Best of/Worst of

My favorite poem was probably The Road Not Taken because I have always enjoyed Robert Frost's poems. My least favorite poem was probably The Red Wheelbarrow. Short poems like that I have never understood why people liked them so much. Maybe I just can't see the importance like I should but I just don't know.

My favorite short story was The Things They Carried. I just thought it was really interesting how soldiers think and survive when they are in war. I liked how  the things that they did carry actually represented their character. My least favorite short story was Bartleby, the Scrivener because it was difficult for me to follow along. The style of writing got me confused most of the time and I just couldn't find anything in that story that related to me so it wasn't personally connected to me to motivate me to keep reading.

I think that next semester the students should read Death of a Salesman because it can relate to anyone. Everyone has family problems and everyone can relate to it. There is also a lot to talk about because this story has so many themes to work off of. I also really like Dustin Hoffman so the movie was interesting to me.

I didn't much care for the movie Bartleby because it almost made me sick to watch it. The music was irritating and it didn't really follow the story very well. The movie Death of a Salesman was better because it is a play and it is supposed to be played out. I was excited to see how much emotion the actors had compared to just reading the dialogue. When I watched Bartleby it was irritating because it wasn't like I imagined it while reading the short story.

My favorite in class activity was watching movies. I enjoyed watching The Lottery being played out on screen and also Death of a Salesman. My least favorite in class activity was probably answering questions about the stories in small groups. I just would rather talk about the questions instead of wasting time writing them down.

I didn't miss the small group presentations because I am uncomfortable with presenting in front of the whole class. I liked small group discussions better because I felt like I was more involved. No one wants to talk when they are put on the spot in front of the entire class. It is better to have small groups  than one large group because when it is the large group, the same 4 or 5 people are always the ones talking. It's hard to join in when you know they will be the only people giving their opinions/interpretations. 

I enjoyed learning how to write some of the poem entrys for the blogs even though it was extremely difficult for me. After they were written, I felt proud of my work though because sometimes it is hard for me to get my creative juices flowing. I also liked reading my classmates entries as well. There wasn't one entry in particular that I didn't like. It was just the fact that I would get frustrated with myself if I couldn't figure out what to write.

I jut think that the more connection you have to a story/poem, the easier it is to talk about. Stories that relate to yourself are the best ones.

Grandpa Willy

Biff Speaking to his son:

Hey kid, I know that I haven’t talked about your grandpa as much as you would like so here I go. I always did love him. He always wanted the best for your uncle Hap and me. He provided a roof over our head and worked very hard. Probably the hardest I’ve ever seen a man work! Way harder than I work, kid! He was always tellin’ Hap and me that we would make it big. He was always so proud of us and had a lot of faith that we would do well. I used to be the captain of the football team ya know? In highschool, your pops was a big shot! Your grandpa Willy was always so proud of me. He would have been proud of you too, son.  Looks like I am doin’ pretty dang well because I have you! But near the end, your gramps wasn’t doin’ so hot ya know? It might be hard for you to understand now, but your grandpa Willy never really found himself. He was a salesman but I don’t think that really was his dream. He always wanted to be rich and that was what he thought success was. We had different opinions on what being successful was. I figured it out but it was already too late for him. Look at all that I have?? Your beautiful mom, a thriving farm, and especially you my son! Just know what you want in life and go out and do it because you’re gonna’ go far, kid! Remember that I will always be proud of you no matter what you do in life.

Linda's Diary

1st Enrty- I have had a wonderful day today! Willy brought home a whopping 115 dollars today! That means that we will have plenty of money this month. He was in such a good mood that he brought me home some new stockings! Today has been great because I got to go see Biff play football and his team won. Did I tell you that he is captain of the football team? We are so proud of him. We are so proud of both of our sons. Happy has been doing great as well and I have noticed he is losing some weight.

2nd Entry- The closer Biff is from home, the worse Willy is with his sleeptalking. I just wish that they would both get along because then Willy wouldn't keep having these problems. Willy is falling apart and I am having trouble comforting him and helping him. I just want him to be happy so my family can be happy. He used to be a good man but now is struggling with himself personally. His business hasnt been doing well and that is destroying him. Our boys have also been the problem as to why Willy has been this way. If only my boys would make something of themselves! Hopefully I can get Biff to try and talk to Willy.

The Lottery

d- The concept that it can be acceptable to require the individual to
sacrifice for the greater good.
This short story reminded me a lot about the theme that a community can think that sacrifice is for the greater good. I feel as if religions do this a lot. When they believe something, they are willing to do anything for that belief. Sometimes it may seem irrational to others but is normal to them. Especially if you have a large community that thinks the same thing. When it isn't only you thinking that sacrifice is okay, you tend to think that it is a normal thing. An example of this is our different cultures around the world. What we think is weird in America, could be normal in a different culture.
I think that sometimes people can be brainwashed to think that something is alright. An example of this is during the holocaust when the germans were killing so many people. A normal person would think that killing people isnt normal but when such a large group of people are doing the same thing, it seems to be normal. The older generations in the short story convince the younger generations that it is okay to sacrifice someone so their crops will thrive. Old man Warner is an example of this in the short story. One of the characters mentions that other villages have already quit the lottery and old man warner got angry and told them that that just isnt right. He convinces them that sacrificing a person is okay.

Facebook Page

1. I've been writing all day so I am exhausted! Especially with my condition. Good Night facebook!
2. Our garden is all ready for the spring! It is going to be delicious!
3. John and I have such a lovely home! 3 miles away from the village so it is really quiet.
4. John has been gone all day with his patients :( I get lonely when he is gone.
5. Sometimes I feel worthless :(
6. I have grown fond of my bedroom except for the ugly yellow wallpaper. I like to look out the window at people walking by.
7. My mother and Nellie and the children came down for the fourth of July for a week! John said that it was a good thing that I had company but now I am exhausted!
8. I am seriously thinking about getting rid of this ugly wallpaper! It is ugly and it needs to go!
9. I am getting weaker everyday :( Most of the time I am in my bed and all I can see is this stupid yellow wallpaper!
10. The wallpaper moves but John doesn't believe me! He even fainted when I told him.

http://www.hgtv.com/designers-portfolio/room/asian/bedrooms/277/index.html#/id-7204/room-bedrooms/style-asian I'm thinking about redecorating my room! What do you guys think? Which room do you like the best?

This is the yellow wallpaper in my room! Isn't it gross???

Girl Imitation

Don't slouch when you are talking to people. Don't say, "Sup, dude?" unless it is directed towards your friends. Take a shower everyday and use soap. Always listen and respect your teachers even when you think they are wrong. Brush your teeth and put on deodorant. Every girl and woman needs to be treated fairly. Share with your siblings. Don't text at the dinner table. You will work hard for the allowance we give you. Don't text at school or I will have to take it away from you. Don't spend so much time on the internet. Go outside and play with your friends. Stop playing so many video games. Respect your elders because they are wiser than you. Do your homework every single day. Mow the lawn when your father tells you to do so. Dress nicely when you go to church. Remember that God is important in your life. Read your bible. Get along with your siblings. Spend quality time with your family. Get good grades so you can get scholarships in the future. Be nice to everyone you meet. Take out the garbage. Be polite. Do thoughtful things for people. Treat every girl like they are a princess. Don't cry when you are hurt. Do well in sports. Open doors for people. Listen to your coach and go to practice everyday. Always do your best. Never give up. Don't have sex until you're married. Don't talk with your mouth full. You are only allowed 1 hour of computer games a day. Listen to what your mother tells you. Listen to what your father tells you. Listen to what your grandparents, teachers, and the pastor tell you. Listen. Listen. Listen.

Dialogue

It was a long day of writing essays, figuring out math equations, and reading

assignments. Sitting at the same table in the cafeteria for 4 hours can be a real pain in the

buttocks. Around 9 pm, I finally get around to the last bit of my anatomy homework.

Exhausted, I try to stay awake as I try to memorize the process of the sodium-potassium

pump and figure out what happens with muscle contractions. The only thing keeping me

awake is this twix candy bar, Family Guy on the TV, and the bickering of the distressed

couple two tables from me.

"We both know that this isn't going to work anymore." She said.

"But baby, we can work this out. You just need to listen to what I am trying to tell you."

"We have been over this multiple times, Jeff. Our beliefs are just too different."

"I told you that I would be willing to go to your church more often." He said as he tried to hold her hand.

The girl then closed her eyes and rubbed the back of her neck to try and relieve the

stress. "But whenever you go to my church, I can tell that you want to get the heck out of

there! If you can't accept the people in my church, then why would this ever work?"

"Well, if those people were more excepting and welcoming of me then maybe I

would actually enjoy going there." He said with a sarcastic voice.

"THOSE people?! Those people are practically my family!" She yelled.

"THOSE people look at me like I'm some kind of alien!"

"What do you suppose I do then, Jeff? I love my church and I am not willing to leave them for some guy."

"Some guy? That's really how you view our relationship because I thought it was

more than that!" He said almost as if he was about to break out in tears.

After a long pause the girl says in a monotone voice "Well... maybe I do view our

relationship that way... Maybe I do want this to be over."

For about five minutes they both stared at eachother without saying a word. The

guy then gets out of his chair, looks her in the eyes, says, "Okay... it's over then." and

walks out of the building defeated.

The minute he leaves, she bursts into tears and whispers, "I've made a mistake"

atleast twenty different times. The agony she showed on her face was worse than leaving

a puppy in a snowstorm. Time seemed to slow down as I watched her sit there and cry

alone.

Miracuously, I hear the door swing open with the guy running towards the girl.

She sees him approaching and they both embrace for what feels like eternity.

"This WILL work out." They both said as they continued holding one another.