Romeo and Juliet POV

He is a Montague, a surely foe,

How dare he come and let his presence show,

I promise you, you won't be let alone,

I will strike you down with my all my soul,

Lord Capulet, how can you let this be?

Let him roam through our halls, our enemy,

Hero

A person that would fit the criterias of a hero would be the fictional character, Luke Skywalker. He was called for adventure by Obi-Wan Kenobi to learn the ways of the force. At first he declines the offer, but later agrees after finding that his aunt and uncle were killed by imperial stormtroopers. From that point on, he went through many series of tests and tasks, such as temptations of the dark side. He later achieved his goal by bringing balance to the two forces. After that, Luke pretty much returns to his normal life, but as a jedi and not a commoner. From this, he has gained knowledge of the importance of equality and balance of the two forces.

I'm Drowning!

It was a warm, breezy day, perfect for sailing on the horizon. Never before have I longed to experience the smell of the salty ocean and cool water drizzle down my bare skin. Gathering up the rest of the crew, we set off to yet another voyage. We packed our necessities-- floating tube, anchor, rope-- and a few snacks to settle our stomach while at sea.

It was perfect. The tide was normal, ship was on course, and the winds were blowing in the direction where our boat pleasantly rode across the waves. We shared a couple of lame jokes, but laughed in spite of it. A sudden tide shook the ropes connected to the sail, but we were in for no worry. Everything was perfect...or at least I thought it would remain that way.

Sudden waves came crashing from the sides, creating splashes of ice cold water that covered the surface of the deck. A couple of men slipped and fell, dangerously rocking the boat to an unstable motion. I could feel my feet losing balance as I tried to stabilize myself by holding onto the slippery rail. My feet gave one last push, but in the wrong direction. As I opened my eyes, I was no longer standing on deck, but desperately gasping for air. The saltiness of the water burned my throat, forbidding me to yell out for help. It wasn't until one of the crew members actually took notice of me and started to scream, "MAN OVERBOARD!"

I covered my face with both hands to avoid the cold shock. The crew rapidly prepared for rescue, taking full control of the boat and steering it 180 degrees. The captain tied a rope to the floating tube and flung it towards me. I hastily secured it around my body, fastening my arms to fit tightly around the rubber tube. The captain and crew pulled me up slowly, as I used the remaining strength to pull me up. I gasped for air, never so hungry for it before.

A Paper BAG!!!! YAY!!!

Reader Response

When I first came to TCIS, I remembered the uncertainty that dwelled inside of me. Everyday I felt stupid, as if I really had no purpose here. Time ticked by, but with no memories or meaning. In the sixth stanza of the poem, the author says that the old sheet she covered herself in made her feel like an idiot, with no past and a pointless future ahead of her. Luckily, she's decided that she had to change her attitude to have a meaning in this world. I've done similar things and decided to see the glass of milk half full instead of half empty.

The Story of Mary and Mo

This is the story of Mary and Mo,

A boy and girl who once fell in love,

It’s a sad story so please be aware,

That it may leave you in despair,

Mary worked at the fields all day,

Never to be seen far away,

Watching upon her was a strange fellow,

One with a name of mysterious Mo,

One day he came up to her and said,

“Ms, may I help you?” and went ahead,

She watched him in deep admiration,

As he worked in the big plantation,

Everyday they worked together,

And despite the coldness of the weather,

They never left each other’s side,

Promising until the day they die,

Two years later Mary lay in her bed,

Sick with disease and almost dead,

Mo mourned as the days passed by,

And could not part with her to say good-bye,

A. What was the easiest aspect of writing a ballad? What was the hardest?'

Thinking of a story was a pretty easy start. However, the actual writing was pretty challenging for me.

B. Did you consult any outside resources to assist you in writing?

No, I just referred to the information about ballads we learned in class.

C. Why do people write poetry?

People write poetry to express their ideas not through novels, but in a new perspective.

D. What is an example of an excellent word choice in your ballad and why?

I don't think that any of my word choices are excellent. I used standard vocabulary, so there isn't a word that sticks out to me. I guess 'mourned' is a word choice that had a strong impact upon the poem because it really expressed Mo's sadness for the death of his wife.

Hope

http://senweb.lr.k12.nj.us/Library/class%20projects/Stapleford/Children45/AfricanChildren.jpg

http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/timothy-so/200903181667

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_312/1222016717q03wgl.jpg

http://eastfinchley.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/hands.jpg

http://pics.livejournal.com/northanger/pic/000sh2gs

http://neysometa.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/depression.jpg

http://southasiarev.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/release_all_political_prisoners.gif

http://blog.lawyerahead.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/getting_fired.jpg

http://ladyandria.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/hobo-739433.jpg

Oh math,

The language of the devils,

The torment you cause,

The time you waste,

Why did you have to be invented?

I really do hate you.

Oh geometry,

You are by far the worst, if you know what I mean,

What use do you have in this world?

We don’t use you when we go grocery shopping,

Or go walking down the street,

We don’t see kites as having two adjacent sides,

Or the diagonals being perpendicular,

We think of them toys being flown in the sky,

But then why must we learn the properties when life does not require?

I really do hate you.

Oh algebra,

Simple math is all we need,

Three plus five,

Or ten times three

Why make life more complex when sweet and simple is the motive we all strive for?

The unknown “x” or the missing variables,

I really do hate you.

Oh word problems,

In metaphorical language,

You are a parasitic worm,

Infesting the insides of my skin,

Only to be solved by the remedy of knowledge,

Incompetent minds of math failures are never supplied with that mastery,

So then how can we find a solution to the impossible?

I really do hate you.

Oh functions,

Transformations, shifts, rotations,

Trying to remember all the rules,

When I’m reminded by the fact that none are used in life,

There I sit in stupefaction,

Distracted by the x’s and y’s that seem to be charging towards me with torches and pitchforks,

Screaming at me, “why don’t you get me?”

I really do hate you.

Oh math,

A foreign language,

I do not want to learn,

Why do you hold me hostage in your evil game?

I really do hate you.

HATE.

HATE.

HATE.

YOU.

_____________________________________________

All the hatred of math was trapped inside of me, and while I was writing this poem, I let my emotions pour out and spill onto the paper. It was fairly easy writing this poem because I simply wrote what my mind was thinking. I could literally feel the hate burning through my veins as I was writing. Coincidentally, I was studying for the math test at the time of writing this poem, so ideas flowed even more better to my head.

Where I'm From

I am from the Big House,

the heavy traffic on Saturday mornings,

and the football fanatics screaming of the sidelines,

I am from the orchards,

going apple picking on warm summer evenings,

and baking apple pies to share with the neighborhood,

I am from those days,

where snow endlessly falls,

and shoveling the driveway is a great upper body workout,

I am from the turning of "heat" and "a/c" at the same same,

and experiencing frostbite and sunburn in the same week,

I am from the tall tales,

Paul Bunyan and Baby the Blue Ox,

with flapjacks smothered with sweet syrup,

I am from the forests of trees,

from the large lakes that surround us,

the petoskey stones and apple blossoms,

I am from those memories,

that will never fade away,

for they are my past,

and will always be my present.

Waterfall

The waves crash upon the rocks,

With deep rage one cannot stop,

It then subsides into a drift of water,

A never ending motion that continues to fall

Theme Connection

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/swimming/8361665.stm

This article is about Michael Phelps and how he is struggling with swimming these days. The title of this article is, "Records tumble all around hapless Phelps." To some extent, I think this relates to the theme of the Pearl. Of course, I believe that Phelps was never greedy, but he probably had high expectations and great anticipation for his upcoming matches. However, lack of proper practice explains his losses at these matches.

Pearl Reflection

I interpreted the moral of this story as being related to greed and how it can lead to undesirable actions. You can observe Kino’s steadily character changes once he discovers the pearl. He shows off qualities of greed. Furthermore, Kino’s greed leads him to hit his own wife and even cause his son’s death. Also, another theme related to this story is that fate can shape our lives. It was fate that Kino found the pearl, which drastically changed the outcome of his life. He lost his son and lost respect for who he was. Lastly, a very obvious, but very true and critical fact is that wealth does not bring happiness, as demonstrated in this story.

We can naturally relate Kino with every human being on this earth. It’s only natural for greed and ambition to build up once we discover something valuable. However, if we let our greed reach levels that may be dangerous, we will end up with the same fate as Kino. I think everyone has been through a situation/conflict similar to Kino’s. Although the consequences may not have been to the extent of the death of one, I’m sure that because of this “thing” or “someone,” our minds have turned greedy and self-indulgent. On the positive side, because of this, our minds can mature and realize the importance of generosity and the insignificance of wealth. One major idea that I believe Steinbeck wants to really emphasize is that wealth does not equal happiness. Kino has claimed that he has found the “pearl of the world,” but did that yield happiness to him or his family? In fact, what awaited him and his family was the exact opposite of happiness. Why? It was because of the false conception that the pearl would bring his family riches and joys of bliss and eternal happiness. Frankly speaking, Kino and his family had a reason to be content with their life initially. They did not lack anything except for money. They had food, water, and most importantly, each other. However, it was the two occurrences—Coyotito’s scorpion sting, and the finding of the pearl—that changed the course of their life.

Guess the Tone

She should've won, no doubt. He's been a musician himself for several years, he knew what he was talking about. The eloquence of her polished piece and the compelling ways her fingers flowed was exceptional...at least much better than that first-place trumpet player. He believed that he was much more knowledgeable about the rules and judgement of music than the three judges himself. Then why...why did she not win? It was only obvious that something was wrong with the ears of those clueless judges. It's much safer to say that he himself would've made a greater critic.

Guess the Mood

Chocolate cakes, apple pies, cinnamon buns, vanilla ice ream, white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate...I couldn't believe what was standing before me. I was surrounded by endless rows of countless desserts. I made my way past each row and grabbed a handful of desserts as much as I pleased. The moment that creamy, chocolaty pudding melted into my mouth, I was in heaven. That rich goodness that filled my mouth with sweet flavors was a feeling that I could not resist. One dessert after another, and I never got tired of it. Chocolate Souffle, hazel nut cookies, chocolate fondue, pumpkin pie, ice cream cakes, blueberry cheesecakes....

Happy Song Lyrics

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Don't Worry, Be Happy
From the Movie "Cocktails"
Performed by Bobby McFerrin

Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy......

Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The land lord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy
Lood at me I am happy
Don't worry, be happy
Here I give you my phone number
When you worry call me
I make you happy
Don't worry, be happy
Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
Ain't got not girl to make you smile
But don't worry be happy
Cause when you worry
Your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry, be happy (now).....

There is this little song I wrote
I hope you learn it note for note
Like good little children
Don't worry, be happy
Listen to what I say
In your life expect some trouble
But when you worry
You make it double
Don't worry, be happy......
Don't worry don't do it, be happy
Put a smile on your face
Don't bring everybody down like this
Don't worry, it will soon past
Whatever it is
Don't worry, be happy

*The composer thinks that happiness should always comes first no matter what bad things might happen. Even if life is frustrating or brings trouble, you should not worry, but be happy because when you worry, if creates twice the trouble.

$259,000,000...wHoA...

1) If I were to win an unbelievable amount of 259 billion dollar, I would be in a loss of words. It's possible I might even faint from the shock. That much money is something that I cannot imagine.

2) My first thoughts would be "OMG, NO WAY. NO WAY. NO WAY." I would be insanely shocked. My mind wouldn't be able to circulate properly.

3) First off, I would donate probably half the money to various humane societies around the world. Then I would give some to my family members, and keep the rest for savings. I don't want to end up like those other lottery winners that announce bankruptcy a year later. I would spend my money wisely and actually try to spend as least possible.

Clue #5

Clue #5

1) What is the theme of “About Effie?”

“About Effie” was one of the most bizarre stories I have ever read in my life. I’m not even sure if there was a definite plot. Because of this, it was challenging to identify the theme of the story. This is a complete guess, but from what I read, I think the theme is never give up. Effie always waited, and even though hope seemed very narrow, she still waited for “him.” Then one night, I believe that she does find that one person, although the author doesn’t clearly say.

2) Find a verse from the Bible that relates to the theme of “About Effie” and include it in your written responses.

Job 11:18 - You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

I chose this verse because it resembles Effie and how she never gives up hope. When she does meet “him,” she rests in safety.

1) Who is Effie waiting for?

Effie is waiting for the mysterious “him.” He is vaguely described and not very often mentioned. The only definite facts we know about him is that he comes when there is thunder, lightening, and music. This person that Effie is waiting for finally does come one night.

2) The story contains a lot of Christ imagery. Write down three separate sentences from the story that might symbolize Jesus and explain why Timothy Findley might have written these into his story.

1- "She just called him "him," and sometimes it was even "they," as if there were a thousand of them or something." How Effie refers that person to “him” reminds me of how we refer to Jesus as Word or Holy one.

2- "Will he take you away?" "Of course he will. That's why he's coming. That's why I'm waiting." This reminds of when Jesus takes us to heaven as we are waiting to be taken away by him.

3- Then she looked at me and all of a sudden I felt it. This is similar to how when Christians feel like they’ve met God and have been in his presence, they “felt” it. That feeling is indescribable because it is far too great to describe in words.

3) Can non-Christian authors reveal truth about God’s world?

I believe that anyone can reveal truth about God’s world. It doesn’t necessarily have to be shown through religious texts. It can be shown through metaphoric language. Regardless of religion, God’s world is always something worth writing about.

Clue #4

1) Who is a “character” in your life you admire? Why do you admire this person?

Although we’re not part of the closest granddaughter-grandfather relationship, I know my grandfather enough that I admire him. Out of curiosity, I asked my parents about whom my grandfather was. Not just the details on the surface, but his life story. Where did he live? What significant events did he go through when he was young? My grandfather actually spent his younger years in Japan. In Japan, he alone raised his younger siblings. He had to work and miss school, in order to support the rest of his family. He had earned enough money to send his younger brothers to college, but not himself. Now that’s pretty impressive. My grandfather could’ve gone to college himself, but he was willing to sacrifice his own education for his brothers. Fortunately, my grandfather’s story doesn’t just die there. He goes back to Korea and gets married. Without any college degree, he managed to get a job and eventually started his own business and even owns some buildings in Seoul! Of course, my grandfather’s retired now, but he still owns the buildings (some he sold). My grandfather is a really hard-working, caring and loving person. He is always an inspiration to me whenever I’m feeling down and I’ll always be proud to call him my grandfather!

1) What specific clues can setting reveal about the theme of a short story?

The setting of the story can reveal the theme of a story. Let’s say for instance a story takes place in Africa. We could conclude (if relevant) that the theme of the story is poverty. This isn’t always the case, for the setting can be pretty vague, but in some stories, the theme could be somewhere hidden in the setting.

2) How does an author drop clues about characters and how their actions lead you to the theme of a story?

The author can describe the struggles the character is going through (conflicts) and how they are dealing with it to show clues about the theme of a story. The character’s background, internal struggle, past conflicts and description can all be hints to the theme. If you can carefully identify the details of the character’s and their actions, you can pick up clues about the theme.

3) What is the strongest setting you have ever encountered in your own life. Describe this place and ponder if God revealed anything about Himself or his truth in this place.

A couple summers ago, I visited Korea and for the first time in my life, I went the country, rugged, poor side of Seoul. I have never seen a place so dirty and poor before. It almost felt as if I were in Africa. The children wore dirty, ripped clothes and the “houses” were like unstable shacks that looked as if it were to fall any second. I was a complete shock and felt this wave of guilt pass by me. The impact it left of me was huge. Even hours after leaving that place, I couldn’t seem to get my mind off of it. As cheesy as this may sound, I sincerely felt blessed and thankful.

Reader Response

1. Sometimes the way how the girl gets in trouble by her mom really reminds me of how my mother and I fight.

2. When the girl goes up to play piano at the talent show, I totally understand how she feels. I would also be extremely nervous.

3. When the girl's mom makes her do practice tests, that reminds me of how when I was young, my mom made me do math practice tests online and it totally sucked.

4. The girl does not enjoy playing piano, and I felt the exact same way when I used to play it.

5. When her mother told her that there are two kinds of children, the obedient ones and rude ones, it automatically made me think of the Confucius philosophy. My parents are against that philosophy, but it made me think of the older generations in my family who followed those teachings

6. While the girl was watching T.V. and her mother ordered her to turn it off, it instantly made me think of the times when my parents told me to shut off the T.V. and go up to my room when I got in trouble.

From the girl's personal perspective, the story would be told as how she is treated unfairly. Her mother expects her to be something that she's not and pushes her to do things that she is not comfortable doing with. Her mother makes her play piano, go to the talent show, and be a person that she just can't simply become. The girl constantly retorts that she's not a genius and cannot do those things.

Clue #3

1) What is a literary theme? Provide an explanation and then 3-one statement examples of a literary theme that reveals truth about the universal human experience.

The theme is the main idea or message in literature. The message can be about life, society or human nature. Themes are more implied than stated straight-out in a story.

1) Step into someone's shoes to get ride of ignorance

2) Things aren't always what they seem

3) We cannot defeat evil until we acknowledge our own dark side

* I got these from various webistes

2) What is the theme of your life, as you see it right now?

As of right now, I would consider the theme of my life to be "expect the unexpected." It has only been about a month since I've moved to Korea, and things have been really hectic. I had no idea that I was going to enroll to a dormitory school until a couple days before school started. Things have just been really out of hand and so sudden that I'm still not fully adjusted and comfortable with where I am right now. Life is full of surprises, but the important part of that is that you are able to take them in and not let that ruin your life. I'm not going to let my move to Korea or a dormitory ruin my relationships with the great friends I had back at home or the relationship with my family of being apart. Things are going well though, and I'm blessed to even have this opportunity to be attending a school like TCIS. Although there have been days where fate decided to take a little twist and let things get complex, I'm enjoying it as it is. If you think about it, that's what life is all about, right? We go through many unexpected and overwhelming events, but they have their importance in this world.

3) In your opinion, what is the theme of God's plan for this world?

I think that the theme of God's plan for this world is "make the best out of what you have." God created the earth, and as humans, it's our responsibility to make the best out of what God has given us. We live in this world, and it's our task to live responsibly and use all the resources he has given us to live life to its fullest. We shouldn't pollute the air or trash the streets. That is not why God has created the earth. He created it so that men could dwell on his land.

1) How can you figure out a theme in a short story? Describe the process.

There are some strategies in figuring out the theme of a story. You can consider the title. Sometimes the title of a story can reveal understanding of the theme. Then think about the main characters and what conflicts they go through. Find the climax and try to figure out what the author's message is. Lastly, look at the resolution of the story. It may contain some sort of universal truth. From the information you have gathered, try to come up with a truth statement. You should be able to identify the theme for the story.

2) What is the theme of "The Utterly Perfect Murder" and how does this theme relate to your own life?

I think the theme of "The Utterly Perfect Murder" is obsession with past sorrows/grievances. Doug is hung up with his past about his childhood friend, Ralph. Ralph has betrayed him, abandoned him, and has certainly not treated Doug as a friend. This left a huge scar on Doug, who never seemed to forget about it. Even after forty years, Doug cannot seem to leave behind the past. In fact, he decides to get revenge on his friend. That revenge was to kill Ralph for what he's done to Doug. A normal human probably would've forgotten about the past by then, but obviously Doug had some sort of obsession about it that left him hanging onto the past. I'm not sure if the theme is correct, but this is how I interpreted it as.

3) How is a moral of a story different from a theme?

A theme is broader than moral. A moral is lesson from an event or story. A theme is a broad idea or message that may be about life, society, or humanity. A moral is usually revealed in a story, while a theme is something the reader has to think about and find out. A moral is typically only one statement. On the other hand, the theme depends on the reader. It can be interpreted in many different ways, especially if it's not stated so straight-out.

4) Read John 3:16. Is this a theme statement for God's story? How does this relate to the truth you might find in literature?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16

Yes, I would consider this a theme statement for God's story. We mostly remember God for sacrificing his own son for the sins of mankind. John 3:16 mentions that God loved the world so much that he was willing to kill his one and only son, Jesus. In literature, there are similar themes, such as sacrifice or giving something/someone up for someone else's sake. The whole idea of "giving up" is mentioned in almost all stories. It's ironic because that is what revolves around God. He gave up his son for our sake, while characters in stories do the same. For example, in Marigolds, Lizabeth gave up innocence, but gained maturity. That idea of "giving" something up always occurs in our lives.

Clue #6

1. Define a metaphor and a simile.

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which you are comparing things without using "like" or "as." A simile is a comparison using "like" or "as."

1. Why do authors use figurative language?

Figurative language is used by authors to convey a more creative and clear message. Creative writers use metaphors, similes, etc. to bring out emotions and understandings that can't be understood by just the words alone. By comparing two objects, it helps the readers to understand and grasp the imagery since the connections of the two materials can display a better understanding. Also, figurative language is interesting. It's profound, new and fresh. Without it, your writing would seem too much like a dictionary. Figurative language adds color to your writing and makes it far more interesting.

2. List 3 metaphors that you think are really beautiful or interesting.

"Climbing down the heart, listen to your deep soul call, give wings to your dreams."

"Beauty is truth's smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror."

"Clouds came floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

3. Find a metaphor for Jesus in the Bible and list the Bible verse.

"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." -John 7:37.

4. What does this metaphor reveal about God's world and your understanding of it??

It reveals that Jesus was a caring man who would feed any one who were suffering from hunger or thirst. He cared about his people and was even willing to sacrifice his own self for human kind's own sins.