Looking back, far back in time. I can see my grandma, great-grandma and grandpa. They are sitting around a fire slowly stitching by hand as my great-grandpa is sleeping soundly in an old rocking chair. I sit and watch as a large quilt is slowly sewn together. That quilt wasn't the greatest, but it was made with fine American ingenuity. A breeze rushes over my whole body and I am suddenly pulled away from the scene. Soft pounding slowly starts in my ear. It gets louder and louder. I'm rushed into a modern day factory, but the pounding was still there. I looked around, and sewing machines were everywhere. In the short story "Everyday Use," by Alice Walker the author illustrates the importance of understanding our present life in relation to traditions of this family's culture. You can see the aspects of this story by the characters, symbolism, and the actual meaning of the story.
The characters in the story are Maggie, Dee, and their Mother. Dee is a lovely young lady that only wants to make it big in the world, so it wouldn't be a surprise that her name would mean "a rising river." Maggie on the other hand loves to be involved in her heritage and traditions of her family. She is one of a kind just like her name meaning "pearl." The mother in the story is very simple and has a unsophisticated view of her heritage. Early on in the story we learn that the mother has inherited many customs and traditions from her ancestors, like the quilts that she has kept.
Even though the characters in this story are very important, the symbolism is also a important part of the story. Throughout most of the story the family was out in the yard. "It is like an extended living room(pg. 102)." This shows that the yard was like a safe area for the family. Another part of the story that had symbolism was when there was a fire in the house. "Her eyes seemed stretched open, blazed open by the flames that reflected them(pg.104)." In this part of the book it tells how the yard became a sanctuary for the family.
Not only is the symbolism essential, but so is the meaning of the story. The women in the story care deeply for their heritage. Even though Maggie feels as though the rest of her family are neglecting it, they still all have a mutual respect towards their culture. This story shows the relationship towards people's heritage, and how we see it now in the present day. The author shows that the heritage is shown not by possession of the object, but by one's lifestyle.
Anyone can see the significance of this story by the characters, symbolism, and the meaning of the story. I thought this story showed how some people neglect their heritage. Though our world has become more dependant on the technology in the world we should still try not to forget the little things in life even if it is only a quilt.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Dead Man's Path
You wake up in the morning. You’re on your way out of your house. Soon you are confronted with a path. Your start to walk down this path, but soon it falls from under your feet into thin air never to be seen again. In the story "Dead Man’s Path" by Chinua Achebe Mr. Obi wants to get rid of this path that goes through the school yard, but when the village priest finds out about it he doesn’t want the path to move, because it was put there by the town’s ancestors. Mr. Obi thinks that this town could benefit from this because it is new and improved, but is new always better? Some main aspects of this story are the characters, symbolism, and the whole meaning of the story.
The main character in this story is Mr. Obi. Mr. Obi was just appointed headmaster of Ndume Central School, and he thinks he has some great ideas for the school. Obi means “heart” and Mr. Obi has a lot of it when he is trying to improve the school. What Mr. Obi doesn’t realize though is that the path set through the school yard is a landmark for that town. Mr. Obi is a brilliant man, but that doesn’t mean that changing this tradition is the right thing to do.
Even though the characters in the story are very important the symbolism is just as vital. Symbolism is important to this story because it can give you clues to whether or not something good or bad will happen in the story. “…dream-gardens came to life with the coming of the rains, and blossomed(477).” This sentence is about a garden, and gardens usually bring new life to things which could mean something good is about to happen.
The symbolism is very important to the story, but so is the meaning of the title. The title of the story is Dead Man's Path, but there is no secret that there is a deeper meaning to the story than a path that has a dead man on it. In the story when the priest comes to inspect the school and finds out that Mr. Obi wants to redo the path that goes through the school yard the priest is devastated because that path was a local landmark that the town's ancestors were buried under.
The main focus of this story are the characters, symbolism, and the complete meaning of the story. This story tries to show that even though something may be new it is not always better. Things that are traditional aren’t always the most popular thing for people, but it can also be very important to others.
The main character in this story is Mr. Obi. Mr. Obi was just appointed headmaster of Ndume Central School, and he thinks he has some great ideas for the school. Obi means “heart” and Mr. Obi has a lot of it when he is trying to improve the school. What Mr. Obi doesn’t realize though is that the path set through the school yard is a landmark for that town. Mr. Obi is a brilliant man, but that doesn’t mean that changing this tradition is the right thing to do.
Even though the characters in the story are very important the symbolism is just as vital. Symbolism is important to this story because it can give you clues to whether or not something good or bad will happen in the story. “…dream-gardens came to life with the coming of the rains, and blossomed(477).” This sentence is about a garden, and gardens usually bring new life to things which could mean something good is about to happen.
The symbolism is very important to the story, but so is the meaning of the title. The title of the story is Dead Man's Path, but there is no secret that there is a deeper meaning to the story than a path that has a dead man on it. In the story when the priest comes to inspect the school and finds out that Mr. Obi wants to redo the path that goes through the school yard the priest is devastated because that path was a local landmark that the town's ancestors were buried under.
The main focus of this story are the characters, symbolism, and the complete meaning of the story. This story tries to show that even though something may be new it is not always better. Things that are traditional aren’t always the most popular thing for people, but it can also be very important to others.
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Tell Tale Heart
You creep inside the pitch black room. As you lurk inside you take out your lantern. A thin stream of light shines right into the “evil eye.” In the story "The Tell Tale Heart", by Edgar Allen Poe there is a young man being tormented by the eye. Many important aspects of the story are the characters, the mode of literature, and the symbolism.
The characters in the story are the narrator and the old man. The narrator is the main character in this story. He feels like he is being tormented by this old man’s “evil eye.” Throughout the story the narrator keeps saying that he isn’t a mad man, but as the story goes on we find out that he is because he kills the old man. Even though the narrator felt that he did good by killing the old man, I feel that the old man did nothing at all.
Even though the characters are interesting so is the mode of literature. The mode of literature for this story is Irony. I believe that it is an Irony story because some aspects of the story were unrealistic. A part that was very unrealistic in the story was when the narrator admitted that he killed the old man. “…it is the beating of his hideous heart.(pg. 385)” You know this part of the story is unrealistic because a dead man’s dead heart can’t beat.
Another important part of this story is the symbolism. A large part of the symbolism in the story was the “evil eye.” Many people believe that an evil eye could mean disapproval, jealousy, malice from that person and could cause them great harm. Another symbol is darkness. Darkness could also mean death for people. Going down stairs is another symbol used in the story. Down is a symbol because it’s like you are being tortured or going to die.
The characters, mode of literature, and the symbolism are very important to the story. Edgar Allen Poe could have written this story for many reasons. Maybe he had an unhappy childhood growing up, or maybe that he was just a troubled person. He may have been trying to show that there is more to the story than just this crazy man killing an old man and that there may actually be a large reason for the story.
The characters in the story are the narrator and the old man. The narrator is the main character in this story. He feels like he is being tormented by this old man’s “evil eye.” Throughout the story the narrator keeps saying that he isn’t a mad man, but as the story goes on we find out that he is because he kills the old man. Even though the narrator felt that he did good by killing the old man, I feel that the old man did nothing at all.
Even though the characters are interesting so is the mode of literature. The mode of literature for this story is Irony. I believe that it is an Irony story because some aspects of the story were unrealistic. A part that was very unrealistic in the story was when the narrator admitted that he killed the old man. “…it is the beating of his hideous heart.(pg. 385)” You know this part of the story is unrealistic because a dead man’s dead heart can’t beat.
Another important part of this story is the symbolism. A large part of the symbolism in the story was the “evil eye.” Many people believe that an evil eye could mean disapproval, jealousy, malice from that person and could cause them great harm. Another symbol is darkness. Darkness could also mean death for people. Going down stairs is another symbol used in the story. Down is a symbol because it’s like you are being tortured or going to die.
The characters, mode of literature, and the symbolism are very important to the story. Edgar Allen Poe could have written this story for many reasons. Maybe he had an unhappy childhood growing up, or maybe that he was just a troubled person. He may have been trying to show that there is more to the story than just this crazy man killing an old man and that there may actually be a large reason for the story.
Monday, December 21, 2009
A Night to Remember
I can’t believe it! I’m almost in high school, and already being invited to parties! Tonight I’m going to Sanchez’s party and not just any Sanchez. Sanchez Bon Qui Qui, the hottest, coolest, most popular senior that has ever stepped foot in North Cloud High, and he invited me to his party!
I got ready for the party. I wore my pink tank top with my shell necklace, a jean mini-skirt, and my black high heels. I felt confident like tonight was my night.
When I got to the party me and my best friend Gloria immediately scoped out guys. It seemed like everyone from school was there, along with every clique. The jocks were here, the cheerleaders, the skater kids, the band, even the guys that hang out in the computer lab and nobody knows their names.
“Keke!”
“Huh, what?!” Gloria nudges me.
“You have to pay more attention.” Gloria teased.
I rolled my eyes.
“Look over there!” I looked, but didn’t see anything besides kids talking.
I looked some more and then I saw him. Sanchez was over with a group of kids all trying to talk to him, but he didn’t say anything to them he had his eyes locked on me. He smiled. I could feel my heart going a mile a minute. I bet my cheeks were turning bright red. I smile back, and he stands up. He walked right towards me.
“Hey” he said
I tried to say hi back, but nothing came out.
Finally after a long silence Gloria chimes in, and says, “Great party!” I looked at her with my eyes wanting to say thanks.
Sanchez looks up from his gaze from me and replies, “Thanks,” but his eyes didn’t leave me for that long. His gaze quickly came back to me.
He asks, “So…Umm…Keke, would you like to dance?”
I felt my heart almost burst. I thought I was going to pass out. I didn’t know what to say, besides I couldn’t say anything anyways because I felt so light headed. So I just nodded my head yes.
He took my hands in his and he lead me out to the dance floor. His hands were warm almost sweaty, or that could be me I’m so nervous.
He slowly turns me, pressing my body into his. He smells good like Axe and Windex. His hands are right on my waist. I started to feel sick as we sway back and forth. I looked up at him and he looked down at me. Our eyes didn’t leave each others for a minute. He leans down trying to kiss me. I think I’m going to faint.
Suddenly the lights went out. Our gaze broke from each other when we heard a scream. The lights turned back on. Everyone looked confused. I looked around at everyone there, but I didn’t see Gloria.
I started to panic. Having a hard time breathing I must have passed out because I woke up minutes later in Sanchez’s arms across the floor.
“What happened?” Sanchez asked as I woke up
I didn’t know what to say so I just whispered, “Gloria.”
He must know what I meant because right after that he looked up probably trying to see if she was there. After about a minute of looking around he started to shout her name. After minutes of shouting everyone started to realize that they couldn’t find her at all.
I started to freak out. I grabbed my cell phone and called her. She answered, or at least I thought it was her who answered. When The phone picked up a strange…thing answered.
It sounded like some sort of creature.
The phone dropped from my hand and landed on the floor. Sanchez rushed to me asking what was wrong. I told him about the strange “thing” that answered. We weren’t sure what to do.
The lights started to flicker on and off. Everyone looked around. Nobody was standing by the light switch. This got everyone scared. A few people even ran home. I on the other hand stayed there so Sanchez wouldn’t be alone. After many of the kids left there was only me, Sanchez, and a few of his friends.
I got up from the floor and sat down on the couch and laid back. I must have fallen asleep though because I didn’t remember having Sanchez by my feet. I looked up to see him, but it wasn’t Sanchez. I large, white skulled face was floating from out of know where. I screamed, but the face vanished. Sanchez and his friends arrived in the room just seconds later trying to figure out what happened. I think someone was trying to ask me what had happened, but I passed out just moments later without saying a word of what had happened.
When I woke up everyone was huddled around me. Sanchez sat me up so that I was laying against his chest. He was warm, that started to make me feel better.
“What happened,” Sanchez asked.
“There…was…a-a…face.” I choked out.
“What?”
“There was a skulled face floating.”
He just stared at me probably thinking how crazy I am. The guys started to get bored. It got really cold, and foggy.
“It can’t be foggy inside!” I screamed
Everyone looked around. There was definitely fog inside. The lights started flickering again, and then there was a shout. Sanchez stood up, and he looked around. Suddenly he fell backwards. He looked like he had seen a ghost. I looked over and there was the face. We all started to freak out, shouting and screaming.
I ran, everyone was fallowing me. Sanchez leads us down to the basement, we close the door. I bumped into something, it was Gloria. I hugged her.
“What happened?!” I asked her.
“I-I don’t remember. One minute I was watching you and Sanchez and then I was passed out trying to get out of here,” she said gasping for air.
There was a knock at the basement door, then a scream. It was Gloria she stared up looking as white as a ghost. The door opened it was the skulled face. It slowly floated down the steps. Then it stopped in front of us, and laughed a deep disturbing laugh.
I didn’t know what to do so I screamed. Before I knew it Sanchez had pushed the face to the floor. We all scrambled up the stairs, and we all ran out of the house. We ran back to my house all safe and sound.
Later on that night we all were laying around in the living room glad to be ok. Soon everyone was asleep, but I was still awake. I started to settle into a deep sleep, then the lights went out.
The End
I got ready for the party. I wore my pink tank top with my shell necklace, a jean mini-skirt, and my black high heels. I felt confident like tonight was my night.
When I got to the party me and my best friend Gloria immediately scoped out guys. It seemed like everyone from school was there, along with every clique. The jocks were here, the cheerleaders, the skater kids, the band, even the guys that hang out in the computer lab and nobody knows their names.
“Keke!”
“Huh, what?!” Gloria nudges me.
“You have to pay more attention.” Gloria teased.
I rolled my eyes.
“Look over there!” I looked, but didn’t see anything besides kids talking.
I looked some more and then I saw him. Sanchez was over with a group of kids all trying to talk to him, but he didn’t say anything to them he had his eyes locked on me. He smiled. I could feel my heart going a mile a minute. I bet my cheeks were turning bright red. I smile back, and he stands up. He walked right towards me.
“Hey” he said
I tried to say hi back, but nothing came out.
Finally after a long silence Gloria chimes in, and says, “Great party!” I looked at her with my eyes wanting to say thanks.
Sanchez looks up from his gaze from me and replies, “Thanks,” but his eyes didn’t leave me for that long. His gaze quickly came back to me.
He asks, “So…Umm…Keke, would you like to dance?”
I felt my heart almost burst. I thought I was going to pass out. I didn’t know what to say, besides I couldn’t say anything anyways because I felt so light headed. So I just nodded my head yes.
He took my hands in his and he lead me out to the dance floor. His hands were warm almost sweaty, or that could be me I’m so nervous.
He slowly turns me, pressing my body into his. He smells good like Axe and Windex. His hands are right on my waist. I started to feel sick as we sway back and forth. I looked up at him and he looked down at me. Our eyes didn’t leave each others for a minute. He leans down trying to kiss me. I think I’m going to faint.
Suddenly the lights went out. Our gaze broke from each other when we heard a scream. The lights turned back on. Everyone looked confused. I looked around at everyone there, but I didn’t see Gloria.
I started to panic. Having a hard time breathing I must have passed out because I woke up minutes later in Sanchez’s arms across the floor.
“What happened?” Sanchez asked as I woke up
I didn’t know what to say so I just whispered, “Gloria.”
He must know what I meant because right after that he looked up probably trying to see if she was there. After about a minute of looking around he started to shout her name. After minutes of shouting everyone started to realize that they couldn’t find her at all.
I started to freak out. I grabbed my cell phone and called her. She answered, or at least I thought it was her who answered. When The phone picked up a strange…thing answered.
It sounded like some sort of creature.
The phone dropped from my hand and landed on the floor. Sanchez rushed to me asking what was wrong. I told him about the strange “thing” that answered. We weren’t sure what to do.
The lights started to flicker on and off. Everyone looked around. Nobody was standing by the light switch. This got everyone scared. A few people even ran home. I on the other hand stayed there so Sanchez wouldn’t be alone. After many of the kids left there was only me, Sanchez, and a few of his friends.
I got up from the floor and sat down on the couch and laid back. I must have fallen asleep though because I didn’t remember having Sanchez by my feet. I looked up to see him, but it wasn’t Sanchez. I large, white skulled face was floating from out of know where. I screamed, but the face vanished. Sanchez and his friends arrived in the room just seconds later trying to figure out what happened. I think someone was trying to ask me what had happened, but I passed out just moments later without saying a word of what had happened.
When I woke up everyone was huddled around me. Sanchez sat me up so that I was laying against his chest. He was warm, that started to make me feel better.
“What happened,” Sanchez asked.
“There…was…a-a…face.” I choked out.
“What?”
“There was a skulled face floating.”
He just stared at me probably thinking how crazy I am. The guys started to get bored. It got really cold, and foggy.
“It can’t be foggy inside!” I screamed
Everyone looked around. There was definitely fog inside. The lights started flickering again, and then there was a shout. Sanchez stood up, and he looked around. Suddenly he fell backwards. He looked like he had seen a ghost. I looked over and there was the face. We all started to freak out, shouting and screaming.
I ran, everyone was fallowing me. Sanchez leads us down to the basement, we close the door. I bumped into something, it was Gloria. I hugged her.
“What happened?!” I asked her.
“I-I don’t remember. One minute I was watching you and Sanchez and then I was passed out trying to get out of here,” she said gasping for air.
There was a knock at the basement door, then a scream. It was Gloria she stared up looking as white as a ghost. The door opened it was the skulled face. It slowly floated down the steps. Then it stopped in front of us, and laughed a deep disturbing laugh.
I didn’t know what to do so I screamed. Before I knew it Sanchez had pushed the face to the floor. We all scrambled up the stairs, and we all ran out of the house. We ran back to my house all safe and sound.
Later on that night we all were laying around in the living room glad to be ok. Soon everyone was asleep, but I was still awake. I started to settle into a deep sleep, then the lights went out.
The End
Monday, December 7, 2009
Speak
Imagine you are starting your freshman year in high school. You are invited to your first high school party. A boy has his eyes on you at the party. He aproaches you. Before you know it you are on the ground staring up at the trees. In the story Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson Melinda is a very depressed character. Melinda starts out as a freshman in high school, but over the summer she was sexually abused. You can tell when she is angry or sad, and even if something is about bad is to happen because of the symbolism.
The symbolism in the story helped show when something bad happened or will happen. For example Melinda was disecting a frog;“Our frog lies on her back. Waiting for a prince to come and princessify her with a smooch? I stand over her with my knife...I slice open her belly. She doesn’t say a word she is already dead. A scream starts in my gut-I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, leaves in my hair(pg. 81).” This part shows that she remembers something and probably not that good of a memory because right after this Melinda fainted. You can tell how she felt when she said, “A scream starts in my gut,” she seems very unhappy and kind of scared.
Another part of the book that had symbolism is, “A cracked mirror tilts over the sink littered in dead roaches crocheted together in cobwebs(pg.25-26).” A cracked mirror usually is a sign of bad luck, so you can tell something bad will happen in this area.
With the symbolism you can tell something bad, sad, or even something good will happen. The symbolism helped Melinda find herself. She started out as a dead tree, but once she cut off the dead branches she was able to grow even stronger than before.
The symbolism in the story helped show when something bad happened or will happen. For example Melinda was disecting a frog;“Our frog lies on her back. Waiting for a prince to come and princessify her with a smooch? I stand over her with my knife...I slice open her belly. She doesn’t say a word she is already dead. A scream starts in my gut-I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, leaves in my hair(pg. 81).” This part shows that she remembers something and probably not that good of a memory because right after this Melinda fainted. You can tell how she felt when she said, “A scream starts in my gut,” she seems very unhappy and kind of scared.
Another part of the book that had symbolism is, “A cracked mirror tilts over the sink littered in dead roaches crocheted together in cobwebs(pg.25-26).” A cracked mirror usually is a sign of bad luck, so you can tell something bad will happen in this area.
With the symbolism you can tell something bad, sad, or even something good will happen. The symbolism helped Melinda find herself. She started out as a dead tree, but once she cut off the dead branches she was able to grow even stronger than before.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Swing Choir Field Trip
Today some of the student at the school went on a field trip to see a latin jazz group play a few songs for us(which were really long)it was a lot of fun to hear the music. During the preformance the piano player asked someone to go up and dance with him. Leah, Abby, and Emily both fell backwards trying to say no, so me being as cool as I am offered to go up there. It was a lot of fun and wasn't even that hard. After I got off the stage it was fun for people to come up to me and talk aboutit and "most" of the comments were really nice. After that when had some mexican food, but I didn't really enjoy it because they didn't have and quasidillas:( but everything else was really good. I hyad a really fun time tough after when we came back in by the preformers and we chanted "raae, ooo" is was REALLY funny though after when we were chanting it on the bus. Overall it was a really exciting day.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Axel Practice
For the last few weeks me and my wonderful coach Susan has pushed me to work on finalizing my Axel jump. Though I have already landed my Axel she wants me to work hard and make sure when I jump that it also looks nice. It has been very hard I have gotten a few cuts and scratches on my legs when I would bring my feet together, and now my legs are covered in them. Even though I had a hard time at first getting into the jump it finnally looks nice. I'm very proud of the progress I have made on the jump in the last few weeks.
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