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Sunday, May 5, 2013

Lit Anal #4

Heart of Darkness
by Joseph Conrad


1.  The plot of the story is about a sailor named Marlow, who takes a job as a riverboat captain on the Congo. Marlow travels to Africa and then up the river to meet Kurtz, a man of great importance to the Congo. While Marlow travels up river to get to Kurtz he sees all the injustices and horrors that the Belgians committed to the local peoples. Marlow learns of Kurtz becoming deathly ill, and he become very anxious to reach Kurtz faster. Throughout the trip, they have many mechanical problems with the boat and they are also attack at one point by the natives. Marlow finally reaches Kurtz, however Kurtz is on the edge of dying. When they head back down river Kurtz hands Marlow some documents then dies. Marlow soon becomes ill himself but manages to barely survive. Later when he returns to Europe he find Kurtz's fiancĂ©e and gives he some closer by telling her that his last word was her name, when in fact they were "The horror! The horror!"
2. A major theme in the book is madness caused by imperialism and how imperialism causes all the people involved to be come "mad" someway or another.
3. The author's tone is very dark and depressing.

  • "The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress; and Kurtz's life was running swiftly, too, ebbing, ebbing out of his heart into the sea of inexorable time. The manager was very placid, he had no vital anxieties now, he took us both in with a comprehensive and satisfied glance: the 'affair' had come off as well as could be wished. I saw the time approaching when I would be left alone of the party of 'unsound method.' The pilgrims looked upon me with disfavour. I was, so to speak, numbered with the dead. It is strange how I accepted this unforeseen partnership, this choice of nightmares forced upon me in the tenebrous land invaded by these mean and greedy phantoms."
  • "His was an impenetrable darkness. I looked at him as you peer down at a man who is lying at the bottom of a precipice where the sun never shines. But I had not much time to give him, because I was helping the engine-driver to take to pieces the leaky cylinders, to straighten a bent connecting-rod, and in other such matters. I lived in an infernal mess of rust, filings, nuts, bolts, spanners, hammers, ratchet drills -- things I abominate, because I don't get on with them. I tended the little forge we fortunately had aboard; I toiled wearily in a wretched scrap-heap -- unless I had the shakes too bad to stand."
  • "The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment. It was like watching the last flickers of a life."
4.  Five literary techniques that helped me understand the story more are:
Foreshadow- the fog foreshadows something bad is about to happen.
Imagery- the use of imagery lets us really get a picture of the scene.
Metaphor/Simile- gives us a way of relating what is happening or going on to something that we can understand better.
Symbolism- the river in the story symbolizes the white man/ imperialists fighting against the natural order of the Congo.
Syntax- the way the author writes brings out the eeriness of the Congo 
Tone- since the author uses a dark tone it creates a gloomy story.
"Some fifty miles below the Inner Station we came upon a hut of reeds, an inclined and melancholy pole, with the unrecognizable tatters of what had been a flag of some sort flying from it, and a neatly stacked woodpile."
"When the sun rose there was a white fog, very warm and clammy, and more blinding than the night. It did not shift or drive; it was just there, standing all round you like something solid. At eight or nine, perhaps, it lifted as a shutter lifts. We had a glimpse of the towering multitude of trees, of the immense matted jungle, with the blazing little ball of the sun hanging over it -- all perfectly still -- and then the white shutter came down again, smoothly, as if sliding in greased grooves. I ordered the chain, which we had begun to heave in, to be paid out again. Before it stopped running with a muffled rattle, a cry, a very loud cry, as of infinite desolation, soared slowly in the opaque air. It ceased. A complaining clamour, modulated in savage discords, filled our ears. The sheer unexpectedness of it made my hair stir under my cap. I don't know how it struck the others: to me it seemed as though the mist itself had screamed, so suddenly, and apparently from all sides at once, did this tumultuous and mournful uproar arise."
"I flew around like mad to get ready, and before forty-eight hours I was crossing the Channel to snow myself to my employers, and sign the contract."

In class essay #3

Ann Petry - The Street

I feel that I struggle the most with the intro to paragraphs. Once I have them down, the rest is easy by just using textual examples and literary elements to prove my point.


Analyze how Petry establishes Johnson's relationship to the urban setting through the use of imagery, personification, selection of detail, and figuritive language.

Ann Petry clearly shows the reader what she wants them to see in her use of literary devices. Through the portrayal of imagery and personification, she illustrates in our heads the exact weather and surroundings of Lutie Johnson in this urban environment. "She shivered as the cold fingers of the wind touched the back of her neck". Petry does an excellent job at describing how windy and dusty it is ouside with trash flying around. Her selection of detail is very unique; she goes into detail about what type of trash wrappers are flying. She chooses to emphasize the detail of the sign to portray how old it is and that it is so windy, Lutie can not even read the swaying sign. Through the use of these elements, the reader feels fully engaged with the story and we are able to see exactly how the character feels in this certain situation.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Lit Anal #3

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
  1. Invisible Man begins with the narrator telling us the he is underground writing a story about his life. He calls himself the "invisible man" and he is an African-American. The main part of the story are flash backs on the narrator's life. He was a talented public speaker and was selected to give a speech in order to receive a scholarship. The narrator goes off to college and while he is there he is the driver for the college's trustee, Mr. Norton. Mr. Norton faints after getting a drink and when the college's president, Dr. Bledsoe hears about it he blames and expels the narrator from the school. The narrator goes out into the city of New York to find a job. When he gets one, he ends up getting hurt and he loses his conscience. When he finally wakes up, he is asked by Brother Jack, a member of a brotherhood who heard the narrator's speech, to join his brotherhood. Jack wants the narrator to become the next Booker T. Washington. The narrator works with the brotherhood for several months when a magazine interviews him. The brotherhood calls him out for using the brotherhood for personal gain and force him to work in Harlem for women's rights. After a while a small riot happens and the narrator's friend is shot and killed. The narrator leads a march in Harlem to protest his friend's death. However when he gets back to the brotherhood, they are angry at him for tying the brotherhood with his friend, who they claim to be a traitor to the brotherhood. The narrator leaves the brotherhood and goes to Harlem to speak out and protest. A large riot happens and the narrator falls down a man hole where he has stayed since. The narrator finishes by reflecting on his devotion to the brotherhood and his choice in the end.
  2. The major theme in this novel is find out who you are. 
  3. The author's tone is calm and to the point. He doesn't show anger at the issues in the book.
  4. 5 literary techniques used are -metaphor, allusion, symbolism, simile, and diction

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Lit Anal #2

The Iliad- quick overview
1. The Greeks are at war with the Trojans over Helen, who was taken from the King of Sparta. During the conquest of an ally city of Troy, Achilles has a falling out with the Greek leader and refuses to fight. The Greeks advance upon the city of Troy and the gods take sides. Athena, Hera, and Poseidon for the Greeks. Apollo, Ares, and Zeus for the Trojans. The Trojans battle with the Greeks and push the Greeks back to their boats under the leadership of prince Hector, with the help of Zeus who during the course of the battle bans all gods from participating in the battle. Patroclus, Achilles best friend, was killed by Hector. Achilles returns to the fight and kills every Trojan who gets in the way of his hunt for Hector. Hector and Achilles duels, Achilles wins and kills Hector. After some convincing by Zeus, Achilles ransoms Hector's body back to Troy, who then spend the next ten days giving their prince a rightful burial.
2. The theme of the novel is loyalty to friendship and kinship.
3. The author uses a serious tone.
4.The author uses personification, keenings, similies, metaphors, and hyperboles to portray his purpose.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

In class essay #2

I feel that I struggle the most with the intro to paragraphs. Once I have them down, the rest is easy by just using textual examples and literary elements to prove my point.

Analyze how the poetic devices help to convey the speaker's complex attitude toward desire.

Thou blind man's mark, thou fool's self-chosen snare,
Fond fancy's scum, and dregs of scattered thought 
Band of all evils, cradle of causeless care 
Thou web of will, whose end is never wrought 
Desire, desire !  I have too dearly bought,
With price of mangled mind, thy worthless ware 
Too long, too long, asleep thou hast me brought,
Who shouldst my mind to higher things prepare.
But yet in vain thou hast my ruin sought 
In vain thou madest me to vain things aspire 
In vain thou kindlest all thy smoky fire 
For virtue hath this better lesson taught,—
Within myself to seek my only hire,
Desiring nought but how to kill desire.   


Rhyme, diction, and imagery and alliteration, and metaphors. repetition of desire. 

In the Poem Thou Blind Man's Mark by Sir Philip Sydney, he uses many literary devices to show his complex attitude toward desire. The author incorporated rhyme, diction, imagery, alliteration, repetition, and metaphors in this poem all to show his feelings toward desire. The author is stating that desire drives people mad and it is related to foolishness through the phrases that mention a blind man's mark and fool's self-chosen snare. We cannot get caught up in lust and desire, but instead focus our time on things that are more important. 

Monday, April 29, 2013

In class essay #1

I feel that I struggle the most with the intro to paragraphs. Once I have them down, the rest is easy by just using textual examples and literary elements to prove my point.
I have also been really busy this week and honestly just need to catch up on my essays because I missed a lot of days of school this past week.

Choose a novel or play in which cultural, physical, or geographical surroundings shape psychological or moral traits in a character. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how surroundings affect this character and illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole.

Pride and Prejudice -

Many authors define the characters in their stories by the culture around them. In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, she uses syntax, imagery, and diction to portray the thoughts and ideas of characters throughout the novel. Through the descriptive language and word phrasing, we are able to see how society thinks and how it effects the characters. Mr. Darcy is born and raised from wealth. He has a lot of money and is spoiled. Because of this, he is very materialistic and requires a wife that is "suitable" for him. This means that she must be wealthy just like himself. Society has been telling him this his whole life; so he has trouble breaking the psychological foolishness when he meets Elizabeth. The author did a great job using surroundings in the novel to make the reader connect and make the story line seem believable.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

2004B Poem “Crossing the Swamp” (Mary Oliver)


Prompt: Read the following poem carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the techniques the poet uses to develop the relationship between the speaker and the swamp.


I feel like I only struggle with the intro paragraph in AP tests. So I feel like I just need to practice the intro on each essay prompt to be confident in my essay writing skills for the AP test.


Here is the endless
wet thick
cosmos, the center
of everything—the nugget
of dense sap, branching
vines, the dark burred
faintly belching
bogs. Here
is swamp, here
is struggle,
closure—
pathless, seamless,
peerless mud. My bones
knock together at the pale
joints, trying
for foothold, fingerhold,
mindhold over
such slick crossings, deep
hipholes, hummocks
that sink silently
into the black, slack
earthsoup. I feel
not wet so much as
painted and glittered
with the fat grassy
mires, the rich
and succulent marrows
of earth— a poor
dry stick given
one more chance by the whims
of swamp water— a bough
that still, after all these years,
could take root,
sprout, branch out, bud—
make of its life a breathing
palace of leaves.

In the poem "Crossing the Swamp" by Mary Oliver, the author is telling his story of crossing a swamp, which also relates to his life struggles. Through the use of Imagery in almost every line, figurative language, and his sophisticated diction which uses many strong adjectives, the author shows that he is really dealing with some harsh times in his own life which he compares to the swamp. The author uses the swamp as a symbol of hardship. He needs to cross this endless swamp, and get through this hard time in life. He is stating that he needs to give it everything he has to make this endless crossing attainable. The swamp and his life both need dedication to achieve. The end states the progress made after the hardship and his success. 

[1994] Poems: “To Helen” (Edgar Allan Poe) and “Helen” (H.D.)


Prompt: The following two poems are about Helen of Troy. Renowned in the ancient world for her beauty, Helen was the wife of Menelaus, a Greek King. She was carried off to Troy by the Trojan prince Paris, and her abduction was the immediate cause of the Trojan War. Read the two poems carefully. Considering such elements as speaker, diction, imagery, form, and tone, write a well-organized essay in which you contrast the speakers’ views of Helen.

I feel like I only struggle with the intro paragraph in AP tests. So I feel like I just need to practice the intro on each essay prompt to be confident in my essay writing skills for the AP test.

    Edgar Allan Poe and H.D. are two completely different people writing a poem about Helen. Because of their differences, they have two completely different techniques while writing. Through the use of Poe's diction, imagery, and symbolism, he portrays his views of the gorgeous Helen as an idol and he praises her beauty. H.D also acknowledges Helen's beauty, but in a different way. She uses figurative language, diction, and similes to show that Helen's beauty caused the conflict in Greece and it is a curse. Through the use of these different techniques, the authors are able to clearly show the reader their views on Helen.


Friday, April 26, 2013

Life of Pi group post - Essay prompt and Questions


1. How does the idea of survival play out in this text?

2. What does Pi try to communicate through his choice of the animals, other than the tiger, with whom he shares the lifeboat?
3. What are important characteristics of Pi and Richard Parker? 

4. Which of the stories seems more believable? Explain

5. How does religion play a role in Pi's journey?

Essay Prompt
Religion plays a key role in Yann Martel's novel Life of Pi. The main character Pi, unusually follows three religions, yet Pi feels following just one is not the important part, the power to believe in them is what is important. How does the author show this theme and what techniques does the use to demonstrate this?

We feel like we know Pi through the entire story then fine out at the end that his story may not be true. Why does Pi make up the second story and how can you tie in his belief I'm religion with it?

Many authors use parallel events and characters to demonstrate their themes in the novel. Chose a work of literature (Life of Pi) where the author use the literary techniques of parallel events and characters to demonstrate their theme. 

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Some Macbeth Background info


  • "Macbeth" was written by William Shakespeare between 1603 and 1607
  • James IV of Scotland, Shakespeare's patron, became James I of England in 1603
  • May have been inspired by the real King Macbeth of Scotland, however the real Macbeth was an admired king while the play version was somewhat a tyrant.
  • Side note: some people in the world of theatre believe the play is cursed and will not call it by name. They called it "The Scottish Play"
  • Shakespeare heavily draws upon the , which give a detailed account of the real King Macbeth

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

BOB I

Judging by this semester only-

They have everything and/or extra stuff-
Ashley Wilburn: http://awilburnrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/ 
Ming Chen: http://mchenrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Danielle Galindo: http://danig14.blogspot.com/

Samantha Garrison: http://sgarrisonrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Valerie Gonzalez: http://vgonzalezrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Megan Hardisty: http://mhardistyrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/ 

Alicia Hernandez: http://ahernandezrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Ryunhee Kim: http://rkimrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/ 
Travis Knight: http://tmkrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Abby Kuhlman: http://akuhlmanrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Josh Ng: http://jngrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/ 
Nathan Oh: http://norhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Troy Prober: http://tproberrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Brady Redman: http://bredmanrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Felicitas Ruiz: http://fruizrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/ 
Erika Snell: http://www.esnellrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Justin Thompson: http://jthompson2rhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/ 
Tanner Tuttle: http://ttuttlerhsenglitcomp1.blogspot.com/ 

Mid-
Matthew Patel: http://mpatelrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Haleigh Jones: http://hjonesrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Reed Conforti: http://rconfortirhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/ 
Devon Tomooka: http://dtomookarhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Chanel Yamaguchi: http://cyamaguchirhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Dulce Vargas: http://dvargasrhsenglitcomp1.blogspot.com/ 
Cassidy Ashlock: http://cashlockrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Sebastian Guillen: http://sguillenrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/ 
Alex Lane: http://alanerhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Conor McNamara: http://www.csmrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/


Need to catch up-
Carly Koertge: http://ckoertgerhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Brittany Cunningham: http://bcunninghamrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/ 
Kristofer Green: http://kgreenrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Karianne LaPlante: http://kariannelaplantesblog.blogspot.com/ 
Colleen Livingstone: http://clivingstonerhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com
Isiah Mabansag: http://isiahmabansag.blogspot.com/ 
Lacey Mougeotte: http://lmougeotterhsenglitcomp1.blogspot.com/
Bailey Nelson: http://bnelsonrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Conner Patzman: http://cpatzmanrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Jason Reinwald: http://www.jreinwaldrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/

Sunday, February 17, 2013

I Am Here

I already have my senior project planned out, I just need to get started on it. I am working toward my smart goal slowly by getting good grades in my classes and applying for scholarships. I have heard from 3 colleges so far of 10 that I applied to. I was accepted into Chico, Long Beach, and Universiy of the Pacific so far. I am waiting on the UC and Private school responses.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Lit Terms 83-108

Omniscient Point of View: knowing all things, usually the third person.
Onomatopoeia: use of a word whose sound in some degree imitates or suggests its
meaning.

Oxymoron: a figure of speech in which two contradicting words or phrases are combined to produce a rhetorical effect by means of a concise paradox.
Pacing: rate of movement; tempo.
Parable: a story designed to convey some religious principle, moral lesson, or general truth.
Paradox: a statement apparently self-contradictory or absurd but really containing a possible truth; an opinion contrary to generally accepted ideas.
Parallelism: the principle in sentence structure that states elements of equal function should have equal form.

Parody: an imitation of mimicking of a composition or of the style of a well-known artist.
Pathos: the ability in literature to call forth feelings of pity, compassion, and/or sadness.
Pedantry: a display of learning for its own sake.
Personification: a figure of speech attributing human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas.
Plot: a plan or scheme to accomplish a purpose.
Poignant: eliciting sorrow or sentiment.
Point of View: the attitude unifying any oral or written argumentation; in description, the physical point from which the observer views what he is describing.
Postmodernism: literature characterized by experimentation, irony, nontraditional forms, multiple meanings, playfulness and a blurred boundary between real and imaginary.
Prose: the ordinary form of spoken and written language; language that does not have a regular rhyme pattern.
Protagonist: the central character in a work of fiction; opposes antagonist.
Pun: play on words; the humorous use of a word emphasizing different meanings or applications.
Purpose: the intended result wished by an author.
Realism: writing about the ordinary aspects of life in a straight forward manner to reflect life as it actually is.
Refrain: a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a poem or song; chorus.
Requiem: any chant, dirge, hymn, or musical service for the dead.
Resolution: point in a literary work at which the chief dramatic complication is worked out; denouement.
Restatement: idea repeated for emphasis.
Rhetoric: use of language, both written and verbal in order to persuade.
Rhetorical Question: question suggesting its own answer or not requiring an answer; used in argument or persuasion.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Lit Terms 57-81

Gothic Tale- a style in literature characterized by gloomy settings, violent or grotesque action, and a mood of decay
Hyperbole- an exaggerated statement often used as a figure of speech or to prove a point
Imagery- figures of speech or vivid descriptions conveying images through any of the senses
Implication- a meaning or understanding that's to be arrive at by the reader but that is not fully and explicitly stated by the author
Incongruity- The deliberate joining of opposite or of elements that aren't appropriate to each other
Inference- a judgement or conclusion based on evidence presented; the forming of an opinion which possesses some degree of probability according to facts already available
Irony- a contrast between what's said and what's meant or what's expected to happen and what actually happens or what's thought to be happening and what's actually happening
Interior Monologue- a form of writing that represents inner thoughts of a character, recording of internal, emotional experiences of an individual
Inversion- words out of order for emphasis
Juxtaposition- the intentional placement of a word, phrase or sentences of paragraph to contrast with another
Lyric- a poem having musical form and quality; short outburst of the author's innermost thoughts and feelings
Magical Realism- a genre developed in Latin American which juxtaposes the everyday with the magical
Metaphor- an analogy that compares two different things imaginatively
Extended- a metaphor that's extended or developed as far as the writer wants to take it
Controlling- a metaphor that runs throughout the piece of work
Mixed- a metaphor that ineffectively blends two or more analogies
Metonymy- literally name changing a device of figurative language in which the name of an attribute is substituted for the usual name of a thing
Mode of Discourse- argument, narration, description, and exposition
Modernism- literary movement characterized by stylistic experimentation, rejection of tradition, interest in symbolism and psychology
Monologue- an extended speech by a character in a play, short story, novel or narrative poem
Mood- the predominating atmosphere evoke by a literary piece
Motif- a recurring feature in a piece of literature
Myth- a story, often about immortals, and sometimes connected with religious rituals, that attempts to give meaning to the mysteries of the world
Narrative- a story or description of events
Narrator- one who narrates or tells a story
Naturalism- an extreme form of realism
Novelette/Novella- short story; short prose narrative, often satirical

Monday, February 4, 2013

Lit Anal #1

Catch-22
by Joseph Heller

1. There is a soldier named Yossarian. He is stationed on the island of Pianosa with his air force squadron. World War II is into its second half and Yossarian is trying to get out of the war by one way or another. Every time Yossarian attempts to get himself out of the war something always stops him, there is always a catch.Yossarian learns hat if he is insane he will be discharged so he fakes that he went insane and goes to the hospital to tell them that he is insane. However, when he does this, they tell him that by saying that he is insane he proves himself sane because any sane person would fake insanity to get out of the war. Yossarian's friend, Nately, falls in love and when the girl finally loves him back he is killed the next mission. That girl then blames Yossarian for Nately's death and tries to kill him every time they cross paths. Troubled by Nately's death, Yossarian decides to wall the streets of Rome. While walking, he sees every type of inhumanity there is, from rape to disease to murder. Ironically, Yossarian is arrested for not having a pass. His supervisors then offer him a choice, be court-martialed or  be sent home on honorable discharge. The choice is a clear one for Yossarian, however, his supervisors throw him a curve ball. If he wants to be sent home he has to approve of their policy, which says that all men in the squad must fly eight missions. Yossarian wouldn't let innocent people die for his own gain so he decides to run away to Sweden where he live away from the war.


2. The main theme of the novel is the absolute power of bureaucracy.


3. The tone of the author is satirical and humorous at some points while cynical and grotesque at others.


"'Haven’t you got anything humorous that stays away from waters and valleys and God? I’d like to keep away from the subject of religion altogether if we can.'

The chaplain was apologetic. 'I’m sorry, sir, but I’m afraid all the prayers I know are rather somber in tone and make at least some passing reference to God.'
'Then let’s get some new ones.'"

"Yossarian was cold, too, and shivering uncontrollably. He felt goose pimples clacking all over him as he gazed down despondently at the grim secret Snowden had spilled all over the messy floor. It was easy to read the message in his entrails. Man was matter, that was Snowden’s secret. Drop him out a window and he’ll fall. Set fire to him and he’ll burn. Bury him and he’ll rot, like other kinds of garbage. That was Snowden’s secret. Ripeness was all."


4. Five literary terms that helped me understand the novel better are:


Tone- knowing that the authors tone is satirical, helped me understand why he was writing the story the way it was.


Symbolism- the author used a lot of symbolism to help explain the theme more in depth.


Metaphor- metaphors help make the novel more entertaining to read.


Imagery- it made the novel easier to picture in my mind.


Diction- the words the author chose help create the tone and the imagery of the novel.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Tale of Two Cities Lecture notes.


  • Manchester is the third of the two cities.
  • Preface outlines Dickens' influence on the story.
  • Dickens wrote play "The Frozen Deep" in 1857.
  • Dickens fell in love with a woman named Ellen.
  • Ellen influenced the character Lucie in A Tale of Two Cities.
  • By 1857 his marriage was falling apart and got a divorce.
  • April, 30, 1859 Dickens publishes chapters 1-3 of A Tale of Two Cities.
  • Dickens knew every inch of London.
  • Dickens hated but loved London.
  • Dickens loved Paris and went there 15 times between the years 1844-1868.
  • A Tale of Two Cities was one of two historical novels Dickens wrote, it covered the years leading up to the 1785 French Revolution and the years following.
  • The main characters were based off of Dickens and other people in his life.
  • Dickens thought that A Tale of Two Cities was the best book ever written.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Smart Goal

My goal to be accepted into a four year college and major in computer graphics. My number one choice would be UC Irvine. After graduating, I would like to attain a job as a digital effects artist for movies. I would also like to pursue water polo in college and make the travel team.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Lit terms 6-30

6. Analogy- a comparasin between two things to show the similarities.



7. Analysis- a method in which a work or idea is separated into its parts, and those parts given rigorous and detailed scrutiny.


8. Anaphora- a device or repetition in which a word or words are repeated at the beginning of two ore more lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences.


9. Anecdote- a very short story used to illustrate a point.


10. Antagonist- a person or force opposing the protagonist in a drama or narrative.


11. Antithesis- a balancing of one term against another for emphasis or stylistic effectiveness.


12. Aphorism- a terse, pointed statement expressing some wise or clever observation about life.



13. Apologia- a defense or justification for some doctrine, piece of writing , cause , or action; also apology.


14. Apostrophe- a figure of speech in which an absent or dead person, an abstract quality, or something inanimate or nonhuman is addressed directly.


15. Argument- the process of convincing a reader by proving either the truth or the falsity of an idea or proposition; also, the thesis or proposition itself.


16. Assumption- the act of supposing, or taking for granted that a thing is true.
I assume that this is fake.


17. Audience- the intended listener or listeners



18. Characterization- the means by which writer reveals a character's personality.


19. Chiasmus- a reversal in the order off words so that the second half of a statement balances the first half in inverted word order.


20. circumlocution- a roundabout or evasive speech or writing, In which many words are used but a few would have served.


21. Classicism- art, literature, and music reflecting the principles of ancient Greece and Rome: tradition, reason, clarity, order, and balance


22. Cliché- a phrase or situation overused within society..














23. Climax- the decisive point in the narrative or drama; the pint of greatest intensity or interest at which plot question is answered or resolved.


24. Colloquialism- folksy speech, slang words or phrases usually used in informal conversation.


25. Comedy- originally a nondramatic literary piece of work that was marked by a happy ending; now a term to describe a ludicrous, farcical, or amusing event designed provide enjoyment or produce smiles and laughter.


26. Conflict- struggle or problem in a story causing tension


27.Connotation- implicit meaning, going beyond dictionary definition


28.Contrast- a rhetorical device by which one element (idea or object) is thrown into opposition to another for the sake of emphasis or clarity.


29.Denotation- plain dictionary definition
See 27. ^

30.Denouement- loose ends tied up in a story after the climax, closure, conclusion.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Lit Terms 1-5

1. Allegory-
In my opinion, this is an allegory of Christmas. It is showing a "tail" tale of how North America wants more and more and is pushing out of their boundaries which is consuming them in darkness. South America area is content with what they have which is why they are golden.


2. Alliteration-
An angry alligator ate an apple at an airport.

3. Allusion-


4. Ambiguity-
Nobody knows why Mona Lisa is smiling and people have different interpretations of her facial expression.


5. Anachronism-

Friday, January 11, 2013

AP prep post "Siddhartha"

1. If you were the river, would you be enlightenment or would you know enlightenment? In other words, what’s up with the river? What is it’s relation to enlightenment?
2. What does enlightenment look like in Siddhartha? Is it a feeling? An attitude?
3. What purpose does self-denial serve in Siddhartha? What about self-indulgence?http://www.shmoop.com/siddhartha/questions.html

4. Siddhartha features substantial activity and narrative action. At the same time, it is about one man’s largely internal spiritual quest. What is the relationship between the internal and exterior worlds of Siddhartha? How does Siddhartha negotiate these worlds?
5. Herman Hesse’s novels before Siddhartha focused on alienated young men who rejected the cultures of their upbringings. However, these other novels did not feature the spiritual elements of Siddhartha. How do the spiritual elements of Siddhartha make it different from any other story of an alienated youth?
http://danig14.blogspot.com/2013/01/1.html#!/2013/01/1.html

To answer these questions, I would have to completely reread the book. I remember very little of it, but I feel like if I did reread Siddhartha, these questions wouldn't be too hard. I would just have to read it carefully and make sure that I understand it all.