Allegory: something that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning
Alliteration: repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words
Allusion: an implied or indirect reference
Ambiguity: uncertainty or inexactness of meaning in language
Anachronism: a thing belonging to a period other than that in which it exists
Analogy: a comparison between two things
Analysis: detailed examination of the elements or structure of something
Anaphora: repetition of a word or phrase at the beginnings of several successive verses, clauses or paragraphs
Anecdote: short and amusing story about a real incident or person
Antagonist: character(s) that represent opposition against which the protagonist must contend
Antithesis: person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else for contrasting effect
Aphorism: short phrase that expresses true ideas
Apologia: a formal defense or justification
Apostrophe: act of addressing some abstraction or personification that is not physically present
Argument: exchange of diverging or opposite views
Assumption: act of taking possession or asserting acclaim
Audience: spectators/listeners assembled at a performance
Characterization: the means by which a writer reveals a character’s personality
Chiasmus: figure of speech in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures
Monday, January 20, 2014
SMART Goal: 2nd Semester
Specific: Force myself to go to school everyday
Measurable: The amount of days I go to school
Attainable: Over time, I'll learn how to manage my illness better and slowly gain the strength to go every single day.
Reinforce-able: My parents can provide moral support for my efforts instead of being disappointed when I don't go.
Timely: Schedule enough time to get every thing I need to do done with enough time left over for activities I find fun(drawing/video games) while still getingt a good amount of sleep.
Measurable: The amount of days I go to school
Attainable: Over time, I'll learn how to manage my illness better and slowly gain the strength to go every single day.
Reinforce-able: My parents can provide moral support for my efforts instead of being disappointed when I don't go.
Timely: Schedule enough time to get every thing I need to do done with enough time left over for activities I find fun(drawing/video games) while still getingt a good amount of sleep.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
AP Test Prep Post #1: Siddhartha
1. From here
Explain the metaphor, “I looked at my life and found that it also was a river.” What insight did Siddhartha gain from this realization?
2. From here
Explain the following quotation. The speaker is Siddhartha. "Most people, Kamala, are like a falling leaf, which is blown and is turning around through the air, and wavers, and tumbles to the ground. But others, a few, are like stars: they go on a fixed course, no wind reaches them, and in themselves they have their law and their course."
3. From here
What purpose does self-denial serve in Siddhartha? What about self-indulgence?
4. This is an AP Tess Essay prompt that features Siddhartha on the list of novels to choose from.
In some works of literature, a character who appears briefly, or does not appear at all, is a significant presence. Choose a novel or play of literary merit and write an essay in which you show how such a character functions in the work. You may wish to discuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters. Avoid plot summary.
5. This is an AP Test Essay prompt that features Siddhartha on the list of novels to choose from.
"A bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, recounts the psychological or moral development of its protagonist from youth to maturity, when this character recognizes his or her place in the world. Select a single pivotal moment in the psychological or moral development of the protagonist of a bildungsroman. Then write a well-organized essay that analyzes how that single moment shapes the meaning of the work as a whole."
Explain the metaphor, “I looked at my life and found that it also was a river.” What insight did Siddhartha gain from this realization?
2. From here
Explain the following quotation. The speaker is Siddhartha. "Most people, Kamala, are like a falling leaf, which is blown and is turning around through the air, and wavers, and tumbles to the ground. But others, a few, are like stars: they go on a fixed course, no wind reaches them, and in themselves they have their law and their course."
3. From here
What purpose does self-denial serve in Siddhartha? What about self-indulgence?
4. This is an AP Tess Essay prompt that features Siddhartha on the list of novels to choose from.
In some works of literature, a character who appears briefly, or does not appear at all, is a significant presence. Choose a novel or play of literary merit and write an essay in which you show how such a character functions in the work. You may wish to discuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters. Avoid plot summary.
5. This is an AP Test Essay prompt that features Siddhartha on the list of novels to choose from.
"A bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, recounts the psychological or moral development of its protagonist from youth to maturity, when this character recognizes his or her place in the world. Select a single pivotal moment in the psychological or moral development of the protagonist of a bildungsroman. Then write a well-organized essay that analyzes how that single moment shapes the meaning of the work as a whole."
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Hacking My Education
What do I want to know?
How some students stay diligent in spite of some of the hardships they face. Everyone deals with problems differently but not every method works. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to give a little bit of advice to help you get back on your feet.
What skills do I want to demonstrate?
Although it does not apply to English, I wish to learn the skeletal and muscle structures of the human body. By doing so, I believe my art quality would improve due to a greater understanding of how the body moves. I do think that my art isn't very good compared to that of some of my fellow peers but instead of comparing myself to others, I wish to get to a point where I am at least pleased with my art.
What experience do I want to have?
I want to be able to collaborate with some of my fellow students to create an original comic and/or story. It is something I've always wanted to do since I was little but I lacked the story making abilities to do so. I also think that more than one creative mind would develop a better story overall.
How some students stay diligent in spite of some of the hardships they face. Everyone deals with problems differently but not every method works. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to give a little bit of advice to help you get back on your feet.
What skills do I want to demonstrate?
Although it does not apply to English, I wish to learn the skeletal and muscle structures of the human body. By doing so, I believe my art quality would improve due to a greater understanding of how the body moves. I do think that my art isn't very good compared to that of some of my fellow peers but instead of comparing myself to others, I wish to get to a point where I am at least pleased with my art.
What experience do I want to have?
I want to be able to collaborate with some of my fellow students to create an original comic and/or story. It is something I've always wanted to do since I was little but I lacked the story making abilities to do so. I also think that more than one creative mind would develop a better story overall.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
What's In This For Me?
For this course specifically, my goal to focus more on memorization of the literary terms and vocabulary words. By doing so, it will enable me to establish a deeper understanding of what they are and how they are used. I also intend to complete my homework as soon as I get home and not leave it off until the last second.
My studying habits are currently sub par at best, meaning, I do not really study much at all. By working on developing better techniques I will be preparing myself for college where I know studying is required in order to understand the material.
I, like most highschool students, put things off until the last second which normally results in many "freak out" moments and occasionally bouts of crying. By completing my work on time, I created a less stressful environment and now have time to work on other things without the pressure of having to do another task with a time restraint.
My studying habits are currently sub par at best, meaning, I do not really study much at all. By working on developing better techniques I will be preparing myself for college where I know studying is required in order to understand the material.
I, like most highschool students, put things off until the last second which normally results in many "freak out" moments and occasionally bouts of crying. By completing my work on time, I created a less stressful environment and now have time to work on other things without the pressure of having to do another task with a time restraint.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Literary Analysis #3
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
The play takes place in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire and tells the story of the blossoming love between two young residents, George and Emily. The two have known each other since childhood; being neighbors, it is easy for them to converse through their windows on the second floor. As they grow older, George becomes condescending and full of pride as Emily defends his behavior when other children choose to make comments on it. George is touched by her actions and vows to try to be a better man who is worthy of her kindness. Despite some anxiety, the two eventually get married and live happily together. Sadly, this happiness does not last long as Emily dies during childbirth later on. Emily’s ghost watches her funeral alongside the other ghosts of residents who have passed away. While speaking to them, she makes the discovery that she is able to go back in time and view memories of happier times. Although she was advised against it, Emily chooses to go back to see her 12th birthday. She returns to the present day sadden by the fact she could never be as happy as she was on her ninth birthday ever again. As she laments on this thought, George appears at her grave and kisses the headstone. Emily then remarks that the living just don’t understand.
The theme of the story is the inevitability of death. Over the course of the play we are informed of the deaths of some of the residents in the town. The residents are both young and old, male and female, minor and major characters. They include Joe Crowell, young and smart, who was to become an engineer but died in the war, George’s parents, and Emily. All of them were good people and yet they could not avoid death.
The tone is best describe as morbid but cheerful as well. We are informed by the narrator of the impending death of the characters, we know how they will die and when. At the same time we are given a love story to uplift our spirits and give us hope of a happy ending. This hope is crushed by the death of Emily and the sad tone continues on in her afterlife. She regrets not cherishing life enough and can only watch as George cries himself to sleep next to her grave.
The play serves as an allegory for life. It begins and ends but can also be a continuous cycle through reproduction. Emily dies during the birth of her second child but the circle of life continues with her children.
The narrator often breaks the fourth wall by addressing the audience directly and informing them of the events that occurred which resulted in the death of so many of the characters.
If viewed on stage, the play makes use of spare props. That is, having as little props as possible so that the audience can focus more on the characters and plot rather than the environment or space that they are in.
As readers, we read the play in third person point of view. We know the actions of the characters but are not given specific insight into a certain character’s thoughts or opinions.
Foreshadowing is present in the story as well. Although we are told of many of the deaths of the characters, we are not told of Emily’s. Instead on the day of the wedding, George goes to visit Emily’s family where they tell him it is bad luck to see the bride on before the ceremony. George does not see Emily but he sees her father instead. After George leaves, Emily’s father exclaims to his wife that it is also bad luck to see the future father-in-law before the ceremony as well. This implies that something terrible will happen to either George or Emily.
The watch of the narrator symbolizes the passing of time and the certainty of death(time running out) while the blooming flowers and birth of Emily’s child represent the life cycle and beauty of nature in spite of death.
The author makes use of direct characterization rather than indirect to get the plot moving in such a short amount of time. He flat out describes George as an honest, young man who is mindful of the opinions of other while also describing Emily as a pretty and smart girl.
The play takes place in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire and tells the story of the blossoming love between two young residents, George and Emily. The two have known each other since childhood; being neighbors, it is easy for them to converse through their windows on the second floor. As they grow older, George becomes condescending and full of pride as Emily defends his behavior when other children choose to make comments on it. George is touched by her actions and vows to try to be a better man who is worthy of her kindness. Despite some anxiety, the two eventually get married and live happily together. Sadly, this happiness does not last long as Emily dies during childbirth later on. Emily’s ghost watches her funeral alongside the other ghosts of residents who have passed away. While speaking to them, she makes the discovery that she is able to go back in time and view memories of happier times. Although she was advised against it, Emily chooses to go back to see her 12th birthday. She returns to the present day sadden by the fact she could never be as happy as she was on her ninth birthday ever again. As she laments on this thought, George appears at her grave and kisses the headstone. Emily then remarks that the living just don’t understand.
The theme of the story is the inevitability of death. Over the course of the play we are informed of the deaths of some of the residents in the town. The residents are both young and old, male and female, minor and major characters. They include Joe Crowell, young and smart, who was to become an engineer but died in the war, George’s parents, and Emily. All of them were good people and yet they could not avoid death.
The tone is best describe as morbid but cheerful as well. We are informed by the narrator of the impending death of the characters, we know how they will die and when. At the same time we are given a love story to uplift our spirits and give us hope of a happy ending. This hope is crushed by the death of Emily and the sad tone continues on in her afterlife. She regrets not cherishing life enough and can only watch as George cries himself to sleep next to her grave.
The play serves as an allegory for life. It begins and ends but can also be a continuous cycle through reproduction. Emily dies during the birth of her second child but the circle of life continues with her children.
The narrator often breaks the fourth wall by addressing the audience directly and informing them of the events that occurred which resulted in the death of so many of the characters.
If viewed on stage, the play makes use of spare props. That is, having as little props as possible so that the audience can focus more on the characters and plot rather than the environment or space that they are in.
As readers, we read the play in third person point of view. We know the actions of the characters but are not given specific insight into a certain character’s thoughts or opinions.
Foreshadowing is present in the story as well. Although we are told of many of the deaths of the characters, we are not told of Emily’s. Instead on the day of the wedding, George goes to visit Emily’s family where they tell him it is bad luck to see the bride on before the ceremony. George does not see Emily but he sees her father instead. After George leaves, Emily’s father exclaims to his wife that it is also bad luck to see the future father-in-law before the ceremony as well. This implies that something terrible will happen to either George or Emily.
The watch of the narrator symbolizes the passing of time and the certainty of death(time running out) while the blooming flowers and birth of Emily’s child represent the life cycle and beauty of nature in spite of death.
The author makes use of direct characterization rather than indirect to get the plot moving in such a short amount of time. He flat out describes George as an honest, young man who is mindful of the opinions of other while also describing Emily as a pretty and smart girl.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Allegory of the Cave Sonnet
(Poetry is not my area of expertise)
A confusing piece of work it was
To read more than once I must
Eyes do not equal truth
The meaning hidden beneath its words
Chained we are by own minds
Freedom gained only through thought
The suns rays burn us
But do not illuminate our worlds
The reflection of ourselves
Is not what we should scearch for
But of our actions
And experiences of life
Only then may our minds surpass the space of the universe
No longer confined to what we see
A confusing piece of work it was
To read more than once I must
Eyes do not equal truth
The meaning hidden beneath its words
Chained we are by own minds
Freedom gained only through thought
The suns rays burn us
But do not illuminate our worlds
The reflection of ourselves
Is not what we should scearch for
But of our actions
And experiences of life
Only then may our minds surpass the space of the universe
No longer confined to what we see
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