Am I an accomplished essayist? Well, throughout the year I've definately learned and aquired the skills to write a good essay, but I don't consider myself an accomplished essayist. There are still things that I could do differently and many skills that I will learn in the years to come. Also, and accomplished essayist should feel confident of there work, and that is one thing that I lack. Literary analysis is the process of delving into the book and understanding not only what is happening, but what everything within the work means. Sometimes it can be challenging because it isn't always obvious. Often times you have to dig down deep to find the true meaning. The reward is that you understand the book and you have used the skills you have developed; overall you feel accomplished and smart.
The conclusion is most likely the thing that would bring my paper down to a B. Yes, it concludes the paper, but it sounds a bit choppy and rushed. It seems like it lowers the essays quality. The essay is also lacking in transitions between my points, which is something that is necessary in order to seperate the ideas from one another. I might have drifted from the thesis a bit, but overall I stayed with it. Plus, my quotes weren't properlly embedded because I didn't place a "slash"(/) after the end of a line, but I plan to fix that before turning it in. Overall, this essay was a challenge, and without the skills of literary analysis it would have been nearly impossible.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Summer Reading!
The first book that's on my reading list is The Deep End of Fear by Elizabeth Chandler. I've read a few books by that author and I haven't found one that I didn't enjoy! The book is about a girl named Kate whose sister drowned 12 years ago in her old home. Now Kate is returning to that home to tutor a boy named Patrick. Throughout her stay Patrick is doing dangerous and life threatening things because "Ashley dared him to." Also, the boy who Kate loves admits a dark secret that connects him to Ashley. Kate must push aside her fears of her sister in order to save everyone from her the evil that is supposedly her "sister."
Another book I would like to read is The Pianist by Wladyslaw Szpilman. This story is a true story about the author and his surviving the Holocaust thanks to a Nazi. He was a famous Jewish pianist before him and his family were sent to a death camp. When they were getting into the train that would take them off to their dath a friend of his who was a Jewish police officer pulled him out of the crowd and told him to run. For the next few years of the Holocaust he has people hide him in various homes, but he is caught by a Nazi; however, the officer hears him playing the piano and decides to help Szpilman survive. Without the officers realization that he's just a man trying to live, he wouldn't have survived through the holocaust. The Holocaust is the one thing in history that I am fascinated with. What the Jews went through was terrible and I find it amazing that some had the will and strength to survive.
Another book I would like to read is The Pianist by Wladyslaw Szpilman. This story is a true story about the author and his surviving the Holocaust thanks to a Nazi. He was a famous Jewish pianist before him and his family were sent to a death camp. When they were getting into the train that would take them off to their dath a friend of his who was a Jewish police officer pulled him out of the crowd and told him to run. For the next few years of the Holocaust he has people hide him in various homes, but he is caught by a Nazi; however, the officer hears him playing the piano and decides to help Szpilman survive. Without the officers realization that he's just a man trying to live, he wouldn't have survived through the holocaust. The Holocaust is the one thing in history that I am fascinated with. What the Jews went through was terrible and I find it amazing that some had the will and strength to survive.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Theme and Motif: Fate
My astrological sign is Virgo. Virgos are perfectionists and that definately holds true for me; I'm not a perfectionist in a way that everything has to be right. For me everything just needs to look neat and orderly; which, brings me to yet another trait that is correct: Virgos are very tidy. Also, they are very practical which is also another one of my personality traits. I tend to look at the true facts rather than be over dramatic about things and think it's the end of the world. My sign is supposedly smart which, yes, I do think I'm smart, but I don't think I'm SUPER smart. Strangely, there are many traits of a virgo that I do have. Virgos pay attention to detail, they're shy and modest, they are patient, they are reliable, and the list of qualities that are common for me could go on for awhile.
After realizing all the characteristics I have in common I believe that there could be possible relevance; however, it could just be a coincidence. Astrology is the same a stereotyping. At times it can turn out to be true but at other times it's the complete opposite. My feelings are mixed. I also believe that the person has most of the effect of "fate". If they get their daily horoscope and truly follow it than their actions will effect what happens in life; however, someone who doesn't follow it won't have such a defined path; they follow their own rules. In Act 3 once Mercutio dies Romeo states,"This day's black fate on more days doth depend."(3.1.124) One person's action has affected everyone's future. I don't call that "fate" because anyone can alter their future by simply changing their ways. Also, Romeo believes that death is better than banishment since he cannot be with Juliet; however, if he had given up he would truly be dead. His time to die wasn't then; his action fought off fate/death. He's given the chance to see Juliet and be with her; I consider that luck; it wasn't something that was going to happend for sure.Yes, one day the time will come when they do die and death is the ONLY true fate for them or anyone. The only thing that predicts our future is our actions, nothing is permanent and set in stone until it happens. The only true "fate" we have is death which is a constant theme throughout the play. Things are born into this world and once they are done, they die.
After realizing all the characteristics I have in common I believe that there could be possible relevance; however, it could just be a coincidence. Astrology is the same a stereotyping. At times it can turn out to be true but at other times it's the complete opposite. My feelings are mixed. I also believe that the person has most of the effect of "fate". If they get their daily horoscope and truly follow it than their actions will effect what happens in life; however, someone who doesn't follow it won't have such a defined path; they follow their own rules. In Act 3 once Mercutio dies Romeo states,"This day's black fate on more days doth depend."(3.1.124) One person's action has affected everyone's future. I don't call that "fate" because anyone can alter their future by simply changing their ways. Also, Romeo believes that death is better than banishment since he cannot be with Juliet; however, if he had given up he would truly be dead. His time to die wasn't then; his action fought off fate/death. He's given the chance to see Juliet and be with her; I consider that luck; it wasn't something that was going to happend for sure.Yes, one day the time will come when they do die and death is the ONLY true fate for them or anyone. The only thing that predicts our future is our actions, nothing is permanent and set in stone until it happens. The only true "fate" we have is death which is a constant theme throughout the play. Things are born into this world and once they are done, they die.
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