was yesterday. Calmly I opened the letter and saw that I had been accepted. All my hard work, late nights, volunteering and academic achievements had finally paid off. Soon enough I was driving to Los Angeles and would be dropped off without seeing my family for what seemed to be an eternity. Tears, nausea, excitement, fear, and every emotion ran through my body. I said my goodbyes and prepared for my new life chapter. Now I stand here today going to my first class at my dream school and I couldn't be more happy and proud that I have finally reached my goals. I am now living my dream and can't wait to see what my new college chapter will bring. It was Saturday morning and my homework for the weekend was to find unique rocks and write a report about them for my Geology class. It was my first big project and I had to do a really good job, so that I could start the class off with a good grade. For this assignment, I decided to take my boyfriend on a hike with me to hunt for the unique rocks as he had taken Geology before and loves rocks. A backpack was all that I would be leaving with and my hiking partner, which was my boyfriend, Mathew. In our backpack we had two sandwiches, a few snacks, three water bottles, and a sweater for each of us. We were going to hike Point Sal, which was one of the hikes we had never done yet. We hugged our roommates, told them we would see them later and got into the car. Extremely excited, we had the music playing loud and we were laughing and joking. We love being outdoors and love exercising, so this was going to be a fun, relaxing day that we would remember forever. After reaching our destination, we began the hike, slowly realizing it was going to be a lot of work. The climb started to get steeper and the path narrower, but we were still enjoying our hike. We kept our eyes out for any type of rock that seemed to be a good candidate. My boyfriend found some rocks, but would have to climb to find them. So of course he began climbing the steep ledge of rocks. I told him multiple times get down, stop climbing the rocks, and your going to hurt yourself. I told him that we would find other unique rocks somewhere else, but he did not listen. Sure enough he fell off of the steep ledge and down the hill, off the trail mind you. My only option now was to go after him, but I was extremely nervous and did not want to leave the trail as we decided not to bring phones on this hike. Anxiety was kicking in, but I knew I couldn't leave him and I must help him. So I began down the hill, trying to listen for his voice or moans, as I was positive that he had hurt himself and hoped not to severely. I heard his moan and followed his voice. I had finally found him and felt so relieved; he was hurt and most likely had a broken leg, but he was alive and conscious and I was very happy. But I soon realized that the trail was nowhere to be seen and I could not remember the direction I had came in. Once I saw my boyfriend that's all that I was thinking about. So now I had to encounter another challenge, finding our way back to the trail and carrying my boyfriend who was too hurt to walk. Not only was I lost and had to carry my injured boyfriend, but I also needed to find my rocks and do my five page report that was going to take a long time. Even though I wanted to find my rocks and get back home, I knew I couldn't leave him and I would help him and myself to get home. We decide to eat and then take off to find the trail. Our lunch was very good and got our mind off of the idea that we were lost and his leg was broken. After resting and eating, we get up and I begin walking as it is getting late and the sun is starting to set. I am getting very nervous as we have only snacks and one water left, not enough to make it through the night or the next day. I begin to panic, but remember that calmness will keep me encouraged and motivated to find a way out. I begin to hear noises, look around and see a girl in the distance. I call for her. Little did I know she was a classmate of mine. I had known her from high school and was so relieved to see her. I tell her my story and she kindly helps me to find a way out as she had wondered off the trail and gotten lost herself. Ashlyn, my friend, helps me carry my injured boyfriend, who takes a lot of strain off of me and we keep walking to find the trail. After two long and terrible hours we finally reach the trail. Luckily Ashlyn had her phone with her and started to retrieve service once we got back to the trail. She called 911 and we got helicoptered out of Point Sal. If we had not come across Ashlyn, I may have lost hope and not continued on, which would have resulted in worsening my boyfriends already bad wounds. I knew that I wasn't going to get to finish my report, but when we got lost I had found my unique rocks and was ready to write my paper. I would tell my teacher the story the next day and hope for her forgiveness. We were so thankful to come across Ashlyn and relieved to be in a safe place once again, hugging our roommates and telling them of our crazy adventure.  


Tuesday, October 7, 2014

THE POINT OF CANTERBURY TALES IS...

Geoffrey Chaucer, the author of the Canterbury Tales, writes about the tales of others with different tones and syntax in order to reveal the irony that extends throughout the story and shows the bad or negative side of society. Through the actions of the characters individually and as a whole, irony helps propose the overall message, but also exists as the message of the story.

GREEN EGGS & HAMLET

1. All that  I know about Hamlet is that he returns from school to find that his father is dead and that his uncle is now married to his mother. Hamlet's uncle killed Hamlet's father in order to marry his wife and be King. Hamlet sees the ghost of his father and begins to go crazy. He tries to prove that his uncle is a murderer, but no one believes him. Many believe that Hamlet has gone crazy.
2. I know that Shakespeare is a very advanced writer, which often makes it hard to understand and interpret. I know that he writes extremely good stories that have a very good message, but that it is extremely difficult to find that point and the main ideas of the story without the guidance of someone who has studied him for many years. I like the overall stories that I have read from Shakespeare, but I do not like the process of getting to that point.
3. Many students do not like Shakespeare because it is difficult to read his plays and takes a lot of time and effort to understand his plot and purpose. For my personal feelings, I really do not like to read these stories only because I do not like the flowery language. I am a writer that is more straightforward and too the point rather than including figurative language and creativity.
4. I would like Dr. Preston and my classmates to help me by letting me know if my interpretations are correct or if what I infer is the same as their inferences. I often think the text is saying one thing and it means another thing. The thing that could help me would be to let me know when I am wrong or when I am on the right track. Also, this type of language is very difficult for me. So helping me to get used to this language so that I can comprehend and understand it later on in life would also be very helpful.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Vocabulary 5

1. Shenanigans (noun): secret or dishonest activity or maneuvering.
The teenagers pulled so many shenanigans during high school that the principle knew them very well. 
2. Ricochet (noun):  a glancing rebound; verb spring back; spring away from an impact
The racket ball ricocheted off of the glass wall and hit the player in the behind. 
3. 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
The churches schism led to a new church being formed, which would be led by one side and the other side would take over the existing church. 
4. Eschew (verb): avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
The student eschewed the teacher because she had not done any homework nor gone to class in a week. 
5. Plethora (noun): extreme excess
The plethora of clothes would not fit into the walk in closet, which led to the owner having to get rid of some. 
6. Ebullient (adj.): joyously unrestrained, cheerful and full of energy
The ebullient cheerleaders were loud and peppy at the football game. which their team won. 
7. Garrulous (adj.) excessively talkative, especially full of trivial conversation
The garrulous grandfather would not stop talking about past historical events. 
8. Harangue (noun): a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion; verb deliver a harangue to; address forcefully
The harangue given by the man about religion lasted two hours and offended many people. 
9. Interdependence (noun): a reciprocal relation between interdependent entities (objects or individuals or groups)
Sunscreen and bathing suits are interdependent, you must wear sunscreen to protect the parts of the body that aren't covered by the bathing suit. 
10. Capricious (adj.): determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason; changeable
The capricious girl decided she didn't want to go to dinner at Olive Garden after they had already been seated. 
11. Loquacious (adj.): tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
The girl was very loquacious, which annoyed the teacher very much and led to her being seated by herself. 
12. 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 ephemeral winter was only one month, which disappointed those who love the winter time. 
13. Inchoate (adj.): only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
The inchoate democracy had not been completed but had only just begun. 
14. Juxtapose (verb): place side by side for contrasting effect
Many authors juxtapose in their writing in order to help create a more clear understanding for the reader. 
15. Perspicacious (adj.):  acutely insightful and wise; mentally acute or penetratingly discerning
The perspicacious student always came to class with prior research and ready to answer questions.
16. Codswallop (noun): nonsensical talk or writing
The girl was talking codswallop, no one could understand what she was saying. 
17. Mungo (noun): a low-grade wool from felted rags or waste.
The great clothes maker made an unusual quilt made from mungo. 
18. Sesquipedelian (adj.): (of a word) polysyllabic; long.
The sesquipedelian was always impressing others with her vocabulary and intelligence. 
19. Wonky (adj.): inclined to shake as from weakness or defect; turned or twisted toward one side
The house was full of wonky picture frames, which made it seem like the wall was not straight. 
20. Diphthong (noun): a vowel sound that starts near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves toward the position for another
Diphthongs are found in words such as toil or bite, in which the vowels have two different sounds. 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Tale of a Canterbury Tale

The Cook's Tale
Summary: 
The tale is about a man who has the nickname of Perkin Reveller. In the beginning of the tale he is very happy and of high spirits as a prentice for an important master. He spends his nights dancing, drinking, and gambling and is carefree about his money. His master begins to notice his actions and does not like what he sees. He thinks about it for a while and decides that he cannot let Reveller stay there because he will negatively influence the rest of the people that work for the master. So the master decides to let Perkin Reveller go. Now Reveller has no money, which he lost gambling and drinking, and has no job. He goes to live with those of his sort and ends up marrying a girl who owns a shop and works in her shop to make a living. 
Indirect Characterization: 
The central character of the story is Perkin Reveller. 
A. "When there was any festival in Cheap, 
Out of the shop and thither would he leap, And, till the whole procession he had seen, And danced his fill, he'd not return again."
This quote shows that Reveller is very social and likes to go to outings within the community. 
B. "Who better knew the way to throw the dice Than Perkin; and therefore he was right free With money, when in chosen company."
Revellers actions in this scene show that he is not frugal with his money and chooses to spend the money he makes rather than save to help himself.
C. "He gathered many fellows of his sort 
To dance and sing and make all kinds of sport. And they would have appointments for to meet And play at dice in such, or such, a street."
This shows that Reveller may have had a gambling problem and was taking advantage of his life as a prentice within a nice or wealthy community.
D. "Though he was checked and scolded early and late, And sometimes led, for drinking, to Newgate;"
This quote shows that Perkin was warned about his actions, but choose to continue in living this lifestyle. He was disobedient to the master's request. 
E. "Anon he sent his bed and his array 
To one he knew, a fellow of his sort, 
Who loved the dice and revels and all sport, And had a wife that kept, for countenance, A shop, and whored to gain her sustenance."
This quote shows that Perkin still was his same self and did not change even after losing his job. He still lived off of other people, in this case his wife. 
2. In this tale, Chaucer is using sarcasm to describe the role of the cook in society and to show how the cook was taking a simple job or place in social status and trying to make himself seem much higher or of more wealth. Chaucer also shows how the cook starts off really happy by explaining him dancing and being jolly, but by the end of the tale he has lost his job and is living off another person, his wife. Chaucer is showing that this is embarrassing or should be embarrassing to the cook. 
A. "There lived a 'prentice, once, in our city, And of the craft of victuallers was he; 
Happy he was as goldfinch in the glade, 
Brown as a berry, short, and thickly made, With black hair that he combed right prettily."
This quote shows how Chaucer was being sarcastic when describing the prentice and making him seem that he was much wealthier and better then he actually was. 
B. "And thus this jolly 'prentice had his leave."
This quote shows that Chaucer was explaining how the prentice used to be joyful, but now he will "take his leave" or be fired. Chaucer is getting at the question of how will you act now, which again shows sarcasm.