Thinking Outside the Box

The Allegory of the Cave and No Exit are both complex pieces of work that analyze the power of the mind and the intent of the mind. It also takes a deeper look at how are minds work and how much control we really have over our mind. It seems that Plato and Sartre have differing views on the limitations the mind has. Plato said that the things holding them back were new environments and things that limited the potential people's mind truly have. Sartre felt that the biggest thing holding back the power of mans' mind was their deep dark desires. The first thing they thought of was their need to satisfy their desire and not to pursue things of greater meaning.

Plato had a solution that you need a person who was a strong will and desire to break the chains holding them back, and then, and only then would they be enlightened and see the light. Sartre's solution was somewhat similar to Plato's in that you would need a strong will, but he says that if people could just accept that their desires are never going to be fulfilled then they can stop trying to achieve their desires and focus and be enlightened. A common theme here is to have a strong will. Having a strong will, will usually help you focus push past your limitations in almost any situation.
           

Literary Analysis: 1984 by George Orwell

1. 1984 is a about a man named Winston Smith living in a country with a dictatorship type government known as the Party. Extreme measures are taken so that nobody will rebel against the Party. Winston cannot stand The Party. He keeps a diary to write in so he doesn't have to voice his opinions aloud. Love is against the law and one day he receives a letter from a woman named Julia saying I love you. At first he thinks that it is a trick, but she is really telling the truth and the two end up having an affair together.  They continue to have their affair and eventually Winston hears about a group known as The Brotherhood, who are trying to undermine The Party. They meet with the leader, O'Brien and they end up joining the group. They end up being arrested by the Ministry of Love and Winston is tortured. He is taught to love The Party and give up his rebellious ways and to not love Julia.
2. 1984 has a pretty straightforward theme. It is has to do with the idea of censorship. The government cannot control everybody at every time. Their trying to control everything will only cause people to want to rebel. This theme can even apply today. There are still governments around the world trying to censor the information that their people are seeing. You would think that the governments would learn by  now that this is not the answer.
3.    The author’s tone throughout the novel is paranoid, dark, and frustration.
·         “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.” I think this shows the dark tone of George Orwell. It tells of a scary and dark future.
·         “If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.” This quote shows the paranoid tone of George Orwell. It is saying how The Party will find out your secrets if you aren’t careful.
·         “Big Brother is Watching You.” This quote in itself explains the paranoid tone of George Orwell.
4.       ·         One of the biggest literary techniques used by George Orwell was the point of view. The story was told from the point of view of Winston Smith. This had a huge impact on the tone throughout the novel and that it is obvious why.  Winston was often paranoid that he will be found out and that has gives the novel a paranoid tone.
·         George Orwell also uses a little foreshadowing. These give the novel a dark and eerie feel to it. For example the St. Clements Church theme song is, “Here comes a chopper to chop off your head.” That is creepy and most certainly dark.
·         Suspense is a technique used by George Orwell to set the mood and setting. The constant thought of Winston and Julia getting caught or not keeps the reader in suspense, therefore, creates a feeling of uncertainty.
·         The use of symbolism is a way for George Orwell to give The Party a face. The posters of Big Brother and monitors are symbols that let the citizens know that The Party is watching them.
·         George Orwell uses both direct and indirect characterizations in his novel. Direct characterization is used to describe the character’s physical appearance and their jobs. For example it says Winston works in the Ministry of Truth and that Julia is a dark haired woman. Indirect characterization is used to find out the character’s personality and motives. For example Winston writing in his diary shows he harbors some rebellious thoughts against The Party and that shows he is rebellious himself. Julia is shown to be optimistic when she believes that her affair with Winston will never be found out.

Allegory of the Cave Sonnet

To be trapped in a cave
Shackled and chained never to be free
Only the brave can set themselves to freedom
They must open their mind
And let the light in
Awaken from the shadows
His imagination roams free
He who leaves the cave
Must come back and set the others free
We must stand together
Join hands in creating a new world
And discover things out of the ordinary
Leaving the cave isn't a mistake
But a challenge we must accept for everyone's sake

Allegory of the Cave

1.     The allegory of the cave represents the different outcomes of how people perceive certain dilehmas and situations and how they tell the difference between truth and fiction.
2.     A key image used in the allegory was the imagery of shadows which represented reality in multiple ways.
3.     The allegory suggests that the process of enlightenment or education requires to erase your past experiences of what you once believed and to have to change and through the significant change you will become a more enlightened and educated self being.
4.     The shackles in the allegory represent the restraint and power imposed on the humans by a source that controls them and posing ignorance into the minds of the prisoners and the cave represents the prison and unfitted home of the prisoners where they live their lives of ignorance in which they cannot be freed from.
5.     In times today there are many shackles to the mind that may not seem like it at first. But all distractions and some rules can almost prohibit us from using our minds in was way that we had originally wanted to. Instead our minds are being controlled to do something that they originally had no intent on doing.
6.     The cave prisoners are ignorant toward the life outside of the cave because they have not known anything else their whole lives. But the freed prisoners have seen the light and the new and improved way of living and pity the cave prisoners for not being able to have them see for themselves the lives outside of the cave.
7.     With knowledge and understanding represented by light kept in mind there are two distinct ways that lack of clarity can occur. This can be through one never having the opportunity to experience the light on the other side and the other is one being cowardly, ignorant and/or stupid toward the light at the end of the tunnel.
8.     According to the allegory cave prisoners are freed through help. As if a friend was showing another the life away from drugs and gangs and into a community of knowledge and better life.
9.     Yes in that I completely agree that there could be a possible distinction between what seems real and what actually is. The mind is a powerful thing and it is so powerful that it can alter reality without the person even knowing that is happening. This can usually be seen through strong emotional conflicts that the mind can trick the person into thinking that something isn’t real when in actuality it is 100 percent real.
10. I have no idea what the answer is.

Literary Analysis- All the Pretty Horses

General
1. The story is about a man named John Grady and his friend Rawlins. They decide that they're done with their lives now and want to become cowboys. To fit the country theme, they decide to go to Mexico. They eventually meet a boy named Belvins. Belvins gets separated from Rawlins and John and gets his horse and gun stolen from him. They try to find him, but after searching they conclude that they can not find him. They eventually come to a ranch and start to work there. John Grady seems to have a great affinity to horses and life as a cowboy. He starts to fall in love with the rancher's daughter, Alejandra. He is warned by Alejandra's great aunt to not have an affair with her, but he does not heed her warning. Alejandra's father soon finds out about the affair and turn John and Rawlins over to the police. When they get to the police station, they are convicted with being in league with Belvins, who has committed murder. Belvins is eventually executed and Rawlins gives a false confession. They  have assassins sent after them, but survive. Alejandra bribes one of the guards to let Rawlins and John go. John tries to get Alejandra to go with him back to Texas, but she says no, saying that she must stay with her family.
2. The theme of the book is that there is a loss of innocence.
3. The authors tone is that of one being omniscient. He seems indifferent to what is going on in the story.
4.Ambiguity- never sure of what was going to happen next with their criminal life.
Assumption- John Grady assumed that life would be easy as a cowboy... he was wrong.
Climax- When Rawlins and John Grady are attacked by the assassins, then released from prison.
Conflict- John  Grady battles his issues with his friend and with his love for Alejandra.
Dogmatic- Alejandra refuses to leave her family for John Grady.
Falling Action- John Grady gets back his horses and returns to Texas.
Omniscient Point of View- Narrator is all knowing.
Pacing- Story moves along quick.
Pathos- The author caters to the readers feeling by including a love story.
Purpose- to show the readers that trying to be an adult as a teenager is difficult.
Characterization
1. No, the tone and diction all stay the same as the story goes on. The tone of the novel also helps to depict that each character is described in the same way.
2.  The protagonist, John Grady, is a static, flat character. His views on life don't really seem to change by the end of the story. He doesn't seem to learn anything from his adventures in Mexico.
3. I felt like I had met a person. When I read a story, I usually feel like I have met a person, especially when the author does a great job at writing the story. Cormac McCarthy is a favorite author of mine, I always enjoy reading his books. I feel like I know John Grady, but I don't feel like I fully understand him.

Sonnet 138

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O0T1BESWW0&feature=plcp

Sonnet Analysis Part 1

This sonnet is one of Shakespeare's most famous sonnets. Its main theme is about truth and flatter in romantic relationships. The sonnet makes age and its effect it can have on a relationship. (Got this info from Wikipedia.)

The Big Question

Why is that some people are blessed with more physical and academic talent than others, when it should be based off of hard work? (Not talking about the whole genetics thing)

Vocab #11

Affinity- relationship by marriage
Humans have an affinity for oxygen.
Bilious- of or indicative of a peevish ill nature disposition
Santa Claus is the opposite of a bilious person.
Cognate- of the same nature
There are cognates in Spanish for English.
Corollary- A proposition inferred immediately from a proved proposition with little or no additional proof
A corollary of the mature minor doctrine is the requirement for confidentiality.
Cul-de-sac - a pouch
I live on a cul-de-sac.
Derring-do- a daring action
Jumping off a cliff into the water was a derring-do.
Divination- The art or practice that seeks to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge due to the interpretation of omens
Divination was a course at Hogwarts.
Elixir- A substance capable of prolonging life indefinitely
I wish I had an elixir to live forever.
Folderol- a useless accessory
Many people have folderols and luxuries and are ungreatful and should think about others who are less fortunate.
Gamut- an entire range or series
This is just a basic sentence structure. Once you are familiar with the way gamut interacts with the language, you can experiment with nonstandard forms.
Hoi polloi- the General populace
The hoi polloi chose Obama to be president.
Ineffable- incapable of being expressed in words
I become ineffable around my crush.
Lucubration- to study by night
Many students practice the art of lucubration.
Mnemonic- intended to assist memory
Many use different mnemonic devices to help them remember things.
Obloquy- abusive language
I use obluquys sometimes and I feel bad.
Parameter- an independent variable used to express the coordinates of variable point and functions of them
Finding the parameter can be difficult.
Pundit- a learned man
I am a pundit.
Risible- provoking laughter
I have a risible character and light up a room.
Symptomatic- having the characteristics of a certain disease but arising of a different cause
I was symptomatic of the flu but really I just had food poisoning.
Volte-face- a reversal in policy
There was a volte-face in policy and the ruling was overturned.

Sonnet

I want to study Sonnet 138 by Shakespeare

AP Hamlet PLN

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy1el_IhXo4
I thought this was a pretty creative way to show what he's learned. I thought it was an interesting way to learn. Many people find it easier to remember things if they have it memorized in a song.

2. http://apbridges.blogspot.com/
I think this a log very similar to Dr. Preston's. It seemed pretty advanced and had many topics covered that we had as well. It could use a little work, but it's nice to see other classes using open source learning.

3. http://deborahharris.edublogs.org/2010/04/16/ap-hamlet-essay-directions/
Seems like a lot of traffic has been going through this blog. About 80,000 views, and they're getting them from all around the world. Interesting to see.

4. http://quizlet.com/subject/english-ap-hamlet/
Good source if you don't know what some of the words mean. It comes from different people, I think students.

5 .http://apenglangghs2014.blogspot.com/2012/10/hamlet-soliloquy-12-analysis-and.html
I thought this blog did a very good job of analyzing one of Hamlet's soliloquies. It actually provided me with some new information that I had not known previously.

Vocab #10

Aficionado - noun a serious devotee of some particular music genre or musical performer; a fan of bull fighting
Browbeat - verb discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate; be bossy towards
Commensurate - adj. corresponding in size or degree or extent
Diaphanous - adj. so thin as to transmit light
Emolument - noun compensation received by virtue of holding an office or having employment (usually in the form of wages or fees)
Foray - noun an initial attempt (especially outside your usual areas of competence); a sudden short attack; verb briefly enter enemy territory; steal goods; take as spoils
Genre - noun a class of art (or artistic endeavor) having a characteristic form or technique; a kind of literary or artistic work; an expressive style of music; a style of expressing yourself in writing
Homily - noun a sermon on a moral or religious topic
Immure - verb lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
Insouciant - adj. marked by blithe unconcern
Matrix - noun mold used in the production of phonograph records, type, or other relief surface; the formative tissue at the base of a nail; the body substance in which tissue cells are embedded; a rectangular array of elements (or entries) set out by rows and columns; an enclosure within which something originates or develops (from the Latin for womb)
Obsequies - noun a funeral rite or ceremony
Panache - noun a feathered plume on a helmet; distinctive and stylish elegance
Persona - noun (Jungian psychology) a personal facade that one presents to the world; an actor's portrayal of someone in a play
Philippic - noun a speech of violent denunciation
Prurient - adj. characterized by lust
Sacrosanct - adj. must be kept sacred
Systemic - adj. affecting an entire system
Tendentious - adj. having or marked by a strong tendency especially a controversial one
Vicissitude - noun mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another); a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something

Literary Analysis #2: Fahrenheit 451

General
1. Fahrenheit 451 is a book about a man named Guy Montag and is set in a future American society. Guy is a firefighter who's job is, ironically, to start fires rather than put them out. He is supposed to set fire to any house that may have books in it. He lives a rather empty life. He is married to a woman he soon realizes that he has no love for and she feels the same. She even tries to kill herself. Then one day a girl named Clarisse starts to talk to him and makes him question his life and how he is living. He is called to start a fire, but while at the house he reads from one of the books and he decides to take it with him. He remembers a man that he had met in the park named Faber and meets with him to discuss the book. He becomes enthralled with books, but he is betrayed by Mildred and a mechanical hound is set on him, but he gets away and lives with a group that shares his love of books.
2. I feel that the theme of Fahrenheit 451 is that knowledge is power. It shows that knowledge and and education through books is a vital tool to society. Books can bring immense pleasure and we as people can learn so much from them. It shows that people have a right as a person in society to learn and not to be happy with their ignorance.
3. The tone has a certain intensity to it. All the characters are extreme and are on the edge of being realistic. The events are usually blown out of proportion and apocalyptic. The author is very descriptive and uses vivid descriptions. Big events usually happen on the biggest scales.
4. Imagery- Somewhat going along with analysis, Bradbury was always very descriptive and used very vivid words to describe.
Contrast- The author contrasts the personalities of Guy and Mildred
Foreshadowing- Mildred's attitude is when Guy shows her the book is a foreshadowing of things to come
Motif- The idea that knowledge is important shows up a lot.

Symbolism- There are many things that are used to symbolize insects

Irony- Mildred is looking for the book and keeps adjusting Guy's pillow and it's under there. 

Metaphor- Many things, such as Mildred's earpiece, are compared to insects. 

Characterization.
1. "I'm antisocial, they say." Clarisse says this and shows her outgoing, unorthodox, but cheerful side.
"We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal." This is Captain Beatty telling us about the motive behind the government making everyone illiterate and ignorant, as to not offend the naturally inept people to be exposed to the naturally bright individuals. This characterizes the motives of nearly every character.

2. Not really. It only changes when a character is interacting with different characters. The characters act differently around different characters which causes the syntax and diction to change.

3. Guy is a dynamic character. He starts off the book burning houses and being totally submissive and ok with world he is living in. His encounter with Clarisse changes all that and questions who he is and who he wants to be. He eventually ends up changing who he is and challenging himself to be a better person.
He is probably a round character. Guy has many different qualities that distinguish himself.

4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character?  Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
Yes I did. Guy was the only character like I felt could be a real person though. All the other characters were missing something that could make them truly believable. Him being a dynamic and round character helped give the impression that I had indeed met an actual person.

Technology Use and How It Affects Thinking

Extensive Internet/media/technology use has definitely changed the way I think. I'm always looking for the quick answer. And usually it's just a couple of clicks away. It's probably deteriorated most of the things listed in the question. Focusing in general has gone down, it also changes my priorities because this technology is right at my fingertips. And why not take advantage of that technology if it's right in front of me? I feel like formal learning and open source learning have their pros and cons just like most things do. Before answers didn't come so easy, people probably had better focus, better social skills, had a better sense of their priorities, etc. But open source learning has given us the chance to collaborate with people all around with world. This is huge in the sense that we can different ideas, opinions, etc that we may have never encountered. The world is indeed a small world now. Technology has taken over our lives and it will be interesting to see where it takes us. 

Notes on Hamlet

Hamlet is a lot smarter than people give him credit for. But he is still blinded by his wanting to get revenge on his uncle. From what I had heard before the play I really thought he was crazy, but it turns out to be all an act. I have come to the conclusion that he is the smartest character in the play from this. He plans to use his faked madness to help get his revenge. I doubt that he really is crazy, seeing that two other characters have also seen his father's ghost. I used to think that Hamlet was a wimp, but he is now showing resolve. I truly believe that he will carry out his revenge and take Claudius' life. I expect the plot to thicken in the next act. I truly believe trouble will come from his fake madness and more people will end up dead. Such is the nature of tragedies.

Vocabulary List 9

Abortive: failing to produce the intended result
Bruit: spread a report or rumor widely
Contumelious: scornful and insulting behavior
Dictum: a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source; a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle
Ensconce: establish or settle
Iconoclastic: characterized by attack on established beliefs or institutions
In medias res: a narrative that begins somewhere in the middle of a story rather than the beginning
Internecine: destructive to both sides in a conflict
Maladroit: ineffective or bungling; clumsy
Maudlin: self-pitying or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness
Modulate: exert a modifying or controlling influence on
Portentous: of or like a portent; done in a pompously or overly solemn manner
Prescience: the power to foresee the future
Quid pro quo: a favor or advantage granted in return for something
Salubrious: health-giving, healthy; pleasant, not run-down
Saturnalia: the ancient Roman festival of Saturn in December; an occasion of wild revelry
Touchstone: a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized
Traumatic: emotionally disturbing or distressing; relating to or causing psychological trauma
Vitiate: spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of; destroy or impair the legal validity of.
Waggish: humorous in a playful, mischievous, or facetious manner

Who was Shakespeare?

Usually Shakespeare strikes fear into the heart of students. The dread of reading old English and in iambic pentameter is a daunting task is a feeling that most students share. We haven't learned much about who Shakespeare really is. All I know is that he is an English poet who has written many famous plays. So I checked on wikipedia who really is and this what I came up with. He is an English poet and playwright who has written 38 plays, 154 sonnets and a couple of narratives. He married Anne Hathaway at age 18 and three children. He then began a successful career in London, but died at age 52. His writing is finally starting to become a little bit easier to read. I haven't learned that much about Shakespeare, rather the plays that he has written.

To Facebook or Not to Facebook

Facebook to me isn't that bad of a thing. Probably cause nothing bad has directly affected me. The only thing that is bad about it is that it is addictive. Some of the benefits of it can be that you can stay connected with friends not just in America, but abroad as well. It allows you to keep those connections. Some bad things may be that they sell your information and also that it can be addictive and take away from doing other things.

Vocabulary List #8

Abeyance-(N.) A state of temporary disuse or suspension.
Ambivalent- (Adj.) Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
Beleaguer- (V.) Beset with difficulties
Carte blanche- (N.) Complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best.
Cataclysm- (N.) A sudden violent upheaval, esp. in a political or social context
Debauch- (V.) Destroy or debase the moral purity of; corrupt.
(N.) A bout of excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, esp. eating and drinking
éclat- (N.) brilliant or conspicuous success
Fastidious- (Adj.) Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail
Gambol- (V.) Run or jump about playfully
Imbue- (V.) Inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality: "imbued with deep piety".
Inchoate- (Adj.) Just begun and so not fully formed or developed
Lampoon- (V.) Publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule or sarcasm.
(N.) A speech or text criticizing someone or something in this way
Malleable- (Adj.) Easily influenced; pliable
Nemesis- (N.) The inescapable or implacable agent of someone's or something's downfall
Opt- (V.) Make a choice from a range of
possibilities
Philistine- (N.) A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them
Picaresque- (Adj.) Of or relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero
Queasy- (Adj.) Nauseated; feeling sick
Refractory- (Adj.) Stubborn or unmanageable
Savoir-faire- (N.) The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.
(thanks Dulce)

Hamlet can cause people, including myself, to have ambivalent ideas what about Shakespeare is trying to say. Hamlet will beleaguer you , but you must persevere. Hamlet's father's revelation is sure to cause a cataclysm soon enough. Claudius debauched his sense of family ties when he decided to kill King Hamlet. I'm sure he considers the coup an eclat. Hamlet seems fastidious and does not see inchoate in his thinking. He considers Claudius to be his nemesis and a philistine. He will use savoir-faire and act like he doesn't know that Claudius killed his father while he plans his revenge. The knowledge of his father's murderer has imbued him with motivation to take revenge. He will opt for the approach to act insane or mad. His plan is inchoate and not fully formed yet. It is gamboling around in his mind. He felt queasy and dismayed during his first soliloquy. Hamlet is not a picaresque character, but is quite the opposite. His sanity will be put in a state of abeyance and he will act as if he had no sanity. Although acting insane he will have carte blanche and only two will know of it. You could tell by Claudius' lampoon that he was trying to embarrass Hamlet. Claudius seems like a character who is malleable and untrustworthy. I think Hamlet will be refractory in his revenge and stop no matter what the cost. 

Vocabulary Midterm Reflection

a) I thought that everything went well. I felt that I knew all of the words except for 3 or 4.
b) Everything went well except for not knowing 3 or 4 words.
c) I'm not sure. I've now studied the words twice, so that makes me feel like that it will stick with me for quite some time.
d) Studying flashcards is a good technique for me. I just need to study for just a tad longer to make sure I can answer all of the questions and not miss those 3 or 4 questions.

Dear Ophelia

Dear Ophelia,
          I empathize with you, but I fear that your brother and father are right. You must stop being cantankerous and listen to them. Things that Hamlet has done, or rather the lack of things Hamlet has done, should be a harbinger for you to stay away from him. Hamlet is a lackluster character anyways. Although what he says may be mellifluous, he is being deceitful. I beg you not to be obsequious and try to be in his favor. Your future does not bode well with me, if you continues the way you are. He may try to inveigle you to come back to him when you show no interest, but you must remain strong. You must dissimulate yourself. Try not to be too lugubrious with this letter, but I think this is the most beneficial thing for you.

Midterm Review/ Study Strategy

All I will really need to for this midterm is to make flashcards for the lists I haven't made flashcards for, and then study those flashcards until I know all the words. There's no need to study with another student  although studying with one or two may be beneficial. I'm usually pretty good with memorizing things and we have memorized them previously, so it should not be that difficult.

Pre-Will

a) I know virtually nothing about Hamlet, the "Melancholy Dane". I know a couple of quotes, but that's pretty much it.

b) I know that Shakespeare writes in iambic pentameter and that he's an English poet and playwright.

c) Shakespeare writes in a way that can be very difficult to understand or is just something that bores them.

d) Have an open mind and try not to think like a normal high school student and try to actually listen and learn to what Shakespeare is saying.

Literary Analysis- Characterization

1. Direct Characterization-

• "The Director of Companies was our captain and our host"
• "He resembled a pilot, which to seaman is trustworthiness personified"

 Indirect Characterization-

• "Between us there was, as I have already said somewhere, the bond of the sea."
• "'And this also,' said Marlow suddenly, ' has been one of the dark places of the earth."

The author most likely uses both approaches so to not sound repetitive. It's a good way to describe people without just describing them as having blonde hair, and blue eyes, but to have a roundabout way to describe that person. 

2. The author does not seem to make any distinction in his syntax and diction when he focuses on the character.

3. Charles Marlow is both dynamic and a round character. He changes throughout the course of the book. His meeting with Kurtz and his whole journey through the Congo changes him forever. He is also a round character, because we meet him as a character with a full set of qualities and characteristics, he is a round character.

4. I'm not sure how to use a textual reference to show how I feel, but in most books I feel like I come away feeling like I had met the person. Charles Marlow is described pretty well and I feel like I really know who he is. It is fairly easy for me to establish connections with characters.

Vocabulary List #7

Aberration - (noun)the act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course.
~My thoughts were all in order until an aberration disturbed my train of thought.
Ad hoc- (adverb) for the special purpose or end presently under consideration
~We met ad hoc to put an end to the matter at hand.
Bane - (noun) something causes misery or death
~Jumping in cold water is my bane.
Bathos - (noun) triteness or triviality of style; a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one; insincere pathos
~Expecting the movie to be intellectually stimulating, we were disappointed by its bathos.
Cantankerous - (adj.) having a difficult and contrary disposition; stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
~The cantankerous, old man would not stop complaining about his aching hip.
Casuistry - (noun) moral philosophy based on the application of general ethical principles to resolve moral dilemmas; argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading
~Casuistry is a way of life, that a lot of people live by.
De facto - (noun) in fact; in reality
~De facto Asians are not really that much smarter than other races.
Depredation - (noun) an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding; (usually plural) a destructive action
~The depredation of the village left it in ruin.
Empathy - (noun) understanding and entering into another's feelings
~I tried to empathize what my friend must have felt when his mother died.
Harbinger - (noun) an indication of the approach of something or someone; verb foreshadow or presage
~The echoing of the man's footsteps was the harbinger that someone was approaching.
Hedonism - (noun) an ethical system that evaluates the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good; the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle
~Hedonism is a widely followed principal, because everyone wants to experience pleasure.
Lackluster - (adj.) lacking luster or shine; lacking brilliance or vitality
~The dancer's performance was lackluster and lacked pizzazz.
Malcontent - (adj.) discontented as toward authority; noun a person who is discontented or disgusted
~He was malcontent, in that he had just lost a winnable game.
Mellifluous - (adj.) pleasing to the ear
~The singing of a mockingbird is mellifluous.
Nepotism - (noun) favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs)
~The uncle showed some nepotism, when he chose his niece for the job, even though the other candidate was more deserving.
Pander - (noun) someone who procures customers for whores ; verb arrange for sexual partners for others; yield (to); give satisfaction to
~The pander was very helpful in procuring a whore for the man to have sexual relations with.
Peccadillo - (noun) a petty misdeed
~The peccadillo the nine year old did was childish and immature.
Piece de resistance - (noun) the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction.
~The Mona Lisa is the piece de resistance of all paintings.
Remand - (noun) the act of sending an accused person back into custody to await trial (or the continuation of the trial); verb refer (a matter or legal case) to another committee or authority or court for decision; lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
~The prosecutor demanded for the remand of the convict and to not let the convict post bail.
Syndrome - (noun) a complex of concurrent things; a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease
~My little cousin, unfortunately has Down Syndrome.

Literary Analysis-Heart of Darkness

1. The plot is about an Englishman named Charles Marlow. He and his crew are on a river in Africa for trading purposes. He is supposed to be taking ivory down the river, but his real job is to take a man named Kurtz, back to civilization. Along the way, essentially, Marlow sees the evils of how Europe is trying to colonize the African countries.  He sees how the African people are brutally mistreated and makes him wonder about the darkness in every human for being able to do such terrible things.

2. The theme of the Heart of Darkness is the evil of colonization. The novel is big on this theme. It show time and time again the evils of colonization, not just to the native African's, but also to some of the whites that live there as well.

3. The author's tone is very cynical.

•  “And this also,’ said Marlow suddenly, ‘has been one of the dark places of the earth.’”
• “It was unearthly, and the men were—No, they were not inhuman. Well, you know, that was the worst of it—the suspicion of their not being inhuman. It would come slowly to one. They howled and leaped, and spun, and made horrid faces"
• “It was reckless without hardihood, greedy without audacity, and cruel without courage.”

4. The syntax, foreshadowing, tone, and diction help make this book much easier to understand. The diction and syntax is not that hard to understand. Joseph Conrad uses mildly difficult syntax, but it is nothing that I can't understand, it is the meaning behind what he is trying to say that makes this book a little bit confusing. Joseph Conrad also uses foreshadowing in the book. When Marlow tells stories of England, it shows the type of characters that we are going to meet later in the story, for example he foreshadows the meeting with Kurtz. It's easy to detect foreshadowing because the story is told from a looking back standpoint. The tone is very cynical and dark. The message is dark because the books wants to show the evils of colonization. 

Beatitude- Supreme blessedness

- We consider it to be a beatitude to our family that our grandmother survived the cancer scare. 

Bete noire- a detested person (disliked or avoided)

- The Joker, from Batman, is a bete noire.

Bode- Be an omen of a particular outcome

- It does not bode well with me that our best player is out sick. 

Dank- Disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold

- The basement was dank and it sent a tingle down my spine.

Ecumenical- universal

-Treat others how you want to be treated is an ecumenical rule of thumb. 

Fervid- Intensely enthusiastic or passionate

- I am fervid about water polo.

Fetid- Smelling extremely unpleasant

-Fetid skin is extremely nauseating.

Gargantuan- of great mass

-Godzilla is gargantuan.

Heyday- The period of a person's or thing's greatest success or popularity

-My preteen years has the been the heyday of my lifetime.

Incubus- A cause of distress or anxiety like a nightmare

-Paranormal Activity is an incubus for me.

Infrastructure- The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation

-The U.S infrastructure is lacking.

Inveigle- Persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery

-The student tried to inveigle his teacher to raise his grade by the end of the grading period.

Kudos- Praise and honor received for an achievement

-I gave my sister kudos for graduating college.

Lagniappe- Something given as a bonus or extra gift

-I gave the man lagniappe for working extra hard.

Prolix- Using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy

-The student's essay was very prolix and almost impossible to understand. 

Protege- a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's 

career

-The piano protege was the most amazing kid I have ever seen someone under the age of ten.

Prototype- A first or preliminary model of something, esp. a machine, from which other forms are 

developed or copied

-The prototype to the robot was a complete failure and made the inventors come up with a whole new blueprint for it.

Sycophant- A person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer 

-Sycophants are in every classroom and annoy the hell out of me.

Tautology- The saying of the same thing twice in different words

-Tautology is something that is puzzling to me.

Truckle- Submit or behave obsequiously

- The slave truckled before his master and bowed. 

Notes for Pages 64-82

Notes:
Epic: noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of greatachievements or events is narrated in elevated style

Gilgamesh

• Gilgamesh is 4000 years old
• Gilgamesh built a home for all the major gods
• He is said to be a third man and two thirds god. 
• The story takes place in Uruk
• Uruk was an ancient city of Sumer, and was also situated east of the present bed of the Euphrates river
• Gilgamesh, as the king of Uruk, pretty does whatever he wants to do without restriction
• Anu is the Father of the Gods
•  Ishtar is the Goddess of Love
• Gilgamesh's father is Lugalbanda 
• Mother is Lady Wildcow Ninsun
• Gilgamesh is the vanguard and rear guard of the army 

The Iliad:

• The Iliad is 3000 years old
• Zeus is Athena's father and she was born by coming from his brow. 
• Hector was the commander of the Trojan army
• Achilles and his army had beaten back Hektor and the Trojan army 
• Hektor was scared at first, and ran around the city three times 
• But finally conquered his fear and challenged Achilles to fight
• Athena disguised herself as a Trojan soldier and lead Hektor to Achilles 
• Achilles had said that there were to be no oaths between enemies
• Achilles is fighting because he wants to avenge all the people that Hektor had killed
• Athena helps Achilles by pretending to be a Trojan warrior that is supposed to be helping Hektor, but secretly gives aid to Achilles
• Hektor knew he was going to die, but he wanted to go down fighting and to be remembered for years to come
• Hektor wanted a swift death, and Achilles knew the weakness in the armor that Hektor was wearing and stabbed him in the neck 
• Achilles has a vendetta against Hektor because Hektor had killed his friend, Patroklos 
• After Achilles stabs Hektor in the neck he wants to leave him out and be eaten, but Hektor begs to be cremated and promises treasure
• Achilles refuses and shows Hektor no mercy. 
• Hektor uses his final breath to curse Achilles saying the gods weren't on his side, but Achilles knew that the gods and fate were in his favor. 

Acumen - (noun) a tapering point; shrewdness shown by keen insight

-The man won the debate with an acumen that the other man could not counter.
Adjudicate - (verb) bring to an end; settle conclusively; put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of
-My mother adjudicated the argument between my sister and I.
Anachronism - (noun) an artifact that belongs to another time; a person who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age; something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred
-A spear today is an example of an anachronism.
Apocryphal - (adj.) being of questionable authenticity; of or belonging to the Apocrypha
-The apocryphal signature was questioned by the principal.
Disparity - (noun) inequality or difference in some respect
-I'm treated with disparity when it comes between my sister and I.
Dissimulate - (verb) hide (feelings) from other people
-I dissimulate my feelings so I don't show any weaknesses.
Empirical - (adj.) derived from experiment and observation rather than theory; relying on medical quackery
-The empirical result was shocking because it was not the expected outcome.
Flamboyant - (adj.) richly and brilliantly colorful; elaborately or excessively ornamented; nounshowy tropical tree or shrub native to Madagascar; widely planted in tropical regions for its immense racemes of scarlet and orange flowers; sometimes placed in genus Poinciana
-The king's room was flamboyant, and he thought that some this wealth could go to the people.
Fulsome - (adj.) unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech
-The silver tongued man was fulsome and nobody like him.
Immolate - (verb) offer as a sacrifice by killing or by giving up to destruction
-In biblical times, Abraham was asked by God to immolate his son.
Imperceptible - (adj.) impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses
-The ninja was imperceptible.
Lackey - (noun) a male servant (especially a footman); a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
-I have man lackeys willing to do my bidding.
Liaison - (noun) a channel for communication between groups; a usually secretive or illicit sexual relationship
- I had a liaison with my wife's sister. 

Monolithic - (adj.) characterized by massiveness and rigidity and total uniformity; imposing in size or bulk or solidity

-The opposing army seemed never ending and monolithic.
Mot juste - (noun) the approprite word or expression
-The word  mot juste makes this a sentence.
Nihilism - (noun) a revolutionary doctrine that advocates destruction of the social system for its own sake; complete denial of all established authority and institutions; the delusion that things (or everything, including the self) do not exist; a sense that everything is unreal
-Nihilism would be the begininninf ot the end of the world.
Patrician - (adj.) of the hereditary aristocracy or ruling class of ancient Rome or medieval Europe; of honorary nobility in the Byzantine empire; belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy; noun a person of refined upbringing and manners; a member of the aristocracy
-The patricians of ancient Rome usually spoke for the plebes.
Propitiate - (verb) make peace with
-One day, I hope the United States propitiates with North Korea.
Sic -(adv.)intentionally so written (used after a printed word or phrase);(verb) urge a dog to attack someone
- I sicced my dog on the intruder.
Sublimate - (adj.) made pure; noun the product of vaporization of a solid; (verb) direct energy or urges into useful activities; vaporize and then condense right back again; change or cause to change directly from a solid into a vapor without first melting; remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation; make more subtle or refined
-My parents tried to sublimate me and my siblings into doing something useful. 

Beowulf ond Godsylla

Beowulf and Godsylla
Meanehwæl, baccat meaddehæle, monstær lurccen;
Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht.
Ðen Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl,
Æsccen æwful jeork to steop outsyd. Þhud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! Ðe bigge gye
Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe;
Wicced Godsylla wæld on his asse.
Monstær moppe fleor wyþ eallum men in hælle.
Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bamaccen wæs;
Hearen sond of ruccus sæd, "Hwæt ðe helle?"
Graben sheold strang ond swich-blæd scharp
Stond feorth to fyht ðe grimlic foe. "Me," Godsylla sæd, "mac ðe minsemete."
Heoro cwyc geten heold wiþ fæmed half-nelson
Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen
Beowulf belly up to meaddehæle bar,
Sæd, "Ne foe beaten mie færsom cung-fu."
Eorderen cocca-cohla yce-coeld, ðe reol þyng.

Beowulf and Godsylla(Translation)
Meanwhile, back at the mead-hall, the monster lurked
Full (of) few too many drinks, he was looking for a fight
Then (name), son of (name) asked the awful jerk to step outside
Thud, Bash, Crash, boom, the big guy
All of his bones broke, bit his nose off;

Wicked Godzilla wailed on his a ss
Moster mopped the floor with all the men in the hall
Beowulf in the backroom making a phone call (?)
Hearing sounds of ruckus said, "What the hell?"
Grabbed his strong shield and sharp switch blade

Stood forth to fight the grimlic foe

"Me," Godzilla said, "Make the mince-meat"

Hero ? quickly got (getting) held with the famed half-nelson
And flying him like a frisbee back and forth

Beowulf belly up to the mead-hall's bar,

said, "No foe has beaten my fearsome kung-fu."
He ordered coca-cola, ice cold, the real thing

(Got it from yahoo answers)

Hero Assignment

I will be deconstructing the hero Bruce Wayne aka Batman(from the recent movies). Bruce Wayne's call to action happens when a man comes to his cell and offers him a chance out and to become a member of the League of Shadows and to become something more. Bruce reluctantly agrees and starts the initiation process , but he soon disagrees with the methods and the ideas of the League of Shadows and he separates from the and soon fights against the corrupt in Gotham City as Batman. He then begins his journey. He fights off corruption seen in villains and then the corruption in people he once thought he could trust. He faces many trials and tribulations. He is distracted with his love interest Rachel Dawes and he almost stops being Batman for her. He is helped along the way by his butler Alfred. In the end he is faced with his greatest test of saving Gotham from nuclear destruction. We are led to believe that he takes the nuclear device away oversea as the clock is ticking down and that he is making the ultimate sacrifice, which is sacrificing his life to save many. But at the very end we see him alive and well.

Vocabulary List #4

Apostate- a person who leaves behind his religious or political beliefs. (noun)
- My friend is an apostate, because he gave up Christianity.
Effusive- something or someone showing unrestrained emotion or thankfulness. (noun)
-I thanked the man effusively for saving my life.
Impasse-something from which there is no escape or solution. (noun)
-The maze was an impasse for the rat.
Euphoria-describes a feeling of well-being and great happiness. (noun)
-After he took the drugs, the man entered a state of euphoria.
Lugubrious- describes someone who looks very sad, depressed or long-in-the-face. (adjective)
- She looked lugubrious when she found out that her dog died.
Bravado- behavior by a scared person that shows courage. (noun)
-The little boy showed bravado when faced with the ugly witch.
Consensus- an agreement made by a group. (noun)
-My family came to the consensus that we were going to eat pizza tonight.
Dichotomy- a sharp division of things or ideas into two contradictory parts. (noun)
-There is usually a pretty even dichotomy when trying to choose the next president of the U.S.
Constrict- to become narrower at one place, or to make something narrower or more restrictive. (verb)
-The boa constrictor began to constrict my whole body, which made it impossible to breathe.
Gothic- related to medieval style or the horror and mystery depicted in fiction about the 18th and 19th centuries. (adjective)
-The gothic architecture looks so beautiful.
Punctilio-precise observance of petty formalities
-My grandmother is very punctilious when it comes to table manners.
Metamorphosis-change of form, shape, structure, or substance; transformation, as, in myths, by magic or sorcery
-The caterpillar  metamorphosized into a butterfly.
Raconteur-a person who tells stories or anecdotes in an amusing and clever way(noun)
-The children loved the man because he was a raconteur and could always make the stories fun.
Sine qua non-an essential condition, qualification, etc.; indispensable thing; absolute prerequisite
-Hard work is sine qua non for success in anything you do.
Quixotic- romantic behavior or following beliefs even though they are foolish or unreachable goals. (adjective)
-He is quixotic in his journey for love because he is so ugly no one will take him.
Vendetta- a lingering grudge or feeling of hatred for someone, such as a blood feud where the family of someone who had been killed seeks revenge on the family of the killer or his family. (noun)
-I have a vendetta against my evil twin.
Non sequitur- a statement, conclusion or reply that has nothing to do with the previous statement. (noun)
-The debater gave a non sequitur and tried to change the subject when he knew he was losing.
Mystique- an aura of mystery or an air of secrecy surrounding something or someone that makes the person or thing seem very intriguing. (noun)
-The woman at the bar had a certain mystique about her.
Quagmire- soft, wet ground or a complex and difficult situation with no easy solution. (noun)
-The man was left in a quagmire and didn't know what to do.
Parlous-perilous; dangerous; risky
-People seeking adrenaline rushes usually do things that very parlous.

Literary Analysis Reading Book

I am going to be reading Heart of Darkness. My process for selecting this book was that I asked my mother to look at the list and for her to pick a book that she he had read and that had been interesting to her. She ended up choosing Heart of Darkness and she said it was a very good book, but kind of hard to understand. I hope to enjoy this book.

Accolade: something given to a person in order to praise or recognize the person or his accomplishment
- The player was given the accolade of being team captain. 
Acerbity: Sourness of taste, character, or tone
-My friend talking behind my back left me with acerbity.
Attrition: wearing down or wasting away
- The hillside slowly eroded due to natural attrition.
Bromide: a trite saying, platitude
- “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” is a bromide.
Chauvinist: unreasoning devotion to one’s race, sex, etc. with superiority over other races, sex, etc.
-Many women consider men to be chauvinist pigs. 
Chronic: something that lasts for a long time, keeps coming back or continues to happen
- My father has a chronic back injury. 
Expound: to explain further or in more detail
- When I didn't understand the play the first time, my coach tried to expound the drill. 
Factionalism: factional dissension, affiliations with a faction
- Abraham Lincoln's quote, " A divided house cannot stand" was talking about internal factionalism. 
Immaculate: free from mistakes, clean, without sin
- The child wiped the floor and it was immaculate. 
Imprecation: (n) the act of calling for evil or a curse on someone
- The witch yelled out imprecations against the Jews. 
Ineluctable: describes something that will definitely happen
- No matter how hard she tried, getting an A in math was an ineluctable thing for her. 
Mercurial: having qualities suggestive of the god Mercury (clever, shrewd, thievish) and of mercury (quick, volatile, changeable)
- Girls are bi-polar, some days they can be mercurial and the other days crying. 
Palliate: make something less painful or unpleasant, to calm fears
- The pain medicine was supposed to palliate his aching back. 
Protocol: rules and customs of a group or a standard procedure
- Students must follow school protocol. 
Resplendent: full of splendor or dazzling
- The rainbow was resplendent. 
Stigmatize: to make something seem bad or disgraceful
- We seem to willing to stigmatize other people to get whatever we want. 
Sub rosa : secretly, privately, confidentially
- I told her my secret sub rosa. 
Vainglory:extreme self-pride and boastfulness, vanity
- He was so vainglory and narcissistic that nobody wanted to be around y 
Vestige- small amount of something or the last remaining part of something that no longer exists
- There was a vestige of pie left on his plate. 
Volition: the act of using your will to make a conscious decision
- He killed his friend of his own volition.

Prologue:
1. Shield became ruler of the danes by fear, no one would challenge his rule because of his power. When he died, he was put in a boat full of riches and sent off to sea. Sheild is Hrothgar's grandfather.
Heorot is attacked:
1. Hrothgar made a place of merry, a sort of hall for freasting and festives. Grendel spawn of Cain attacked this place, killing many danes every time he went. The Danes attempted to fight him but failed, and eventually left.
The Hero Comes to Heorot:
1. Beowulf hears of grendel and seeks to fight him and win glory, and heads to Heorot.
2. The Geats are first greeted by a hostile watchman, who demands to know who they are. Beowulf answers, stating he is son of Ecgtheow, coming to do battle with Grendel.
3. Hrothgars Herald is Wulfgar, who asks Hrothgar to see these men. Hrothgar knows of Beowulf because of his father, ehich is not surprising because it seems like warriors fame spread easily during those times.
4. Beowulf speaks of his recent defeat of five giants and states he will fight Grendel without armor. Hrothgar had helped the Geats pay and survive through a war.
Feast at Heorot:
1. Unferth acuses Beowulf of foolish pride trying to do what many Danes have failed to do, such as when he saw a risky seven day race against Breca which Beowulf lost, causing Unferth to question his commitment. Beowulf states why he lost the race due to sea fish, and that the contests was not one of war and that he will make Grendel pay for what he has done to the Danes, whom Beowulf seeks no feud with. This gives a slight view of Beowulf's motives and shows how strong his resolve is.
2.Queen Wealhtheow is offering drinks from the cup of the hall to everyone.
The Fight With Grendel:
1. Instead of arming for the fight, Beowulf takes his armor off so he is equal with Grendel.
2. Grendel enters seeing the sleeping men kills one. He reaches for Beowulf he grips Grendel with great strength. Grendel attempts to flee, and though immune to swords Grendel is held by Beowulf, who rips of Grendels arm. Grendel runs to die in his moor.
Celebration at Heorot:
1. Beowulf is like Sigemund in how they both fought monsters and won glory, but not like Heremod who seized the treasue and power in greed and did not get glory.
2. Hrothgar is very happy, thanking God, Beowulf, and Beowulfs mother. Hrothgar gives Beowulf many riches of gold, weapons armor, and horses.
4. Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar not to take Beowulf as his son because he already has sons.
5.
6. The men felt safe and guarded with Grendel gone.
Beowulf and Grendels Mother:
1. Grendels Mother comes to Heorot only because she wants revenge for her sons death, which isn't why Grendel went.
2. Grendel killed Hrothgars favorite thane. Hrothgar summons Beowulf, who had not slept in the hall that night.
3. The mere is a strange place where fire is seen upon the water, home of two giants, one Grendel's mother. It is an icy lake wwith many visible seas serepents.
Beowulf fights Grendels mother:
1. Beowulf tells Hrothgar it is best to act and not sit and do nothing.
2. The mere is full of serepents. The warriors and him kill one and drag it out to see the horror.
3. Beowulf puts on his armor and gets ready. Unfreth offers his sword Hrunting whcih is a superior sword. The Sword Beowulf takes is a very special sword that is supposed to never fail its warrior.
4. Grendels mother drags Beowulf to her undersea lair so the monsters wont interfere.
5. The sword has no effect on Grendels mother.
6. Beowulfs armor saves him from Grendels mothers knife.
7. Beowulf finds a sword crafted by giants and strikes Grendels mother in the neck, seeing Grendels body, taking Grendels head and his own sword. The sword of the giants had been made useless by the hot blood of the monsters.
8. Beouwlf returns to a few loyal warriors who had doubted his return but rejoice in it.
Further Celebration at Heorot:
1. Beowulf gives Hrothgar the hilt of the sword he used to kill Grendels mother.
2. Hrothgar talks about Heremod who abused his power by being ruthless and not rewarding the deserving. He warns Beowulf not to make the same mistake, and to bane the thoughts of selfishness.
3. Beowulf returns Hrunting to Unferth.
Beowulf Returns Home:
1. Hrothgar predicts that Beowulf will become king of the Geats.
2. Hygd is the queen of the Geats, and is unlike Modthryth because Modthryth was a very cruel queen.
3. ?
4. Beowulf tells the story with great pride and honor, but does not lie.
5. Beowulf offered his treasures to hos leader Hygelac, who gives him a suit of armor and sword given to him by Hrothgar.
The Dragon Awakes:
1. It is 50 years later, and King Hygelac is dead and Beowulf rules. But now, a dragon is threating the Geats.
2. The Dragon hoardes gold because he is greedy and has a big collection. His favorite peice, a gold cup, was stolen by a runaway slave who succumbed to temptation, which angered the dragon.
3. The Dragon attacked the town, burning down Beowulfs home.
4. Beowulf believes he angered God in some way to desrve this. He orders an iron shield to protect against fire and expects to take down the dragon and die trying.
5. Hygelac died in battle in the land of Frisian.
6. Headred was killed by Onela,and Beowulf was left to be king and pursued Onela.
7. Eleven others.
8. Herebeald was accidently killed by Haethkyn. King Hrethel was forced to punish Haethkyn and was mournful and became a bad king. The Swedes and the Geats had a feud and had been at war with many prominent people dying on both sides.
Beowulf attacks the Dragon:
1. Beowulf tells his companions to not interfere.
2. Beowulf is bested by the Drgaon the first time his attacks and defense weak. His companions flee but one stays. Wiglaf is his name, and ulike the others he is brave and stands beside his king. He yells for his king to fight for his life.
3. The second time Beowulf and dragon meet, Wiglaf had to hide behind Beowulfs iron sheild for protection and Beowulfd struck the dragon on the head with the sword, but it broke. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck. But with Wiglafs help they are able to weaken the dragon then kills it striking at its exsposed belly.
4. Dying Beowulf asks to see the riches he died for. When he sees it Beowulf thanks God for these gifts for his people, and asks that the lair becomes Beowulfs Barrow so people will remember him.
Beowulfs Funeral:
1. The companions see Wiglaf trying to revie a dead Beowulf. The companions know they failed their leader in his time of need because they were afraid and know death would be better for them.
2. The messenger tells the city of their kings defeat. ?
3. Wiglaf tell the crowd who came to see Beowulf dead that the hoard of treasure was theirs and that the kind had died for it and the lair would become his great resting place.
4. The dragon was dragged to the sea.
5. The people mourned and built a mound around their king. Everyone honored the Geat most worthy of praise.
6. These last lines seem to describe a kind caring person which Beowulf was but does not describe his ferocity in battle.

1987 AP Exam

          Essay Number 1

          Leisure can be a difficult thing to have in your life. George Eliot says that the increased amount and quality of technology and the rapid advancement of the human race, has sucked the leisure out of people's lives. George Eliot then analyzes what she believes the definition of leisure is and the actual meaning of the word. Eliot uses detailed language and personification to communicate to the audience on her beliefs of leisure.

          George Eliot also employs the use of personification to help convey her point of view. Eliot doesn't use personification exactly, although, she characterizes "Old Leisure" as human. This gives the audience the opportunity to perceive a better understanding of what "Old Leisure" actually is. The words "he" and "lived" convey a human-like quality to "Old Leisure" The personification is what really let's the reader to establish a connection with "Old Leisure"

          George Eliot employs much descriptive language and text in her writing. This language is used to create a powerful image in the audience's imagination. These images are supposedly meant to supply the audience with an understanding of what the author's belief on what leisure means. Words like "undiseased" convey that she believes "Old Leisure" as something pure and kept from influences of industrialization. The author's selection of words help give the audience a better understanding of the author's point of view on leisure.

          It has been said that we live in a world where we are constantly making progress. George Eliot comes from an era where the world is making the transition into the industrial age. We are able to relate with what she says in "Old Leisure", while she reminds her audience that "Old Leisure" is about the untaintedeness and purity of the world. 

Essay Number 2

          The world in which we live in today is anything but perfect. Authors tend to write about these imperfections to express their opinion, how to fix it, improve it, etc. The novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, describes on of the major issues that is one of the sacred rights that people take for granted, which is privacy. The novel is told in first- person, which better helps us understand the trials and tribulations that they had to go through. The rapid advancement of technology let's the government monitor us at times where things should be kept private. 

          The first person writing style let's the reader better connect with the main character and helps the audience get an intriguing point of view on the issue at hand. The audience is really able to connect with the anxiety that the main character is going through, due to the fact he is constantly being watched. When Winston is captured and has to face the consequences for his actions, it makes the reader really think about their own privacy and how much they really have and don't have. 

          While a book may not affect the world on a big scale, it may affect how a person may perceive the world, it might change their views, or that person may totally disregard what they have read. Author's have the great chance to write about what they believe in and convey it to the public in an interesting way. An author can publish a book that thousands of people may read and his or her book may end up changing people. 

         
(Multiple Choice questions are a hard copy)

Socratic Seminar- Right to Your Own Opinion

To be entitled to something means to have a right to that thing. What does it mean to have a right to something and who gives you that right? These are just some questions that I have that need to be answered for me to understand. I tried googling it, but nothing really came up.

Travis Knight reciting The Laughing Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVnLB6J50hE

Reflections on Week 1

1) There shouldn't be that many factors that will affect my participation in this class. I have access to a computer with internet, as well as having a smart phone. My family is pretty much useless in the technology department, but I have friends that will be able to help me. I'm pretty busy with water polo, and I might be gone a couple days here or there because of water polo.

2)  When I finally understood the rules of the game of water polo, was an amazing learning experience for me. I just finally had a complete knowledge of the game. I was in the pool and I was with my teammates. It taught me that it takes repetition for me to learn. I knew it was happening because I finally had no more questions to ask about all the rules of water polo.

3) I'm excited for the open source learning opportunity and how it can apply to life outside of school and beyond, but I'm also concerned about the workload. I look forward to learning about colleges and all the stuff that applies to that. I think this class will help me with life outside of high school and life after high school. I hope that this class will teach me more about technology and will help me with the college application process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHmwawEiBkc

I'm taking this class not only because it is AP, but I have heard that this class will be useful to me outside the classroom setting. Former students of yours and current friends of mine have told me that this class will be beneficial to me in many ways. I'm excited to learn new ways to use technology and to see how open source learning will affect me. I'm nervous about how challenging this course may or may not be. My goals for this course is to obviously get an A and hopefully prepare for the next step in my life, which will hopefully be college. I expect to gain more knowledge not only about English, but also about technology, myself, and the world around me.