Brutus
Too Trusting
Too Extreme (Overreaction)
Believed In Motives Of Others
Puts Public Life Before Personal Life
Caesar
Overly Ambitious
Overly Confident
Too Powerful
Ignored Tradition (Thought Himself Above It All)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
25 Random Facts About Me
Here are some things you may never have known about me:
1. I once spent 5 minutes in a jail cell for stealing candy from an arts and crafts store.
2. I used to play the drums and other percusion instruments.
3. I go to Hershey Park every summer.
4. I can never pick a favorite movie, book, or food.
5. My whole school career I have kept an A average for classes and have never had a grade lower than a B on a report card.
6. I have a small library in my room.
7. I do not remember anything beyond 3rd grade.
8. When I sleep, I never have dreams. Or at least I don't remember them.
9. I express myself better through writing than I do through speech.
10. My mom's entire side of the family is dead.
11. I once got a squirrel to climb into my hand.
12. Clowns, heights, snakes, and spiders scare me.
13. I have never been outside of the United States.
14. I cannot type fast on a computer - I never took the class.
15. I like to go hiking and participate in outdoor activities.
16. When I get an idea, I write it down and store it. If it is a machine, I make blueprints and sometimes small working prototypes.
17. I am a rationalist - a form of Atheism.
18. All the pets I have ever owned have died within the month I received them. None from neglect, but all from random deaths I had no control over.
19. Everything in my room is randomly thrown about, yet I always know where things are.
20. I leave my change in the vending machine slot so it makes someone's day.
21. If there is a face-down penny on the street, I turn it face-up and walk away.
22. I usually don't eat breakfast, except on Saturday.
23. I usually stay awake until 11:30 at night.
24. I love country music.
25. I have been to the hospital more times than I have the post office.
1. I once spent 5 minutes in a jail cell for stealing candy from an arts and crafts store.
2. I used to play the drums and other percusion instruments.
3. I go to Hershey Park every summer.
4. I can never pick a favorite movie, book, or food.
5. My whole school career I have kept an A average for classes and have never had a grade lower than a B on a report card.
6. I have a small library in my room.
7. I do not remember anything beyond 3rd grade.
8. When I sleep, I never have dreams. Or at least I don't remember them.
9. I express myself better through writing than I do through speech.
10. My mom's entire side of the family is dead.
11. I once got a squirrel to climb into my hand.
12. Clowns, heights, snakes, and spiders scare me.
13. I have never been outside of the United States.
14. I cannot type fast on a computer - I never took the class.
15. I like to go hiking and participate in outdoor activities.
16. When I get an idea, I write it down and store it. If it is a machine, I make blueprints and sometimes small working prototypes.
17. I am a rationalist - a form of Atheism.
18. All the pets I have ever owned have died within the month I received them. None from neglect, but all from random deaths I had no control over.
19. Everything in my room is randomly thrown about, yet I always know where things are.
20. I leave my change in the vending machine slot so it makes someone's day.
21. If there is a face-down penny on the street, I turn it face-up and walk away.
22. I usually don't eat breakfast, except on Saturday.
23. I usually stay awake until 11:30 at night.
24. I love country music.
25. I have been to the hospital more times than I have the post office.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
English Class Feild Trip
Yesterday, all the honors english classes went on a feild trip to Washington, D.C. for a Folger Shakespeare presentation. It was about a 2 hour ride and we saw some interesting people on the way. For instance, there was a random guy rolling in the road outside the tunnel we drove through. Once we got to D.C., we had to walk to the theater. It was a bit of a long walk, but it wouldn't have been so bad if we had not kept stopping to figure out which direction we had to go in. At the theater we saw a group perform several scenes from assorted Shakespeare plays, and listened to them explain how and why Shakespeare's plays are still relevant today. I got the feeling they were more just old works of literature admired as classics, which they should be, but it was not completely...interesting. There were several parts where the group called up volunteers to help act or demonstrate, whiuch seemed cool except for when the people were younger and you couldn't understand them. It was releiving to get back in the sunshine after the presentation was over. For lunch, everyone walked over to Union Station. It was also a long walk, but this time it was enjoyable because of all the stuff that we saw along the way. The train station was pretty neat too. The food court was huge and packed with people. The food was really good, but as I expected, a little pricey ($4.56 for a normal hot dog). My small group I ate with then walked around exploring the station. We went to a couple gift shops but found alot of the stuff out of our budget. I saw a huge floppy American hat, but it was too much money. So instead, I bought a tiny decorated golf ball. Some of the things we wanted to get but coudn't included a giant Union Jack flag, some chocolates, and these large party horns. Next time, I have to bring more money. I don't like to say it, but that was probably the most exciting part of the feild trip. Maybe we can watch a play next time.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Their Eyes - Imagery
Throughout her book, Zora Neale Hurston used many literary devices to help enrich the story and slip ideas into the plot indirectly. One of those literary devices was imagery. Below is a list of some of the imagery used in the novel and explanations of what they mean. At the very end of that list is the quote I liked the best in the novel and exactly why it is my favorite.
1. “the great rope of black hair swinging to her waist and unraveling in the wind like a plume,” Description of Janie’s hair, which is a big symbol in the novel. Page 2 Ch. 1
2. “time makes everything old so the kissing, young darkness became a montropolous old thing while Janie talked.” Time loomed on as Janie told her story to Phoeby. Page 7 Ch. 1
3. “She had glossy leave and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed to elude her.” This compares Janie to the blooming pear tree and how it is blooming as she is growing up and becoming a woman. Page 11 Ch. 2
4. “Mind- pictures brought feelings, and feelings dragged out dramas from the hollows of her heart.” Nanny is trying to raise Janie while remembering the past things from her life, and trying to do better this time. Page 16 Ch.2
5. “The new moon had been up and down three times before she got worried in mind.” It had been a long time before Janie started to worry that she wasn’t falling in love with Logan as she hoped she would with time. Page 22 Ch. 3
6. “She knew the world was a stallion rolling in the blue pasture of ether.” Life is fast changing and constantly moving. Page 25 Ch. 3
7. “…made her feel the apron tied around her waist. She untied it and flung it…” The apron represented her work which she flung away to the wind as soon as it was too much to bear. Pg. 32 Ch. 4
8. “They sat on the boarding house porch and saw the sun plunge into the same crack in the earth from which the night emerged.” This is symbolizing the start of a new day, and Janie has a new start for happiness. Page 33 Ch. 4
9. “…he bought her the best things the butcher had, like apples and a glass lantern full of candies.” Joe tries to buy Janie’s love, even from the beginning. Page 34 Ch. 5
10. “…then the next thing as soon as they heard where Jody was, they kept right on up there where the new lumber was rattling off the wagon…” This is a little foreshadowing here where it shows the whole town does not really like Joe but take what he offers. Page 40 Ch. 5
11. “The fact that the thought pictures were always crayon enlargements of life made it even nicer to listen.” Listening to stories and talking makes life seem a lot better than it is to Janie; it idealizes things. Page 51 Ch. 6
12. “Janie loved the conversation and sometimes she thought up good stories on the mule, but Joe had forbidden her to indulge.” Joe controls Janie’s life and she is constrained against her wants. Page 53 Ch. 6
13. “One day she noticed that Joe didn’t sit down.” Joe begins to decline from his seat of high power. Page 77 Ch. 7
14. “It was funny if you looked at it right quick, but it got pitiful if you thought about it a while.” In a desperate attempt to save his power, he shows people they are weaker and he has control over his wife still. Page 78 Ch. 7
15. “…’bout to kill me, Pheoby. Sorrow dogged by sorrow is in mah heart.” Janie is very hurt by the way Joe is treating her. Also is this a foreshadowing “dogged”? Sorrow seems to follow sorrow in her life also. Page 83 Ch. 8
16. “Rumor, that wingless bird, had shadowed over the town.” Rumors fly around all over, yet they have no wings. Also it somehow manages to shadow the town even without wings. It must be a very strong bird. Page 84 Ch. 8
17. “She saw no reason to rush at changing things around.” After Joe dies, the freedom she has she loves and does not want to change it immediately. Page 89 Ch. 9
18. “She almost apologized to the tenants the first time she collected the rents.” Janie is not as much of a business person as Joe was and feels bad taking money from the poor for their rent. Page 92 Ch. 9
19. “…he said with a sly grin as if they had a good joke together. She was in favor of the story that was making him laugh before she had even heard it.” Janie may have finally found her true love. Page 94 Ch. 10
20. “That is he struggled, but not hard enough to wrench a lady’s fingers.” Tea Cake cares enough to think for Janie’s fingers and he is sly enough not to struggle enough for her to let go. Page 96 Ch. 10
21. “Everybody was surprised at Janie playing checkers but they liked it.” People were surprised a woman was playing but found it was pleasant when they gave them a try. Page 101 Ch. 11
22. “In her heart she wanted to get his breakfast for him. But she stayed in bed long after he was gone.” Even after Tea Cake leaves, the thought of him holds her still in thought. She also did not have to wait on Tea Cake the way she waited on Joe. Page 107 Ch. 11
23. “It was after the picnic that the town began to notice things and got mad.” Even though the town had been after her before, since someone else got Janie they became jealous and sort of threw a temper tantrum. Page 110 Ch. 12
24. “…to pause at a porch or two-going straight by walking crooked.” Pheoby walked straight to Janie in her mind but made it look like it was on the way. Page 112 Ch. 12
Their Eyes - Symbolism
In Zora Neale Hurston's book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, symbolism played a big role in the development of the story. Several things came into the story that foreshadowed, represented, or underlined key events and had double meanings. Below is a compiled list of some of these symbols, as well as their meanings and a picture at the end.
QUOTE/SYMBOL | INTERPRETATION |
Trees/Roots | Equals People’s Lives |
Pear Tree | Blossoming Womanhood Desire for Love |
Mules | Equals Black Women At That Time (They did all the work) |
The gate and road | The shore=gate Waves= road (The ships in gender argue) |
Brought back mule | Logan wants Janie to help Tired of spoiling her |
New Horizon | Janie is constantly looking over gatepost to road to new horizon |
Store in town Also like light post | Center actually became a town |
Joe + Janie house | Seems to represent authority like the authority of a plantation owner While townspeople live in shacks |
Spitting vase | Shows power |
Guitar | Playful side of people |
Lamppost of Eatonville | Growing of town and power hunger from Joe Starks |
Overalls | Working side |
Janie’s hair being hung down | Janie is free |
Packet of seeds | Call in her horizon at end Rebirth and remembering |
Color blue | Tea Cake + Janie’s proof of love |
Fishing and frying fish | Sharing relationship |
Janie’s head rag | Bondage in her marriage |
Checkers | Janie’s equality |
Mrs. Turner | Racism inside of a race |
Dirt in the Muck | The working class Rich + growth |
Hurricane | God’s almighty power |
Rabid dog | When good happens to Janie her life changes |
Working in store and kept from pulling the mule | Joe’s power over Janie and his tyranny |
Book Review - Their Eyes Were Watching God
When I began reading Zora Neale Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, I was a little confused by all the imagery and symbolism used right away. But after a while, it became easier to understand them and they much enriched the quality of the book. However, immediately after I became fluent with the literary imagery and symbolism, the dialogue popped up. It was even more confusing to read and took me very long to understand just what the people were saying. I never really adjusted to the language and it did not help that the book randomly juggled the racial dialogue and the smoother literary inserts. But I have to admit that the parts of the book that were not dialogue were very well written. It flowed easily and had great ways of communicating ideas to the reader. This part of the book was able to put stress on certain areas and draw little parallels between the plot and outside objects. Overall, it has been said that this book was/is the best of any black literary work. I would make the case that although it is a decent book, I honestly hope that it is not the best black literature has to offer. But then again I am white myself, and as such maybe I don't entirely grasp everything a colored person might. If I had to rate the book on a scale from 1 to 10, based entirerly on my personal opinion, I would have to give it a 7. It was an ok read but things seemed a little hard to comprehend at times.
My reaction towards Hurston herself is slightly different. When I heard we were reading one of her books, I at first was a little apprehensive. Her writing style is not to my personal liking, but this book was probably one of her better ones. She managed to surprise me with beautiful connections and illustrations, which I had not expected. To Zora Neale Hurston, I give a round of well deserved applause. It was still not one of my best reads, but it was better than I thought it would be.
Lastly, I will reat towards the character of Janie. Throughout the book, Janie is portrayed as an independant woman who thinks for herself and successfully weathers pain and loss. She is an excellent thinker, yet not as good as an activist. Yes, she did run away from Logan, but after that she allowed Joe Starks to constantly run her down. It seems Janie set herself up to be hurt and was always a little removed for the entire book up until she met Tea Cake. After that, she lived the way she felt, no bones about it. I don't see how Janie could muster so much faith and love after everything she had been through, but it is good to see. She was a great character and realistic too. On a scale of 1 to 10 based off of the idea of good story characters, I am forced to give her a 9.
My reaction towards Hurston herself is slightly different. When I heard we were reading one of her books, I at first was a little apprehensive. Her writing style is not to my personal liking, but this book was probably one of her better ones. She managed to surprise me with beautiful connections and illustrations, which I had not expected. To Zora Neale Hurston, I give a round of well deserved applause. It was still not one of my best reads, but it was better than I thought it would be.
Lastly, I will reat towards the character of Janie. Throughout the book, Janie is portrayed as an independant woman who thinks for herself and successfully weathers pain and loss. She is an excellent thinker, yet not as good as an activist. Yes, she did run away from Logan, but after that she allowed Joe Starks to constantly run her down. It seems Janie set herself up to be hurt and was always a little removed for the entire book up until she met Tea Cake. After that, she lived the way she felt, no bones about it. I don't see how Janie could muster so much faith and love after everything she had been through, but it is good to see. She was a great character and realistic too. On a scale of 1 to 10 based off of the idea of good story characters, I am forced to give her a 9.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)