I wonder if this would count as an actual stat in the book. That was just messed up.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Block of the year?
I wonder if this would count as an actual stat in the book. That was just messed up.
Beds In a Movie Theater?
http://news.yahoo.com/movie-slumber-party-beds-replace-theater-seats-124208087--finance.html#
How cool would it be have comfy beds in a movie theater? I don't know I might fall asleep while trying to watch the movie.
How cool would it be have comfy beds in a movie theater? I don't know I might fall asleep while trying to watch the movie.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Poem Essay
In “The Place Where We Are Right”, by Yehuda Amichai, the author describes how life is not perfect. Amichai explains that it may be the right place for something to happen, but the the wrong time. For something good to happen these two must coincide with one another. This the exact idea that David Whyte tried to convey writing the poem “Working Together.” Specifically, in Whyte’s poem, he shows that we must not force things to happen, but wait and let the world shape us. Whyte utilizes juxtaposition with “visible” and “invisible” to demonstrate how in order to make things happen you will have to make sacrifices for the greater good. Both authors used repetition to emphasize stress on the main points in the poem that they wanted the audience to be drawn to. In Amichai’s poem it was “the place where we are right” because he longed for the reader to envision in their head that idealistic place. For Whyte it was the simple word “shape” because he wanted to tell the reader to be formed by life and the moments in which we experience it.
Even though these poems have much in common they dissimilar as well. The mood of these two poems are different. In “The Place Where We Are Right” the mood changes. It goes from depressing in the beginning to a sense of hope in the end. The mood of “Working Together” stays the same; it is motivational. The syntax in these poems are different. Whyte’s poem is broken up in to several stanzas, and Amichai’s poem is one stanza.
Are all poems alike? Yes. All poems have similar qualities that categorize them as a poem. Poems can be differ much from each other too. Poems are the authors use of his words and thoughts to get a meaningful message across to the audience.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Hamlet Madness Essay
When I think of Hamlet, I think of the phrase "it sounded good in my head." Everyone thinks Hamlet's actions and words are insane, but to him it all makes sense and seems rational. Hamlet has trouble conveying his thoughts to others through his actions and words. His character is insane, but the considering the situation he is in justifies his thoughts and actions.
If you had substantial reasoning to believe your father was murdered, wouldn't you be leaning towards Hamlet's way of thinking? Hamlet needs a little grace in the situation that he had suddenly experienced. Instead of grieving for his father his is forced to solve the mystery of his fathers death. On top of this, his own mother acts like she doesn't even care that her husband died. Queen Gertrude tells Hamlet, "cast thy nighted color off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark." His own mother is telling him to get over his fathers death and show his support for the new King Claudius. This explains why Hamlet is mad. I don't know anyone who woudn't be mad after this happened.
All the people in the play think Hamlet is mad, which he is. None of them realize that of he was telling the truth he would be mad. None of them took a second to see through the first layer of his madness. The characters didn't see that he should be psychotic. Any normal person that would go through the tragedy would be insane. Because of this they should have listened to what he had to say.
Hamlet had to go through about a tough a situation a person could have gone through. His actions and thoughts should be justified because of what he had to endure. The fact that no one would listen to him just contributed to his madness. Hamlet is and should be expected to be insane.
If you had substantial reasoning to believe your father was murdered, wouldn't you be leaning towards Hamlet's way of thinking? Hamlet needs a little grace in the situation that he had suddenly experienced. Instead of grieving for his father his is forced to solve the mystery of his fathers death. On top of this, his own mother acts like she doesn't even care that her husband died. Queen Gertrude tells Hamlet, "cast thy nighted color off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark." His own mother is telling him to get over his fathers death and show his support for the new King Claudius. This explains why Hamlet is mad. I don't know anyone who woudn't be mad after this happened.
All the people in the play think Hamlet is mad, which he is. None of them realize that of he was telling the truth he would be mad. None of them took a second to see through the first layer of his madness. The characters didn't see that he should be psychotic. Any normal person that would go through the tragedy would be insane. Because of this they should have listened to what he had to say.
Hamlet had to go through about a tough a situation a person could have gone through. His actions and thoughts should be justified because of what he had to endure. The fact that no one would listen to him just contributed to his madness. Hamlet is and should be expected to be insane.
Appreciate the little things
My mom just said "gosh we are so fortunate to be in a house." It is so true. You think about all of the people who aren't as fortunate enough to live in a warm house like us on nights like this when it's raining with 30 mph wind and you can't help but feel sympathy for them. We are lucky to be able to listen to the sound of rain instead of feel it. Everyday we need to be more appreciative of the things we have and cherish them because we are blessed to have them. We need to thank God for providing everything in our life, because with out Him we would be nothing. The next time I get irritated because of something small like the Wifi connection in my house I'm going to remind myself to be thankful that I have access to Wifi in the first place.
Lowell Police Christmas Surprise
In light of all that is going on with the "police brutality" and protests all around the country, here is something you wouldn't normally see from the mainstream media.
Socratic Seminar Notes: The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
It is more relatable now than it was sophomore year when we read it. It talks about relationships and running out of time. It relates to school in that its almost over.
In life you’re going to have to do something that you don’t particularly like.
Sophomore year it was more about an assignment to read the poem. Now it relates to procrastination. He spends so much time on debating whether or not to do something, when he could be doing the thing he is debating on. You are just wasting time thinking about doing it.
He is losing time when thinking about time and saying he has time to do it. The author uses the biblical reference to explain that time is limited on Earth and to make the most out of it. The title is ironic because of the kind of person the author is.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Poetry Remix
"The Place Where We Are Right" by Yehuda Amichai
From the place where we are right
Flowers will never grow
In the Spring.
The place where we are right
Is hard and trampled
Like a yard.
But doubts and loves
Dig up the world
Like a mole, a plow.
And a whisper will be heard in the place
Where the ruined
House once stoo
"The Place Where We Are Right" Remixed by Bree, Bianca, Cameron, Aaron & Matthew
From the place where we are right
Flowers will always grow
In the Spring
The place where we are right
Is inferior and controlled
Like servants.
But hope and revolution
Dig up the world
Like a convolution
And a shout will be heard in the place
Where the silenced
Society once stood.
Literature Analysis 2
The novel opens as Nick Carraway moves to New York, right next door to Gatsby. Gatsby is rich and extravagant, throwing huge parties that are known by everyone. It turns out that his parties are only to impress Daisy Buchaanan, a woman he was once in love with, who lives across the lake from his house. Daisy happens to be Nick's cousin, and Nick brings Daisy over to Gatsby's house for tea. They quickly rekindle their relationship and begin having an affair, as Daisy is a married woman, although she doesn't know that her husband is also having an affair in the city with a woman named Myrtle. One day Gatsby looks at Daisy with so much passion that Tom realizes what is going on and gets angry, forcing everyone to go to New York to a hotel. At the hotel, all of the secrets come out, and Tom says that Gatsby is a criminal. Daisy comes to the conclusion that she needs to stay with Tom. Tom has Gatsby drive Daisy home, and on the way, Daisy drives and hits Myrtle. Myrtle's husband believes Gatsby killed his wife, and so kills him and then himself. Nick moves away to remove himself from the whole situation.
The theme is the corruption of the American dream. What used to be about happiness, success, invention, and curiosity is now solely controlled by money and greed. The characters want instant pleasure without work, and are willing to give up what is truly important in order to find what they believe will make them happy. Gatsby, for example, believes Daisy is his dream, when in reality she is nothing special, and leads to his ultimate demise.
The tone of the novel changes, as it is told in first person point of view. At some points Nick is very bitter about Gatsby and what is going on, where other times he is happy and admiring all that is going on.
- He smiled understandingly-much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life.
-Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets, was standing in a puddle of water glaring tragically into my eyes
-There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything.
The theme is the corruption of the American dream. What used to be about happiness, success, invention, and curiosity is now solely controlled by money and greed. The characters want instant pleasure without work, and are willing to give up what is truly important in order to find what they believe will make them happy. Gatsby, for example, believes Daisy is his dream, when in reality she is nothing special, and leads to his ultimate demise.
The tone of the novel changes, as it is told in first person point of view. At some points Nick is very bitter about Gatsby and what is going on, where other times he is happy and admiring all that is going on.
- He smiled understandingly-much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life.
-Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets, was standing in a puddle of water glaring tragically into my eyes
-There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Literature Analysis 1
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, is a romantic novel set in old world England. The novel focuses on Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their five daughters. Each daughter encounters different romantic adventures. The novel mainly focuses on the relationship Elizabeth Bennet experiences. Elizabeth has a very difficult relationship with a man named Mr. Darcy. She is an intelligent, strong, young woman and struggles to give in to Mr. Darcy's arrogant personality.
One of the many themes of Pride and Prejudice is a woman's role in society. During the time period of the novel women were thought to be more like property rather than equals. Fathers practically sold their daughters to successful young men. Women also didn't speak out against men in relationships. Elizabeth was very strong, but often struggled to tell Darcy how she really felt.
"So this is your opinion of me. Thank you for explaining so fully. Perhaps these offences might have been overlooked had not your pride been hurt by my honesty..." -Darcy
"And those are the words of a gentleman. From the first moment I met you, your arrogance and conceit, your selfish disdain for the feelings of others made me realize that you were the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry." -Elizabeth
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Phonar Assignment
It was a windy evening as I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge. The combination of the view and the height in the middle of the massive bridge was so captivating that I didn't take a picture. I thought that if I took a picture it would diminish the quality of the moment.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Vocabulary #5
shenanigans. secret or dishonest activity or maneuvering
ricochet - noun a glancing rebound; verb spring back; spring away from an impact
schism - noun division of a group into opposing factions; the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences
eschew - verb avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
plethora - noun extreme excess
ebullient - adj. joyously unrestrained
garrulous - adj. full of trivial conversation
harangue - noun a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion; verb deliver a harangue to; address forcefully
interdependence - noun a reciprocal relation between interdependent entities (objects or individuals or groups)
capricious - adj. determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason; changeable
loquacious - adj. full of trivial conversation
ephemeral - adj. lasting a very short time; noun anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
inchoate - adj. only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
juxtapose - verb place side by side
perspicacious - adj. acutely insightful and wise; mentally acute or penetratingly discerning
codswallop - noun nonsensical talk or writing
mungo. cloth made from recycled woven or felted materials sesquipedelian. .characterized by long words; long-winded
wonky - adj. inclined to shake as from weakness or defect; turned or twisted toward one side
diphthong - noun a vowel sound that starts near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves toward the position for another
schism - noun division of a group into opposing factions; the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences
eschew - verb avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
plethora - noun extreme excess
ebullient - adj. joyously unrestrained
garrulous - adj. full of trivial conversation
harangue - noun a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion; verb deliver a harangue to; address forcefully
interdependence - noun a reciprocal relation between interdependent entities (objects or individuals or groups)
capricious - adj. determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason; changeable
loquacious - adj. full of trivial conversation
ephemeral - adj. lasting a very short time; noun anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
inchoate - adj. only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
juxtapose - verb place side by side
perspicacious - adj. acutely insightful and wise; mentally acute or penetratingly discerning
codswallop - noun nonsensical talk or writing
mungo. cloth made from recycled woven or felted materials sesquipedelian. .characterized by long words; long-winded
wonky - adj. inclined to shake as from weakness or defect; turned or twisted toward one side
diphthong - noun a vowel sound that starts near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves toward the position for another
Monday, September 29, 2014
Masterpiece
I am going to major in business in college. I figured I might as well do my masterpiece on something that is relevant to my life. My dream job would be to be a professional sports agent. I am going to try and contact a professional agent and get an interview with them and ask them how they got to be such a successful agent and how they got to where they are today.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Vocabulary #4
obsequious - adj. attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner;attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
Ex- They were served by obsequious waiters.
beatitude - a state of supreme happiness
Ex- All of our actions are to be directed toward such beatitude.
bete noire - a person or thing that one particularly dislikes
Ex- Uncle Edward was my father's bete noire.
bode - verb indicate by signs
Ex- Their argument did not bode well for the future.
dank - adj. unpleasantly cool and humid
Ex- Walking into the dank basement sent chills up my body.
ecumenical - adj. of worldwide scope or applicability; concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions
Ex- The local churches are sponsoring an ecumenical services on the green.
fervid - adj. extremely hot; characterized by intense emotion
Ex- The candidate made a fervid speech that held the audience's attention.
fetid - adj. offensively malodorous
Ex- The fetid water of the marsh made me sick.
gargantuan - adj. of great mass; huge and bulky
Ex- The giant almost flattened the travelers with his gargantuan foot as he walked through the forest.
heyday - noun the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
Ex- The paper has lost millions of readers since its heyday in 1972.
incubus - someone who depresses or worries others; a situation resembling a terrifying dream
Ex- Debt is a big incubus in developing countries.
infrastructure - noun the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area; the basic structure or features of a system or organization
Ex- Access what damage you can and rebuild the critical infrastructure system.
inveigle - verb influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
Ex- We cannot inveigle him into putting pen to paper.
kudos - noun an expression of approval and commendation
Ex- Kudos to everyone that put the event together.
lagniappe - noun a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)
Ex- Jenny gave her favorite teacher a lagniappe.
prolix - adj. tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length
Ex- He found the narrative too prolix and discursive.
protege - noun a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career
Ex- He was an aid and protege to the former senator.
prototype - noun a standard or typical example
Ex- The firm is testing a prototype of the weapon.
sycophant - noun a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
Ex- I thought you wanted a competent assistant, not a nodding sycophant.
tautology - noun useless repetition; (logic) a statement that is necessarily true
Ex- John's English teacher told him to avoid tautology in his essay.
truckle - verb yield to out of weakness; try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
Ex- The student truckled to the bully who would push him on the playground.
Ex- They were served by obsequious waiters.
beatitude - a state of supreme happiness
Ex- All of our actions are to be directed toward such beatitude.
bete noire - a person or thing that one particularly dislikes
Ex- Uncle Edward was my father's bete noire.
bode - verb indicate by signs
Ex- Their argument did not bode well for the future.
dank - adj. unpleasantly cool and humid
Ex- Walking into the dank basement sent chills up my body.
ecumenical - adj. of worldwide scope or applicability; concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions
Ex- The local churches are sponsoring an ecumenical services on the green.
fervid - adj. extremely hot; characterized by intense emotion
Ex- The candidate made a fervid speech that held the audience's attention.
fetid - adj. offensively malodorous
Ex- The fetid water of the marsh made me sick.
gargantuan - adj. of great mass; huge and bulky
Ex- The giant almost flattened the travelers with his gargantuan foot as he walked through the forest.
heyday - noun the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
Ex- The paper has lost millions of readers since its heyday in 1972.
incubus - someone who depresses or worries others; a situation resembling a terrifying dream
Ex- Debt is a big incubus in developing countries.
infrastructure - noun the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area; the basic structure or features of a system or organization
Ex- Access what damage you can and rebuild the critical infrastructure system.
inveigle - verb influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
Ex- We cannot inveigle him into putting pen to paper.
kudos - noun an expression of approval and commendation
Ex- Kudos to everyone that put the event together.
lagniappe - noun a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)
Ex- Jenny gave her favorite teacher a lagniappe.
prolix - adj. tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length
Ex- He found the narrative too prolix and discursive.
protege - noun a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career
Ex- He was an aid and protege to the former senator.
prototype - noun a standard or typical example
Ex- The firm is testing a prototype of the weapon.
sycophant - noun a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
Ex- I thought you wanted a competent assistant, not a nodding sycophant.
tautology - noun useless repetition; (logic) a statement that is necessarily true
Ex- John's English teacher told him to avoid tautology in his essay.
truckle - verb yield to out of weakness; try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
Ex- The student truckled to the bully who would push him on the playground.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Big Question
Why do people invest so much time in social media? Is social media making the younger generations less social? Should social media users limit ourselves to how much time we put into social media?
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Vocabulary #3
accolade - noun a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
Ex- The firefighter was awarded with an accolade because of his bravery.
acerbity - noun a sharp sour taste; a sharp bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
Ex- The teacher had to have a side of acerbity to keep her kids on task.
attrition - noun the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction; a wearing down to weaken or destroy;
Ex- The cliff had attrition because of the waves of the water.
bromide - a trite or obvious remark
Ex- My little sister makes many bromides when she is trying to act smart.
chauvinist - noun an extreme bellicose nationalist; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
Ex- His prejudiced behavior makes him a chauvinist.
chronic - adj. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
Ex- The boy had a chronic nightmare that would not leave his head.
expound - verb add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; state
Ex- The young man expounded about the clothes of the robber to the policeman.
factionalism- self-interested
Ex- The girl didn't show any interest in anyone showing factionalism.
immaculate - adj. completely neat and clean; free from stain or blemish; without fault or error Ex- The floor on the basketball court was immaculate after it was wet mopped.
imprecation - noun the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation
Ex- The girl was overcome with imprecation.
ineluctable - adj. impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"
Ex- Although death is ineluctable, we must not allow our natural fear of oblivion to prevent us from having an enjoyable, productive life.
mercurial - liable to sudden unpredictable change
Ex- Jim has a mercurial temperament.
palliate - verb provide physical relief, as from pain; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
Ex- Treatment works by palliating symptoms.
protocol - noun code of correct conduct; forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state
Ex- Protocol prevents the prince from making any public statement in his defense.
resplendent - adj. having great beauty and splendor
Ex- She was resplendent in a lavender dress.
stigmatize - verb mark with a stigma or stigmata; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
Ex- The institution was stigmatized as a last resort for the destitute.
sub rosa- happening or done in secret
Ex- The committee operates sub rosa
vainglory - noun outspoken conceit
Ex- He didn't hesitate to flaunt his great personality vainglory in public.
vestige - a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
Ex- After the huge fire, only a vestige of the house remained visible in the ashes
volition - noun the act of making a choice; the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
Ex- He decided to enter rehab of his own volition because he wanted to restart his life.
Ex- The firefighter was awarded with an accolade because of his bravery.
acerbity - noun a sharp sour taste; a sharp bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
Ex- The teacher had to have a side of acerbity to keep her kids on task.
attrition - noun the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction; a wearing down to weaken or destroy;
Ex- The cliff had attrition because of the waves of the water.
bromide - a trite or obvious remark
Ex- My little sister makes many bromides when she is trying to act smart.
chauvinist - noun an extreme bellicose nationalist; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
Ex- His prejudiced behavior makes him a chauvinist.
chronic - adj. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
Ex- The boy had a chronic nightmare that would not leave his head.
expound - verb add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; state
Ex- The young man expounded about the clothes of the robber to the policeman.
factionalism- self-interested
Ex- The girl didn't show any interest in anyone showing factionalism.
immaculate - adj. completely neat and clean; free from stain or blemish; without fault or error Ex- The floor on the basketball court was immaculate after it was wet mopped.
imprecation - noun the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation
Ex- The girl was overcome with imprecation.
ineluctable - adj. impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"
Ex- Although death is ineluctable, we must not allow our natural fear of oblivion to prevent us from having an enjoyable, productive life.
mercurial - liable to sudden unpredictable change
Ex- Jim has a mercurial temperament.
palliate - verb provide physical relief, as from pain; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
Ex- Treatment works by palliating symptoms.
protocol - noun code of correct conduct; forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state
Ex- Protocol prevents the prince from making any public statement in his defense.
resplendent - adj. having great beauty and splendor
Ex- She was resplendent in a lavender dress.
stigmatize - verb mark with a stigma or stigmata; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
Ex- The institution was stigmatized as a last resort for the destitute.
sub rosa- happening or done in secret
Ex- The committee operates sub rosa
vainglory - noun outspoken conceit
Ex- He didn't hesitate to flaunt his great personality vainglory in public.
vestige - a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
Ex- After the huge fire, only a vestige of the house remained visible in the ashes
volition - noun the act of making a choice; the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
Ex- He decided to enter rehab of his own volition because he wanted to restart his life.
Vocabulary List #2
Accoutrements - additional
items of dress or equipment, or other items carried or worn by a person
or used for a particular activity. Ex: Many people had accoutrements in the gym today.
apogee - noun a final climactic stage ex: This was the apogee of his reign.
apropos - adj. of an appropriate or pertinent nature; adv. by the way; at an opportune time ex: The family's attire was apropos for the occasion.
apogee - noun a final climactic stage ex: This was the apogee of his reign.
apropos - adj. of an appropriate or pertinent nature; adv. by the way; at an opportune time ex: The family's attire was apropos for the occasion.
bicker - noun a quarrel about petty points; verb argue over petty things
ex: My siblings bicker way too much about the stupidest things.
coalesce - verb fuse or cause to grow together; mix together different elements ex: We need to coalesce into a single movement.
contretemps - noun an awkward clash ex: He left the class yesterday and had a bad contretemps with the teacher.
convolution
- noun the action of coiling or twisting or winding together; a convex
fold or elevation in the surface of the brain; the shape of something
rotating rapidly ex: The many noises in the city made a convolution.
cull
- noun the person or thing that is rejected or set aside as inferior in
quality; verb remove something that has been rejected; look for and
gather ex: You do not want to be a cull when applying for a job.
disparate - adj. including markedly dissimilar elements; fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind ex: Many people think that Aaron and I are not disparate.
dogmatic
- adj. characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles;
relating to or involving dogma; of or pertaining to or characteristic
of a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative ex: The gym's rules are dogmatic.
licentious - adj. lacking moral discipline; especially sexually unrestrained ex: The man was excessively licentious when he came home to his wife while drunk.
mete - to distribute in equal amounts ex: The principle meted out the punishment to the boys who were disrespectful in class.
polemic - adj. of or involving dispute or controversy ex: The concert was polemic when the band didn't show up.
populous - adj. densely populated ex: China is very populous.
probity - the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency. Ex: Probity is a desirable trait for many people.
repartee - noun adroitness and cleverness in reply ex: My uncle has much repartee when speaking about his favorite topics.
supervene - verb take place as an additional or unexpected development ex: The movies ending supervened what we were all thinking.
truncate - adj. terminating abruptly by having or as if having an end or point cut off ex: The tree was truncate after it was cut.
unimpeachable
- adj. beyond doubt or reproach; completely acceptable; not open to
exception or reproach; free of guilt; not subject to blame ex: The building to the president was unimpeachable.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Beowulf Essay
Beowulf Essay
“A hero or heroine refers to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self-sacrifice—that is, heroism—for some greater good of all humanity.” - Wikipedia. I almost never use Wikipedia as a source for anything, but this definition perfectly describes Dakota Meyer. Dakota Meyer was a corporal in the marines in September 2011 who saved 36 soldiers who were under heavy fire. A hero is someone who is courageous action when it needed for others. Sergeant Meyer exemplified heroic traits similar to how Beowulf did in his story. Beowulf and the contemporary hero Sergeant Meyer stories were told in different ways. The way that Beowulf was told would change drastically if it was told in a feminist perspective.
Beowulf and Sergeant Meyer displayed heroic traits through their physical and mental actions.For instance, the plot of both of the heroes stories were roughly similar. Beowulf had to fight demons and people and Sergeant Meyer fought Taliban fighters. One trait that both of these heroes share is self confidence. Beowulf’s self confidence is so high it’s almost comes across as cockiness. Sergeant Meyer had tremendous self confidence. The difference between the two is Beowulf was boastful while Sergeant Meyer was humble. Sergeant Meyer claimed that the day was not a success because he didn’t save every man under attack. Another vital characteristic needed to be a hero is the willingness to sacrifice one’s self. Both men demonstrated this flawlessly. Beowulf gave his life fighting against the dragon when virtually no one else would. Despite Sergeant Meyer’s orders to stay put, he put his life in danger taking five trips into a Taliban raid on the top of a jeep with no armor. Lastly, another valuable heroic trait is loyalty. Beowulf was loyal to his king and fought many battles for him. Sergeant Meyer was loyal to his country and loyal to the men who needed his help. Both of the stories were told in two vastly different ways. Beowulf was passed down orally from generation to generation until one many decided to write it down. Sergeant Meyer’s story was told through the media, the President, and first hand by the survivors he saved. The media portrayed his story as a brave iconic American hero. President Obama told his story in admiration and respect. The first hand survivors told his story with gratitude. With all of these different ways the story could be told it added to the heroism.
The story Beowulf could have changed immensely if it was told from a feminist perspective. First, the stereotypical feminist plot would be that instead of Beowulf fighting Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon he could have talked it out with all three and came to an appeasement. Ideally though, the story would have been told with less gore and violence. Because it’s a feminist story there may have been a happy ending. Traits for Beowulf may have changed as well. He probably would have become less cocky and more humble.
Beowulf and Sergeant Meyer both embodied heroism, but in different ways. A hero is someone that illustrates self confidence, loyalty, and self sacrifice. The stories were told differently and each way affected the way it was perceived. A feminist perspective on the story Beowulf could have changed the plot and characteristics of characters. A hero is someone that understands the responsibility that comes with freedom.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Notes for 2-14 in textbook
Historical Background
The Conquest of Britain
- Between 800 and 600 B.C. two groups of Celts from Southern Europe invaded the British Isles.
- The next conquerors were the Romans in 55 B.C..
- The Roman rule of Britain lasted more than 300 years.
The Coming of Christianity
- By the fourth century, the Romans had accepted Christianity and had introduced it to Britain.
- A century later, the Celts fled the Anglo-Saxons and took their Christianity faith with them.
Danish Invasion
- Alfred’s achievements went far beyond the field of battle.
- Edwards death in 1066 lead to the end of the Anglo-Saxon period of history.
The Norman Conquest
- The Normans were descendants of Vikings who had invaded the coast of France in the ninth century.
- In return for their services, knights usually received smaller parcels of land, called manors.
- The peasants who worked the manors were the lowest class in the feudal system, the serfs.
The Reign of the Plantagenets
- Although Norman influnece continued for centuries, Norman rule ended in 1154 when Henry Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, came to the throne as Henry II.
- Henry founded the royal house of Plantagenet and established a record as one of England’s ablest kings.
The Magna Carta
- In the Magna Carta, the king promised not to tax land without first meeting with the barons.
Lancasters, Yorks, and Tudors
- In 1399, the House of Lancaster replaced the Plantagenets on the throne. The kings were Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI.
- Through the fifteenth century the House of York contested Lancastrian rule.
- Tudor, crowned Henry VII, later married Richard’s niece, uniting the houses of York and Lancasters and ending the War of the Roses.
Decline of the Feudal System
- While royal families struggled for supremacy, the social structure of England was changing.
- Gradually, a free peasantry replaced the serfs of the Middle Ages. However, the question of social justice for the lower classes would arise again.
Literature of the Period
- Anglo-Saxon literature began not with books , but with spoken verse and incantations. The reciting of poems often occurred on ceremonial occasions, such as the celebration of military victories.
- Beowulf is an epic which tells the story of a great legendary warrior renowned for his courage, strength and dignity.
- Before the reign of Alfred the Great, all important prose written in the British Isles was composed in Latin.
Literature of the English Middle Ages
- During this period, the first true dramas emerged, the poet Geoffrey Chaucer created a vivid picture of medieval life, romances portrayed the deeds of knights, and anonymous balladeers sang of love and deeds of outlaws.
- In 1454, a German silversmith, Johann Gutenberg, perfected a process of printnig from movabe type.
- Although Chaucer completed only 22 of the 120 tales that scholars think he planned to write, the 22 have a great variety.
- Another popular poetic form was the ballad, a folk song that told a story.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Vocabulary #1
adumbrate - verb give to understand; describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of Ex: My dad adumbrated the principle that I must work hard to be successful.
apotheosis - noun the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god); model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal Ex: That cocky man thinks he is the apotheosis of a supermodel.
ascetic - adj. practicing great self-denial; pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline; noun someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline Ex: I live a quiet and ascetic life.
bauble - noun a mock scepter carried by a court jester; cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing Ex: When the bauble shattered from dropping off the tree it was hard to clean up.
beguile - verb attract; cause to be enamored; influence by slyness Ex: He beguiled his boredom by playing basketball two hours a day.
burgeon - verb grow and flourish Ex: The romantic office began to burgeon when more couples got together.
complement - noun something added to complete or make perfect; either of two parts that mutually complete each other; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction; number needed to make up a whole force; a complete number or quantity; one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response; verb make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to Ex: The blue curtains complemented the colors in the wall.
contumacious - adj. wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient Ex: The little boy was contumacious when it came to eating foods he didn't like.
curmudgeon - noun a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas Ex: Ebenezer Scrooge was a curmudgeon for a long time.
didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively) Ex: Coaches can be didactic when it comes to teaching their players.
disingenuous - adj. not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness Ex: The woman's actions made her seem disingenuous and gave mixed signals to her lover.
exculpate - verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges Ex: The murderer was exculpated when the jury figured out his wife committed the crime.
faux pas - adj. not genuine or real; being an imitation or the genuine article Ex: When the lady talked about her old marriages she was not faux pas, it seemed as if she was lying.
fulminate - noun a salt or ester of fulminic acid; verb cause to explode violently and with loud noise; come
on suddenly and intensely; criticize severely Ex: When you shoot at dynamite with a flamed arrow it can fulminate.
fustian - noun a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap; pompous or pretentious talk or writing Ex: The coat was made of a strong material called fustian.
hauteur - noun overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors Ex: The general had hauteur when talking to his cadets.
inhibit - verb limit the range or extent of; to put down by force or authority Ex: The bear had to be inhibited because of its attitude.
jeremiad - noun a long and mournful complaint Ex: The students parent came to the office with a jeremiad that made the office staff groan.
opportunist - adj. taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit; noun a person who places expediency above principle Ex: To be a successful in life you must be an opportunist that goes and gets what you want.
unconscionable - adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; lacking a conscience Ex: The man was unconscionable when he made the choice to jump off the cliff.
apotheosis - noun the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god); model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal Ex: That cocky man thinks he is the apotheosis of a supermodel.
ascetic - adj. practicing great self-denial; pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline; noun someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline Ex: I live a quiet and ascetic life.
bauble - noun a mock scepter carried by a court jester; cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing Ex: When the bauble shattered from dropping off the tree it was hard to clean up.
beguile - verb attract; cause to be enamored; influence by slyness Ex: He beguiled his boredom by playing basketball two hours a day.
burgeon - verb grow and flourish Ex: The romantic office began to burgeon when more couples got together.
complement - noun something added to complete or make perfect; either of two parts that mutually complete each other; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction; number needed to make up a whole force; a complete number or quantity; one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response; verb make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to Ex: The blue curtains complemented the colors in the wall.
contumacious - adj. wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient Ex: The little boy was contumacious when it came to eating foods he didn't like.
curmudgeon - noun a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas Ex: Ebenezer Scrooge was a curmudgeon for a long time.
didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively) Ex: Coaches can be didactic when it comes to teaching their players.
disingenuous - adj. not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness Ex: The woman's actions made her seem disingenuous and gave mixed signals to her lover.
exculpate - verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges Ex: The murderer was exculpated when the jury figured out his wife committed the crime.
faux pas - adj. not genuine or real; being an imitation or the genuine article Ex: When the lady talked about her old marriages she was not faux pas, it seemed as if she was lying.
fulminate - noun a salt or ester of fulminic acid; verb cause to explode violently and with loud noise; come
on suddenly and intensely; criticize severely Ex: When you shoot at dynamite with a flamed arrow it can fulminate.
fustian - noun a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap; pompous or pretentious talk or writing Ex: The coat was made of a strong material called fustian.
hauteur - noun overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors Ex: The general had hauteur when talking to his cadets.
inhibit - verb limit the range or extent of; to put down by force or authority Ex: The bear had to be inhibited because of its attitude.
jeremiad - noun a long and mournful complaint Ex: The students parent came to the office with a jeremiad that made the office staff groan.
opportunist - adj. taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit; noun a person who places expediency above principle Ex: To be a successful in life you must be an opportunist that goes and gets what you want.
unconscionable - adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; lacking a conscience Ex: The man was unconscionable when he made the choice to jump off the cliff.
REFLECTIONS ON WEEK 1
1. There should not be many factors that limit my participation or experience in this class. The only thing that could affect my participation is if I needed a smart phone for something in this class because at the moment I do not have a smart phone.
2. An experience that changed me was when I went to Alpine for a camp for my youth group. It changed my way of thinking because I changed my thoughts from how can I help my self to how can I help others. It taught me that when you are isolated from the world for a period of time and can think about life, it is easier to learn new ways to live your life.
3. I am excited to learn about open source learning. My favorite part is I do not have to use paper or a pencil much in this class. It is much more convenient to just type in to a computer without having to gather supplies. I am also excited because you said this first week or so was going to be the most work and I have finished almost all of it on time. It can only get easier from here.
2. An experience that changed me was when I went to Alpine for a camp for my youth group. It changed my way of thinking because I changed my thoughts from how can I help my self to how can I help others. It taught me that when you are isolated from the world for a period of time and can think about life, it is easier to learn new ways to live your life.
3. I am excited to learn about open source learning. My favorite part is I do not have to use paper or a pencil much in this class. It is much more convenient to just type in to a computer without having to gather supplies. I am also excited because you said this first week or so was going to be the most work and I have finished almost all of it on time. It can only get easier from here.
Montaigne/Austen
Information that our brain picks up can be processed as fast as 270 miles per hour. If information comes through our head that quickly, then David Foster Wallace is right. It is impossible to sketch even outlines of our thoughts onto paper. However, Montaigne’s essays contradict this theory. His way of writing combines his thoughts with ideas. He writes down as many ideas he can remember from his thoughts. Montaigne uses stream of consciousness all throughout his essays. Austen’s style in Pride and Prejudice is the opposite of Montaigne and similar to Foster. Montaigne’s style provides a window into his extraordinary way of thinking.
Montaigne’s style contradicts Foster’s notion because of his stream of consciousness. Foster’s notion suggests that it is impossible to write down everything we can think. Montaigne uses this idea as a benefit for writing. He tries to write down everything he can think because he believes that his thought process will succeed as a style. “Those who have compared our life to a dream were right... we were sleeping wake, and waking sleep.” This quote from Montaigne gives us a look into his mind. The reader can see how different and interesting his mind works through his stream of consciousness. His style keeps the readers attention and introduces it to foreign ideas.
Montaigne’s style and Austen’s style are totally different. Montaigne is free flowing with no structure and Austen’s writing is structured. The mood of Montaigne is deep and serious compared to Austen’s which is simple and witty. Austen’s diction is used amuse the reader. For example, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” This is one example of a witty quote. This is also the first sentence of the entire book. Jane Austen sets the mood for the rest of the book with this humorous quote.
Montaigne’s writing style contradicts both Foster’s notion and Austen’s writing style. Montaigne’s style comes straight from his thoughts. He utilizes much of stream of consciousness. Montaigne’s serious mood is the opposite of Austen’s witty attitude. The style of Montaigne gives us a look in to his abnormal thinking. Montaigne and Austen give us two writing styles that are insightful even though they both contradict each other.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
I CAN READ!
Youtube Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BEUlWwy8_E
I made nine mistakes and read it in six minutes exactly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BEUlWwy8_E
I made nine mistakes and read it in six minutes exactly.
1987 AP Test
1 C
2 B
3 E
4 E
5 D
6 D
7 D
8 B
9 E
10 A
11 D
12 D
13 B
14 C
15 A
16 B
17 E
18 A
19 A
20 C
21 E
22 D
23 A
24 B
25 D
26 E
27 D
28 D
29 A
30 A
31 D
32 C
33 D
34 D
35 A
36 E
37 B
38 D
39 C
40 C
41 B
42 A
43 B
44 E
45 B
46 A
47 B
48 A
49 B
50 D
51 B
52 C
53 E
54 B
55 B
56 B
57 D
58 D
59 E
60 B
61 B
-27
2 B
3 E
4 E
5 D
6 D
7 D
8 B
9 E
10 A
11 D
12 D
13 B
14 C
15 A
16 B
17 E
18 A
19 A
20 C
21 E
22 D
23 A
24 B
25 D
26 E
27 D
28 D
29 A
30 A
31 D
32 C
33 D
34 D
35 A
36 E
37 B
38 D
39 C
40 C
41 B
42 A
43 B
44 E
45 B
46 A
47 B
48 A
49 B
50 D
51 B
52 C
53 E
54 B
55 B
56 B
57 D
58 D
59 E
60 B
61 B
-27
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