Best Of/Worst Of

1. My favorite poem was the Red Wheelbarrow because I couldn't believe how much you could get out of such a short poem.
2. My least favorite poem was the Sestina or Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird because of how complicated the structure of the poem is.
3. My favorite Short story was the Lottery because it was interesting so it caught my attention.
4. My least favorite Short Story was Bartleby because it was really hard to get into and didn't make a lot of sense.
5. Next years students should read Death of a Salesman.
6. By watching Death of a Salesman and Bartleby it did help me because then I could visualize it when I was reading it. 
7. My favorite in-class activity was watching the movies.
8. My least favorite in-class activity (Even though it did help) was organizing and matching the sentences to the short stories.
9. I don't think that it would be necessary to have presentations but rather whole class discussions about topics. 
10. The creative blog posts could be kinda helpful with some stuff. My favorite blog post was the Unexpected Ode 
11. My least favorite blog post was the Sestina.  

Grandpa Willy

Boys, I know that you have been wondering about your grandfather, so I’ll tell you a little bit about him. He was a very hard working man he didn't know anything different then to work hard this allowed him to support happy your grandma and I. However he was always traveling for business which kept him from home a lot. When I was younger I was a pretty good football player and had the possibility of being a college football player. Although due to a bad grade that all changed for me. This is why I’m so hard on you about keeping your grades up because I want the best for you and I don’t want anything to hold you back. Unfortunately your grandfather could never understand this, he never let me live down the fact that I never ended up playing college ball. I promise to be different I will back you up in whatever you want to do I will never force you to do anything. Toward the end of your grandpa’s life he started to develop dementia this caused him to be trapped in the past it was hard for him to work and he eventually was fired. Even with this dementia he never stopped loving his family, he had a really tough time showing it but I knew deep down inside that he loved each and every one of us. I want you kids to know that he was a good man and I wish you could have known him. 

Linda's Diary

Past Diary Entry:

Once again I’m sitting here alone in my quite house, kids are asleep and Willy has left for another long business trip. I continually write in my diary to keep my mind straight, and it allows me to have a moment to think to myself. Its early morning and I don’t have to wake the kids up for another hour so I think I will cook some breakfast and have a cup of coffee. I always worry about Willy when he takes these long business trips, I wonder what he is doing and if he was to get hurt how long it would be before I found out.

Present Diary Entry:

Willy got home late tonight, he keeps saying how he was having trouble driving and I know that it is because he is losing control of his mind. I try to comfort him and make up excuses so that he won’t blame himself. The kids just moved back in and this is going to upset Willy because of the high expectations that he has/had for them. Willy is beginning to grow distant from me and the family he continually shouts at me but I love him too much to get angry. I hope things get better but I fear that they are only going to get worse.    

Lottery

In the Short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. The “tribal” aspect of a community is how we enjoy getting together and doing things as a group or “tribe”. In the “Lottery” the community gets together to perform their form of the lottery. But this lottery is not just any normal lottery this lottery consists of everyone drawing papers out of a black box and then the one with the ash on the paper, there family gets to redraw and whoever from their family draws the paper with the ash on it gets stoned. Before they start drawing out of the black box they are just standing around talking about stuff that has happened in the community and how everyone is doing as if they were getting together for some happy reunion. This is where the aspect of tradition comes because they don’t get together for any other occasions other than this “Lottery” then when they do get together even though it is extremely tragic they enjoy the social gathering and traditional aspect of it.

In a community such as where I was raised, tradition and community gatherings are completely different. Some of the gatherings that we have are the Homecoming game for football in which almost everyone in the community comes and shows there support. The Idaho County Fair where everyone in the community at least makes an appearance for either the food or to see the farm animals and all of the artistic designs displayed in the buildings. When people come to these events they come to talk about recent things that have happened in are community and to see friends that they haven’t seen in a while. It is a joyous celebration and it does not end in a stoning. Even though the community from the short story “The Lottery” has a terrible, terrible tradition it is the only way that the community can get together and reminisce even if it ends terribly.      

Mrs. Mallard

1. I have recently found out that my husband has passed and even though I knew it was hard for Josephine to break the news to me she did it in the most gentle of ways... sigh. 
2. I have chose to lock myself in my bedroom to morn alone. I'm trying not to feel like life is over.
3. I just wish I could have had one more day with him to tell him how much I loved him.. 
4. As I gaze out my bedroom window I see a world full of life and I wonder is my life over, or has it just begun?
5. There is so much beauty in this world, It feels good to take it in. 
6. I hear Josephine knocking on the door and asking for me to let her in but I don't know if I should i fell like I need to be alone. 
7. I don't think my husband would want me to stay locked up in my bedroom, I feel like he would want me to get up and go out and enjoy the rest of my life, So that is exactly what I'm going to do. 
8. I have decided to let Josephine back into my bedroom and as we set here talking, I'm starting to feel much better. 
9. Josephine and I have decided to go out and get a bite to eat. any suggestions??
10. OH MY GOODNESS BRENTLY IS ALIVE!
11. This is Josephine on Mrs. Mallard's Facebook, due to the surprise of her husbands return she passed last night, please send you love and prayers to Brently as he morns the loss of his wife. Thank you.

This web page has helped me through the grieving process...   http://www.helpguide.org/mental/grief_loss.htm 

This is a picture of Brently and I. I miss him sooo much. 

 

Boy Imitation

Boy

Be respectful, don't put your elbows on the table when you are in company of relatives. Don't slouch it can potentially cause scoliosis. If you see someone in need of help, help them. Don't be selfish with anything if you see someone at the checkout counter and they come up short with the price, give them the difference it could come back around to benefit you in the end. Be a comforting figure, someone that people can turn to if they feel like no one is there for them. Have fun in life but be smart about it, always give a single thought at least before diving into something. Be respectful to women even if there are irritating you to no end. Know that you are your own individual and that no one can take that away from you. Watch the language especially when you are around elders because that is another form of respect for them.   

Dialogue

This example of dialogue happened just outside of my apartment…

Door Opens. And then Slams Shut! Man comes stomping down the stairs.

Door Opens. And then Slams shut! Lady comes stomping down the stairs.

~Man Standing outside~

Lady: “What the heck is wrong with you?”

Man seaming extremely frustrated yells back, WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU! All I wanted was for you to come along with me to do the laundry.

Lady replies: “What, do I have to come along with you to hold your hand, or can you just do it by yourself?

Man: “No… I wanted you to come along because I enjoy spending time with you”

Lady: “We live together, that isn’t plenty of time spent together?”

Man: “Well apparently it is to you so I guess it is to me to.”

~Man tries to leave~

Lady: “Where do you think you’re going?”

Man: “I’m going to go do the laundry if that’s okay with you your highness.”

Lady extremely aggravated by this comment yells “SCREW YOU!” and storms off up the stairs slamming the door behind her.

~Man walks to his car and gets inside~

Me: thinking it is over starts to walk away from the window when all of the sudden…

Lady yells out: “DON’T FORGET THE SOAP” and “Hurls” the soap from the second story window and it lands just short of his car but allowing plenty of soap to get splattered onto the side of his car.

The man yells out “YOU ARE (insert foul language here) CRAZY” and speeds off down the street.      

Test Prep #2

Paradox- A statement that on the surface seems that it cannot possibly be true, but that turns out to be true after all. 

See examples and information about a Paradox HERE.

The statement "You can save money by spending it" is not an example of a Paradox?

True or False

Test Preparation

Metonymy book definition: A type of metaphor in which the writer uses the name of one thing in place of the name of something closely related to it.

Syneedoche book definition: A type of metaphor in which the writer uses part of something to stand for the whole thing. 

This Youtube Video will allow you to see examples of Metonymy and Syneedoche to allow you to better understand the terms. 

Question #1

In the saying "Could I lend you a hand?" Is this an example of a...

A. Syneedoche

B. Metonymy

Howl Imitation

I see a generation of change…

This generation will not be followers but rather leaders. They will not back down from a fight but rather take charge and ultimately come out on top.

Who will not just go from trend to trend hoping to fit in, but instead set examples to others that you can be your own individual and others will respect you for that.

Who except others for who they are and don’t beat them down. Who actually follow the “Golden Rule” to treat others as you want to be treated.

Who will have more respect for their elders, and help them if they see them struggling.  

And for those who are not willing to change, except them for who they are, because they will soon come around.

These changes will come at a rather slow rate. However with the influence of this generation, hopefully others will follow, changing the way generations have been in the past. 

Imagist Poem

Skiing

Rushing fast down the slope

An escape from reality

Sestina

Winter..

The most unpredictable season is winter

It can start out with a gentle snow

And then turn into a ferocious storm

Leaving families in the dark

When the power is out it can be very cold

Searching for any source of light

With houses out of light

It creates a horrible winter

With the temperatures freezing cold

And there being several feet of fresh snow

Families could be in the dark

If there isn’t a change in the storm

Eventually there was a break in the storm

A chance at restoring the light

A hope that it was no longer going to be dark

This was the greater side of winter

When you no longer had to be afraid of the snow

When you could enjoy the cold

You go out and play in the cold

Play in the five foot high drifts caused by the storm

Build a fort out of the snow

Cut windows in it to get light

The greater side of winter

Play until it gets dark

As the day turns to dark

And you go inside to get out of the cold

You realize the essence of winter

It’s not the terrible storm

Or being in the dark without light

It’s what winter brings…. snow

So now with the great snow

And no longer being in the dark

You can enjoy the light

Get used to the cold

and forget about the storm

Ultimately enjoying Winter

Beautiful snow freezing cold

Freighting dark powerful storm

Shining light wonderful winter

Unexpected Ode

Ode to Shoes

You are so comfortable

Oh so very comfortable

You fit so snug

Like a bug in a rug

You allow for swag

But you make me pay

For the chance to brag

To brag about the swag

Your designs are so fresh

So clean and fine cut

That even on a bad day

You can get me out of a rut

Without the comfort and support

My feet would be lost

So they thank you, I thank you

We thank you dear shoes

Litany Imitation

Dad…

You are the inspiration and the drive,
the hope and the dream.
You are the example
and the proof.
You are the strength,
and the support.

However, you are not perfect,

All knowing,
or invincible.
And you are certainly not whole.
There is just no way that you are whole.

It is possible that you are scarred,
maybe even permanently,
but you are not even close
to being lost.

And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither soft
nor weak.

It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I want to follow in your footsteps.

I also happen to be a dreamer,
driven
and scarred.

I am also the strength

and the support.
But don't worry; I'm not the inspiration and the dream.
You are still the inspiration and the dream.
You will always be the inspiration and the dream,
not to mention the confidante and--somehow--the everything.

A little about me

Dear English 150 Students,

Hello I'm Robert and I'm 19 years old. I like to do all sorts of outdoor activities such as hunting, camping, and riding dirt bikes. I played sports all the way through high school and I would like to play intramural sports here in college. I'm currently going to school to become a Radiology Technician, and this is my first year of college. I can't wait to graduate and start to work so that I can afford to do things like take my parents on vacation. I’m looking forward to reading other peoples blogs and getting to know them a little better.

Thanks,

            Robert