Final Exam Between the lines
(Symbol)
11) In your own words explain how George and Lenny symbolized the ideal male friendship in “Of mice and men”.
In “Of mice and Men” Lenny and George were best friends. Although the story never says it you can tell by reading between the lines. George and Lenny looked out for each other; they knew each other dreams, and their fears. The two represents the ideal male friendship because they are everything that a friend should want in each other. Lenny was very loyal to George and George in return made sure Lenny was ok. This made them the symbol of ideal male friendships.
12) In your own words describe the “American Dream” that George and Lenny want to live. Do you think they can make it come true? Why or why not?
George dream was to own a few acres and a farm. Lenny dream was to tend the rabbits on George farm. The farm to both of them would offer them protection from inhospitable world. I do not think George and Lenny would reach their American Dream. In the story it seemed that the two would take one step forward and later have to take two steps back. George could see his dream in arms reach after Candy offered to give them most of the money for the acres but after Lenny killed Curley this sat him back. I don’t think neither of them will reach the “American Dream”.
(Conflicts)
13) What event in the story leads up to the murder of Lenny?
The event that leads to Lenny’s death was after he killed Curley’s Wife in the barn. While Lenny was trying to hide the little puppy he killed Curley’s Wife walked in. She began to talk to Lenny and asked him did he want to touch her soft hair. Grabbing her hair to tight she began to fight him off of her. Lenny broke her neck. He ran from the barn leaving Curley’s Wife dead body. Candy found her and warned the crew. Curley went searching for Lenny promising he’d kill him. George also went to search for Lenny. When George found Lenny he killed him so Curley couldn’t have the pleasure of hurting his friend.
14) After Lenny murdered Curley’s Wife he ran away to the bush where George told him to hide if he ever got in trouble. George found him and killed Lenny so Curley couldn’t have the pleasure. Do you think George did the right thing killing his friend? If no write another solution George could have used.
I think George did the right thing with killing Lenny. He couldn’t let Lenny keep bringing him down. Every time Lenny did something George would have to pick up and leave. When Lennie sexually harassed a lady in Weed him and George ran away to Curley’s ranch. Now at Curley’s ranch Lenny killed Curley’s wife. George couldn’t let Lenny roam alone because he needs guidance. The reasonable thing to do to Lenny was killing him and takes him out of his misery.
Final Exam Beyond The Line
(Theme & Motif)
15) In Essay form write what you think is the story theme.
Most of the characters in “of mice and men” admit to dreaming of a different life. Curley’s Wife dreamed of being a movie star. Crooks dream is to hoe a patch of garden on Lennie’s farm. George dream is to own a few aces, and Lenny dream is to have a farm full of rabbits and to tend them. All the characters in the story had a dream of doing something amazing but all of them were doing something worst like just being a housewife or living a life of slavery. Nobody was living out his or her dreams. This is why the theme of “of mice and men” is the dream of living the “American Dream” is impossible. No one in the book accomplice their dreams. Circumstances robbed most of the characters dreams. Their “American Dream” was not reach able. Some of the characters weren’t even allowed to dream.
In the story Curley’s Wife admits to Lenny about her dreams of becoming a movie star. She said one of the actors of the show promised her she could join him and the rest of the actors the show. But, her mom told her she couldn’t join because she was only fifteen. She told Lenny “ If I’d went, I wouldn’t be living like this, you bet.” Due to that incident she ended up with Curley. She could never be a movie star now because he was also preventing her from going anywhere. He banned her from talking to people. Instead of being a famous movie star like she dreamed she was now Curley’s miserable housewife. Due to the circumstances Curley’s Wife will never be the movie star she dreamed of being.
George dream was to own a few acres of land. Lenny dream was to have a farm full of rabbits that he could tend. They both had big dreams but none of them could grab hold of them. Their “American Dream” was not reachable because they neither had the finance to get these things. Working the life of a “ranch-hand” paid very few. George and Lenny only had $40 saved between the two. The cost of the few acres of land was $600. It would be almost impossible for them to get the piece of land. Dreams were not reachable making the dream of living the “American Dream” impossible.
Although the dream was small it was one that’ll never happen. Crooks as bitter and mean as he was in “Of mice and men” dream was hoeing a patch of garden on Lenny’s farm. This would never happen. In that time slavery was still apart of our lives. A slave being allowed that much freedom was unheard of. Such paradise of freedom could not be allowed. Crook wasn’t allowed to even have such dreams. This is another reason why the “American Dream” was impossible.
Most of the characters in “of mice and men” admit to dreaming of a different life. But none of them could make their dreams come true. Circumstances robbed most of the characters dreams. Their “American Dream” was not reach able. Some of the characters weren’t even allowed to dream. Due to certain circumstances Curley’s Wife could never be a movie star. George and Lenny didn’t have the finance to make their dreams come true and Crooks wasn’t allowed to dream of such paradise. Crook was right when he said such paradise of freedom, contentment, and safeties are not to be found in this world. The dream of the “American Dream” is impossible.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
NHD Reflection
For NHD I was working on Sandra Day O'Connor and her tribute to the way we look at the fourth amendment rights in school. I worked with Sharde Miller and Shaquille Rankin. We decided on doing a documentary. We recorded live videos and interview people to make are project creative. Although we tried hard and thought we did good we still did not make it. maybe we'll try harder next time.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Cyber Suicide
“Smelly Sally!!!!”
MeanGurl92
“Who r u”
DaVictim01
“Ur worst nightmare”
MeanGurl92
As technology become the center of the 21st century, so has the potential for the misuse of such modern comforts. This generation has been named the Internet age. The Internet has made socializing simpler, accessing information across the globe has been made easier, and locating people has made lives less complicated. Yet, if you look at the Internet age in a different light you’d realize it has bred many immoral practices as well. While some use the Internet for gaining information, others use it for destructing and ruining lives. Some Internet users gain pleasure from intruding Internet privacy of individuals and seek enjoyment from breaching Internet security. Cyber bullying is the name given to these activities.
Cyber bullying is using technology to threaten, insult, or harass an individual. Cyber bullying practices range from simple activities like continuously bombering someone with emails right up to sexual abuse. Passing abusive remarks about some one making him/her the subject of ridicule in online discussion also classifies as cyber bullying.
“Cyber bullying is one of those things you need to take seriously.” Said Amber Boddie a student at Constitution High School “I was never cyber bullied but I heard many stories about people being bullied on Myspace and Facebook.” If you have been watching the news or reading the newspaper than you know about Myspace and Facebook. While both sites are very beneficial there are several problems that rise on these sites. Cyber bullying is very common on Myspace. Hurtful blogs that has the sole purpose of hurting someone spread like wildfire once someone sees it on a person’s profile. Soon everyone in the school has reads the blog and joins in with the abuse.
“Bullying can lead to death,” said Shaquille Rankin a sophomore at Constitution High School. There have been a number of suicides that came from this thing called “Cyber Bullying”. A Missouri mother had to bury her thirteen-year-old daughter Megan Meier who committed suicide last October after receiving cruel messages on Myspace. Tina Meier (Megan’s mother) found her daughter hanging in her bedroom closet. Tina said she noticed the change in her daughter’s behavior before she committed suicide. Megan walked around the house sad and depressed all the time, rarely talking. Tina thought it was a phase her daughter was going through and she’d get over the explicit emails she was receiving, but Megan never did. The emails made Meagan so depressed that she reacted in killing herself.
Cyber bullying should be taken very seriously. If your child is being bullied you should take it in consideration. Cyber bullying has become very common in the 21st century, activities like continuously bombering someone with emails right up to sexual abuse. To help children survive cyber bullying there are many clubs and hotlines. Parents should be aware and question your kids to see if they are being bullied. Cyber Bullying can lead up to death so please be alert, because you can be a victim of
“CYBER SUICIDE!”
MeanGurl92
“Who r u”
DaVictim01
“Ur worst nightmare”
MeanGurl92
As technology become the center of the 21st century, so has the potential for the misuse of such modern comforts. This generation has been named the Internet age. The Internet has made socializing simpler, accessing information across the globe has been made easier, and locating people has made lives less complicated. Yet, if you look at the Internet age in a different light you’d realize it has bred many immoral practices as well. While some use the Internet for gaining information, others use it for destructing and ruining lives. Some Internet users gain pleasure from intruding Internet privacy of individuals and seek enjoyment from breaching Internet security. Cyber bullying is the name given to these activities.
Cyber bullying is using technology to threaten, insult, or harass an individual. Cyber bullying practices range from simple activities like continuously bombering someone with emails right up to sexual abuse. Passing abusive remarks about some one making him/her the subject of ridicule in online discussion also classifies as cyber bullying.
“Cyber bullying is one of those things you need to take seriously.” Said Amber Boddie a student at Constitution High School “I was never cyber bullied but I heard many stories about people being bullied on Myspace and Facebook.” If you have been watching the news or reading the newspaper than you know about Myspace and Facebook. While both sites are very beneficial there are several problems that rise on these sites. Cyber bullying is very common on Myspace. Hurtful blogs that has the sole purpose of hurting someone spread like wildfire once someone sees it on a person’s profile. Soon everyone in the school has reads the blog and joins in with the abuse.
“Bullying can lead to death,” said Shaquille Rankin a sophomore at Constitution High School. There have been a number of suicides that came from this thing called “Cyber Bullying”. A Missouri mother had to bury her thirteen-year-old daughter Megan Meier who committed suicide last October after receiving cruel messages on Myspace. Tina Meier (Megan’s mother) found her daughter hanging in her bedroom closet. Tina said she noticed the change in her daughter’s behavior before she committed suicide. Megan walked around the house sad and depressed all the time, rarely talking. Tina thought it was a phase her daughter was going through and she’d get over the explicit emails she was receiving, but Megan never did. The emails made Meagan so depressed that she reacted in killing herself.
Cyber bullying should be taken very seriously. If your child is being bullied you should take it in consideration. Cyber bullying has become very common in the 21st century, activities like continuously bombering someone with emails right up to sexual abuse. To help children survive cyber bullying there are many clubs and hotlines. Parents should be aware and question your kids to see if they are being bullied. Cyber Bullying can lead up to death so please be alert, because you can be a victim of
“CYBER SUICIDE!”
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Civil War Affect On Families
When looked at the impact of the Civil War many look at it based on politics, on the emancipation, and the elimination of slavery. Few seldom looked at it based on the families. For them the most common impact was the loss of a loved one. The civil war separated families, leaving lives shattered.
*“I still live in hope of getting word from you. I am disappointed everyday in getting a letter if you lack of paper buy it if you lack of envelopes and cannot get them send your letter any way. If you can’t get stamps send it anyhow. If you will write often I will be glad.”(Joseph Jones, Letters from the war) The Civil War tore families apart from each other. Fathers and sons were forced to leave their homes and families to defend their country. Mothers, Fathers, Daughters, and Sons were forced to cope with the death of their families and friends. Families, who lost someone special to them, during the war, were forced to rebuild their lives over from scratch. The Civil War like so many other wars was filled with bloodshed, dead soldiers, and disheartened families. The Civil War had a huge effect on the family and friends of soldiers.
“They are about 13 or 15 years old, wear army uniforms and carry war weapons. By all other measures they are still children, but it is not war games they play.” A few children and men have gone to war willingly, out of patriotism, a sense of adventure, or religious reasons. Some were under the impression they would be drummer boys for the American Civil War but nine times out of ten they would be carrying guns instead of drums. Seeing there were not enough soldiers, those that did not volunteer were forced to join. Young boys leaving home to serve their country were something many American families grew accustomed to. Mothers were obligated to say goodbye to both her son and her husband. Young boys under the age of 13 were taken away from their safe haven, placed into a war zone, untrained, barely able to read or write. Father and Son Samuel Wilkeson Jr. and his young son Bayard Wilkeson were both fighting in Gettysburg. While on the battlefield fighting for his own life, there Samuel Wilkeson Jr. discovered his young son bloody, badly injured body. Bayard Wilkeson was dead. This was the reality of many soldiers at that time. Many had to face this during the Civil War. Being forced into a war you did not want to fight is something the Civil War enforced on many families in the late 1860’s.
Receiving a letter in the mail that a loved one was killed or badly injured is a scenario that played out many of times during the civil war. Being there with a love one on their last days was a very important part of the family obligation during those days. So when willows received the news in mail form they must have been hurt broken. “Letters from a soldier telling of a comrade's death were meant to compensate. The letter described the person's last minutes, his religious state at the time of his death, his willingness to die, his belief in God. And it would often describe where he had been buried, in the expectation that the family might want to come and either reclaim or visit the body." (Drew Faust, Library Journal) Not seeing your son or husband in months and your only connection with them was through letters then to hear they are dead was tragic. The Civil War forced this life on many families. Young kids were forced to grow up without their parents. Mothers were forced to raise the children on their own. Sons didn’t have a father figure in their lives anymore. This one war caused million families heartache.
By the spring of 1863 the Confederacy’s War for independence was having a devastating effect on the economy. With the shortage of food and basic supplies, the price of living was increasing. With the soldiers at war, mothers were left to fend for themselves and their children. Food- producing areas of the surrounding countryside was devastated by battles and plundering soldiers, north and southern armies stripped farms to feed their soldiers leaving families hungry. The war not only left families hungry but also homeless. Families were losing everything. Cities, farms, and homes, were all burned and ravaged by cannon fire. Bridges, railroads, businesses, and industries were either destroyed or nearly wiped out. Everything from food to fuel was of short supply. Families dug in burned shell-studded fields for root crops or any other kind of edible vegetation. The ruined houses were used as shelter for many. “Rebuilding was a much lower priority than survival” said Toni Lee Robinson, author of “A Shattered Fairy Tale: The South after the Civil War”. Families at that time didn’t care very much about where they slept, finding something to eat and drink was their most concern. When the Civil War was over many had to start their lives over from scratch.
The Civil War was defined as the greatest war in America history. Millions fought, thousands died, everyone was affect. The war
Affected the soldiers that fought the war, the government that supported the war and the families that were forced to deal with it. When people look at the impact of the Civil War many look at it based on politics, the emancipation, and the elimination of slavery. People rarely look at it from the families’ point of view. Individuals who were there would say the most impact of the Civil War was the loss of a loved one. "The Civil War is a moment that generated an extraordinary amount of historical material because individuals were separated from one another."(Drew Gilpin Faust). Many lives were taken. The price of freedom was high and many had to pay. Fathers and sons were forced to leave their homes and families to defend their country. Mothers, Fathers, Daughters, and Sons were forced to cope with the death of their families and loved ones. Families, who lost someone special to them, during the war, were forced to rebuild their lives over from scratch. The Civil War like so many other wars was filled with bloodshed, dead soldiers, and disheartened families. The Civil War had a huge effect on the family and friends of soldiers. So when asked what and who was affected by the Civil War don’t forget about the family.
*“I still live in hope of getting word from you. I am disappointed everyday in getting a letter if you lack of paper buy it if you lack of envelopes and cannot get them send your letter any way. If you can’t get stamps send it anyhow. If you will write often I will be glad.”(Joseph Jones, Letters from the war) The Civil War tore families apart from each other. Fathers and sons were forced to leave their homes and families to defend their country. Mothers, Fathers, Daughters, and Sons were forced to cope with the death of their families and friends. Families, who lost someone special to them, during the war, were forced to rebuild their lives over from scratch. The Civil War like so many other wars was filled with bloodshed, dead soldiers, and disheartened families. The Civil War had a huge effect on the family and friends of soldiers.
“They are about 13 or 15 years old, wear army uniforms and carry war weapons. By all other measures they are still children, but it is not war games they play.” A few children and men have gone to war willingly, out of patriotism, a sense of adventure, or religious reasons. Some were under the impression they would be drummer boys for the American Civil War but nine times out of ten they would be carrying guns instead of drums. Seeing there were not enough soldiers, those that did not volunteer were forced to join. Young boys leaving home to serve their country were something many American families grew accustomed to. Mothers were obligated to say goodbye to both her son and her husband. Young boys under the age of 13 were taken away from their safe haven, placed into a war zone, untrained, barely able to read or write. Father and Son Samuel Wilkeson Jr. and his young son Bayard Wilkeson were both fighting in Gettysburg. While on the battlefield fighting for his own life, there Samuel Wilkeson Jr. discovered his young son bloody, badly injured body. Bayard Wilkeson was dead. This was the reality of many soldiers at that time. Many had to face this during the Civil War. Being forced into a war you did not want to fight is something the Civil War enforced on many families in the late 1860’s.
Receiving a letter in the mail that a loved one was killed or badly injured is a scenario that played out many of times during the civil war. Being there with a love one on their last days was a very important part of the family obligation during those days. So when willows received the news in mail form they must have been hurt broken. “Letters from a soldier telling of a comrade's death were meant to compensate. The letter described the person's last minutes, his religious state at the time of his death, his willingness to die, his belief in God. And it would often describe where he had been buried, in the expectation that the family might want to come and either reclaim or visit the body." (Drew Faust, Library Journal) Not seeing your son or husband in months and your only connection with them was through letters then to hear they are dead was tragic. The Civil War forced this life on many families. Young kids were forced to grow up without their parents. Mothers were forced to raise the children on their own. Sons didn’t have a father figure in their lives anymore. This one war caused million families heartache.
By the spring of 1863 the Confederacy’s War for independence was having a devastating effect on the economy. With the shortage of food and basic supplies, the price of living was increasing. With the soldiers at war, mothers were left to fend for themselves and their children. Food- producing areas of the surrounding countryside was devastated by battles and plundering soldiers, north and southern armies stripped farms to feed their soldiers leaving families hungry. The war not only left families hungry but also homeless. Families were losing everything. Cities, farms, and homes, were all burned and ravaged by cannon fire. Bridges, railroads, businesses, and industries were either destroyed or nearly wiped out. Everything from food to fuel was of short supply. Families dug in burned shell-studded fields for root crops or any other kind of edible vegetation. The ruined houses were used as shelter for many. “Rebuilding was a much lower priority than survival” said Toni Lee Robinson, author of “A Shattered Fairy Tale: The South after the Civil War”. Families at that time didn’t care very much about where they slept, finding something to eat and drink was their most concern. When the Civil War was over many had to start their lives over from scratch.
The Civil War was defined as the greatest war in America history. Millions fought, thousands died, everyone was affect. The war
Affected the soldiers that fought the war, the government that supported the war and the families that were forced to deal with it. When people look at the impact of the Civil War many look at it based on politics, the emancipation, and the elimination of slavery. People rarely look at it from the families’ point of view. Individuals who were there would say the most impact of the Civil War was the loss of a loved one. "The Civil War is a moment that generated an extraordinary amount of historical material because individuals were separated from one another."(Drew Gilpin Faust). Many lives were taken. The price of freedom was high and many had to pay. Fathers and sons were forced to leave their homes and families to defend their country. Mothers, Fathers, Daughters, and Sons were forced to cope with the death of their families and loved ones. Families, who lost someone special to them, during the war, were forced to rebuild their lives over from scratch. The Civil War like so many other wars was filled with bloodshed, dead soldiers, and disheartened families. The Civil War had a huge effect on the family and friends of soldiers. So when asked what and who was affected by the Civil War don’t forget about the family.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
INtheMIDDLE
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” I wonder what season am I? Am I a summer, mature, responsible, and established? Or maybe I am more of a spring, playful, oblivious, and careless. I think I’m more in the middle. Not yet done playing around, but I also have responsibilities, and worried about my future. I like to make jokes at the dinner table, but at the same time I can clean the dishes, and when that’s done I can sit down and study.
Play fighting with my little brother, cracking jokes at the dinner table, and playing pranks on the neighborhood homeless man are ways I have fun. “ Dyneisha you are to old to be doing that!” I remember my mom yelling one afternoon as my little brother and I ran up and down the block playing Frisbee with the neighborhood homeless man’s hat. He yelled for help but we continued to laugh and taunt him. Later on that night I remember feeling the same way Lizabeth felt in the story “Marigold” after ruining Ms. Lottie’s garden, ashamed and embarrassed about my actions. Being so playful keeps me in my spring season. No matter how old I get I guess I’ll always be a child at heart.
With spring ending and summer starting more responsibilities are coming along. When I was younger I was carefree. I was so oblivious to problems around me. My mom being a single parent trying to raise two kids, there were many things we had to go without. Seeing my mom try so hard to take care my little brother and I, I felt obligated to help. Getting a job, I began to help out with the bills. Cleaning the house, cooking dinner and helping my brother with his homework were ways I’d help my mom. Noticing the change in my behavior I realize I was really growing up and entering the summer of my life.
During my elementary and middle school years of my life, I rarely took school serious. “Dyneisha did you finish your homework?” My mom would ask me when she came in from work. “Yes.” I’d lie just so she’d let me go outside or play my game. When I got in my last years of middle school my mom stop asking. She felt I was mature enough to do my homework with out her asking me. I took this and ran with it. I stop doing my homework and studying altogether. When I received my report card I saw the decrease in my grades. I remember thinking “I can bring my grades up next report card period” but I continued to fail. One day a lady had visited our school. She talked about college and life as an adult. The way she described college life made me realize I wanted to get there, but, I wouldn’t be able to do so if I continued to not do my homework and study. Going straight home from school I would study for an hour and read for half an hour. My preparation for the future shows I am in the summer of my life.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” I wonder what season am I? Am I a summer, mature, responsible, and established? Or maybe I am more of a spring, playful, oblivious, and careless. Maybe I’m both. I like to play around, but I have responsibilities, and am worried about my future. I’m not really sure what I can call myself at this point in my life. This is the hardest question I’ve had to answer yet. What do you think?
Play fighting with my little brother, cracking jokes at the dinner table, and playing pranks on the neighborhood homeless man are ways I have fun. “ Dyneisha you are to old to be doing that!” I remember my mom yelling one afternoon as my little brother and I ran up and down the block playing Frisbee with the neighborhood homeless man’s hat. He yelled for help but we continued to laugh and taunt him. Later on that night I remember feeling the same way Lizabeth felt in the story “Marigold” after ruining Ms. Lottie’s garden, ashamed and embarrassed about my actions. Being so playful keeps me in my spring season. No matter how old I get I guess I’ll always be a child at heart.
With spring ending and summer starting more responsibilities are coming along. When I was younger I was carefree. I was so oblivious to problems around me. My mom being a single parent trying to raise two kids, there were many things we had to go without. Seeing my mom try so hard to take care my little brother and I, I felt obligated to help. Getting a job, I began to help out with the bills. Cleaning the house, cooking dinner and helping my brother with his homework were ways I’d help my mom. Noticing the change in my behavior I realize I was really growing up and entering the summer of my life.
During my elementary and middle school years of my life, I rarely took school serious. “Dyneisha did you finish your homework?” My mom would ask me when she came in from work. “Yes.” I’d lie just so she’d let me go outside or play my game. When I got in my last years of middle school my mom stop asking. She felt I was mature enough to do my homework with out her asking me. I took this and ran with it. I stop doing my homework and studying altogether. When I received my report card I saw the decrease in my grades. I remember thinking “I can bring my grades up next report card period” but I continued to fail. One day a lady had visited our school. She talked about college and life as an adult. The way she described college life made me realize I wanted to get there, but, I wouldn’t be able to do so if I continued to not do my homework and study. Going straight home from school I would study for an hour and read for half an hour. My preparation for the future shows I am in the summer of my life.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” I wonder what season am I? Am I a summer, mature, responsible, and established? Or maybe I am more of a spring, playful, oblivious, and careless. Maybe I’m both. I like to play around, but I have responsibilities, and am worried about my future. I’m not really sure what I can call myself at this point in my life. This is the hardest question I’ve had to answer yet. What do you think?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
What is a GOOD poem?
When asked to define poetry, Robert Hayden said it is “the art of saying the impossible”. When asked to define a good poem, I say a good poem must have images, must be engaging, and, must make a personal connection. These are all the qualities of “The Whipping” by Robert Hayden. Images in the poem were vivid; I could see almost every action. Having read the poem I found it to be engaging, making me think, and making a personal connection as well.
Reading “The Whipping” I found it to have lots of images and visuals. As Robert Hayden described the violent scenes happening in the poem I could see it. “Wildly he crashes through elephant ears pleads in dusty zinnias, while she in spite of crippling fat pursues and corners him”. This is a quote from “The Whipping”, it gave me goose bumps as I imaged a young boy falling to the ground, his mother standing over him with sweat rolling down her forehead, breathing heavily trying to gather much needed energy so she can continue her brutal acts. Descriptions, in the “The Whipping” are one reason why it is a good poem.
Good poems should also be engaging. Starting the poem I thought the poem was about a mother beating her son for his wrongs. Reading on my opinion was changed. Ending the poem Robert Hayden said “ the women leans muttering against a tree exhausted, purged, avenged in part for lifelong hidings she has had to bear”. Based on this I was now lead to believe that the poem was focused on a mom beating her son out of frustration and anger not because he did something wrong. Poems should make you think and make you ask questions, “The Whipping” did this for me and this is another reason why it is a good poem.
“She strikes and strikes the shrilly circling boy till the stick breaks in her hand”. Can you imagine a beating so harsh, I can. Reading this quote made me shiver causing a chill to run up my back. I witnessed one of my family members receiving, from his mother, the same harsh whippings as the character in the poem. The pain Robert Hayden expressed was like a flashback of my own experience. “Head gripped in bony vice of knees, the writhing struggle to wrench free, the blows, the fear”, I could see my family member in this same positions begging for her to stop. A good poem should make a personal connection and “The Whipping” did this for me.
In conclusion, the poem “The Whipping” by Robert Hayden is a great example of a good poem. “The Whipping” has vivid images, it’s engaging, and made a personal connection. What do you think a good poem should be? Funny, sad, makes you smile, have a catchy title, or do you agree, that a good poem should have imagery, be engaging, and makes a connection. The answer is up to you!
Reading “The Whipping” I found it to have lots of images and visuals. As Robert Hayden described the violent scenes happening in the poem I could see it. “Wildly he crashes through elephant ears pleads in dusty zinnias, while she in spite of crippling fat pursues and corners him”. This is a quote from “The Whipping”, it gave me goose bumps as I imaged a young boy falling to the ground, his mother standing over him with sweat rolling down her forehead, breathing heavily trying to gather much needed energy so she can continue her brutal acts. Descriptions, in the “The Whipping” are one reason why it is a good poem.
Good poems should also be engaging. Starting the poem I thought the poem was about a mother beating her son for his wrongs. Reading on my opinion was changed. Ending the poem Robert Hayden said “ the women leans muttering against a tree exhausted, purged, avenged in part for lifelong hidings she has had to bear”. Based on this I was now lead to believe that the poem was focused on a mom beating her son out of frustration and anger not because he did something wrong. Poems should make you think and make you ask questions, “The Whipping” did this for me and this is another reason why it is a good poem.
“She strikes and strikes the shrilly circling boy till the stick breaks in her hand”. Can you imagine a beating so harsh, I can. Reading this quote made me shiver causing a chill to run up my back. I witnessed one of my family members receiving, from his mother, the same harsh whippings as the character in the poem. The pain Robert Hayden expressed was like a flashback of my own experience. “Head gripped in bony vice of knees, the writhing struggle to wrench free, the blows, the fear”, I could see my family member in this same positions begging for her to stop. A good poem should make a personal connection and “The Whipping” did this for me.
In conclusion, the poem “The Whipping” by Robert Hayden is a great example of a good poem. “The Whipping” has vivid images, it’s engaging, and made a personal connection. What do you think a good poem should be? Funny, sad, makes you smile, have a catchy title, or do you agree, that a good poem should have imagery, be engaging, and makes a connection. The answer is up to you!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Third and Fourth Annotation
Gherman, Beverly. Sandra Day O'Connor:Justice For All. Penguin Group , 1991.
This a short biography by Beverly Gherman that follows the life of Sandra Day O’Connor from her child years living in her Arizona ranch to her day of being crowned the first female to be named the Supreme Court. This book is a short one but summarize the struggles Sandra had to overcome before she got to where she is.
This book contains a few primary sources but mostly secondary sources. The book contains specific dates when Mrs. Sandra graduated, when she got degrees and when she was officially crowned. The book was a good source to learn fast facts about her life and her parents but I still will have to learn more.
Branigin, Barbash, and Deane, William, Fred, and Daniela. "Supreme Court Justice O'Connor Resigns". Washington Post July 1,2005: 1-4.
This is a news article by Washington’s Post. This article states the events that occurred on the day Sandra Day O’Connor resigned. The article contains quotes from both George Bush and Sandra Day O’Connor. Sandra Day O’Connor wrote a letter to Bush expressing her fillings towards her 24 terms spent in court. In her letter she states, “It has been a great privilege indeed to have served as a member ….” I would consider this to be a primary source. In contains quotes, letters, and dates when the resignation of Sandra Day O’Connor occurs. This information helped get a view on Sandra Day O’Connor personality. Her intelligent words and the way she held conversations help me get a visual on her character.
This a short biography by Beverly Gherman that follows the life of Sandra Day O’Connor from her child years living in her Arizona ranch to her day of being crowned the first female to be named the Supreme Court. This book is a short one but summarize the struggles Sandra had to overcome before she got to where she is.
This book contains a few primary sources but mostly secondary sources. The book contains specific dates when Mrs. Sandra graduated, when she got degrees and when she was officially crowned. The book was a good source to learn fast facts about her life and her parents but I still will have to learn more.
Branigin, Barbash, and Deane, William, Fred, and Daniela. "Supreme Court Justice O'Connor Resigns". Washington Post July 1,2005: 1-4.
This is a news article by Washington’s Post. This article states the events that occurred on the day Sandra Day O’Connor resigned. The article contains quotes from both George Bush and Sandra Day O’Connor. Sandra Day O’Connor wrote a letter to Bush expressing her fillings towards her 24 terms spent in court. In her letter she states, “It has been a great privilege indeed to have served as a member ….” I would consider this to be a primary source. In contains quotes, letters, and dates when the resignation of Sandra Day O’Connor occurs. This information helped get a view on Sandra Day O’Connor personality. Her intelligent words and the way she held conversations help me get a visual on her character.
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