My myth project was on Eirene, the goddess of Peace. Each student had to pick a character from mythology. So it had to be a god/goddess, hero, or another figure from greek mythology or history. We just had to cover the basic information, a myth, and why do we think anient people might have been interested in the figure. Our final project was a poster with the four sections.
Basic Information
Name: Eirene
Symbol:
·Olive branch
·Peace sign
·Birds
·Clouds
·Flowers
Relative
of:
·Zeus (daughter)
·Themis (daughter)
·Eunomia (sister)
·Dike (sister)
Enemy of:
·Polemos (god of war)
Where she
is from:
·Greek myths
·Roman myths
·Latin myths
Other
names:
·Eirhnh (Greek)
·Pax (Latin)
Described
as:
·Heavenly qualities of calm,
quiet, and still.
·She is usually thought of
as a young maiden wit an infant child name plutos, the god of wealth, and an
olive-branch in one hand with a torch in the other.
·Burning a pile of arms, or carrying corn-ears in her hand or upon her
head.
EPITHETS:
·Shy Eirene
·Quiet Eirene
·Blooming Peace
Myth:
Eirene has two sisters
Dike, the goddess of Justice and Eunomia, the order of good-pasture. They are
always together and usually mentioned in one sentence together, you cannot say
one name without saying the others. The myth is that they are always together
because you cannot live without peace if you do not have justice, and you
cannot live with justice if you have disorder. Some people also say that it is
never a good thing to disrespect justice, destroy peace, or live in disorder.
Some people do believe that
you can separate the three sisters. For example, some people believe that peace
(Eirene) must be banished for the sake of justice (Dike) or that justice must
be suspended in order to keep order (Eunomia). No matter how much. Abstractions are the things
we want, or things that we inherit as people. My Take
Away
I think this myth exist
because the ancient Greek people had to have a meaning for wanting peace, justice,
and order. I think that they were thinking about what is it; what is the
importance of it, and why do people want it. Once they thought of the meaning
of Peace, they probably wanted other myths to link up to peace, so they also
thought of justice and order. On the other hand, they maybe just wanted three
goddesses to link up to each other to define a good way of living. Eirene is
also the hora of Spring.
I believe that they made
the the Hora of Spring because, when I think of Spring, I think of justice,
graceful, peaceful, and things blooming. In the statue of Eirene holding plutos
(wealth) and a olive branch in one hand, and a torch in the other hand, that is
what I think of. Plutos reminds me of the blooming because he is a baby and he
is growing every day. The torch reminds me of justice because usually you hold
up a torch when you have gained justice of when you have achieved something
great. The olive branch reminds me of peace and grace because the olive tree is
a symbol of peace, and peace makes me think of grace so I believe that they are
connected.
Eirene
and her symbol
I made
this symbol using illustrator application on my computer. I believe that this
would be the perfect symbol for Eirene. The reason is, it represent her as the
Hora of spring, the myth about her and her three sisters , Dike (justice) and
Eunomia (Order) sticking together, and her being the godess of peace. Also, I
imagined her having a bunch of flowers on her dress because she is the hora of
Spring and a halo on her head to represent peace.
Our 3rd benchmark was to write a compare/contrast essay comparing Odysseus from the Odyssey, and Everett from the movie "O brother where art thou?" Here is the project:
Everett
Odysseus compare contrast
In
the Odyssey, Odysseus, the Greek hero, has a 10 year journey home where he
undergoes many trials and challenges. In the movie O brother where art thou,
Everett, the main character, has to go through similar challenges to Odysseus.
Despite Odysseus being a hero, Everett had characteristics that in some ways
made him more heroic than Odysseus.
Both
Odysseus and Everett had very similar stories in their journey home. This is
because the movie O brother where art
thou was based off of the Odyssey. Both Everett and Odysseus faced many of
the same problems, such as the Sirens, and the Cyclops Polyphemus. For example,
Odysseus had over 100 suitors courting his wife because they thought he was
dead. Everett also had a suitor, but there was only one. Another example of
this was changing the Sirens, who were women who would lure sailors to them by
singing. The movie changed them to women who sang and seduced Everett and his
men and took in Pete, one of the crew, for the bail. A third example was the
Cyclops Polyphemus. He was changed into a large bible salesman with an eye
patch, who robbed Everett and his men. While Everett and Odysseus had similar
things happen to them, they didn’t always act the same way, or get the same end
result because, even though they were similar in many ways, they were different
people. Odysseus would sometimes look for only the fighting way through,
whereas Everett might seek to trick someone, or escape the problem altogether.
Odysseus was mainly known for being two
things, clever, and a hero, but he was also very prideful and vain. During the
Trojan War, he fought with the Greeks for 10 years. At the end of the 10th
year, he had the idea for the Trojan horse. The idea was to build a massive
wooden horse, and have the best Greek warriors go inside it. They would act
like it was a gift saying that they surrendered. Then the Trojans would take it
inside the castle, and when it was night, the Greeks would leave the horse and
attack Troy from the inside. It worked and that was how the Greeks defeated
Troy. Another example of Odysseus being clever was when he was captured by the
Cyclops. He got him drunk, and when the Cyclops fell asleep, he stabbed him in
the eye. The next day, because the Cyclops was blind,Odysseus
and his men were able to escape underneath sheep as the sheep left to go out
into the field. But Odysseus can also be vain and prideful. For example, when
he escaped from the Cyclops, he yelled out “Cyclops, if any man on the face of
the earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed you so – say Odysseus, raider
of cities, he gouged out your eye,
Laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithaca!” (Book 9, lines 558 – 562), so the
Cyclops would know who blinded him, and he would get credit for it. But the
Cyclops throws a boulder at the ship, because he heard where it was from
Odysseus’s voice, and then knowing his name, was able to curse Odysseus, and
ask Poseidon to make Odysseus’s journey home as difficult as possible.
Everett,
like Odysseus was also vain. When they were escaping from a burning barn, he
wanted to make a detour so he could get his hair gel. This would have gotten
him killed, but his crew convinced him not to. This shows that even though he
could be stubborn, he could also be convinced to do something. He also liked to
show that he was smart by using big words in every sentence. He was also
somewhat humble, because he could admit a mistake, and at one point in the
film, asked his crew for forgiveness, whereas Odysseus never did.
Everett
and Odysseus had many similarities. For example, they both were “smart” and
were known for it. They were also both vain, and always tried to make
themselves look better whenever possible, whatever the cost. They also had many
differences. Odysseus was much more of a “fighting” person, and always wanted
to solve problems with a sword. An example of this was when he tried to fight
Scylla, who was immortal. “But now I cleared my mind of Circe’s orders –
cramping my style, urging me not to arm at all.” (Book 12, lines 45 – 46), he
went up on deck with his some of his crew, and lost his 6 best men. Other than
that, he almost always “won” his fights, like when he went past the sirens he
chose to listen to them while his crew tied him to the mast, and put wax in
their ears. “They bound me hand and foot in the tight ship – erect at the mast
block” (Book 12, lines 194-195). Everett, on the other hand, would usually be
on the losing side of fights. When he met the Sirens, Pete was captured. When
he met the Cyclops, he was robbed. Everett was also much more humble than
Odysseus. Odysseus may have shown some remorse occasionally, but he never
actually apologized for anything he did wrong. When Everett told Pete and
Delmar that he had lied about the treasure, he apologized, showing that he
could be humble.
While
Odysseus may have been a hero, Everett, the protagonist in the film O brother where art thou, was in some
ways more heroic than Odysseus. Though Odysseus and Everett were proud people,
Everett could be humble, and admit his mistakes. Though Odysseus and Everett
were both vain, Everett could be convinced that there were things more
important than himself. Though Odysseus and Everett were both the leaders in
their respective groups, Everett cared more about his men, whereas Odysseus
would recklessly answer to any challenge, no matter the harm to his men. In
all, any humility and being humble could make someone greater than any hero who
was proud and self-centered.
Throughout
the school I have tried my hardest and worked to the best of my ability to do
well in school, especially when it comes to English. English class involves a
lot of writing and thinking which is what you need to type a well-presented
paper. The work that you represents me as a writers, maybe not a very good one
but, someone who puts forth an effect to complete a well challenging task.
Some things that I feel are my
weaknesses in English are my spelling, I can’t spell to save my life. When
writing, I could type for hours if it’s an interesting top I’m writing about,
but when it comes down to revising it I find many errors in my writing.
Especially when using the right form of the word, such as their, they’re and
their also than and then. These are just a few things I need to work on so when
I enter 10th grade I’ll be on point with my word context.
I’m proud of myself looking back on
my work throughout the year. I feel accomplished with all the hard work I put
into my portfolio. A few things I struggled on are finishing assignments last
minute and just completing my work the day it’s due. It’s usually because other
assignments from other classes I’d be forced on more because they would be due
first. Juggling task from other classes is a major thing I need to work on for
the new school year.Another thing
I had a hard time with was gathering information or coming up with information
to write about in the papers for my portfolio. It very hard because after all
ideas and details I’d put it the paper, I’d see that it wasn’t enough to fit
the requirements of whatever the assigned pages were.
My piece I am most proud of is my
vignette, in that assignment I felt as though I got to express myself because
our stories we writing had to be about something that happened to you or your
family. Such as a special event, vacation or even your family itself. In that
piece I talk about how it was living in my household and compared my family to
a family portrait, wishing that would be my everyday life, my family being as
happy as in a family portrait.
Introduction: This project is based off the playbook Macbeth, which was assigned to
read for English class. For the project, our job was to chose a character, 10
quotes and explain how that person changes throughout the story.
Victoria Odom
Macbeth Benchmark
Thesis: Lady Macbeth stands her
ground as a strong woman who is willing to do anything to get what she wants,
but in the end her guilty conscience gets the best of her, leaving her with the
wrong act of suicide.
In Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth
discovers a letter from Macbeth that he we will soon be promoted as the Thane
Of Cawdor and later reign as King.Since Duncan is still King, and is staying the night at Macbeth’s
castle, Lady Macbeth confronts Macbeth on a plan to killing Duncan in his
sleep.She states in Act 1 Scene 5
Lines 64-65, “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”.What she means is be a gentle person
show no fear, emotion, or signs of murder.Although she is excited that the King is coming to stay, she
hides that eagerness of her husband Macbeth becoming King.In the quote she is talking to Macbeth
and telling him to do this also, she wants there to be no suspicion of them
being the murders behind this death, hoping for this to be a perfect kill.
In Act 1 Scene 7, Macbeth is having
seconds thoughts on killing Duncan and is a bit scared of the outcome.He is still wondering on whether or not
to go through with the plan, but Lady Macbeth questions him and makes him want
to change his mind. She says in Act 1 Scene 7 Lines 39-41, “Art thou afeard to
be the same in thine own act and valor as thou art in desire?”.What she is asking him is, is he afraid
to act the way he desires.She
questions him on if he is afraid to do want he feels he needs to do, but she
uses seduction to convince him to stick to the plan.
In the beginning of Act 2 Scene 2
Macbeth is on his way to killing Duncan while Lady Macbeth awaits for the conclusion
of it being done.Within this Act
and Scene, Lines 10-12 Lady Macbeth says “Th’ attempt, and not the deed,
confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready – he could not miss ’em”.What this means is Lady Macbeth is
anxious and can’t wait for the murder to be done with. She is waiting and
waiting and wants to know what’s taking Macbeth so long but, when she final
hears the good news she is filled with relief.This indicates that Lady Macbeth is willing to do anything
to get what she wants and stop at nothing to make sure that happens.
In the middle of Act 2 Scene 2
Macbeth is going crazy and starts to feels guilty about killing Duncan.He starts to regret it and wish it
never happened but, Lady Macbeth says in Line 37 “These deeds must not be
thought. After these ways; so, it will make us mad.” She tells Macbeth that
thinking that way is wrong and if he continues on this path he’ll go
insane.Lady Macbeth is now
starting to take command and shows that she now has power.
In Act 3 Scene 2 Lady Macbeth
starts to get worried and feels regret of what has been done, although she was
the one telling Macbeth to man up and feel no guilt.
Macbeth starts to keep to himself
and tells Lady Macbeth that he’s been thinking a lot and having nightmares
about the night of the murder. Lady Macbeth states in Lines 12-13 “Things
without all remedy should be without regard. What’s done is done.” What she
means is what is done can’t be fixed so stop giving it a second thoughts.She wants Macbeth to stay focused with
his role as King and stay on path with his power in command.
In Act 3 Scene 4 Macbeth is at the
banquet dinner with all the other Lords.Before the dinner he sends out murders to go and kill Banquo but, during
the dinner Macbeth starts to have illusions and see ghosts of Banquo. This
makes him seem as if he’s crazy and talk out loud let the ghost is really
there.Lady Macbeth watches as
this happens and talks to the Lords and tries to play it off.As she shows the Lords out the door she
says to Macbeth “You lack the reason of all sleep”, Line 142, she starts to
give up and lose that willingful power.She’s telling Macbeth to go to bed because she knows he is tired, she
also feels tired too. Tired of the lies and worries, and so she starts to die
off and lose that empowering control.
In the beginning of Act 5 Scene 1 the
doctor and gentlewoman are in the hall, and are talking about Lady Macbeth and
her continuous sleepwalking.The
gentlewoman says in Lines 28-29 “It is an accustomed action with her, to seem
thus washing her hands”.What she
means is that she’s been seeing Lady Macbeth do this a lot lately for many
minutes at a time. What she doesn’t know is that what Lady Macbeth is doing, is
replaying that moment in time where she was washing the blood from her hands
from the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth has let all this go to her head
and this guilt she is holding in making her go insane and feeling she has done
wrong.
In the middle Act 5 Scene 1 the
doctor and gentlewoman are still discussing Lady Macbeth and her
sleepwalking.They observe the
things she says and does, and soon they find out that her and Macbeth were the
masked murders behind this killing of Duncan.As Lady Macbeth is walking she says in Lines 50-51 “Here’s
the smell of blood still.All the
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hands”. What she means is in
her mind the smell of blood still lies on her hands, and nothing no perfume or
cleaning can make it go away. Again she feels this guilt inside of her and its
eating her alive.
At the end of Act 5 Scene 1 the
doctor and gentlewoman are still listening and watching Lady Macbeth sleepwalk
and soon are on their way to bed.Before they go off, the doctor says to the gentlewoman in Lines 58-60 “I
have known those which have walked in their sleep who have died holily in their
beds”. What he means is he doesn’t know vary much of this disease but those
he’s known who have done it weren’t guilty of anything.Although, Lady Macbeth is spilling the
beans about the murder in her sleep these truthful words warn the doctor and
gentlewoman about what Lady Macbeth might do next.
In Act 5 Scene 8 the battle is on
for the taking of thrown, now that everybody knows that Macbeth is the murder
behind Duncan’s death.Before the
battle beginning news is brought to Macbeth that Lady Macbeth is dead but,
really shows no emotion of this terrible news. Macduff enters the castle and
slays Macbeth leaving him with nothing.At the end of the battle Malcolm states in Lines 70-71 “Of this dead
butcher and his friend like queen who, as ‘tis thought, by self and violent
hands took off her life”. This indicates Lady Macbeth took her own life because
of all the guilt tearing her apart.
In conclusion, Lady Macbeth has
definitely changed throughout the play. At first she was excited and happy her husband was becoming
King.She was also hoping to be
satisfied with the murder of Duncan and felt that she had some say and power in
the decisions made.As time moved
on she started to feel guilty and less and less powerful while her husband was
king.Then she started sleepwalking
and having nightmares about the day of the murder. Finally the day or a few
hours before the big battle Lady Macbeth took her own life because she good no
longer take the guilty conscience in her head.
Introduction: This
benchmark was to write about a special moment in your life and describe it with
stylistic devices, such as magic 3, dialogue, and similes.
Red Stream
Victoria Odom
Family Portrait
Families
aren’t always what they look like in family photos. (opener) I guess, “I’m
blessed to even have a family”(dialogue) as my mom would say, but sometimes
it doesn’t feel like that. I remember the first time my family and I went to
take our first family photo. My mom was looking in the car mirror trying to
get her hair the way she wanted it, my dad still inside trying to figure out
what to wear, and my little brother crying for a reason of which I don’t
remember, we all were excited to get our picture taken. (magic 3) As my dad
entered the car, a few minutes later we pulled off and were set out for
reaching our destination.
Arriving at the
photo shop within 30 minutes, we all hopped out the car, as my mom unstrapped
my brother from his car seat.(magic 3)While
we entered the building, I discovered that we weren’t the only family getting
our picture taken today. Minute after minute after minute (rep 4 effect)
went by, and finally it was our turn under the camera light. The cameraman,
whose name was so hard to pronounce I couldn’t remember it, told us to sit,
positioned us all in an appropriate angle, and told us to smile. I smiled
wide and proudly as if I was a superhero in a comic book, that had just saved
the day. (simile)With all the positioning just right the camera man kindly
said “ 1…2…3…smile”. (dialogue) He took a few photos so when it came
time to selecting the best ones we had a variety of them to choose from. My
family and I left the photo shop with great excitement, so when the pictures
were delivered to my house and the photos were hung on the wall, we had some
sort of happy memory to look back on in the near future.
By
the time the weekend was over I was so ready to go back to school, at that age
you think school is cool and learning was something you’d be interested in the
rest of your life. Back then I had already gotten tired of people pronouncing
my last name as if it was “O your dumb”. (dialogue) Coming home from elementary
school that day I heard strange voices I wasn’t expecting to hear after a good
day of learning. “Its your fault its all your fault” (dialogue) words
that never seemed to make sense to me at such a young age, were all part of a
puzzle I’ve always been hoping to but together. The voice came from upstairs, I walked into the kitchen as if
I didn’t know what was going on, although I could still hear the arguing. Being
young then, it was hard to understand why my parents were always mad at each
other one minute then loving and caring the next. I guessed that’s what real
love was all about, and you just had to except the similarities and differences
of each others’ open-minded company, and if you didn’t like it then leaving was
the only other option.
I always thought
my parents would end up in divorce, with my brother and I juggling from place
to place to go to one parent to the next.Especially since on our last family vacation, filled with great joy and
amusement, my dad didn’t join us. Before we left for the vacation I ask my dad
“Why aren’t you coming with us?” (dialogue)he responded ask your mother,
and indeed I did. As I walked to my parents’ room to find my mom still packing
her things. She seemed pissed but I still intended to ask her “Mom”(dialogue)
as every average American girl called their mother, “Do you know why dad
isn’t coming on vacation with us?”, “He’s mad at me I guess” (dialogue) replying
with an irritated voice. She started mumbling under her breath, I got tired of
listening to my mom’s complaining similar to what I heard on a daily basis, so
I left and waited with my brother down stairs in the living room. Over all the
vacation was great with splashes, laughter, food and fun but I wish we could of
spent it as a whole family.
If I was to really
think hard about it seems to me that they fight over about the any and
everything, especially when it comes down to money, bills, and sometimes even
me and my brother. That’s what hurts the most, sometimes I think we’re the
cause of the problem, between my brothers reckless behavior and my so called
nasty attitudes, it’s easy to believe that’s why they argue, but harder to
imagine.(magic 3)
The arguing is
mind blowing, it’s hard to study or even complete homework with all that noise.
It’s not always the arguing though, I would say sometimes its not that at all, I’d
say its mainly the yelling, screaming, and complaining at me. (magic 3) This
gives me major headache, along with the fact my brother’s room is literally
right next to mine. He’s always gaming, and talking on the phone, he talks on
the phone more then a female does. Although there’d be nothing for a 7th
grade middle schooler to talk about, he indeed spends hours in conversation.
The vent from his room is connected directly next to mine, so it’s as if he’s
in the same room as me. I’ll tell him to “Shut up”(dialogue), that just
results to me yelling “Shut the hell up!”(dialogue) but still that
butthead continues to disrespect my elderly authority.
My life isn’t what
I want it to be but it does have its happy sides, like good family outings. It’s
always fun then, spending time together, having a good laugh, and just
chilling. (magic 3) Quality time together seems to be the best time I enjoy
with my family, even if they’re a pain, but overall it’s better then not having
a family at all.My parents are
still together, for now anyway, but sometimes I wish living in a house with
them was a great happy feeling as you see in a family portrait.
Introduction: This
benchmark assignment was to compare and contrast a character from the book The
Odysseyand another person
that related to them butat the
same time showed some differences.
Victoria
Odom
Red
Stream
3-11-10
Penny And Penelope Comparison
Could you stand
being a single mother raising your children alone, while your husband is away
on a journey? Well Penelope and Penny could. The book The Odyssey and
the movie O, Brother Where Art Thou are
being compared and contrasted based on the characters Penelope and Penny, the
wives of the main characters,Odysseus
of The Odyssey Penelope’s husband, and Everett of O Brother Where Art Thou Penny’s husband. Although Penelope and
Penny were both left pregnant and alone their stories of struggle and husbands’
journeys home are different.
Penny and Penelope
both remain confident throughout their stories. Penny divorces her husband
Everett, after he has to leave and go to jail. With a need to support herself
and her family, she seeks out to find a new husband, who has better qualities
than Everett, one who she says has to be “bone-a-fide”. Penny knows what’s best,
so she finds herself “a suitor” who is up to her standards and is formally
engaged to her fiancé, Vernon T. Waldrip. Penelope is left with a baby boy to
take care of while her husband Odysseus is away for 20 years trying to find his
way home after the Trojan War. Penelope has her house invaded by a group of 100
plus suitors, with one who she has to marry. She still feels for her husband
and doesn’t want to marry any of these suitors. She wants him to come home but
has a feeling he is dead. According to Penelope the suitors are nothing but a
bunch of greedy pigs, and she wants out of her home. One day she has enough of
the suitors and says” And you, if you have any shame in your own hearts, you
must leave my palace! See to your feasting elsewhere; devour your own
possessions, house to house by turns. But if you decide the fare is better,
richer here, destroying one man’s goods and going scot-free, all right then,
carve away” (Book 2 lines 156-160). The both of these ladies know what they want
and if it’s best they’ll strive to get it.
Penelope and Penny
are the reasons why their husbands want to come home.
While Everett is away serving his
jail time, Penny sends him a letter that tells him she is getting married to
her fiancé Waldrip. So Everett lies to his companions who is he is chained to
telling them that they are escaping to find treasure. He is dedicated to
returning home and getting his wife back. Penny stubbles upon Everett in a
store and he realizes that she has been telling her daughters that he is dead
because he was hit by a train. Penelope, on the other hand can’t communicate
with Odysseus because there is no way she can. Odysseus is coming home from the
war but along the way faces many great challenges occurring by sea and islands.
Penelope has no idea he is alive and when he comes home Penelope doesn’t know
it is Odysseus because he is disguised as a beggar. The only people who she can
talk to,are the suitors who she
wants nothing to do with.“These
men drive me mad, hedging me round, right and left, plotting their lethal
plots, and no one takes my side”. (Book 18 Lines 261-262) Penelope has no
contact with Odysseus but Penny has contact with Everett. This shows that Penny
as a chance to talk to Everett and work things out in there relationship.
Penelope has no way of talking to Odysseus and explain how she feelings about
him but, she can’t all she can do is worry and hope he makes it home safely.
Penelope and Penny
both want their husbands’ back but at different times. Penelope remained
faithful to Odysseus for 20 years and didn’t want to marry anybody else, but
when he returned home things were a little different. He came home in disguise,
as a beggar, but Penelope doesn’t know that it’s him. “… my husband in their
ships, Odysseus if he could return to tend my life the renown I had would only
grow in glory.”.(Book 18 Lines
284-286) When the competition arrives Odysseus proves himself worthy because he
is the only one who successfully completes the challenge. He tries to tell Penelope
that it is really him, her husband and not just an old man. So Penelope tests
Odysseus to see if it’s really him. She tells the maids to move the marriage bed
and once Odysseus sees this he quickly fills with anger because that bed was
made special, made from a firmly planted tree trunk. Penelope immediately knows,
it’s Odysseus after she sees his reaction. Penny found herself a new man, “a
suitor” who met her standards and could help support her family. She forgot about
Everett as if he was really dead and told her children that a train had hit him.
Once Everett proves himself to Penny and shows that he is “bone-a-fined” she plans
to remarry him but only if he finds the wedding ring he gave to her when they
first were married. Both women Penelope and Penny take their husbands back but
with a catch.
These stories of
Penelope and Penny are different but in some situations they are alike. They
both were single mothers who took both parent rolls while their husbands were
away. Penelope was loyal to Odysseus but, Penny on the other hand could care
less about Everett.Their husbands
wanted them back so Penelope and Penny were the reasons why the wanted to come
home. When their husbands arrived Penny and Penelope took them back but both at
different times in their stories. Over all, both women remained confident
throughout their stories and got their husbands back with an amazing story for
them to hear about Odysseus’s and Everett’s journey.
Introduction: We were assigned to read a book over the first and second quarter and write a book review to turn in at the end of the second quarter.
To Kill A Mockingbird
Book Review
By: Victoria Odom
To Kill A
Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee. The book was first published in
1960 and in 1961 won the Pulitzer Prize. It was lately made into modern day
movie, which some people like to call a great classic. In the story, the
setting takes place in the deep south of Maycomb, Alabama during the time of
the Great Depression.
In the book the main
characters are Scout, Jem, Atticus, Tom, Bob and Mayella. The book is told
through Scout’s eyes and as you read you’ll discover, as a young girl, Scout is
learning a lot about what really goes on living in the deep South. Scout’s
father, Atticus, is a lawyer and is appointed to represent Tom Robinson, a black
man, in a rape case. Although everyone knew that Tom wouldn’t stand a chance on
trial, the sheriff knew with Atticus as his lawyer that at least Tom last
longer.Tom Robinson was accused
of rapping a young white girl, Mayella but, truth is Tom is innocent. Her
father Bob has been beating and raping her for as long as she can remember.
Growing up this is what Scout is a witness to this racist unfair trial, and
later discovers what racism actually is.
Although I have
not really experienced any of the things the characters have, I have
experienced of racism in my daily life. When I walk into a store usually owned
by a different race they follow me around as if I was going to steal something.
We as black people have come a long way from all the wrongly accused acts, I
feel that peace has gotten better since that time period.
Over all I really
enjoyed the book, it was very interesting to read and I have read it many times
before. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest books ever written. It
combines the act of racial discrimination with the everyday life of a young
girl. If Harper Lee ever continues from this book I would love to read the next
book. I think she is a great author and when she writes she really bring in the
reader’s attention. There’s nothing I disliked about this book.
Yes I would
recommend this book to others because of its truth relations in history. It
inspired me to read more books just like it. It shows that some people are
caring and kind the stick up for others. As Atticus did with Tom in court, all
though everyone knew they didn’t stand a chance on trial. I wish this book was
longer because I think 376 pages wasn’t enough, it will have you thinking what
happens next even after you’re done reading the book.
Introduction: These are my top four journal entries, that we were assigned to write about in class throughout the school year.
Journal Entries
Victoria Odom
11-30-10
I thought school was suppose to be
a place of peace and learning but, some people make it seem like the total
opposite. I think some girls feel so bad about themselves that they talk about
other people to make themselves feel better by degrading others. If they
something to say, then they should say it to your face rather than behind your
back. This is why I hate two-faced people the want be your friend to get all
the n they talk all this trash about you. This is why it’s hard to get along
with people because you never know who you can trust. Making friends comes easy
but, finding the true ones are the hard part. I feel that you shouldn’t judge
people on how they look or was others say about them, what really matters is
what’s on the inside, was things like a good personality.
12-9-10
A lot of times I wish I could drop
my race because of the racist stereotypes. When I walk into a store that’s
usually own by a person of high class or different race, they follow me and or
my friends around. I hate the fact of stereotypes, just because I’m black
doesn’t mean I steal because that surely is not true. I think no one should be
thought of a criminal just because of their outer skin appearance. Or even
thought to be a drug dealer or murder just because their black, live in a not
so fancy part of their city and may or may not own a gun. People need to stop
judging others on racial aspects and judge based on personality.
12-9-10
I
am who I am
I am
who I am
each
and everyday
I am
who I am
no
matter what you say
I am
who I am
when
I go to sleep
I am
who I am
when
I don’t say a peep
I am
who I am
standing
tall and proud
I am
who I am
speaking
very loud
I am
who I am
no
matter what I wear
I am
who I am
no
matter if you care
I am
who I am
each
and everyday
I am
who I am
is
what I have to say
1-4-11
My winter break wasn’t so great.
Spending the majority of it sick wasn’t what I had planned, but over all I
guess you can say it was okay. Christmas was interesting, I got everything I
wanted and more, seeing family I haven’t seen in awhile was great too. Family
time is usually fun, when there’s no drama but, that’s all it seems to be
lately. New Years was even worse, BECAUSE I DIDN’T GET TO CELEBRATE IT! I guess
you say it was my fault, it’s all because I was on the phone from 3 to 8:30 am
the night before. So when the new-year came around I was knocked out on the
couch fast asleep. Although I was sick for 2 weeks straight I feel much better
now.
2 times this year, each 2 quarters, we had to read a book that we chose, and do an essay on it. This is my project for the 3rd and 4th quarters, on the book Luka and the Fire of Life, by Rashid Khalifa.
At the beginning of some classes, we would be given a prompt on the board that we had to answer in our journal entries. These prompts could vary from asking why people write, to if we have ever done something with a group we were ashamed of.
Why do we write?11/24/10
We
write because writing expresses what messages we want to give to the world,
whether they are expressed in a serious or a comical way, we can give these
messages even if we believe them or not. Other than that, there are many other reasons
we write, if we want to write a story, to complete an assignment in school, or
to get something on paper and off our mind. Everyone can write, even people who
are illiterate, because writing to me is less the physical act of putting words
on paper, but more an act of self expression, like art, or music.
Is it important to you to fit in? Have you ever done
anything as part of a group that you’re ashamed of?12/2/10
It
isn’t that important to me to fit in, I don’t want to be completely excluded
from a group, but I don’t want to be the same as everyone else either. I have
never done anything as part of a group that I have regretted later, and I think
that fitting in is important because people want to feel wanted.
What makes someone an adult? Do you ever finish growing up?1/25/11
I
think that what defines someone as an adult is maturity. Just because you are
over 18, doesn’t mean you are mature. You are never finished growing up, you are
constantly learning and growing.
What are some expectations set on you by others? How do
these compare to expectations you put on yourself?4/5/11
Expectations
put upon me by others are that I do well in school. I expect myself to do this
also, but I also expect my self to do well in things other than academics.
These expectations are somewhat different, because I expect more from myself
than others expect from me.
My portfolio shows that I am a hard
working student. For every project or assignment I never go anything lower than
a B. That might not say how good of a student I am, but it does show that I
work hard and try my best most of the time. As viewers I would expect you to
see how different my work is. The work I do is unique, different than most
peoples work, but it works for me. Getting into class reading assignments is
one of my strengths in English. For example when we did Macbeth in this class I
did an amazing job on the projects we were supposed to do. I procrastinate and
I don’t like reading a lot, this can be considered as o huge weakness in
English class. I always wait until the last minute to do my projects or to read
a book for a book report. This can really hurt me in the future and I need to
work on it. It was fun looking through all of my past projects and seeing how I
grew in vocabulary and over all work since the beginning of September. I didn’t
come across many issues in my work, but there were a couple of things I
could have done better on. Some of those things are my first Independent reading
project and my Vignette. I resolved these issues by reflecting on what I needed
to change and what could have made it better. I am most proud of two pieces
that I did in this class and they are my Me Magazine and my Macbeth Creative
Piece. I am most proud of my Me Magazine because it was the first project that
I did in this class and I really talked about my life, I never wrote so much in
my life before I started going to this school. At previous schools before SLA
we never had acting class or got a chance to do something really creative, my
Macbeth Creative piece is an imovie of me acting as Lady Macbeth so obviously
it is pretty special to me. I am proud of all of the work I did this year and I want you to see my best creations showcased.
I think my work says that I am a very creative person and I put a lot of
detail into my work. I love to use keynote, because it allows me to put color
and be creative on my work. As viewers, you will see a lot of me in my work in
the way I write and the way that I express myself. For example, the memoir
vignette, you will learn a lot about me just by reading it. I think my
strengths in English are comprehending the work and doing the work on time.
Also, I think that I’m good at participating in class and engaging in the
conversations that we have.
This project was to demonstrate the one of the characters growth
throughout the book. The goal was to have 10 quotes that the character has said
and illustrate the transformation of MacBeth or Lady MacBeth.
Thesis Statement: Lady Macbeth is a
greedy person but then turned into a regretful person who was soaked with
guilt.
In Act 1 scene 3 of Macbeth, Lady
Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth stating that he received a prophesy from
the witches that he was going to be Thane of Cawdor and will be the King.
Aside, Lady Macbeth reads, “Glamis thou art Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art
promised. Yet do I fear thy nature” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 14-15). What this
means here is that Lady Macbeth now wants this phophesy to come to pass. Now,
Lady Macbeth is going to do everything that she can in order to make this
happen. She fears his nature or his personality because he could react a
certain way that Lady Macbeth wouldn’t like.
In Act 1 scene 5, Lady Macbeth
wants to become like a man so that she can have the guts and the strength to
kill Duncan. Her desire now is the make sure that she forms an alliance with
Macbeth and set out to kill Duncan so that he will no longer become Thane of
Cawdor. To herself, Lady Macbeth talks to the spirits and says, “Come you
mortal spirits…unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe topful of
direst cruelty…make thick my blood” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 39-42). What she
means is that she no longer wants to be like a woman. She wants her blood to be
thick as a man and so that she can think and fight like a man. She want the
“feel” of a man so that she can have the ability to set out for Duncan.
In Act 1 scene 5 of Macbeth,
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are talking and Macbeth states to Lady Macbeth that
Duncan is coming home and staying over for dinner. At this time, Macbeth is
unaware of what Lady Macbeth wants to do, so he is unmindful of what she wants
to do. Lady Macbeth states to Macbeth, “O never shall sun that morrow see…”
(Act 1, scene 5, lines 59-60). What she means is that Duncan will not live to
see tomorrow because by that time, he will be considered dead.
In Act 1 scene 5, “Lady Macbeth thinks
that she has everything under control and she’s going to do this all by
herself. She is now starting to be very selfish and egotistical about killing
Duncan. She explains all of what she is planning to do to Macbeth and says,
“Only look up clear. To alter favor ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me.”
(Act 1, scene 5, lines 70-72). This means, she’s telling Macbeth to not to
worry about what she is planning to do because she has it “under control”. Lady
Macbeth’s ego is really getting to her, which causes her to act out in this
way.
Act 1 scene 7, Lady Macbeth feels
like Macbeth is tryingto back out
from killing Duncan. She also feels like he’sthinking twice about what he is going to do especially if
it’s going to lead to him getting into some trouble. Lady Macbeth says, “And to
be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man.” (Act 1, scene
7, lines 50-51). This means, she doesn’t think that Macbeth has the guts to
kill Duncan anymore and that he doesn’t have the courage anymore. He is second
guessinghimself because he thinks
that he is going to fail. That shows that Macbeth is now thinking that he isn’t
thinking like a man and doesn’t show any signs of being a man. Lady Mac
manipulates him to try and get inside of his head.
In Act 1 scene 7, Lady Macbeth is
now planning in what they should do in order to kill Duncan. Her plan is to set
him up along with his two chamberlains. She says to Macbeth, “Soundly invite
him, his two chamberlains, will I with wine and wassail…shall be a fume, and
the receipt of reason…when in swinish sleep their drenched natures lies as in a
death.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 64-69). She means that she is going to get the
chamberlains and the guards drunk so that they won’t be aware of what is going
to happen. She is later going to have Macbeth sneak in and kill Duncan. She is
now being very mean and self-centered.
In Act 5 scene 1, Lady Macbeth has
been found sleep walking with a light. The gentlewoman and the doctor are
trying to figure out what she is saying. She is now regretting the fact that
she has pressured Macbeth into killing Duncan. For her, she is now feeling
guilty. While in her sleep, she says, “ Here’s the smell of the blood still.
All the perfumes of Arabia will now sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!” (Act
5, scene 1, lines 50-51). What she means is that she still smells and feels the
smell of the blood of Duncan. The Gentlewoman and the doctor found out that she
was apart of killing him. Mentally, she is not feeling well and is struggling because
she can’t figure out how to get the blood off of her.
In Act 5, scene 1, Lady Macbeth is
sleep walking and is talking about her killing Banquo and Duncan. She says,
“Out, damned spot!” (Act 5, scene 1, line 35). She is rubbing her hands because
she still see’s blood and it is reminding her of the killing of Banquo. She is
now blameworthy of what she did.
In Act 5 scene 1, Lady Macbeth
claims that Banquo is now dead and that he is in his grave. She doesn’t realize
that she is saying this but this is big news to the gentlewoman and the doctor.
She says, “I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried. He cannot come out the
grave.” (Act 5, scene 1, lines 62-62). This means that Lady Macbeth is soaked
with guilt now since she was the cause of killing Banquo. Not only is she
talking to herself, but she is talking to Macbeth because she wants him to know
that her work is done and now Macbeth is now king of Cawdor.
In Act 5, scene 1, Lady Macbeth is
now going to go to bed and at least try to relax. She see’s that what she has
done can not be undone so, she’s full of regret. Still sleep walking, she
states, “ To bed, to bed; there’s knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come,
give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed.” ( Act
5, scene 1, lines 64-66). That was the last time that Lady Macbeth had spoken
until she died. She was not feeling well. She died full with regret and guilt.
These quotes all follow the path of
Lady Macbeth. She was a greedy person who wanted anything and everything just
do that her husband could be king of Cawdor. When she was done her deed, she
realized that what she did was wrong and now she’s filled with guilt. She had
to suffer the consequences of what she has done.
This project was to take a snapshot of my life and make it
into a small story. This was to utilize and create my personal piece of
non-fiction. A vignette is a stand a lone story that you can fit into the
bigger picture of your life story.
The Miracle
Child
What?
When? How? Why? She’s not going to live? Inconceivable. Confused, maybe?
Unimaginable. Scared. What is going to happen to her at such a young age? Is she going to live or die? Is she going to live to see 5, 10, or even
15 years old? (Repetition for effect)These are just some of the questions that probably
ran through my parents mind when they found out that I was really sick and
possibly not going to live. Come to find out, I had this horrible sickness
called sepsis. It was a horrible condition in which
my body was fighting a severe infection that has spread to the bloodstream.
It
was on December 17, 1996, that I was transported to the hospital at such a
young age. No one knew what was going wrong with me. Not even my parents knew.
They only suspected that something wasn’t normal with me. When I arrived at the
hospital, I was immediately hooked on to tubes and machines. I had tubes going
in and out of my body. Breathing tube, feeding tube… You name it, I had it.After doing multiple tests and blood
work, the doctor noticed that I had this rare sickness and that there was a
possibility that I wasn’t going to live. The doctor said, “I’m so sorry Mr.
and Mrs. Maddox but your daughter has a chance of not living.” (Dialogue)
It got even worse. I had to stay at the hospital for four months. (Dialogue) I
wonder how they could’ve felt. Maybe scared, mad, or even upset. I just know
that they weren’t happy.
Hours
have gone by. Tick, tock, tick, tock, (repetition for effect) and I’m
still hooked onto these machine. Next thing you know, most of all of my family
was there in the hospital praying for me and staying at the hospital for days
waiting to hear any new news from the doctors. My mom was so scared. She didn’t
want me to go, especially since I was her 5th child to be conceived,
but only one to survive. My mom had 4 miscarriages before she birthed me. I bet
that had to be tough for her and my dad.It would have been hard for her to hear that I have passed away. All
they could do is not just depend on what the doctors said but what God had to
say. They knew that if it was my time to go, then it was just my time to go.
Would it be devastating? Yes. However, things would not have made sense as to
why I would survive the birth but not the sickness. If I was the 5th
child to be conceived but then the only one to survive, then there had to be a
reason why I was the only one to make it into what you call life. Hmmm. Now
that I try to look back and listen to the stories and the pictures, I realize
that as a get older, I have a story to tell and let people know that miracles
do happen.
It
was the cold morning of Christmas Eve on December 24, 1996,my mom was shopping at the Kids R’ Us
shopping for gifts. As she was walking down the aisle, she bumped into this
lady. Of course when you bump into someone, you say excuse me. The lady said,
“Just know that your daughter will be fine and everything is going to be okay.”
(Dialogue). My mom never met this woman or ever heard of her a day in her life.
As soon as my mom turned around and looked back, the lady wasn’t there anymore.
She looked for her all around the store. But the funny thing is that they were
in the back of the store so the lady couldn’t have gone far. My mom looked
high and low like she was investigating a crime scene (metaphor).It was
like she was an angel sent from heaven just to let my mom know that I was going
to okay. (simile). To hear that being said, I bet it was a sigh of relief.
She went back to the hospital knowing that everything was going to be fine.
Still, there was like a sea of people just standing around waiting and waiting
and waiting. At least I know that my family cared enough about me!
I
stayed at the hospital for a couple more days. Doctors were monitoring me
making sure I was doing okay. When they said that I was going to be okay, it
was a miracle that I was even going to survived. I could have died right there
on the spot. However, there was some bad news. The doctors said that I had to
take physical therapy for a whole 6 months. I had to learn how to breathe and
how to sit up again. Having all of those breathing tubes coming in and out of
my body just messed me up big time!
As I look at the
pictures of when I was sick, what I saw was something that I knew wasn’t going
to control me for the rest of my life or even take my life. I know that I have
a purpose for living on this earth and I am destined to do great things. It’s a
miracle that I survived and I’m glad that I am here 15 years later healthy, and
just fine!
The quarter 3 benchmark was to compare and contrast the book
“The Odyssey” to either the movie “O’ Brother Where Art Thou?” or someone that
you may know or a movie that you have watched. This was to see if there are any
similarities and differences between the characters.
The
Odyssey (Penelope)
vs.
O’
Brother Where Art Thou? (Penny)
In the movie, “O
Brother Where Art thou?” and the book The
Odysseyboth of the
characters have families that they have to provide for and take care of them.The three points are that Penny
decides not to take back her husband however, Penelope does. Both of these
characters make decisions that can either jeopardize or bring together their
families. Even though Penelope and Penny share many qualities, Penny is very
selfish and unwilling to wait to work it out with her husband.
Both Penelope and
Penny show signs of untrust when rumors were going around that their husbands
were back. While Everett and Delmar return back to Everett’s hometown, they all
find out that Penny is engaged to Vernon T. Waldrip. He is willing to get back
with her and tries to convince her that he has changed. However, she doesn’t
believe that he has changed and he is the same way as he was before. She tests
him to see if he would give her back the ring that she deserves. Unfortunately,
he doesn’t have the ring because it’s ten thousand feet below the water. As a
result, she does not reunite herself with him. Instead, she stays with Vernon.
This shows that Penny was very hurt by the fact that her own husband was sent
to jail and she doesn’t want to get back with him. Similarly, when Penelope
first finds out that her husband is back from being gone for 20 years, she
doesn’t believe the suitors. During this time, Penelope is still faithful.
However, she tests Odysseus and was asking him questions to see if it was
really him. She said, “Come, hand him the bow now, and let’s just see . . . “
(Homer, The Odyssey 21. Line
375). She says this so that she can test the suitors to see if they can shoot
the arrow and hit the target.
Even though
Penelope and Penny may have some similarities, they also share some
differences.Penny is not willing
to wait for Everett. When he was sent to jail, she wanted to divorce him.
Overtime, she ends up being engaged to Vernon. She tells her children that
Everett was hit by a train and that he’s dead. This shows that Penny was making
decisions based on her feelings and what she wanted to do. In contrast,
Penelope was always faithful to her husband. She spoke very highly of him. She
loved him a lot and always cared about him as well. For example, while Odysseus
was gone, she tricks the suitors so that she won’t have to get engaged to any
of them.
Penelope and Penny
are very different when their husbands come back. When Everett comes back,
Penny doesn’t want to listen when he asks to come back into her life and their
children’s lives. She feels this way because she thinks that he is not a good
provider for her and her children. Everett has no job and would have no way of
taking care of his family. Instead, Vernon has a job and is able to provide and
take care of the family. Unlike Penny, Penelope takes Odysseus back. After she
tests him, she is still the faithful wife that she was before he even left.
This shows that she stays committed to the relationship that she and Odysseus
have. For example, when Odysseus comes back she said, “Odysseus- don’t flare up
at me now, not you, always the most understanding man alive!” (Homer, The Odyssey Line. 235 -36) This
shows that Penelope trust Odysseus and loves him very much and they sill have
trust in each other.
Penelope and Penny do share some things with each other.
However, they share a lot of differences. Both of their personalities are
different therefore causing them to not have many similarities with one
another. Penelope and Penny share similar qualities that effected them when
rumors where going around that their husbands had retuned back. Penelope made
her decision to stay with her husband and remain faithful to him as well as her
children. Unfortunately, Penny decided not to because of her Everett’s choice
that resulted him to going to jail. Both families were infected by this in a
good and bad way. In all, both families made a choice that they thought would
benefit them as well as their families.
This creative piece was to describe either Macbeth or Lady
Macbeth in how the have changed throughout the book. We were able to be
creative and put in it our own way.It was a fun project to it.
In the beginning of year, we were assigned to read a book
and write a book review on it. The book that I choose was called “Blessings In
Disguise” by ReShonda Tate Billinsley. Not only did we have to read the book,
but we had to understand what was being read and how comprehend it.
The book that I
read was called “Blessings In Disguise” writtenby ReShonda Tate Billingsley is the
second, of an 8 part novel series listed in Essence Magazine as a #1
bestseller. The book is a continuation of the first book, “Nothing But Drama”, which is about four teenage girls – Camille,
Angel, Jasmine, and Alexis – who experience difficulties, trials, and conflict
as friends. ReShonda also wrote many other books such as: “My Brothers Keeper”, which she received the Gold Pen Award for
Best New Author from the Black Writer’s Alliance.
“Blessings In Disguise” centers around
two of the four teens, Jasmine and Alexis, who find themselves dealing with the
dysfunctions, chaos, and challenges in their families and personal lives.
Jasmine is raised by a single parent, who is in search for her dad. Jasmine is
sick and tired of always being the one trying to sustain her family together
and always cleaning up after everyone, so she escapes from her home and tries
to find her father to go and live with him. Alexis seems to have the “perfect
life”, however, no one can see what’s she’s really going through as her parents
are heading to file for divorce. Both of the girls are terribly tempted to do
something substantial that they know will get them into a lot of trouble but
instead do it anyway. My favorite character in the book is Jasmine because she
goes through a lot as far as family and friends. She tries to find her way
through life and is searching for someone to talk to that will understand her
in a way that they would know where she is coming from. After the reader is
finished with this book, I think they should learn to obey their parents and
never to steal. Following these lessons will help them in their everyday lives.
I can relate to
the story more on Jasmines side. Even though I don’t have any siblings and my
parents aren’t divorced, I have felt like I have wanted to run away and try to
live a life that I wasn’t living in the past. I have never done any of the
things that Alexis and Jasmine has done but I can relate to how they felt.
I really like
this book and I hope to read the rest of the books to see what will happen has
far as their relationships and attitudes. Some of its strengths are that the
author explains each of the characters in a way that the reader is able to
understand. To me, this book doesn’t have any weaknesses. I can apprehend the
book very well and know where each of the characters is coming from. There is
nothing in the book that I will try and change.
I would
defiantly recommend this book to other teenagers to read because it teaches
them life lessons that they can carry out and take with them in their everyday
lives. Readers will take pleasure in the captivating characters, emotional
power, and the down to earth messages of this novel and the other books that
follow.
My instruments produces sound by plucking the strings or running a bow over the different strings. The vibrations of the strings create waves and out of them sound comes out. The pitch is changing with the thickness of the string and the lengths of the strings. Also the pitch changes when you tighten the strings from the top.
I will use wood and have something to use to model the shape of my instrument. I will need wire for the strings and nails to help with the tuning of the strings. I will also need horse hair so I can use it for the bow.
Throughout the year, we occasionally were assigned
to write in our journals. Sometimes, we got the chance to write what ever we
wanted, however, there were times when we had to answer questions that the
teacher wrote down.
Journal entry #47
Do I like being a female? Of
course!! I wouldn’t change it for the world. However, in being a female, comes
a lot of challenges physically, mentally, and emotionally. From deciding what
to wear everyday, to body parts changing, to mood swings…it’s just a lot.
Sometimes it can be very painful and uncomfortable each month. Each female is
different and they can either take the pain or just can’t. These are the times
that I wish I was a boy just for the couple of days. For me, I have mood swings
and don’t want to be bothered with anyone. Sometimes I get so sick that I don’t
even come to school. Not only the physical changes that I as well as a lot of
other females go through, but we also go through a lot of emotional changes.
Personally, they can get in the way a lot because you would have feelings that
later on you would think about it and then it would be stupid that you even
thought about it.
I would like to be a boy and
have the mentality of a boy for one day just so that I can see and experience
how they function on a day to day basis. To me, it’s kind of difficult to
understand them and know their ways; for example, how they think, what they do
when a girl walks by, etc. I think that it would be cool, however, I wouldn’t
want to go through this for a long time. I think being a girl is better than
being a boy J
Journal Entry: December 16,
2010
I really never wanted to be
apart of a group. For me, it was mostly me hanging out with the same group of
people. Hanging out with that same group of people has made me realize that
hanging out with the same people is not making myself available to other
people. I always that when those group of people weren’t in school, I thought
that I was alone and there was no one for me to talk too.
But
I realized that if I continue to hang with the same people over and over, then
I won’t ever make myself available now and later in the future. Now that I am
older, I now go up to people and introduce myself and network. Im not really
good at meeting new people because I can be very shy in the beginning. It
sometimes feels awkward, but I make the best of it.
Journal Entry: February 2,
2011
To me, a hero is someone
that you look up too as a person of integrity. That person might have done
something nice or has helped someone out in hard times. A hero must be someone
that you can look up too and count on for anything possible. That doesn’t mean
to take advantage of them but use them for legitimate reasons. They also are
people who have wisdom and can guide you threw the roughest times that you may
encounter in your life.
Journal Entry: April 4, 2011
Some of the expectations
that are put upon by others aren’t always the best. They could be sometimes be
uncomfortable for me and I won’t want to accomplish those expectations. On the
other hand, some of the expectations that make me “uncomfortable” is good for
me to bring me out of y comfort zone and explore and experience different
things. Some of the expectations that are put upon me are to continue to get
good grades, and continue to do what I do. Also, they want me to be a leader and
not so much a follower. Some expectations for myself are too also get good
grades, be an example for others that are younger than me, and some times older
people.
My portfolio shows that I am hardworking 9th grader. I had
trouble in getting the grades that I wanted but I was still passing. As the
year went on, I got better and better at writing papers and getting A’s on
benchmarks.
I think my
strengths in English are coming up with ideas for papers. I would pick topics
that no other person would pick to write about, or I would come up with reasons
that no other people would even think about having. Also, I tend to be
different that everybody else, so I bring different ways of doing things.
I think my
weaknesses in English are participating in class and writing papers sometimes.
Also, reading aloud in class. I am
always scared in all classes that I will say the wrong answer or that my idea
is stupid, so I don’t say it. I would always try to get A’s on my papers in
English, but it never worked out well. I would always get B’s, when I tried so
hard to A’s. Reading aloud is very hard for me, the fact that everybody is
listening to me read, scares me. I will get nervous and then mess up reading.
I would work on
writing better, reading aloud, and not being so shy in front of class. I would
work on being more confident about my answers and ideas so, I could say it to
the class. I would work on reading aloud by reading to my friends or family. I
would work on my writing by proofreading my work more than once and then give
it to the teacher to read. So finally, I could get it to be an A. I had issues with correcting my papers from the teacher’s comments. I
never know what to change. I just sit there and look at the essays and think
about what I should change. It is annoying. So, I go home, sit down, and really
look at them. I realize what I need to change and then I proofread. The outcome
is better essays than before. When I go through my old work, I just wondered
why I would write something so weird. I feel like I matured in my writing
because I think what I use to write is just goofy.
The piece
that I am most proud is the ‘The Odyssey Compare and Contrast Essay’. This was
the Quarter 3 benchmark and it was the highest grade I received on ANY of the benchmarks. I’ve
always had a difficult time in English, getting B’s mostly on my essays or
missing parts that were missing on all my benchmarks. This benchmark was
different; I let a whole bunch of my peers read it. They all came to
conclusions that it was too boring and that I should change everything, 3 days
before the benchmark was due. I stood my ground and didn’t change anything. I
was proud that I could write something so long and descriptive, so I turned it
in. I received a 92%, 92% was higher than all my friends’ grades. They wanted
me to change it; if I had changed then the grade would’ve been lower. I didn’t
change it and I toped all their grades. I toped my own grades for the
benchmarks. I was so immensely proud that I could get a 92% in English.
My portfolio shows that I am a hard
working student. For every project or assignment I never go anything lower than
a B. That might not say how good of a student I am, but it does show that I
work hard and try my best most of the time. As viewers I would expect you to
see how different my work is. The work I do is unique, different than most
peoples work, but it works for me. Getting into class reading assignments is
one of my strengths in English. For example when we did Macbeth in this class I
did an amazing job on the projects we were supposed to do. I procrastinate and
I don’t like reading a lot, this can be considered as o huge weakness in
English class. I always wait until the last minute to do my projects or to read
a book for a book report. This can really hurt me in the future and I need to
work on it. It was fun looking through all of my past projects and seeing how I
grew in vocabulary and over all work since the beginning of September. I didn’t
come across many issues in my work, but there were a couple of things I
could have done better on. Some of those things are my first Independent reading
project and my Vignette. I resolved these issues by reflecting on what I needed
to change and what could have made it better. I am most proud of two pieces
that I did in this class and they are my Me Magazine and my Macbeth Creative
Piece. I am most proud of my Me Magazine because it was the first project that
I did in this class and I really talked about my life, I never wrote so much in
my life before I started going to this school. At previous schools before SLA
we never had acting class or got a chance to do something really creative, my
Macbeth Creative piece is an imovie of me acting as Lady Macbeth so obviously
it is pretty special to me. I am proud of all of the work I did this year and I want you to see my best creations showcased.
The first book we read in our freshman year was Macbeth, that was the most difficult book for me to read. We had to analysis the change of either Lady Macbeth or Macbeth throughout the book. I decide to do Macbeth and this is was interpreted from the book.
Macbeth Character Analysis
In the beginning, Macbeth was
any normal person – polite, kind-hearted, and likeable - but by the end of the
play, his heart was cold and his mind was evil. Macbeth never second-guessed
anything and he was just looking at his position to stay king. Nobody could get
in his way because he couldn’t be killed be a person birthed from a woman.
In
Act 1, Scene 3: Macbeth received a prophecy from the witches that he is going
to be the Thane of Cawdor and then the King of Scotland. He stated: “If good,
why do I yield to that suggestion. Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair? And
make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature?” Macbeth is
basically wondering why he is thinking about murdering King Duncan, but the
thought is so horrifying that it makes his hair stand on the back of his neck
and his heart pound against his chest.
In
Act 1, Scene 6, and Duncan: Duncan has come over for dinner and is looking
Macbeth, so he can praise him. Duncan says, “Conduct me to mine host. We love
him highly and shall continue our graces towards him.” This is important because
even other people can see how kind-hearted Macbeth can be. Duncan trusts him
with everything and honors Macbeth.
In
Act 1, Scene 7, and Lady Macbeth: Lady Macbeth is trying to convince Macbeth to
go with the witches’ prophecy. Macbeth wants to be king but he can’t take the
risks needed – killing Duncan. Quote: “Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?” In this
quote, Lady Macbeth is calling Macbeth a sad poor cat that is too scared to do
anything. This is important because even Macbeth’s wife is saying that Macbeth
is too polite to kill Duncan. Also, that he isn’t brave at all.
In
Act 2 Scene 1, and Macbeth: Macbeth is convincing himself to Duncan. He is
thinking about all the good things, so he is basically pumping up himself up.
The beginning of the soliloquy Macbeth is nervous and doesn’t want to do it,
but by the end, he is pumped and ready. Quote: “I go, and it is done. The bell
invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell. That summons thee to heaven
or to hell.” This quote is important because this is where Macbeth starts to
become evil. He finally decides after a little convincing from Lady Macbeth and
himself that he will kill Duncan. From here, everything goes down hill.
In
Act 2 Scene 3, and Macbeth: Macduff and Banquo came to visit Macbeth’s castle,
but they found out that Duncan is dead. They tell Macbeth and Lady Macbeth who
play it off, as they had nothing to do with the killing. Quote: “Renown and
graceful is dead. The wine of life is drawn, and mere lees is left this vault
to brag of.” This quote is important because this shows how evil Macbeth can
be. He is now hiding the fact that he killed Duncan to all his close friends
and that had any idea of it. Macbeth is using words to praise Duncan, even
though he killed him.
Banquo
comes over for the feast and tells Macbeth that he may be late for the dinner,
Act 3 Scene 1. Macbeth is worried about what Banquo will do because he knows
about the prophecy that the witches said. Macbeth is alone and says to himself:
“Rather than so, come fate into the list. And champion me to th’ utterance.”
When Macbeth states that he is planning on killing Banquo, he doesn’t even
hesitate with his decision. Macbeth’s servant then brings in the murders and
tells them what the plan will be. This quote is important because this is where
Macbeth’s evil rises, he doesn’t even talk to Lady Macbeth about it. Macbeth
doesn’t talk to anybody about it. He is determined to stay in his position of
being king and nobody can stop him now, but there are people that want him to
be stopped.
Act
3 Scene 6: Macbeth’s feast has just ended and it is the next day, Lennox is
talking to another Lord about Malcolm, Macduff, and Macbeth. Lennox is
suspicious about Macbeth; he thinks that Macbeth killed Duncan and Banquo.
Lennox clearly states “May soon return to this out suffering country under a
hand accursed” which basically states he wants Malcolm to come back and take
out Macbeth as king. Lennox thinks Macbeth is a tyrant and a liar, this is
important because even other people don’t trust Macbeth. Lennox is having a
conversation with another Lord which may mean that he wants to know if his
theory are also, suspected.
The
witches has told Macbeth another prophecy but this time with apparitions - Act
4 Scene 1 – they tell him to fear Macduff, the woods, and Banquo’s children.
Macbeth takes this prophecy into his own hands and says this “The castle of
Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword his
wife, his babies, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line.”
Macbeth is ready, the witches just gave him advice and he is once again taking
it upon himself to deal with it. Basically, Macbeth is planning on going to
Macduff’s castle and killing everybody. This is very important because Macbeth
is once again being cold-hearted and he doesn’t even hesitate with this plan.
He knows that Macduff could stop him from becoming king, so he is killing
everything that Macduff loves. Macbeth doesn’t know that other people aren’t to
sure about him.
Act
4 Scene 3, Macduff is in England to have a chat with Malcolm. In this chat,
Malcolm basically complains to Macduff about his father – Duncan – being killed
and that he was blamed for it and Macduff just listens. Malcolm tells Macduff
that he suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan. This is what Malcolm says, “This
tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues, was once thought honest; you have
loved him well; he hath not touched you yet.” Malcolm is calling Macbeth the
tyrant and that it hurts to say his name because he is traitor. Macbeth use to
an honest man and people loved him especially Macduff, Malcolm says. But, now
he is doing reckless things, but Macduff doesn’t know about it because Macbeth
hasn’t hurt him yet
In Act 5 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth
is sick from guilt and Macbeth is preparing for the war that is supposed to
happen. Lady Macbeth has just screamed and after this Macbeth thinks about
himself in the past and present self. Macbeth says, “
I have almost forgot the taste of fears. The time has been my senses would have
cooled
To hear a night-shriek, and my fell have
hair would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir, as life were isn’t. I have
supped full with horrors. Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts,
cannot once start me.” In this quote, Macbeth is talking about when he was
scared of everything, when he was kinder, and didn’t have courage for anything.
Now, Macbeth believes that he is prepared for any scary thing he has seen
because he had many horrific things happen or done by him, that horrible things
are familiar to him now.
By
the end of the play, all his followers were following him out of fear but
everybody was scared to do something about it. Macduff successfully kills
Macbeth and give throne to the rightful owner, Malcolm. Macbeth turned into the
evil cold-hearted man from being a kind-hearted man who followed the power of
suggestion. Macbeth turned into a person that he could never be and got killed
for it. In the end, nobody should ever try to be what they know they can never
be because there will be a downfall in the end.
During the year, we read Freedom Writers for our 2nd Quarter Benchmark. Freedom Writers was about stories about different kids and this teacher. We wrote a memoir vignette about something that happen in our life. Mine was about my parents divorcing when I was about 7 years old.
Maybe Love Isn’t Forever
I hoped and dreamed that he wouldn’t leave, but their life
was such a hell being together. (Opener) Now my parents, they
put up a front. Every time they come to my school for a meeting or conference,
they have on a front
“Nobody needs to know our situation,” my mom says.
“But, some people already know cause it isn’t a big
deal.”
“I don’t want anybody teasing you.”
“It is fine, nobody cares anyway.” (Dialogue)
I always thought that parents would always be in love,
be together forever, and be happy together. (Magic Three) I was
wrong, and I realized it when I was just 7 years old.
5
A.M waking up in a cold room like any other day like every other day. At my
age, no one should know about this time of day. The house was dark as a cave
(Simile); I rolled out of bed and into the bathroom. The house, it feels
different. It is like the house is angry, maybe even sad about something.
(Personification) Maybe, I should just ignore it. My teeth are now brushed
and they are white as pearls. (Simile) and off I go to get some breakfast
with my parents! I walk in the kitchen; there isn’t a piece of bacon to be
found, or my dad. My mom is standing in the kitchen alone with this blank expression
that I don’t recognize. “Morning, Dakota,” (Dialogue) my mom says in a
monotone voice. Her tone, her eyes, and her posture it is different. (Magic
Three) I can’t identify what it is, but it isn’t happy and it isn’t tired.
“There isn’t breakfast today,” she says.
“Why not?”
“Dad and I need to talk to you about something.”
“Is it bad? Cause you seem sad.”
“You won’t be happy about it.” (Dialogue)
What could I not be happy about? Whatever it is, my dad
always makes the best of it.
My dad, his footsteps, they
aren’t peppy. They are loud and sad. The floor vibrates, more than usually. I
can barely keep still. I want to see what is going to happen. I run over to
my dad fast as a cheetah, (Simile) “HI DAD,” (Dialogue) I say
enthusiastically.“Hello Dakota.”
(Dialogue) We walk over to my mom. Her eyes, I can see them better now and I
could see the horrible emotion that filled them. Puffy, red, and cloudy, it
is like somebody just punched her in the eyes but, they haven’t swollen up yet.
(Simile, Magic Three) I look at my dad. His eyes, his breathing, and his
clothes, they are all out of sorts. (Magic Three) He is never this messy.
“What is going on,” I ask cautiously.
“Your dad and I, we need to talk to you about something
important.” My mom states firmly.
“What is it? I am shaking in my pjs!”
“Your mom and I have been
having some problems. Problems that aren’t getting ironed out.”
“What kind of problems?”
“Your dad and I aren’t getting
along as well, as we use to.”
“WHAT? What does that even
mean? You guys love each other and you are supposed to get along, perfectly.
I’ve never seen you guys argue.(Dialogue)
The
tension in the house becomes thicker. The house creaks, waiting in anticipation
for the answer (Personification). The answer isn’t coming fast enough. I
stare at my parents, in agony. I want, need, desire to know what it is going
on.(Magic Three) Am I too young? Will I not be able to understand? I just
want to know. My mom, she hasn’t said anything. My mom is holding on to the
table as if it keeps her from falling. My dad is holding on to the wall like
he is an old man and needs a walker (Simile). I am frightened, what if
somebody died? I don’t know what I would do. I need answers and I need them
now. TALK, PLEASE!
“Your father and I need some time
off.”
“Cheryl, don’t lie to her.
This time is off, Dakota. It is going to last forever.”
“WHAT! WHAT! I DON’T
UNDERSTAND!”
“Your dad and I are
separating. He has to move out.”
“SEP-ER-ATING? What does that
mean?”
“Dakota, your mom and I aren’t
getting along. We argue a lot more than is normal.”
“Wait…Dad. You are
leaving…forever?”
“Yes, Dakota. I can’t live
here anymore.” His voice is cracking like he is a teenage boy
going through puberty (Simile).
“Dakota, this isn’t your
fault. Your dad and I just don’t love each other anymore. We need to become
different people”
“You said that love last
forever! This isn’t forever!”
“I know. But remember, your
mom and I will still be your parents, even though we aren’t together. We will
still love you. I will still love you. You are my daughter, I will never stop
loving you.”
“Dakota, mommy loves you. I
will always love you.”
“Who do I live with?’
(Dialogue) I say as the tears fall like a stream from my eyes, to my nose,
to my chin (Simile, Magic Three)
“You will be living with me.
Your dad will be moving in with somewhere else.”
“Dad, you can’t leave! I need
you! Your hugs when I have awful days! Your jokes when I need cheering up.
You..can’t..leave!”(Dialogue)
I
am yelling and they don’t even seem to care. The room quiets down and I hear my
mom sobbing. She has no reason to cry, it is not like she loves him anymore. I
still love him and I will always love him. I have these memories and I can’t
even make new ones with my dad anymore. He is basically gone. His hands, his
embrace, his laugh are so warm (Magic Three) and they are leaving me. Now,
I won’t be able to have them everyday, they are my own personal drugs and I
am addicted. (Simile)
“I have to leave now, Dakota.”
“YOU CAN’T LEAVE!”
“I have to leave. I will be back.
Not to live here, but to see you. Promise.”
“YOU CAN’T LEAVE!
NOOOOOOOOOOO!”
“Don’t follow me.”
“Don’t let go.” (Dialogue)
He
lets go. I am standing in the middle of my parents, my mom is holding on to me
and my dad has let go of me. I haven’t let go and I need to chase him back to
where he belongs. I dash after him and grab hold of his leg. He isn’t going
anywhere now because I won’t let him. The scent of tears travel to my nose,
they are my dad’s. (Imagery) I didn’t know tears existed in my dad’s body.
I thought he was too manly to have tears or to even cry. I feel his huge arms
picking me up from his leg to his chest. My forehead is gently kissed as tears
spill on to me. My dad’s shirt is drenched with my tears and the hallways
echoes from my wails. My dad carries me back to my mother, who has fallen to
the floor, and sets me down with her. She grabs hold of me and her touch is
cold; (Imagery). My mom is making my dad leave the house; how can she think
to even touch me. I am furious at her and try to wiggle out her grip but she
just grips harder.
My
dad’s footsteps become quieter. The front door opens, shuts, and my heart stops
working. (Magic Three) He is officially gone and I am with my mom. There is
nothing else to do. She puts me in my bed and I cry until I fall asleep. I
awake later on that day and realize that what happened wasn’t a dream. I
yell as if somebody just broke both my legs (Simile) and my mom comes
running in. Her eyes are worst than before, which I imagine my eyes look like
too. I gaze up at her, turn over, and go back to sleep.(Magic Three) I
want nothing to do with her right now. She closes the door and walks to her
room. Sleep comes easily because I am fragile like glass. (Simile) Just
a few hours ago, all the water in my body rushed out through my eyes.
(Hyperbole) Life goes on and school comes the next day. The rest of the
days, months, years of my life are different. (Magic Three). I become more
and more unlike the person I was before the separation. I am stronger but I am
weaker. I don’t fall for peer pressure but I get mad at meaningless things.
Things like somebody bumping into me and saying excuse me. Things that I didn’t
notice before my dad left. I am older now and understand everything. They won’t
tell me the reason why they separated because they say I don’t need to know. “Not
everybody can keep up with the changes a person goes through and they
eventually fall out of love,” (Dialogue) says my mom. People can’t
control if they fall out of love, it just happens,”(Dialogue) says my dad.
Sometimes people take on bigger roles than they should of. As the years past, I
realized that my dad was never actually gone he is always still here. My dad
still loves me and I see him often. I realized that things happen and marriage
isn’t always for everyone. Divorce was made for a reason.