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.