Late Poetry Reflection

Most people have mixed emotions about poetry. Odds are, you've studied poetry in many different ways throughout your academic career. You also may have experience with poetry outside of school - from reading nursery rhymes with your parents to participating in or observing an open mic or poetry slam.

Consider your poetry background and write about one specific positive experience you've had with poetry. Write several paragraphs about the experience and why or how it made a positive impact on your life. Be sure to be specific in recalling the poetry or type of poetry involved - titles and poets names are important to recall.

After describing your good experience, write a little about your attitude toward poetry at this point in your life. This does not have to be a long paragraph, just a few sentences about your feelings or emotions when you hear the word "poetry" or what you think about when poetry is mentioned in class.
I think my first run in with Poetry was when my grandma read me "Alexander's Terrible No Good Very Bad Day"  After that I basicly avoided poetry.  It was cool and all expressing yourself in a few words but it was a chore to do and even back then I was still lazy.  During 8th grade we had to memorize a poem and recite it so I picked "Alexander's Terrible No Good Very Bad Day"

The thing that just recently ruined any love I did have for poetry was that 8th grade assignment.  She made it completely terrible and a waste of my time so i was like screw poetry i do not want to ever deal with it again.

Memorable Assignment

With all of the blogs, essays, projects, questions and annotations we've done this year, thinking back on it all can be mind-boggling. However, when you think back on all of the work you've done in English this year, there is sure to be one assignment that stands out to you as your favorite or most memorable.

Write about the assignment that stands out in your memory above all others. This should be something that you feel proud of - something that you worked hard on; something that showcased your talents for reading, writing, and thinking creatively.

Clearly describe the assignment and what you did to make it memorable. Write at least two paragraphs about your work on this assignment and why you are proud of your achievement.

The assignment I remember the most was not even assigned in your classroom.  It was the TKAM essay.  A couple of reasons I remeber it so well is well it took away part of my summer.  My mom was also very strict about it and made me do robably triple the work I'd normally do.  Which screwed up my summer even more making me have less time to hang out with people.

I personally think I did a pretty good job on that essay becasuse well I did not use spark notes and still got an A.  Also I thought I was pretty good because I actually had mine and turned it in on time. 

Conflict

Throughout the year we have focused on different literary elements in each unit. Although conflict is present within every work we've studied, it is most prevalent and most crucial to the plot and characters in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Your essay for this unit will involve both Shakespeare's use of language and how conflict is created within the play.

Throughout the play, characters struggle with conflict on many different levels. The title teenagers face their own internal conflicts, are involved with conflicts with other characters, and are essentially in conflict with the society of which they live. Identify one specific conflict at work in Romeo and Juliet and describe its importance to the central themes of the play and how it extends to your life, our society, or to people important to you.

Write two complete, thoughtful paragraphs for this post. The first should identify a specific conflict in the play: accurately paraphrase or quote the play and describe the type of conflict. Then describe this conflict's importance  and how it develops central themes of the play.
The conflict that brought around change that ended up screwing Romeo over was between him and Tybalt.  When Tybalt sees Romeo at the party he asks his uncle if he can attack him.  His uncle says no.  Shortly there after a challenge is sent to Romeo.  Basicly after that his friend dies and then Romeo kills Tybalt out of revenge.  If this did not happen Romeo and Juliet might be together with a little bit less complications.

In reponse to this today in current lives of teens.  The killing would most likely not occur at Olympia High.  But people may not be acknowledged by other people as well since they possibly didnt kill anybody but they destroyed their reputation.  The challenge being sent does not really represent anything happening in this current time period except if somebody (mainly guys) is like fine after school at the parking lot or something and then they fight and its stupid but that is besides the point.  Basicly this excerpt of conflict from Romeo and Juliet does not quite apply to current teens.

Romeo and Juliet

As you immerse yourself in Romeo and Juliet you should be becoming aware of the pervasiveness of the story's impact on modern culture. Some references to the story are obvious, like Gnomeo and Juliet or Letters to Juliet, but others are more subtle - think The Hunger Games or Twilight.

Find something that references the timelessness of Romeo and Juliet. You could find a picture, post a link to an article, embed a video, copy song lyrics or just blog about a specific instance where you noticed the play being referenced in modern culture. Try to think of something no one else will think of! 

Make sure the reference is clear and your reaction to it is clearly and cleverly conveyed...creativity counts here!

Post and comment by Saturday, May 7.

Romeo and Juliet is widely used as the common tragedy in stories, movies, and plays.  Westside Story is a modern well relatively modern reproduction with Romeo and Juliet.  Tony being Romeo and  Maria being Juliet.  Not only are those two characters very similar Tybalt and Bernado are very alike.  I recently saw Westside story and then thought that Romeo and Juliet was based on that until i realized the time difference in the two plays.  Westside Story and Romoe and Juliet are both tragedys involving one faction agaisnt the other where "two star crossed lovers take their lives."

Great Expectations done

Your essay prompt for Great Expectations asks you to analyze the overall theme or message in the novel. For this week's blog, write about what you feel is the message Dickens intended to send to his readers. What is the story really about? Answer this question in a well-developed paragraph. Try to write the entire paragraph about this message or "life lesson" with limited reference to plot and characters. Instead, focus on the universal experiences you could relate to while reading. How is this book relevant to people in general, regardless of time and place?

I believe that Dickens overall message was about life.  Its not what happens to you its how you make it and follow your dreams.  There are expectations out there for everyone.  It is not what they get but how they use it that will impact their lives.  In Great Expectations after Pip met Estella he decided he wanted to be a gentleman.  This shows how he wanted to become something and worked toward his goal.  Admittedly the goal was practically given to him in this case.  But Dickens was trying to get across was it is what you accomplish!

Similar theme blog

For this week's blog post, think of another story that you think has similar themes or messages about life to Great Expectations. This can be a story, novel, or movie. Describe similarities between Dickens' work and this movie or story. How are the characters in this work's experiences similar to those of Pip? Write several paragraphs connecting the themes and messages about human nature in these two tales.  Be sure to discuss thematic connections rather than just similarities in plot or setting.  Also, post a picture that depicts characters or ideas in your connecting story/movie that enhances its relevance to Great Expectations.

The Power of One,  this novel involves a kid sent off and forced to find his way thorought his life.  Peekay relates to Pip in the nature of in both of their situations they have to survive.  Peekay gets sent away to a boarding school and gets well basicly beat up and pissed on.  Pip gets beaten by his sister and demoralized by his family, (except for Joe.) 

In both novels they learn to survive because they learn something from people.  Miss Havisham helps teach Pip to survive by learning experiences.  It was like his first job.  Peekay is taught by Geel Peete his first job is handing out letters and Geel Peete teaches him to box so that he may survive in his school.  Another type of person that helps the characters is friends.  In Peekay's world Hoppie demostrated something that he took up as his life.  For Pip it was Herbert who demostrated being a gentleman and Pip wanted to grow up to be a gentleman and he did.

• What is Pip referring to? 
• How has this day altered him?
• Consider this quotation as a turning point in Pip's character development. How is Pip different in chapters 10-16 in contrast with the first nine chapters? Discuss his changes. Are they positive or negative changes? How is your perception on this character altering as he changes? Be specific, include details from chapters 10-16.

• Think of a memorable day in your life that began your "chain." How can the formation of your character or the person you are now be traced back to one life-altering day?

Write two paragraphs.  The first paragraph should discuss Pip's character development and respond to the first three bullets above.  The second paragraph should relate the quotation to your own life.

Pip is referring to how this experience changed his life.  He has realized that being a blacksmith is not the best he can be or expect.  Pip is a child in chapters 1-9 in 10-16 he grows up dramatically and begins to think that blacksmith isn't great and he wants to be genteel.  These changes in my opinion are positive because it is easier to relate with a character your age.  I am beginning to like Pip more after these changes.  He completely owns the young gentleman in boxing and beats him to a pulp.


One of the things that has changed my life as I've known it was when I decided to work in the summer.  When I decided to do that I was just focused on the money and not my work ethic or the quality of work I provided.  My boss talked to me about my second week on the job.  I was told that if I didn't start paying attention I would be fired.  So got my self together and focused on work now and quality and began to enjoy the job.