Final Blog Post Of The Fall Semester

1. What did you do this semester in ELA that was most meaningful to you, and why was it meaningful?

This semester in ELA the most meaningful thing I did was the essay for Maus. It was meaningful to me due to the reason that I learned a lot from it such as how to cite a website in MLA Format. Also, I learned how to properly write an analytic essay without “in my opinion” or basically how to write confidently!

2. What was the most challenging thing about ELA this semester, and why?

The most challenging thing about ELA this semester was keeping up with my reading and making sure I speak up during seminar. It was pretty challenging because

3. What would you like to change about ELA, and why?

Something I would like to change about ELA is the turns we have to take for the response projects. I would like to change it because I feel like it would be hard to choose creative writing or an essay for the project I want. However, a solution would be to set a balanced amount of writing we have to turn in for the semester. For example, if we have six books to read we would need to have three essays and three creative stories by the end of the semester.

4. What would you like to stay the same in ELA, and why?

Something I would like to stay the same in ELA would be the books we are reading! They are very good books, and I truly enjoy reading them! Another thing, I would like ELA to stay the same about is the response projects along with the books.

5. I really enjoyed this semester, and I hope to improve more throughout the school year! Thank you Ms.Harrison!

Find three heroic epithets. Explain how you think these epithets were useful to the singer of poems in the Greek oral tradition.

Find three heroic epithets. Explain how you think these epithets were useful to the singer of poems in the Greek oral tradition.

On page 45, there is a heroic epithet. "And red-haired Menelaus..." The heroic epithet is the fact that he has red hair.

On page 219, "And you answered me, Eumaeus, my swineherd:" Eumaeus being the swineherd is the heroic epithet.

On page 196, Poseidon is described as the Lord of Earthquake(which is pretty awesome). "And Poseidon, the Lord of Earthquake:"

I believe that these epithets helped the singer of the poems in the Greek oral tradition. One of the ways, it helped was helping the singer and audience remember the characters, and who they are. Another reason, it helped the singer remember the time. For example, the hero epithet with Dawn and her fingers. It helped the singer and audience know whether it is day or night. Also, the hero epithets explained several characteristics that separated many of the similar names. It helped you acknowledge who were the gods and  mortals and their roles. There was many ways the hero epithets helped the singer.

Find two passages in The Odyssey that are examples of Xenia. Compare these two passages. Be sure to cite them as well.

          On page 44, the beginning of book 4, we can see Xenia.
           In this section, Xenia is shown as the Lord Menelaus welcomes Telemachus and Nestor to their palace. He does not question who they are, yet he welcomes them and treats them like gods. The horses are unyoked and taken to a stall where they are fed the best horse food. Menelaus's maids bathed and rubbed oil on Telemachus and Nestor. Later, they are given a feast. Out of respect, they do not question if Odysseus is his father, until the end of supper. During the supper and their time there, they are treated and fed like gods. They have the best of the best and no less. At the end of supper, they found out who they were. They did not speak of it till later because of the sadness.
        On page 90, in the middle of book 6 and in book 7 (page 97), we see Xenia.
        In book 6, Odysseus and the princess, Nausicaa, show Xenia. Nausicaa helps Odysseus and treats him like a guest despite his appearance when he is naked. Like Telemachus and Nestor, he bathes and is provided oil to clean himself because he does not want young girls looking at him naked. In book 7, he is treated like a god and given a feast and wine. Also, everyone respects him, and he entertains them with his stories.
       This was very different from Telemachus and Nestor due to the experiences and leadership that Odysseus earns him more respect. Another thing, people may believe that Odysseus has more knowledge because of his stories and heroic/godlike abilities. In conclusion, the more money and godlike the person is, the more Xenia that will be shown. It's still equal with the strangers, but of course the bigger people get more attention.

The first four books of The Odyssey are known as the "Telemachy," as they introduce us to the voyage of Odysseus' adolescent son, Telemachus. Why do you think that The Odyssey begins with this story, and what are the most important things that we learn about Telemachus?

The first four books of The Odyssey are known as the "Telemachy," as they introduce us to the voyage of Odysseus' adolescent son, Telemachus. Why do you think that The Odyssey begins with this story, and what are the most important things that we learn about Telemachus?
       I believe that the first four books of The Odyssey, "Telemachy," begins with Telemachus so that we can understand how Telemachus's circumstances are at home. Also, we learn several characteristics of Telemachus and the characters around him. It is good to learn the characters and setting so that we do not get confused throughout the story due to the amount of characters within the story.
       It is very important because we learn how much an impact Odysseus really has back home. We learn some stuff about his son too, like his age and the amount of power that he has. We learn that he is barely at manhood and that everyone does not take him as seriously as his dad. Not only do we learn about him, but we also learn about the people in his home, such as Penelope (his mom), the suitors, and some gods visit.

"Why do you underline certain sentences in a book?"

When I am reading a book, I enjoy underlining certain phrases. The phrases I underline are things that I find important and meaningful. Sometimes the sentence, or sentences, are pretty simple, but I can relate to them in a whole different level. When I write my book, I want people to find these type of phrases and for the phrases to stick with them whenever they are having a hard time. I love turning these phrases into quotes and writing them down in my journal and journaling about them. It’s important for me not to underline the a lot of phrases because if I do underline a lot, then the meaning of underlining loses its meaning and value. Personally, I believe this should not mean that I am annotating because annotation is way different from underlining. In a way, underlining is just lazy annotating. It’s more for fun rather than force.

The Conflict Perspective in Maus

In the book, Maus, there is about four different groups in the society. These groups are known as the Jews (mouses), Nazi party (cats), Americans (dogs) and Polish (pigs). The Jews struggle for food and for their lives in the concentration camps and this is all dealing with the fact that the Nazi is fighting for power over them, the Polish, and the Americans. The Jews are in conflict with the Nazi, while the Americans are in conflict with the Nazi. Throughout the book, it shaped the group’s ethnic. The ethnic is their religion, and how the Nazi disagrees with their beliefs. This shaped how their society, or at least some part, believed that all it was okay to abuse the Jews. The conflict was all over the power and ethnic.

On pp. 102-105, Art includes a copy of another graphic story, "Prisoner on Hell Planet," that he wrote about his mother's suicide. To what extent to you think the events of the Holocaust might have caused her suicide, and why do you think Art Speigelman chose to share "Prisoner on Hell Planet" in Maus.

There are many events during the Holocaust that could have lead to Anja's suicide. I believe that one of them could have been the fact that her five year old son, Richieu, was killed so that he would not have to be sent to a concentration camp. This was on page 111, where Tosha had to kill all three children and herself. The life changing event was not only depressing, but she had to keep moving forward and try and save her own life. Personally, I think she felt useless and she felt as though no one loved her. I believe this can be shown on page 105, in the graphic story, "Prisoner on Hell Planet." She asked Artie if she still loved her and he pretty much told her no. She was asking for reassurance over her son's love, and he rejected. Another thing, she had lost plenty of family members due to the Holocaust such as her father (page 117), her young son (page 111), and so many more members throughout the book. The death if her family might have made her feel alone and the way they died makes it worst.

I believe that Art included the copy of the other graphic story, "Prisoner on Hell Planet," so that the audience could understand how the suicide took place and the events that happened after it. For example, in page 105, Art draws his mother in the bathtub dead with details. It gives the reader a picture of how the situation looked in real life. Another thing, I think he wanted to show the imagery through humans, and he wanted to show the details. The details make the story more gloomy and realistic in a way. In my opinion, he wanted to draw this section in particle with humans, not animals, to make the moment more realistic and intense.

What do you think some of the challenges might be in drawing another person's story. What might be some of the advantages? Why?

There is many challenges yet advantages when drawing another person’s story. One of the challenges would be getting all the details. For example, when I illustrated Tyler’s short story, I found myself wondering what his surroundings looked like. I had to make up the surroundings and details since I had not asked for the details. “A picture is worth a thousand words” is very important to the audience and the drawer has to get that across. The drawer has to make sure that imagery not given in the story can be seen in the drawings, or the readers will be confused. An advantage would be that the drawer can make some details that go along and make the story more interesting. An example would be in Maus, page 14, Artie’s father has numbers on his arm from the Holocaust. This adds more to the story, and it shows that Art did add details to the story and took his time. It also makes the audience picture everything. The detail develops characters too. Another advantage, the drawer is not right or wrong when imaging the details they draw. A drawer has both, challenges and advantages, when drawing someone’s story.

Writing, Music, and Small Doodles. ( A Free Blog Post)

              Personally, I feel as though writing can make anyone feel better when they are feeling down, or discouraged. Journaling is the type of writing that helps me the most. I can write and draw whatever I want and not be forced to have perfect grammar or spelling because it's my journal and not everyone is supposed to understand it. It can be more enjoyable if you play music as a background noise. When writing a creative story, I like to hear music that inspires me. I like the part where I decide whether my story's setting, theme, and characters. It's like I am making my own characters and world that I love. Nobody can tell me that I cannot include those characters since it is my story! Some may not like my characters or setting, but it really doesn't matter. It doesn't matter; it is my story and for myself. Of course, if a teacher gives me advice over an assignment, I will take the advice. Another thing, I can express myself in a way that only I understand sometimes. Poems are amazing to write as well. I really don't follow a pattern; I just write what I want. Writing really does help me express myself and let my emotions go. It's like writing your emotions and once I have ripped the paper I have written them on, it's like they are gone. They are not completely gone, but at least I have shared my true emotions with something. Music, writing, and small doodles make me feel better everyday.

How I Feel About The Ending of "The Alchemist"?

           In my opinion, the ending of The Alchemist was rather interesting. I liked the plot twist towards the end on page 168, "Because now he knew where his treasure was." His treasure was back in the abandoned church, where he had his repeating dream. I thought it was clever how in the end Santiango spoke with the voice on page 170, "If I had told you, you shouldn't have seen the Pyramids. They're beautiful, aren't they?" I still wonder who the voice was. I believe that it was God. I think that the ending statement, on page 171, "I'm coming, Fatima," does leave the readers wanting to read more, which is really good and interesting. I liked the story, and how it spoke of omens and taught me what a Personal Legend was. Overall, I enjoyed the book and the plot twist at the end!

"This week, you learned about The Hero's Journey. Trace Santiago's steps along the Hero's Journey, and use the text as evidence."

Santiago's Hero's Journey begins in the ordinary world where he is a Shepard that travels around in Spain, as said in page 11, where he tells his father, "Well, then I'll be a shepherd!" He has used an old church for his shelter when he traveled where he starts to have a dream that repeats every night. Santiago says is, according to page 15, "I dreamed that I was in a field with my sheep, when a child appeared and began to play with the animals. I don't like people to do that, because the sheep are afraid of strangers. But children always seem to be able to play with them without frightening them... The children went on playing with my sheep for quite a while... And suddenly, the child took me by both hands and transported me to the Egyptian pyramids." After, he travels to the merchant's daughter's city, where he had deeply fallen in love with the merchant's daughter before on a trip that was a year ago; he says on page 8, "He recognized that he was feeling something he had never experienced before: the desire to live in one place forever. With the girl with the raven hair, his days would never be the same." Since he is going to see his "long lost love" (who probably doesn't remember him), the boy is really excited to go to the city. He decides to tell his repeating dream to a fortune teller, also known as an old gypsy lady. She calls for adventure when she says that their is treasure awaiting him in the pyramids of Egypt, page 17 "...You must go to the Pyramids in Egypt...there you will find a treasure that will make a rich man." After, he rejects the idea and believes that she is just looking for his money/sheep, which can be seen as the refusal of quest. Shortly after refusing the quest from the elderly gypsy lady, an old man, known as the King, approached him and appeared to know what the treasure is. The king explains that he is a King and that he can show him where his treasure is, as said on page 27, "Tomorrow, at this same time, bring me a tenth of your flock. And I will tell you how to find the hidden treasure." He slowly accepts the idea, page 28, "Maybe tomorrow," he says to a ticket seller for an African trip. Santiago begans to enter the unknown when the Old King starts to speak about omens and Personal Legends, on page 31, "In order, to find the treasure, you will have to follow the omens. God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you." Also, on page 36, when he is in Africa for the first time "How strange Africanist, thought the boy." An object is given to the boy which are stones that are magical and help him to seeing the yes or no answer in a situation by the white and black color, in page 32-33, "They are called Urim and Thummim. The black signifies 'yes,' and the white 'no.' When you are unable to read the omens, they will help you to do so. Always ask an objective question." The stones are known as Talisman. There are a lot of allies/helpers in the story as he goes to achieve his Personal Legend, such as (in order of how he met them) the King of Salem(page 19), the merchant(page 47), the Englishmen(page 67), Fatima(page 95), the Alchemist(page 115). The test of his supreme ordeal would be, on page 148, where is forced to turn into the wind due to the reason that he promised that so that he would not died to the thieves who took him. "Let's go see the boy who turns himself into the wind," said the chief that was now in charge of his life. He does turn into the wind from the help of the sun and wind, in which he talks to through his heart. On page 158, "But there were two people who were smiling:the alchemist, because he had found his perfect disciple, and the chief, because that disciple had understood the glory of God." The statement proves that he had turned into the wind. He soon gets to achieve his Personal Legend on page 170, "An hour later, he had before him a chest of Spanish gold coins," and on page 171, "The boy smiled. It was the first time she had done that. "I'm coming, Fatima," He said." Which shows the rewards he got from achieving his Personal Legend, his treasure and Fatima.    

"On page 24, the king of Salem tells Santiago, "When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it." Do you believe that this is true? Why or why not?"

               I believe that the statement, "When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it," is true due to the reason that I have read an interesting book, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, that tells us that if you think about something that you will achieve the goal. According to The Secret, "Everything that's coming into your life you are attracting into your life." The statement persuades me to believe that the universe does help you achieve something you want! In The Alchemist, Santiago says that "By the time he had enough of the sea, he would already have known other cities, other women, and other chances to be happy," he wished that when he was little and now the world has helped him achieve it. The world helped him achieve his wish by giving him the idea that he should be Sheperd. I believe that if he really does believe that he will soon get to his treasure in the future.

"What is a Personal Legend, and why do you think this will be important in the rest of the book?"

A Personal Legend is "It's what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows their Personal Legend," according to The Alchemist. In my opinion, it is a dream someone has. This dream is chosen when someone is young, and it may sound crazy, or impossible, but it can still be accomplished. I believe it will be important in the rest of the book due to the reason that Santiago is trying to achieve his Personal Legend; which makes his Personal Legend a huge role in The Alchemist. Because Santiago has Melchizedek to help him achieve it, I think it will be important in the rest of the book. I believe it will be significant since many characters may start to come into the story; they may start coming into the story because he will have to travel to achieve his personal legend. This is what I believe is a Personal Legend and who I think it will be important as we go more into the story. 

What Do I Hope To Get Out Of ELA This Year?

This year in English Language Arts, I hope to learn how to plan out a book and the steps to making a proper book. I am very excited to practice my spelling and pronouncing words.