Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Suzzellll

Hey Suzzellll I couldn't figure out how to upload this to your blog but this is the video I mentioned to you that we could do for our teaching to the class. It does relate to literature and we could do something about how these ideas came to the author and how it relates to past events and current events? Let me know what you think!!! :) Disney After Ever After.  After Ever After >^.^<

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Vocabulary #1



adumbrate - verb give to understand; describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of.In my summary I adumbrated the plot of the book.”

apotheosis - noun the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god); model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal.The conceited man felt his social status was apotheosis of his fellow workmen.”

ascetic - adj. practicing great self-denial; pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline; noun someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline. Being and ascetic person, I struggle with accepting my accomplishments.”

bauble - noun a mock scepter carried by a court jester; cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing. My cross necklace is bauble and keeps breaking.”

beguile - verb attract; cause to be enamored; influence by slyness. “The man beguiled the attractive women with his charm.”

burgeon - verb grow and flourish. “As we grow older, we burgeon into mater adult.”

complement - noun something added to complete or make perfect; either of two parts that mutually complete each other; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction; number needed to make up a whole force; a complete number or quantity; one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response; verb make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to. “Red and green are good complement colors for Christmas.”

contumacious - adj. willfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient. “Many adolescents are acquiring contumacious personalities.”
 
curmudgeon - noun a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas. “The 90-year-old woman was curmudgeon about her opinions.”

didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively. “The teacher had a very didactic manner.”

disingenuous - adj. not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness. “His answer to the question was very disingenuous.”

exculpate - verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges. “The guilty criminal was ecstatic when he was exculpated.”
 
faux pas- noun an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation. “When talking to my friends parents I had a faux pas and stumbled repeatedly over my words.”

fulminate - noun a salt or ester of fulminic acid; verb cause to explode violently and with loud noise; come on suddenly and intensely; criticize severely. “The gas explosion was fulminate.”

fustian - noun a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap; pompous or pretentious talk or writing. “The dress was made of fustian material.”

hauteur - noun overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors. “Her hauteur personality drove all her friends away.”

inhibit - verb limit the range or extent of; to put down by force or authority. “ Cops inhibit the frequency and intensity of crimes.”

jeremiad - noun a long and mournful complaint. “I am to jeremiad about my increasing workload.”

opportunist - adj. taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit; noun a person who places expediency above principle. “An opportunist takes the opportunities.”

unconscionable - adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; lacking a conscience. “Criminals who commit repeated violent crimes are unconscionable.”

Monday, August 18, 2014

Montaigne/Austen Essay



            Throughout the novel Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen, characters are faced with life decisions left and right. Although most of it was captured well, most of the emotions and thoughts that were faced had to be inferred through what was accepted in society then and now. As David Foster Wallace once wrote “What goes on inside is just too fast and huge and all interconnected for words to do more than barely sketch the outlines of at most one tiny little part of it at any given instant.” This was not only true for this novel but for pieces written now.
            Throughout the novel Austen does and outstanding job of relating the chaos and the lifestyles of the era in a comprehensible manner. However it is left to reason that all pieces she wished to have incorporated were left out. In certain instances she just states accepted behavior such as when Jane Bennett and Charles Bingley dance multiple times at the ball but doesn’t clarify what that means in society of the time. It appears that she expects her readers to understand that a ball was where the host or hostess was expected to dance with all available partners and it was considered very respectful when a host asks someone to dance multiple times. Although Austen knows exactly what she was trying to exhibit when writing her novel, she was “brainstorming” she skips that piece because she believes it is unimportant to the plot and she assumes her audience will grasp the meaning. Most writings movies or television shows today use allusions to history and common sense in the assumption that the audience will comprehend what is being shown. However does this assumption make viewing or reading a piece harder to understand the meaning that is being portrayed? In some cases it is acceptable and adds to the mystery and interactive nature of the piece but in some cases it takes away from the plot and makes a piece to confusing to read and incomprehensible.
            When and author writes they provide an insight into their own mind and they provide and interesting world for others to explore through their writings. Austen provides this also in her novel into the priorities and the needs of society of the era. It was almost a necessity to marry in your own social class and all others below you were beneath you. In Pride and Prejudice we see the social order effect interactions between characters and the way the characters think. However not the whole picture can be portrayed. In other words, the window isn’t fully opened between us as audience members and the authors though process. Austen alludes to the importance of social order and she uses some characters to underline the importance of order in the society and of marriages. However with these references us as readers must understand and infer what meaning social order has on the world as we see it today. Today most individuals don’t base marriages and relationships on social status. Those who do don’t make it far in life and many brand them with the title “Gold-diggers.” Without writers using this window into historical times, we as a community and a nation wouldn’t understand this idea or the ideas proposed with arrange marriages.
            Throughout literature we see examples of authors alluding and mentioning ideas in their writing but becoming so enveloped in their ideas that they forget to write pieces down or forget to capture the bigger picture. Many writers of pieces find it difficult to write all their ideas in a piece because while writing this idea one idea will come but once the author becomes around to mentioning it, he or she forgets and comes up with a different idea entirely. Even while writing this piece I personally have gone through several ideas that were either written or not written. Each other has a different method for imputing their ideas into the world around them. Austen was an exceptional writer in the way she was able to use Pride and Prejudice as her way to underline meanings of love and social order in a society through her own creative window.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

1987 AP Test

Section 1.

1. C
2. A
3. C
4. E
5. A
6. D
7. A
8. B
9. A
10. C
11. D
12. B
13. B
14. E
15. E
 I found this section rather easy because it asked specific questions about the passage. Some asked to infer what was going on beyond and that was a little brainteaser to first understand what the questions asked and then figuring out how that applied to the passage itself. A few words in this section were difficult to understand since I hadn't come into contact with them but this section was fairly easy (that being said I probably failed this section).
16. B
17. C
18. A
19. B
20. B
21. D
22. C
23. C
24. C
25. B
26. E
27. E
28. D
29. E
30. A
31. B
32. C
Throughout answering the question referring to the poem the most struggling part for me was understanding the vocabulary that was being used. Several times I found myself looking up words to understand what was being asked just in the questions itself. Towards the end of this part, I found it difficult to answer the questions involving the set up and form of the poem because I didn't understand the literary techniques and different forms that the questions referenced to.
47. C
48. A
49. C
50. D
51. B
52. D
53. B
54. E
55. E
56. A
57. A
58. D
59. B
60. D
61. B
During this small section of question a lot of questions that seemed almost common sensed based on the passage were easier to me than the ones that asked a vague question and provided even vaguer answers. The passage itself was hard for me to read and understand. One part that troubled me a lot was the questions involving basic English/grammar skills that I was unable to answer with confidence.

Essay #1

George Elliot describes a leisure unlike the type we have now in our society today. She speaks of her time and of simplicity that conveys options unlike what we know of today. Leisure is defined by society in the way it shapes around the necessities of what is relevent to the time period it is apart of. Although changes were changing when George Elliot wrote of her leisure, many similarities and differences can be viewed between the two.

When George Elliot describes her visions of leisure, she describes vague simplicity and appreciation of the nature and religion around. Through her use of vivid images and allusions, we are reminded of the once important issues faced with the society of the time. She talks of sitting and watching the fruit while understanding its meaning and its beauty. She talks of going to church and routines performed week to show appreciation of God and prayer. Having leisure in this time period was this simple. People did these things in their spear time while reading a paper that was unbiased to the political and social news of the time. However from the creation of the trains during the industrial revolution, leisure as they once knew it changed.

Once the companies started growing and competing producing products such as oil, metals, and trains, leisure started altering and evolving to fit these needs. No longer was leisure time spent enjoying the untamed beauty of nature or was it a priority to sit and praise the Lord. However their remained groups that still appreciate and document nature in their spare time and some religious groups stayed around to continue pray in their leisure time. Although society still viewed news in the newspapers, the news began to morph and alter itself around the big names of the nation and the growing trends. No loner was it informational and unbiased. News from that point on was made to sell. 

Leisure time is one that grows and changes as society itself grows and changes. George Elliot writes of the way leisure changed in her time with vivid images and allusions to the appreciation of nature to the priority of prayer to the basic need to read the paper. During her time industries grew and shaped the nation taking with it natural leisure. Although time spent with "Old Leisure" has changed once again since she wrote, technology and society will again grow and evolve calling for different leisure and different necessities.

Essay #2

As society changes as a whole traditions, necessities, and political views also change. Whether it be tradition to wear ten layers of clothes to it be necessary for all judges to wear a big wig when in front of the courts and also on personal time, times have changed. Throughout history we as people have made mistakes and have acted on those mistakes as if it never happens. The Crucible is an example of what happens when society becomes to raveled in basic drama and it spirals out of hand.

Throughout The Crucible, society is faced with the issues that cause controversy left and right. The short play is based on the Salem Witch Trials where neighbors turned on neighbors and accused each other of being witches. Majority of the time it was for some personal gain or revenge. A lack of evidence was present in each trial, but unfortunatly we as a society grew overwhelmed but the political views in place that many innocent people died due to foolish desires. Tradition said that what is normal is the proper way to do things and anyway outside of this way was considered witchcraft and the individual in question must either be burned or hung for their sins. Due to the "traditional way" that everyone learned, lived and needed, many mistakes caused many people their lives.

Although times have changed since the era written about in The Crucible, many of the same concepts are applied to society today, however many different factors are coming into play that alter the basic idea of the "norm." It used to be a tradition that women married men and that same-sex marriage was considered an abomination. Through many legal battles and the necessities of many individuals same-sex marriage has been considered reasonable and now society accepts these coalitions as normal. Back in years previous this was unheard of and unimaginable. Another example of how times are changing now is the idea of an African-American president. Before this era that we are currently in the idea of an African-American president was unheard of. However due to acceptance and political changes we now have an African-American leader. 

As shown in The Crucible, and the examples mentioned above, society changes everyday and the needs and the "norms" change along with it. Although many seem to be stuck in the traditional and comfortable ways to handle things, that is not how the majority see it today. Throughout history and the future to come society will continue to change and alter the needs and wants of many. Only we as a whole can decide where it goes from here.

Poetry # 1

1.This poem that Levi used without mention of the author, came from the poem titled "The Laughing Heart" and it was written by Charles Bukowski.

2.The ironic part of the pants brand using a poem about using the poem is embedded in their meaning of the commercial itself. The poem talks about living your life your way, and choosing to beat the obstacles and defeats that you may be feeling and experiencing. In reality the Levis Corporation was trying to use this poem to persuade the potential consumers to buy their product.

3. From information found on a website (www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/charles-bukowski ) Charles Bukowski has a reputation of talking about what no one else wants to talk about. In fact when researching him more I came across a poem titled " A Not so Good Night in the San Pedro of the World" (linked to the blog) talks of a dark time when a man sits with what seems to be a prostitute and listens to the radio and talking about how nobody cares what hes doing but hes doing it. In the poem he even says "you can kiss my ass." Comparing the two poems brings to light the two sides to his writing that Charles Bukoshki had. Most of his writings relate strongly to "A Not so Good Night in the San Pedro of the World. However as we see in "The Laughing Heart", he mentions the idea of "beating death in life" and that "there is a light somewhere." "The Laughing Heart" represents a vary different aspect of his writing but none the less it is a great poem.

4. When looking for the answers to the first and third questions I used Google. When looking for the name and author of the poem, I typed in the first line in the commercial, "Your life is your life." and the first source I saw was called " Just Poetry: The Laughing Heart (Charles Bukowski)" {milan-poetry.blogspot.com/2007/03/laughing-heart-charles-bukowski.html}. After I played the commercial once again and read the poem to see if the correlated and they did. When looking to see if this poem match other pieces he has written I Googled Charles Bukowski and was met with many different sites. The first site I came to was "Charles Bukowski, American Author" {http://bukowski.net/}. However I wasn't content with the sites information offered. I went back to the result page and skipped over the Wikipedia link and found a website called "Charles Bukowski: The Poetry Foundation" {www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/charles-bukowski}. This site provided a great insight into his life and options to view other pieces he wrote. I selected the one titled "A Not so Good Night in the San Pedro of the World." I was surprised in reading when reading this poem because of the different style from the "original" version of poems. I am actually quite interested in his works now due to his individuality.

The Laughing Heart poen by Charles Bukowski

The Laughing Heart (Charles Bukowski)



Originally uploaded by Emelobi.

your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.

@Charles Bukowski

Essays of Michel de Montaigne Notes

I wasn't able to read the Essays written by Michel de Montaigne. However from this point on I am willing to dedicate more time to make sure I do all reading assignments and do all that is expected of me.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Poisonwood Prompt



                                                                                                Lillyana Navarrete
                                                                                                                        Dr. Preston
                                                                                                                        AP English 12
                                                                                                                        Aug. 12, 2014 p.4


Throughout the novel The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, a family is relocated to a barren and hostile environment of the Congo in the hope that the introduction of Christianity will help save the community. Although many characters were faced with the similar situation, a prolific effect mentally, emotionally, and physically was the Prices’ oldest child, Rachel. During the beginning chapters readers see Rachel continually complaining about having to bring items wrapped in their multiple layers of clothing. During the story we see a static character who interacts with what is familiar to her and we see her shy away from things that are foreign and unknown. For a girl of 15-years-old, Rachel shows the exact characteristics that you would expect in a teen that was randomly flown to a different land in the hope of saving a community.
            Throughout her time in the Congo with her family, Rachel was isolated from everything that she had originally grown accustomed to. Her biggest challenged proved to be to overcome these basic needs and start focusing on her family’s mission. However during the plotline, her basic ideas of priorities never change. She stays headstrong in her morals that appearance and self-image are main concern. Rachel constantly views books, “by the covers.” We see this in the way she judges and makes inference about people. Some examples of this would be where she was judging Anatole when she first met him. She knew he was a great and worthy gentlemen but her reaction was that the “hair-like” scars that covered his face were unattractive.
            Although the Congo experience solidified her belief that the area she was meant to be was in America, she did not return. She stayed and married a Hotel owner. This mode of survival that Rachel uses to get things that she needs in the Congo is and example of individuals, mostly young women, who use their looks and their bodies to gain advantage over others. Animals also use this instinct with relation to natural selection in regards to harsh conditions. Rachel’s experience in the Congo may have been the same as her family but her views on morals and appearances where the individual aspect that created her experience different that the others. She remains a flat character even when faced with the death of her sister Ruth May.
            Rachel’s experience in the Congo illuminates the idea that when faced with alien ideas or lands most humans choose the path in which they know will get them what they need. They turn to the bare minimum for their survival needs and use their talents to obtain what they need. In Rachel’s case as well as many other females, using body and appearance gets what they need in life. Rachel’ experience of being isolated in the Congo and fighting to survive in a hostile environment are an appropriate example of what some kids may do when in similar conditions.