Fall Vocab List #8

abeyance: The position of being without, or waiting for, an owner or claimant.
ex: The abeyance Hamlet was going through without his father was starting to take a toll on him.
ambivalent: Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
ex: Ophelia was very ambivalent as to how she was going to handle the animosity Laertes had towards Hamlet.
beleaguer: Beset with difficulties.
ex:  Ophelia was beleaguered as she discovered her brother and father weren't fond of Hamlet.
carte blanche: Complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best.
ex: I'm sure once Hamlet met the ghost of his father, he wished he was in a state of carte blanche.
cataclysm: A large-scale and violent event in the natural world.
ex: Had Hamlet told the world of the ghost of his dead father, there may have been a cataclysm.
debauch: Destroy or debase the moral purity of, corrupt.
ex: It seemed as if Laertes and his father were afraid that Hamlet would debauch Ophelia.
eclat: Demonstration of admiration and approbation; applause.
ex: When Ophelia became aware of how her family felt about Hamlet, her repsonse was less than elact.
fastidious: Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
ex: When Hamlet met the ghost of his father, he was very fastidious.
gambol: To run or jump about playfully.
ex: As Hamlet discovered his mother had moved on so quick to incestuous acts, he wasn't in the mood to gambol.
imbue: Inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality.
ex: When Hamlet met his fathers' ghost, he became inbued with many questions.
inchoate: Just begun, so not fully formed ot developed.
ex: Although Hamlet has made his feelings about his mothers' choices obvious, his feelings are still considered inchoate.
lampoon: Publicly criticized.
ex: With all the terrible things Hamlet's mtoher has done, I'm sure she'll get lampooned.
malleable: Able to be hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking.
ex: Hamlet's opinions about his mothers' choices haven't been malleable so far.
nemesis: The inescapable or implacable agent of someone's or something's downfall.
ex: The nemesis that Hamlet's every move has been, has been the marriage of his uncle and his mother.
opt: Make a choice from a wide range of possiblities.
ex: Throughout this entire play, Hamlet has been forced to opt about many different aspects of his life.
philistine: A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them.
ex: Based on her actions so far, I feel that Gertrude is a philistine person.
picaresque: Of or relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero.
ex: Based on Claudius' actions, it seems as if he is quite a picaresque character since there is a great chance he killed Hamlet's father.
queasy: Inducing a feeling of nausea.
ex: If my mother married my uncle, I'd be the quesiest person in the world.
refractory: Stubborn or unmanageable.
ex: Gertrude's actions have proved to be refractory.
savoir faire: The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.
ex: So far, Hamlet seems very savoir faire since he is good at articulating his feelings.

Reflection On My Midterm

a.  For me, the last three lists went well because I knew those definitions well.
b.  On the other hand, the first list didn't go very well at all because I wasn't as familiar with that list as I should have been.
c.  To be honest, not much of this content will stick with me unless I use the vocabulary on a daily basis.  If I don't use it I'll lose it~
d.  From this experience I learned to not be itimidated and freak out.  I should be confident in what I know and how well I know it.

Dear Ophelia

Dear Ophelia,

 

Well, it seems that you are stuck in quite a quagmire! I'm so sorry to hear about your unfortunate situation, there's no  mot juste to explain how you must feel at this time.  It's obvious to see that finding a common ground between these three men is quixotic, but I assure you, this dilemma is ecumenial!  You're not the only one to ever face this time of impasse  in your life.  To start off, let's not choose sides, because doing so may lead to a vendetta, and you may lose someone important to you in the end.  Express your thoughts and feelings to both parties in a style that is  non-effusive and non-fervid, because no one likes a drama queen!  After doing so, remember that you have beatitude, and that you shouldn't take it for granted.  You have three men that care about you, and you'd hate to lose any single one of them over a relationship that isn't guaranteed to reap benefits of any sort.  In conclusion, keep calm, be rational, because we don't want these issues to be chronic in your life. 

Vocabulary Strategy

I will be using my cornell notes I habe made for every vocabulary list so far. For those I just can't seem to understand, I will be making flashcards and writing sentences for.

Hamlet Resources

http://thehamletweblog.blogspot.com/. This is a blog that is dedicated to Shakespearian work that has a focus on Hamlet as well. There is a section dedicated to each aspect of Shakespearian work brought to us by different bloggers. Each person who participates in this blog has a passion for his work and creates their own projects with the inspiration they have acquired. http://robbiedempsey.wordpress.com/category/hamlet/. This is a blog completely dedicated to Hamlet. Each post has a relation to Hamlet whether it be a quote, scene, or literary element. This blog will help me in understanding Hamlet a lot more because there are slide shows and essay plans that help analyze this play and its themes. http://blog.passiontask.com/entry/reading-and-re-reading-hamlet/. This is a blog that contains notes on Hamlet from a particular blogger. He gives us an insight as to what he took from this play each time he read it. He mentions what he remembers vivdly, and what wasn't exactly necessay to know in order to follow this play.

Pre-Will questions

a. To be honest, I know very little abbout Hamlet, "The Melancholy Dane". I have heard that the movie, "The Lion King" was based off of Hamlet, and that is it. b. I know that Shakespeare had a dirty mind based on what I read in, "Romeo and Juliet". c. I believe that students involuntarily forwn when they hear the name, "Shakespeare" because his literary works are dificult to understand in some cases. The syntax as well as diction are foreign to my generation as well as many others, which could be why it doesn't spark our interest. d. To make this experience one we will never forget, we can read this play in modern text and play games such as jeopardy and charades to learn the concepts more effectively.

Characterization

1. An example of indirect characterization is the quote, “There is no God and we are his prophets.” I interpreted this quote as McCarthy indirectly stating that this character has lost all hope in life as well as in our creator. Another quote is, “If trouble comes when you least expect it then maybe the thing to do is to always expect it.” After reading this quote I feel as if this character has become bitter because he has learned to expect the worst out of life. I feel that the author used both of these approaches because he wanted to offer a variation of characterization to his audience. As a result of these approaches, I got to know the characters on an intimate level. I began to understand them on a religious and personal level. 2. Neither the syntax nor diction of the author changed when he focused on characters. I say this because no matter what the situation, McCarthy still didn't use proper punctuation. The quote in answer number four is an example of improper punctuation because McCarthy doesn't include quotation marks at all in this novel. 3. The little boy in this novel is a dynamic as well as a round character. Throughout the novel as well as soon after his fathers' death, the boy promised he would never leave his fathers' side. After much mourning and grief, the boy decided it was time to leave. The boy left his father with a new family that adopted him. 4. After reading this book I feel as if I met real people. The quotes, “What would you do if I died? If you died I would want to die too. So you could be with me? Yes. So I could be with you. Okay", show that the characters have genuine feelings that they choose to express. They love one another and don't show eachother by saying it, but by describing the things that they'd do for eachother.

Fall List #7

aberration: a person whose beliefs or behavior are unusual or unacceptable. ex: Living in a foreign country, my way of life was quite the aberration. ad hoc: formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose only. ex: People with obssessive cumpulsive disorder have an ad hoc way of living. bane: a cause of great distress or annoyance. ex: Small children are bane to me. bathos: triteness; flatness. ex: Those who are monotone tend to be described as having bathos qualities. cantankerous: bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative. ex: Individuals on the show "Intervention" tend to be cantakerous due due the influence of drugs. casuistry: the resolving of moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances. ex: Solving life problems can be done using casuistry views. de facto: in fact, whether by right or not. ex: De facto, Santa Maria's weather in unpredictable. depredation: an act of attacking or plundering. ex: Bullying is an example of depredtion. empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. ex: When two people share life experiences, they are empathetic towards one another. harbinger: a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another. ex: Guards are examples of harbingers. hedonism: the pursuit of pleasure. ex: Making a new start in life is hedonistic. lackluster: lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired. ex: One that has lackluster qualities may be lazy and ummotivated. malcontent: a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious. ex: Malcontent teenagers have bad behavior and defy their paretns' rules. mellifluous: sweet or musical; pleasant to hear. ex: Talented singers have mellifluous voices. nepotism: the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, esp. by giving them jobs. ex: Having "connections" in a work field that work to your favor is nepotistic. pander: gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or habit or a person with such a desire, etc.). ex: Addicts pander on their immoral addictions. peccadillo: a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin. ex: Some jokes are hurtful, and others are peccadillo. piece de resistance: collector's item: the outstanding item (the prize piece or main exhibit) in a collection. ex: The Emmy is a piece de resistance for many actors and actresses. remand: place (a defendant) on bail or in custody, esp. when a trial is adjourned. ex: The remand in court has his wife pay his bail. syndrome: a group of symptoms that consistently occur together or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms. ex: One can't be diagnosed with a syndrom without determining the symptoms first.

Literature Analysis #1 Notes

- this novel takes place in a post-apocolyptic world.- people have turned into cannibals. - his son is the only one this man has left because his wife passed. - the surroundings seem very gothic-like and depressing, they are described as "gray". - there is a great lack of proper punctuation, this is very interesting, however because I've never seen this type of syntax before. - the novel flows between Happy and sad. - the gun plays a major symbol in this novel. - so does selter. - the boy sees a baby roasting over a fire, which makes him stop talking and is traumatized. - the father does what he does to keep his son alive. - he considers killing his son to put him out of his potential misery. - he kept a single bullet for this purpose. - he used one bullet on some that may have been a cannibal.

Literature Analysis #1

1. The Road By Cormac McCarthy tells the adventures of a father and son struggling to survive everyday in a post-apocalyptic world. With scarce food, water, and sources of support, these main characters are forced to live like nomads. Everyday they find themselves somewhere new, hoping that wherever they go will be beneficial to them, whether it be in the form of shelter, food, or any sign of intelligent life. Along their journey they run into horrifying characters that prove themselves to be cannibals. They survive these traumatic experiences together and protect each other. Unfortunately, the father is afflicted with a fatal injury and eventually dies before his son's eyes. Although he knows no one will replace his father, the boy decides to leave his father in the woods and continue life with a new family. The narrative fulfills the authors' purpose through the relationship that the father and son share. So much of the novel surrounds their commitment to one another, and what they would do for each other in order to stay alive. Their relationship is tested in many ways, and they prove time and time again their loyalty. Had their relationship been any different, I feel it would change this novel entirely. 2. Based on my interpretation of the novel, I feel that an accurate theme is that situations may get worse before they get better. The man and his son went through tragic events before they seen happier days. They had to experience the loss of their mother and wife, food, home, as well as everything they knew before they experienced hope in life. The man and his son went hungry and cold for many days before they found shelter underground or the boat in the sea, both of which contained supplies critical for survival. Towards the end of the novel, the man passes away due to illness and injury and tells his son to leave him, but the boy refuses to leave for three days. The novel ends with the boy being accepted into a new family as well as a new world. 3. The tone that McCarthy creates is one that is hopeful and uplifting, despite the tragic situations that evolve. The following quote, “What would you do if I died? If you died I would want to die too. So you could be with me? Yes. So I could be with you. Okay", shows the love and care that this father and son share. It shows that when another day isn't guaranteed, these two find the blessings in having one another as they survive each day. The quote, "You wanted to know what the bad guys looked like. Now you know. It may happen again. My job is to take care of you. I was appointed to do that by God. I will kill anyone who touches you. Do you understand?", shows the dedication to eachother that these two express. When odds are against them, these two stick to their family morals and hold onto one another. Lastly, the quote, “You have my whole heart. You always did. You're the best guy. You always were", defines this tone the most to me. Even when their world as they knew it was absolutely destroyed, these characters learned to appreciate eachother. They didn't focus on what they didn't have, instead, they focused on what they did have. This was truly uplifting to me because it shows how fortunate I am, and that I should acknowledge my blessings. 4. Chiasmus is one of ten literary elements that helped me in understanding this novel. The quote, "You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget" (page ten) emphasizes the traumatic events that the characters have endured and how badly they'd like to forget, but can't seem to do so. “Borrowed time and borrowed world and borrowed eyes with which to sorrow it.” This quote is an example of repetition, putting stress on the fact that humanity is at its all time low, borrowing everything because they literally have nothing. Alliteration is used in the quote, "dark beyond darkness and the days" (page one) which allows the audience to see the depression in this novel and see what the characters are going through. The lack of proper punctuation in this novel, using words such as "wouldnt"( page fifty-six) without an apostrophe gives an example of syntax . Another element used in this novel was characterization. An example is on page one hundred and two, as the father describes his son with a, "Taught face and hollow eyes". This detail adds to the fact that these characters are literally suffering from the inside out as they struggle to survive each day. Following this quote, the author includes a metaphor describing his son as, "A strange beauty", proving that even even when his son is suffering, he sees the beautiful qualities within him. On page one hundred and fifteen, McCarthy presents the simile, "They staggered on like drunks", which paints the audience a picture as to how exhausted these characters are, and how their new life has effected them so drastically. Along with the rest of the elements, there is a gothic element presented in this novel. The quote is on page eight and it describes a city as "grayness" and "charcoal", both which set the mood early in the book. Symbolism is another element used in defining this novel. To the father, the gun he carried around represented safety, life, and most importantly, the well- being of his son. This gun meant the difference between life and death to this father, and he was positive its possession was a necessity. Lastly, an element used in this novel was imagery on page four. The quote, " Everything paling away into the murk", describes the surroundings of these two characters and the harsh reality of the place they used to call their home.

Fall List #6

1. Beatitude- Supreme blessedness ex: In many ways, children are beatitudes. 2. bete noire (anathema)- someone or something which is particularly disliked or avoided; an object of aversion, the bane of one’s existence. ex: Speeding tickets are bete noire to many teenage drivers. 3. Bode- Be an omen of a particular outcome; announce beforehand. ex: Events of good or bad usually have bodes of all sorts. 4. Dank- unpleasantly damp, musty, and typically cold. ex: Santa Maria in the winter time has proved itself to be dank. 5. Ecumenical- general; universal; Promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian churches. ex: Bibles are ecumenial in America. 7. Fervid- Intensely enthusiastic or passionate; heated or vehement in spirit or enthusiasm. ex: Sports junkies are fervid. 8. Fetid- Smelling extremely unpleasant or having an offensive odor. ex: The boys' locker room is fetid. 9. Gargantuan- gigantic; enormous; colossal: ex: New York City is one gargantuan city due to its large population. 10. Heyday- The period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, vigor, strength, or success; an exclamation of cheerfulness, surprise, wonder. ex: "The Glory Days" may also be known as "The Heydays". 11. Incubus- A male demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; a cause of distress or anxiety like a nightmare. ex: I have no clue why this is on our list, but if I came in contact with an incubus in this way, I'd sue him for rape. 12. Infrastructure- the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization. ex: A house's infrastructure is important in order to build the house properly. 13. Inveigle- to acquire, win, or obtain by beguiling talk or methods. ex: In many cases, men and women inveigle wit their bosses to gain advantage in their workforce. 14. Kudos- Praise and honor received for an achievement. ex: My family gives me kudos for getting great grades. 15. Lagniappe- Something given as a bonus or extra gift. ex: When I babysit infants, I feel like I should get a lagniappe. 16. Prolix- Using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy. ex: When resumes are prolix, people begin to lose interest. 17. Protégé- a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare. ex: Justin Beiber was Usher's protege. 18. Prototype- the original or model on which something is based or formed. ex: Matilda is the prototype of a young genius. 19. sycophant-A person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer. ex: Sycphants are kiss-asses. 20. tautology- A phrase or expression in which the same thing is said twice in different words. ex: No matter how you say it, "We need to talk", and "It's over", mean the same thing! 21. truckle- to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely; A small barrel-shaped cheese. ex: I love sushi so much it makes me truckle.

Reading Notes/ Reading Quiz pages 64-82

1. An epic is a long narrative that celebrates the adventures of legendary heroes. 2. The function of a hero in an epic is to be role model of their time. 3. Reading an epic four thousand years later helps us understand that society because we get a look into the diction of the individuals as well as their perspective on life. 4. Three epics are The Epic of Gilgamesh, Atrhasis, and Enume Elish, all written in the 10th to 20th century B.C. in Mesopatamia and the Chaldeans. 5. Uruk is the city of Gilgamesh and is an ancient Sumerian city. 6. The prologue of Gilgamesh suggests that he is a strong leader and one who cares for his people and doesn't care for his enemies. 7. Ishtar is is the Babylonian goddess of love. 8. Gilgamesh is 2/3 god and 1/3 man. This compares with Beowulf because Beowulf was part god as well. 9. Achaians are also called Greeks. 10. Zeus is the father of all gods. 11. Hektor is is the best trojan warrior. 12. Athene snatched the bronze spear and gave it back to Achilleus. This suggests that the gods must stick together and cheat whoever they need to in order to do so. 13. Hektor asks to "not let the dogs feed" on him, and Achilleus answered with calling him a dog. 14. Bede was a monk. He described the conquest of Britain by the Anglo-Saxon tribes after the departure of the Romans. 15. The purpose of the work was for King Alfred. Bede's version was available only in Latin. 16. Britain was formerly known as Albion. 17. The scarlet dye was extracted from edible shellfish with two heart-shaped shells which remained untainted by sunshine or rain. This suggests that that people of this era were just as tough and strong. 18. Ireland is broader than Britain, and its mild and healthy climate is superior. 19. The fact that the Vikings broke up was a big deal and affected a lot. They were greatly broken by the slaughter of cattle and men, which scarcely made the response "united" Not only that, the king's best lords in Anglo-Saxon society in the land had passed away. 20. Including this information adds the idea that each Anglo-Saxon is a brother to another and truly care. I notice that each American tragedy ends in death, but I suppose that has become a given.

Fall List #5

acumen: The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain. example: He is a busniess acumen. adjudicate: 1.Make a formal judgment or decision about a problem or disputed matter. example: Tthe committee adjudicates on all disputes. anachronism: A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, esp. a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned. example: An ipod in a "Different Strokes" episode would be an example of an anachronism. apocryphal: Of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true. example: Rumors prove themselves to be apocryphal. disparity:A great difference. example: There is a disparity between poverty and wealth. dissimulate: Conceal or disguise (one's thoughts, feelings, or character). example : He dissimulates his wealth beneath ragged pullovers. empirical: Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic. example: It was an empirical experiment that the Earth was round and not flat. flamboyant: Tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness. example: Neon colors are flamboyant. fulsome: 1.Complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree. example: They are almost embarrassingly fulsome in their appreciation. immolate:Kill or offer as a sacrifice, esp. by burning. example: It was common to immolate tribe members in indian tribes in order to reach a common goal. imperceptible:Impossible to perceive. example: Why that man killed his mother is imperceptible to me. lackey:A servant. example: Being lackey for others doesn't make you nice, it makes you a pushover. liaison:Communication or cooperation that facilitates a close working relationship between people or organizations. example: An alliance is an example of a liaison. monolithic:Formed of a single large block of stone. example: A boulder is an example of something monolithic. mot juste: The exact, appropriate word. example: A dictionary is a source to find the mos juste. nihilism: The rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless. example: People who are nihilist probably think that they have no purpose in life. patrician: An aristocrat or nobleman. example: There were many patricians in The Pride and Prejudice. propitiate: Win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them. example: Those who propitiate have to experience rejection first. sic: Set a dog or other animal on example: In order to sic something, you need an animal first, which can be very dangerous. sublimate: (esp. in psychoanalytic theory) Divert or modify (an instinctual impulse) into a culturally higher or socially more acceptable activity. example: Those who sublimate are looking for higher status.

Bepwulf Translation

Meanehwæl, baccat meaddehæle, monstær lurccen; Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht. Ðen Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl, Æsccen æwful jeork to steop outsyd. Þhud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! Ðe bigge gye Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe; Wicced Godsylla wæld on his asse. Monstær moppe fleor wyþ eallum men in hælle. Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bamaccen wæs; Hearen sond of ruccus sæd, "Hwæt ðe helle?" Graben sheold strang ond swich-blæd scharp Stond feorth to fyht ðe grimlic foe. "Me," Godsylla sæd, "mac ðe minsemete." Heoro cwyc geten heold wiþ fæmed half-nelson Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen Beowulf belly up to meaddehæle bar, Sæd, "Ne foe beaten mie færsom cung-fu." Eorderen cocca-cohla yce-coeld, ðe reol þyng. Translation: Giving credit to where credit is due, I got the translation from here: Apparently you should out words. On some words I was right but others I was way off so this site helped me to check my translation. Meanwhile, back at mead hall, monster lurkin', Full few too many drinks, he lookin' for fight. Then gobbilty, son of gobbilty gook, Askin' awful jerk to step outside. Thud! Bash! Crash! Boom! The big guy All of his bone break, bite his nose off; Wicked Godzilla wailed on his ass. Monster mopped floor with all them men in hall. Beowolf in backroom phonecall be makin' was; Heard sound of ruccus said, "What the hell?" Grabbin' shield strong and switch blade sharp Stand forth to fight the grim foe. "Me," Godzilla said, "make the mincemeat." Hero quick getttin' hold with famed half-nelson And flying him like frisbee back to fen Beowulf belly up to meadhall bar, Said, "No foe has beaten my fearsome kung-fu." Orderin' coca-cola ice cold, the real thing.

My Hero :)

My ultimate hero is my mother, hands down.  After experiencing a traumatic divorce in her home, my mother felt it was best to move out and take responsibility for herself.  She left home at the ripe age of seventeen, ready to make the best best of her life, reguardless of any challenge.  Successfully, she finished high school and went on to pursue higher levels of education.  Unfortunately, my father passed away when I was only a year old, leaving my mother to be a single parent with her two young children.  Reguardless of our situation, my mother never made my brother and I feel different than other children from two parent homes.  She showed us to never feel sorry for ourselves or to even make excuses.  Although my brother and I came from a single-parent household, we never went without or hurt for anything.  I'm proud of my mother and all she has achieved in her life.  After putting her children first for nearly twenty-three years now, I'm to happy to see her go back to school to complete her Master's program. You go mom! :)

Fall List #4

apostate- a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.

One who apostates a lot is indecisive.

effusive- pouring out; overflowing.

Her feelings were effusive as she was watching "The Notebook."

impasse- a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock.

After failing every class, a student may be impasse from summer school.

euphoria- a state of intense happiness and self- confidence.

Being at Disneyland brings me complete euphoria since it's "The happinest place on Earth."

lugubrious- excessively mournful.

After losing a loved one, the couple were lugubrious.

bravado- swaggering display of courage.

A hero must have bravado in order to fit the traditional "hero" requirements.

consensus- general agreement.

The consesus in 2008 was that Obama would be our president.

 

dichotomy- division into two parts, kinds.

 

The dichotomy of the class made it easier to control.

constrict- to draw or press in; cause to contract or shrink; compress.

 

When an anaconda eats, they constrict their meal in their stomachs.

gothic- charactierized by gloomy or mysterious settings.

 

Gothis tales can be depressing at times due to the gloomy settings and sad tone.

 

punctilio- a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or procedure.

 

Saying "I do" is a punctilio at weddings.

 

metamorphosis- a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation.

 

In order to become a butterfly, a caterpillar was go through a metamorphosis.

raconteur-a person skilled in telling stories.

 

A habitual liar may also be a raconteur after great practice.

sine qua non- an essential condition or requirement.

 

A high G.P.A. is sine qua non to getting accepted into an elite university.

quixotic- impractical.

 

For families of eight, the Smart Car is quixotic.

vendetta- any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, or contention.

 

Large fights often lead to vendettas that last a lifetime.

non sequitur- a statement containing an illogical conclusion.

 

Being illogical is just part of making non sequiturs.

mystique- an aura of mystery, or power.

 

Witches often have a mystique presence about them.

quagmire- anything soft or flabby.

 

Whales often appear quagmire due to their large bosy masses.

parlous- dangerous.

 

The men in Jackass often do parlous things.

Literarue Analysis # 1

For my first literature analysis, I have selected the book The Road by Cormac McCarthy.  I have selected this book because I have heard great things about it and based on the book summary, it seems interesting.

Laughing Heart

Fall Vocabulary List # 3

accolade: An expression of praise or admiration.
example: The audience gave an accolade to the stage performers.

acerbity: A sharp bitterness.
eample: The acerbity of the Great Depression effected people for the rest of their lives.

attrition: Wearing away
example: The attrition of the objects showed their age.

bromide: Trite saying; lacking originality or freshness.
example: The bromide-like quote was plagiarism. 

chauvinist: A person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.
example: The chauvinist American had the American flag tatooed on his back.

chronic:  Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
example: Her chronic illness nearly took her life.

expound: Explain the meaning of
example: I expunded the homework assgnment when my classmate didn't understand it.

factionalism: The splitting of a group into factions; Conflict between factions.
example: Such factionalism often prevents the ldp from effective action.

immaculate: Spottlessly clean.
example: After cleaning for hours, my room is immaculate.

imprecation: A spoken curse.
example: The imprecation was a legend in the scary town.

ineluctable: Unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable.
example: By not studying for tests, the "F" in the class was ineluctable.

mercurial:  Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes.
example: The weather in Santa Maria is mercurial.

palliate: Make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause.
example: The cancer went through therapy to palliate the cancer.

protocol: The established code of procedure or behavior in any group, organization, or situation.
example: The protocol was a secret.

resplendent: Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous.
example: The resplendent building caught everyone's attention.

stigmatize: Describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval.
example: The bed deed was greatly stigmatized.

sub rosa: Happening or done in secret.
example: The secret serviceman did everything under sub rosa.

vainglory: Inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements; excessive vanity.
example: The vainglory man soon ate crow.

vestige: A trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.
example: The detective was in charge of the vestige of the dinosaurs.

volition:  The faculty of power using one's will.
example: The volition of the king was ridiculous.

Essay #2

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is the face of the Great Depression.  This is a devastating novel about loss and struggle that occurred in our nation less than a century ago.  Many of our family members survived this terrible era in history, fortunately.  After reading this novel I felt nothing but appreciation for my family, health, and home.  These emotions in myself alone prove exactly what attitudes Steinbeck is trying to modify.  The author writes about the struggles of the past so we can appreciate our present and future.

One quotes that stood out to me the most was, "The fields were fruitful, and starving men moved on the roads."  This quote caught my attention because it sounds heartless and ridiculous.  There's fields of food for everyone, yet many starve because they can't afford to feed themselves.  This to me is devastating.  Reading this alone has made me so much more grateful for what I have ,which I feel was Steinbeck's point for writing this novel.  It taught his audience a life-long lesson using an important era in history.

In conclusion, along with teaching me about history, John Steinbeck taught me to appreciate my blessings.  Anything can happen at any moment and life may become difficult for me and my family .  Learning about how people survived the Great Depression showed me how the small stuff truly doesn't matter. 

Essay #1

Leisure can be defined as free time or even the use of freetime for enjoyment, both of which relate to the following poem by George Eliot.  In this poem, Eliot described her own definition of "leisure" to her audience, and how it felt to live in her generation when "Old Leisure" still existed.  It seemed as if Eliot was reminiscing on the glory days, as if that was the brightest day our world had ever seen.  George Eliot makes her point by comparing and contrasting certain elements of life then and now.

A comparison made by Eliot is between the "stout gentleman" of then, and the "ingenious philosopher" of now.  According to this poem, men back in her generation were contemplative, jolly, and innocent.  While on the other hand, the "ingenious philosopher" is prone to cursory and even idleness.  To make her point clear, the author uses vocabulary words of opposite end of the spectrum to define people of the past and present.  She glorifies her generation while thinking less of the present generation.

Another comparison made between these generations are the lifestyles that were lead.  To describe the lifestyles of her past, Eliot mentioned, "Sunday sermon", as if no one ever goes to church in this twenty-first century.  The author continues stating that the people of this generation are "squeamish" and think of life as a "task" instead of a gift.  As a result, this makes my generation seem ungrateful just because we may not praise the lord as much as we should.  All and all, I think the point that was made was that people today should be grateful and show their gratitude.

In conclusion, Eliot doesn't seem too fond of this generation.  She glorifies her past and does the exact opposite with the present.  She feels that "back in the good ol' days" was the way to live for her.  She proves this point through contrasting her idea of life then and now.

Beowulf Comprehension Questions

I have found the following answers from the internet or the text.
Prolgoue
1. Something unusual about the way Shield came to be ruler of the Danes was the fact that he was a "foundling".  He was abandoned by his parents as an infant and was found at sea.  This was unusual because at this time power usually came from family and history, not by being found at sea.  Shields' funeral was elaborate and meaningful.  His corpse was put into a boat with treasures and was set to sail into the sea.  It was as if his life ended as it began.  Hrothgar is a descendant of Shield.
Heorot is Attacked
1. Hrothgar took on the responsibility of making the Danes peaceful and prosperous.  Grendel, a demon decseded from cain, attacked the Danes and murdered thirty men.  These wretched attacks lasted for twelve years.  The Danes responded with making offerings at pagan to try and ruin Grendel, but their attempts remained unsuccessful. 
The Hero comes to Heorot
1.  When Beowulf hears of Hrogthar's problems with Grendel, he travels to the Danes to aid Hrogthar in defeating the demon.  He makes his voyage across the sea with fourteen of his warriors. 
2. When they first arrive in Denmark, the Geats first meet guard of the Danish coast.  He questions the soliders of their business in Denmark, and admits that Beowulf seems like an amaznig soldier.  Beowulf explains that he is the son of Ecgtheow and owes his loyalty to Hygelac, which was what brought him to Denmark.  The guard believes his story and says he will have someone watch his ship for him.
3.  Hrogthar's herald is Wulfgar, which is his messenger of news.  He tells them that Beowulf must tell him the reason what his bussiness is with Hrothgar.  Wulfgar, impressed with the overall, takes Beowulf’s message immediately to Hrothgar.  Hrothgar states that he does in fact remember Beowulf from when he was a young boy.  I'm not surprised that he knows Beowulf so well because he was friends with his father Ecgtheow and he has heard many stories of him.
4. When Beowulf enters, he offers Hrogthar to fight Grendel unarmed.  After Beowulf’s father killed Heatholaf, a member of the Wulfing tribe, Hrothgar sent sent treasure to the Wulfings witht he hopes of mending the feud. 
Feast at Heorot
1.  Unferth accuses Beowulf of vanity as well as losing a swimming match against Breca.  Beowulf then accuses Unferth of being drunk, and describes his own version of what really took place.  Beowulf makes a statement that neither Unferth nor Breca could have survived such an event, and continues to mock Unferth by pointing out his obvious weakness against Grendel.  This episode is relevant to the poem as a whole because is helps in proving the difference between proper and inporper boastfulness.
2. During the feasting, Queen Wealhtheow expresses her desire that Beowulf twill act as a friend to her children Hrethric and Hrothmund, and offer them protection and guidance when/if Hrothgar passes.
The Fight With Grendel
1. When preparing for battle with Grendel, Beowulf didn't ask for armor or weapons. 
2. When Grendel enters Heorot,  he tears the door from its hinges with his bare hands and immediately devours a Geatish warrior.  Beowulf fights Grendel with his armed grip and great strength and wrestles im down as he tries to escape. Bepwulf also summoned help of his fellow soldiers.  Grendel escapes to his swampy home to die, leaving his arm that Beowulf ripped out of his socket. 
Celebration at Heorot
1. Beowulf is like Sigemund because they both fought huge monsters.  He isn't like Heremod because he hasn't betrayed his own people. 
2. Hrogthar responds to Beowulf's deed by praising him and offering him lavish rewards.  The trophy arm, which seems to be made of “barbed steel,” has disproved Unferth’s claims of Beowulf’s weakness.  Which is very surprising to me as the audience. 
3. In general the story of Finn begins with the Danes losing a battle to Finn, the leader of the Frisians, which resulted in the death of the Danish leader Hnaef.  After their defeat, the Danes offer a truce to the Frisians and agree to live with individually but under common rule and fair treatment.  This story suggests that using a woman as a bride to heal enmity between tribes is normal and that womenaren't valued.
4. Wealhtheow ask Hrothgar not to tell anyone.
5. Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to take care of her children and treat them kindly.  Beowulf then gave the necklace to Hygd.
6. So many men remained in the beer hall to sleep because they were oblivious to the danger that lurked outside of the hall.  This was a mistake because Grendel's mother wanted revenge for her dead son and went on an attacking spree.
Another Attack
1. Grendel's mother went to Heorot to seek revenge for her dead son. 
2. Hrothgar summoned Beowulf to rid Heorot of another monster and made it his responsibility.  Grendel's mother killed Hrothgar's friend and counselor.
3. The mere is a lake, where Grendel's mother keeps her lair.  It's described as swampy and horrifying.
Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother
1. Beowulf tells Hrothgar to respond by  taking care of the Geats and to return his property to Hygelac if he should be killed.
2. Before Beowulf enters the mere, he and other soldiers discover Aeschere’s head lying on the ground.
3. Beowulf prepares himself for combat by covering himself with armor and and weapons. Unferth loans him the great and seasoned sword named Hrunting.
4. When Beowulf enters the mere, he is attcked by Grendel's mtoher.  I was surprised that the monsters lived at the bottom of the mere.
5. The sword from Unferth id unable to pierce Grendel's mothers' head. 
6. Beowulf escapes by hurting Grendel's mother.
7. Beowulf kills Grendel's mother by slitting her throat with the sword for giants.  After she has died, Beowulf decapatates her.  Beowulf takes her head and the sword to Hrothgar.  The sword he used to kill her was starting to melt.
8. When Beowulf returns to the surface, the Geats take off his armor and emrbrace him.  They didn't expect him to return. 
Further Celebration at Heorot
1.  Beowulf brought Grendel's mothers' head and the sword for giants to Hrothgar.
2. Hrothgar tells Beowulf that he has united the Geats and the Danes in ties of friendship and loyalty. He presents Beowulf with twelve treasures.  He also mentions that Beowulf is nothing like Heremod because Heremod was overthrown and killed by his people because he didn't protect them.  This teaches the lesson that no bad deed goes unpunished.
3. Beowulf bequeaths his sword to Unferth.
Beowulf Returns Home
1. hrothgar predicts a successful and bright future for Beowulf.
2. Hygd is Hygelac’s wife.  She isn't like Modthryth because she killed many innocent people while Hygd never did. 
3. Beowulf plans to do that because he predicts that the sight of the legendary possessions of each worn by the relative of the other will lead to memories of the deep and lengthy feud between the Danes and the Heathobards to surface, so that they won't be able to keep themselves from persuing to fight.  I feel that this is a new side of Beowulf because he doesn't seem manipulative.
4. No Beowulf wasn't accurate about his adventures.  He emphasized a lot.
5. Beowulf gives a lot his treasure to his king.  Hygelac gave him lots og treasure and land of his own to rule.
Beowulf  Dragon Wakes
1. Part to takes place nearly fifty years later.  In the meantime, Hygelac has died. New dangers that exist is who will take the throne sice Beowulf declined it and is taking care of Hygelac's son, and the dragon.
2. The dragon is angry because someone stole it's goblet.  The thief took the goblet because he was a slave on the run from a hard-handed master and probably just wanted to by food and clothes.  The treasure was put there by the last survivor of an ancient race because he didn't need it because he/she knew he/she was going to die.
3. That evening the dragon destroyed villages and homes in search of it;s treasures.
4. Beowulf thinks his home was burnt because he thinks it's a punishment from God for the things he has done. He orders a new shield to protect himself from the heap of punishments.  He will fight his battle without a large army.  I think he won't be successful in the attempt.
5. Hygelac dies in combat in Friesland.  after his death, Beowulf declined the throne and became guardian of the young prince.
6. Hygelac's son was raised by Beowulf. For revenge he wants to fight Grendel bare-handed. 
7. Beowulf only brings one companion.
8. Haethcyn accidently killed Herebeald.  Their father Hrethel died of the grief while Haethcyn is killed in battle. 
Beowulf Attacks the Dragon
1. Beowulf wishes his companions luck in the fight with the dragon.
2. The first time Beowulf tries to fight the dragon he notices he isn't as strong as it used to be as they wrestle.  Noticing the struggle his companions run in terror.  Wiglaf stays with Beowulf, reminding the other soldiers of their loyalty and oaths.  Wilgraf continues to rush to his aid and attacks the dragon as well. 
3. Beowulf has been venemously bitten by the dragon.  He stated that he could feel himself dying anf ordered Wiglaf to show him the treasure before he passed.  Beowulf killed the dragon. 
4.  Beowulf asks Wiglaf to show him the treasure. He then thanks God for the treasure that he has won for his people.  Beowulf wanted the pyre to be  built high and decked with armor.
Beowulf's Funeral
1. When the soldiers return they are yelled at by Wiglaf.  He explains that Beowulf's generosity was wasted on them because they didn't come to his rescue.  He also predicts that their cowardice will be greater than just the life of a great ruler.
2. The messenger tells the city Beowulf has died that the hostile Franks and the Frisians will certainly attack them. 
3. Wiglaf tells the crowd that they can look once more on the hoard of treasure and then make a bier for Beowulf.
4. The dragon's body was thrown into the water. 
5. During and after the funeral celebration, people take time to remember that their king was kind and generous.
6.

Beowulf Reference

http://historymedren.about.com/od/beowulf/p/beowulf.htm

Socratic Seminar

Although I planned on paticipating today,  I just couldn't find myself to interrupt the debate between Connor and Alex.  It was comical! I couldn't interrupt the stand up comedy before me.  The way they handled the debate was respectable yet humorous. 

Reflections on Week 1

1.  One factor that will definately affect my participation in this class is my lack of sleep.  It seems that my schedule is as full as it's ever been in my past thirteen years of being a student.  Between being employed, taking three AP classes and have responsibilities at home, sleep is the last thing on my mind.  On a good day I'll get about five hours of sleep, which isn't nearly enough for the long days I have ahead of me.  By noon, the last place I wanna be is at school listening to teachers, when in my mind I am in my own bed sleeping as long as I'd like.  Fortunately for me, this is the only obstacle I have this year in not only this class but in my other ones as well. 
2.  The greatest learning experience of my life was when my baby cousin Christian was born.  After being the baby of our Galindo clan for nearly a decade and a half, I learned that it was no longer, "All about me."  I learned that there was more to life than being that spoiled little grandchild that I was.  Christian's birth taught me that my family is my world, and I should appreciate them more than I choose to show.  After holding him for the first time in the Ventura hosptial, I felt so many different emotions in five minutes I'd never imagine I'd feel in a lifetime.  I had the pleasure of sharing this experience with my mother, aunt, uncle, and grandparents.  Although his birth didn't teach me anything about learning or paying attention, I learned that family always comes first. 
3.  I am looking forward to the socratic seminars in this class, considering who my classmates are.  I may not particpate a lot, but I'll be entertained watching certain people going back and forth with their "ideas".  One thing I am not looking forward to, however, is this whole blog concept.  I'll get better with time, but for now I'm just electronically challenged.  I look forward to our vocabulary lists because I'd like to expand my vocabulary.  This in itself will make a practical difference in my life because I can only benefit from a large and creative vocabulary. 

Poetry Assignment #1

1) The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski.
2) The irony is in the diction and video of this poem.  The point of commercials is to allow companies to show the public why it's necessary for them to invest in their various products.  To make their point valid, companies show the public exactly why they need to buy their products and how investing in them would improve their quality of life. Commercials impose the idea that one can only reach happiness if they buy certain products.  However, this isn't the case with this Levi's commercial.  The narrator clearly states, "You are marvelous, the Gods wait to delight in you."  Well, if I'm so marvelous the way I am, I obviously don't need to purchase a pair of Levi's jeans to improve my appearance.  Not only that, commercials usually show happy people enjoying their wonderful lives, while this comercial does the opposite in a way.  The people in this commercial look depressed and less than delighted in life.  For example, the man rolling down the body of water looked less than happy to have a bought a pair of Levi jeans.
3) This poem certainly reflects Bukowski's perspective on life as well as his repuatation.  After being arrested, battling near- death illnesses, and having a rough up-bringing, Bukowski learned to see that, "There is light somewhere."  After surviving treatment for a fatally-bleeding ulcer, Bukowski knew that, "You can beat death in life, sometimes."  Well, ovbiously he did exactly that.  All of his experiences in life such as alcoholism and an addiction to sex made Charles Bukowski who is today, which is reflected in the content of his literary work.
4) I found the answer to number one by googling, "Who wrote the poem in the Levis 2011 'Go Forth'  commercial?"  From here the search engine took me too, "The Levi's Go Forth with Legacy- The Inspiration Room", which was my first option on the page.  I found my answer to number three by googling, "The life of Charles Bukowski", which took me to a biography of his life on PoemHunter.com.

AP Lit Comp

I signed up for this course because I gained a lot of knowledge from it my sophmore year.  It opened my mind to new ideas, new subjects, and new ways of thinking.  In this course every assignment served a purpose and it wasn't just busy work.  Each assignment extended one's knowledge further and further in positive ways that were nothing but beneficial.  This year I except the same, plus more.

In the class I look forward to furthering my knowledge and opening my mind to bigger and better ideas.  To be small minded is no way to live, I have found.  However, I would have never realized this without this course to challenge my mind and intellectual ability every day.

Not only that, I plan to improve my writing skills to a university-level and learn how to express my ideas in a more powerful way when writing essays.  I feel as if I have the writes ideas, it's just articulating these ideas that is challenging for me.