Currently a student at PVHS. Ostini's class blog. Don't expect something great at first, I'm just staring. Enjoy!
English Honors ayeeee
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Chapter 12 Journal
My reaction to the end of the novel was disappointment. I don't want to sound harsh, but I was hoping Roger and especially Jack would die. I think Ralph cries at the end of the novel because he is realizing what they have done since they first arrived there. I think he had already given up hope that they would be rescued. He believed Jack and the savages would kill him and being rescued saved him. I despise Jack the most. It was under his influence that Roger and the boys became even more savaged. I would absolutely recommend this novel to a friend. I have learned a lot from the novel and its been a while since I read a book that actually made me critically think.
Ch. 11 Questions
1. Ralph's group decides they need to keep the fire going. For that they must go to the savages and call an assembly.
2. The twins see Ralph for the first time because Ralph was always the strong, calm leader and now he seems hopeless and scared.
3. The boys attempt to get Piggy's specs and keep the fire going is bound to fail because the savages will not bargain to remain calm. Things are already tense and the boys going to the savages will be chaos.
4. I think Roger pushes the rock off the cliff because under Jack's influence, Roger has become even more of a savage. I think he also wants to impress Jack and seem like he has power too.
5. The destruction of the shell is symbolic because it is the end of civilization on the island.
6. Most of the boys want a chief because they feel like they have order and a mini civilization. A chief makes decisions for them so therefor they have someone to blame if things don't work out.
7. When you're out hunting and killing do you think about what your mom and family would think? Do you still want to be rescued?
8. Dear Diary,
It feels like we've been on this island forever. Our thoughts of this being fun and full of freedom have vanished. We live in constant fear. Of ourselves, the "beast", not being rescued. I personally am afraid of Jack and the savages. They have killed Simon. Well we have killed Simon. It was a mistake, we were caught up in the moment and it happened. I feel guilt while it seems like everyone has brushed it off.
I don't know if we will ever be rescued. The smoke has not worked and I'm starting to believe it was a silly idea. I miss home so much. Home, I forget what that word means now. All I have are these boys who I believed where my family. Now you can't trust any of them. I'm scared and I want to go "home."
2. The twins see Ralph for the first time because Ralph was always the strong, calm leader and now he seems hopeless and scared.
3. The boys attempt to get Piggy's specs and keep the fire going is bound to fail because the savages will not bargain to remain calm. Things are already tense and the boys going to the savages will be chaos.
4. I think Roger pushes the rock off the cliff because under Jack's influence, Roger has become even more of a savage. I think he also wants to impress Jack and seem like he has power too.
5. The destruction of the shell is symbolic because it is the end of civilization on the island.
6. Most of the boys want a chief because they feel like they have order and a mini civilization. A chief makes decisions for them so therefor they have someone to blame if things don't work out.
7. When you're out hunting and killing do you think about what your mom and family would think? Do you still want to be rescued?
8. Dear Diary,
It feels like we've been on this island forever. Our thoughts of this being fun and full of freedom have vanished. We live in constant fear. Of ourselves, the "beast", not being rescued. I personally am afraid of Jack and the savages. They have killed Simon. Well we have killed Simon. It was a mistake, we were caught up in the moment and it happened. I feel guilt while it seems like everyone has brushed it off.
I don't know if we will ever be rescued. The smoke has not worked and I'm starting to believe it was a silly idea. I miss home so much. Home, I forget what that word means now. All I have are these boys who I believed where my family. Now you can't trust any of them. I'm scared and I want to go "home."
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
LORD OF THE FLIES CH.10
1.Ralph feels guilty about what happened the previous night. He knows something is not right. "That was murder" (Golding 156).
Piggy knows it was Simon hutbut believes it was just a mistake or accident. "It was an accident," said Piggy stubbornly, "and that's that" (Golding 157)
Jack acts like nothing happened the night before. He says it was just the beast. "He came-disguised" (Golding 160).
2. Ralph recognized it was a murder and it was wrong. He knows it was Simon just like Jack knows it too. When Ralph says "It was dark. There was that- that bloody dance. There was lighting and thunder and rain. We was scared!" (Golding 156) we see how he feels guilty of what happened. On the other hand, Jack doesn't really care and keeps his story that it was the beast that came in disguise. "-and then, the beast might try to come in. You remember how he crawled-" (Golding 160).
3. Jack didn't give reason as to why he beat up Wilfred. "I don't know. He didn't say. He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up" (Golding 159). Even the hunters that tied up Wilfred didn't know why. In (Golding 159) it has a conversation between Roger and Robert:
"He's going to beat Wilfred."
"What for?"
Robert shook his head doubtfully.
4. Piggy: "My ssays who took em!"
Ralph: "Get your bloody hands off me. You ain't even got the conch, I'm still chief."
Jack: "Shut it! I am a hunter therefore I am the chief."
Roger: "Chief we ought to get back, we got our fire."
Sam: "We did them well Ralph-"
Eric: "-they won't be back soon."
Piggy knows it was Simon hutbut believes it was just a mistake or accident. "It was an accident," said Piggy stubbornly, "and that's that" (Golding 157)
Jack acts like nothing happened the night before. He says it was just the beast. "He came-disguised" (Golding 160).
2. Ralph recognized it was a murder and it was wrong. He knows it was Simon just like Jack knows it too. When Ralph says "It was dark. There was that- that bloody dance. There was lighting and thunder and rain. We was scared!" (Golding 156) we see how he feels guilty of what happened. On the other hand, Jack doesn't really care and keeps his story that it was the beast that came in disguise. "-and then, the beast might try to come in. You remember how he crawled-" (Golding 160).
3. Jack didn't give reason as to why he beat up Wilfred. "I don't know. He didn't say. He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up" (Golding 159). Even the hunters that tied up Wilfred didn't know why. In (Golding 159) it has a conversation between Roger and Robert:
"He's going to beat Wilfred."
"What for?"
Robert shook his head doubtfully.
4. Piggy: "My ssays who took em!"
Ralph: "Get your bloody hands off me. You ain't even got the conch, I'm still chief."
Jack: "Shut it! I am a hunter therefore I am the chief."
Roger: "Chief we ought to get back, we got our fire."
Sam: "We did them well Ralph-"
Eric: "-they won't be back soon."
Monday, February 9, 2015
Article Summary
The maid idea of this article is how many people are so caught up in their own little world that they don’t notice what is going on with the people around them. For example when 15 year old Bart Palosz killed himself, with a shotgun after his first day of sophomore year, everyone including his family and friends found it as a surprise. They didn't notice the signs he had been sending, especially through his Google account. He sent various messages regarding suicide. In one of his texts he said "I notice if I sound sad I'm normal and if I act happy, cheerful, and 'normal' there is a high chance that I will try to poison myself, cut myself, commit suicide, or jump in front of a truck :)." Yet no one even tried to help him or ask what was going one. Another example is when his sister said that he was just going through a "teenage phase" and that if the school had addressed the bullying issue at school, it might have saved his life. His family didn't pay attention to him when they stole his new phone or would come home with bruises. They would have never thought that their teenage son would take his own life.
In addition the author states how Bart was sent to the emergency after being severely injured by a bully at school. The bully smashed his head into a metal locker causing Bart to need stitches. The school claimed it was an "accident" and no one questioned it. This also supports the main idea that everyone lives in their own little world, because maybe if someone, even just one person, would have been there for him or noticed what was happening to him Bart would still be here.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
In my opinion standardized test don't test the student's abilities. I can talk from experience that even when you know all the information on the test, once you get the test it seems like you forget everything. You can spend hours studying and studying, getting help from your teachers and still bomb a test. Tests don’t show everything to have learned. They don’t show the hours of homework you have spent, or the days of studying. Standardized tests just show your ability to remember certain information.
Teachers always say how important it is to remember that we all learn different, but since we all learn different it also means we all show our intelligence differently. I don’t think bubbling in answers, captures the student's abilities. Jeannie Fulbright says “If the purpose of learning is to score well on a test, we’ve lost sight of the real reason of learning.” I completely agree with her. We get so caught up with just getting through the test and passing it, we don’t actually care about what we are learning. We look for the easiest way to remember things and coming up with shortcuts. We don’t think about what it means or why we are learning about it, all that seems to matter is “will this be on the test.” Is that what learning is about? Taking a test can be compared to living life. We can’t just go around life looking for shortcuts and just trying to get through each day. We have to learn from our mistakes and work on them, not just forget it when we think its no longer something to worry about.
Tests are usually a big part of our grade and can sometimes even determine our grade. I don’t think it is fair that everything comes down to one test. Some students are great test takers and can do a test with no problem. Other students can’t prove their abilities by filling in lines or bubbling answers. Theres other ways to prove one’s intelligence. Doing a hands on activity or doing something orally works for many students. Many things are changing to make an individual’s learning better, why not wrap our heads about this. Testing doesn’t have to be filling in lines or bubbles in a certain amount of time. A student’s ability shouldn’t have to be shown through a standardized test.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
JLC Lit. Analysis
“They are frightened...they see daughters who grow impatient when their mothers talk in Chinese...they see that joy and luck do not mean the same to their daughters...they see daughters who will bear grandchildren born without any connecting hope passed from generation to generation.” No generation is ever the same because everything keeps changing. The way people think, the things they do, is never the same. In The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, the differences between the generations pull the mothers and daughters apart, yet pulls them close together at the end. Their ideas and points of view regarding subjects like love and family manifest how unalike the two generations are. Along with the subjects of love and family come different branches like marriage, divorce, and child rearing.
To begin with, the mothers of the Joy Luck Club,were mostly a part of a broken marriage. For example An-mei Hsu never stood up to her husband and now her daughter Rose is struggling with the same problem. In China An-mei didn’t divorce her husband because she didnt dare stand up to him, so she led a long life of suffering. Now that her daughter is facing the same problem, An-mei actually advises her to stand up for what she wants and not let her husband Ted walk all over her. In An-mei’s generation divorce was rare and unacceptable, unlike in Rose’s generation where divorce was common and sometimes necessary. In this case Rose’s divorce with Ted brought the mothers and daughters together. Rose finally understood her mother’s decisions and why she did what she had to do to protect her.
Later in the novel we encounter Lena St.Clair and her mother Ying-Ying. Both Ying-Ying and Lena marry a man they don’t love, and took over their lives. Ying-Ying’s marriage was alike to Lena’s marriage because both Harold and Clifford St.Clair make decisions for them and control their lifestyles. When Ying-Ying married she knew he was a bad man, due to her ‘superpower.” She married him because she believed it was her destiny. Lena also married a bad man and her mother knows that. Lena’s marriage to Harold pulls her away from her mother. “Her wisdom is like a bottomless pond. You throw stones in and they sink into the darkness and dissolve. Her eyes looking back do not reflect anything. I think this to myself even though I love my daughter. She and I have shared the same body... but when she was born, she sprang from me like a slippery fish, and has been swimming away ever since.” In the quote Ying-Ying is saying how she sees Lena is in a fail marriage, but yet doesn’t stand up for herself. During Ying-Ying’s marriage she lived in a time where men ruled over the women, but in the present time with Lena’s marriage, women have a voice and can do what many women couldn’t do before.
When it comes to children and how to raise them, everyone thinks they know best. The four mothers in The Joy Luck Club each had their way to raise their daughters, but the result was mostly the same. The daughters didn’t know much, if anything, about their Chinese heritage. In an attempt to give their daughters the “american dream” the mothers forget to teach their daughters the importance of their pasts. Once they want to teach their daughters of Chinese customs it is too late. The girls are now American and don’t show interest in learning about their mothers pasts. “But listening to Auntie Lin tonight reminds me once again: My mother and I never really understood one another. We translated each other’s meanings and I seemed to hear less than what was said, while my mother heard more.” For example in this quote Jing-Jing is saying how far apart her and her mother are due to their cultural differences.
Throughout the novel we see how the different generations handle situations differently, but yet get similar outcomes. The mothers think they know what’s best for their daughters, but end up leading them to commit the same mistakes they made when they were young. Each generation is different, which leads us to believe we have nothing in common with our elders. Although we are completely different, if we don’t learn about our parent’s mistakes we are doomed to repeat them.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Leopard Man 9-15
9. Tom Leppard is called "Leopard Man" because he has spots all over his body and acts like a leopard.
10. Feys thinks people with tattoos and piercings are just asking for attention because they cant get attention in a positive way.
11. Leopard Man is different because he is standing up for something he believes in.
12. Leopard Man lives in an isolated cabin in the Scottish wilderness.
13. Society fear people who are different because it's something they don't understand.
14. "Fitting in" is the world's most dangerous psychological disorder. People suffer from alcoholism, eating disorders, panic attacks, and depression because they just want people to like them.
15. Leopard Man is so happy because he isn't under the pressure of society.
10. Feys thinks people with tattoos and piercings are just asking for attention because they cant get attention in a positive way.
11. Leopard Man is different because he is standing up for something he believes in.
12. Leopard Man lives in an isolated cabin in the Scottish wilderness.
13. Society fear people who are different because it's something they don't understand.
14. "Fitting in" is the world's most dangerous psychological disorder. People suffer from alcoholism, eating disorders, panic attacks, and depression because they just want people to like them.
15. Leopard Man is so happy because he isn't under the pressure of society.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Latin Roots #6
1.corp(or): body
2.cred: to believe; to trust
3.cur(r), curs, course: to run; to flow
4.dic(t): to speak; to say
Word List
1.benediction-the invocation of a divine blessing, as at the close of a religious service, a blessing or a state of blessedness
2.concourse-running or flowing together; a broad public walkway or hallway; a crowd or throng
3.concurrent-occurring at the same time; meeting or acting together
4.corporal-related to the physical body
5.corpulent-very stout; fleshy and obese; fat
6.credibility-the quality of being believable or trustworthy
7.credulity-the (naive) willingness to believe too easily without proof
8.cursory-done in a superficial or hasty manner
9.dictum-an authoritative saying or maxim
10.incorporate-to form into one body or functioning unit; to combine several different things into a whole
11.incredulous-not believing, skeptical, or doubt
12.indicative-a characteristic of or very much like; suggestive
2.cred: to believe; to trust
3.cur(r), curs, course: to run; to flow
4.dic(t): to speak; to say
Word List
1.benediction-the invocation of a divine blessing, as at the close of a religious service, a blessing or a state of blessedness
2.concourse-running or flowing together; a broad public walkway or hallway; a crowd or throng
3.concurrent-occurring at the same time; meeting or acting together
4.corporal-related to the physical body
5.corpulent-very stout; fleshy and obese; fat
6.credibility-the quality of being believable or trustworthy
7.credulity-the (naive) willingness to believe too easily without proof
8.cursory-done in a superficial or hasty manner
9.dictum-an authoritative saying or maxim
10.incorporate-to form into one body or functioning unit; to combine several different things into a whole
11.incredulous-not believing, skeptical, or doubt
12.indicative-a characteristic of or very much like; suggestive
Monday, November 10, 2014
Greek Drama Questions
1. Some of the prices given for choruses of worshipers were a bull or a goat.
2. There were fourteen thousand spectators in an open-air theater of Dionysus.
3. The masks amplified the actors voices.
4. Antigone was suspenseful to the audiences because they knew things the actors on stage did not.
5. The Shepard had to leave the infant lonely with hi ankles pinned together.
6. The riddle said by the Sphinx was "What creature goes on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?"
7. Oedipus's kids are Polyneices, Eteocles, Antigone, and Ismene.
8. After Oedipus's exile Polyneices and Eteocles alternated years ruling.
9. When someone died the familes would take turns beating the dead persons's face and ripped their hair out, while they sang and wailed.
2. There were fourteen thousand spectators in an open-air theater of Dionysus.
3. The masks amplified the actors voices.
4. Antigone was suspenseful to the audiences because they knew things the actors on stage did not.
5. The Shepard had to leave the infant lonely with hi ankles pinned together.
6. The riddle said by the Sphinx was "What creature goes on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?"
7. Oedipus's kids are Polyneices, Eteocles, Antigone, and Ismene.
8. After Oedipus's exile Polyneices and Eteocles alternated years ruling.
9. When someone died the familes would take turns beating the dead persons's face and ripped their hair out, while they sang and wailed.
Antigone Quick Write
Between the chaos and devastating
time in my life I had to move forward acting as if I was happy my uncle was now
king. Just a couple months ago everything seemed like it was finally falling
into place. Of course it was too good to be true. Now my parents had lost their minds due to
the “Anti-gone” machine and both my brothers were dead. They had killed
each other in battle. To make things worst my uncle declared that my favorite
brother Polyneices is to not be buried, while my other brother is buried like
a hero. It’s so unfair when the real hero was Polyneices. My only family left
is my sister. Its such a shame that she is too afraid of my uncle to do
anything. There is one thing I am sure of, I can’t let my brother pass on
without a proper burial. I know he was left at the city dump, now all I have
to do is find my way there and take him to the cementery. My plan would start
the next day when the sun sets. I went about my day as normal and when I noticed
the sun beginning to hide in the horizon I went back home. My close friend was
already there waiting to take me to the city dump. We made quiet movements and
tried to mix in with everyone. We passed what seemed like a hundred alleys
before we got to the city dump. It wasn’t hard to find my brother there since
we just followed the trail of footprints. It was a bittersweet moment seeing
him. I knew that this was exactly what needed to be done regardless the consequences.
Although the consequences were drastic and could possibly lead to me being
arrested it was all worth it. My brother couldn't rest until he was buried. We
managed to move my brother’s body from the city dump to the cementery, which luckily for us was pretty close. It was a struggle getting passed the guards,
but we were finally in the cementary. We put my brother in the ground and I tried
holding back my tears as we covered his body. This was it the final good-bye.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Jonathan Safran Foer
A: The category of the book excerpt and webinar was persuasive, informative and in a way also inspiring.
B: It was presented by Jonathan Safran Foer.
C: The title of the video was "Jonathan Safran Foer."
E: The webinar was mainly about Safran Foer answering questions about his book. The questions asked were not only about his book, but also about his beliefs and background. In the webinar, Safran Foer addressed questions like why he decide to be a vagan or if he would ever eat meat again.
He was opened to answering any question brought forth to him.
F: 1.The first quote that brought attention to me was "On average Americans eat the equivalent of 21,000 entire animals in a lifetime." Sometimes when we eat we don't stop to think what we are putting in our bodies. We certainley don't stop to think how our meat ended up on ur hands. A burger might seem like nothings but it all adds up to a significant amount.
2.When Safran Foer said that we shouldn't eat something that doesn't have to be killed I agree. Even though I am not a vegan or vegetarian it get me thinking how a poor animal had to suffer for me to eat that. There is so many good food that is good for us and natural why hurt animals right?
3.One of the biggest thing that I took from this excerpt is how people are hypocrite with what they eat. For example people say eating dogs is wrong and sad, but eating cows is delicious. Why should it be different to eat a dog than to eat a cow. Cows suffer just as much as a dog would suffer. Cows and pigs are as smart as dogs.
2.This presentation relates to me and my life because now I am more aware of what I put in my body. Even though I haven't read the full book listening to Safran Foer talk and reading that section really makes me think. Even though it doesn't get to the point that I think could turn me into a vegetarian I believe it makes me a more aware carnivore.
B: It was presented by Jonathan Safran Foer.
C: The title of the video was "Jonathan Safran Foer."
E: The webinar was mainly about Safran Foer answering questions about his book. The questions asked were not only about his book, but also about his beliefs and background. In the webinar, Safran Foer addressed questions like why he decide to be a vagan or if he would ever eat meat again.
He was opened to answering any question brought forth to him.
F: 1.The first quote that brought attention to me was "On average Americans eat the equivalent of 21,000 entire animals in a lifetime." Sometimes when we eat we don't stop to think what we are putting in our bodies. We certainley don't stop to think how our meat ended up on ur hands. A burger might seem like nothings but it all adds up to a significant amount.
2.When Safran Foer said that we shouldn't eat something that doesn't have to be killed I agree. Even though I am not a vegan or vegetarian it get me thinking how a poor animal had to suffer for me to eat that. There is so many good food that is good for us and natural why hurt animals right?
3.One of the biggest thing that I took from this excerpt is how people are hypocrite with what they eat. For example people say eating dogs is wrong and sad, but eating cows is delicious. Why should it be different to eat a dog than to eat a cow. Cows suffer just as much as a dog would suffer. Cows and pigs are as smart as dogs.
2.This presentation relates to me and my life because now I am more aware of what I put in my body. Even though I haven't read the full book listening to Safran Foer talk and reading that section really makes me think. Even though it doesn't get to the point that I think could turn me into a vegetarian I believe it makes me a more aware carnivore.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Latin Roots #5
- cent(i)-hundred
- cid(e)-cut, kill
- clam, claim-cry out, declare
- cord, cour-heart
Word List
- bicentennial-(related to) a celebration of a two hundredth anniversary. Mexico celebrated their bicentennial by throwing a big party.
- centenarian-a person who has lived to be one hundred years old. My neighbor turned to a centurion last week.
- centurion-a Roman officer commanding one hundred men. The centurion had to be a strong, intelligent man.
- clamorous-noisily complaining. The class was clamorous when the teacher assigned work.
- concise-covering much in few words. The best plays are usually written in concise.
- concordance-a condition of harmony or agreement. Finally the landowners and the workers came to a concordance.
- cordial-warm and friendly. My friend gave me a cordial invitation to her party.
- discordant-(sounding) harsh or inharmonious; clashing. You can here the discordant argument outside my house.
- genocide-extermination of an ethnic group. Hitler used genocide on the Jews.
- incisive--keenly penetrating; cutting into. The edge of the table was incisive to me.
- proclamation-an official statement or announcement that informs or honors. After the women gave her proclamation she let us get back to work.
- reclaim--to claim again. The airline lady reclaimed the passengers' ticket.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Literature Analysis #1
The Scarlet Letter
1. The story starts of at the jail where Hester Prynne is
being set free before she has to parade through town with her daughter Pearl.
Hester was in jail for adultery and the baby in her arms in the biggest proof. Hester’s
husband had been gone for two years, so in his absence she fell in love with Minister
Dimmesdale and had an affair with him. For her sin she is forced to wear a
scarlet letter A on her chest. Hester protects her daughter’s father so he
won’t be punished. Throughout the novel she keeps his name a secret. Things get
complicated when her husband, who was said to be dead, comes back in disguise
to find the man she cheated on him with. He goes around saying he’s a physician
named Roger Chillingworth. Chillingworth notices right away that Mr.Dimmensdale
is probably Pearl’s father. Even with the constant questions and examinations
from Chillingworth, Mr.Dimmensdale doesn’t speak up. Seven years pass and
Hester notices that Chillingworth, her husband, has been messing with her
lover’s head. She finally decides to tell Mr.Dimmensdale the truth about her
husband and they decide to run away with Pearl to England. Mr.Dimmensdale ends
up backing up and says the truth to the whole town in the same place where
Hester was humiliated seven years before after coming out of jail. He also
shows them the scar on his chest in the shape of an A. Time for a happy ending?
Will Hester and Mr.Dimmensdale be able to enjoy their love or will they suffer
the consequences? What about little Pearl she’s only 7? Want to know what
happens next? Read The Scarlet Letter I promise you won’t regret it!
2. In the Scarlet Letter there can be multiple themes. I
think the two main themes are love and fear. Love is obvious to find throughout the book.
Hester and Mr.Dimmesdale secretly falling in love and having an affair from
which Pearl was born is the biggest sign of love. Hester never revealed the
name of her daughter’s father to keep him safe. Everything things she did was
out of love either to Mr.Dimmesdale or Pearl. Fear can be interpreted in
various ways. Fear of society, of the unknown, or of being different. In a
society where everyone watches what you do and judges you for your mistakes there’s
a lot to fear. Mr.Dimmesdale was scared of what could happen to him and Hester
if people knew the truth about their affair. Hester not naming her child’s
father wasn’t just out of love for him, but out of fear of the consequences. In
some cases, like this one, fear and love accompany each other.
3. To be honest the reason I chose this book was because I
kind of saw my name on it. I didn’t know which book to read and this was the
first thing that came to my head. I had already heard about The Scarlet Letter
by my English teacher, Mrs. Davis, last year. I thought it would be dead boing
but I was surprised to see that it can get you hooked on some parts.
4. I found this book to be quite realistic. Although the
punishments and some of the prejudices from that time don’t fit in society now,
many of the themes are still around today. For example the fear of being
different is still very common in most societies. I identified myself with
Hester in some ways. She was pointed at for being different but she was proud
to be different because the choices she made were hers and no one should have a
say.
5. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses different types of tones
depending on the subject. We can first see his harsh side against Hester in
chapter 5 when he says “…their
imaginations had a story about the scarlet letter which we might readily workup
into a terrific legend…that the symbol was not mere scarlet cloth, tinged in an
earthly dye-pot, but was red-hot with infernal fire, and could be seen glowing
all alight, whenever Hester Prynne walked abroad in the nighttime…perhaps there
was more truth in the rumor than our modern incredulity may be inclined to
admit.” (Hawthorne 66) We can also see the love Hester feels for her
daughter Pearl when Hawthorne says “Beholding
it, Hester was constrained to rush towards the child,-to pursue the little elf
in the flight which she invariably began,-to snatch her to her bosom, with a
close pressure and earnest kisses,-not so much from overflowing love, as to
assure herself that Pearl was flesh and blood, and not utterly delusive.” (Hawthorne
69) At the beginning of chapter two we get a view of the Puritan Society
and the women’s criticism against other women. This happens when Hester is
walking out of the jail and the whole town is gathered to see her. “This woman has brought shame upon us all,
and ought to die. Is there not law for it? Truly, there is, both in the
Scripture and the statue-book. Then let the magistrates, who have made it of no
effect, thank themselves if their own wives and daughters go astray!”
(Hawthorne 39)
6. The Scarlet Letter has many examples of literary terms
especially symbolism. Amongst those were:
1.The most obvious symbol was the
large scarlet letter A embroided on Hester’s dress. Hester was forced to wear
the letter A as a sign of her adultery. It represented shame at first, but
throughout the novel the meaning started to change. As Hester seems proud to
walk around with the scarlet A the letters starts to symbolize able and is
portrayed as a powerful identity due to her accomplishments.
“Man had
marked this woman’s sin by a scarlet letter, which had such potent and
disastrous efficacy that no human sympathy could reach her, save it were sinful
as herself.” (Hawthorne 67)
2. After Hester and Arthur’s daughter is born, Pearl herself
becomes a symbol. She starts by being a symbol of Hester’s adultery and sin. She
reminds Hester of the scarlet letter constantly and leads both Hester and
Mr.Dimmesdale to admit their sin. Not only does Pearl symbolize a sin, but also
the love between her parents.
“It was meant for a
blessing for the one blessing of her life! It was meant, doubtless, as the
mother herself hath told us, for a retribution, too; a torture to be felt at
many an unthought-of moment; a pang, a sting, an ever-recurring agony, in the
midst of a troubled joy! Hath she not expressed this thought in the grab of the
poor child, so forcibly reminding us of that red symbol which sears her bosom?”
(Hawthorne 86-87)
3. The rose bushes that grow outside the jail is a metaphor
because it is trying to say that even in the coldest and darkest climates
something beautiful can blossom. Maybe it is referring to Pearl being born from
a sin. Even though adultery was an unforgiving sin little, beautiful Pearl was
born. The rose bushes could also signify hope. For example it was the middle of
winter and it was cold, but the rose bush was still alive. The rose bush could
be the little piece of hope Hester has for her love.
“This rose-bush, by a
strange chance, has been kept alive in history; but weather it has merely
urvived out of the stern old wilderness…or weather, as there is fair authority
for believing, it had sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Anne
Hutchinson, as she entered the prison-door…It may serve, let us hope, to
symbolize some sweet moral blossom.” (Hawthorne 35-36)
4. The mark on Mr.Dimmesdale chest is a scar in the shape of
an A. Apparently Hester is not the only one with a reminder of her sinful yet
romantic love affair. How or when Mr.Dimmesdale got that scar isn’t clear, but
it’s a hurtful reminder that tells us Hester was not alone in her shame.
“With a convulsive motion,
he tore away the ministerial band from before his breast. It was revealed! But
it were irreverent to describe that revelation…the gaze of horror…stricken
multitude was concentrated on the ghastly miracle…minister stood, with a flush
of triumph in his face.” (Hawthorne 196)
5. The scaffold is one of the biggest symbols in The Scarlet
Letter. It is the place where Hester was made of after being released from
jail. It is also the place where Mr.Dimmesdale confessed the truth about his
sin, and exposed his scar. It stands for
sin and punishment.
“At last!-at last!-I
stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood; here, with
this woman, whose arm, more than the little strength wherewith I have crept
hitherward, sustains me, at his dreadful moment.” (Hawthorne 196)
6. Hester’s husband, known as Roger Chillingworth, is a
symbol of Hester’s past. When he comes back he is a reminder to both Hester and
Mr.Dimmesdale that she is not a free woman. He reminds her of Hester’s fear for
him.
“A writhing horror
twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them, and
making one little pause, with all its wrenched intervolutions in open sight.”
(Hawthorne 45)
“She pressed her
infant to her bosom with so convulsive a force that the poor babe uttered
another cry of pain. But the mother did not seem to hear it.” (Hawthorne 45)
7. Hawthorne uses the forest to symbolize the home of sin
and trouble.
"She had
wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness; as vast, as
intricate and shadowy, as the untamed forest.” (Hawthorne 81)
8. The color scarlet is also a symbol of love and passion.
Hawthorne chose to make the letter scarlet because Hester and Mr.Dimmesdale committed
adultery out of their passion. Pearl wearing the color of her mother’s letter also
symbolizes the bond between Hester and Pearl. In the next quote Mr.Wilson
compliments Pearls clothes and after sees the scarlet bird.
“What little bird of
scarlet plumage may this be? Methinks I have seen just such figures, when the
sun has been shining through a richly painted window, and tracing out the
golden and crimson images across the floor.”
9. The meteor that crosses the sky when Hester, Pearl, and
Mr.Dimmesdale are on the scaffold signifies to Mr.Dimmesdale as a sign of god
that wants him to say his secret.
"…disease in his
own eye and heart…the minister sees the meteor in the shape of an A in dull red
light.”
10. The sun vanishing in chapter 21 symbolizes that Hester isn’t
happy. The sun usually symbolizes happiness which is what she feels with Pearl,
but when she tried to grab the sun it vanished meaning that Hester wasn’t
happy.
“…the sunshine
vanished…” (Hawthorne 180)
Characterization:
1. Hawthorne uses direct characterization
when he describes Hester Prynne’s appearance. “The young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance on a large
scale. She had dark and abundant hair…a face…beautiful from regularity of
feature and richness of complexion, had the impressiveness belonging to a
marked brow and deep black eyes. She was lady like too.” (Hawthorne 40) When
he describes Hester’s husband he is also direct characterization “He was small in structure, with a furrowed
visage…there was a remarkable intelligence in his features…one of this man’s
shoulders rose higher than the others.” (Hawthorne 45) Hawthorn uses
indirect characterization when it comes to Hester’s personality. He uses what
people say about her and her actions to portray her personality. Hawthorne also
uses indirect characterization when he mentions Mr.Dimmesdale. He tells us
about his physical appearance but now his emotions or character.
2. Hawthorne’s diction changes
when he talks about Hester. Since she is the protagonist in this novel he gets
more serious and harsh when he talks about her. He acts as though he were a
Puritan judging her. Although he does mention her beauty, he portrays her as a
sinner, but defends her once in a while.
3. The main character, Hester, is a round character.
Throughout the novel she grows as a person. She starts of being afraid of her
feelings toward Arthur and what the people might say or think of her. As the
novel keeps going and she gives birth to her daughter, Pearl, she no longer
cares what anyone thinks. She’s a proud mother and walks in public with her
head held high. She ignores the finger pointing, the murmuring, and the fact
that she has a scarlet letter embroided to her chest.
4. I feel like I have actually met Hester Prynne. I can see
the pain she felt, her unconditional love for Mr.Dimmesdale, her fear of losing
Pearl and most of all how happy she was as a mother. Pearl had become a living
proof of her love to Mr.Dimmesdale. She didn’t care what everyone thought of
her or her daughter. She was a proud mother and loved her daughter deeply. No
one could take that happiness from her. Not even the harsh, judging society
could make her feel ashamed of her daughter.
“Beholding it, Hester
was constrained to rush towards the child,-to pursue the little elf in the
flight which she invariably began,-to snatch her to her bosom, with a close
pressure and earnest kisses,-not so much from overflowing love, as to assure
herself that Pearl was flesh and blood, and not utterly delusive.” (Hawthorne 69)
Enduring Memory:
One of the biggest lessons I’m taking from The Scarlet
Letter is that you have to make sure your choices make you happy because people
will judge anyways. Society is so quick to judge that they won’t even stop to
think of what could have led to that or why you did what you did. When the town
found out about Hester’s adultery they didn’t hesitate to call her a sinner.
They didn’t stop to wonder if maybe she loved her child’s father or of the
blessing being a mother is. All they did was point and judge as if they were
perfect. “This woman has brought shame
upon us all, and ought to die. Is there not law for it? Truly, there is, both
in the Scripture and the statue-book. Then let the magistrates, who have made
it of no effect, thank themselves if their own wives and daughters go astray!”
(Hawthorne 39) Another lesson I learned was that fear won’t get you
anywhere. Everyone in that town had a fear of something. It could have been
fear of being different or fear of what people might say. No one should be
afraid to show who they real are. We all say that it’s society’s fault for judging
but think of it we are part of society.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Latin Roots #3
aud(it) (hear): audience, auditorium, audition
avi (bird): aviation, aviculture, aviatrix
bell(i) (war): rebellion, rebel, belligerent, postbellum
ben(e) (good, well): benefit, benevolent, benediction, benefice, benison
-antebellum: before, especially the American Civil War, typical of how things were before any war; The antebellum changed a lot over time.
-audit: to check or examine a company's financial records; Due to the rough times in the wars the man had to audit the fields closely.
-auditory: related to the sense or hearing; The play auditory was loud and cheerful
-avian: characteristic of or pertaining to birds;
-aviary: an elaborate structure for housing birds; I observed my dad design the aviary.
-avionics: the technology of using electronic equipment in aviation, missilery, and space flight; Thanks to the advanced avionics we were able to be undefeatable.
-bellicose: eager to fight or quarrel; hostile; People who are hostile aren't fun to be around.
-belligerency: the condition of warlike hostility; a hostile action; Wars usually start because of belligerency.
-benefactor: a person who gives another financial help; a patron; Benefactors are always necessary in community projects.
beneficiary: one who receives a benefit (of payment), as from an insurance policy; The individuals that became beneficiary from the money were from downtown.
-benign: not malignant; gracious and kindly; good-natured; The young lady was so benign every man wanted to marry her.
-inaudible: unable to be heard; The movie became inaudible when everyone started to talk.
avi (bird): aviation, aviculture, aviatrix
bell(i) (war): rebellion, rebel, belligerent, postbellum
ben(e) (good, well): benefit, benevolent, benediction, benefice, benison
-antebellum: before, especially the American Civil War, typical of how things were before any war; The antebellum changed a lot over time.
-audit: to check or examine a company's financial records; Due to the rough times in the wars the man had to audit the fields closely.
-auditory: related to the sense or hearing; The play auditory was loud and cheerful
-avian: characteristic of or pertaining to birds;
-aviary: an elaborate structure for housing birds; I observed my dad design the aviary.
-avionics: the technology of using electronic equipment in aviation, missilery, and space flight; Thanks to the advanced avionics we were able to be undefeatable.
-bellicose: eager to fight or quarrel; hostile; People who are hostile aren't fun to be around.
-belligerency: the condition of warlike hostility; a hostile action; Wars usually start because of belligerency.
-benefactor: a person who gives another financial help; a patron; Benefactors are always necessary in community projects.
beneficiary: one who receives a benefit (of payment), as from an insurance policy; The individuals that became beneficiary from the money were from downtown.
-benign: not malignant; gracious and kindly; good-natured; The young lady was so benign every man wanted to marry her.
-inaudible: unable to be heard; The movie became inaudible when everyone started to talk.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Artemis, Orion, and the Seven Sisters
The main characters in this myth are Artemis, the goddess of chastity, virginity, hunting, the moon, and the natural environment. Apollo her twin brother, Orion the huntsmen, and the 7 nymphs given to Artemis by her father Zeus. Orion was a giant huntsman, Artemis's really good friend, and was placed among the stars. The seven sisters, Alycone, Asterope, Celæno, Eleckra, Maia, Merope, Taygete are nymphs that accompany Artemis.

The setting is in the mountains and forests of Arcadia. The main plot of this myth is when Apollo tricked Artemis into killing her dear friend Orion. Her brother Apollo was angered by their friendship. Apollo challenged Artemis to an archery competition. He told her to shoot a target from far away. Artemis had no idea that the target her brother mentioned was the head of Orion. Artemis’s shot was perfect (like always) so Orion died. As a tribute to Orion’s death Artemis put Orion in her chariot and threw his body among the stars. So therefore this myth attempts to explain how the stars came to be.
The setting is in the mountains and forests of Arcadia. The main plot of this myth is when Apollo tricked Artemis into killing her dear friend Orion. Her brother Apollo was angered by their friendship. Apollo challenged Artemis to an archery competition. He told her to shoot a target from far away. Artemis had no idea that the target her brother mentioned was the head of Orion. Artemis’s shot was perfect (like always) so Orion died. As a tribute to Orion’s death Artemis put Orion in her chariot and threw his body among the stars. So therefore this myth attempts to explain how the stars came to be.
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