Monday, November 29, 2010

The most important words to me by Colin Lee

Love is one of five important words to me because it is a way to express oneself to another being. When people like someone sexually and spiritually, they simply use “love” to claim that they like him or her. Love is a stronger word than like so this word cannot be thrown into a sentence randomly. I do not attempt to use this word often in front of stranger but I do use this word often in front of my family and friends because they have impacted my life so much optimistically. So this word is relevant and significant to me.
             Apologizing (“sorry”) is another important word to me because it gives understanding and peace to one another. When a person gets into a fight or an argument with another person, eventually, one of them will at least say “sorry”. This word is also significantly powerful because courage and dignity are needed for this to happen. I often use this word after I make a mistake on a group work because I do feel ashamed at that moment but at the same time, I’m a human. Saying “sorry” is very important to me.
             Also, free is an important word to me because it is a positive connotation word and has various different ways of using it. “Free” can be defined as independent; it also can refer to an object for no price. Although this word is not as strong as other two important words I used, this is enormously relevant to today’s society. I simply adore this word because I like free objects and I am a freed person who is currently living in “free” country. “Free” will always be with me.
             Knowledge is an important word to me because it can be used as a weapon in the “real” world. This word can belong to anyone who desires to be successful in the future. This word is also a powerful word and relevant because anyone can gain knowledge if he/she tries but simultaneously, it is difficult to gain knowledge. As a student, I have to gain knowledge and become enlightened in order to succeed. Also, because I want to be and I will be successful in the future, this word is encouraging and important to me.
             Thank is an important word to me because appreciating someone can mean grateful to him or her. This word is often used after when someone achieves something from another person. There would be no reason for a person to say this if it does not refer to anyone or any meaning. Personally, I would like to hear someone saying “Thanks” or “I’m appreciated” because it excites me and gives me an idea that a person feels blessed by me. Therefore, thanking is one of the important words to me.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Shades of Grey by Tori Greaves



A murderer... or just misunderstood?
A hero or a self-righteous, whining coward?

Mary Shelley purposefully leaves the mindsets and intentions of her two main characters in Frankenstein extremely ambiguous so that we, as readers, can understand her own struggle with the world and its multiple shades of grey.

At the beginning of the novel, we want to think Frankenstein is our hero. He is an eloquent, loving boy who should find only happiness and contentment in life. This changes, however, when we see the rise of ambition - a quality which in controlled amounts is admirable, but which in excess is frightening and destructive. Frankenstein grows up to be an avid, but arrogant scholar. He fervently, almost madly, pursues knowledge without heeding warnings about what disturbing the natural order might do. In this way, he becomes the monster, the thing we fear and most need to control. He is left, unchecked, to his own devices - trying to accomplish a superhuman task with all-to-human weaknesses and limitations.

With the birth of the Creature, readers' attentions shift, and we begin to regard it as the evil downfall in this plot. But once we hear his account of the tale, we cannot help but sympathize with the poor, helpless monster, left without guidance or love in a cruel world. Again, hatred returns to the creator, Victor, for his thoughtless unconcern. Yet how could we truly hate the man who has lost so much, who has seemingly learned from his mistakes, and seeks only refuge and peace with those he loves?

Victor makes a pivotal choice when he decides not to help the monster by creating for him a mate. At this point, we become thoroughly confused. We want the Creature to find happiness and to stop wrecking the life of his creator. But when Victor exclaims that he will not make another being to ravage mankind, sacrificing his own happiness for the sake of the world, his plight sounds noble and righteous as well. Does he misunderstand the monster's intentions? Or does he see something we don't? Why does he refuse to show compassion, or is he right in condemning the wretched thing?

The Creature's retribution is fierce - it tears away everything that is dear to Victor's heart. Aha! So this is the truth! The monster is evil! Or was this simply a result of Victor's own blindness? Why does Victor ramble on and on, wallowing in self-pity, and let this all happen? Yet here he goes on his final journey, to do what he thinks is right - a true hero! But is it right? Upon Victor's death, the Creature shows himself again, a miserable and repentant wreck. What are we supposed to think? Who is good? Who is bad? Why did they all have to die?

There is no answer because, like in our lives, everything falls into multiple shades of grey. Our inability to understand and to rise above those differences is detrimental to ourselves and the world around us. The two greatest strengths to humanity are also its greatest weaknesses: the ability to reason, and the ability to love. Reason has showed us what is wrong and what is right, but distorted our judgement in between. Our ability to love gives us life and harmony, but the consequence of withholding it is death and destruction. Perhaps we should learn that life isn't all black and white... And live as best we can with the Shades of Grey.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Little Bill, Little Bill by Veronica Amajoyi:)

I know we're finished with Alice in Wonderland, but I just loved this poem I wrote for our journal entries. :)


Little Bill, Little Bill
just came to save the day.
Little Bill, Little Bill
there is no other way,
but the chimney above.
So crawl up the chimney and into the house,
fore Alice the giant has frightened the mouse,
and the rabbit and the birds and all the animals left.
But be careful Little Bill,
fore this giant means death!

Go Little Bill, GO! Faster and Faster!
Don't let her become the animal master!
Down, Down! Almost there!
Oh wait Little Bill, not right there!

Hello? Hello? Are you there Little Bill?
Don't tell me you're stuck in that chimney still?!

"Rumble, Rumble" ... What was that?
I hope it's not Dinah the evil cat!
"BOOM!" Uh Oh, Little Bill. Is that you?
Flying across the sky so blue?

"Catch Me! Catch Me!" said Poor Little Bill.
Fore he was heading to land on the hill!
BOOM! ... POP! ... CRACK! goes Bill
upon the back of a snail named Jill.

"What happened in there?!" Everyone said.
"I got down the chimney, then she kicked me in the head!"


Enjoy;-)

THE LETTERS by Brea Mosley

The letters in Frankenstein may seem like a drag, and also a distraction, but they do serve a purpose. Through these letters we get a chance to hear each individual's voice..... My words of encouragement.


WHO IS THE REAL MONSTER? ...

 VS.


Tuesday, October 19, 2010

VOICE ... "Morning Blues?" by Veronica Amajoyi

VOICE- the imprint of the writer on the page.

Morning Blues?

5am, "beep, beep beep!" Stretched and rose out of heaven onto the ground everyone dreads. "Why did i wake up 5 again?" I pondered on that question for about 3 minutes until i looked down and saw a massive amount of notebooks and supplies scattered upon my floor. "Oh yes! Homework!" So I proceeded to finish the assignments I neglected the night before. After about 45 minutes of work, I climbed back into my bed for a 15 minute "meditation" nap- by far my most prized moment of every morning. After the thought of me being late circled through my mind, I hopped up, showered, got dressed, and grabbed my daily snacks, (the saviors of my day), and waited for my little brother in the car. "What time is it?" I thought out loud while glancing at the bright green stress bearing numbers of my day. "6:50! WOW!" I actually made it down stairs and in the car by 6:50! Finally, my little brother every so "elegantly" plunged himself into the car. Although, even his loud and rocking daily entrance in couldn't diminish the pride I had at it being 6:50 when I'm leaving my house. So, I put the car in drive, let go of my break pad, and peacefully drove myself to school with a stained smile upon my face, practicing the "I'm on time to zero period this morning," line I would be able to use ALL day! :)

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Definition of Literature, by Colin Lee


Literature is art. It can be viewed as biblical, joy, and logic because art works are magnificent, joyful, and realistic, or sometimes gloomy; literature's characteristics are identical to those of art. Also, the bible uses literature consecutively to analyze the words of God. Literature has imagination because as people read or write, they naturally imagine a story in their head; art also makes people imagine things.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Lost in Literature by Tori Greaves


21 literary movements?!
...overlapping, forming a tangled web
How did they know what to write?
Who said, "Let us be enlightened!"
Or "It is time to be absurd."?
Do authors dawn new literary trends
as teenagers following the latest style?
Do important leaders -
Elizabeth, Victoria -
Simply order "A new movement shall there be!"

Or is there something more...
A human condition perhaps?
That directs the tides of written art,
Guides their hands and their thoughts...
It calls them to write of things of value,
Of significance in their life and times.
It calls them to make a difference,
To use their words to change minds.

Be there influences of culture,
Or catastrophic events that sway the age,
Be there exciting discoveries,
Or disillusionment in corrupted actions...
Literature will forever remain
Changing, flowing, forming
To say what needs to be said.

To bring reason to those lost in their dreams.
To sing romance into eager lives.
To enhance beauty when it goes unseen.
To show reality to those who don't care.
To strike creativity in a structured place.
To inspire change and promote acceptance.
To relate experience and promote awareness.
To redirect wasted efforts.

It seems there is a pattern
In the literature throughout the years.
It does not change on every whim,
But shapes and builds
On visionary dreams.
So what is the struggle of our life and times?
What movement in literature
Will flow from our pens?
It's all up to you, and what you want to say.
From your life, transformation begins.