Lasky and I: Imitation

He sits in his little cage, his blue eyes staring up at me. Sometimes i wonder what goes on in his mind, what makes him tick, whats flows through his brain. His black lavish black fur flows down to his face, its meshes in with the white on his face. This forms a contrast is he white, and black? or black, and white. As he lays down his head rests on his front legs, his hind legs curl up forming a sort of ball. I sit there typing observing him as he lays there quiet and content. I pat him on the head, he rolls his little crystal blue eyes up to look at me. His coat soft under my fingers as I run the up and down his head, occasionally roughing it up a bit. suddenly he stands erect his eyes targeted on his chew toy, slowly he moves then he attacks. They chew toy grasped in his mouth doesn't stand a chance, but he slowly looses interest in it. He simply lays his padded head on his paws, and winds down. The thing about lasky is he has many personalities, this is shown as i unlock his carry cage. He hears the lock, perks up and makes a dash for it. Running around like a maniac the little husky dog tackles items twice the size of him. Chewing everything he can, evading capture by me, and finally laying gently on my lap. His little eye lids drift slowly down a he prepares to retire for the day. A new home, a new life, a new bond between master and dog. For now i watch in awe watching him drift asleep.

Letter to Edith

Ah yes the Young Mr. Steinbeck, I remember teaching him as if it was just yesterday. I remember his eagerness to learn and find the so called "secret formula" of writing. I also remember the crushed spirit he wore on your face after I made him realise, writing is not something which just can be done. There is no Secret formula to writing, to create a good writer i had to break him down first, empty him, turn him into a blank canvas. I am pleased that my old student has keep all that i have taught him, in check all these years. I do not feel sorry for the grades I gave him when he was younger, as his stories lacked a certain umph. Although now i can see that he has grown into a great writer, and done this even though he wasn't the best their was. I see that Steinbeck still has things to learn, but has made remarkable progress over the years, although he still believes in this "secret formula". I am pleased to see that he regards me as a good teacher, it was a pleasure knowing that i helped forge such a vivid mind. Ah yes i remember telling him about the hardships of being a writer, he had the odds against him but he still succeeded. I honestly thought that he would fail, but eh proved me wrong. If their is one more thing i can teach you it is that nothing gets easier it is always something you have to deal with.

The Gospel According To Larry

This amazing novel written by Janet Tashjiank, is about a teenager named Josh, who takes on a second identity. This second identity, "Larry," is used to steer people away from consumerism and big corporations, and to educate people about how their lives are run by corporations. In the book "Larry" makes his own Internet site for fun, just to try and get people to be aware of whats happening around them. Josh doesn't know that he will end up causing a big stir over this site, many people start to follow "Larry's" word. Before he knows it Josh is leading thousands of people to a better life using this persona "Larry". "Larry" end up being discovered and revealed to be Josh, this causes quite a stir. Josh feels like "Larry" has become another marketing gimmick, so he does something unthinkable; Josh fakes his own death the death of "Larry". I think this book is very well written, and i like how it is written in a diary style with footnotes. This book made me think a lot about our lives today, and how much we are dictated by corporations. Overall i think this book is great, and i highly recommend it.

El photo essay

Picture #1 Group of men at table Six men are across the table from a man sitting down. The man sitting down at the front of the table looks groomed and clean, he is wearing a suite and has a clean hair cut. The six men on the far side of the table look tired worn and rugged. This picture helps me understand the lives of the working man. They look tired, overworked, and worn out. These men look like stressed out workers while the bureaucrat sits at a table, he is clean and looks wealthy. Picture #2 children walking with buckets in flood water There are three small bunk houses made out of corrugated sheeting. These houses are standing deep in flood water. all around there is nothing but water, and one wagon leaned against the house in the middle. There are tree branches hanging over top, they are empty have no leaves. This photo adds to the essay by showing us the harsh living conditions of these workers, and what they have to go through to survive.

Picture #3

Two blonde children play outside on the barren land. Behind them is a makeshift tent, made out of canvas and stick as poles. Inside the tent is the children’s mother, she looks tired and worn down. Strewn across the ground around the site, are random bits of junk and supplies. The earth is baked hard and is barren as far as the eye can see. This photo adds to the essay, by showing us how these people have harsh living conditions and hardly anything to survive with.

El photo essay

Picture #1 Group of men at table

Six men are across the table from a man sitting down. The man sitting down at the front of the table looks groomed and clean, he is wearing a suite and has a clean hair cut. The six men on the far side of the table look tired worn and rugged. This picture helos me understand the lives of the working man. They look tired, overworked, and worn out. These men look like stressed out workers while the buerocrat sits at a table, he is clen and looks wealthy.

Picture #2 children walking with buckets in flood water

There are three small bunk houses made out of corrigated sheeting. These houses are standing deep in flood water. all around there is nothing but water, and one wagon leaned against the house in the middle. There are tree branches hanging over top, they are empty have no leaves. This photo adds to the essay by showing us the harsh living conditions of these workers, and what they have to go through to survive.

Travels with Charley

One day my master took me to a strange place, unlike any place i have seen before. This place was magical full of trees, and land which stretched out as far as the eye could see. I do not know why we were here, but it was a pleasant change to the large black path we always drive on. we stopped at some gate thing, where another person like my master gazed at me. The strange person stared at me then uttered something to my master. The person looked apprehensive, but my master stayed calm so I didn't bother at the time. As we started to drive down the path, i was shocked to see a hideous creature standing in front of us. I gnarled and snarled for him to go away, but the beast didn't budge so i persisted with my offencive. My master stared back at me he looked confused and rather shocked, maybe he didn't like the creature either. As we continued down on our trek, i saw more of those horrid creature I barked at them again. It was strange as when i was snarling at the creatures, my master hit me on my ear. I didn't know why he did that, maybe i was scaring him. We camped out in a building for the night, but to my horror those things were still there, so i went on defence mode to protect my master. We finally left the horrid creature land, while stopping at the gate my master uttered something to the person. The both looked at me then we drove off, man my master is weird and i think hes a coward. He didn't do anything to stop those disgusting creatures, but hes my master and I shall always be loyal to him.

The flood

The flood by John Steinbeck is a immensely descriptive piece of work, which contains interesting patterns of speech, and has a solemn tone.
The flood is the most descriptive piece of John Steinbeck's work I have read so far. It is amazing how he turns every little object into a serving of description, emotions, senses, and interest. This piece of literature revolves around torrential down pour which has caused a flood. The flood has caused many people to suffer and loose work causing starvation and misery. The flood is a terrible thing and causes complete misery for the people, yet it is interesting how Steinbeck writes in such a way which forms a mellow tone. The tone of the story is very calm, as though someone was just reading out what they have seen in a picture. Another unique part to his writing in this story is the fact that a lot of slang is used, as if he is the actual people suffering from the flood. There are sections in his writing where there is dialogue between two people, yet he doesn't use quotation marks which strikes me as odd. Over all i think this is an amazing descriptive piece, and John Steinbeck continues to intrigue me; with this little unique features in his writing.

The turtle

"The turtle" is an interesting section, from the grapes of wrath by John Steinbeck. In this piece of literature there is a lot of description and the author paints a vivid picture from his words. The turtle is a section in the Grapes of Wrath which is about a lonely turtle trying to cross a highway road. In this piece John Steinbeck uses a lot of description, and symbolism to portray the harsh road the turtle has in front of him. the turtles goal is to reach the other side of the highway. The whole section about the turtle, symbolizes the hardship that the family in the Grapes of Wrath have to face. The family in the novel grapes of wrath have to leave their home, which has suffered a massive drought, to find work. This is the same as the turtle, as he is trying to cross from the harsh terrain from one side of the highway to the other side. I think this piece of writing is very interesting as in the style he writes in, its very descriptive but at the same time hard to understand. I find the use of the turtle trying to cross the highway as a symbol of people trying to find a better place is very smart. Overall I think "The turtle" by John Steinbeck is a very well written, and thought out, piece of literature.

betrayal you suck

Betrayal is something which continues to increase over the years as people become more self absorbed and look out for number one themselves. When you bond with someone and trust them that is something scared nothing should be able to break that, but that is not the case there are always people who betray you in one way or another. This doesn't mean you can't trust anyone but you should choose who you trust wisely. I think betrayal is something unforgivable sure you can be social with someone again after they have betrayed you, but the trust which was once there doesn't return in someway it never does. In a way I understand Medea's pain towards her betrayal, but that still does not justify her actions. In my case if someone betrayed me i probably would hate them or pound them but Medea killed everyone and that's kind of freaky. Overall i think betrayal is like a virus it spreads and once someone is betrayed they don't feel the same towards the betrayer anymore.

Lancelot and the chivalric codes

In class we read the short story Lancelot du Lake, in this story we met a young knight by the name of Sir Lancelot. Sir Lancelot shows a few of the chivalric codes such as bravery, Chastity, and loyalty. Sir Lancelot shows bravery as he fights his opponents without a second thought, he runs straight into a battle. He shows Chastity as he has saved himself for only one woman, Queen Guenevere. He also shows loyalty as he is loyal to only the king and his Queen. A g=few traits he lacks are justice and honour. He lacks justice as in the story he ends up brutaly killing alot of people to win a tournament. He also lacks honour as he does not stop to think what bad things he is doing and kills people without remorse. Overall i do not think Sir lancelot is a true hero, but he does posses some of the basic chivalric codes.

Compare contrast Lancelot and King Arthur

In class we first read the story, Lancelot du lake, this story was how you would say very eventful and maybe a little bit silly. In the story everything was over exaggerated, for example the black knight would impale people on his lance and carry then on the lance! back to the castle prison.
After that Sir Lancelot goes on a rampage and kills a whole bunch of people which i though was very morbid and totally irrelevant to the story. Overall i though the story, Lancelot du lake, was a big farce and what i though to be kind of funny. Whereas the story King arthur, in my opinion, was a great read. I enjoyed reading this story, because it was sensible, had action, and was more realistic. No one was being decapitated willy nilly and that is a type of story which i think is something i would read more. In King Arthur, it tells of a boy who was given by the king to a wizard called merlin, who then gave him to another person to raise. Arthur ends up removing the magic sword from the stone, and becomes king of the Britains. This is a excellent plot compared to Lancelot du lake, as it is something you can take a bit more serious.

2# suicide

Michael Torrin
Lit 2
Mrs. Lindsay
Suicide
The story Antigone by Sophocles is surrounded by a theme of love, death, and honor. In this story half of the characters commit suicide, due to events set it place by the King of Thebes Creon. King Creons arrogance and refusal of the burial of Antigones brother sets the chain of events in motion, which will lead to the suicide of King Creons son Haemon, and Antigone. King Creon declares that Antigones dead brother shall not have a proper burial as he supposedly betrayed his country. Antigone ignores this declaration, and buries her brother anyways, because she loves him and it is the right thing to do.
King Creon is furious and sends Antigone to be locked up in a stone vault. King Creon has an epiphany but is too late, Creon sais “Bring axes servants come with me to the tomb. I buried her I will set her free.” (Antigone 4. 103) This quote shows that Creon realizes what he does was wrong. Creon reaches the tomb but he is too late, Antogone has hanged herself with her own veil. King Creons son Haemon is devastated and drives a sword through his side ending in his death. Overall both of these suicides were caused indirectly by King Creon and his poor choices.

journal#1

Michael Torrin
Lit2
Mrs. Lindsay
The role of women

Antigone is the main character in a famous Play called Antigone by Sophocles. Antigone is a very strong woman for her time. It was rare to come across woman with such courage, and flare such as hers. In this story Antigone and her sister Ismene are contrasted one, Ismene, as the common Thebean woman, who is submissive and doesn’t speak her mind, the other, Antigone, as the strong, courageous, and passionate person. Antigone’s passion towards her cause and her will to get what she wants, and the fact that she did all of this although she is but a mere woman helped bring down the king of Thebes Creon. Antigone did not fear Creon she openly admitted what she did she said,”I do I deny nothing.” (Antigone 2. 52) This quote shows that she is not scared of Creon and is proud of what she did. I think that she is a symbol to other woman that they can be as strong as her, to break free from societies expectations. My reaction to this is that I think she is a great idol; because she stood up for what she believed in even, if it led to her death. One connection which I can get from this play is the fact that women today still fight for freedoms and against discrimination in some parts of the world. I think more of these women should be like Antigone, and stand up for what they believe in.

Movie or script?

In class we read the play Julius Caesar by Shakespeare, and watched the movie at different intervals. What I found was that the play was much better than the movie. I enjoyed the play much more than the movie. In the play it is easier to understand what is going on, because you Can take your time reading it. Whereas in the movie the actors talk so fast, that half of the time you don't understand what they are saying. This is not aided by their strong accent which does not tie into the movie at all, it just further complicates things. When you read the play it is much more enjoyable, because you can visualise what the character look like, make your own decisions on how the react with each other, and basically form how you think the character is. It is also better to read the script, as you can study the text, make meaning out of the words, and learn about the different rhetorical devices used in his script.

What i think of shakespear

Shakespeare is a really good writer although i do not like the Shakespearean language he writes in. He creates pieces of literature with great meaning and emphasis, it grabs the reader. Most of his works contain death, drama, and betrayal. Shakespeare work can be very confusing if you don't take the time to read it slowly and decode the meaning of each sentence. Over all i enjoy his work but i find it to be a bit to over ex centric.