TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009
Caroline's
Mr. H. Salsich
Honors English
May 26, 2009
An Essay on the Theme of “Tintern Abbey,” a Poem by William Wordsworth, and my life
We say that we will never forget our first time at life. We say we’ll always remember our first crush, first day at school, first sleepover, and our first time home alone, but that’s not always true (Tetracolon Climax). More often than not, we hold on to these memories for so long that we forget to remember (Antithesis). When you grow up knowing something or some place and then forget it, seeing or hearing that one thing years later makes it more meaningful. I am sure that my reaction and feelings I will have after five years away from Pine Point will be almost identical to those that Wordsworth experienced when he returned to Tintern Abbey and when Wilbur remember where his life began.
In Wordsworth’s poem, “Composed a few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, on Revisiting the Banks of the Wye During a Tour, July 13, 1798,” he not only writes how the church used to make him feel, but how the rediscovery of this sacred place moved him. He seems to feel as if life and time has blinded him from the thing he cared most for, “Through a long absence, have not been to me as is a landscape to a blind man’s eye.” He most likely wanted to remember this place forever and think back to it in times of trouble, but soon enough he had forgotten about the “waters, rolling from their mountain-springs with a soft inland murmur,” and the, “steep and lofty cliffs.” The remembrance of a place so sacred and life-changing must have come back with an epiphany (Fast). Now, after his return, he recalls all the sights, smells, and sounds he once swore never to forget. He remembers the “feelings too of unremembered pleasure: such, perhaps, as have no slight or trivial influence on that best portion of a good man’s life, his little, nameless, unremembered, acts of kindness and of love.” He never truly forgot Tintern Abbey, but the feeling of forgetting brought him back to the place where his live began. Though he broke a self promise and forgot the most important aspects of his early life, he was able to go back in time and make up for is losses.
“The Writer,” a poem written by Richard Wilbur shares these same values and themes. Wilbur remembers a time when a bird was trapped in the house, and though it was, “humped and bloody,” it refused to give up the freedom is deserved. Though it doesn’t seem like much, this bird helped shape his life. One day, he heard his daughter typing on a typewriter, and each click reminded him of the sound the bird made as if fell to the ground. Each pause his daughter made, reminded him of each moment he doubted the birds bravery and courage. He didn’t know it, but this bird taught him about life. It showed him that, “it is always a matter [ ] of life or death, as [he] had forgotten.” When you give up hope, your life is over, but when you are able to fly through that window, despite the pain and suffering, you are free and “clearing the sill of the world.” Though Wilbur did not return to a place where he grew up, he went back to a time that changed his life; a time he had forgotten. In Wilbur’s eyes, the, “iridescent creature” is his Tintern Abbey, his start, and his memory.
When, “five years have past; five summers, with the length of five long winters,” I will return to my school, my home, Pine Point. When I return, like Wordsworth, I will have expectations that may or may not be accurate. When I walk through the front doors, I will look to see if Mr. Salsich is singing or putting on a puppet show, if Ms. Roper is attempting to pull a Greek play together, and if Mrs. Owen is in her room figuring out how to clean the filter on her projector; but this is what I want to see, not what I will see. Like Wordsworth, I want nothing more than to return to my childhood unchanged, but that isn’t up to me. I have been at Pine Point for twelve years, and I can honestly say that it is not the same school it was ten years ago. There isn’t a Big Toy anymore, or a preschool building, or disheveled (Fast) library, but an Eiffel Tower, an ECC building, and a computer lab full of Smart boards and Macs. One lesson I have learned over the past twelve years is to keep moving forward and don’t let anything hold you back, this being said, Pine Point will continue to grow and change. Despite change, I will walk through those doors and remember what used to be, smile, and catch up with my old teachers because that one aspect of Pine Point will never change. It is my home.
I’m sure that I will forget about school, homework, and teachers during the summer, for I want nothing more than to leave the stress behind. On the other hand, I know that I will think of Pine Point, its teachers, and its students more than ever on my first day at Middlesex. Like Wordsworth and Wilbur, it’s the things that shape us into who we are, that we promise to remember, but they are also the things we are most likely to disregard and forget. It isn’t until we find ourselves in need that we bring out these old yet intelligible memories and look back to them for help, which we realize we’ve forgotten. “In after years, when these wild ecstasies shall be matured into a sober pleasure; when thy mind shall be a mansion for all lovely forms, they memory be as a dwelling-place for all sweet sounds and harmonies; oh! then, if solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief, should be thy portion, with what healing thoughts of tender joy wild thou remember me, and these my exhortations!”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009
caroline's draft
H. Salsich
English
May 13, 2009
What If:
An Essay on a Passage by Rainer Maria Rilke and its Relations
Everyone who has lived has experienced loss in some form. Whether it’s the ice cream cone that fell in the sand, or a life, loss is loss. Rainer Maria Rilke, a famous German poet, knows loss. He writes about what he has lost, what he will loose, and how he is lost (Parallelism). He also writes about the saying, “What if.”
“If God had only made our hands to be like our eyes- so ready to grasp, so willing to relinquish all things- then we could truly acquire wealth,” states Rilke in the very first line of his passage. This sentence not only talks about loss, but about what could be gained if things would change. He seems to imply that our eyes are free unlike our hands, which tend to confine us. If we were able to use our hands in a similar way that we use our eyes, than we would not miss a thing. All the things we miss out on and can’t grasp, we lose. If we could hold those thoughts or sights, then they would be more than just a memory. They would be an experience, a journey, a reality, and more than just an image (tetracolon climax). Life is limited, maybe what we loose is obliging (FAST) to us in the long run.
Nothing is what it seems to be. Our hands are thought to be helpful and of great use, but they are really like “a coffin for us.” The same concept can apply to rock. Cold and unbending, it sits in the dirt unnoticed as anything other than a place to put your feet, but it’s much more than that (Appositive opener). It may be dull and boring, but the journey it has made is exciting (antithesis). This rock “out of whose depths their dearest secrets speak,” tells us an anecdote (Fast). Somehow, somewhere, it became a garden stone. Nothing is what it seems, but in order to discover the truth, you need to look with both free hands and eyes.
Rilke also states that, “Once out of our hands, however, things ought to move forward,” which is what I will be forced to do next year. I have been at Pine Point for twelve years, but now it is my time to go. On June 13, Pine Point will slip out of my hands and be replaced with a new school. Rilke would say that I should move on, but I am unsure if I will be able to. Pine Point is like my home, and the students are like my family, supportive and friendly (Appositive Closer). I have missed so much of this journey for the very reasons Rilke speaks of, I simply watched the twelve years pass by.
Loss is an uncanny (FAST) thing. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, for any reason without any warning (parallelism). Rilke lost his wealth, and I missed out on twelve years of my life. Now, looking back, I can’t help but wonder, “What if..?”
Self Assesment:
What I think are my strong points: I thought I made good use of the special tools in this essay. I was also able to add some extras for extra credit.
What I would change: I would have chosen to compair the passage to a story, not a rock. It would have been easier to write if I could have chosen the object or compairison.
A problem I am continuing to have: I think that I have troulble omiting unnecessary words. Both of my comments said I should look for some, but it is very difficult.
The grade I would give myself: A- or B+
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2009
H. Salsich
English
May 4, 2009
Distance and Separation:
An Essay Relating Two Poems and something in My Life
What does it mean to “part”? Does it only refer to physical beings, or can your thoughts and intangible (FAST) feelings part as well? To me, it’s a separation of two or more nouns. It can be the departure of a person, a life, or an idea that separates one being or thing from another. Of course, people can have different opinions on parting and separation, just like Naomi Shihab Nye and Emily Dickinson. These two women expressed their ideas through their poetry.
MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009
carolines essay
Caroline Burlingham
H. Salsich
English
April 27, 2009
Kindness:
An Essay on One Poem, One Story, and My Personal Life
1) All over the world, people speak of kindness. 2) Our everyday sayings use kindness to send a message, such as, “Kill them with Kindness,” or, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” 3) This being said, kindness is everywhere, in our minds, our hearts, our expressions, and our words (Tetracolon Climax). 4) When we cannot say how we feel, we write it down. 5) Kindness is found in both a fictional world, such as the story “Winter Dreams,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as the real world, represented in the poem “Kindness,” by Naomi Shihab Nye and my life.
TS) “Before you know what kindness really is / you must loose things,” is the very first line of Nye’s poem, which states that kindness is a mystery. SD) When Nye wrote this poem, she was in Colombia, which is where she discovered that kindness is always there, even if you don’t know where “there” is. CM) Her poem tells us of the death, poverty, and most of all, emptiness that she saw, but what we dont know is the cause that he died for, or the love that the people felt inside. CM) Perhaps the kindness is located within, unable to be seen or heard, just felt. SD) Nye believes that “It is only kindness that makes sense anymore.” CM) Everyone has felt anonymous and censured (2 SAT WORDS) at least once in their life and knows how much it hurts, so why put others through the same? CM) Love, anger, confusion, and sadness are all complicated, but kindness is simple and direct. CS) No one knows kindness. CS2) It’s always hidden but whether it’s in the eye of a dying man, or the smile of a school girl in love, its always there by your side, “Like a shadow or a friend.”
TS) F. Scott Fitzgerald, however, cannot agree or disagree with Nye’s words of wisdom, considering his story, “Winter Dreams,” is different and similar to Nye’s poem in many ways (Loose Sentence). SD) One quote in her poem reminded me of the protagonist, Dexter Green, in Fitzgerald’s story, stating, “Feel the future dissolve in a moment.” CM) This simple quote reminded me of one of the theme in Dexter’s life; loss. CM) Dexter, throughout his life, suffered a lack of self-kindness; Dexter threw his promising future away. CM) His life “dissolved in a moment.” SD) Later in the story when he recognizes his situation, Dexter says, “Long ago, [] long ago, there was something in me, but now that thing is gone.” CM) I feel that Dexter would now agree with Ms. Nye about kindness being all that is good. CM) He has now felt loss and pain so incredibly deleterious (FAST) that it is all he has left. CM) Dexter Green has survived losing the love of his life, a marriage, job loss, the return of his love, and having to say no, but it is lack of kindness from a co-worker that puts him over the edge. CS) For Dexter, kindness is not a mystery, and he, unlike Nye, doesn’t look for it; he depends on it.
TS) My life, like any other teenager, is complicated and stressful; there isn't time to deal with uncaring people. SD) I can remember times in my life when I gave a lack of kindness, like Dexter Green, one of which took place in New York City. CM) When I think of the city, taxies, buildings, and shopping come to mind, but what I forget is the suffering. CM) Once, a homeless man, old and weak, yet strongly determined, asked me for a dollar (Appositive). CM) At the time, I was selfish and said no; I didn’t need that dollar as much as he did, and I fully regret my uncaring decision. SD) On the other hand, I have “found” kindness from this experience after looking, just like Nye. CM) Ever since that thoughtless decision, I have tried to help the less fortunate as much as possible. CM) That old man carried kindness within him even if he was unaware of it, for it was him that taught me the lesson of giving at no cost but his own. CS) I agree with Nye, kindness is a mystery, but I only know this through experiences like Dexter’s.
1) Kindness is everywhere. 2) It’s sometime hidden or not where you would expect it to be, but it is there. 3) For Nye, it was in “the deepest thing inside,” for F. Scott Fitzgerald, it’s hidden among the decisions we make, and for myself, it’s in our mistakes. 4) Kindness is often a tangible item, a feeling, or an action, which proves that it is not only everywhere, but also in everything.
Note: extra CM’s and CS’s were used purposefully
SELF ASSESMENT
What are your strengths in this essay?
Personally, I really like the theme I picked for the two writings and my life. I think the reason I like “kindness is everywhere” is because I believe it and never really thought about it until now.
What would you change?
I wish we didn’t have to do the formula for this essay. I had a lot to say and I couldn’t fit it into just two CMs. I wish we had the option of the formula.
What are problems you continue to have?
Again, I always have trouble with small errors and silly mistakes. For some reason I don’t see them when I read my essays through.
What grade would you give yourself?
B+
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009
Caroline Burlingham
Mr. Salsich
Honors English
April 20, 2009
Sentimental Feelings:
An Essay on the Sentiment of Two Poems and a Short Story
1) There are over 6,902,689,844 human beings living on this planet, and every single one is unique and different. 2) Some of us are heroes, some of us are villains, but we all care for something. 3) I have read three works of literature today, all of which are sentimental, but what does that mean? 4) Naomi Shihab Nye, Katherine Mansfield, and Emily Dickenson all write a message of sentimental feelings into their writings, but none of them agree on a constant definition.
TS) In Ms. Nye’s poem, “The Traveling Onion,” I found the definition of “sentimental” to be “Having an excess of sentiment or sensibility.” SD) Caring is one thing, but what Ms. Nye is writing is almost too much. CM) When describing her thoughts about onions, she said, “When I think how far the onion has traveled / just to enter my stew today, I could kneel and praise,” which, in real life, would never happen. CM) One thing Nye does is get her point across; from this poem, we have learned that, in her opinion, even the most unrecognized of things deserve compassion (SAT WORD). SD) Perhaps Ms. Nye uses the onion as a symbol or representation for something greater. CM) The thing about sentiment is that it isn’t limited, which may be why Nye chose an onion. CM) This vegetable may stand for a person, and idea, a journey, or even a memory or object and how it has traveled both figuratively and literally over the years. CS) Great things come in small packages, but much like a bomb they can explode when there is, “An excess of sentiment.”
TS) This being said, even the perfect amount of sensibility isn’t necessarily a good thing. SD) In “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield, the characters seem to think that showing kindness to a different social group is a bad thing. CM) Laura, young and innocent, thought of nothing but the tragedy people faced during their garden party (Appositive), but it only got her in trouble. CM) I wouldn’t say her sister was being villainous by yelling at Laura, just inconsiderate. SD) In the end of this story, Laura begins to see sensibility in a negative way as well, but for a different reason. CM) Laura, standing over a man’s dead body, realized that death is almost aesthetic. (Participle and FAST) CM) All these years she had appreciated life, but only because she didn’t know the stress and baggage it carried. CS) Mansfield tells us that its ok to show that you care, but only if you are caring for the right reasons, and for the right thing.
TS) On the other hand, some people don’t know why they care for the things they do, such as Emily Dickinson wrote into her poem, “I’m Nobody.” SD) Another definition I found for the word “sentimental” that goes perfectly with Dickinson’s poem is, “Resulting from feeling rather than reason or thought.” CM) In this poem, Dickinson doesn’t seem to know whom she is talking to, yet she cares about their well-being. CM) She doesn’t seem to be thinking about what she is saying, but you can tell she is being sincere. SD) In the very first line she tells the reader how she feels, “I’m nobody.” CM) Of course, in real life, she was “somebody”, but this poem is about feelings, not fact. CM) This poem appeals to the reader in a way that they can relate to, because I know that I have felt the same way. CS) At some point in Dickinson’s life, she, feeling down and alone, was able to still cheer up another with a smile, which is a difficult task (Participle).
1) Like most heroes, these characters and writers didn’t know the people they were “saving” by being sentimental. 2) Nye had no idea that an onion could do so much, yet she acknowledged it, just like Laura in Mansfield’s story when she brought the unknown family a basket of food. 3) Similarly, Dickinson doesn’t know who she’s talking to, and still, she’s sentimental. 4) All of these writers, heroic and villainous, have created their own definition of being “sentimental,” and though they are all different, their writings have the same messages and morals (Appositive). 5) Whether you’re an onion, a low-income family, or if you are unsure of your own identity, everyone deserves to be cared for.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2009
Caroline Burlingham
H. Salsich
English
April 14, 2009
Wording:
An Essay on the Creative Writing of Naomi Shihab Nye and its Relation to “Sonny’s Blues”
When one comes across a poem or piece of literature that they not only enjoy but also understand, you can’t help but ask what the writer’s inspiration was. When you find something that you can relate to that makes you take a moment to simply think about what you’ve read, you conjecture (Fast) the story’s background, and why it was written. I have had this experience a few times during my short life, most recently after reading the poem entitled, “The Little Brother Poem” by Naomi Shihab Nye and, “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin. As my eyes skimmed the writer’s concluding words, I sat still, thinking. (Participle Phrase)
During this time, I thought about Ms. Nye. Not only did I learn more about who she is as a person, but I learned that she is extremely creative. One of my favorite types of figurative language in her poem are the metaphors. She described the differences between her and her brother by writing, “You’re Wall Street and I’m the local fruit market, you’re Pierre Cardin and I’m a used bandanna,” which illuminates the poem. This poem even ends with a metaphor. Nye closes the poem with a metaphor about dumping out a great amount of truth in a single moment and how it can be difficult. She talks about lack of time and how she is sorry, which in my opinion, is the perfect way to end the poem. Another type of figurative language I noticed was the imagery. When Nye talks about what times would be like if her brother were there, I began to see and understand their relationship. I enjoyed the part that stated, “[You were] the one who ran miniature trucks up my arms telling me I was a highway,” because my brother and I had that same relationship when he was young, which helps me understand.
This poem is very confusing and leaves the reader wanting more, which is very comparable to the story “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin. Considering the fact that both stories talk of tragedy and wanting second chances, they are remarkably similar (Periodic Sentence). Baldwin talks about a girl named Grace who died of polio, and I was able to obtain (Fast) from Nye’s poem that her bother was on his deathbed. Both Ms. Nye and the characters in "Sonny's Blues" wish nothing more than to go back in time to change the past. One difference I noticed was the hatred of noise and silence. Nye felt the silence when she was cleaning her brothers things knowing he wasn’t out mowing the lawn, just the opposite of Baldwin’s characters. “And when she did scream, it was the worst sound Isabel says, that she'd ever heard in all her life,” which just makes you want to cover your ears as if you could really hear it. Another passage from “Sonny’s Blues” reminds me of the good times Nye speaks of when they were young. In “The Little Brother Poem,” the two characters grew apart, but in “Sonny’s Blues,” they grew together. For Nye and her brother, it was the end; they loved, they laughed, they fought, he died. (Asyndeton) On the contrary, Sonny’s brother was finally able to describe their relationship by saying, “And I was yet aware that this was only a moment, that the world waited outside, as hungry as a tiger, and that trouble stretched above us, longer than the sky,” nothing else mattered. These two stories seem so different, yet their differences are the same.
This poem, and this story, cannot be read just once. If you become entranced, it is because of the simple beauty and true situations. I am sad to say that my brother and I relate more to Nye’s poem, but we can always aspire to be like Sonny and his brother. Through the reading of these literatures, I have learned that there will always be conflict, but there is also a way to change through understanding.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2009
Caroline's essay
Caroline Burlingham
H. Salsich
English
July 7, 2009
Courageous Despair:
An Essay in Response to Anne Sexton’s Poem “Courage”
In reading Anne Sexton’s poem “Courage”, I realized that courage, at least in her life, was often the result of despair or bad experiences. I also realized that courage can be stored away until the time is right and that it is powerful beyond belief. Anne Sexton used her courage to breathe in all the insults and tragedies she suffered as a kid and then hide them in the darkest corner of her mind. Years later, she wrote this poem.
Through careful studies, I have found three main themes of the poem "Courage", all of which I can relate to real and fictional life. Primarily, courage isn’t easy. Sexton states that, “Courage [is] a small coal that kept you swallowing.” There are times to use courage, and times you shouldn’t; a time when it is necessary, and a time when it is wanted. This is determined by how you plan to use the courage, whether it is needed or not, it must be used with caution. This being said, courage is complicated. As Sexton wrote in her poem, there is love and there is power and there is fear, but courage is incomparable (POLYSYNDETON). “If your buddy saved you and died himself in so doing, then his courage was not courage, it was love,” courage is courage, and there is nothing more to it. Lastly, I saw that in Sexton’s opinion, to have courage is to be free. No matter what people say, fear plays a huge role in our lives, but if you are able to handle that fear without retribution (FAST), you have courage. With courage, nothing can stop you, but it must be used gently. Through this poem, I have learned about the simple complexity that courage holds, and the role it plays in daily life.
This being said, the final lines of this poem tell us about courage and age, a race against the clock, but it also states that, “When death opens the backdoor you’ll put on your carpet slippers and stride out,” which tells us that even though you compete with Death, you are not a sore loser. This last line reminds me of one of my favorite books entitled, “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks, this being the remarkable similarities between the protagonist, Noah, and Anne Sexton’s morals and fears (LOOSE SENTENCE). “Courageous” is just one of the many words to use when describing Noah, but it is the small things that he fears. He is not afraid to hang from one arm at the top of a fairest wheel, but he spends his nights wondering if the love of his life will remember him in the morning. Anne Sexton, on the other hand, found courage in the small and unnoticed things in life, but again, she had fears. Through her poem, I was able to learn that she was not afraid of taking a first step or riding a bike, but dealing with her problems. Sexton may not have approached her problems like Noah, but she has covered them up with blankets and powders as a disguise. I think that Noah could relate to this poem. He is not afraid of dying, but having to live without love (ANTITHESIS). I think that he would agree with Sexton’s values and words, such as, “Love [is] as simple as shaving soap.” Sure, I have had brave moments, but I am still young and have not experienced the world like Anne Sexton and Noah have; which is why I respect them.
I have learned many things from this poem. I now know that courage is wise, courage is intricate (FAST), courage is small yet larger than life, and lastly, courage often walks side-by-side with fear (PARRALLELISM). Life takes many turns, and with courage, you can go either way with a smile on your face. As my mom often says, “Courage is in the eye of the beholder,” which, in my opinion, is a quote that Anne Sexton could understand.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009
Mr. H. Salsich
English
February 24, 2009
Brand New Worlds:
An Essay on Serenity and Its Cause in the Shakespearian Play, The Tempest
When I think of “Happily Ever Afters,” I think of fairy tales with a princess and a prince. Not once did I think of Shakespeare and his play The Tempest. The plot of the play is based on revenge, betrayal, and brokenness, but, as strange as it is, this play has a fairy tale ending. An ending with marriage, peace, forgiveness and harmony, all of which are achieved through the discovery of one man’s virtues.
A woman named Helen Keller once said, “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us,” which is how I would describe the series of events that have taken place in The Tempest. When Prospero saw his dukedom, his door, begin to close and slip away, he focused on the negative, revenge. What Prospero did not choose to see was opportunity, a chance to do right. Considering the fact that his brother left him to die with his three year old daughter and he then became trapped on a magical island, Prospero became powerful for the wrong reasons. (Periodic Sentence). In the end of this story, Prospero gets what he wants. He uses his magic to draw his brother to the island and then used it to torture him. It was at that moment that Prospero realized his mistake. In this play, Miranda speaks of peace, harmony, and “How beauteous mankind is,” which, in my opinion, was achieved by Prospero’s forgiveness and release of magic. Forgiveness is key in these moments; it is what sets Prospero free. It released him from the revenge and anger that acted like a dormant volcano inside him for the past twelve years. In the end, he began to see that when that door closed, another opened containing something bigger, better, and more powerful than the one before; tranquility and happiness.
In real life, it is going to take a lot of time, effort, and assiduous (FAST) people to change a world like ours into “A brave new world.” Our world, currently, is corrupt and disappearing before our eyes, but with some love and care, we could turn things around. Recently people have begun to notice our environmental problems and taken action. When people find a cause worth caring for, they should do anything to fix it and think of the positive, such as Gonzalo. Another virtue that I think is necessary is integrity (FAST). People need to be honest with themselves and others in order to achieve peace. Our world is based on lies, considering all wars, misunderstandings, and hatreds are based on rumor, belief, and dishonesty. (Loose Sentence) Lastly and perhaps most importantly, is forgiveness. In The Tempest it was this virtue that brought mankind together. I believe that if one is able to forgive themselves and perfidious (FAST) people, such as Prosper did, one can accomplish anything. With these three virtues, life would be fair, life would be worth living, and we, the people, would never look past those doors that Helen Keller spoke of; it would be a “Brave new world.”
For now, life isn’t fair, life isn’t honest, and life isn’t forgiving, in fact, some could argue that it’s the opposite. Our world isn’t much different than the one in the start of The Tempest, however this play isn’t about negativity, but what can be achieved through it. Life may start off badly for Prospero and Miranda, but in the end, they get their “Happily Ever After.” One thing I have learned through this play, is that it only takes one person to make a difference.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2009
Caroline's post
Mr. H. Salsich
Honors English
February 32, 2009
Behind the Notes:
An Essay on Music and the Effect it Has on Caliban and Myself
1) Music has been around as long as life itself. 2) It has developed from the drumming of sticks and rocks in cavemen times to the modern sounds of today. 3) Often music is written into the themes of plays and stories such as Shakespeare’s The Tempest, where it plays a small, but active and important role. 3) In truth, music has always been there for us, in the good and the bad, for the rich and the poor, and the young and the old. PARALLEL PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
TS It’s almost hard to believe that a thing like Caliban once spoke the words, “Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs,” but this is true. SD Caliban is trapped in the sounds of the island, natural or not, they confine him. CM Currently in The Tempest, he is in the midst of planning a murder, but when he hears Arial play and sing time seems to stop. CM At that very moment, nothing else matters, not Prospero, not the island, nothing is present but the music in his heart. SD Caliban, who is considered to be a monster and not human, has a soft spot for music. CM When he listens to music, he feels as if, “a thousand twangling instruments [] hum about [his] ears.” In my opinion, Caliban is not a monster, because no monster would care for music as he does, and no monster would ever describe a song in this way. COMPOUND COMPLEX SD When Caliban listens to music, he is in a dream, but when the music stops or he wakes up, he “crie[s] to dream again.” CM Music is his trap door. SHORT SENTENCE CM It takes him away from where he is, and puts him to a place of peace; alone and free form judgment. CS I feel as if Caliban thinks that it isn’t Prospero, Arial, or any of the other spirits that makes this a magical island, but the songs, lyrics, and chords that it plays.
TS Although the music we listen to today is different from what Caliban is hearing, it has the same effect on people. SD I, like Caliban, think of music as my “trap door”. CM It is my escape. CM It takes me away from all the troubles, dramas, and the complex ways of life, and to a place of peace. SD Music has the power to change my mood. CM I often listen to music when I am sad, but just listening to the lyrics of a happy song can make me feel the same way. CM Memories are carried within each note, beat, and chord, all of which take my mind off the bad and return it to the good times. SD In a way, the music we listen to describes us. CM Note after note a story is told, a picture becomes painted in our minds. APPOSITIVE CM Many song writers write from the heart and tell us of their lives, but when we listen to that music, we compare their stories to ours. CS It doesn’t matter where you live, who you are, or what your background is, music is a way of expressing how we feel.
1) Every Friday afternoon in English class, we listen to somebody’s music, and like Caliban, we all stop. 2) The room is always silent, but it still booms with the sound of pencils on paper writing out our thoughts. 3) For some people, music is only place of comfort and way to show emotion to others, but for the rest of us, it is simply for pleasure and peace. 4) Shakespeare understood the importance of music, and he expressed his feelings through this play, and into the minds of its viewers.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2009
caroline's essay
Caroline Burlingham
Mr. Salsich
English
February 3, 2009
Freedom Within Confinement:
An Essay on the Shakespearian Play The Tempest and How it Relates to Modern Life
Rarely does one find themselves comparing Shakespeare to Lynard Skynard, but while reading Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this is exactly what I found myself doing. In this play, there is talk of both confinement and freedom, and how they relate. According to Ferdinand, it is possible to be free while confined, as long as one is able to see love; and according to Prospero, one can become as free as the “mountain winds.” Now, I am able to see and understand the many connections between the legendary Shakespeare, the rock band Lynard Skynard, and my life.
For people like Ferdinand, the sensation of love helps him to escape his confined future in prison, but for me, all I need is my family and friends. If I were able to see just one thing everyday for the rest of my life, I would want to see all the people I have ever cared for. The brief moments spent with, or simply watching them, would be free. I would be out of this prison, free from suffering, free from lonesome, and free from hatred (TRICOLON). Ferdinand has recently lost everything and everyone he has ever known and cared for, but the sight of the beautiful Miranda makes him forget. I, like Ferdinand, do not need to interact with the people whom I love, but simply admire their freedom and bliss (FAST). I would do anything for my friends and family, which includes visiting a prison for the rest of my life, and I know they would do the same for me. Even now, out of jail, my life would be nothing without my friends and family, I cannot imagine a life without them.
In The Tempest, Prospero compares freedom to “mountain winds,” but when I think of freedom, one song in particular comes to mind, “Freebird” by Lynard Skynard. In my opinion, a bird is the definitive (FAST) symbol of freedom. Our own country is represented by an eagle. Birds are able to go wherever they please, all they do is spread their wings and fall. “I’m as free as a bird now, and this bird you can not change,” is a quote directly from the song that speaks of freedom and its power. This quote seems to say that once you have spread your wings, only you can change you mind. Whenever I see a bird in the sky, I cant help but to wonder what it would be like to fly so freely. Mountain winds and birds have a lot in common, they both can fly, soar, and are a symbol of freedom (PARALLELISM).
As Americans, we say that we are free people, but are we none of us are truly free. As humans, we are confined by laws, people, and what is considered to be “in”, but we shouldn’t have to worry about any of these things. People should learn to feel free as the wind and the birds that fly through it, and to pay attention to the small things that they see everyday. Both the band Lynard Skynard and Shakespeare knew that life was worth living, and that it shouldn’t be spent indoors or confined by the thoughts of others.
SELF-ASSESMENT
Issues I am continuing to work on:
Careless errors have never been a strong point for me. I just have trouble spotting things when I don’t know what to look for.
Strong points I see:
One thing in my essay I really like, is my fast words. I’m not sure why, but I really like the word “bliss”.
Going back I would fix…
If I could start my essay over, I would change my opening and closing paragraphs. For some reason, I don’t particularly like those paragraphs, but I don’t know how fix them.
The grade I would give myself:
B+
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2009
Mr. H. Salsich
English
January 27, 2009
A Life of Imprisonment:
An Essay on the Confinement of Prospero’s Slaves in the Shakespearian Play The Tempest
1) When ones life consists of nothing but loss and betrayal, it is almost hard not to defend what you have left. 2) For the characters Ariel and Caliban in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, life is confined to nothing but the wishes of their master, Prospero. 3) While the two slaves struggle to protect and hold on to their hopes and dreams of freedom, Prospero tries to hold on to their services, for they are the only things left under his power. 4) However, this just makes the lives of the servants more difficult.
TS The confinement and servitude (FAST) felt by Ariel is both mental and physical. SD Ariel is imprisoned by her gratitude to Prospero. CM When he saved her from her former master, both a witch and the mother of Caliban, she became his obedient servant in return. CM Although she does all he asks, she feels as if the debt she owes him is infinite. SD Despite the conditions, Ariel holds on to the dream she was once promised, freedom. CM The spirit considers herself a good and obedient slave, but simply reminding Prospero of his former words is a difficult and hash task (THREE ACTION VERB). CM Although a lightened workload is all she asks for, Prospero threatens to, “Rend an oak and peg thee in his knotty entrails till thou hast howl’d away twelve winters.” CS Ariel is loyal to Prospero, and though he doesn’t always treat her fairly, she holds on to what she has and doesn’t let her imprisoning life pull her down.
TS Caliban was once king of this enchanted island on which Prospero and Ariel live, but once the humans arrived, he became their slave. SD Wishing for the death of Prospero and ownership of his island, Caliban lives a life judged on his appearance and not his personality (SENTENCE OPENER). CM Shakespeare described Caliban as a “Freckled whelp hag-born—not honour’d with a human shape,” and that is how Prospero treats him. CM Caliban, in a way, is held captive by his looks. SD At the start of Prospero and his daughter, Miranda’s lives on the island, Prospero and Caliban were friends. CM Prospero feels betrayed by Caliban when he attempts to rape his daughter, but Caliban feels as if Prospero stole his island. CM Now, he is confined in terrible thoughts of Prospero, wanting nothing but what is rightfully his (SENTENCE CLOSER). CS It is safe to say that Caliban is simply trapped in the past, and until he begins to realize that what happened can’t change, he will never be set free.
1) Prospero was betrayed in his old life as a duke, and now, he can’t help but betray others. 2) Ariel and Caliban are both held down by Prospero in some way, whether it be by hatred or by gratitude, they are stuck. 3) Both Ariel and Caliban, being who they are, must obey Prospero and hold on to their beliefs, for they are all they have (S-V SPLIT). You can take an individual out of power, but you can’t take the power out of an individual (Chiasmus)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2009
Caroline Burlingham
Mr. H. Salsich
English
January 27, 2009
T.S. The confinement and servitude (FAST) felt by Ariel is both mental and physical. S.D. Ariel seems to be imprisoned by her gratitude to Prospero. C.M. He saved her, and in return, she has been an obedient servant. C.M. She does all he asks, and still, Ariel feels as if she needs to repay him. S.D. Prospero, on the other hand, doesn’t stand for nonsense. C.M. When Ariel simply reminds him of his promise, he threatens to, “Rend an oak and peg thee in his knotty entrails till thou hast howl’d away twelve winters.” C.M. The spirit just wants a lighter workload, but she is under Prospero’s command. C.S. Ariel is loyal to Prospero, but sometimes, he doesn’t have her best interest at heart.
IDEA MAP
TP what is confinement
TS The confinement is physical and mental
SD trapped by gratitude
CM been good slave and done all asked of
CM needs to repay Prospero
SD the tree
CM quote
CM wants less work
CS under his command
TS more physical than mental
SD trapped by appearance
CM quote
CM judged on looks not personality
SD Prospero is mean to him
CM verbally abused
CM tortured by thoughts of his mother
CS confined by his general being
CP looks back on confinement
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2009
Caroline's post
Caroline Burlingham
English
H. Salsich
January 6, 2009
Betrayed by a Brother:
A paragraph on One Theme of the Shakespearian Play “The Tempest”
As I have learned in the Shakespearian play, The Tempest, nothing positive will ever come out of treachery and betrayal, only broken lives, broken families, and years of guilt. When one has “a brother [ ] so perfidious” as Prospero, treason is bound to happen. Prospero’s brother, Antonio, was put in a high political position because Prospero loved him, but as soon as Prospero began to fade, his brother thought of it as an opportunity. Prospero became unfamiliar with his people, and his brother began to feel like the true duke of Milan. When Prospero said, “The government I cast upon my brother and to my state grew stranger,” he begins to tell the audience and his daughter how his brother became empowered. Although he was the duke, his brother was just one step away from being on top. Antonio betrayed his brother and country to get what he wanted and thought nothing of it. When Prospero says the words, “Thy false uncle,” he tells his daughter, Miranda, that appearances can be deceiving. His own brother, the one he had spent his Antonio could make their deaths look like and accident. Miranda and her father have spent years trapped on a small island, their lives ruined so far, but deep down, I think that Antonio is full of guilt, and that he also feels trapped and alone.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2008
Caroline's final essay post
H. Salsich
English
December 12, 2008
Describe your family and the role you play in it...
An essay on my family as a whole
1) My life is like an unfinished play. 2) Each person plays a role, has a character, and knows their part. 3) This play is completely ad hoc (FAST) which creates a past, present, and future. 4) Everyone can change who they are and the role they play at any time, which creates the story.
TS My family consists of many different and similar characters. SD First there are the parents who protect and care for the others. CM They create the options, heal the sick, enlighten the minors, and help the seniors. CM These two people are the ones that stick by you through the thick and the thin just because they care for you. SD Secondly, the younger and slightly annoying brother. CM He plays a role of constant change. CM One minute he will be happy, joyous, and amusing, the next fastidious (FAST) and unpleasant; but again, sticks with you until the end. SD Although my friends are not related to me, they are considered part of the family. CM They all know exactly what, how, and why I do the things I do. CM They are all there for me and know how to make me smile. CS The people that surround me everyday are the ones who shape my character into what it is now.
TS The true question isn’t about my family or the themes of this life long play, but who I am as a character, as a person, and as a part of this family. SD Academically, I am the honors student. CM I walk into class, laughing with my friends, and get right to work (S-V split participles). CM I study hard, take my time and I am not afraid of asking questions. SD At home, I am the oldest child. CM My parents trust and respect me, and I am considered the “responsible mature one.” CM My family is very close, we all seem to understand, respect, and listen to each other. SD Personally, I am Caroline Alden Burlingham. CM I am on the GIVE committee because I believe that the gift of giving is more important and rewarding than simply giving a gift (chiasmus). CM I am also in a singing group, play three seasons of sports, perform in the school musical, and have traveled all over the world. CS My character may have a quiet and shy outside, but once you break into the inner layers, I am a completely different person.
1) The role that I play has many different sides to it. 2) I am the big sister, the oldest child, the best friend, the honors student, and the Co-President of the GIVE committee. 3) My life truly is an unfinished script, and I just play the character named Caroline. 4) “All the worlds a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
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SELF ASSESMENT
1) Problems I am continuing to have are spelling and missing careless errors. I re-read my essays several times, but I just seem to miss them. I don’t even notice if something is spelled wrong because that is how I would think it is spelled.
2) I really enjoyed my topic paragraph. I like how I related it to a play. I also had the quote at the end to relate back to the opening.
3) I don’t think I used the S-V split correctly. I don’t really understand what it is. I just looked at the examples and tried to follow them.
4) If I re-wrote this essay, I would try to relate the body paragraphs to the topic more. I think I got off track with the idea of a play. It may confuse some people.
5) I would give myself an A-
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008
Carolines in-class essay
Mr. H. Salsich
English
December 4, 2008
What I Value in Life Is…
An essay about the valuables in my life
1) In the most recent gathering at Pine Point School, the entire community sat down to talk about poverty and hunger. 2) For just one day, we were treated as if we were in poverty by participating in the Hunger Banquet. 3) After being separated into high, middle, and low-income groups and eating a small bowl of rice, my eyes really began to open up to the rest of the world. 4) This gathering prompted me to think about how valuable my life truly is.
TS. Not only do I have access to the things I need and want, but I have people who I know will always be there for me. SD. My friends and family have never once doubted me and my ability to work and learn. CM. I know that I can talk to them about anything. CM. Everyone around me knows how to make me laugh, make me smile, and make me happy no matter what (PURPOSEFUL REPETITION). SD. Not only do I value the people around me, but where I stand in the world. CM. All my life I have had access to health care, education, food, and a place to live, while all over the world people lack these few things. CM. If I am ever in trouble, I know there will be help on the way, and numerous people cannot say this for themselves. SD. This is my twelfth year at Pine Point School, and soon I will be out in the real world. CM. Pine Point has sheltered its students from the negativity in life. CM. One thing that Pine Point is very good at is educating us about the negative things, such as drugs and alcohol, and this results to the decision to never experience them. CS. I value my friends and family, but I also value my teachers and recourses, because the have prepared me for the rest of my life.
1) Being Co-President of the G.I.V.E. committee at our school has really opened my eyes to the rest of the world in another way. 2) I raise money and goods for those less fortunate than me simply because I can. 3) I value everything that those people do to stay alive, and that’s why I help them. 4) For me the gift of giving is more important than giving a gift, (CHIASMUS) and I have learned this through my education at Pine Point School.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008
caroline's essay
Mr. Salsich
English
November 20, 2008
Is there a negative side to being you?
An essay on heterosexism
1) Have you ever walked into a room and suddenly everyone stops talking and looks directly at you? 2) Not a nice, friendly greeting kind of look, but a look that says, “Wow look at her/him,” in a way that makes you know that you are what they were talking about before you walked in the door. 3) Throughout our whole lives, this will happen, whether there’s a reason or not. 4) There will always be that one person that does not think different is a good thing and punish you for it.
TS By dictionary definition, heterosexism is, “Discrimination or prejudice against lesbians or gay men by heterosexual people,” but I, personally, would have to disagree. SD You aren’t automatically a heterosexist because you discriminated against a homosexual. CM Everyday, as I walk the halls at school, I hear people use the word, “Gay”. CM Although they may not realize, this very word, when used in the wrong way, can hurt even the strongest of people. SD I know from experience that words can hurt and they, unlike injuries, never heel. CM Even the kindest and most passive person can let a word “slip”. CM They are not automatically a heterosexist because they said something they don’t mean or laughed at a joke, they just don’t understand why people are laughing and join in so they are not left out. SD Discrimination and racism against someone who is different is part of being human. CM Although some people do believe what they say, a good percentage does not; if you do not mean or understand what has happened, than I do not qualify you as a heterosexist. CM People should do the right thing by speaking out, but they are afraid of the outcome. CS I my self, have used some of those hateful words and I am sorry to those whom I have hurt, but I do believe that it is your life, and that you should never let those people who don’t believe in you to stop you from being you.
TS If I myself was one of those people related to a homosexual, I would be perfectly fine with their decision. SD I can just imagine my whole family sitting at the dinner table eating and laughing about the day. CM We are about to clean up when my brother, standing by the entrance to the kitchen, makes his big announcement (PARTICIPLE).CM I would be shocked at first and not know how to react, but again, it is his life and he can live it however he would like. SD I am sure that both my friends and I would respond differently to those cruel jokes and insults now that we understand the negative side and how hurtful they can be. CM Personally living with a homosexual would change the way I see and think about things. CM I am sure that I am not a heterosexist person because I would no longer laugh, think, listen, or talk about the word, “gay” in inappropriate ways. SD I think that is okay to believe what you do, but there is no need for violence or discrimination. CM I have a friend who lives in California, and one night while I was on the phone with him, he told me about how his friends reacted when they found out he was bisexual. CM Even his closest friends turned on him, and with his aching head, and his bleeding nose, he had to be picked up from school early that day (ABSOLUTE). CS Many people are afraid to reveal their true selves because of things and people like these, but I personally think that this would be a hard secret to keep to your self.
1) All over the world people are being treated differently and unfairly just because they are unique in their own ways. 2) Whether you are a homosexual, or just have different beliefs, there is no reason for others to interfere with your life. 3) Although it only takes one person to make you regret your decisions, it only takes you to make the best of life and not let obstacles stand in your way. 4) “At least one thing will fall in your path before you can reach the finish line of life and happiness.” (Chinese Proverb)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2008
Caroline essay
Mr. Salsich
Honors English
November 12, 2008
Now and Then:
A reaction to an essay by N. Scott Momaday
1) They say that when you die, “Your life flashes before your eyes.” 2) This being said, is it possible for somebody else's life to “flash before your eyes,” after they pass away? 3) In a way, this is what happened to N. Scott Momaday in his essay called “The Way to Rainy Mountain.” 4) This emotion filled essay about the passing of a family member and their life related to me in many ways.
TS. N. Scott Momaday’s essay was not only an emotional story, but a connection in some ways to the life of my grandmother. SD. I know how it feels to have a grandmother pass away and not be there by her side. CM. Although I don’t, “Think of her as a child,” I did seem to notice that she started to act as one as her time was impending (FAST). CM. The very minute that the silence overcame her, I was buying a cell phone and the fact that I knew what was happening, filled me with guilt for the rest of the summer. SD. He talks about the journey that his grandmother and his people made, and once again, I thought of my grandma. CM. Her journey was not across lands, but through health and sickness. CM. My grandfather joined the sickening journey to comfort her, but eventually, he was the one who had to decide whether to turn off the machines or not. SD. When N. Scott Momaday revisits his grandmother’s old home, he describes the feeling by writing, “The walls have closed in upon my grandmother’s house.” CM. When I go to my grandfather’s house and happily greet him, I see those walls wrapped around him as he tries to smile back (3 ACTIONS). CM. After seeing death, or in my case, missing a death, no one is the same; even though we move on, we will never forget. CS. After finishing this poignant (FAST) story, I truly began to think of how similar the two stories are even though there is a whole forty-one years of difference stuffed between them.
1) In the end of N. Scott Momaday’s essay, he sees how the land has moved on. 2) This evidence of time shines brightly for me because it proves that there is still more to live and do. 3) I know now that it is ok to miss and regret, but it is never ok to let something like this stop you from living to the fullest. After all he and his people have been though, “The long yellow grass on the mountain [still] shone in the bright light, and a scissortail [still] hied above the land.”
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008
final draft
Mr. Salsich
English
November 5, 2008
A Second Look:
An essay on the importance of re-reading a story
1) Normally, I don’t think of re-reading a short story as a fun or appealing activity on a Tuesday night, but when that story is The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield, than I might actually get something out of it. 2) After I drove home, got settled, and finished my homework, I decided to re-read the story for a second time (3 Actions). 3) Surprisingly, I discovered and understood so much more about what Katherine Mansfield was trying to portray. 4) I even was able to put a family tree together, and think about a completely different group of characters.
T.S. Re-reading Katherine Mansfield’s story, not only made me look at Laura’s family in a new perspective, but changed my feelings about Laura herself. S.D. The first time I read this story, I seemed to miss some of the important characteristics about the host family. C.M. One quote said by Laura’s sister that I simply passed by the first time, told me what she thought of underclass men, “You won’t bring a drunken workman back to life by being sentimental.” (Quote 1) C.M. Not only did she judge the dead man, but degrade him in social status by declaring him as a “drunken workman”. S.D. Her mom on the contrary, just ignores the fact that a man had just been killed. C.M I noticed the second time through that her mother wanted nothing to do with her daughter at that point in time, and Laura being a child, looks up to her mother. C.M After Laura left her mothers room, “The first thing she saw was this charming girl in the mirror,” (Quote 2) her mother had successfully changed Laura’s mind about the situation by being herself. S.D. To me, Laura seemed like the most innocent of the three, but after re-reading the story, I find it hard to believe that she could be so innocent after such bad influences. C.M. Her mom only cares about social gatherings, and her sister is very judgmental and cruel. C.M. Laura came off as a sweet and heart filled child who reminded me of a person who would follow her heart not her head, a person who actually cares about the stranger who just passed away. C.S. At first, I thought of re-reading a story as a waist of time, but now that I have, I know so much more about Laura and her family than before.
1) The first time through, I felt as if I was just skimming the pages, but now I can truthfully say that I read The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield. 2) I never really thought that I could receive so much new information by simply re-reading a short story. 3) I now know the real people within Laura’s sister and mother, and though they look darling on the outside, they can be the very opposite inside. 4) By reading a story for the second time, you can gain more than imagined, and it might just change your feelings about the characters, and for the story itself.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2008
Caroline's final essay post
Mr. H. Salsich
English
October 6, 2008
Tell me what you know:
An essay on “appreciation”
1) What does it mean to “appreciate” something? 2) Is it the same as respect or is it completely different, and if it is or is not, than how are we expected to appreciate ourselves and others. 3) According to Dictionary.com, “appreciation” means, “the act of estimating the qualities of things and giving them their proper value,” but that would mean that not all appreciation is “good appreciation.” 4) To me, this is all a bit too perplexing (FAST), but after reading a short essay by Zora Neale Hurston, I think that I have begun to understand.
TS) When it comes to “appreciation” in writing, Zora Neale Hurston is one author that makes you understand. SD) In her essay, “How it Feels to be Colored Me,” she manages to write down her entire life on just a few pages. CM) She tells us about how when she was just a little girl, she was an expert at appreciating, even if she had no clue what it was. CM) But the moment she moved out of the small town she knew and loved, the appreciation she felt was torn away from her. SD) Zora used to appreciate everything around her. CM) She knew that everything is equal inside, no matter the color, the size, the shape, or the personality (purposeful repetition). CM) She was not afraid of life or death; she appreciated what she had even if it was very little. SD) But when she entered the real world, everything around her was different. CM) Before, she was a little girl, now, she’s a little colored girl. CM) This simple fact of life at that time made her lose everything that was once important to her, including her appreciation and respect of herself. CS) Without self-respect, you can tend to only focus on is what other people think, feel, and see when they look at you.
TS) Although I agree with Ms. Hurston about the importance of self appreciation, I feel that “appreciation” is meant to be given to others. SD) I appreciate my family and friends more than I appreciate myself. CM) I know that these people would do anything for me or anyone else that they cared about. CM) It doesn’t matter if someone is running for the U.S. Senate, if someone injured their ankle, or if someone is just having some hard times, everyone comes together and take the time to appreciates what we do (purposeful repetition). S.D) I give appreciation to people less fortunate than I, and despite the fact that I do not know them, I know that they appreciate me back. CM) As a kid, I did more wanting than needing, and now that I am older, I have the likelihood (FAST) of being able to “Give back” to all those who do not want but need. CM) Last year when the G.I.V.E Committee sponsored a family by providing them with a Christmas, we received a letter of thanks from them, and this really touched me and made me believe that people do appreciate what I do, even if they don’t know me. SD) Finally, I appreciate and respect those families who truly know the feeling of grief. CM) If they experienced loss from the collapse of the “Twin Towers”, in war, or by unnatural causes, than I understand how they feel. CM) People die everyday fighting in wars for me and my country, even if I don’t believe that they should there fighting, I respect them and what they do. CS) Just because I have self-respect, that doesn’t mean that by giving it to others I will lose what I have; by giving, I am more probable (FAST) to gain self appreciation apposed to loosing it.
1) I, personally, disagree with the dictionary definition of “appreciation”, to me it is much more than just a “quality” or “value”. 2) In my opinion, “Appreciation” is the ability to respect and understand another person or thing. 3) It is the power to do what you believe instead of just thinking about it. 4) Both Zora Neale Hurston and I think that appreciation plays a key role in your life; but it all depends on how it’s used.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2008
Caroline's Post
Mr. H. Salsich
English
October 6, 2008
Come and Go:
A comparison of loss and gain
As our lives pass before our eyes, we lose and gain so much that these things, these moments, and these people can not be accounted for.(PURPOSEFUL REPETITION) Whether you have lost your true love or the respect of your family, something will always come in return. You could be a nobody who just wants to play his jazz, or a golf caddie with a dream of winning, but whatever you are, there will always be a sliver lining. For Sonny from “Sonny’s Blues” and Dexter, from “Winter Dreams” these silver linings were less evident (FAST) than they had hoped.
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story “Winter Dreams”, Dexter, the protagonist, can’t stop thinking about the girl he once had. Dexter lost part of his life when summer ended and Judy Jones went back home. She didn’t just take his love, but his idea of love too. Because she left him, he lost his passion for loving as she was all he could think about. On the other hand, Dexter gained was a second chance. He got engaged to a new and beautiful woman, and although he did not love her, he was good to her. He also moved to New York and got a new job, made new friends, and went new places (PURPOSEFUL REPETITION). Judy Jones caused Dexter’s life to turn into a domino effect of losses. First she left, then his marriage didn’t work out, but Dexter always seemed to look on the bright side and he started new. Although he never did pursue his dream of golfing with the professionals, “For Dexter, the melody drifting over the water fuses the past and the present, the years of struggle just behind and the fulfillment just beginning.”(Fitzgerald) Not all losses are bad; sometimes they lead to something greater and more beautiful than the thing that was lost, all you have to do is open your eyes.
On the other hand, in the story “Sonny’s Blues”, Sonny, the protagonist, experiences loss at a very young age. Sonny did not lose the love of his life, or his new fiancé, but Sonny lost his family. His mother had passed away when he was little, and his dad was not the best father because of that. Although his brother did not die, he was so anxious to get out of the house that he left Sonny alone without communication. After Sonny was put in jail for drugs, he was able to gain back the one family member he had left. Although his brother did not endorse (FAST) his new inspiration of jazz music, it was just that which brought them together. In the end, he regained the respect from his brother by singing his “Blues”. Sonny, unlike Dexter, seemed to gain more than he lost throughout the story. He didn’t gain more by number, but by importance. Most of the time, your family and friends are the most important aspects of your life, and Sonny gained new ones through his music. Dexter Green’s life seemed to start on a good note and go down hill, but it was the complete opposite for Sonny and his “Blues”.
In our lives, many things will or have happened, some of these things we do not like, and others we love. But no matter how bad things may seem, or how great they appear to be, we stick with them. We are told over and over again throughout our lives to never give up, and that is one lesson that both Sonny and Dexter knew. One thing both of the protagonists’ from these stories knew, was that everything happens for a reason.
