vIcToRiA's bLoG

Blog 5: The Interpreter of Maladies

2009-06-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

Foreshadowing is when the author indicates or warns the audience about a future event. The author focused on this moment because it was getting the audience ready for a future event that was going to occur.

Either the boy isn't really part of the family or he could be sick because he is pale. It might be foreshadowing that he was adopted or he is ill.

Blog 4: The Red Convertible

2009-05-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

The setting of this story is Chippewa. Lyman's opinion on the army and his brother's involvement was that he didn't worry about the draft too much. He normally had good luck with that sort of thing, unlike his brother. He joked that the only reason the army wanted his brother was for his Indian nose. Him and his brother's relationship seemed to remain around the car and that's all they ever really talked about. When Lyman wrote him letters it would always be about the car. Symbolism is using a symbol to represent or identify. The red convertible symbolizes the relationship between the two brothers Lyman and Henry Junior. The war was going on in the 1980's. Henry Junior was drafted into the war.

Blog 3: A White Heron

2009-05-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Sylvia felt a connection with the white heron. She wanted what the white heron had. The bird had freedom and independence and that's what she wanted. Also the white heron is by itself and lonely and so is Sylvia. She is very shy and her best friend is her cow and Mrs. Tilly is the only other person she talks to. Also she felt like she had a crush on the hunter because he is the only man she ever had contact with. The symbolic situation that it represents is freedom and independence. Sylvia and the cow have a great relationship. They are friends and are always together. They both do the same thing everyday.

Blog 2: The Body Of Christopher Creed Ending

2009-05-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed reading the Body of Christopher Creed. I thought it was a great book. I liked how we never found out what really happened to Chris. This novel kept me in suspense. My theory about the responses to Torey's webpage is that Chris Creed follows that website. I think he either wrote one of the responses or he just goes on the website and looks at it everyday. I believe Chris is still alive out there but he is a whole new person, just like he wanted to be.

Blog 1 MP4: Creed & "Woobees"

2009-04-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

A Woobee is like a safety blanket. Some kids keep a teddy bear as their woobee. They keep it close to them and hold it when they are scared. Torey needs to calm down at this point because he thought he was seeing the ghost of Christopher Creed again. He was scared thought that Chris's ghost was watching him.

My cousin had a woobee for most of his childhood. His woobee was a pacifier. He used pacifiers all the time. He finally reached five years old and my uncle decided it was time to get rid of the pacifier. He tried to take them away but he started throwing fits. He couldn't cope without the pacifier. My uncle finally decided to cut all the pacifiers so he couldn't use them anymore. It was mean but it worked and he no longer needs his woobee.

Act II: Gorgon Reference. Thursday, February 5, 2009

2009-04-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

An ugly monster named Medusa is the allusion Macduff makes to Greek Mythology. He refers to this because every time someone looked at Medusa their faced turned to stone. In Macbeth, Macduff tells Lennox to look in the chamber and see what ugly thing has happened-meaning the murder.

Act IV Double, Double, Toil and Trouble Tuesday, Febuary 24, 2009

2009-04-16T16:44:00.000-07:00

Grasshopper legs and a cow's hair

Watch out because I'll throw in a chair

Cow brain and a frog's tongue

I can't forget the dog's lung

Dead worms and cheese

We don't have time to shoot the breeze

We have to throw in the little boy that cannot sing

A devil's tail and an angel's wing

4/16/09 Christopher Creed

2009-04-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Pg. 39: "I also wondered why none of us ever picked up that Creed was so down on himself. Whatever it was that he admired me for, I figured I could have helped him. I would have, if he had just let us know he was thinking of offing himself. That made me pissed at him."

I think this quote is really powerful because it shows just how little everyone noticed Chris Creed. It was almost like he was invisible. It's really sad how no one cared enough to notice that Chris wasn't happy. His own parents didn't even notice that he was unhappy. They thought he was perfectly normal. Torey and his friends were one of the main causes of Chris's unhappiness.

Torey was never too understanding of Chris. He was mean to him and even beat him up one time. Now that he is actually gone he is thinking about what he could have done to prevent it. It's weird how you can be so mean to someone and then care so much after they go away. If Torey cared at all in the beginning, none of this would have happened. How could they have picked up that Creed was down on himself if they never even gave him a chance in the first place. In the quote, Torey said that if he had known that Chris was depressed he would have helped him. I think that's kind of ridiculous for Torey to say because him and his friends were the ones that caused Chris to feel so alone.

Speech 3/30/09

2009-03-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Class of 1940. I would just like to congratulate you on your great accomplishments. I am here today because there are many traditions and preparations that your graduating class is engrossed in, leading up to this symbolic day. This is a day of liberation and hope.

There have been many successful African-Americans that have already made names for themselves. George Washington Carter is an African-American man who revolutionized southern agriculture. He used what he learned in school and decided to study hard and he made a name for himself.

Mary McLeod Bethune is a great example of what courage and determination can lead to. She lifted herself from the cotton field to the White House as an advisor to the President of the United States. Her greatest accomplishment was almost single-handedly building Bethune-Cookman College in 1923.

I would like to take this time to tell you how proud I am of each and every one of you. You all have a great future ahead of you. All of the students are special in their own way and you will all grow up to do great things.

All the staff of the Lafayette County Training School are glad to have met students as wonderful as you. With courage and the right mind set, you will all go far in life. Believing leads to succeeding. Don't let anyone bring you down no matter what. You are all great people and you will move on to great things. I am glad to announce you all as the graduates of the Class of 1940!

Instant Message Conversation between Marguerite and Tommy

2009-03-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Tommyboy21: Gee Maya thanks for ripping up my valentine today :p

Maya555: oh sry about that

Tommyboy21: yea why did u do it?

Maya555: idk lol

Tommyboy21: ohh well it kinda hurt my feelings L

Maya555: sry! I didn’t mean anything by it, I just didn’t know how to react

Tommyboy21: Do you like anyone?

Maya555: umm… maybe.

Tommyboy21: I think I might like someone too.

Maya555: hahhaha

Tommyboy21: why do u always laugh?

Maya555: it’s a nervous habit

Tommyboy21: why r u nervous when I’m around?

Maya555: Because each time I see u I get butterflies in my stomach..... I like u ;p

Tommyboy21: It just makes me feel uncomfortable and I think you’re weird when u laugh at me randomly

Maya555: I’m sorry your right. I’ll try and stop

Tommyboy21: ok sounds good

Maya555: alritey see u tomrw J

chapter 17-18 after the retreat revival

2009-03-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

“Got to feed the soul just like you feed your body.” Pg 121

This quote is relevant to the story because the African-American community in Stamps revolves around religion. They use religion as a way to escape their hard lives. They love going to church and praying. They feel that going to church and praying is just as important as eating. Without being religious they can't survive.

Jesus Christ is the guiding force in Momma's life. She is very religious person and always says her prayers. Momma always refers back to God before all of her decisions. I chose this quote because I think it is true with the way some highly religious people think. They feel like they need to do their religious part in order to survive and life a happy life. I also feel like this quote is very descriptive of Momma and her beliefs.

story time 2/12/09

2009-02-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

Once a time their was a little boy named Macbeth. He like playing hide and seek but he never got to be the seeker. Everyone playing the game wanted to be the seeker but only Duncan was. Duncan was the oldest kid playing. Macbeth tried to cheat his way to become seeker but nothing worked. Duncan was so nice to Macbeth but Macbeth didn't care, he just wanted to be the seeker. He decided to lie to Duncan's parents and tell him that he was being mean. Duncan's parents never allowed him to play hide and seek ever again. Macbeth finally became the seeker. Even though it seems like the game was over, it wasn't. The other kids knew Macbeth lied to Duncan's parents they were thinking about telling on him.

Macbeth and his marriage: bad relationship? 1/23/09

2009-01-26T08:55:00.001-08:00

1.) The problems that the Macbeths have are that they aren't always on the same page. Obviously it is okay to have disagreements in a relationship, but they have too many disagreements. Lady Macbeth seems like she always feels the need to voice her opinion on everything and she wants everything her way. Macbeth is a little more easy going and sometimes he just does was Lady Macbeth says even if he disagrees.

2.) The number one thing they can do to improve their relationship is to become better listeners. They have to learn to listen to what each other has to say. They need to start communicating better. Lady Macbeth needs to stop bossing around Macbeth. It needs to be an equal relationship. No one should be taking charge. They need to be on the same page and work together.

1/8/09

2009-01-08T08:53:00.000-08:00

Blank Verse- an unrhymed iambic pentameter.

"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?" What a minute! Where is the light coming from.

"Thou art more lovely and more temperate."- you are lovely and have a lovely personality.

"If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well."- if it was done when it was supposed to be it would be done by now.

"Whither are they vanished?" [Macbeth]-where are they, they vanished.

Blank Verse

2008-12-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

But, soft, what light through yon-der win-dow breaks?

It is the east, and Jul-iet is the sun.

A-rise, fair sun, and kill the en-vious moon,

Who is al-read-y sick and pale with grief

That thou her maid art far more fair than she.

-Shakespeare

Blank Verse by Jamie W.

I miss the keyboard,

even the pen

that always

leaks,

leaving behind

trademark blots

of blue ink.

Sometimes

I try to

I remember.

Those days

I would write and

publish,

but now

my refrigerator door

stays empty

and cold.

Magnetic fruit beg for a purpose.

I sit.

At a blank screen

where the cruel cursor

winks at me,

in mockery.

I used to know how.

I would type and create

masterpieces.

In just thirty minutes,

I'd have my own Bob Ross painting.

But now the words vanish,

as I search for the next thing to write ...

Questions:

1. Do blank verse poems rhyme?

2. What is the difference between a blank verse poem and a free verse poem.

Ch. 24 The Conversation with Mr. Antolini

2008-12-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

I agree with adults when they tell me that a good education is important. I want a good education because without it you can't go very far in life. It is hard for people without a good education to find a good job and to make a lot of money. I know that I am going to get a good education so I can succeed.

What two health issues does Holden pretend he has in Chapter 20?Why do you believe that our main character behaves this way?

2008-12-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

Holden first believes he had a bullet in his guts. Then he thought he was going to die of pneumonia. I think the reason that Holden pretends that he has these things wrong with him is because he wants someone to care about him. He wants someone to show him compassion. He wants to have the feeling that someone would actually care about him if he got hurt or died. He said he had bullets in his guts because he probably had the feeling in his guts that he wasn't being cared about. He thought nobody cared about him so it felt like he had bullets in his guts. Holden smoked a lot for someone who is his age so he probably felt that something would eventually be wrong with his lungs. He faked pneumonia because he probably felt that nobody cares about the fact that he is damaging his lungs by smoking but he wanted to see if they would care if he had pneumonia.

Luce

2008-11-25T08:45:00.000-08:00

Holden is a very lonely and desperate person. He will spend time with anyone who is available. Even though he doesn't like Luce he didn't want him to leave because he would be lonely again. He doesn't want to be alone and feel more depressed.

Holden and Mercutio

2008-11-21T08:45:00.000-08:00

Holden identifies with Mercutio instead of Tybalt. He does this because he is more like Mercutio then Tybalt. They have more in common. Mercutio doesn't like the Capulets. One of the reasons he doesn't like them is because they are always concerned with the latest fashions and trends and they show off what they have. He is always ready to fight them. This is similar to Holden because he is always ready to fight phony people. He doesn't like people who act phony to others just like Mercutio doesn't like the Capulets for being to trendy. He also relates to Mercutio because he feels like the death of Mercutio is like the death of his brother Allie.

Horwitz

2008-11-18T09:10:00.000-08:00

The point of the scene with Horwitz is to show the different personalities of characters. It tells the readers thatHorwitz is Holden's foil.

Holden and Horwitz differ by the following:

Horwitz- Sensitive, has a job, doesn’t drink, doesn't try to keep the conversation going, touchy, poor-works as a cab driver, older- more experienced.

Holden- Liar, doesn’t have a job, drinks, tries to hard to keep the conversation going, Holden is a little more laid back, rich-comes from a rich family, less experienced.

They aren't listening to each other.

Poems

2008-11-14T06:43:00.000-08:00

Welcome Me, Adulthood

by Christina Cooper

Welcome me, Adulthood, I have ventured

through childhood with all the wonders and dangers in it.

I have placed my childhood fantasies aside,

and picked up hopes of becoming who I want to be.

Embrace me knowledge,

I am ready to know more and add to what I know already.

I have conquered my fear of the night,

now I only fear of becoming nothing.

I have stopped pretending to be what I thought I was going to be,

and realized that I am only what I make of myself.

I have come down from the land of make-believe,

and I have found the strength to believe in me.

So when I come upon you, open your arms,

and welcome me, Adulthood,

for I am headed your way.

I Am

by James Born

I am love in the face of hate

I am kindness in the face of ridicule

I am strength in the face of diversity

I am patience in the face of the mule

I will not run away from fear, I will not run and hide

I am bravery, I am pride

I will make a difference in this world, big or small

That is my promise to me , my promise to all

Vibrant

Intelligent

Caring

Trustworthy

Observant

Respectful

Inquisitive

Artistic

Happy and healthy

Always trusting and loyal

Hardworking, caring, and fun

Holden lies to Mrs. Morrow

2008-11-13T07:50:00.000-08:00

I don't think that Mrs. Morrow is aware that Holden is making all the things he says about Ernie up. I think she fully believes him. She seems so interested and wants to keep hearing more. I think she is tricked by Holden's manipulative personality. The following is a letter from Mrs. Morrow to her son Ernie.

To my dearest Ernie,

I met this nice young man named Holden last night while I was on a train. He goes to Pency Prep too and says that you boys are good friends. I am so proud of you. I can't believe what a nice boy he is. Good job Ernie and keep making more friends. I knew you had it in you. Holden also told me that he and a few of your friends were trying to get you to run for class president. I wish you would have, you would have done great. Oh well, there's always next year dear. Any who, I wish you would have told me about all of this. You can tell me anything dear. I feel that we have a lot of catching up to do. Oh and I invited him to visit us this summer at our house. He decline the offer because he is going to South America with his grandmother. Oh well, he'll come another time. I felt so bad for him when he told me he had a brain tumor. I can't believe it. He seems so happy and healthy. He said it's nothing major and it will be a quick surgery. I wish him luck. I will see you soon and we will catch up. Be safe dear!

Love,

Mommy

object description

2008-11-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

A white board laying there stiff. It has a rough texture. It is ready to be filled with color.

John Lennon's shooting

2008-11-04T08:57:00.000-08:00

1. What happened at the scene of the shooting? Where did this take place?

Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon when he was coming out of his NYC apartment in 1980. After he shot him, instead of running, he sat and read "Catcher in the Rye". He read it until the police arrived.

2. What behavior on the part of Chapman set the stage for this amoral act?

Before Mark shot John, he already tried to commit suicide twice. This shows that he wasn't emotionally stable. He started signing John Lennons name for things. Like if his rent was due, he signed his name.

3. Why do you think Chapman felt a connection with Holden and the "Catcher in the Rye?"

He felt a connection because they shared some of the same characteristics. They were "both madmen". They were both jealous. I bet Mark was jealous of John Lennon because he was a famous star. Holden was jealous of his roommate. He may have thought that people were phony just like Holden did. Maybe he thought John was phony.

Quotation

2008-10-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

The following quotation was a quote that stood out to me: "If your really want to hear about it, the first thing that you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."

I think this is a great quote and it was clever for the author to open up the book with this sentence. Holden doesn't want to tell his whole life story from beginning to end, like in the book David Copperfield. Instead, he wants to talk about "all the madman stuff," that happened to him around last christmas before he got pretty rundown. That's when he had to come out to Pency to take it easy. This stood out because it shows what kind of personality Holden has and it shows that he doesn't want to be full of himself. He just wants to tell the important stuff.

Why do you think Holden had to take it easy?

Catcher In the Rye

2008-10-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to be "phony"? Why are adults better at being phony than children? Share an experience where you remember someone being extremely phony to you.

Phony means fake or fraudulent. If someone is fake, they aren't being genuine. Adults are better at being phony than children because they have more experience. They have probably been around phony people in their lives. I have encountered a few phony people in my life. Their was a girl who was really nice to me when she was with me, but behind my back she would talk badly about me. She was being fake to me and I can't trust her anymore.

2008-10-20T08:59:00.001-07:00

Friday, October 17, 2008

Epilogue

Marie Little Soldier:

Upon reflection, adult David perceives Marie Little Soldier as a close family member. His fondest memory of her was when they were playing football with Ronnie. The three of them had so much fun together and the whole time they had no worries. They all felt completely comfortable around each other and were having a great time just being themselves. That day David felt as if he were part of a family with them. He felt that they accepted him for who he was and not his blood or birthright.

The Deaths of Wesley and Julian Hayden:

Adult David can't help but to blame what happened in the summer of 1948 with the deaths of Wesley and Julian Hayden. Julian never spoke to Wes, Gail, or David again after the death of Frank. Grandma Hayden was the only one who kept in touch with them. Julian died of a stroke. Adult David believes that the reason Julian died of a stroke was because he kept the secret about Frank. The pressure of holding it in built up and something had to finally blow. In Julian's case, it was the vessel of his brain. Wesley Hayden died of cancer. Again, adult David blamed the incident in 1948 for the death of his dad. He felt that Wes died of the secret he kept and because of his bitterness. After thinking about it, David decided that he shouldn't blame the deaths of his family members on something that happened over forty years ago.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

2. What happens to Frank at the end of part III in Watson's Montana 1948? How does Watson set this up to be an emotional moment for the reader?

At the end of part III in Watson's Montanta 1948 Frank commited suicide. Wes heard him the night before in the basement making a lot of noise but he didn't go down until the next morning. It was too late and he found his brother dead, with cuts on his wrists.

Before the readers found out Frank committed suicide by cutting himself, Wes told David a story about when he and Frank were young. The story was that Frank saved Wes from bullies that threatened to scalp(cut) Wes if he didn't give him the golf balls that he found on a golf course. This was an emotional moment for the reader because Frank committed suicide by cutting himself and when they were younger Frank saved Wes from killing himself. If only Wes could have saved Frank from getting cut, the outcome of all of their lives would be different.