End of the show.

During the course of this year (2010-2011) I have used this space for the thoughts on poetry, books, or short stories, that we have analyzed or read over in class. Although we had strict topics to write off of, we were able to make this place a piece of ourselves. In my blog, I often used my tittles as an expression of my creativity and remark towards my personality. Not following the guidelines of a "boring" heading but inching to the boundary line, and about to step over. In my writing towards the beginning of the year, there were many references to the writing as a source straight out of the context of the theme or topic suppose to be written about. But towards the end when I felt that the subjects began to become more interesting, I was more flexible and related more daily things to my writing. Although we were not able to create very many of our own original poems in English, the blog that I wrote about my favorite class time, was about the creation of original poems based on Robert Frosts. Even though we were not able to intervene with that creation, the poetry weeks were the funnest for the creative and exciting part. I wished that we could have more lovable books to talk about and/or reflections to recite but the greatest part of the whole blog itself can still be individual creation. I had fun with this weekly assignment although I often had trouble with the theme I was suppose to write about, but eventually figured it out and began writing away. Maybe not always on time, but I always got it done. I love having a place to display my thoughts about specific genres of books we are presenting in class, and or poetry we are analyzing to see the different feedback of other students as well. If only we could have posted original works of art and have them critiqued. But maybe next time! I see many of my mistaken questions that I had used for the inferential and or literal questions and then remember the in class discussion later that week, where all of those silly questions were answered. And how none meaningful they really were, only because they were right there in the text. But also, these unfortunate questions were asked towards the beginning of school and not the end. Mrs. Gilman taught our class the right kind of questions to ask, and how to de-sifer any hidden message of the line or text we are reading. Also I believe that there were more questions about the reads that we were doing back in the beginning of the year. "The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." -Albert Einstein I beleive that this quote represents a good overall summary of every published writer, poet or singer. And even non public pieces from artists of the literature. The messages some writers can inflict withing the simple words of a sentence, can really be an art in its self. And that I believe is the exception to anyones curiosity to not understanding the hidden theme or extended metaphor of the book or piece of writing. The fact that we did not write it, there for we are not going to think that "..thy quivering thigh.." really is reduced to her ***********; for the sake of not catching the humor or real thought that was in the writers plan or head when writing the stanza, line or sentence to structure to the book, poem or play.
I will miss this place of random spits and sputters coming from a girl that appreciates creativity and writing.

Farewell, and goodnight.
-Rowan Skye

Experience with Poets.

Poetry has effected me by making me realize how fun and creative you can be with your small or big thoughts. I have dealt with poetry since 2nd grade (in school) and ever since I could remember as a small child. Reading Shel Silversteen, Mother Goose rhymes and Dr. Seuss books and then creating my own book of poems. I like the kind of poetry called Haiku's and that is because it has such an easy structure. Short and sweet; 5 7 5. In middle school, we often had to create our own Haiku's or smaller types of poems and then recite them to the class.(Ms. Gilman) you knowing my amount of shyness in front of the class, it was especially hard as a younger child. The amount of poetry work that I have dealt with has made me view writing in an easier way. When I write, sometimes I like to just create a more vast image of the days events. Maybe exaggerate way more in detail than just simple writing.
For this upcoming unit, I am very excited about the time when we will be creating our own poetry based on Robert Frosts poems. Some people do not like poetry atall, but it is mostly writers or really good readers of books that learn to appreciate it over time. Or the people that say " I hate poetry " just dont understand the non-literal/literal meaning of the way the poet is writing. And I agree that it can be hard and frustrating to allow the time to like something.

Apple of my eye.

My favorite assignment this year has probably when, we our own poem; based on Robert Frost's outline. This is a way to create our own word choice with someones different style of words. We can place the words any way we want and also make our own deeper meaning type of writing. There were other assignments that I liked but wasn't graded as I wanted on them. I love writing essays but either I don't understand the grading rubrics or they don't have anything interesting to put in as much detail than whereas my writing is very detailed with more joyful things. Grading scale defiantly makes me think differently about some of the "favorite" things we do in class. But anything having to do with creativity and personality in writing, is absolutely all for me.
This poem assignment that we are writing is very easy for me for the fact of not having any guidelines. The free writing can make any writer go outside boundary lines that they could be used too and become engaged in the satisfying ways of no restrictions. I like to make many different stories, poems and/or journal writings that make a different world inside of our actual world. So far this is the only writing assignment that I have liked cause the lack of structure that it has and we are suppose to make for it.

test post

Look alikes :)

Corpse Bride.

Corpse Bride has the same kind of writing style as Romeo and Juliet does. Two girls; one alive, and one dead. and both are falling for one boy. The dead bride had been planned to marry someone else (Juliet and Paris). She falls in love with another guy after her groom killed her but he is already in love with another (Romeo and Rosaline). The character chase is just a little different than the play Romeo and Juliet.

Connect with our sweet Juliet and our daring Romeo.

Starting out the play, we meet Romeo in love with Rosaline and controlled by her good looks and witty status. Seeming to make the outcome of the book different than ever expected, we don't believe he will get over Rosaline and love Juliet for his examples of stubborn behavior. Romeo is a young boy experiencing with the feeling of love, and the complications that come with love, and how lust takes a big part in the beginning of relationships with teenagers. For how much Romeo claims he loves Rosaline, the moment he lays eyes on another gorgeous girl (Juliet) he isn't in love with Rosaline anymore and wants to spend the rest of his time with Juliet Capulet. Many teens can relate to the feeling of lust, although in relationships, they say "I love you" and "I want to be with you forever". But you can never know with relationships that are between kids. Marriages will make more sense with saying those words, but coming from middle school children or immature teens, all you could end up with is a broken heart in the end (by the boy or girl that said those words and then later never actually meant them.) As for Juliet, you meet her and she is so sweet and innocent at first but then later she goes against her parents and takes her life for a boy she has only known for a couple weeks. Many teens can relate to these feelings of sadness as well. Having a broken heart or a downfall in a relationship that you thought was going so fantastic can often lead to death in some kids. For me, I would never take my life for a boy I had only known for a month or a week. Juliet risked the relationship with her parents for the marriage of this boy and she had only known him for so long, explains how some people can be nowadays as well as back then. Quick to make life changing decisions and full of lust. Not love.

Thoughts on the novel.

This book, I feel could have been a better experience if the events were more relate able and less chaotic. The way Dickens writes is very cool whereas he does not just explain people with details of the face but he categorizes them with interesting similes and gives them personification. Apart from the very hard language he uses and terms he explains, the events he chooses for a young kid to go through seems to me that he may have encountered some of these similar events from the amount of detail he uses. Showing the amount of strength that Pip had to face these acts, makes me feel grateful that I do not have an abusive sister, a house I am embarrassed by or the meet of a convict in the marshes that changed my life forever. Seeing that I really do have it good, and nothing to feel bad in my life about.
The characters all turned out to be different than I was expecting them too! That is for sure.
Also this would have been a great book to read if we didnt have to read in between the lines for everything's evidence. But it was kind of cool that some things, you had to think outside the box to understand somethings about it..but just not with everything.

Photo Post.

This Picture seems to represent the scenery that comes to mind while reading this book. Very dull and depressingly overcast. Kind of like Olympia but were just missing the free bound convicts in the forests threatening young children. This book gives of this kind of image because they seem to never talk about sunshine except towards the end of the novel. But that is one reference out of the whole 57 chapters.
This image is not a pleasant on like an image of a sunny, windy road like this one, but this book does not give very many hints of happiness or joy towards the location they live or the people they know. They just sit and ponder about the convicts and crime, and pay little attention to anything else but trouble and gossip.

Making Connections!

I think that The Lion King is a great example of a movie or novel like great expectations. Simba (Pip) has to go through life at a young age, without parents and with a lot of people that are not the nicest to him or the kindest members of the family. Many of the main characters in the movie (The Lion King) effected Simba in positive ways, and sadly negative ways. Uncle Scar is like Mrs. Joe Gargary in ways for both mean attitudes and careless hearts towards Simba and Pip. And they are real family members and still they treat them like nothing! Nala (Estella) is a friend Simba has had since he was little. Although they went through rough times and patches of not seeing each other through growing up, they ended up getting together as they were older and falling in love. Even though Nala was way sweeter to Simba, than Estella to Pip, the same logic is played for the most likely relationship between childhood friends. The Hyenas gang (of uncle scars) could represent the characters that started out mean and scary, but in the end respected Simba (Pip) and were not against him as they were when he was younger. There are three hyenas. The first representing Jaggers for his secretive ways and uneasy scariness. The second portraying Abel Magwich for his coniving threats but the loyalty of love in the end. And last, the third hyena stands for Miss Havisham, although in the beginning she had no love for Pip and always told Estella to hurt him emotionally, she apoligized for everything in the end. and I think that Zazu (Joe) for his nice behavior and he always looks out for Simba (Pip) and doesnt let him go as easily as Uncle Scar Mrs. Joe Gargary) did.

All those INferential&LITERAL Q's :P

INFERENTIAL QUESTIONS:
* When Joe goes and visits Pip, he tells him about how Estella wants to see him and all of a sudden Pip gets very nice. Why? (Estella was always so mean to him)
* Why does Dickens often refer the characters to the form of animals or inanimate objects? do the objects relate them to something?
* In the introduction of London (with Estella) Pip gets treated exactly the same as when Estella treated him when they were littler. Why does he still dream of marrying her?

LITERAL QUESTIONS:
* After taking Mr. Wemmick to dinner (after his show) why does Pip conclude to acting so unhappy at dinner? Chapter 33
* When Pip is riding in the coach car with the two convicts, why does he become timid and uncomfortable, as the convict is talking about giving money to a young boy long ago? Chapter 34
* Why cant Pip like Biddy?
* When Miss Havisham orders Pip to come and play, is she eternally expecting something?

Entering the second stage..

Seeing the many different changes within in the locations or motifs, throughout the characters in the second stage, and they are a few of the characters that make the biggest impact on Pip as a young boy.

MR. JAGGERS: Jaggers lets Pip know where he lives and all about the address by the coaches office. (chapter 20) Jaggers was seen in the house of Miss Havisham on the day of "our combat"(Mr. Jaggers was in the Satis' house but Pip had never seen him there before). (chapter 22)
JOE GARGARY: Joe was still as clumsy as can be when coming up the stairs or reading names off the wall. (chapter 27) Joe gave him a crumpled play-bill of a small metropolitan theatre "Celebrated Provincial Amateur of Roscian Renown". (chapter 27)

* What do you think the reasoning behind Joe giving Pip the "crumpled" play-bill was for?
* How was the witnessing of Pip seeing Mr. Jaggers in the Satis' house so amusing?

Questions about a passage.

When Estella constantly makes fun of Pip and teases him in most of his days, why does she become so frustrated when she sees that he is not in love with her? chapt. 8

Why doesn't Joe stand up for himself and Pip, as they are in an abusive home and relationship with Mrs. Gargary? chapt. 3-14

Why does Camilla often not wish to display her feelings with the most closest relatives or friends to her? chapt. 11

Why does Mrs. Havisham explain the seating arrangements to the (Camilla and Pocket family) about feasting upon her at the dinner table? chapt. 11

How come Mrs. Gargary leave Joe and Pip for Mr. Pumblechook so often? chapt. 13

How did Pip find out that Joe smoked (with a pipe) in the old battery by the marshes? chapt. 15

Dishonesty.

In the importance of being Earnest... the dishonesty and honesty are two different drastic levels, the characters appearances are far more important than what the respect they would have with their stories. The most important thing in the Victorian Era was the way you looked. How much your appearance cost. In terms of higher class and/or lower class. The last thing a person would think about is actually being honest about the real side of the story without all the exaggerations and add-ons they put to make it all seem better in some specific way or another. The way Oscar Wylde portrayed each character would be based off of class or looks. Not the importance of being honest. and Respectful.

new years resolution

My new years resolution is going to have to be not focusing on the negativeness in life. I think it really is a waste of everyones cherished time, that could be instead spent on something useful. There would be not as much drama if you just simply excluded yourself from its grasp, and stayed away for awhile. A nice little break. It will benefit you in the end when everyone else is caught in the mits of all the mean names, and hopeless thoughts of destruction. I would hope that some people would agree with me on every level with this opinion. I may be wrong, but I think it is a choice that will give you more value and respect for your family, the many people surrounding you, and for yourself. Feeling more better sleeping at night, knowing that you just didnt complain to another on the phone about how the person that had cut you off while driving today, completly ruined your entire day, because your still calling him stupid 8 hours later. Let go of the small things is another on my list of accomplishments in life; Is to forget about wasting my breathe on thinking so horribly about a tiny thing was just a simple mistake... and not let it get in my way of having a good day.

That interesting little tid bit.. :)

In the discussion on "The Lobster" portrayed many different aspects on this passage, one would not come upon when annotating. I thought that when many people believed that the coloring of the lobsters given in detail, was the authors reasoning to give the image of Solomons workers. A passage frome the Holy Bible. And how their lives and dreams were sort of picked with chance and they did not have control. Like as the lobsters when they sit in the tanks in the middle of the grocery stores or super markets, next to the forozen meat...and as people walk by they choose randomly which lobster they want to boil and eat. How big of a quantity the lobster would feed...or if they are healthy. A person attempting to make an elegant dinner would not stop and interview the lobster and ask them "why should you be chosen to ly upon my plate or stay in this nasty fish tank?" Many people do not believe that that animal may have feelings or dreams. Also by being harsh while throwing them in a pot of boiling water could vanish them into literally thin air. Thats rough.

What if your life was based on luck or chance? And you had no control? That was another question that popped up in many of the side replies throughout our discussion. I think it would be hard for myself to feel as though anyone cared...and yes I know that were talking about lobsters..but any other species could be thinking that about you..."its just a human, they dont have dreams or hearts; lets throw them into a pot of boiling water and see them swim". Have you ever thought of that theory? Its a good one.

The little author :)

My favorite piece of writing that I composed is a book review essay we were writing in class, reviewing the book we were reading for the quarter. Our teacher had us pick how we were going to write our stories. I chose to compare my life story to the main characters life story. Turns out the little girl in the story, had similar events as me. Coincidently, we also had the same family terms. This piece of writing I wrote in a small crowded classroom of 32 children in 2 hours. You might say "that is impossible" or "no work of art can be mastered in less than a week or a year" but this story is real. It was deep. I wasnt just writing this paper for the credits, it really meant somthing because I began to get personal. I was open with the fact that in the book, this little girls mother was not around and that in her kids life she chose to bounce in and out; while hoping they would still love her equally the same as when they looked into her eyes and smiled the moment they were born. It doesnt happen that way. My father is exactly like the mother in the story, in so many ways, its actually kind of scary...but yet sad. For the fact of that another little girl was feeling the way as I do. Questioning the fact of love and adoration over hatred and negativity. "Why dont they want to know us?" "How come they dont love me?" "Did i do somthing wrong?" those questions I used to ask everyday and I mentioned that in the story. I knew this story meant somthing by the recognition of the tears it brought my family. I didnt like the fact that it brought them to tears but they really saw my actual feelings and thoughts on the empty spot where my father should be. Those dark places in my baby book where HE was supost to fill out...or the many pictures I dont have with him but with the rest of my family and my mom. And that is when I look at my mom and want to tell her "thankyou for not leaving!" Towards the end of my story and the last 10 minutes on the hourglass, I blanked out the fact that I was supost to say how I like or disliked the book. But I felt like this is what a kid should be graded on. Any kid can write down a few simple facts of a book they read 4 pages of and put some lame excuses repeadetly. Sitting a child down and telling them to relate themselves to the story, or imagine themselves in anothers shoes, guarantee they will acknowlege that they cant get away with writing "I liked this book because..." But they will actually have to dig deep and think.
You should read it somtime. :)

Outside Readingg!!! :)

Well the book that I chose to read is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It about 5 sisters that are forced to be married within a couple months for the reasoning of women not havng as much freedom with money, jobs or land until they were legally married. So...the story begins to unfold about the pros and cons of becoming married to a person after just meeting them. So far in the book, they are meeting Elizabeth is meeting Mr. Bingley. Mr. and Mrs.'s Bennett (the daughters parents) are waiting with anxious attitudes to await the personality of how Mr. Bingley likes Elizabeth. Meanwhile the other daughters are watching the new neighbors move in and out and waiting to see who would get the first pick for the next man.

Extending the Theme :)

Lesson learning is a big part of life. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird there are more than one lesson that is taught to both the readers and the characters themselves. To kill a mocking bird is a sin. They are sweet and kind and do not hurt anything or anyone. They just simply sing beautiful tunes and lullabys. Boo Radley and Tom Robinsons are victims of the awful crime of killing "mockingbirds". Now they are not really birds, they are real people but the mockingbirds of the gossiping town of Maycomb to an extent. But really nobody really pays attention to the mixed metaphor of "its a sin to kill a mockingbird". They think the actual bird, or they do not really pay attention. The town of Maycomb is a very hard to describe place. It can be explained as nice, or it could be told about in very specticle ways in detail; examples of racism/judgement, selfishness, and personalitys up the wall. There are nice people but you rarely hear about them unless its a rumor that is fake. Those nice people are citizens of Maycomb, and they are the ones we learn lessons from, but not actually saying "heres a lesson for you today". They give us hints and little secrets that most people in many cases will forget to pay attention too and miss those important facrts we would use almost everyday in life, if we were talented.

My sweet Boo Radley.

Boo Radley is a sweet person that tends to stay away from the gossip that flutters around Maycomb. Children are fascinated with him but cannot seem to understand why he will not come and hangout with them. Scout, Dill, and Jem try as hard as they can to make Boo Radley come out and see the light of the sunshine, and/or snow and become a real citizen in the old town of Maycomb County. When I was little, I was scared of my brother. He would always make me cry with his deep voice and him towering over me, and almost the size of a small cottage, I would always run away. I knew he would never intentionally hurt me or make me upset on purpose, but I would hide from him for the fact of him chasing me down the hall way and tickling me until I was about to pee my pants at 4 or 5 years old. It was ALWAYS like that until the day he saved me. We had a pool at my grandparents. A dirty pool filled with slime, tadpoles, leaves and probably leaches. Had not been cleaned for a few month since it was winter time and we didnt expect anyone to go swimming with frost on the ground. Towards the middle of winter, there was a rather hot, sunny 'summer' day and we were outside enjoying the day as a family.
My older sisters, (between the ages of 12 and 14) had a tree house that sat up above in the trees and that had a slide into the pool. Well on this day the walk up to the tree house felt crowded. The boards were slippery still from the morning mist and I saw the pool as especially dingy. I was walking behind the group of 3 or 4 teenagers including my brother, and thats when everything started going really fast until I was super cold. I had fallen into the water of the nasty, infested pool and I was drowning. I was looking up through the water, and seeing everyones faces as they turn around and Im gone. I could hear the sound of screams and talking. As I am watching my brother ripping off his shirt and diving into the water after me. And then the moment I knew it, I was being held in a towel in my brothers arms. Thats where we became glued by the hip. And I never wanted him to leave again.
My brother always freightened me all the time. Boo Radley was given a bad name with all the rumors the children heared, but they were still fascinated and now even more because they wanted to see if they were true. I didnt have a good relationship with my brother until the day he saved me and the same for Scout and Jem. That is when we really had formaly been introduced to the person we have been trying to find all along.

Introduction To My Blog :)

This is the introduction to my english blog! Welcome :) My name is Rowan. This blog is for English. In english I like to write..it comes very easy to me and I can use extraordinary words within my writing. I do not like to read as much as I enjoy writing, because I am not the fastest at reading long or even short books. Other than not reading as well as others, my communicating skills are well known. I am usually loud and outgoing when i am comfortable, but shy and quiet when situations dealing with people not knowing each other or being in a new place for the first couple times. I talk easily with people; I am known to find solutions for every problem. Whether its with drama, every day complications or the simple things in life. I have used this space to tell you a little about me and hope you will enjoy the upcoming posts on my blog. Thankyou for reading. :)
-Rowan