THE FINAL BLOG!!

The honors English blog this year has truly taught me a lot about who I am, and how I have matured over the course of the year. As I read over each one of my blog posts, beginning with "Reading", and ending with "Essay Writing", I realized that each one of the blogs had a little piece of my personality in it. This blog has really been a way for me to express myself, not having to worry too much about format or the quality of my writing. I have learned a lot from it.

To begin, at the beginning of the school year, in September and October, it seemed like I spent a lot of time writing the blogs. I wrote at least two long paragraphs, but in several of the earlier posts I wrote three good sized paragraphs. Most of the first few blogs were about personal experiences and stories, which is probably why it was easy for me to write a lot. Everyone loves to write about themselves; what they like to do, who their friends are, their hobbies and activities. It is a major part of human nature, we are pretty self oriented, but in a healthy way. So I really enjoyed those first few blogs, and found a lot of my personality included throughout them. Each one was specific, detailed, and filled with my personal feelings and ideas. They were fun to read, because I could tell I enjoyed writing them.

Around mid November, my writing style changed. I began to write the bare minimum, not putting much emotion into my writing. No more exclamation points or personal opinions, it was all business. This alteration in my writing style was probably the result of my schedule becoming way busier than normal. With the holidays approaching and my extremely crazy concert schedule getting crazier by the minute, I barely had time to write thoughtfully. Also, another probable reason for this change in my posts may be because we began to write more seriously about literature and the books we were reading in class. The blogs were no longer based on my own opinions, they were based on what the author wanted you to get out of the book, and what we discussed in class. Whatever the reason, my blogs from about November to March were pretty emotionless and boring. With the exception of "My New Years Resolution".

I really enjoyed reading about my new years resolution because I had forgotten what exactly I had resolved to do. After reading this post I began to realize how far I have come since January. My resolution was to stop being so judgemental of people before I even know them, and I think I have done a pretty good job of changing that flaw in my character. I now think before I make a judgemental comment about someone, and I try to be equally kind and friendly to everyone. Even though I'm still not perfect, I have definitely improved this year.

In early April, my blog posts began to have a little more personality in them once again. I finally had time to write more thoughtfully and the quality of my blogs improved. The long winter was finally coming to an end, and my mood brightened at the thought of sunshine and summertime once again. Finally my personality came back to my writing, and I was able to put my opinions back into my blog. Also, besides the fact that summer was just around the corner, I really enjoyed Romeo and Juliet, because it was silly and so incredibly unrealistic. In the past, I thought that this story was tragic and very sad, but after reading it I realize how it is much more of a comedy. The characters are all exaggerated and hilarious! I started to really have fun with English. It's almost as if my writing style changed with the style of the literature we read.

Overall, my blog changed over the year based on what activities we were doing in class at the time, as well as what was happening in my life. I would have never thought that the books we read in English influenced my attitude toward life. It seems as though reading more serious books made me feel serious, and the humorous books made me feel happy and humorous. Wow, I really learned a lot from this blog. Although I am glad that it is finally coming to an end, and summer is almost here at last (5 more days!!!!!), I will miss it and all that it has taught me. I didn't realize how much this blog has taught me about myself. As George Bernard Shaw once said, "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself," I have really learned that my attitude and thoughts influence who I am, and how I view life. This blog has taught me that, and much more. So Sophomore year, here I come!

Essay Writing

I have definitely learned a lot about essay writing this year. What I really feel I learned the most about this year is the structure of essays, I feel that I have really accomplished good essay structure this year. Am I a good essayist? Well, I definitely know what a good essay is like, and what it should contain. I think I pretty thoroughly understand literary analysis, all of the figurative language, symbolism, motifs, and themes, but sometimes it is challenging to get a grasp on what exactly the author means by including that literary elaboration. But overall, my essay writing skills have improved greatly throughout the year.

This essay has been the most difficult essay for me the whole year, for a few reasons. One is that it is a very difficult book to relate to, since the characters are so far-fetched and unrealistic. I think I have gotten a grasp on my essay now, though it took awhile. I think the thing that could get me a B on this essay is probably my conclusion. I know that Romeo and Juliet is important to modern culture, but I don't really understand why. Maybe it is because people like things that are so exaggerated that it is obvious what the theme was meant to be. And the theme is pretty obvious, that people will do almost anything to get that feeling known as love. This book is very dramatic, but it gets its point across. So that has been the most difficult part for me. But other then that I am fairly satisfied with my essay. I still have a lot to learn about essays, but I've come a long ways.

Summer Reading...

Wow I can't believe it's almost summer! Crazy! I havn't thought at all about what I want to read this summer, I usually just find new books as I go, but I guess I will think of some now. One book that I am interested in reading is one called Swimming to Antartica, by Lynne Cox, because I have heard from a few people that it is a very interesting read. It is a true story about a woman who swam all over the world in extreme conditions. She swam in The Cape of Good Hope in Africa, where she was surrounded by sharks, and even in Antartica, the most freezing waters on earth. I think this would be a good read because it is very exciting and hard to imagine. It scares me to even think about swimming in shark infested waters, and I admire her courage and determination.

Another book I am interested in reading this summer is Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte. I have heard that this is a great story from every person who I have ever talked to about it, and I think I will try reading it again. I tried to read it a while ago, but I didn't have enough time to get past the the boring parts. Also, I read the fantastic book Jane Eyre last year, and it's by Emily Bronte's sister, so since I really enjoyed reading that I think I will enjoy Wuthering Heights as well. These are just two of the many books I hope to read this summer. I can't wait until it's finally summer!

Fate

Since my birthday is December 1st, my astrological sign is Saggitarius. I have always thought that horoscopes are kind of a joke, it seems like the people writing them could just make up anything they want. But they're still fun to read and laugh about. Looking online I found several descriptions of a Saggitarius personality, and decided to use this one.

You have a lot of nervous energy and are very optimistic. Sagittarius will overlook details so that the overall picture can be considered. Sagittarius is warm and friendly. You like to talk a great deal making it difficult for others to get a word in edgewise. Sagittarius loves to travel. You are adaptable, tolerant, philosophical, knowledgeable, honest and outspoken. Like Gemini, this is a dual sign and a love of change and variety is felt. Sagittarius is constructive, clear-sighted, generous, cheerful, loyal and independent.

Some of this stuff is true for me, and some is really the opposite. I don't really have a lot of nervous energy, I would say I'm a pretty calm person and I am optimistic for the most part. Most of the time I don't talk to much, but there are always exceptions. I really do love traveling, and I need change and variety. So this horoscope is pretty much like all the others, it's a bunch of random characteristics that could apply to pretty much anyone.

In Romeo and Juliet, many of the characters, especially Romeo, take fate very seriously. The way Romeo thinks of fate is shown after Mercutio has been murdered, when he says, "This day's black fate on more days doth depend. This but begins the woe others must end." (3.1.124-125) Romeo has a feeling that what took place on that day is not finished yet, and will take many more days until other people finally end it. Although he doesn't know it yet, he is right. The next day he and Juliet will kill themselves, causing the fued between the families to come to an end at last. Romeo speaks of fate again after he murders Tybalt and says, "O, I am Fortune's fool!" (3.1.142) He feels that he can't control his actions, but fate controls what he does. Romeo seems to blame fate for a lot of his problems, but really they could be solved if he had a little mroe common sense and wasn't so dramatic.

Culture Shock

Ok so I'm not a Twilight freak, but I have read the books. And the second book, New Moon, has a plot a little bit like Romeo and Juliet, with some refrences to the story in it. For example, there is one chapter in New Moon titled "Paris", that is almost a complete metaphor. In this chapter she keeps thinking, what if Juliet liked Paris too, and was caught between Paris and Romeo. In the story Bella is caught in a similar situation as she is caught between Edward and Jacob.

Another allusion to Romeo and Juliet is made in New Moon within the plot. There is a part in the plot where Bella goes cliff-diving, and Edward gets misinterpreted information that she jumped off a cliff and died. He is so heartbroken that he attempts to kill himself and almost succeeds, but Bella gets there just in time. Similarly, in Romeo and Juliet, Juliet takes a drug that makes her appear dead, and Romeo gets misinterpreted information that she is dead and is so heartbroken he attempts to kill himself. Unfortunately, Juliet doesn't wake up in time, and so their story ends in a tragedy. As you can see, these two stories are very similar, and contain several parallels to each other in their plot and characters.

Extra Credit Blog

All throughout elementary school and middle school english was pretty much always an "easy A" for me. We never really had to think about things too deeply, and everything was explained in precise detail. So when I signed up to take honors english I figured it would be about the same as the rest of my school english experience. But I was wrong. English this year has been challenging. Over and over again we have had to do things that involve a lot more thinking than I am used to in english. And the funny thing is, a lot of the material we have learned this year is completely new to me. Like reciting poetry, I have never had to do that except maybe some little rhyming poem in second grade. And DGP, well its a lot more difficult than the grammar in previous years. I have really learned a lot more then I expected to learn this year, and I have changed the way I analyze literature and writing. But it has been an interesting class, and I'm glad I have learned a lot. It makes all of the hard work worth it.

Skit Prep

I definetely think that we should make a skit out of the very first scene in the book, where Pip first meets the convict. This is the scene where the convict holds Pip upside down, nearly pushes him off a tombstone, and threatens that a mysterious "young man" will kill Pip if he doesn't follow through with what the convict asks him to do. Acting this out would be great, because the actors/actresses could display Pip's fear of being killed by the mysterious "young man" and the convict's uncivilized roughness.

Another scene that would be excellent to see dramatized is the scene where Mr. Wopsle is acting out the newspaper, and Jaggers comes in and sets him straight. Mr. Wopsle and the people of Pip's hometown have nothing better to do than listen to Mr. Wopsle act out a trial from the newspaper. Jaggers finds this ridiculous and challenges Mr. Wopsle, which is humerous. The actors/actresses in this scene could show how ridiculous and silly Mr. Wopsle is, and how intelligent and sharp Jaggers is.

Finally, I think that the first time Pip meets Miss Havisham would be a good scene to act out as well. In this part of the book Estella is very rude to Pip, and tells him of his common, coarse ways of living, while Miss Havisham says a lot of creepy things and tells Estella to break Pip's heart. The actors/actresses in the skit could show Estella's extreme cruelty and proudness, as well as Miss Havisham's creepiness.

Another Question

One of the most confusing things to me in this book, is why Estella decides to marry Drummle. On page 363 she says, "Why not tell you the truth? I am going to be married to him." She states earlier that she has no heart, and can never love anyone, so what I don't understand is why she decides to marry someone who is looked down upon in sociey like Drummle instead of someone like Pip.

Book Questions...

This book is very much high and formal diction, and there are a lot of things I could have asked. But one thing that I really don't understand is when Pip is visiting Miss Havisham and Estella, now that he is a gentleman, and Miss Havisham tells him something very confusing. In chapter 29 she says, "Hear me Pip! I adopted her to be loved. I bred her and educated her to be loved. I developed her into what she is, that she might be loved. Love her!" (240) I really don't understand the what she means by this. Does she want Pip to love her because Miss Havisham herself could never love her? or does she want Pip to completely love her so that he can get his heart broken and share her grief?

At this point in the book Pip leaves his village, and all he has ever known, to become a gentleman. This graphic represents how Pip follows his dream and is unique. Nobody else in his small village has ever been a gentleman, or has gone up in social status. But Pip breaks that barrier and shows that anything is possible. However, Pip is very lonely as a gentleman. When he gets to London he sees what being a gentleman is really like, and begins to think that its not so great afterall.

Great Expectations- The First Stage

When Pip speaks about how a chain is started by the first link, which is the most memorable part of it, he is referring to his first day at Miss Havisham's. This day is one of the most memorable days Pip has ever experienced, the other being when he met his convict. Since he is only 7 years old, he hasn't been out of his house very much, and so this experience really shocks him. He has never seen anybody of high social class like Estella and Miss Havisham, so he does not know that he is common and rough. When Estella tells him frankly that he is plain and common, he feels bad about himself. This chapter also shows Pip's sensitive character, and how Estella's words really hurt him. This day is the start of a new part of Pip's life, and his dream of becoming a gentleman.

A memorable day that began a new part of my life was my very first violin lesson. This day is a very faint memory to me, since I was just 4 1/2 years old, but it was a very important day in my life. On that day that I first placed a violin in my tiny hands, I started a long chain of music. After this first lesson, I became more interested in other types of music, which eventually led to me joining a choir and playing the piano. My passion for music began on this day, and has continued ever since.

Group Essay Collaboration

In my paragraph, I am describing Lady Bracknell's attitude towards marriage. The first idea in my paragraph is how Lady Bracknell thinks that a marriage should be arranged by the parents, and the girl getting married should have no say in the matter. As an example of this I used the quote, “An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that she could be allowed to arrange for herself…” Then I went on to describe the stereotypical Victorian mother that Lady Bracknell is, and the way she controlls Gwendolen. The second idea in my paragraph is about Lady Bracknell's obsession with the money of a marriage. I used the quote “A hundred and thirty thousand pounds! And in the funds! Miss Cardew seems to me a most attractive young lady, now that I look at her.” to explain how lady Bracknell does not approve of Cecily until she finds out she is wealthy.

The third and final idea in my paragraph is the Lady Bracknell won't allow Gwendolen to marry someone who is not high in society. I explained how she doesn't think that Jack is a suitable husband for Gwendolen because he does not know his social status since he was found in a handbag. I went on to say that even though Jack was adopted by someone of high social standing, Lady Bracknell does not approve of his background. Finally, in the conclusion I reviewed Lady Bracknell's thoughts on marriage. The last sentence of my paragraph is, "However, these beliefs on marriage are quite contrary to those of her nephew, Algernon Moncrieff." Do you think that this is a good lead into Hania's paragraph on Algernon?

The Importance of Being Earnest/Victorian Research

Over the past few days, while we have been reading The Importance of Being Earnest I have noticed that many of the things that I learned in my research of the Victorian era show up repeatedly in the play. First of all, while doing the research I learned that marriage in the Victorian era was all about money for the bride's family and not about romance. This comes up a lot in the play, and is shown clearly on page 31 when Gwendolen says, "... I may marry someone else and marry often..." She is saying that she might marry multiple times, and this was not uncommon in the Victorian era.

Another parallel between my research and the play was social classes in the Victorian era. During this era the lower class were extremely poor and slaved away in factories or in the fields barely able to support their families, while the upper class looked down upon them and lived lives of high class and wealth. A perfect example of this is shown on page 8 when Algernon says, "Really, if the lower orders don't set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them?" He is indicating his disrespect for the lower class, and how he looks down upon them like many upper class people in the Victorian era.

My New Years Resolution

Over the past few weeks, I have thought carefully about what I would like to change about my life in this new year. I came up with many possible resolutions that I could focus on, but the one that really stuck with me was to not be judgemental of people. I have a bad habit of judging people before I have gotten to know them. I often say something like "I don't like that person" even though I have never spoken to them. This is a terrible fault of mine and needs to be changed if I want to get anywhere in life.

Bad habits are easily started, and are much more difficult to end. I don't know when I began harshly judging people, but it was not a good habit to start. Basically what I would like to accomplish this year is looking at the good things in people, not focusing on the bad things about them. To start, when I first see someone, even if my first impression of them isn't good, I will try to not say anything rude about them, and wait until I have gotten to know them before I form an opinion. I hope that by next year I will be much more excepting and open minded about people.