final post- #16

So first semester of Ap English...not my favorite. Of course I'm going to say this, but i did get some benefits out of this. This first semester i have gained some great skills, like how to write a good thesis statement, how to look past the surface of a story, or even how to argue my point. However I have not mastered them, duh! Yet I enjoyed this class being a little more challenging, I like how i have to challenge myself to try harder and learn more things. I hope this continues in the second semester. Now some of the things i didn't like. For one these blogs, I'm not very good at expressing my views and writing a random post. I'm sure these will help me someday but here in the present I'm not very happy with them. For next semester i hope to gain new ideas abut seeing literature. I hope to really start to understand what the authors want me to see. I really want to be able to see the real meaning behind the words. I also want to be able to get better at writing, whether it be research or analysis, i hope to be able to write my ideas clearly and in a intellectual manner. Other than the obvious not liking doing homework and blogs, i have enjoyed my first semester of Ap English, i hope to continue gaining new things to further my education.

blog # 15- The rover

The play we went and saw on Thursday had great timing since we just finished our drama unit. This play to me was funny, as it was a comedy, but it had quite a bit of drama in it. It was a little harder to follow since it was 350 years old, but when i did understand the witty comments were quite scandalous, prostitutes always bring this element, obviously. But even with the funny parts it was a bit boring, probably because of the old language. The actors did a good job with it though, their actions made it a little more bearable. I enjoyed how the entire cast was very witty and able to play around with each other, they fit together fairly well. This is important in a play because if the cast doesn't portray the correct actions the point of the play wont get across, and who wants to see bad acting, no one. Back to the comedy, there were quite a few funny parts. One when one of the men got tricked and some thief's stole his clothes. There were also a lot of references if you know what i mean, but you only got these if you paid enough attention the the actions and speaking. Without the actors it would have been a bit harder to understand what the writer was saying. But over all the enjoyed missing class and seeing drama in action, even through the boring parts.

blog #14-drama

The drama unit was kind of fun, I got to see two different types from two different times. I enjoyed Oedipus Rex more because i like Greek mythology more than Shakespeare. In Oedipus Rex I like the whole Gods and the argument over fate vs free will, this is interpreted in many different ways . Everyone has a different opinion when this topic comes up. Whereas in Hamlet it was more controlled by human actions and how one would respond. Although the problems in Hamlet were extreme it still shows how a person today has to really search into ones self when a moral problem or life changing decision comes into play. I have recently had to look deep and decide where I want to spend my college years, which has been really hard for me, I'm not much of a decision maker which sucks. Anyways Hamlet finally came to a decision he was happy with but his idea ended up killing him in the process because of the others manipulation  This seems to be a pattern in Drama because at least one person usually dies, I mean Oedipus ended blinding himself and banishing himself from his home because of the problem he created by trying to avoid it. So neither of these character really had much of a happy ending. But these stories did make me feel better about my life, I'm so thankful that my lives aren't like theirs. But i enjoyed learning about this unit because it exposed me to different kinds of literature that I don't usually read, it was interesting to say at least.

blog #10-thesis statements

Oh the terrible thesis statements. To me this is scary because i never really know how to word it to get my thoughts across. It never seems to be fitting to the format wanted in a thesis. Sure i get the top cover of they stories, but it never seems to be deep enough of an idea. So this is why i always have trouble with them. I never really know why i cant put my ideas into words but this is the main reason i always get worried about the next paper i have to write. It seems to be getting easier as my english classes get higher in academic level, but they never seem up to par to what my teachers want. Which is sad because all this learning should have made me better right? I'm sure it has but it isnt quite where i would like it to be, i want to look forward to writing my next paper because i finally know how to write a thesis correctly. I mean the rest of a paper is easy, except the conclusion, those always get to too. But a thesis is supposed to be what your entire paper is about, its an outline without actually outline anything, which is intimidating, what if the ideas you want to present dont fit, but you really like the thesis, its a lot to put in one sentence. So yes i see the thesis being the hardest part of a paper.

blog #12-

Hamlet is messing with my brain. Even in the first act has got things spinning around. So much occurs in so little time. You really never know what is going on or what will happen next. I hope it gets to be more clear, although knowing Shakespeare this probably wont happen. I do like reading all the drama it is amusing how one person can come up with all this. I like it because it gives me a little action in a different world. Its like soap operas on tv its exciting to see what happens next in the obviously man made arguments and dramatic situations. Shakespeare has a real talent for making these situations seem that they could be real someday. Probably not but it is fun to dream that someones life could actually maybe be like this. Which would suck, i mean who really wants to live in constant fight mode, and always having to watch your back because someone is always trying to get back at you. It would be terrible to always be on the edge, sure it would be fun sometimes but your whole life, not a chance.

blog # 11-fate vs free will

In Oedipus Rex one may see a very thin line on if his choices/actions were free will or fate. I can always see both. I think free will can sometimes lead you to your fate. Some may argue that that is just fate causing for you still, but if you cause something that can change your fate then i see it as free will because you changed your own path. This is always a tough subject to argue because again it is a thin line of separating the two. They really go hand in hand. Free will is the act of one choosing how to deal with a present situation, whereas fate is a higher power choosing or mapping out your future decisions. But if you really think how it occurs it is always sort of both as i said it goes hand in hand.

I believe everyone gets to choose somethings in their own life whether it be picking the scent of your soap that week or picking what you are going to do with your life. Which is may i see more free will in people, yes i do see the ideas of both and do believe both, so i can't really say which one i see more of in my own life, i would like to think it is free will. But i decisions that i never really knew the answer for was probably my fate stepping in and "deciding" for me.

blog # 13-hamlet

The question-What’s Shakespeare want us to think about his sanity? Is it real or fake or both at different times? I think he wants us to assume both. I mean who doesn't have a mental breakdown every once in awhile. Shakespeare wanted to show us he too can have a moment when a breakdown can be helpful. I think it helped to show what he was really thinking, helped to develop his storys a little more. Shakespeare's sanity is both i want to say. Sometimes it is a little extravagant yet sometimes it is simple and gets to the point. Not usually the latter. He likes to be confusing but then everything gets explained and you see the true picture. The extravagant parts though are always over the top and usually dont make much sense to me at least. So this leads me to think that his sanity is in question. When stories or ideas are that out there who doesn't questions one's sanity. Yet Shakespeare does this in way that adds to the story he is trying to tell, as in a true drama. How can one make you feel emotion if it isnt a little over the top, you would feel sorry for someone just got a paper cut, would you? So i think Shakespeare wants you to see both sides so that you never really know what will happen next.

existentialism

Existentialist are quite pesky. I agree with some of the things they say but then again i don't   I have enjoyed looking deeper into life and seeing the different views of people. Some people may live by this and others think its all destiny. I personally see both sides. I see aspects of both views in my life. So thinking more deeply of me has been sort of difficult because i don't really think about my actions and thoughts in my free time, or how they correspond to my life and future.

eh speaking of the future, I'm not really feeling the amount of stress I'm putting on myself for it. I feel very overwhelmed and concerned about how I'm going to choose a college, how I'm going to do there, and how I'm going to become my own person. They are all very daunting questions. So speaking of existentialism in class has opened my eyes to these questions and makes me take step back and re-evaluate my choices and actions. I think experience may help me make the tough decisions. These are the things Mr.Mullins has made me think of, why, is all i have to ask. But I'm sure all will work out because it always does right?

Dark stories

The stories we have read lately or at all have all been very dark, violent, or depressing. I don't really mind this because i see it as the authors showing what doesn't always get written about. You don't always get to hear about the dark places people could get into. They have written about topics not everyone wants to speak of. No, I'm not saying i want to hear about all of this but i do like seeing a different side of things. I don't really read anything now a days that doesn't have a happy ending. So it is a pleasant surprise to read something different. This doesn't mean that literary fiction is all dark it just shows they want to put out something one doesn't read everyday. So literary stories wont always be happy and upbeat as everyone expects.

Where commercial fiction mostly like will be pleasing to the whole majority of the audience  They tend to be the ones to go with whats in, not write about the tough subjects. They will give the readers what they want which is a happy ending where everything works out and life goes on. Sure a few may have dark parts in them but they don't usually make you think past the surface and they aren't supposed to they are mostly just for pleasure, but admit it you can usually tell what is going to happen by the middle of the book. I'm not saying i don like commercial fiction cause I'm a sucker for a happy ending but it is nice to have a change in thinking. I like that i have to look past the surface to see what really happened.

hills like white elephants

So this story was tough to comprehend, for me anyways. I didn't really get it until we talked about it in class. It was quite clever how Hemingway hid the fact that the couple was speaking of an abortion. When we spoke of it in class it became much more obvious and i wondered how i missed it. I was glad i wasn't the only one though. But because i did miss i got to look closer at the story and really think about the dialogue and subtle signs more. I liked that you had to look deeper for the story and it wasn't like all the other that you just read it and already know what its about. Hemingway played with my mind and i really liked it ha. I wish more stories were like this so we could get more into stories. I even read this story again to put what we talked about in class into play. I really enjoyed it when i could see what we were talking about. Although the topic was a little rough because who wants to talk about a sensitive story like abortion, its so controversial. But i liked the way Hemingway writes, he really makes you work for the point of the story.

Theme

So even though Mr Mullins has explained theme very well, I'm still going have trouble getting rid of the 'moral' habit. I always looked for that to get the theme and thought it was good enough, but now i know it is much more complex to get more thorough so that the true point gets across. Themes are supposed to be very broad and be able to apply to as many real people and things as possible, not just a select few, it is more than just a lesson. The author wants the theme to apply to many yet not be judgmental and cause conflict between the readers. But the theme can seem different to different people, because everyone has their own opinion, therefore they have different views. Theme also has its very own checklist yay! haha.   These checklist includes 6 easy steps to help make the theme process much easier. With this checklist i think my habit of just finding the moral will end quickly because it breaks the complete sentence needed my theme down into parts. This makes it easier for me personally to make sure i get each part into the sentence. So here goes to getting better at making them sentences/inferences.

The destructors

In The Destructors a group boys disliked an old man so they torn down his house. While talking about this in class only one of the groups was on the right track as to why they did it. They said that when Mr.Thomas allowed him into his house the boys got the feeling of acceptance, and they didn't want that from him. I feel this is important because you start to see that the little boys aren't all that nice. They are kind of mean and rude. Mr.Thomas was just trying to be nice and kind by inviting the gang into this house. Then those same boys tare down his house when he is gone for the holiday weekend. Mr.Thomas came back earlier and the boys weren't done yet so they locked Mr.Thomas in his outdoor bathroom so they could finish. He finally gets out when his driver opens the door. And that driver has the nerve to say "you have to admit, it is sort of funny". With this ending i was very shocked that he would even saw that. What those boys did was terribly wrong and terrible for Mr.Thomas. I couldn't even imagine someone doing this to my house or anyone's for the matter. This story really kind of opens your eyes to what could actually happen when a person feels threatened. They could become a totally different person kind of like the man from A Child Called Tiger.

A Child Called Tiger

This week i had to read A Child Called Tiger. I thought it was quite confusing and creepy,  but it did make me think of why people do things like he did. I mean this happens in real life too. How can people be the person little kids look up to and then all the sudden snap into a totally different person. It makes me think deeper when looking at people, i mean you really never know whats going on behind closed doors. The person who you see as happy and full of life could have a horrible home situation that no one knows of, but they would rather just hide it. Anyways in A Child Called Tiger the author never tells you why he went crazy, in stories like this you can try and piece together your own thoughts of what may have happened. I think he had a thing going on with the maid. She had left before he had a breakdown and shot everyone. I think the maid, Patsy, put him in a tough situation when her husband came home. I think he wanted her to make a decision and wanted it to be him, not her husband. When he didn't get the answer he wanted he had a breakdown and decided to take his anger out in the best way he thought of at the time. He was in the Army so maybe that's why killing came first in his mind. Although we will never know because the author finished the short story without any insight into his character life and the man died.

most dangerous game

So this may sound silly but while reading The Most Dangerous Game i thought it sounded kind of like The Hunger Games. When Zaroff was hunting Rainsford it reminded me of all the tributes hunting each other to stay alive. I know Rainsford wasnt hunting anyone but he was using his survival skills like Katniss. General Zaroff was more like President Snow, he was only hunting for the entertainment of it. Anyways Rainsford was like Katniss in more than the arena ways, he also had the will to stay alive and win the game Zaroff was playing. This will help him to overcome his opresser and win and also stay alive. In both stories the 'players' are picked randomly, but in different ways. In The Most Dangerous Game its whoever lands on the island is choosen to play General Zaroff's games, whereas in THe Hunger Games people are picked out of a bowl. There are more than just this differences between the books but the purpose for reading them are also the same. They are both literary reads. Literary reading is when the writing you are reading is purely for entertain not thought and adacemic teaching aids-like summer reading books :(. Personally i like the literary readings better because i just like the easy reads that dont take a lot of deep thinking to understand. I like to just enjoy the book.