Final First Semester Reflection

Throughout this semester, we have learned a lot. From the hero's cycle, to satire, to William Golding's Lord of the Flies. We first went over Cambell's Hero Cycle, we did the hero's journey movie posters. That was a very fun project, working in groups with that was a lot of fun. Next, we went over Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal. That was a very interesting article. Very informational though. After that, we read William Golding's Lord of the Flies. There are no words to describe how much I loved that book. It diffidently made me look at the world in a different perspective. This whole semester has been a very good one for Adv. World Lit and Comp. I cant wait for what is to come for second semester.

  

Lord of the Flies Reflection- Blog Post #13

        Throughout the book Lord of the Flies, the boys are constantly afraid of a imaginary being that they call the beast. A "littlun" was the first to talk about it, to which Ralph brushed off as a nightmare. But when Sam n' Eric said they saw the beast on top of the mountain, all hell broke loose. The boys went and hunted it. Ralph, Roger, and Jack were the ones to see the broken body laying on top of that mountain. They ran down the mountain in terror. Once they reach the beach, the tribe splits, and most go to join the savage Jack. Since Jack was a hunter before hand, he still wishes to be now. He is a physical leader now, one of blood thirsty little boys. For their first kill, they leave an offering to the beast, the pig's head on a stick. Simon, in his hidden fort within the woods, sees the whole kill in front of him. Simon ends up back in his fort, talking to the Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies is in the appearance of the Pig's head. Simon faints and his face when he interacts with the ground leaving him with a bloody nose. He stampers up the mountain, forgetting about the so called beast. When he sees it, he gets sick to his stomach and lets the sickness out. The beast is only a dead broken man. He runs down the mountain to tell the other boys who attack and kill him for thinking hes the beast. Only Ralph, Piggy, and Sam n'Eric realize what they have done. When Simon's body was sent off to sea, the "beast" was lifted up by his parachute and was also sent off to sea. Now, in Ralph's tribe, there are only a few littluns and Ralph, Piggy, and Sam n'Eric. Ralph, Piggy, and Sam n' Eric were ambushed by Jack and his tribe for Piggy's glasses so they have a way to cook their raw pig. Piggy decides that he wishes to go confront Jack about his glasses, he would have let Jack use them if he asked. When they boys get to Castle Rock, Jack's tribe is ready to attack. Roger tries to hit Piggy with rocks while he talks to the tribe, eventually, Roger hits Piggy. Piggy is sent over a cliff and left dead with his brains spilling out. Jack takes this moment as a time to attack. Ralph gets away but Sam n'Eric are left with a choice, Join the tribe, or die. Ralph gets away with some injuries, but nothing fatal. He return to Castle Rock and tries to convince Sam n'Eric to join him again. Sam n'Eric inform that Jack wants to him him down. The next morning, The hunt begin and Ralph finds himself running for his life. Jack figures that the only way to get Ralph, is the set fire to the island and see him on the other side of the island. "they had smoked him out and set the island on fire." (Golding, 202). Ralph on the other hand, gets close enough and turn and runs into the fire. He reaches the beach and find a Naval officer and him and the rest of the boys go home.

Lord of the Flies: Journal #12

Ignorance is a trait a lot of boy poses in Lord of the Flies. Jack, on the other hand is the leader of the ignorant boys, even. The chief of the whole group, Ralph, is not ignorant nor wishes to be so. Jack symbolized man, how we are so ignorant. We wish not to listen to the most reasonable or just things. Its either our way or no way. Even though we may cave in due to pier pressure, it only makes the ignorance burn brighter and hotter inside. Jack finally makes peace with his ignorance and it turns into want. Again, this is a trait man posses. On the island, Jack is ignorant and once he gets his way with not helping and only hunting, his ignorant turns to want. Want that wishes to be fulfilled. Jack wants to catch a pig. He wants to kill one. Slit the throat of one and watch the blood seep out of the neck. Jack becomes blood thirsty for these animals. When Jack finally kills a pig, the meat is meant to feed everyone. Even though he refuses to feed Piggy After Simon gets Piggy his, Jack’s ignorance is starting to burn again so there is equality between ignorance and want. Piggy is eating pig. Pigs are very intelligent creatures. And via Piggy’s name, William Golding may have purposely written it in this manner to show that Piggy is also very intelligent. Even though pigs are very intelligent, they are not always taken as so. Ralph sees this, and always looks for his help in the coward of boys. This also turns towards Piggy, he isn’t looked at for his intelligence. No one notices it. Eventually, Jack strays the sheep away from the sheppard and go look for meat. Leaving Ralph searching for Piggy’s assistance.

Lord of the Flies Journal #11

Within the whole group of survivors, no one is hated more by Jack than Piggy. Piggy is a round, red faced boy with glasses who seems like a perfect subject to bully. Even though Piggy is very intelligent on what should be done to survive on the island, Jack still bullies him. Whenever Jack bullies Piggy, Piggy looks to Ralph the chief of the boys to see if he will put an end to it. But to avoid controversy, Ralph keeps quiet. Jack as already mad with Ralph for winning superiority over all the boys even though Jack was granted power over the choir boys. When Jack finally makes peace with it, he pushes Ralph to his limit. Jack and the choir boys become the hunters of the group, and they don't help out with making shelters or anything. Ralph only made three rules: Use the rocks rear the ocean for a lavatory, Keep the fire going and smoke showing as a signal, and to take all food up to the fire.

Horror Story in the making

General Wilson called Austin up first. His face gleaming, already in place for his victory. The next name General Wilson called sent the whole class in murmurs. "Nicole" I froze. "Your up!" Somehow my legs moved to the platform to where we would begin out fight. I glanced up to see Austin, planning his attack in his head. Austin was the star of the class. He had never been defeated. He was built like a warrior and had the aim of one. His arrows never missed their target. I, on the other hand, had never been in this fight class. I recently moved up in my rank, which means all my classes get moved up to the next level. When I stepped onto the platform, a smirk seemed to for on Austin's face, he knew he would win, sending me to the medical wing. I don't blame him, i'm not a skinny boney girl. I am about normal for a girl as Winchesters Academy, maybe not as muscular. "Begin!" 

     Austin went for his first arrow hiding within his quiver. He put the arrow in memorized position on is bow. His muscles bulged has he pulled the bow string back with the right amount of pressure.

Jonathan Swift and Satire: Modest Proposal Essay

          When people get an idea of their point of view, it isn't easy to switch their view point. They are stuck up only believe what they want to believe. To every idea, there are two sides. A satirists job is to show them how stupid their idea can be by using sarcasm, irony, wit, folly, and many more satire tools. Sides of satire can be deplorable and disturbing, but many people need to hear it. In 1729, Ireland was poor. England was a country know knew about this but didn't care. Ireland was a country whose people when around begging for money or scraps that could mean life or death for them. Women and children would walking up in down streets, knocking on doors, running to commoners walking in the streets, begging for money. Once these children are of age, they are either off to follow in their parents footsteps or they go to find a job to help support their family with the pennies he makes. Mothers, other hand, couldn't work because of the infants that she has at her feet. Many of the children of beggars, even though the mothers worked so hard, became thieves and pirates. They wish to make another life. One made with money and adventure, especially after a life of begging for the tiniest of profits. Every class has seen these children at the feet of their parents and have seen the unfairness of the poor. But still, they wish to do nothing. In the article "A Modest Proposal," by Jonathan Swift, written in 1729,  the idea of satire is first introduced. 

           When the wealthy see these poor children, they should have the urge to do something about it. Even giving them money, to which they would be greatly rewarded and still, many don't. Jonathan Swift explains that a child can be supported by the mother for a whole year via her breast milk. After that, she has an extra mouth to feed. Swift believed that these people should have help these families and given to charity to them. Women have children a lot, especially the women in the poor category. Fifty thousand woman experience a miscarriage or their children will die from an accident or disease within the first year. Since the poor have children a lot, which may not always be their plan, he strongly disagrees of abortion. Some of these children are the product of money making. A way for these women to make money is to go out in the middle of the night and sees what becomes of them. To aboard these young ones, it's injustice. "For we can neither employ them handicraft, or agriculture; we neither build houses nor cultivate land: They can very seldom pick up a likelihood by stealing, till they arrive at six years old..." (Swift 2). What Jonathan Swift means by this is, that they should hire the poor to build things since the rich don't want to get their hands dirty. For the years before the age of six, they could start to pick up thieving and piracy. "I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or girl before twelve years old is no salable commodity; even when they come to this age they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half-a-crown at most on the exchange..." (Swift 3). What Swift means by this is that you can't sell the poor children anything because the prices keep sky rocketing and they never have enough.
          "I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled...." (Swift 3). This is the first description of satire that is explained in this article. At this time in history, there were in Americans in New England and they were thought of as barbarians. Everyone in Europe thought of them as killers, eating their children, lived against God, ex patricians, and a lot more. Because there are very many poor children, Jonathan swift states that they should eat their children, which is another piece of satire. As said before, satire can be disturbing which is showed here. "...One male will be sufficient to serve four females..." (Swift 3). Here, he is stating that the males children at the age of one can feed more that one person. When the parents can't pay their rent, they can be payed with other things and eventually all that is left if the infant child who has been fattened up. This child could be worth up to ten shillings and can make up to four dishes of nutritive meat. "Those who are more thrifty may flay the carcass; the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for the ladies and summer boats for the fine gentlemen." (Swift 4). Yet again, this is all a tool of satire. Selling a child would get the family enough money for a whole year. Mothers who are married, would be kinder to their children. And the fathers wouldn't beat the mother for the fear of a miscarriage. With all that is happening to the poor Irish people, the British will not listen. They wish not to think of the disgust of the poor. An example of this the John Oliver Gun Control. He is trying to show America that we are stubborn and don't like to listen to facts when we have out view point. Both John Oliver and Jonathan Swift are serious about their logic towards the satire they are describing.
           Even though John Oliver is a very satirist, he puts humor to his words, and Johnathan Swift does not. Jonathan Swift shows the world what really is happening in his time. Since then, satire has evolved and become funny. Jonathan Swift brought people to understand his point of view, but still wished to nothing about it. England wouldn't let go of any of their factories or any supplies. Because of their stubbornness, the British would have to eat raw, old flesh. "I am not violently bent upon my opinion as to reject any offer proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual." (Swift 9). This, first of all, verbal irony. Saying that he will not reject any offer proposed to him, when found innocent. Still, this verbal irony is cheap and horrifying. There were hundreds of thousands starving people who were working for pennies. For these families, they wish for nothing to happen to their children. Ask the poor if they would like to be sold for money and then eaten. And this could only happen to the babies because the teenagers and too skinny to be sold and eaten. A child still below the age of 16 months can provide the families with enough money for a year if sold at a good price. "I have no children by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing." (Jonathan Swift 9). When this piece was written, he had already has his first and only child who was past the selling age, and his wife was past the age where she would birth another child for selling reasons. When he adds this selection in, he is stating that he can no longer sell his child for the prospects of money, but the rest of civilization may still have a chance to make some extra money.
         The target shown in this article is aiming towards the rich and the Politicians in Ireland, Britain, and himself. All in all, wishing to change their view. Jonathan Swift used both sarcasm and verbal irony in this article as his tools of satire. He devoted much of his writing to the struggle for Ireland against the English hegemony. The newest thing isn't always the better. Using this article as an example, the idea of eating heir poor children, is a new one. But, people in Britain and Ireland who are reading this piece, are horrified by such an idea. They do not believe it is a better idea. Just imagine Britain's sipping their tea in the morning, eat some sort of breakfast and reading "The Modest Proposal". This of their faces when they read their first piece of satire and wondering if they take it as satire. Seeing that someone would publish such an article in their daily paper, you can imagine that there was a lot of complaints. Even though this article is very disturbing, it left an imprint for all satirists today.

Satire

Satire is such a powerful tool used in everyday life, TV shows, commercials, movies, and so much more. There are numerous tools used to display satire. For example, Diversity Day from the television series, The Office, uses stereotypes. The target in this video clip is different ethnic groups. When Dwight asks Pam if his ethnic group is a woman, a huge satire is exposed. Dwight's ethnic group was Asian, and Pam said that from stereotypes, he may not be a good driver. It is a huge stereotype that women cannot drive very well, in the truth, most women can drive very well.

Another example would be the you-tube clip called "Facebook in Reality." The target is our society we have around today and the tool used is irony. When the man opens his front door to a man her doesn't remember, he reminds him. The man at the door claims to have been in his class a few years ago and wants to be his friend. When the clueless guy says yes, another older, chubbier man starts to spray paint on his house. When the owner asks what he is doing, the older guy responds with, "I'm writing on your wall." Our society has turned into something where if you barely know someone, you become friends with them on Facebook. Even if that means they sit next to you for a few days, you have an urge to friend request them.

Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin, Ireland on November 30, 1667. He was named after his father who had died before he arrived. Without a steady income, she handed him over to his uncle, Godwin Swift, who was an attorney. When Jonathan was living with Godwin, he was enrolled at Kilkenny Grammar School, the best school at the time in Ireland. At age 14, Swift received his undergraduate at Trinity College at Dublin. 1686, he received his bachelors and went to pursue a masters degree. Soon after, he loved to England and worked for London's Moor Parks as an assistant. While he was working there, he met the daughterof the Temple housekeeper, who was only eight. With a 15 year age gap, Swift acted as her tutor and mentor till she became of age. It is believed they married in 1716, and she stayed by his side till his death. Jonathan Swift died on October 19, 1745 in Dublin, Ireland. "[Of Jonathan Swift] An immense genius: an awful downfall and ruin. So great a man he seems to me, that thinking of him is like thinking of an empire falling." (William Makepeace Tackeray)

" A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart." (Jonathan Swift)

Bibliography:

• Jonathan Swift Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com
•  www.wordsonimages.com

Before The Dawn

Before The Dawn

The dark abyss of night was creeping upon as the brilliant sun shrunk and hid behind Lake Murray. For everyone in Chapin, South Carolina, it would be the same kind of summer night. The few saying goodnight to their parents and the sneak out to go to the Friday night parties over at Crystal Pines Bay. A few would get caught along the way for breaking curfew, while others were able to get there sneakily. Chapin is a small town in South Carolina with a population of 758 people. The cops were out at the beginning of the summer to catch the sneaky teenagers trying to break curfew, then they ceased to exist as the nights of summer grew on. Every family in Chapin seemed to be the same, mother, father, and their children. A few would be divorced but they still had their normal family. Michael's family was the only one what was different. Michael spent a lot of time in the county jail, waiting for his dad to be broken out of jail. Once out of jail, Steven would go back to The Barking Spider and drown out his feelings again with old Jack Daniels. At the age of 17, Steven met the love of his life, Marina. Two years later they married. For years they tried to have a child, and eventually they did, and named him Michael. After 20 years of marriage, Marina was diagnosed with leukemia. She died the following spring. 

Satire: Scary Movie

Scary Movie

Keenan Ivory Wayans, is the director of satire movie, Scary Movie. Scary Movie is an example of satire because of it's irony and sarcasm even though a deeper threat is posed. This movie series is based off numerous scary movies, and they twist them in a way to make then crude and funny. The first movie, is based on the movie Scream. In the beginning, a group of teenagers driving along a highway in the middle of the night, hit a man walking along the side of the road. In the real movie Scream, the man dies, but in Scary Movie, they stage it so it looks like he lives, but the kids do not know that. The man tries to yell at them over their bickering about what to do with the dead body, even though there isn't one, but the teenagers ignore him and he leaves. When they finish bickering, they turn to where they thought the dead man was lying, but he was gone. During the movie, the killer comes to kill Buffy Gilmore. At this time, when he comes, Buffy doesn't believe hes going to kill her. She is very sarcastic to everything the killer does, even though the killer is 100% serious. "Oh, is this the climax? Well, I hope you don't mind if I fake it!"(Buffy Gilmore, Scary Movie). Buffy's head, at this point, is no longer attached to her body. "Oh, look at me! I'm all dead!" (Buffy Gilmore).

In Scary Movie, the killer is perceived as a comedy. As he tries to kill the teenagers, funny things happen to him. Like in the video above, he is trying to kill Cindy, but is trying to hide from her, after her spotting him numerous times. Even though he is perceived as a comedic, there is still a deeper mean, death. While he is being funny, he is really trying to get revenge. As he is trying to kill them, he is trying to bring a burden upon them, death itself. After all, he is trying to make the teenagers believe that he is the one who the ran over and killed years ago. He succeeds in killing most of the friends, but not all of them. Cindy survives the massacre, and stars again in Scary Movie 2. The deepest meaning behind the satire, is the death the killer wants paid. The deaths are piling up and he feels like he is almost complete and that his revenge is finished.

Pocahontas and Mulan

Pocahontas

Pocahontas was the hero at the time in the new world, saving a white man's life and her whole tribe. Pocahontas realized her adventure when she has her dream of the spinning arrow. She is very confused with her dream and asks Grandmother Willow what it means, at this time, she sees John Smith. Since Pocahontas has never seen someone with lighter skin and blonde hair before, she runs, stating her refusal of the call. Once she stops being afraid, she shows John Smith the way of her people while he tries to show her the way of his. Pocahontas now falling in love with John Smith, is not very careful, which leads to him being captured and Kokoum dying. When John Smith is captured, Pocahontas is torn between saving John Smith or joining her tribe in a war she doesn't want to be apart of. When she finally decides to stop this whole mess and to save John, little did she know that she was making peace between the two sides. When Pocahontas saves John by putting her body over his, her father, the chief, sees that she loves him. The other Indians see that if there is something the chief's daughter sees in the pale face, then they can't all be horrible. The pale faces, at the bottom of the cliff see the chief back away from killing John and they realize that going to war with them is a horrible idea. When John is saved, and the war is put off, the pale faces head back to England leaving a few people behind to start a colony, leaving Pocahontas for the next adventure.

Mulan

Mulan is a young woman when the Huns invade ancient China. The Emperor has instructed that a male from every family is to go off and fight against the Huns. Mulan is the only child in her family and her father has already gone to war before and was injured because of it. She is not a normal everyday day girl, she is a disgrace because she isn't bride material. When the draft is sent out, Mulan takes her father place without him knowing. She ends up in a training camp, faking to be a man, with a small dragon called Mushu as her mentor, and hundreds of men. The whole time shes in this camp she is pressured by, Shang, the army camp captain, to be the best warrior she can be. When Shang thinks they are ready enough, they are called to battle. Once they get there, the Huns attack. Mulan and her fellow warriors defeat the Huns, which Mulan gets injured in. When Mulan is getting medical attention, she is discovered and left behind the rest of the military. In doing so, she sees the Huns come back and go to kill the Emperor. She runs to the Emperors palace as they are celebrating the end of the war. The Hun's leader Shan Yu, tries to kill the Emperor, and Mulan saves him. Mulan goes back to her home a hero, with the crest of the Emperor for her father. Once she gets back to her house, she expects her father to be ashamed with her. But, he is so happy and proud of his daughter.

Motherhood: The Heroic Deed

Natalie Witherell

Adv. World Lit

9/9/13

            The author of numerous books, including "The Hero with a Thousand Faces," Joseph Cambell, was interviewed about his idea of heroism. Cambell was explaining how a mother became a hero when she gives birth. "Motherhood has lost it's novelty, you might say." (Joseph Cambell). What Cambell means by this, motherhood is a common thing, and now it can be found anywhere. Teenagers get pregnant just to become a star on a television show. But, for the maidens that are married and are ready to become mothers, the heroic deed seems to have dimmed down. In most interpretations, the hero must undergo a change before they actually become a hero. There are two changes, both mentally and physically. Physically, the mothers body changes for 9 months. Mentally, they change from a maiden, to a mother in child birth. It's a wonderful image, a mother as a hero. But since motherhood can be found anywhere, the importance and heroic deeds seem to have dimmed down a whole lot. Motherhood is an entity that has become invisible to the everyday eye. 

A Hero's Story

A Hero's Story

When most people hear the word hero, they think of either a super hero in movies and comic books, someone fighting off in war, or a personal hero in their lives who have fought for what they believe in. The definition for the word hero is, a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. My hero is my friends mother, Meredith Lander Cobb. Meredith passed away with breast cancer in January. She fought for two years, then she was in remission for five years, until she broke her back. When she in the hospital for her back, they noticed that the cancer had spread to her bones. She fought for another year in a half. At the time, before I moved from Glenwood Springs, both her daughter, Meghan, and son, Jourdan, were my best friends. I was over at their house many times and I helped them cook, clean the house, and keep their youngest brother entertained. On the morning of January 26, Jourdan called me telling me his mother was in the hospital and he wanted me to be there with him. Within a few hours, the nurse asked Jourdan if he would like to see if mom, little did he know that she had passed away. I had never seen Jourdan cry before, and i’ve never seen someone cry so much. Meghan, at the time, was taking a friend down stairs because she had to leave. She came in asking her aunt how her mom was doing, and her mom said shes gone. Meghan fell to the floor crying with her friend comforting her. Jourdan, is 16, Meghan is 13, and Zack is 10. All three will grow up without a mom. But they will always be in their hearts. Meredith Lander Cobb was like a second mom to me. She treated me like I was her daughter. Meredith is my hero because she fought so hard for her family. She tried, and tried until all her strength was out and her family was fine again. Meredith is the hero that told me that if you love something fight for it until its within your grasp.

 

Living life to The Fullest

When I am asked what my favorite movie is, I don't think of a popular teenage movie. I think of a movie that taught me values of life, The Beauty and The Beast. I enjoy watching The Beauty and The Beast because even after everything the Beast does, Belle still tries to find the best in him. At first, Belle is upset by what the Beast has done, but once she realizes who he really is inside. She becomes his best friend, and she eventually falls in love with him. Even though its takes a while, she finds his purity kept hidden inside. She looks past his beastly figure to find his heart and listens to what it has to say. The Beauty and The Beast is one of my favorites because of the way she forgives someone who treated someone she loves so poorly and learns to love him.

Keep Calm, You know you really otter. Another thing I love is otters. Otters are a mammal that can either live in the sea or in rivers. These animals are meat eaters of small fish, crabs, and other small animals. Otters have a favorite rock that they keep in a pocket under their left arm. They are year around animals and have their young in spring. The mothers lick their young's fur to help them pups swim faster in the water. Sadly, Otters are o the endangered species list. The Marine Mammal Protection Act, passed in September 2001, have been able to expand on the no hunting zone along the west coast so the sea otters can swim freely. Otters are happy creatures and live their life to the fullest.

Within the past 3 months, I have moved from Glenwood Springs, Colorado to Louisville, Colorado. It is a great experience to move around to meet new people but I had no clue how many! The school I am at now, is twice the size, both student and building wise, of my old school. I did not know anyone until two day before school started, which was the Thespians Auditorium Clean Up day. When i walked in had no clue what i was about to experience. That day, I made over 10 amazing friends. These friends where the ones who walked me around the school the day before showing me where all my classes were. On Wednesday mornings, we all go out and eat breakfast together before school starts, after school we all hang out and do our homework together. My best experience has been able to find such great friends at an amazing school that has welcomed me kindheartedly.