Willa Cather, in her novel My Antonia, offers her view of life during the pioneer times. She portrays herself and all of her views through her characters. Through Jim and his experiences the audience gets a view of life in the good ol' days.
If the book were told in the point of view of Antonia instead of Jim, the story would have been drastically different. In her perspective, the audience would have gained insight into what it was like to be in a family who was new to the country and struggling for survival. Also, we might have gained a motive behind some of her actions, such as her behavior towards Jim and her dancing escapades. Her thoughts and feelings would have been made known during the tough times, such as when she had to work in the fields like a man or when she was betrayed by her supposed fiance, Larry, and left alone and pregnant. The book would have turned out completely different if we had learned all of the facts firsthand instead of hearing them through as Jim learned them through the grapevine.
Willa Cather was fairly effective at writing in the point of view of a man, considering she herself is not one. The only way that one could even guess that the author was a woman was that Jim seems to be fairly feminine for a guy. Not to the point of being ridiculously or overly girly, but still more so than some guys would have been. There was not really any description of him doing any manual labor, which could hint at the fact that the author is a girl due to the fact that most woman did not do any sort of field work in that time period. Overall, though, Cather did a good job portraying a man in the book.
Jim changed the title of the story from Antonia to My Antonia because he was telling the story of his friend Antonia as he saw her. The different people who grew up or lived around Antonia would have viewed her in a completely different way than Jim did. He saw the good in her; the willingness to do anything for her family and how she refused to give up on making something of herself even though she was left alone and pregnant in a time where that was highly frowned upon. However, others viewed her with pity, as the girl who was gullible enough to be tricked out of her money and left pregnant. She would have been seen as cheap and a floozy. Jim wanted to show people how he viewed her; how he loved her. The title My Antonia shows that the story is not about her flaws and mistakes and meant to degrade. It shows Jim's unconditional love towards her.
My Antonia is a very unique book that would have been completely different if the author had made even one minor change. Cather's novel is very good at showing the lifestyle of a typical family during the pioneer times. The story shows not only the good in life, but also the hard, unforgiving times that occurred so very often in those times. The book is well written and interesting enough that I would recommend it to anybody who likes classic books.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Effects of a Setting
Author Willa Cather embedded literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, within her writing.
"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."
"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."
"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie. The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together. The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.
The setting plays a major role on the lives of the characters within the novel. For example, if the Shimerda family had moved to a large city, they might not have fallen on such hard times. Mr. Shimerda might have been happier and not killed himself and Antonia would not have been forced to live the rough lifestyle of a man. She may have been a prim and proper lady and been married off to some rich guy, never to have to work in the fields again. If Jim had not moved to the farm with his grandparents, he would have never learned to appreciate the things he has in life. By living on a farm, he learned to work hard and follow instructions. He also would not have been exposed to the people, such as Otto and Jake, who taught him all of the things that a father would teach a son. The setting of the story made a huge impact on the plot and all of the characters.
The woods are a paradise to me. The best time is during the fall when the leaves turn colors and float softly to the ground. The tall, imposing trees give me a sense of safety and comfort. They stand tall and proud, like a veteran soldier bravely defending his country. I love to hear the small creek whispering its song to the world as it weaves its way across the landscape. I can sit, relax and ponder the ways of the world when there is nothing but nature surrounding me. Off in the distance, the sun is slowly losing its battle with the night, leaving everything bathed orange in its warm glow. When I see this, I know it is time to head back to my home. However reluctant, I am placated by the realization that my paradise is permanent and I can always visit again tomorrow.
"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."
"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."
"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie. The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together. The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.
The setting plays a major role on the lives of the characters within the novel. For example, if the Shimerda family had moved to a large city, they might not have fallen on such hard times. Mr. Shimerda might have been happier and not killed himself and Antonia would not have been forced to live the rough lifestyle of a man. She may have been a prim and proper lady and been married off to some rich guy, never to have to work in the fields again. If Jim had not moved to the farm with his grandparents, he would have never learned to appreciate the things he has in life. By living on a farm, he learned to work hard and follow instructions. He also would not have been exposed to the people, such as Otto and Jake, who taught him all of the things that a father would teach a son. The setting of the story made a huge impact on the plot and all of the characters.
The woods are a paradise to me. The best time is during the fall when the leaves turn colors and float softly to the ground. The tall, imposing trees give me a sense of safety and comfort. They stand tall and proud, like a veteran soldier bravely defending his country. I love to hear the small creek whispering its song to the world as it weaves its way across the landscape. I can sit, relax and ponder the ways of the world when there is nothing but nature surrounding me. Off in the distance, the sun is slowly losing its battle with the night, leaving everything bathed orange in its warm glow. When I see this, I know it is time to head back to my home. However reluctant, I am placated by the realization that my paradise is permanent and I can always visit again tomorrow.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Argument: Pit Bull Bans
Assertion/Claim (Topic Sentence) = Main Idea
My Thinking: I believe that this paragraph is based mainly on inductive reasoning due to the fact that the conclusion can still be argued and is not a definite fact.
Sources:
- Pit bull bans should be abolished.
Evidence -Concrete Detail:
- The problems that occur seemingly due to the breed are actually caused by the owners, not the dogs themselves.
- Commentary 1: Pit bulls are not born killers, they are turned that way as a result of a bad upbringing or traumatic experience. Most of the dogs that attack people have been the victims of abuse or neglect or have taught to fight or kill.
- Commentary 2: There are thousands upon thousands of pit bulls around the world that have never attacked anyone. All of the dogs are not vicious just because some of them have attacked people before. Besides, how many times do ban supporters mention the pit bulls that have saved their owners from certain death? Or do they ever specify whether or not the dog was provoked by the person they attacked? Hardly ever.
- The breed "pit bull" is probably one of the most misused terms ever.
- Commentary 1: Most people group any dog with certain characteristics, such as a stocky build, as a pit bull. a majority of the time, it is one of the many other breeds that are incorrectly labeled as a pit bull.
- Commentary 2: The pit bull gets blamed for the actions of dozens of many other breeds due to their misidentification. This would multiply the attack number for the breed by huge amounts and would account for why the numbers are so high and why the breed has such a bad reputation.
Opposing Claims/They Say:
- The Dog Bite Law Center argues that "these dogs are bred killers."
- Some claim that they "have not place in a family home" and that any "defense of them is misplaced affection."
- However, I say that the majority of pit bulls are being unrightfully punished for the mistakes and actions of the few. Most of the "pit bulls" aren't actually pit bulls at all. If you are counting the number of attacks for many different breeds all under one breed, of course the number is going to be higher than any one single breed.
My Paragraph
Pit bull bans should be abolished. The problems that occur seemingly due to the breed are actually caused by the owners, not the dogs themselves. Pit bulls are not born killers, they are turned that way as a result of a bad upbringing or traumatic experience. Most of the dogs that attack people have been the victims of abuse or neglect or have taught to fight or kill. There are thousands upon thousands of pit bulls around the world that have never attacked anyone. All of the dogs are not vicious just because some of them have attacked people before. Besides, how many times do ban supporters mention the pit bulls that have saved their owners from certain death? Or do they ever specify whether or not the dog was provoked by the person they attacked? Hardly ever. The breed "pit bull" is probably one of the most misused terms ever. Most people group any dog with certain characteristics, such as a stocky build, as a pit bull. a majority of the time, it is one of the many other breeds that are incorrectly labeled as a pit bull. The pit bull gets blamed for the actions of dozens of many other breeds due to their misidentification. This would multiply the attack number for the breed by huge amounts and would account for why the numbers are so high and why the breed has such a bad reputation. However, not everybody believes as I do. The people at the Dog Bite Law Center argue that "these dogs are bred killers." Some claim that they "have not place in a family home" and that any "defense of them is misplaced affection." Nevertheless, I say that the majority of pit bulls are being unrightfully punished for the mistakes and actions of the few. Most of the "pit bulls" aren't actually pit bulls at all. If you are counting the number of attacks for many different breeds all under one breed, of course the number is going to be higher than any one single breed. Thus, pit bulls should not be banned and they should get the same treatment that any other dog breed does.My Thinking:
Sources:
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Dependent & Independent Clauses
Whenever I have the chance,
Although I'm stressed for time,
After the school bell rings,
Until the sun goes down,
I ride horses at the barn.
Although I am reluctant,
When the sun has said goodbye,
Before it gets too late,
Because of my responsibilities,
I go home and prepare for tomorrow.
Although I'm stressed for time,
After the school bell rings,
Until the sun goes down,
I ride horses at the barn.
Although I am reluctant,
When the sun has said goodbye,
Before it gets too late,
Because of my responsibilities,
I go home and prepare for tomorrow.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Things Fall Apart Book Review
"His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness." Okonkwo, a strong man living in an Ibo village in Nigeria, has only ever known hard labor and turmoil for the whole length of his existence. He is finally conquering over his struggles and fears but perhaps as they seem to get better, actually things fall apart. Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart captivated me with its strong, diverse characters, excellent theme, and connections to other works of literature.
This book is full of realistic characters and contains a wide array of diverse personalities. The author did a great job at making the people very believable and encouraging readers to make connections with the characters. Many of them, such as Okonkwo, who was "afraid of being thought weak," can make the readers relate to them. I, personally, do not like Okonkwo very much, which I do think affects how I feel about the book. He "ruled his household with a heavy hand" and cause his wives and children to "live in perpetual fear of his fiery temper."(page 13) He was willing to kill the boy who viewed him as a father all because "he was afraid of being thought weak."(page 61) All of this dampens my view of him, which affects the level of enjoyment that I get from reading the book. I have trouble reading a book in which I do not like or agree with the main character, but that is strictly a personal preference and I do think that others would feel different about it.
However, Achebe's theme that he incorporated into the novel makes up somewhat for the dislike that I have for the main character. The moral that I came to interpret is that one shouldn't let their pride rule their life and control their actions because one day they may come to regret it. This theme, I feel, is directed mainly at Okonkwo. He let his pride rule his life when the story said that "Okonkwo drew his machete and cut [Ikemefuna] down. He was afraid of being thought weak." He let his fear and pride control him and because of that he killed one of the few people that thought the world of him. The theme seemed to kick in after he became depressed and began to regret killing Ikemefuna. He "did not taste any food for two days after the death" and "he drank palm wine from morning to night." However, it seems to me that the message really hit home when he realized that everything he had done in order to make people see him as strong had really been for nothing. "He had all but achieved [his dreams]. Then everything had been broken" and "he had been cast out of his clan like a fish onto a dry, sandy beach." The strong, inspiring theme makes the book much more pleasant to read in my opinion.
Another thing that increased my willingness to read the book was that I could form connections to the people and other personalities as well as link the book to another that I have read. Okonkwo reminds me of a majority of people in today's world, doing horrid things in the name of pride and constantly living in fear of what other people will think of them. I, myself, sometimes find myself fearing what others think of me and letting that rule over how I act so I feel that, even though I do not like Okonkwo,I can somewhat relate to him. This book reminds me of The Odyssey because the character Odysseus is very similar to Okonkwo. Both were very proud, strong, and stubborn. They let their pride get them into some very sticky situations and won't let anything change their minds once they decide on something. Also, both end up finding their whole worlds crashed down around them and eventually realizing that they have no one to blame but themselves.
Overall, I believe that Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a fairly interesting book that offers a wide variety of character personas and possible themes, in addition to having characters that can easily be linked to other, more common pieces of literature and the actions of modern-day people as well. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about different cultures around the world and how the different societies run. I believe that certain people could get a lot of enjoyment out of this book.
This book is full of realistic characters and contains a wide array of diverse personalities. The author did a great job at making the people very believable and encouraging readers to make connections with the characters. Many of them, such as Okonkwo, who was "afraid of being thought weak," can make the readers relate to them. I, personally, do not like Okonkwo very much, which I do think affects how I feel about the book. He "ruled his household with a heavy hand" and cause his wives and children to "live in perpetual fear of his fiery temper."(page 13) He was willing to kill the boy who viewed him as a father all because "he was afraid of being thought weak."(page 61) All of this dampens my view of him, which affects the level of enjoyment that I get from reading the book. I have trouble reading a book in which I do not like or agree with the main character, but that is strictly a personal preference and I do think that others would feel different about it.
However, Achebe's theme that he incorporated into the novel makes up somewhat for the dislike that I have for the main character. The moral that I came to interpret is that one shouldn't let their pride rule their life and control their actions because one day they may come to regret it. This theme, I feel, is directed mainly at Okonkwo. He let his pride rule his life when the story said that "Okonkwo drew his machete and cut [Ikemefuna] down. He was afraid of being thought weak." He let his fear and pride control him and because of that he killed one of the few people that thought the world of him. The theme seemed to kick in after he became depressed and began to regret killing Ikemefuna. He "did not taste any food for two days after the death" and "he drank palm wine from morning to night." However, it seems to me that the message really hit home when he realized that everything he had done in order to make people see him as strong had really been for nothing. "He had all but achieved [his dreams]. Then everything had been broken" and "he had been cast out of his clan like a fish onto a dry, sandy beach." The strong, inspiring theme makes the book much more pleasant to read in my opinion.
Another thing that increased my willingness to read the book was that I could form connections to the people and other personalities as well as link the book to another that I have read. Okonkwo reminds me of a majority of people in today's world, doing horrid things in the name of pride and constantly living in fear of what other people will think of them. I, myself, sometimes find myself fearing what others think of me and letting that rule over how I act so I feel that, even though I do not like Okonkwo,I can somewhat relate to him. This book reminds me of The Odyssey because the character Odysseus is very similar to Okonkwo. Both were very proud, strong, and stubborn. They let their pride get them into some very sticky situations and won't let anything change their minds once they decide on something. Also, both end up finding their whole worlds crashed down around them and eventually realizing that they have no one to blame but themselves.
Overall, I believe that Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a fairly interesting book that offers a wide variety of character personas and possible themes, in addition to having characters that can easily be linked to other, more common pieces of literature and the actions of modern-day people as well. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about different cultures around the world and how the different societies run. I believe that certain people could get a lot of enjoyment out of this book.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Henry vs. Forrest
In intense situations, a person's instinctual reaction causes him/her to react for self-preservation whether that means fighting or taking flight. Henry for The Red Badge of Courage and Forrest from .
Forrest Gump may not seem to have anything in common with each other but, in fact, they do. Both Henry and Forrest were being driven by their fear while they were running.
Henry ran out of fear for himself without once caring about the welfare of others. He got scared that he would get hurt of die, so he decided to run away. He ran "like a blind man" or a "proverbial chicken," not knowing where he was going and at the same time, not caring. He was fleeing the battle to save himself, letting fear get the best of him.
Though Forrest too ran out of fear, his fear was for someone other than himself. At first, he ran just because he was ordered to by his superiors, but when he realized that his best friend Bubba was unaccounted for, he ran to try to find him. He was not thinking about himself at all. He ran into the war instead of out of it; risking his life even though he knew that the chances of finding Bubba and saving him were slim. Uncaring of his own self-preservation, he ran, and because of it, a lot of people were saved.
Both Henry and Forrest ran because of fear but Forrest's self-less fear was much different than Henry's selfish flight mentality.
Forrest Gump may not seem to have anything in common with each other but, in fact, they do. Both Henry and Forrest were being driven by their fear while they were running.
Henry ran out of fear for himself without once caring about the welfare of others. He got scared that he would get hurt of die, so he decided to run away. He ran "like a blind man" or a "proverbial chicken," not knowing where he was going and at the same time, not caring. He was fleeing the battle to save himself, letting fear get the best of him.
Though Forrest too ran out of fear, his fear was for someone other than himself. At first, he ran just because he was ordered to by his superiors, but when he realized that his best friend Bubba was unaccounted for, he ran to try to find him. He was not thinking about himself at all. He ran into the war instead of out of it; risking his life even though he knew that the chances of finding Bubba and saving him were slim. Uncaring of his own self-preservation, he ran, and because of it, a lot of people were saved.
Both Henry and Forrest ran because of fear but Forrest's self-less fear was much different than Henry's selfish flight mentality.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wounded Warrior Project
I feel that the Wounded Warrior Project is a very honorable organization. It helps to build the confidence of the people that are part of the program and helps them feel loved. Many people who have been wounded in war come back and have PTSD and in turn, that can lead to them feeling depressed and unappreciated. WWP can help veterans realize that they are not being forgotten and that they did in fact make a difference. To me, this is one of the greatest aspects of the program. Not only does it help the people in the program, but it helps raise awareness in the general population too. It seems that some people believe that soldiers go off to war, fight, come back, and everything is all hunky-dory. WWP shows them that the people who died serving our country are not the only ones who sacrificed their whole lives. The survivors have given up a major part of themselves also because they will never be the same. They are forced to live with the memories of what they saw and experienced and nothing will ever be able to completely make that go away. After all, there are things that a person can't unsee that are utterly life-changing. The Wounded Warrior Project is an amazing organization that benefits not only our admirable and intrepid soldiers, but also ordinary civilians. What the WWP is doing is showing everyone the sacrifices made and giving honor to those who deserve it. I would like to say a big THANK YOU to whoever thought of and created this idea for what they have done, are doing, and will do in the future. :)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
War Is...
War is pointless, destroying the free
War is baneful, making innocents flee
War is reckless, heeding nobody's pleas
War is bloody, achieving no peace
War is desperate, uncaring of the fallout
War is murder, deadly to all who are called out
War is betrayal, turning our backs on the once faithful
War is disaster, turning days, once peaceful, fatal
War is monstrous, making small children cry
War is hopeless, making all people die
War is baneful, making innocents flee
War is reckless, heeding nobody's pleas
War is bloody, achieving no peace
War is desperate, uncaring of the fallout
War is murder, deadly to all who are called out
War is betrayal, turning our backs on the once faithful
War is disaster, turning days, once peaceful, fatal
War is monstrous, making small children cry
War is hopeless, making all people die
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Book Review: Uglies
Scott Westerfeld's futuristic novel Uglies was kind of interesting to me but at the same time, left much to be desired. It is written in third person limited point of view, only showing the point to view of one character; Tally. I enjoyed the basic storyline that was expressed in the book. It was not near as fast-paced as I prefer, but it was still pretty good. There was even a little 'side story' type of plot added in there; a little love triangle-esque relationship between Shay, David, and Tally. I read the book at more of a relaxed pace due to slight lack of interest at points but a lot of people would probably find it more interesting than I did. I have my own specific, odd taste in book types and this just wasn't one ot them for me. Though I liked the overall plot of the book but also got a little confused at times due to the fact that there really was not any explanation as to what things were. They would start using equipment and I had no idea what it was, such as the interface ring, and hoverboards. I could definitely infer what the general use of them was but had no clue at all when the book started talking about how to use them. On the bright side, Westerfeld writing style was very clear and easy to understand and if I am not mistaken, I think I even caught on to a moral. The story seemed to me to be subtly hinting at the fact that people are not perfect and we should not expect perfection from somebody. We, as humans, tend to subconsiously hold everything up to an unwritten, idealistic standard that nobody will ever truly be able to meet. Tally lives in a world where eveyone at the age of 16 get major reconstructive surgery in order to become perfect, or "pretty." She is extremely excited for her birthday but when she meets Shay, who does not seem to want to become pretty, she may start to see things differently. Ultimately, she get put in a position where she must choose her friends or her dreams. Though some aspects of the book kind of confused and sometimes frustrated me, I would definitely recommend it for someone else to read. I would probably say that teenage girls would get the most enjoyment out of this book but I believe that guys might would like to read it too.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Remembering 9/11
People all over the U.S. were traumatized by what happened to the World Trade Centers on 9/11. Everyone was affected, whether personally or secondhand. After that day, nobody who was old enough to understand what was happening will ever be able to forget what we all had the misfortune of experiencing.
On September 11th, Al Qaeda operatives hijacked 4 passenger jets. Two hit the twin towers; One hit the Pentagon; One crashed in a field. Approximately 3000 people died as a result of their actions. Thinking of a loss of life at that magnitude makes me sick. It was, in my opinion, one of the most horrific and tragic days in history.
The cleanup at the site of the World Trade Centers, dubbed Ground Zero, was completed in May 2002. Memorials have been and are still being constructed, such as the One World Trade Center, which is estimated for completion sometime in 2013. However, there is much controversey as to whether or not it is right to build a new Trade Center. I, personally, believe that creating something new at the site is a good thing. It shows that we can move on from what has happened but at the same time not forget it. To me, it is a great thing to be able to show to the terrorist groups that we are not weak and that whatever they throw at us, we can handle.
After that day, many things changed in the U.S. Our economy rapidly fell. Billions of dollars had to be used to aid in the recovery of New York, stock values plummeted, and over 18,000 small businesses were destroyed or displaced. Also, the government came up with much stricter guidlines in airport passage and in terrorism policies. Even other places, such as Germany, Canada, Great Britian, and New Zealand put into effect new anti-terrorism safety acts.
Though we should never forget 9/11 and the people who lost their lives that day, I think that we should stand up, dust ourselves off, and show the world that we will not be taken advantage of. We need to move on and just make sure that nothing like this happens again. I'm not saying we should forget those brave souls that were taken that day, I just think that we could honor them the most by preventing others from having to go through the same thing.
On September 11th, Al Qaeda operatives hijacked 4 passenger jets. Two hit the twin towers; One hit the Pentagon; One crashed in a field. Approximately 3000 people died as a result of their actions. Thinking of a loss of life at that magnitude makes me sick. It was, in my opinion, one of the most horrific and tragic days in history.
The cleanup at the site of the World Trade Centers, dubbed Ground Zero, was completed in May 2002. Memorials have been and are still being constructed, such as the One World Trade Center, which is estimated for completion sometime in 2013. However, there is much controversey as to whether or not it is right to build a new Trade Center. I, personally, believe that creating something new at the site is a good thing. It shows that we can move on from what has happened but at the same time not forget it. To me, it is a great thing to be able to show to the terrorist groups that we are not weak and that whatever they throw at us, we can handle.
After that day, many things changed in the U.S. Our economy rapidly fell. Billions of dollars had to be used to aid in the recovery of New York, stock values plummeted, and over 18,000 small businesses were destroyed or displaced. Also, the government came up with much stricter guidlines in airport passage and in terrorism policies. Even other places, such as Germany, Canada, Great Britian, and New Zealand put into effect new anti-terrorism safety acts.
Though we should never forget 9/11 and the people who lost their lives that day, I think that we should stand up, dust ourselves off, and show the world that we will not be taken advantage of. We need to move on and just make sure that nothing like this happens again. I'm not saying we should forget those brave souls that were taken that day, I just think that we could honor them the most by preventing others from having to go through the same thing.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
My Inspired Poem :)
I did my job and now i'm gone
And i'll never see another dawn
I did my job for liberty
Gave it all so you could be free
Don't be sad; what's done is done
And it's your job to replace me, son
So take up arms and join the fight
Go out there and do what's right
Fight to protect your family and friends
Without you, boy, they'd meet their ends
So go out there and take your knives
And give them all long, happy, lives
***inspired by John McCrae's "In Flander's Fields"***
And i'll never see another dawn
I did my job for liberty
Gave it all so you could be free
Don't be sad; what's done is done
And it's your job to replace me, son
So take up arms and join the fight
Go out there and do what's right
Fight to protect your family and friends
Without you, boy, they'd meet their ends
So go out there and take your knives
And give them all long, happy, lives
***inspired by John McCrae's "In Flander's Fields"***
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
My Lovely Poem :)
What happens to an unrequited love?
Does it fade over time
Like a book left in the hot sun?
Or does it wither
Like a rose with no water
And then slowly fall apart?
Does it shatter and splinter like a a crystal glass being dropped
Or like a window pane in a long forgotton house?
Maybe it just floats away
Like a boat left untethered
Or does its power amplify a thousand times?
Does it fade over time
Like a book left in the hot sun?
Or does it wither
Like a rose with no water
And then slowly fall apart?
Does it shatter and splinter like a a crystal glass being dropped
Or like a window pane in a long forgotton house?
Maybe it just floats away
Like a boat left untethered
Or does its power amplify a thousand times?
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Character Analysis: Ismene
Sophocle's tragic play, Antigone, was set in ancient Greece, where women were thought to be below men. They were expected to obey those above them in status and not express any personal opinions. They were taught not to argue with what they were told. Although Ismene seems to be just a stereotypical woman at the beginning of the play, toward the end her strengths begin to show and she really begins to stand out as her own person.
At the start, Ismene's weaknesses are really the only noticable thing about her personality. She comes across as weak and timid because she refuses to help Antigone bury their brother against the orders of Creon. She is "witless of the way" to "break [her] country's law." She is portrayed as a prissy little girl with no backbone and no desire to stand up for herself and what she knows is right. That thought is backed up when she says, "not to attempt the impossible is best."
However, in all actuality, her flaws are not as bad as they seem. While she is standing there talking to Antigone, her strong-willed, not-afraid-of-anything sister, the audience cannot help but to compare the two. Because Ismene is being compared to Antigone, where Antigone seems strong, Ismene appears frail and weak. In the reader's mind, Ismene is the exact opposite of Antigone and is the one that falls short when the two sisters are looked at side by side.
As fearful as she is at first though, she later makes up for it and shows everybody that she is not afraid "to make [herself] companion of [Antigone's] fate. The audience sees a whole new side of Ismene that they never would have guessed existed when she stands boldly up to Creon and offers to die alongside her sister. At that point her strengths shine through the weaknesses and her loyalty and courage become apparent. It took a little while for her to realize it but she would do anything for her family, even if it means death. She comes through for her Antigone and offers her her blood as "an offering to the dead."
Ismene is often thought of as a minor character in the play; a scaredy-cat who is inferior to her sister because she refused when Antigone, the protagonist of the play, asked for her help. This highlighted her weaknesses and made her seem stereotypical. However, when her sister got arrested and sentence to death, she broke away from the mold and her strengths came forward. The size of her role in the play does not matter as much as the amazing change in character that occurs throughout the course of the story.
At the start, Ismene's weaknesses are really the only noticable thing about her personality. She comes across as weak and timid because she refuses to help Antigone bury their brother against the orders of Creon. She is "witless of the way" to "break [her] country's law." She is portrayed as a prissy little girl with no backbone and no desire to stand up for herself and what she knows is right. That thought is backed up when she says, "not to attempt the impossible is best."
However, in all actuality, her flaws are not as bad as they seem. While she is standing there talking to Antigone, her strong-willed, not-afraid-of-anything sister, the audience cannot help but to compare the two. Because Ismene is being compared to Antigone, where Antigone seems strong, Ismene appears frail and weak. In the reader's mind, Ismene is the exact opposite of Antigone and is the one that falls short when the two sisters are looked at side by side.
As fearful as she is at first though, she later makes up for it and shows everybody that she is not afraid "to make [herself] companion of [Antigone's] fate. The audience sees a whole new side of Ismene that they never would have guessed existed when she stands boldly up to Creon and offers to die alongside her sister. At that point her strengths shine through the weaknesses and her loyalty and courage become apparent. It took a little while for her to realize it but she would do anything for her family, even if it means death. She comes through for her Antigone and offers her her blood as "an offering to the dead."
Ismene is often thought of as a minor character in the play; a scaredy-cat who is inferior to her sister because she refused when Antigone, the protagonist of the play, asked for her help. This highlighted her weaknesses and made her seem stereotypical. However, when her sister got arrested and sentence to death, she broke away from the mold and her strengths came forward. The size of her role in the play does not matter as much as the amazing change in character that occurs throughout the course of the story.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Poaching: Pathway to Extinction
Poaching is a huge problem that could have severe consequences in as little as a few years. Some people may not have a very big problem with people killing animals illegally, but by the end of this article, I hope to convince them that it really is a major problem that needs to be dealt with. And quick.
It has been discovered that there are many species of animals that, if nothing is done to prevent it, will go extinct in the next 10 years. It will only take a fraction of our lifetimes for a whole race of animals to be hunted down and slaughtered to the point that there are none of them left. To me, something about that seems horribly wrong. Some of the animals that are facing extinction are the Black Rhinoceros, the Chinese Alligator, and the Sumatran Orangutan.
The Black Rhinos are being hunted down and killed for one little reason: their horns. "Their horns are highly valued for use as ornaments and for their 'medicinal' properties, even though they are simply made of keratin, the same protein found in fingernails and hair" (10 Animals). Just at the start of this century, there may have been as many as hundreds of thousands of this rhino roaming wild in Africa...Now there are only a few thousand. Poaching and loss of habitat are ongoing problems for these poor creatures and soon, there may not be any left at all.
The Chinese Alligator is a small, secretive, mini-alligator that is a native of the wetlands in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Although thousands of these tiny gators have been bred in captivity, it is estimated that as few as 150 to 200 are left in the wild.
The Sumatran Orangutans are being rapidly driven from their homes by logging, fires, and other human activities. There are fewer than 7,500 left in the whole world. This may seem like a large number, but when you think about it, that is a smaller population than most small towns in the U.S. The number of these animals left is also decreasing at a HUGE rate: about 1,000 orangutans per year.
Now, I know that most people don't like animals as much as I do, but I like to think that people would show some compassion and try to help these defenseless creatures. They are on the brink of extinction and they are fighting a losing battle. The animals that I mentioned earlier are only a few of the species that are on the list of animals that are expected to go extinct in the next decade. Think about it; Our children won't get to see any of these beautiful animals unless WE do something about it. Not someone else. US. So next time you go to buy an ivory statue, or tiger-skin rug, think about the animals that had to die to make these pointless decorative items. :)
"10 Animals That May Go Extinct In the Next 10 Years." flushrush.com. FlushRush, 11/04/2009. Web. 22 Feb 2011.
It has been discovered that there are many species of animals that, if nothing is done to prevent it, will go extinct in the next 10 years. It will only take a fraction of our lifetimes for a whole race of animals to be hunted down and slaughtered to the point that there are none of them left. To me, something about that seems horribly wrong. Some of the animals that are facing extinction are the Black Rhinoceros, the Chinese Alligator, and the Sumatran Orangutan.
The Black Rhinos are being hunted down and killed for one little reason: their horns. "Their horns are highly valued for use as ornaments and for their 'medicinal' properties, even though they are simply made of keratin, the same protein found in fingernails and hair" (10 Animals). Just at the start of this century, there may have been as many as hundreds of thousands of this rhino roaming wild in Africa...Now there are only a few thousand. Poaching and loss of habitat are ongoing problems for these poor creatures and soon, there may not be any left at all.
The Chinese Alligator is a small, secretive, mini-alligator that is a native of the wetlands in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Although thousands of these tiny gators have been bred in captivity, it is estimated that as few as 150 to 200 are left in the wild.
The Sumatran Orangutans are being rapidly driven from their homes by logging, fires, and other human activities. There are fewer than 7,500 left in the whole world. This may seem like a large number, but when you think about it, that is a smaller population than most small towns in the U.S. The number of these animals left is also decreasing at a HUGE rate: about 1,000 orangutans per year.
Now, I know that most people don't like animals as much as I do, but I like to think that people would show some compassion and try to help these defenseless creatures. They are on the brink of extinction and they are fighting a losing battle. The animals that I mentioned earlier are only a few of the species that are on the list of animals that are expected to go extinct in the next decade. Think about it; Our children won't get to see any of these beautiful animals unless WE do something about it. Not someone else. US. So next time you go to buy an ivory statue, or tiger-skin rug, think about the animals that had to die to make these pointless decorative items. :)
"10 Animals That May Go Extinct In the Next 10 Years." flushrush.com. FlushRush, 11/04/2009. Web. 22 Feb 2011.
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