Blog Post #16

The first lines of the poem already made me have a connection to Gatsby.
"We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men"
The words hollow and stuffed make me think fake. In class we had a discussion about how the people attending gatsby's parties are fake, or are faking having a fun time. They are simply there for their public image.
Again from the poem,
"Remember us-if at all- not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men."
People want to be remembered. Even if it is fake. Again, like the party people in Gatsby.

"This is the dead land
This is the cactus land."
Of course after reading this my mind connected to the valley of ashes. A dark depressing piece of land. 

"The eyes are not here
There are no eyes here
In this valley of dying stars
In this hollow valley
This broken jar of our lost kingdoms."
The talk of eyes of course spark the eyes of Dr. T.J Ekleberg. 

"The broken jar of our lost kingdoms", Gatsby's failure to get Daisy. 

Blog Post #22

• Russian trader is begging to take Kurtz away.
• Talk of how this Russian trader took care of Kurtz occurs.
• Russian tells Marlow that Kurtz is ill
• marlow encounters severed heads! EW!
• the heads are all facing the same way
• Except 1
• The pilgrims emerge with Kurtz on a stretcher
• Natives come running after with piercing cries!
• Dont worry Kurtz fixed it with his smooth talk.
• Kurtz mistress makes an apperance
• Dang Kurtz tells Marlow he woulda shot his mistress, thats cold.

Blog Post #21

After viewing the clip from Apocalypse Now, right off the bat I could see similarities to Heart of Darkness. Of course the boat with the small group upon it, and arriving to the island where explosions are occurring. Looking past the obvious similarities you can see the racial inequalities occurring. Of course in this clip with the Vietnam War interpretation, it is not Africans being lessened, it is the Vietnamese. The Colonel is tossing playing cards on them like they are nothing, similar to Conrad's descriptions of the blacks, savages and animal like. Colonel Kilgore definable relates to Colonel Kurtz. Marlow in both the novela and clip both want the chance to speak with the Colonel, and never get it. This clip did help me better understand Heart of Darkness. Of course visuals always help with my understanding, but also how it was fast paced, alot was going on and I could see it all in one big picture. In the novela it is much slower with deep description, harder to picture and understand.

Blog Post #18: Reference Blog

I am referencing Donald Bailey's post.

Donny starts off by saying that Gatsby secretly knew he couldn't repeat the past. I feel like this is an interesting idea. I see where Donny is getting this. Maybe Gatsby is in denial. He knows that Daisy is gone, the old Daisy, the old Gastby is too. He just really loves her, and knows he won't be happy without her. So yes this is an interesting point, and I see where he is coming from. However it contrasts with my blog ideas. I believed that Gatsby was so confident in getting Daisy back. He devotes his life to her.

Donny also believes that Gatsby is misusing his past. I agree. He has so much confidence, everything he does in his life is to get Daisy. But people change, he loves the old Daisy. His past expirences with her is what's fueling his drive to be with her. Not who she really is as a person currently. Donny believes that Gatsby is hopeless. However, I believed differently. Donny uses his funeral as evidence to show how only three people attended his funeral, how Gatsby really lost everything trying to get to Daisy. I see these as a failure yes, but I don't see this showing how his journey was hopeless. Daisy and Gatsby were just an Egg away. there is always hope, I mean it happened before.

Blog Post #15

Gatsby's Encounter W/ Nick

First off these passages show that Gatsby really truly loves Daisy. He wants to prove to people wrong, he wants to win Daisy's heart. I wouldn't necessarily say that Gatsby is misusing the past. His past with Daisy obviously was something very special. It's his motive, he cannot simply forget about it, or even lie to himself. What happen in the past with Daisy, is what Gatsby wants for the rest of his life. A person cannot be confused about strong feelings like those. However, maybe just maybe he is misusing his past. Daisy is with another man, people do change, and Gatsby fell in love with Daisy when he was at war. Years and years later he mourns for that Daisy. But that Daisy, is not the same Daisy today. I would not say that Gatsby's quest is hopeless. He loves Daisy with his whole heart, his whole life is devoted to making her fall in love with him. There is hope, Daisy and Gatsby have been with each other before; Gatsby is just fighting to feel that again. So, can a person repeat the past? I don't know. Part of me says yes, you have been there before you know what you need to do, and what need to happen to relive it. But, part of me says no. The past is in the past, everything changes and you cannot relive the same moment in your life. So I mean following my previous thoughts, I restate my opinion; to you cannot repeat the past. Similar things can occur, but never the same thing.

Blog Post #12

Great Gatsby Chapter 3

• Five crates of oranges and lemons, 5?!
• now there is an orchestra
• prodigality?
• most of his guests are not invited... 
• hey! Jordan is on scene ;)
• "with Jordan's slender golden arm resting on mine" hmmm totally likes her
• Where's gatsby?
• Owl eye spectacles, fancy :)
• whats so cool about real books mysterious man?
• Gatsby's parties seem really fun actually
• Hey he meets gatsby, haha and he didn't even know
• What makes Jordan think Gatsby is a liar?
• Nick seems to be just observing the party not really engaging in anything?
• "Old sport"
• shoot whats happening
• Car accident :(
• This guy is real drunk
• Shift
• Learning a little more about Nick
• 
  

Blog Post #20 HOD Part 1

• The biggest and greatest town on Earth? Where?
• The lawyer, and the accountant were not given names, must not be very important.
• diaphanous, wow big word.
• Where are they going?
• Why is it this group of people?
• Who is the narrator?
• dang, wow this is super descriptive
• oh, the narrator is on the ship.
• "one of the dark places of the earth" ooooooooooo
• Marlow is a sailor, cool
• childhood fantasies of "blank spaces"
• oh snap, someone was killed by the natives
• specifically mentioned the adjective black multiple times
• Hello Kurtz  
• oh no um a house is on fire
• marlow is chatting with a brick master

Blog Post #11

When you first read them, it seems like Araby and Dark Rosaleen are both poems about girls that the subjects have strong feelings for. Of course you find out that Dark Rosaleen is actually about the subject’s war-torn homeland, but he writes to her with the same love as a man for a woman. This allows for several connections between the poem and the story.

For example, in Araby, the girl the subject loves is sad because she can’t go to the bazaar on Saturday. “She could not go, she said, because there would be a retreat that week in her convent.” p. 17. She is disappointed to miss out on the bazaar. The subject is excited for the chance to try to make her feel better, and promises to bring her something from the bazaar as a gift. It is important to him to make her happy.

In Dark Rosaleen, Mangan also describes the country as sad and without hope and shows how much to subject wants to help ease the pain. “O my dark Rosaleen, Do not sigh, do not weep!” He goes on to describe how the subject has traveled across the land to try to ease the pain. “Over hills, and thro’ dales, Have I roam’d for your sake; All yesterday I sail’d with sails On river and on lake.” Both the story and the poem describe a person who wants to do something to ease the pain of the one he loves.

Another connection is how the authors show the beauty of the girl and the country. The boy in Araby describes the beauty of the girl he loves - he can’t take his eyes off her! “The light from the lamp opposite our door caught the white curve of her neck, lit up her hair that rested there and, falling, lit up the hand upon the railing.” p. 17. In Dark Rosaleen, Mangan also describes the beauty of the country by comparing it to a woman’s hand. “Your holy delicate white hands Shall girdle me with steel.” Both authors describe the woman’

Another connection between the story and poem is that they both end with disappointment and sadness. In Araby, the boy finally gets to the bazaar, but is too late to find the right gift to take the girl. He leaves empty-handed and full of regret. “Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger.” p. 19. In Dark Rosaleen, Mangan describes the pain and regret of war with “Oh, the Erne shall run red. With redundance of blood,The earth shall rock beneath our tread, And flames wrap hill and wood.”

Blog Post #24 Final Reflection

Dang, wow. First semester of my senior year is over in 5 school days. 5. That's so crazy to me. But what's even crazier is to think of how much I've grown this semester. Now, this blog is strictly for AP Lit, ill stay on the topic of growth in this class. At the beginning of the school year I didn't know what to expect. Quite honestly I didn't understand the difference between AP Lang and AP Lit so I really believed that this class was just going to be like last year, maybe a little more in depth, but I didn't think we were going to learn anything new. But the first week in I could tell that it is a whole different atmosphere from Lang & Comp.

I feel like I have grown a lot in this class. Let me rephrase that, I know I have grown a lot in this class. This class is the only class this year where I feel like the work in class isn't busy work. We do a lot of the same things, however they all have a purpose, and I really really appreciate that as an AP student. I think that right there is an example of how I have grown, I have grown to know what's important for my learning and for my success. Another area where I think I have improved immensely is my comprehensive skills. When looking at I text I can understand the meaning of it a lot better than I could before. That's very, if not the most important thing to do as a reader.

My favorite piece of work we have read this year was actually toward the beginning of the year. It was a sample college essay by Chi Zhang- "Simple Sentences". I absolutely loved this piece of work. He literally explained his whole life in one page. I was never bored and I was left wanted to meet this guy Chi. I even said to myself I was gonna take one of his lines for my senior quote, "I know where Waldo is. Always." After reading this I was for sure inspired to write a piece that kept my readers entertained like this did for me.

Overall, I have grown as an "ape", and with the help from Mr. Allen, I am successfully preparing myself for this AP test on May the 4th (be with you). So, three power claps on three for a good semester..
1,2,3
*Clap, clap, clap* :)

Blog Post #8 :)

Blog Post #23 Poetry Response #4

Lily Sale

 The Red Wheelbarrow ​William Carlos Williams 

At first glance of this poem, I see simplicity. Uncapitalized words, and four, two lined stanzas. When reading the simplicity carried over as well. The whole poem in a nutshell, with a very basic understanding is a useful red wheelbarrow, that has been rained on, is sitting by some white chickens. So yes, maybe this was William's intentions, but I highly doubt it. After reading this poem multiple times, personally I think that Williams is wanting his audience to see the importance of simple things. His first line leads me to think that is his message. “so much depends upon”. This tone set at the beginning is strong, even passionate? It's odd to use the word passionate when talking about a wheelbarrow. The tone then shifts to a transparent feel. The next three stanzas are kind of extra detail provide the audience with what is important, the red wheelbarrow; its state, glazed with rain water; and its position, next to the white chickens. The rain and chicken detail in my opinion take away from the wheelbarrow, kinda puts it in the background, camouflages it. Because when you read about the rain and the white chickens you think about and picture rain and white chickens not the wheelbarrow. Maybe, these were Wiliams intentions, to show you how easy it is to forget about something so purposeful. Something so simple can get lost and unappreciated in its setting. So yes, a red wheelbarrow is glazed with rain water and is next to some white chickens, but we cannot forget that so much depends on this wheelbarrow, of course if we are on a farm. It's a very useful tool.

Blog Post #19: Reflection Blog

Gatsby Socratic Seminar:

In all honesty, Socratic seminars and CCCRs, and such just really make me nervous. So overall reflecting on my performance of the Gatsby Seminar, I think I made some good points; however no where close to where I want to be in Socratic Seminars. I really have good things to say, but I just freeze, I feel weird hopping in, I feel weird starting conversations, I just feel weird. A point I really wanted to talk about that people only briefly touched on was Fitzgerald's use of colors. The whole novel I pictured these colors, I associated them with each character, I just found them really symbolic. Daisy in particular. She is represented with white, to display luxury or innocence. Gatsby is represented with gold. I find it super creative of Fitzgerald because a Daisy on the outside is white, on the inside is gold. Maybe Daisy's heart really wanted Gatsby. Anyway, when thinking about my seminar I need to take initiative and get out of my comfort zone, I know I have good things to say, I just don't say them. I really want to improve in my participation, as well as my shyness. I need to come out of my shell a little more and share my ideas and thoughts with the class. I think my best option is to start off the seminar, make the opening remark. Once I get it going, I think Ill be more comfortable for sure!

Blog Post #17 Poetry Response

Lily Sale

The Coming Of Wisdom With Time by William Butler Yeats

First, I always make a point to look at the structure of the poem. At first glance I see uncapitalized sentence to start, and only four lines. I believe that poets do everything in their work with purpose. The purpose of this uncapitalized sentence to start can be answered by the title of the poem. As he matures, he becomes more wise, “The Coming Of Wisdom With Time”.  Maybe this wisdom is shown by transitioning from uncapitalized to capitalized. The overall meaning of the poem to me is growing up as an individual, becoming wise. Yeats focuses and truth telling, that's what he believes growing up is; telling the truth, stopping the lies. His first line, “through leaves are many, the root is one;” to me, I believe Yeats is talking about all the different points of views people can have. If something were to travel through leaves, it could hit others and switch direction, but traveling through a root is easy. There is only one way. The leaves represent lies, and the root represents truth. He then goes on to say, “Through all the lying days of my youth I swayed my leaves and flowers in the sun;”, interpreting this I believe Yeats is trying to create this image in our heads of a carefree child. Lying didn't affect him, he swayed in the sun. But now, with time, “Now I may wither into the truth” you can’t hide from lies, or you will slowly wither. I believe Yeats is writing this from experience. Of course the use of “I” shows that, but he seems to be passionate enough to create a poem to share a story, or in this case a lesson. Now that he has grown up, he knows he must change his ways. He relies this lesson onto his audience, maybe to open the eyes of the old, or to teach the young early.

Blog Post #14: Meme :)

#ihatedaisy

Blog Post #13 Poetry Response

Enjoy my poetry response on To Myself by: W.S Merwin :)

Blog Post #10: Reflection

A little side story to begin this reflection: I remember around the first week of school Mr. Allen had a whole little speech before he passed back in class essay numero uno. He said that the class was very diverse in scores. Lots fell into the 5,6 range. Couple fell into the 3,4 range, and he said only one person received a 7. When he said only one person recieved a 7 everyone starting turning heads and such, of course my head turned to Jade and Shelbi's side of the room. But when he passed my essay back, there it was, a 7. And wow to be honest, I was not expecting that. My tummy felt some butterflies and I stood up a little straighter than before. 

So, when the rounds of I.C.E #2 were being passed out, I was eager. And when I saw my paper in front of me the first thing I said was, "dangit." I wanted so badly to improve and my paper had a 6 at the top. Of course along with Mr. Allen's famous smiley faces, we all love those! 

Comparing in class essay 1, to in class essay 2, I see a major change in my analysis. The depth in analysis is the difference. In ice 2, I merely scratch the surface, compared to 1 where I went very in depth. I feel as if the depth of my analysis was based off of my understanding. I understood Things Fall Apart, far better than I understood The Dead. Something I definitely think I improved on, was my organization. In my first essay, I provided two paragraphs of evidence, and finished with a paragraph on theme. In my second essay I included analysis of theme after each piece of evidence, which I feel is a better approach.

Blog Post #9 Reference

• http://malliemouse.blogspot.com/

I referenced my good friend Mallie Bruce for this weeks peer reference post. Im sure she will be honored :) I am referencing her college essay. Knowing Mallie, I knew she would write about her passion, cross-country. However, even if I didn't know Mallie I would still understand that this is a race, I applaud her for that. After reading this post, I felt empowered; hopefully that was Mallie's intentions! The grit of a race was clearly shown throughout this essay, and even more so the power to get through tough times was made apparent. I find this very important. Of course explain to your audience the rough patch, but highlight on how you get through them, this is what Mallie did. 

As an essay as a whole, it is metaphorical. Metaphorical essays are the types of essays I enjoy the most. I find them the easiest to relate to, and to understand. As a reader I related to Mallie's ideas, I know the hardships of an athlete, and the pressures of leading a team. Mallie went further and compared these emotions to life. And because of that I felt empowered as I mentioned before.

Props to Mallie Bruce. Great essay. If I read this as a college accept-er lady person; oh, you'd be in my college in a heart beat!

Extra Credit Post: A Devil Inside

Okay, first off I wanna go and say that i'm not quite sure what this blog post is supposed to be about because schoology is down, which is very unfortunate; but here goes nothing. This past weekend I attended Pomona Catwalk Theatre Company's "A Devil Inside" and quite honestly it blew my mind. It was one of those plays where you like sit up on the stage and they actors preform like two feet in front of you, gah its awesome. The first part, or is it called act? Not sure, but the part before intermission was kind of just a set up or a foreshadow. You could tell by the end of the first part that all the characters had to fit together somehow because in the begining it seemed like three different stories were occurring. The audience was somewhat thrown in blind and didn't know how any of the characters were related. In all honesty for most of the first act I was confused, but ya know I think I was supposed to be. The second act is where it all came together, or all fell apart in context. The second act made my confusion in the first act disapear which is why I was so compelled during the second half, all my questions were answers and more things unfolded as we went along. It was just thing after thing after thing, he's her brother, but this guy was in love with the professor, oh but so was she, but no she was married to him, and no he hit him with a car, she killed his dad, three of the people have less then 2 feet, OH MY GOSH IT IS JUST CRAZY! SO CRAZY! And yes I know that that last sentence makes no sense to you if you didnt see this play but thats just stratching the surface my friend, I mean this play was crazy! But crazy in a good way. All of the actors preformed stellar. You can really tell that they love to be on stage, and that they just really love what they do. Mad respect for all theatre kids. And a special shoutout to Erin and Briaunna, both in my 6th hour you guys did so great! So really all im saying is that you never know anything until the end, trust no one, and uh keep both of your feet in tact? Awesome play! I reccomend seeing any play here at Pomona, those kids work hard! You won't be disapointed!

Blog Post 6: A Little Cloud by James Joyce

In this post I am going to try and interpret the title of this story. "A Little Cloud". First off I believe that the part of the title come directly from the text. The word little was used a repeated amount of times. His name, "Little Chandler", "..idea of being a little man" "a little house" etc. So in my opinion in the title "little" comes directly from Little Chandler, or even the fact that he is little compared to his old friend Gallaher. Now, the real interpretation kicks in with the cloud. And I believe Gallaher is the cloud. In the story, Joyce explains Little Chandler as a man who is content with his life, he has a wife, a house, a kid, well mannered etc. Little Chandler, however is very excited for his meeting with Gallaher because he is big on the London Press. At the bar the fellas share some whiskey and cigars and Gallaher proceeds to tell Little Chandler somewhat to loosen up, maybe travel the world, and have some bachelorettes.  Little Chandler seems inspired by his words because Gallaher is big and successful. When the meeting is over Little Chandler goes home and notices a picture of his wife. His wife is not like the exotic women Gallaher described and Little Chandler begins to question his marriage. Little Chandler hears his son crying and try's to calm the child, however the child doesn't stop. Little Chadler then becomes very angry because too many things are running through his mind because Gallaher has provoked it along with a screaming child. His wife thankfully arrives home and snatches the child before things could have gotten worse. She scolds little Chandler and Little Chandler feels remorse. So, I think Gallaher was the cause of that meltdown, he was a cloud that covered the sun in Little Chandlers life. However the meltdown was small and he feels guilty, so this cloud will pass and the sun will once again shine on Little Chandlers content life. 

Blog Post 5 Araby

Previously, In room 547 Mr Allen's class proceeded to engage in a close reading of Araby by James Joyce. The students flipped to page 15 and were asked to highlight words that reminded them of light and words that reminded them of dark. In my personal book by "light words" were gazed, free, lamps, garden, glowed, ect. My "dark words" were blind, detached, brown, dusk, sombre, cold, muddy, etc. All these words fell in paragraph one and three of Araby. There wasn't necessarily a pattern within them just that both light and dark words were intertwined within. I feel as if James Joyce did this with a purpose. And his purpose was somewhat a foreshadow of the overall short story. Throughout the story we find the narrator being positive or happy, and other times we find him disappointed or angry all with Mangan's sister in mind. He appears happy when she talks to him about the bizzare, but before the boy had many fears that he could never gain the courage to express his feelings to Mangan's sister. So even here we see a dark to light contrast within the boy. So overall the imagery of light illuminates (hah get it) the theme of "life has ups and downs." Light in the story represents positive things in his life, so I guess "life" is represent in this story as Mangan's sister. The dark things refer to fear and anger in his life. The boy in the end at the bizzare is so so angry, and James Joyce ends the story with the boy standing in darkness. This darkness is a low point in the boy's life. 

Week 3: Free Post

Previously in Mr. Allens room 547, we were asked to read, The Role of Interdepence in Strategic Collaboration and asked to ingage in discussion. Myself, being so shy did not ingage in discussion. I actually found this article quite interesting, well for being a business article. One part that particularly stands out to me is when Preston talks about Darwinism. A quote from Charles Darwin, "A plant on the edge of a desert is said to struggle for life against the drought, though more properly it should be said to be dependent on the moisture. " Preston takes this quote and applies it to businesses and says, "How many executives and companies are deploying their resources to fight the drought when they should be looking for ways to attract the moisture.". I loved this because it made me compare it to everyday life, all the energy many people use to bring others down to make themselves look good can be used positively to just bring themselves up. It's kind of the opposite of "defense wins games", stop wasting time defending yourself from others, use that time and energy to bring yourself above. Attract moisture don't just fight the drought. 

Blog Post 4

Lily Sale

Those Winter Sundays By: Robert Hayden

Before reading this poem, its structure stands out to me. The pattern of lines in each stanza 5,4,3, and 2. The stanzas with less lines create more impact because there space is somewhat limited compared to earlier ones and the purpose has to become clear in less words. The further down into poem you reach the more you get to know the author. As it seems in this poem he is writing to reminisce about his childhood. Hayden explains his father as a hardworking man, getting up before the sun, with cracked hands from the weeks’ labor. His father awakes before him and starts a fire to warm the house before he awakes.  All of these "chores" his father does seems to be for the benefit of his son. The turning point in the poem is when the author states, "speaking indifferently to him the one who had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes as well." This serves as a turning point because before it talks about the father and what he does for his son, at this point it displays the son's' reaction to it: indifference. All of the things his father does for him he speaks to him like he doesn't care. Hayden ends with two questions, "What did I know, what did I know of love's austere and lonely offices?" These questions were obviously to reflect on his actions toward his father. By using "what did I know?" it offers that he is blaming his youth for his indifferent actions toward his father. This poem is definitely to recall his past, however I do not think he really regrets acting the way he did. He simply said "well what did I know?" not really "apologizing" just somewhat brushing it off. This poem attempts to be regretful and reminiscent, however I only think he is reminiscing, his attitude towards his father stays the same. 

Week 2: A Rose For Emily

We were asked to "highlight beautiful language and or imagery" the wise words of Mr. Allen room 547. In a Rose for Emily I highlighted a sentence that I could clearly see in my head and feel with the prove of some goosebumps. "As they recrossed the lawn, a window that had been dark was lighted and Miss Emily sat in it, the light behind her, and her upright torso motionless as that of an idol. They crept quietly across the lawn and into the shadow of the locusts that lined the street." This I see clearly. I see this clearly because growing up I would drive down my street and when it was dark the third house down had a room. The red room I'd call it. This guy would put on his hood, and stare out the window with a red light in the background. My mom would always make sure to drive extra slow by his house just to scare me even more. The same creepy feeling is get everytime I drove by the red room I got when I read this sentence from A Rose For Emily. 

Things Fall Apart vs. Modern American Culture

Achebe’s words applies to Things Fall Apart just as how he puts it,"he places too much emphasis on strength and manliness". Okonkwo's strength and bravery overpowered his thoughts. Okonkwo pays the ultimate price of death. This also applies to modern American history because often times I hear "think before you speak" or "think before you act". Okonkwo did not follow this rule, he followed the typical stereotype of "brawn over brain", which I think many modern Americans do as well.