Character Study (III)

Today is the day. As I head to the airport, I can't even fathom all the emotions going through my head. I am excited, but nervous, and today is the beginning of a long adventure that will end up feeling like it went by much too fast.
We are all at the airport, all five of us, and our body guards have been instructed to meet us here. Our parents were only going to let us go on this trip if we had watchful eyes, so we paid for three certified body guards to keep us safe as well as enjoy our last trip as seniors with us. Once I spot them, I am slightly taken aback by their stature: Two of the three were dark-skinned. One had a messy looking beard, hardly groomed, and walked with a confidence that only a rich man could achieve. The other looked somewhat lost as he strolled beside his companions. The last one was fair-skinned, and much smaller by comparison. He didn't even look like a body guard.
As they approached, I couldn't help but wonder what my friends were thinking of all of this. Weren't they scared of the one with the beard? Were they confused as to why the small one was even a body guard, or was it just me? We all shook hands, not really paying much attention to each other because we were late for our flight. I picked up my carry-on like everyone else, and darted onto the plane. Italy, here we come.

Character Study (II)

As a final good-bye to our fleeting year as high school seniors, we have all decided to go on a senior trip to Italy. We are all going to be heading in different directions soon, and it's scary to think how everyone who has been in my classes since our freshman year, some even junior high., won't be beside me as we figure out who we will end up being in the world. We will be making new friends, creating new habits, and soon the whole high school experience will be just a fading memory. As I pack, I only have memories flying through my head of years passed, it's scary to think this journey will be the last before college.

Character Study (I)

She resisted filling her many suitcases with her clothes and belongings, knowing that once she left, she wouldn't be coming back for a while. She said heartfelt good-byes filled with tears to all the children who at one point all argued and fought with her. Of course she was glad to be leaving this stupid place, but at the same time, she didn't want things to change. Everything was going to be so different. No more close friends to talk to that she knew since kindergarten, and no more family members to help her or comfort her when she was lost. She was heading out of her comfort zone, and she wasn't sure if it was going to end up well or not. As much as she wanted to leave, she couldn't help but miss this stupid place already. She got into the car and drove until she hit her destination. There in front of her was the most difficult journey she would ever set on, and she couldn't wait to tackle it.

I honestly don't know what I just wrote let alone if I did it right.

Canterbury Tales (I)

I don't understand the way that Chaucer writes his poems, they are hard to understand for me. Either I'm just stupid, or he writes confusingly. And what was the point of him writing about all of these random people? Was there a purpose or was he just writing to write? I don't really have any questions on this subject.
I think I would want to read the nun's story the most, because a lot of people these days are materialistic, and most of them aren't even aware of it.

Netvibes

I don't like adding these "organizational" things to my computer. It's just one more thing for me to have to worry about. I feel organized enough as it is. Just saying my opinion, but I signed up anyways because I have to, and it's pretty confusing and I don't think I would ever use it, because I never even go on the computer unless I have to do this type of homework and blogging.

Vocabulary #6

obsequious:  Obedient.

My dog is obsequious and is a very good listener. Jk I don't have a dog.

Beatitude: supreme blessedness or happiness

I have beatitude when my friends talk to me.

bête noire: something that is particularly disliked

This rerun of vocabulary words is my bête noire right now. I could be taking a shower.

bode: to predict or foretell

I bode that tomorrow will be another awkward day that starts out freezing and ends up blazing hot.

dank: unpleasantly damp and chilly

Don't let yourself be clubbed by dank submission. 

ecumenical: universal

I wish that English was completely ecumenical so that I could translate with everyone.

fervid: intensely passionate

I am only fervid towards tennis.

fetid: having a stale nauseating smell, as of decay

My brother's feet are usually fetid. But he can't help it; he is naturally smelly.

 gargantuan: sometimes capital huge; enormous

This vocabulary list is gargantuan, and I hate it.

heyday: the time of most power, popularity; prime

The 80's is a heyday for many Americans.

 incubus: something that oppresses, worries, or disturbs greatly.

My mind is an incubus of emotions and ideas.

infrastructure: the basic structure of an organization, system.

My house has an infrastructure for doing laundry that no one has followed in the whole history of ever.

inveigle: often fall by into or an infinitive to lead (someone into a situation) or persuade (to do something) by cleverness or trickery

I am good at inveigling my friends into giving me food.

 kudos: functioning as singular acclaim, glory, or prestige

I give kudos to the man who marries Honey Boo-boo. 
Yeah idk.

 lagniappe: something given or obtained as a gratuity or bonus, small trinket

The coach gave a player a lagniappe for all the hard work that was done during the season.

 prolix: boring,

This assignment is prolix.

 protégé: a person who is protected and aided by the patronage of another person

The princess was a protege in the story.

 prototype: one of the first units manufactured of a product, which is tested so that the design can be changed if necessary before the product is manufactured commercially

Scientists makes prototypes before the final products.

sycophant: a person who uses flattery to win favor from individuals wielding influence; toady

There is always at least one sycophant who buys their way to getting a good grade.

 tautology: the use of words that merely repeat elements of the meaning already conveyed

The essay topic required to use tautology in order to relate to the passage given.

 truckle: to yield weakly; give in

The little kids truckled and came into the house after smelling the sweet smell of their mother's pie.

Accolade: any award, honor, or laudatory notice.

I got an accolade last week for Athlete of the Week.

Acerbity: sourness, with roughness or astringency of taste.

My sister always makes lemonade with too much acerbity.

 

Attrition: a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength.

We had to make an attrition to the people invited to the party because we did not order enough food and drinks for everyone.

Bromide: a person who is platitudinous and boring.

My sister is a bromide in public.

 

Chauvinist: a person who is aggressively and blindly patriotic, especially one devoted to military glory.

My grandpa was chauvinist who served in the Japanese war.

Chronic: constant; habitual; inveterate

It is chronic to restring my racquets.

 

Expound: to set forth or state in detail

We had to expound our explanation because he didn't understand.

 

Factionalism: of a faction or factions.

The class was big on factionalism and communicating and collaborating with others.

 

Immaculate: free from fault or flaw; free from errors

She wanted to immaculate herself after all of the drama that she went through.

 

Imprecation: the act of imprecating; cursing.

My friend once got in trouble with our tennis coach because of her imprecation at practice. It was funny.

 

Ineluctable: incapable of being evaded; inescapable

Sometimes I get this sad feeling that is ineluctable but I don't know where it comes from.

 

Mercurial: animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.

The way she acted was mercurial and everyone around her would always laugh.

 

Palliate: to relieve or lessen without curing; mitigate; alleviate.

I want my stomach ache to palliate.

 

Protocol: the customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, precedence, and etiquette.

The protocol in my house is that you need to do your homework before you watch TV. Just kidding.

 

Resplendent: shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid

The lady that did my makeup this weekend made me look resplendent.

 

Stigmatize: to set some mark of disgrace or infamy upon

After betraying the team, the man was stigmatized in several ways.

 

Sub Rosa: confidentially; secretly; privately.

My dad thinks his conversations with my mom about me are sub rosa, but I can hear him easily.

 

Vainglory: excessive elation or pride

She had so much vainglory in her tennis skills that when I defeated her she was in awe.

Vestige: a mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is nolonger present or in existence

The new flower pot was a vestige of the old flower pot we had kept for over ten years.

 

Volition: the act of willing, choosing, or resolving

We had the will to volition all of our problems in our group of friends.

What a Character

I have read so many books, I have to take some time for recollection before I even begin to describe who my most memorable fictional character was. And as cliche as it may be to many teenagers, I'm going to have to go with Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It may not be the most advanced book in my disposal, but it was the book that I could relate to most during the time I was reading it. Charlie made such an impression on me right from the beginning, and as I read on, the connection only got stronger. He is so confused, so lost in himself and the world around him that all he knows how to do is write about how he feels. Now, if you have read the book, I am not by any means saying that I am mentally ill, or depressed, nor do I smoke or have nearly the same amount of troubles he has, but his character means something to me. He is so calm about everything yet has a mind of tangled scribbles, and that's how I feel I am. The only way to organize my head full of thoughts is to untangle them in writing. In the book itself, there is a lot of imagery, and connections made with the main character and his inner conflicts. It helps the reader understand what Charlie is going through, and the book itself gets one to think deeply about their life. I know I did.

Declaration of Learning Independence

My SMART goal for this year is to be accepted into California Lutheran University on many scholarships, and play on their college women's tennis team in the fall of 2014. I have never wanted something so strongly in my entire life. And it's extremely attainable for me, considering I have already visited the coaches many times, the school more than that, and talked with my admissions councilor about what I need to do to be accepted. I can do this.

Vocabulary #5

1. obsequious: (adj.) characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning. Obedient.

She is only obsequious when she needs something.

 

2. Beatitude: (noun) supreme blessedness or happiness

The girl had an aura of pure beatitude that no one could dislike.

3. bête noire: (noun) something that is particularly disliked

Although it is a part of life all Americans experience, I will always see homework on weekends and vacations a bête noire.

4. bode: (verb) to be an omen of, predict or foretell

The fortune teller boded what will be the destiny of the young married couple.

5. dank: (adj.) unpleasantly damp and chilly

Don't let yourself be clubbed by dank submission.

6. ecumenical: (adj.) universal

English is an ecumenical language because wherever you go, most people will know or understand English.

7. fervid: (adj.) intensely passionate

He was fervid when it came to football and put more effort and time than most people could ever do.

8. fetid: (adj.) having a stale nauseating smell, as of decay

The trash can smelled badly of a fetid air every time it was opened.

9. gargantuan: (adj.) sometimes capital huge; enormous

The artwork was a gargantuan piece taking up almost one whole room in the museum.

10. heyday: (noun) the time of most power, popularity, vigor, etc; prime

The 80's is a heyday for many Americans.

11. incubus: (noun) something that oppresses, worries, or disturbs greatly, esp a nightmare or obsession

My dream was an incubus because it felt so real and I knew for a fact that it could happen in real life.

12. infrastructure: (noun) the basic structure of an organization, system, etc

It is important for each club at school to have a infrastructure so that it is easier to process everything and easier to plan everything for the whole group.

13. inveigle: (verb) often fall by into or an infinitive to lead (someone into a situation) or persuade (to do something) by cleverness or trickery

The thief was such a master at inveigling that no one, at first, would suspect him to take anything until its too late and gone.

14. kudos: (noun) functioning as singular acclaim, glory, or prestige

We all gave kudos to the students who posted all the definitions of the vocabulary words.

15. lagniappe: (noun) something given or obtained as a gratuity or bonus, small trinket

The coach gave a player a lagniappe for all the hard work that was done during the season.

16. prolix: (adj.) so long as to be boring; verbose

The class was honestly prolix to a point where at least six students had fallen asleep.

17. protégé: (noun) a person who is protected and aided by the patronage of another person

The princess was a protege in the story.

18. prototype: (noun) one of the first units manufactured of a product, which is tested so that the design can be changed if necessary before the product is manufactured commercially

I wonder what the prototype of an iPhone looked like since it is so high tech and full of wonderous ways of using it all over the world.

19. sycophant: (noun) a person who uses flattery to win favor from individuals wielding influence; toady

There is always at least one sycophant who buys their way to getting a good grade.

 

20. tautology: (noun) the use of words that merely repeat elements of the meaning already conveyed

The essay topic required to use tautology in order to relate to the passage given.

21. truckle: (verb) to yield weakly; give in

The little kids truckled and came into the house after smelling the sweet smell of their mother's pie.

All of the Above

This test to me was actually a little difficult, maybe I'm rusty on test-taking? Then again, I never have been good at test taking, anyways. But some words were hard for me to understand, and I really needed to look into what each question was before I answered it. I hate tests!!!!! I feel like I get so worn out reading each question, trying to look into each and every answer. And then the essays make me feel like I don't know what I'm talking about towards the end; almost like I trail off into an oblivion that is a short answer. I'm sorry, I've never been fond of these practice tests, to be honest. Not my forte.

Literature Analysis #1

Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy

1. The story is filled with many emotions and twists and turns. In the beginning, it begins Stevin Oblonsky and his wife Dolly are to be separated because Stevin sleeps with his children's French governess. Then Stevin's sister Anna Karenina comes to fix the relationship, and ends up falling in love with Dolly's sister Kitty's boyfriend, Vronsky.

Kitty turned down another man, Levin because she chose Vronsky, but she gets sick because Vronsky fell for Anna as well. Anna eventually tells her husband, Karenin, that she is having an affair with Vrosnky, because she wants a divorce. Anna is pregnant, but Vronsky doesn't know what to do about. Karenin refuses her request ti divorce, so Anna leaves to be with the man that she loves. 

Kitty finds her way back to Levin, her previous suitor, and the two marry. Together they have a son, whom Levin is clueless as to why he doesn't love him unwillingly.

Back with Anna and Vronsky, they get into fights, which Anna more often than not starts. Anna seems depressed, but is unsure why. She goes to meet Vronsky at the train station after his errand, but ends up throwing herself in front of a train and dies tragically. 

Kitty and Levin are with Dolly when a storm hits, and they take cover. Soon Levin realizes that Kitty and their son are still in the storm, and when he finds them, Levin finally feels immense love for his son.

2. I think one theme that runs throughout the story that most people don't recognize is the radical change of social acceptance through the years. Before Anna Karenina's time period, most people found it absolutely unacceptable to ever perform adultery. They would shun anyone who tried to get away with it. In this story, it happened more often than it should in this time period. Today, many people do it, and it is a shame because it is not considered as remorseful as it used to. Too many people do it today, and it should always be wrong, whether more people do it or not. Just because everyone else does it, doesn't make it okay.

3. The tone of the story is somewhat indifferent. Tolstoy is still quite sympathetic for the characters, but not as supportive as most authors are, making it obvious who they are rooting for.

"Dolly's agitation affected Karenin. He got up and obediently followed her to the schoolroom." It's difficult to show how Tolstoy is indifferent, but here, he shows that even though a tense subject is being discussed (Anna's affair) he remains indifferent and does not show sides.

"Karenin smiled contemptuously. He had long known all that, but it could not be applied to his case." Here, Karenin is being confronted by Dolly, and all that Tolstoy says is how Karenin feels, not himself.

"All happy families are like one another; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." This is the very first sentence from the entire novel, and it is one of the only sentences that takes a greater look on everyone in the world and connects to everything in the story in its own way. Tolstoy creates a greater perspective with this point, and it is the only opinion from the novel that I noticed.

4. Symbolism: Trains were used throughout the story and were used often. The most tragic use was when Anna Karenina was killed when she jumped in front of one, copying the death of a railway worker's death in the beginning of the story. (pg 760)
Imagery: The most emotion I have felt is when Anna's death is described. "And the candle, by the light of which she had been reading the book filled with anxieties, deceits, grief, and evil, flared up with a brighter light than before, lit up for her all that had hitherto been shrouded in darkness, flickered, began to grow dim, and went out forever." This whole entire paragraph (this being the last sentence) couldn't  get me to stop reading, it tugged at my heart strings. (pg 760)
Foreshadowing: Anna Karenina's death was a big twist in the story, and it was paralleled in the beginning of the story when a railroad worker was accidentally killed by a train. Anna believes that the death of the worker is an "evil omen", which was right. (pg 760)
Personification: "To the left carts were already rumbling over the bare meadow and the haycocks disappeared one after another..." (pg 282)
Aphorism: "All happy families are like one another; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." (pg 17)
Characterization: "He was wearing a short coat. His hands and bony figure seemed bigger than ever. His hair was getting sparse. The same walrus mustache drooped over his lips, the same eyes looked at the newcomer strangely and naively. (pg 100)
Foil: Anna Karenina's foil is Dolly because Dolly is the person who was betrayed as a spouse, just as Anna's husband was. (pg 17)
Diction: Tolstoy uses his diction to add as much description to the story as possible. He really tries to bring the story to life so it is easier to picture. Example- "He did not enter from the front steps in the street, but went through the yard." (pg 196)
Motif: One motif in the story is adultery, constantly used throughout the novel. Dolly is betrayed by her husband and governess, and Karenin is by Anna and Vronsky. (pg 17)
Tragedy: The worst and final tragedy to me, in the novel, is Anna's death. The death of the main protagonist makes the reader realize that the story has come to its final pages, and that the main point of the novel is fleeting from the book as you read on. (pg 760)

Vocabulary #4

Accolade: any award, honor, or laudatory notice.

I received an accolade for playing on the varsity tennis team for four years.

Acerbity: sourness, with roughness or astringency of taste.

My lemonade had extreme acerbity.

 

Attrition: a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength.

We had to make an attrition to the people invited to the party because we did not order enough food and drinks for everyone.

Bromide: a person who is platitudinous and boring.

My dad is a bromide when he is around people he does not know.

 

Chauvinist: a person who is aggressively and blindly patriotic, especially one devoted to military glory.

My friends grandfather was chauvinist and had many artifacts in his house that reminded him of the military and all of their glory.

Chronic: constant; habitual; inveterate

It is chronic in my English and government class to respond to a journal topic in the beginning of the period.

 

Expound: to set forth or state in detail

We had to expound the truth because she did not see herself that she was doing the wrong thing.

 

Factionalism: of a faction or factions.

The class was big on factionalism and communicating and collaborating with others.

 

Immaculate: free from fault or flaw; free from errors

She wanted to immaculate herself after all of the drama that she went through.

 

Imprecation: the act of imprecating; cursing.

We were forbidden from imprecation since we were near all of the little children.

 

Ineluctable: incapable of being evaded; inescapable

The big castle in the middle of the island was ineluctable.

 

Mercurial: animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.

The way she acted was mercurial and everyone around her would always laugh.

 

Palliate: to relieve or lessen without curing; mitigate; alleviate.

The aspirin palliated my headache.

 

Protocol: the customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, precedence, and etiquette.

The protocol is that you must wash your hands before you eat.

 

Resplendent: shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid

The meteor shower was absolutely resplendent.

 

Stigmatize: to set some mark of disgrace or infamy upon

After betraying the team, the man was stigmatized in several ways.

 

Sub Rosa: confidentially; secretly; privately.

The subject we had discussed was sub rosa and no one could know.

 

Vainglory: excessive elation or pride

Beowulf was overflowing with vainglory throughout his whole quest.

 

Vestige: a mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is nolonger present or in existence

The new flower pot was a vestige of the old flower pot we had kept for over ten years.

 

Volition: the act of willing, choosing, or resolving

We had the will to volition all of our problems before taking the calculus test.

Beowulf Essay

To be a hero is a big responsibility, whether it be in the past, or in our modern world. Beowulf is the hero of the ages, otherwise known as the original hero that set an example for all heroes to follow. As compared to a modern day hero, such as Spider-Man, Beowulf holds all characteristics, only in different ways.

Beowulf as compared to Spider-Man, you could see many differences when you analyze their stories. Spider-Man is a man who was bitten by a spider, and turned into a normal person with superhuman abilities. Beowulf, on the other hand, is a cocky hero who decided to be a hero on his own, not with special powers. Both have enemies, and that is where the whole idea of a "hero" comes into play. Spider-Man has his major enemy, the Green Goblin, just as Beowulf has Grendel. If these characters didn't have their antagonists, their heroism wouldn't exist. Spider-Man and Beowulf are externally similar, but internally, completely different. Spider-Man fights his enemy to save the people he loves, just as Beowulf has done. These things that they have in common make them heroes, in retrospect.

As an old-time hero, Beowulf doesn't have superhuman abilities. He has his strength, his courage, and his ego to work with against his enemies. Spider-Man has the powers of a spider built into his body in order to help him save people and fight his enemies. Beowulf's enemy, Grendel, helps create the whole plot, as does Spider-Man's nemesis Green Goblin. Both are incredible symbols for hope. In Beowulf's story, he is abandoned and he is the only one left to crush the dragon. Spider-Man deals with many internal conflicts as a character as well, such as deciding whether to become a hero or to keep his cover down. He is a symbol of hope when he finally decides to become the hero that he really is.

Spider-Man and Beowulf may come from different ages, but a hero is always a hero. Their symbols of hope and courage shine through as we witness the forms of heroes changing throughout the years. As one hero morphs into a superhero, the background of how they came to be will always be the same. Heroes are built upon pedestals of courage, and previously overcome challenges.