LITERATURE ANALYSIS #3

Analysis

1. The Book I chose to read is called 'The Awakening" by Kate Chopin. This book is mainly about a women named Edna Pontellier. She is married to a man named Leonce. The story opens up with the family staying at a holiday resort for the upperclass with their two sons. Leonce is working much and has his mind on his job more than the attention he needs to give to his wife. Edna through out the story, with many influences of friends and a doctor, grows internally resulting in finding happiness in herself apart from her husband. And she learns to cope. Along the way finding a man named Robert who listens to her. She does fall somewhat for him but in the end realizes he cant fulfill the emotional, sexual, and intellectual toll.

2. I believe the theme of this story is the discipline of being alone and learning how to cope with it as Edna had to learn to. Her husband wasnt exactly a "family" man let alone abusive in words. She had to find herself again. 

3. The tone of this story is rather sad in the beggining because your learning where the roots of Ednas sadness comes from and how much she yearns for the slightest touch and affection from her husband. When she decides to leave the island for her own good and confides in Mademoiselle Reisz, theres an overwhelming sense of hope. Later on in the story Edna meets a man named Robert who in a way gives her the attention shes been wanting. And you see that Edna starts painting again like she did when she was a child. This all represents the loss in hope and how it can be recreated but to do that you have to be courageous and brave. 

 4. Literary Elements: 

• Allusion: The way Robert makes Edna feel free. She begins painting again like she did as a child.
• Allusion: Roberts sense of making Edna feel like a women again gives her the courage to learn how to swim like she never did rowing up. And while in the water she realizes her independence as a women. 
• Irony: Realizing how serious Edna and Robert himself have become. He leaves Grand Isle to avoid consummating his love for her. He is married. 
• Irony: Edna swimming, the water representing life and her husband, herself learning to swim represents her independence. 
• Imagery: "Robert and Ednas relationship is growing, and Roberts affections and attention toward Edna are inspiring her."
• Symbolism: The parrot in the cage at the beginning of the book represent Ednas unspoken feelings toward her husband. 
• Simile:  "the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings."
• Personification: Before stepping foot into the water to learn how to swim, Edna sees a bird with a broken wing struggling to survive. This bird represents Edna failure to find freedom in her marriage and herself. 
• Symbolism: The cigars are a symbol of masculinity and traditional manhood which represents Leonce, Ednas Husband. 
• Symbolism: The sea around the secluded island represents an empowerment Edna yearns for. 

Characterization

1. Robert would be an example of direct characterization. Before he comes into the story, you see that edna somewhat leads on to him to try and better herself. An example of indirect characterization would be Mademoiselle Reisz, she is friends with Edna and teachers her about independence of a women. She is brought into the story through speech and before they meet Edna kind of watched and admired her being able to be alone with no husband or children. 

2. I think the authors focus changes a lot when it comes to character. Heres Edna who is depressed and unhappy with her marriage and husband. Then you have these people around her like her "love" Robert, close aquaintence Mademoiselle who helps her become independent, and her therapist who makes her believe she just needs to stick it out. Every character around Edna influences her future decisions. 

3. I think the protagonist is dynamic simply because she goes from to depressed to happy to realizing she cant really change her marriage or herself. But also finds herself through all the hurt.   

4. I felt like i knew the character personally because she related to my family on many levels. The women in my family have been in situations like here. Maybe not exactly but similar and watching Edna grow in herself reminded me of my elder aunts who have come along way when it comes to relationships with men. The only difference between women and Edna is that edna gave up to an extent. 

Allegory of the Cave (Sonnet)

Plates allegory of the cave,
We are a people who only know what we see.
A society who doesn't see the reality that save,
Those who only shadows plea.

The prisoners represent ignorance, unable to accept reality,
The sun represents the truth we long for but don't know.
But learn to accept yourself as a principality,
We are still learning how to live your life to flow.

Intellect confusion is unseen by most,
These shackles in these prisoners are things that hold us back from true reality.
If the many we boast,
In a word full of mentality and brutality.

It's up to you to decide if you want to follow the shadows.
But know, just know, that those shadows can be shallow.

Plates Allegory of the Cave

1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?

-It means that we only know what we see and will only know that unless we are shown the true reality. 

2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?

-The prisoners represents our ignorance, the sun represents the truth that we don’t know, the shackles represent the things that hold us back.

3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?

-It suggests that when opportunity is thrusted upon you, you must take it.

4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?

-The shackles and the cave suggest that prisoners have no idea about life and what its really about. There are shackles on the prisoner’s mind.

5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?

- I feel like almost everything in our society puts shackles on our minds even my parents. They only tell me what they want me to know and won’t answer questions and they have done that since I was little. As we recently learned, the Internet search browsers put shackles on our minds they don’t give us all the facts they only show you what they think you should know. The government doesn’t reveal all the facts the public but maybe thats a good thing. The thing is that we will never know the whole picture so how can we truly know what we believe in.

6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?

- The perspective of the freed prisoner is that he has seen and therefore knows, but the cave prisoner only sees shadows therefore his only reality is the shadows.

7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?

-The freed prisoner is confused when he is released from the shackles because all he’s ever known is shadows so that is his reality. So when he enters the real world he must question what is reality.

9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?

-Their is a distinction between appearances and reality because the shadows were just the appearance of something but not the true reality of what it actually is.

10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?

-An alternative assumption would be that because all the prisoner’s had come to know were the shadows and because of that the shadows are their reality.

My Big Question and a Sonnet

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red than her lips' red; 

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; 

If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. 

I have seen roses damasked, red and white, 

But no such roses see I in her cheeks; 

And in some perfumes is there more delight 

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. 

I love to hear her speak, 

yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;

I grant I never saw a goddess go; 

My mistress when she walks treads on the ground. 

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
     As any she belied with false compare.

Sonnet Analysis #1

SONNETS:

Little sound, little song

Petrarch-style 

Sonnet-14 lines 

8 lines

3 sections of four lines 

Vocabulary #8

abase: belittle somebody: to make somebody feel belittled or degraded

abdicate: resign position: to give up a high office formally or officially, especially the throne

abomination: anything greatly disliked

brusque: abrupt: abrupt, blunt, or curt in manner or speech

saboteur:  one that practices sabotage

debauchery: immoral behavior: unrestrained self-indulgent immoral behavior, or an instance of this

proliferate: increase greatly: to increase greatly in number
anachronism: chronological mistake: something from a different period of time

nomenclature: name system: a system of names assigned to objects or items in a particular science or art

expurgate: edit something by removing offensive parts: to remove words or passages considered offensive or unsuitable from a book before publication

bellicose: warlike: ready or inclined to quarrel, fight, or go to war

gauche: socially awkward: lacking grace or tact in social situations

rapacious: grasping: greedy and grasping, especially for money, and sometimes willing to use unscrupulous means to obtain what is desired

paradox: something absurd or

contradictory: a statement, proposition, or situation that seems to be absurd or contradictory, but in fact is or may be true

conundrum: something confusing: something that is puzzling or confusing

anomaly: irregularity: something that deviates from the norm or from expectations

ephemeral: short-lived: lasting for only a short period of time and leaving no permanent trace

rancorous: Bitter, long-lasting resentment; deep-seated ill will

churlish: crass: characteristic of somebody with bad manners

precipitous: done rashly: done or acting too quickly and without enough thought
.

Vocabulary #7

shenanigans - secret or dishonest activity or maneuvering:
*The suspicious kid was doing some shenanigans in the bathroom.
ricochet - a shot or hit that rebounds one or more times off a surface.
*When I shot my gun at the target, it ricocheted off.
schism - a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.
*Politicians are in a schism, the Republicans and Democrats.
eschew - deliberately avoid using; abstain from:
*I try to eschew from foul language in front of children for the sake of their innocent minds.
plethora - a large or excessive amount of (something):

*China has a plethora of cash from being the dominant economy in the world.

ebullient - cheerful and full of energy:

*When the pump up music turns on, the crowd becomes ebullient!

garrulous - excessively talkative, esp. on trivial matters:
*Girls are generally garrulous from watching too many reality tv shows.harangue - a lengthy and aggressive speech.
*The campaign for presidency have many harangues to convey the people for votes.
interdependence - (of two or more people or things) dependent on each other:
*Husband and wife are interdependence when they become married.
capricious - given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior:
*Girls are capricious at least one week a month, it's a sign to stay away for men.
loquacious - tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
*Dr. Preston is very loquacious and uses Einstein diction to display his message verbally.
ephemeral - lasting for a very short time:
*Milk is an example of a ephemeral product.
inchoate - just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary:
*Noobs are considered inchoate from having no experience in a certain area.
juxtapose - place or deal with close together for contrasting effect:
*A millionaire in a Lamborghini is considered a juxtapose.
perspicacious - having a ready insight into and understanding of things:
*When a student studies a month prior to an exam, he is perspicaciouswhen he takes that test.
codswallop - nonsense. 
*Kids usually speak of codswallop from not understanding the meaning of words.
mungo - cloth made from recycled woven or felted material.
*It is eco-friendly to have clothes that are mungo.
sesquipedalian - (of a word) polysyllabic; long:
*Smart people usually use sesquipedalian words to make themselves look even smarter.
wonky - crooked; off-center; askew:
*When a drunk man attempts to walk a straight line, it seems that he is walking on a wonky line.
diphthong - a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound begins as one vowel and moves toward another (as in coin, loud, and side).

IF I JUST HAD MORE TIME

I think to better my performance on today's midterm i probably couldve spent more time on the Canterbury Tales I had read. I think it wouldve helped get my point across in a more clear perspective. Vocab i think i did good on. I need to work on not being so nervous when it comes to test

LITERATURE ANALYSIS #2

In my novel, "The Best of Me" by Nicholas Sparks, The story takes place in the small town of Oriental in North Carolina. Two high school students Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell deeply in love but split under complicated circumstances because of Dawson's last name, only to find each other again later in their adult lives. Both distinctly different, Amanda married and had children of her own. Dawson on the other hand lived a simple life and kept to himself. He didn't date anyone after Amanda. Both of these star crossed lovers were summoned back to the town of Oriental to attend the funeral of Tuck Hostelter, a close acquaintance to both. And in his will Amanda and Dawson were both mentioned. The two reunite once again.


Amanda Collier came from a wealthy family with high expectations. In her younger days her parents did not approve of Dawson Cole because of his family name. The last name Cole had bad things associated with it only by rumor and had a negative impact of Amanda and Dawson's relationship. They split as teenagers and reunited again later in life. Reconnected would be the proper term i think. As they rekindled, you see how the author uses their relationship as symbolism of the theme "can love rewrite the past?". This is a big part of the story because it relates to the climax of the story. Foreshadowing is also used in the story many times. For example, toward the end of the story, Amanda and Dawson have a disagreement. He heads to the bar late at night where there is nothing but negativity and ends up getting into a fight. At this point you can predict that something horrible is going to happen to him. Another example would be how Dawson and Amanda ran into each other at Tucks home after meeting with the lawyer to go over the will of their old friend. When both enter the home nothing but old memories spin in each Amanda and Dawson's heads. This implies that they will rekindle in some way. Flash Backs were also used in this story. Throughout the novel Dawson and Amanda reminisce on their teenage romance on times they had spend together and nights they snuck out (Chapter 1-4).

Allusion is a big literary element in this story. Simply because toward the end of the story Tuck, the man who's funeral Amanda and Dawson attended left behind two letters. It talked about he love the two had for each other and what he was leaving behind for each of them. Not only this but he spoke about how if the two had stayed together things would've been different. Their lives would have been changed completely. And he gives the two the option to be together again. He lent advice on his death bed on how each should treat one another. Keep in mind there was a letter for both. And each of these leads to a traumatic event that will be life changing. Tuck knew the two would come together again and purposely left them in his will because he knew they were meant to be together. I would consider this an analogy.

I find Dawson an intriguing character. He is this man who had no relation to his family history of violence. He is irrevocably in love with Amanda and knew the love he had for her could never be replaced. He stuck to his promises toward her and never let another women take her place even though he knew she was no longer his. Indirect characterization is used many times in the story. The author starts off with Dawson in first person and switches views to third person when he is speaking as Amanda. The author approaches both this way because there are two sides to every story and though each characters feelings for each other are the same, he shows how each one thinks and wonders. He explains the different back rounds of the two. And through out the novel you see how because of the lives they lived, they re romance had to come to an end in a way. Circumstances were in the end different for each. The protagonist i think is static only because there are so many lingering thoughts and actions lingering. He, meaning Dawson is also round because he has many ties and emotions.

After reading the book i felt like i was actually Dawson. I felt every emotion he felt whether it was rage or anger and i was able to relate. Everyone wants to feel loved and everyone ultimately has a first love. I think anyone who has been in love in some way can relate. I felt like i knew the character and met him in person as if he told me his life story.

Character Study (3)

There is a main head chief who is unknown, we have a pimp who odds the dirty work for this man and a drug dealer whom is a women with a child, her sister, an accountant who works at a high end bank, and a fairy. Each person is somehow connected to the head chief and all agree on robing banks together for money. Hitting each small town bank, they escalate to higher end banks with their main point being the national bank. Each character has a reason to need money. But none if them know anything about each other accept that they all have a role to play in this big robery being planned. Alon the way they meet west and east men. One will be working at the bank with "the hero", anther will be the father of our drug dealers child, and another will be a hitman.

Character Study (2)

Well in my groups prologue we decided to go about our "story" in a different way. Were are a group if distinctly different people who meet up through different connections through other people and decide to form a gang together. Our characters consist of a pimp who has connections, a prostitute who is torn, a fairy, and a hero of a sort. We all set out in a journey of terror to diminish our class mates.

Canterbury Tales (1)

In class the question was asked if Chauncer took the pilgrimage himself and the answer is yes he did. I did not think that he had but after re-reading the prologue I realized that it said he did take the pilgrimage. The characters story that I would like to read the most is the Nun's story I think it will be interesting. I find it so interesting that Chauser had such an insight in the life of "royals"  and their  life behind what people see. Their reputation  and character in each story are distinctly different. Yes all collide. And I personally think it's neat to see how Chauser. In a way mocks some. 

Character Study (1)

My name is Amy and I am a prostitute. Not information you would exactly share for first impressions. I am on business for a close friend, it's not something I wanted to do but I have to to support my child. I was nervous and anxious all at the same time. I have no general idea of what to expect on the road ahead. Maybe it could be the friends i would encounter along the way,  or maybe even finding myself again. As I pack my suitcase full of clothes for every season and food just in case as well as money, the thought ran across her mind that this could be it. Maybe it was time.  Time for me  to see everything in a different perspective. To realize there is more than one way to live. To meet new people to replace the ones who left. Or enjoy the little things life has to offer. All i know is that I will be ready. It could  be someone I meet, even a soulmate. It could be a life changing event I take part in. But all I know is I am ready to embark on the impossible.

Vocabulary #6

Accolade: An award or privilege granted for special honor.

• Think of winning a trophy because you won the tournament.

Acerbity: A sharp bitterness.

• Think of acid and that if you ate it it would be bitter.

Attrition: The act of weakening by attack or pressure.

• Think of attacking and that after awhile it weakens you.

Bromide: An unoriginal idea or remark.

• Think of bromide as a chemical and that its unoriginal because it was discovered along time ago.

Chauvinist: A person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.

• Think of activist and that they over exaggerate their cause.

Chronic: Persisting for a long time.

• Think of having chronic headaches because they last a long time.

Expound: Present and explain systematically in detail.

• Think of explaining by the pound(in detail).

Factionalism: Relating or belonging to a faction (group).

• Think of coalition and that it is a group.

Immaculate: Perfectly clean and tidy.

• Think of Whitney’s immaculate room.

Imprecation: A spoken curse.

• Think of a curse should make you cautious.

Ineluctable: Can't be resisted or avoided.

• Think of delectable and you can’t resist delectable food.

Mercurial: Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes in mood or mind.

• Think of if you eat mercury it will cause a sudden change in mind because its poisonous.

Palliate: To make less severe or unpleasant.

• Think of alleviate and that should make you think of making things less painful.

Protocol: The official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state.

• Think of maintaining protocol to get the job done.

Resplendent: Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous.

• Think of splendor and that splendorous things are bright and colorful.

Stigmatize: Described or regarded as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval.

• Think of dramatize and that dramatic people are disgraceful because they create drama.

Sub rosa: Happening or done in secret.

• Think of sub being underground so its done in secret like the underground railroad.

Vainglory: Excessively vain.

• Think of vain being vain.

Vestige: A trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.

• Think of a vest and that they are no longer trendy but people still wear them.

Volition: The faculty or power of using one's will.

• Think of volt and voltages have a lot of power.

Obsequious: Obedient

• Think of obedient because the first letters.

Beatitude: Supreme blessedness.

• Think of Matthew 5 in the bible because it talks about the beatitudes and God blesses.

Bete Noire: A person or thing that one particularly dislikes or dreads.

• Think of betting someone and you want to beat them so you dislike them.

Bode: To predict.

• Think of I don’t know you will just have to memorize it.

Dank: Disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold.

• Think of the bottom of a tank that has not been cleaned and its cold and musty.

Ecumenical: Representing a number of different Christian churches; nondenominational.

• Cant think of a sentence

Fervid: Intensely enthusiastic or passionate, to an excessive degree.

• Think of being fervid for a college degree.

Fetid: Smelling extremely unpleasant.

• Think of stinky feet.

Gargantuan: Enormous.

• Think of gigantic and gargantuan kind of sounding the same and gigantic is something that is big.

Heyday: The time of a persons greatness in success, popularity, or vigor.

• Think of when you find the needle in the hay you have reached your greatest success. 

Incubus: Something that weighs upon or oppresses someone like a nightmare.

• Think of the band incubus and that they sing songs about sad stuff and nightmares. (I think)

Infrastructure: The basic structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.

• Think of structure and in infrastructure and that you need a structure to create an enterprise.

Inveigle: Persuade to do something by means of flattery or deception.

• Think of finagle and inveigle because they rhyme and finagle means to try to get something.

Kudos: Praise and honor received for an achievement.

• Think of kudos as kidos(like kids) and that they receive praise for doing things.

Lagniappe: Something given as a bonus or extra gift.

• Cant think of a sentence

Prolix: Using or containing too many words, tediously lengthy.

• Think of 

Protégé: A person who is guided by an older wiser person.

• Think of 

Prototype: A first model of something.

• Think of

Sycophant: A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain an advantage.

• Think of to sync with someone in order to gain from them. 

Tautology: The saying of the same thing twice in different ways.

• Think of taunting someone and that makes me think of copying what someone else says; repeating the words twice.

Truckle: To submit.

• Think of tucking in your shirt and its like submitting the bottom of your shirt to your jeans.

WHAT A CHARACTER

The character I consenting write about it Elizabeth Bennett from the novel, "Pride and Prejudice". What made Elizabeth memorable in my mind was how she carried herself with such courage yet inside she was coiling. How she handled situations like staying with her sister Jane when she was sick at Mr. Binglys house, knowing she would find herself running into Mr. Darcy her soon to be love. She had an aura about her that just expressed how special of a person she was with her strong personality and wit. Though she struggles with partnership in relationship authorities, she held her head high. One could drone in and in about virtue and Lizzie will smack a joke right in your face. Someone could disapprove with what decisions Lizzie made and she would just laugh at the irony.

Literary elements I believe were used to help define the character were epiphany. Just for the reason that there were times that Lizzie was in a rough patch and she had a sudden realization of what was really waitin for her and that turned out to be Mr. Darcy. The love the two shared and the love she had for him was inevitable. Another element used was sarcasm. Because Lizzie looked to the best in every situation and made you smile regardless of how awkward or painful.

My Ultimate Big Question

What exactly is perfection in our world of chaos? How is it that that in the corrupted world we live in certain things can be labeled as "perfect". We hear all of these cliches such as "nobody's perfect" or "perfection everything" yet we are hypocritical to the word perfect.

Declaration of Learning Independence

 

Smart Goals:

• My ultimate goal is to apply to as many possible scholarships even if I am going to attend Hancock right off the bat, to help pay for my future education. And get a job! 

Collaborative Working Group:

• I can't really think of a good collaborative working group. There are many possibilities on what can be done or used but personally I think a scholarship group should be created for those students whom are applying themselves to college can have the opportunity to learn how and what to apply to and where. 

Vocabulary #5

obsequious: obedient or attentive to an excessive degree


beatitude: supreme blessedness.


bete noire:  a detested person


bode: to be an omen of a particular outcome


dank: disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold


ecumenical: worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application


fervid: intensely enthusiastic or passionate, esp. to an excessive degree


fetid: smelling extremely unpleasant


gargantuan: enormous


heyday: The period of greatest popularity, success, or power; prime

incubus: a nightmare


infrastructure: is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise



inveigle: persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery


kudos: fame and renown resulting from an act or achievement 


lagniappe:something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure


prolix: (of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy

protégé: a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced or influential person


prototype: an early sample, model or release of a product built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from


sycophant: a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.


tautology: needless repetition of an idea, statement, or word


truckle: To be servile or submissive.

LITERATURE ANALYSIS #1

In the novel "The Choice" by Nicholas Sparks, the story is set in North Carolina during the 1990's. The main character goes by the name Travis Parker. He is a veterinarian working with his father. He lives a small life and is searching for a mate to settle down with. Hes tired of the "party" scene and is searching for something more. In the begging of the novel, Gabby, Travis's neighbor, believes her dog is pregnant and goes on a rant blaming Travis's dog for the incident. From that moment, the sparks flow between the two. Both scared and anxious, the two spend a great amount of time together. The only problem is Gabby has a boyfriend of four years. She becomes tied between whats good for her and what she wants. Travis wants Gabby. He makes that clear. But Gabby has a hard time making a choice.

As the story goes, ultimately Gabby has to make a decision on what she really wants. That being Travis or her boyfriend of four years. This is the rising action of the story, foreshadowing is used in this part. You see how Travis and Gabby bond. You know that Travis and Gabby end up together happily married with children. But at what cost? She does end up staying with Travis. All is happy and what any couple could want in a perfect relationship, until one night the two get in a car accident after driving. This is the climax. The car accident put Gabby in a coma. Tragedy struck. And all hell broke loose. Connotation is used in this part of the book. The argument was the first the couple had. And it in a way implied something horrible would happen. After the accident Travis is constantly visiting her at the hospital, he makes the decision to put her in a home. Struggling to decide if he should pull the plug after the years shes been in a come. Throughout the story the couple stands for "how far would you go in the name of love?". Through thick and thin they stuck together. This is an example of symbolism. Showing how strong the love can be between two people.

Many metaphors were used in this book, describing a person or a situation in a more dramatized manner. Example, "Gabby noted dully that there were way to many stars in a too bright, out-of-focus-sky" (Page 21) or "The whole day struck him as a tantalizing dance, in which each of them had taken turns leading, one pushing, the other pulling, and vise versa" (Page 140). An allegory and irony were used just based on the title of the book, The Choice, really represents the main line of the story. Its full of choices from Gabby having to choose between two men and Travis having to decide if he should pull the plug on his wife, the love of his life and best friend, whom was in a coma. In the end all ended well. She eventually woke up and was reunited with her husband and family.

I think the moral theme of this story is how making choices can impact your life in many ways especially when it comes to loving someone so deeply. Though we as people don't think about these things they do happen. You have to expect the unexpected. One mishap can determine your whole life and mind state. Overall this book is compelling in every way possible. The author got his point across clearly and really emphasized the theme and tone of this book. "how far would you go in the name of love?" (Page 255)

ALL OF THE ABOVE

I corrected my 1987 AP English Exam and found that i didn't do as great as i thought i did. I think it was more so reading the texts and having to refer back to them. My eyes were going in circles. But i just need to read the text more carefully than i had, to succeed. I seemed to understand what the general outlook of each essay or poem but when it cant to answering questions on theme, i personally found it difficult just because in my opinion, there are many ways to interpret different texts. There is never one right answer.

Seven Lovley Logics

Vocabulary #4

Accolade: (n). an award or privilege granted as a special honor or acknowledgement

•  The ultimate official accolade of a visit by the president.

Acerbity: (adj). a sharp or forthright style of speaking

•  Many teachers have an acerbic wit to them, not all but some.

Attrition: (n). the process of gradually reducing the strength of someone or something through uncontrollable attack or pressure

• The squad car suffered attrition due to the bombing attacks they encountered

Bromide: (n). a compound of the chemical bromine with another element or group

• Feel-good bromides create an illusion of problem solving.

Chauvinist: (n). someone who displays exaggerated or aggressive patriotism

• What a male chauvinist that man is.

Chronic: (adj). meaning to constantly reoccur

• Patients whom are in ICU in a hospital are in chronic condition with their health. 

Expound: (v). to present and/or explain a theory or idea in depth detail

•  He was expounding a strong argument in the courtroom. 

Factionalism: (adj). to be characterized by dissent

•  Many social pyramids in our past history were fractional.

Immaculate: (adj). someone who is free of flaws or mistakes, in other words perfect

• He wore an immaculate suit to the award show.

Imprecation: (n). a spoken curse 

• Many people assumed she was a witch due to her secretive imprecations.

Ineluctable: (adj). the act of being unable to be resisted or avoided

• The love she had for him was so passionate it was ineluctable.

Mercurial: (adj). subject to unpredictable changes of mood or mind

•  The death of her husband caused her to think and act in a mercurial manner.

Palliate: (v). to relieve or or lessen without curing

• Kemo Therapy is a treatment for cancer used to palliate the disease spreading. 

Protocol: (n). the official procedure of rules governing affairs of state of diplomatic occasions

•  Protocol in some countries forbid the ruler to make any public statement in his or her defense.

Resplendent: (adj). attractive through being richly colorful or splendid

•  People stared in awe as she walked through the room looking resplendent in her salmon colored dress.

Stigmatize: (v). to describe as worthy of disgrace(really bad)

•  Her fathers opinion on her boyfriend was stigmatized.

Sub Rosa: (adj/adv). to be secretive or confidential

•  The government has many sub rosa operations we as Americans do not know about.

Vainglory: (n). excessive pride in ones own achievements

• The Kardashian family on TV displays much vainglory on the show with their luxurious life.

Vestige: (n). a trace of something that has disappeared or no longer exists

• He waited patiently, but without a vestige of sympathy. 

Volition: (n). the power of using ones will

• In the christian religion, many people live their life through volition due to gods will.

BEOWULF ESSAY

In the story of Beowulf, Beowulf being the main character, is a man who matures as a warrior and obtains many characteristics similar to ones our modern day hero's of carry today. Beowulf exemplifies the heroic culture portrayed in the story as he fights off horrid creatures. In today's culture our hero's display very similar acts. In my opinion, Superman and Beowulf are more alike than different.

Superman is from a whole different galaxy on a planet named Krypton. His father Jor-El, discovered a nuclear reaction on the planet, he then decided to put his son in a vessel to ship him off to earth before Krypton exploded and death took place. He was found on a farm in Small ville Kansas by the Kent family. He was then named Clark Kent. Clark has superhuman abilities he had no clue how to control. He didn't have any idea on why he was "different", Beowulf is similar in this case. He had an unknown strength and that was being a hero. A common symbol used in both stories would be "heritage provides models for behavior to help to establish identity". In other words, each character has ancestors. And those ancestors played a big role on who they each became as hero's. For example, Beowulf looks up to King Hrothgar who is a father figure in Beowulf's life. In superman, Clark is trying to find out where he came from in order to be accepted in society, for he knows he was destined for something beyond great.

Foreshadowing was also a literary device used in each story. In Superman, Kal-El, who is Superman's fathers brother, returns in revenge for Superman's father sending him to hyperspace. The foreshadowing here would be when Kal-El communicated with Clark after years of being locked up in space. He threatens to destroy earth if Clark does not surrender to him. It alludes to there being a war/fight later to defend earth. Clark accept the human race as his people. In Beowulf, Grendel represents the demon Crine in the bible representing and alluding to the Bible. Though Beowulf went through life and death situations with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the fire breathing dragon.

Foiling was also used in each story. Beowulf looked up to King Hrothgar who was his father figure due to his actual fathers death. In the end, he ends up a long reigning ruler like his father before him. Clark on the other hand was looking to be a hero like his father had been on planet Krypton. As soon as Clark found out where he was really from, he realized what greatness he was destined for. His father played a big role in Clark's  heroic actions to save his people.

A hero in both of these stories were based on how ancestors ruled or lived. In each, a hero was based off of strength, courage, and loyalty. Generosity and political skill were just as important. Therefore each was similar in many ways.

Vocabulary #3

Apostate:  a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party

"In church community's, about half of the party claims to be a certain religion but acts in a different manner."

Effusive:  lacking reserve

"Effusive people have a hard time concerning necessities for emergencies."

 Impasse:  a position or situation from which there is no escape

"In many horror films, there is always one character who puts him or herself in a impasses position."

Euphoria: a state of intense happiness and self-confidence

"You feel a level of euphoria when you complete all assignments in Dr.Prestons AP English class."

Lugubrious: mournful or dismal 

"In twilight, Bella Swan plays a lugubrious character due to her unforsaken love for Edward Cullen."

Bravado: swaggering display of courage

"Beowulf gives off a cocky vibe with a bravado attitude."

Consensus: general agreement
"Everyone at the business meeting came to their consensus that selling Nike brand shoes were better than selling Adidas."

Dichotomy: division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups
"In the court room, the judge had to decide between guilty or non guilty, the jury was dichotic."

Constrict: to slow or stop the natural course or development of 
"School officials decided to constrict the way school rules were enforced."

Gothic: noting or pertaining to a style of architecture, originating in France in the middle of the 12th century and existing in the western half of Europe through the middle of the 16th century, characterized by the use of the pointed arch and the ribbed vault, by the use of fine woodwork and stonework
"Some buildings in Europe have a gothic feel to them."

Punctilio: a fine point, particular, or detail
"No mission should ever be compromised by diplomatic punctilio."

Metamorphosis:  a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation by magic or witchcraft
"In the novel, 'The Scarlett Letter', the main character was accused if metamorphosis behavior."

Raconteur: a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes
"And his friends knew him as a highly entertaining mimic and raconteur."

Sine Qua Non: an indispensable condition, element, or factor; something essential 
"Her presence was the sine qua non of every social event."

Quixotic: extravagantly chivalrous or romantic
"In sappy romantic movies, the guy is the one who is quixotic."

Vendetta:  a private feud in which the members of the family of a murdered person seek to avenge the murder by killing the slayer or one of the slayer's relatives
"Beowulf."

Non Sequitur: an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises
"Once again you're making a non sequitur interjection."

Mystique: an aura of mystery or mystical power surrounding a particular occupation
"Legends and myths are of a mystique manner when it comes to the actual story itself." 

Quagmire: a situation is which things are extremely difficult
"In the show 'Man v.s. Wild' the man gets himself into quagmire situations." 

Parlous: someone who is cleverly dangerous
"Many villains in super hero movies are parlous when it comes to taking damsels in distress."

WHY THIS BOOK?

I chose "The Choice" by Nicholas sparks because I am a sucker for sapy romantics. Not only this but when reading this book, I think it's neat to see how the attraction between two so in love people can change in an instant. I find it fascinating that you can love someone and be apart for years and reunite with those same feelings. I like to observe, in this book you can see how different situations affect your decisions in the future and how this made the main characters grow.

Vocabulary #2

Accouterments: personal clothing or accessories of a soldier
"Each soldiers accounted memos were kept in personalized bags."

Apogee: the highest or most distant point, climax
"In the novel, The Notebook, the apogee is reached when Ali and Noah finally rekindle."

Apropos: at the right time, to the purpose
"Suddenly my quote seems apropos."

Bicker: to engage in a petulant argument
"Married couples tend to bicker more as the years go by."

Coalesce: to unite or come together as one community
"What we now know as the 'Amber Alert', causes a coalesce through out the community"

Contretemps: an inconvenient occurrence
"In most cases first dates attract contretemps that embarrass one of the two people."

Convolution: a rolled up or coiled condition
"A chance cannot be fulfilled in a convoluted mind state."

Dogmatic: to select or pick
"It was hard for the couple to cull what was best in their situation."

Disparate: distinct in kind or essentially different
"Different minds produce disparate ideas."

Dogmatic: asserting opinions in an arrogant manner
"Many civilians are dogmatic when it comes to our presidential election."

Licentious: unrestrained by law, lawless
"There are many who believe in a licentious country."

Mete: to distribute by measure
"When serving a snack in a classroom, you must mete the snack evenly."

Noxious: injurious to health or physical well being
"Fast food is noxious to our human bodies and can cause many diseases."

Polemic: a controversial argument between people
"In a courtroom, there are polemic opinion as to who is guilty for the crime committed."

Populous: heavily populated or inhibited
" the United States is the largest populous country around the world."

Probity: Uprightness or honesty
"Between friends there must be a probity level so each trust each other."

Repartee: a quick witty reply
"In awkward situations, there is always one person who make a repartee to lighten the mood."

Supervene: to take place or occur as something additional
" in many novels, there is always a supervene problem that takes place during the climax."

Truncate: to shorten by cutting off, cut short
"In arguments between child and parents, the child often tried to shorten the argument by being trim can't toward their parents word."

Unimpeachable: having the ability to be above suspicion
"Some criminals are hard to track down due to their unimpeachable acts."

Beowulf Comprehension Questions

Beowulf Questions:

Prologue: The Rise of the Danish Nation:

• The way Shield became ruler of the Danes was unusual because he was an orphan. Although he came from rags, his funeral was one to be admired. It was on a ship at sea with his most loved companions and filled with treasures. Shield is Hrothgar's grandfather. 

Heorot is Attacked:

• The magnificent work that Hrothgar undertook was the construction of the spectacular mead hall, Herot. The monster Grendel attacked Herot, killing thirty warriors; unable to fend for themselves. The attacks lasted twelve years. The Danes did nothing and continued to suffer.

The Hero Comes to Heorot:

• When Beowulf hears of Hrothgar's problems with Grendel, he sails out with 14 of his bravest warriors to Herot.

• When the Geats arrive in Denmark they first meet a Danish watcher. The watchman asks what business they have in this specific area. Beowulf explains their intentions are not to harm the Danes, but to bring peace by slaying Grendel.

• The name of Hrothgar's herald is Wulgar, a messenger. He asks the Geats their business, impressed with their appearances and manners, relays the message to Hrothgar who realizes he had known Beowulf prior to this meeting. I am not surprised Hrothgar knew Beowulf so well because he was well-known across many people for his bravery and nobility.

• When Beowulf enters, he tells Hrothgar that he is ready to fight and kill Grendel to protect the kingdom. Hrothgar settled the dispute Beowulf started with the Wulfing’s by paying with old treasure.

Feast at Heorot:

• Unferth accuses Beowulf of being too proud, and that Beowulf cannot handle battling against Grendel. Beowulf replied back by describing his perspective of the story Unferth told. He also told about how he killed the sea beast that pulled him down to the bottom of the sea. This episode is relevant to the poem as a whole because the whole poem is about Beowulf battling in different situations. Beowulf accuse Unferth of not participating in any battle.

• During the feast, Queen Wealhtheow attended to everyone in the banquet hall and welcomed the Geats.

The Fight with Grendel:

• Beowulf prepares for his fight with Grendel by disarming himself which is different because heroes are usually described to have prepared themselves to fight by arming themselves.

• When Grendel enters Heorot, Beowulf watches Grendel attack the vulnerable. Beowulf fights Grendel by gripping Grendel’s hand first. When Grendel tries to leave, Beowulf’s men tried to slash Grendel with their swords, but their swords didn’t do much. Grendel escapes to his lair, critically wounded. He left his shoulder and arm behind.

Lesther Villanueva (http://lvalenzuelarhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/) 

Celebration at Heorot:

• Like Sigemund Beowulf experiences a very strong sense of valor and love of the kill and war, yet he lack the wisdom to be a general or command because he doesn’t take the time to think a plan out

• Hrothgar responds with joy, gratitude, and generosity. He says that Beowulf is like a son to him and gives him treasure. Unferth was proven wrong in his attempts to discredit Beowulf.

• The story is about a Danes battle against Finn, who was the king of the Frisians. The poem is quite confusing, but basically it was based on the battle of Finnsburgh, which was an absolute bloodbath between the Frisians and the Danes. The battle came to an end when Hnaef, the Danish leader, was killed during battle. The Danes called a truce and promised to live with them separately but they would follow the same rules of equality in order in sure peace among the people. Now, the Danish princess named Hildeburh married Finn, but she was still depressed due to the death of her brother, Hnaef, and her son.  After months of hardship, the Danes revolt against the Frisians and kill Finn while his wife, Hildeburh, goes back to Denmark. The wisdom of using a bride as a way to heal enmity between tribes was to show that they were connected and must keep peace within their society. There are thousands of books, poems, and movies that show arranged marriages in order to restore peace or to connect with the other culture. Family shouldn’t attack family. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t, but they may be less inclined to attack and more inclined to make amends.  

• When the feasting resumes, Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar to not give Beowulf the throne.

Maddie Klusendorf (http://mklusendorfrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/) 

• Beowulf later gives the golden torque to Hygelac, in which he wears it on his death. Wealhtheow asked Beowulf to act as a friend to Hrethric and Hrothmund (Wealhtheow's daughters), to offer them protection from the darkness, to be a guidance, and to treat them kindly.

• So many men remained in the beer hall to sleep because the other sleeping halls were full. The men who slept in the beer hall made a mistake because Grendel's mother descended on Heorot to seek vengeance for her son’s death where Grendel's arm was located on the wall of Heorot and Aeschere (Hrothgar’s trusted adviser) was captured by her.

Another Attack:

• Grendel's mother came to Heorot to seek vengeance for her son's death. Grendel's reason to come to Heorot wasn't the same as his mother's reason because he only wanted to cause destruction. 

• Hrothgar's response to Grendel's mother killing Aeschere (Hrothgar’s trusted adviser) is for Beowulf to seek out and kill Grendel’s mother.

• The mere is a magical swampy wood  lake in which it seems endlessly deep and it is where Grendel's mother lair is located at

Beowulf fights with Grendel’s mother:

• Beowulf tells Hrothgar to respond by taking care of the Geats and returning his property to Hygelac if he dies in the battle to kill Grendel's mother

• Before Beowulf can get to the mere he and his men find the many bloodied and dead men that were killed by Grendel and his mother, including the head of Aeschere. His men and Beowulf must fight off reptiles and sea dragons that live in the mere’s water. Also he gives a speech and names Hrothgar is successor should he die, and says that Hrothgar must take all the riches to Hygelac.

• Beowulf prepares for the battle by putting on his chain mail and metal helmet and took Unferth’s sword for Hrunting.

• When Beowulf enters the lake it takes him a long time to find the Grendel cave, but the Grendel mom knew that he was in the lake and tried to attack him. However the chain mail held and the Grendel mom was thwarted, so she just pulled his body into the cave. When Beowulf gets to the cave he is attacked by sea monsters. (Some more.) What was curious about the cave is that there was no water in it, and a fire going. That makes sense….

• The sword Beowulf borrowed proves useless and the steel doesn’t pierce Grendel’s mother at all. The magical sword’s spell in broken.

• Beowulf’s “net-of-chain” or chain mail saved him from dying because it deflected Grendel’s knife. And then he notices a pile of swords and stuff in the cave and pops up and grabs and sword to fight with.

• Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother by cutting her throat with the sword of Eotens. Her blood melts the sword, so only the hilt is left. Beowulf takes Grendel’s head with him from her house.

• All of his men are gone because they didn’t believe he could kill Grendel’s mother.

Further celebration at Heorot:

• The hilt of the sword and Grendel’s head.

• Hrothgar tells Beowulf a story about a horrible king names Heremod who was banished, exiled, and eventually killed. Hrothgar tells this story to teach Beowulf not to be a bad king too.

• His sword, Hrunting.

Beowulf Returns Home:

• Hrothgar predicts Beowulf will rule his people with a bloody fist. Very forcefully that is. But also he insinuates he has earned it and Hrothgar supports him fully.

• Queen Hygd was the opposite of Modthryth. While Modthryth was a violent queen, Hygd was virtuous and kind to her people.

• Beowulf plans to marry out his daughter to a conflicting neighbor as it were to create a temporary peace at least. He expects it to be settled until prosperity can be re-established, then fighting will break out. This shows Beowulf to be a cunning and almost pessimistic leader despite his inhuman strength.

• Beowulf played off the fact he killed Grendel as if it were nothing, He reports accurately, but diplomatically enough not to seem like he was boasting of his feats.

• To appease old tradition, He gave the treasure to his leader, and in return, Hygelac gave Beowulf his "boar standard, a suit of armor, and a sword belonging to Hrothgar's brother." My personal interpretation of this is Hygelac gave Beowulf his deepest honor and loyalty.

The Dragon Wakes:

• Heardred and Hygelac both fell in the 50 years after Beowulf's conference with Hrothgar.

• The Dragon was angry that his pillaged treasure was re-pillaged by a tribe. The lone man stealing the cup to make amends with his lord led the tribe to the barrow where an ancient tribe held their considerable wealth. 

• In the first day, the dragon killed and burnt down the countryside of the Geats.

• Beowulf heard of the burnt countryside and ordered a new iron shield to be made to withstand the flames, he believes he will fight the dragon the same way he fought Grendel, but his age gave him weakness and will die.

• Hygelac died from neighboring tribe invasions, Beowulf seeks revenge on them, but declines the honor of ruling his people. When he is home he finds out how the dragon got angry and sought to find him.

• Heardred was killed by the dragon (?) and Beowulf sought revenge by blood by killing the dragon.

• Thirteen men, including one who knew the whereabouts of the barrow, accompanied him.

• Heardred gets killed by the Swedish king's men over a century old feud. As retaliation, Beowulf kills Onela, a Swedish noble responsible for his death. SO MUCH DEATH. Beowulf killed everyone who killed his kinsman. The Swedes and the Geats were in a state of feud after the kill-fest.

 Beowulf Attacks the Dragon:

• Beowulf tells his companions to wait on top of the dragon’s den, and observe the battle instead of fighting in it.

• On his first battle with the dragon, Beowulf just counters the dragon’s attacks, until Beowulf strikes the dragon, barely wounding the dragon while the dragon burns Beowulf.  All of his companions flee to a nearby forest, but one, which is his kinsman Wiglaf.  Wiglaf tells of how Beowulf helped his family as Wiglaf grew up.  Wiglaf goes down to help Beowulf, by means of encouragement and help in the battle.

• The second time Beowulf meets the dragon, Beowulf’s sword fails again, and the dragon attacks twice, the second time, fatally biting Beowulf.  Wiglaf kills the dragon with the rage left from the attack on his king.

• Beowulf asks Wiglaf to bring him the dragon’s treasure.  When Beowulf sees the gold, He thanks God for letting him die rich, and tells Wiglaf to be king.  Beowulf wants to be buried in a tall tower so that he can be remembered by everybody who sees “Beowulf’s Tower.”

Beowulf's Funeral:

• When the companions return, they see Wiglaf trying to revive Beowulf.  Wiglaf scolds the company for not standing by the great Beowulf in his last battle, and he predicts that the Geats will be terrorized by rival clans once again.

• The messenger tells the city of Beowulf’s death, and begins to predict things that will happen due to the death of their king.  Overnight, Ongentheow’s army verbally terrorized the Geats, and the next morning, Hygelac returns with a Geat army.  Ongentheow killed a man named Wulf, whose brother, Eofor, ended up killing Ongentheow to avenge his brother’s death.  The messenger tells the Geats to put the gold on Beowulf’s funeral pyre as to melt with his burning body.  The final image of the messengers’ speech is the freshly slain dragon, from Beowulf’s last stand.

• Wiglaf tell the crowd that comes to see the dragon and Beowulf? Wiglaf tells the crowd that it is bad to sacrifice yourself on your own will, and warns that doing this will hurt many.

• The dragon is left alone, but its hoard is taken by the Geats to use in Beowulf’s funeral pyre.

• While Beowulf and all of the treasure from the burrow burn on the pyre, a woman sings a song about the fall of the Geats, and the Geats build a tower over Beowulf’s pyre over the next ten days.

• “Said he was kindest of kings under heaven,

Gentlest of men, most winning of manner,

Friendliest to folk-troops and fondest of honor.”

In these lines, the Geats talk of Beowulf’s kindness, friendliness and gentleness.  These are odd words to describe military heroes, at least by today’s standards, because today, military men are portrayed as manly men who do not show much emotion, just stoically save people

For this assignment, a group of us collaborated on Facebook from various periods. Jake Hoffman started the post and I thought it was an excellent idea because we could work and complete the assignment together. It was really helpful since I was able to see various people's different points of views, which allowed me to better understand Beowulf while I was reading it.