accoutrements: (noun) Personal clothing, accessories, etc.
- Barbie dolls often come with accoutrements.
apogee: (noun) The highest or most distant point; climax.
- The apogee came in his speech, when speaking of George Washington.
apropos: (adverb) Fitting, at the right time, appropriate to a situation; to the purpose; opportunely.
- The article dealing with shoplifting was apropos.
bicker: (verb) Argue about petty and trivial matters.
- The couple often bickered over the smallest of things.
coalesce: (verb) To unite, to come together; to form one mass, community, or body.
- The groups of people coalesced into a large crowd.
contretemps: (noun) An inopportune occurrence; an embarrassing mischance.
- She caused a contretemps by knocking over her food at the restaurant.
convolution: (noun) A rolled up or coiled condition; a rolling or coiling together.
- The question asked by the professor caused a convolution of thoughts.
cull: (verb) To choose; select; pick.
- Samples were taken from all the bears who were culled from the mountains.
disparate: (adjective) Distinct in kind; essentially different; dissimilar.
- The two girls had disparate ideas regarding the purpose of the constitution.
dogmatic: (adjective) Inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.
- His statement was a dogmatic assertion.
licentious: (adjective) Sexually unrestrained; disregarding rules.
- They thought they had found a kindred soul in the licentious woman.
mete: (verb) Dispense or allot justice, a punishment, or harsh treatment.
- The judge will mete out a sentence to the guilty defendant.
noxious: (adjective) Harmful, injurious to health or physical well-being. Harmful; poisonous.
- The noxious fumes were dangerous for the young children.
polemic: (noun) A controversial argument; A person who argues in opposition to another.
- The book contained a polemic regarding the president's decisions.
populous: (adjective) Full of residents or inhabitants; heavily populated; crowded with people.
- New York city is a populous area.
probity: (noun) Integrity and uprightness; honesty.
- Good faith and probity are not often found among teenagers.
repartee: (noun) Conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or replies.
- He was skilled in his use of repartee.
supervene: (verb) To take place or occur as something additional or extraneous.
- The plans were changed by supervening events.
truncate: (verb) To shorten by cutting off a part; to cut short.
- The man truncated his explanation.
unimpeachable: (adjective) Above suspicion; impossible to discredit; entirely trustworthy.
- The school district is in demand of unimpeachable leadership.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
BEOWULF QUESTIONS
I worked on the Beowulf Questions with Erica, Maria, Elisia, and Vanessa. We split the questions up on Facebook, all receiving either 10 or 11 questions each. The questions took me quite a while to complete, only because I didn't completely understand Beowulf and had to read a number of translations before answering the questions.
BEOWULF AND GRENDEL
[Prologue: The Rise of the Danish Nation]
(ERICA MARQUEZ)
1. Realize that this prologue introduces the Danes, not Beowulf or his people the Geats. What was unusual about the way Shield came to be ruler of the Danes? What was his funeral like? What relation is Hrothgar to Shield?
-The unusual thing about Shield’s journey to become a ruler was that he came from humble beginning. He was not wanted by is parents. Despite all of the neglect in his early years he became a ruler. For his funeral he was put on a boat in which he had many treasures and material goods. The relation between Hrothgar and Shield is that they are family.
1. What magnificent work did Hrothgar undertake? Who attacked it, and with what result? How long did the attacks last? What was the response of the Danes?
- Hrothgar built the Heorot hall. Grendel the monster attacked it and attacks/kills thirty men. The attacks last for 12 years. That is also the amount of year Danes residents are in fear.
- Beowulf decides to take action and help. He takes 14 of his toughest men and they all sail to Danes to stop Grendel from doing more harm.
2. Whom do the Geats first meet when they arrive in Denmark? What does he do, and what do they do?
- The Geats first met a guard whom questions them about their arrival and purpose to be in that town. They respond that they come to help kill Grendel.
3. They next meet Hrothgar's herald. Who is he? What does he tell them? What does he tell Hrothgar? What does Hrothgar respond? Are you surprised that Hrothgar knows Beowulf so well?
-Herald (Wiglaf) is a kind of watchman/messanger. He interrogates the Geats, and after he knows there purpose for being there he tells Hrothgar about them. Hrothgar is pleased to have them help.
4. What does Beowulf tell Hrothgar when he enters? What did Hrothgar do for Beowulf's father?
- Beowulf brags about himself and say he will be able to kill Grendel very easily. Hrothgar helps Beowulf’s dad with some issues.
- Unferth doubts Beowulf’s accomplishments. Beowulf says his accomplishments loud and proud. He also accuses Unferth of killing his brothers. This episode is relevant to the poem as a whole because Beowulf’s confident and honor is present. Beowulf is ready to protect his reputation throughout the whole poem.
2. What is Queen Wealhtheow doing during the feasting?
- She is being flirty welcoming to the Geats.
[The Fight with Grendel]
1. Heroic poetry normally has a scene in which the hero arms for battle. What is different about Beowulf's preparations for his fight with Grendel?
-Beowulf is actually very nervous before the battle yet he refuses to wear armor.
2. What happens when Grendel enters Heorot? How does Beowulf fight with him? What happens when Grendel tries to leave? Does Grendel escape? What does he leave behind?
- When Grendel enters Heorot the hall shakes and rings. Beowulf and Grendel fight in the hall. They battle across the floor and in every direction. When Grendel tries to escape he is powerless. He manages to escape wounded, and expected to die soon. Grendel leaves his arm, claw and shoulder behind.
[Celebration at Heorot]
(MARISOL DUARTE)
1. When the Danes and Geats return from following Grendel's tracks to the mere, someone sings in Beowulf's presence, comparing him to Sigemund and saying that he was not like Heremod (lines 883-914). How is Beowulf like Sigemund? How is he not like Heremod? (Be alert for inserted stories such as this one. Beowulf contains many of them, most much more complex that this one.)
- Beowulf is like Sigemund because they are both considered heroes, who became known for their good deeds. Beowulf is not like Heremond because Beowulf does things out of kindness. Heremond, on the other hand, does things for the glory that comes with them.
2. How does Hrothgar respond to Beowulf's deed? What does he offer to do for him? What does Unferth have to say now?
- Hrothgar is extremely happy due to Beowulf's deed. Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts and even announces Beowulf as his son. Unferth has absolutely nothing to say and remains quiet.
3. The singer sings of Finn during the feasting (lines 1070-1158). The exact details of the Finn story are not clear, but in general, what happens? What does it suggest about the wisdom of using a woman as bride to heal enmity between tribes?
- Finn gets married with Hildeburgh in order heal the hatred between the two tribes. Using a woman as a bride can ultimately bring enemies together and unite the tribes.
4. When the feasting resumes, what does Wealhtheow ask Hrothgar not to do?
- When the feasting resumes Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar to not give the throne to Beowulf, but to their son instead.
5. Wealhtheow gives Beowulf a large, broad necklace. What later happens to it? What does Wealhtheow ask Beowulf to do?
- Beowulf gives the necklace to Hygelac. Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to help and take care of her sons.
6. Why do so many men remain in the beer hall to sleep? Why is it a mistake?
- So many men remain in the beer hall to sleep because they believe that it's safe now that Grendel is dead. Sleeping in the hall is a mistake because Grendel's mother arrives at the hall that night seeking revenge.
BEOWULF AND GRENDEL'S MOTHER
[Another Attack]
1. Why has Grendel's mother come to Heorot? Is it the same reason Grendel had?
- Grendel's mother has come to Heorot in order to seek revenge. No, Grendel only went to the hall to kill men for no reason whatsoever, while Grendel's mother went to the hall to seek revenge on the men who ended her son's life.
2. What is Hrothgar's response? Whom has Grendel's mother killed?
- Hrothgar is devastated and asks Beowulf for help. Grendel's mother killed Aeschere, Hrothgar's very close friend.
3. What sort of place is the mere?
- The mere is where Grendel and his mother live. It's a long stretch of water under the shadow of a very large, ugly, grey rock.
[Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother] (lines 1383-1650, pp. 63-68)
(MARIA LUNA)
1.How does Beowulf tell Hrothgar to respond?
- he tells him that is better to avenge a friend than to mourn him.
2.What happens at the mere before Beowulf enters it?
- the water boils
3.How does Beowulf prepare for the battle? What sword does he take with him?
- he puts on his best armor and tells Hrothgar what should be done if he dies. The sword he takes belongs to Unferths, the sword's name is Hrunting
4.What happens when Beowulf enters the mere? What is surprising about where Grendel and his mother live in the mere?
- When Beowulf enters the mere, creatures in the water attack him but they are unable to hurt him. The thing that was surprising was that it took Beowulf half a day to get to the mere.
5.What happens to the sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth?
- When Beowulf tries to hit Grendel's mother with Unferth's sword, the sword breaks without hurting her.
6.At one point Beowulf is on the floor, with Grendel's mother sitting on him and drawing her knife. How does Beowulf escape?
- he escapes because his armor stopped the knife.
7.How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother? What weapon does he use? What happens when she dies? What does Beowulf take with him from her home? What happens to the sword he used to kill her?
- Beowulf kills Grendel's mother by cutting her neck with a sword he found in the cave that was made by gigants. When she dies, the mere is filled with light, since the light reaches the top, Beowulf's men assume that he died in battle. Beowulf takes her head to land as prove. The sword he used to kill her melted after she died.
8.What happens when Beowulf returns to the surface? Did his men expect him to return?
- When Beowulf returns, he finds that his men are gone because they thought the blood in the water was his.
[Further Celebration at Heorot] (lines 1651-1798, pp. 68-71)
1.What does Beowulf give to Hrothgar?
- Beowulf gives Hrothgar the head of Grendels's mom and what's left of his sword.
2.What message does Hrothgar have for Beowulf? What and why does he tell us about Heremod? Why and how did Heremod die? What lesson does Hrothgar teach with the Heremod example?
- Hrothgar tells Beowulf to be a fair king and not to be mislead by pride with the Heremod example.
3.What does Beowulf give to Unferth as he leaves?
- he give him his sword
[Beowulf Returns Home] (lines 1799-2199, pp. 71-79)
(ELISIA ESTRADA)
(VANESSA VARGAS)
6. Heardred the son of Hygelac was killed by sons of Ohthere. Beuwulf planed to revenge his friends death by befriended Eadgils and then killing him.
7. Eleven men accompany Beowulf meanwhile he goes and kill the dragon.
8. Hygelac's oldest brother Herebeald was killed by Haethcyn from a bow-n-arrow. This caused Beowulf to kill King Hrethel with his bear hands. After Hethrals death the Swedes and Geats Battled and fought without a quarter. Haethcyn died in this battle.
[Beowulf attacks the Dragon]
1. Beowulf tells his army to wait outside for him so he can fight the dragon.
2. During the battle it is clear that Beowulf has clearly didn't know the dragons strength. His army tries to leave him but Wiglaf didn't. He tries to help Beowulf who is struggling to survive from the fight of the dragon.
3. They both try to kill the dragon Beowulf was badly injured, It is clear he may die. In end they defeat the dragon.
4. Beowulf told Wiglaf to take over for him because he wants him to protect those he cares about. He asked to see the gold. He wanted to be burned at the Headland and wants it named Beowulf's Barrow.
[Beowulf's Funeral]
1. They try their hardest to save Beowulf but it failed. Wiglaf says that he wishes to die because they are so in honorable. He thinks that the Geats will fall apart.
2. The messenger announces Beowulf's death. Ogentheow threatens the Geats. Hygelac saves them all by killing Ogentheow. The final image was the big dragon.
3. Wiglaf tells the crowd that they need to give Beowulf a proper burial, because they were all blamed for his death.
4. Wiglaf's men kill the dragon by pushing him into the ocean.
5. Beowulf's men mourned him and buried him with gifts during the funeral.
(MARISOL DUARTE)
6. What did the Geats say about Beowulf in the last three lines of the poem? Are these the terms one would expect to be used to describe a military hero?
- The Geats said that Beowulf was the most kind and gentle lord in the world. No, these are not the terms one would expect to be used to describe a military hero because military heroes kill their enemies and killing is neither 'kind' nor a 'gentle' thing to do.
BEOWULF AND GRENDEL
[Prologue: The Rise of the Danish Nation]
(ERICA MARQUEZ)
1. Realize that this prologue introduces the Danes, not Beowulf or his people the Geats. What was unusual about the way Shield came to be ruler of the Danes? What was his funeral like? What relation is Hrothgar to Shield?
-The unusual thing about Shield’s journey to become a ruler was that he came from humble beginning. He was not wanted by is parents. Despite all of the neglect in his early years he became a ruler. For his funeral he was put on a boat in which he had many treasures and material goods. The relation between Hrothgar and Shield is that they are family.
[Heorot is
Attacked]
1. What magnificent work did Hrothgar undertake? Who attacked it, and with what result? How long did the attacks last? What was the response of the Danes?
- Hrothgar built the Heorot hall. Grendel the monster attacked it and attacks/kills thirty men. The attacks last for 12 years. That is also the amount of year Danes residents are in fear.
[The
Hero Comes to Heorot]
- Beowulf decides to take action and help. He takes 14 of his toughest men and they all sail to Danes to stop Grendel from doing more harm.
2. Whom do the Geats first meet when they arrive in Denmark? What does he do, and what do they do?
- The Geats first met a guard whom questions them about their arrival and purpose to be in that town. They respond that they come to help kill Grendel.
3. They next meet Hrothgar's herald. Who is he? What does he tell them? What does he tell Hrothgar? What does Hrothgar respond? Are you surprised that Hrothgar knows Beowulf so well?
-Herald (Wiglaf) is a kind of watchman/messanger. He interrogates the Geats, and after he knows there purpose for being there he tells Hrothgar about them. Hrothgar is pleased to have them help.
4. What does Beowulf tell Hrothgar when he enters? What did Hrothgar do for Beowulf's father?
- Beowulf brags about himself and say he will be able to kill Grendel very easily. Hrothgar helps Beowulf’s dad with some issues.
[Feast
at Heorot]
1. What does Unferth accuse Beowulf of? How does Beowulf
answer him? How is this episode relevant to the poem as a whole? What does Beowulf
accuse Unferth of?- Unferth doubts Beowulf’s accomplishments. Beowulf says his accomplishments loud and proud. He also accuses Unferth of killing his brothers. This episode is relevant to the poem as a whole because Beowulf’s confident and honor is present. Beowulf is ready to protect his reputation throughout the whole poem.
2. What is Queen Wealhtheow doing during the feasting?
- She is being flirty welcoming to the Geats.
[The Fight with Grendel]
1. Heroic poetry normally has a scene in which the hero arms for battle. What is different about Beowulf's preparations for his fight with Grendel?
-Beowulf is actually very nervous before the battle yet he refuses to wear armor.
2. What happens when Grendel enters Heorot? How does Beowulf fight with him? What happens when Grendel tries to leave? Does Grendel escape? What does he leave behind?
- When Grendel enters Heorot the hall shakes and rings. Beowulf and Grendel fight in the hall. They battle across the floor and in every direction. When Grendel tries to escape he is powerless. He manages to escape wounded, and expected to die soon. Grendel leaves his arm, claw and shoulder behind.
[Celebration at Heorot]
(MARISOL DUARTE)
1. When the Danes and Geats return from following Grendel's tracks to the mere, someone sings in Beowulf's presence, comparing him to Sigemund and saying that he was not like Heremod (lines 883-914). How is Beowulf like Sigemund? How is he not like Heremod? (Be alert for inserted stories such as this one. Beowulf contains many of them, most much more complex that this one.)
- Beowulf is like Sigemund because they are both considered heroes, who became known for their good deeds. Beowulf is not like Heremond because Beowulf does things out of kindness. Heremond, on the other hand, does things for the glory that comes with them.
2. How does Hrothgar respond to Beowulf's deed? What does he offer to do for him? What does Unferth have to say now?
- Hrothgar is extremely happy due to Beowulf's deed. Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts and even announces Beowulf as his son. Unferth has absolutely nothing to say and remains quiet.
3. The singer sings of Finn during the feasting (lines 1070-1158). The exact details of the Finn story are not clear, but in general, what happens? What does it suggest about the wisdom of using a woman as bride to heal enmity between tribes?
- Finn gets married with Hildeburgh in order heal the hatred between the two tribes. Using a woman as a bride can ultimately bring enemies together and unite the tribes.
4. When the feasting resumes, what does Wealhtheow ask Hrothgar not to do?
- When the feasting resumes Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar to not give the throne to Beowulf, but to their son instead.
5. Wealhtheow gives Beowulf a large, broad necklace. What later happens to it? What does Wealhtheow ask Beowulf to do?
- Beowulf gives the necklace to Hygelac. Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to help and take care of her sons.
6. Why do so many men remain in the beer hall to sleep? Why is it a mistake?
- So many men remain in the beer hall to sleep because they believe that it's safe now that Grendel is dead. Sleeping in the hall is a mistake because Grendel's mother arrives at the hall that night seeking revenge.
BEOWULF AND GRENDEL'S MOTHER
[Another Attack]
1. Why has Grendel's mother come to Heorot? Is it the same reason Grendel had?
- Grendel's mother has come to Heorot in order to seek revenge. No, Grendel only went to the hall to kill men for no reason whatsoever, while Grendel's mother went to the hall to seek revenge on the men who ended her son's life.
2. What is Hrothgar's response? Whom has Grendel's mother killed?
- Hrothgar is devastated and asks Beowulf for help. Grendel's mother killed Aeschere, Hrothgar's very close friend.
3. What sort of place is the mere?
- The mere is where Grendel and his mother live. It's a long stretch of water under the shadow of a very large, ugly, grey rock.
[Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother] (lines 1383-1650, pp. 63-68)
(MARIA LUNA)
1.How does Beowulf tell Hrothgar to respond?
- he tells him that is better to avenge a friend than to mourn him.
2.What happens at the mere before Beowulf enters it?
- the water boils
3.How does Beowulf prepare for the battle? What sword does he take with him?
- he puts on his best armor and tells Hrothgar what should be done if he dies. The sword he takes belongs to Unferths, the sword's name is Hrunting
4.What happens when Beowulf enters the mere? What is surprising about where Grendel and his mother live in the mere?
- When Beowulf enters the mere, creatures in the water attack him but they are unable to hurt him. The thing that was surprising was that it took Beowulf half a day to get to the mere.
5.What happens to the sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth?
- When Beowulf tries to hit Grendel's mother with Unferth's sword, the sword breaks without hurting her.
6.At one point Beowulf is on the floor, with Grendel's mother sitting on him and drawing her knife. How does Beowulf escape?
- he escapes because his armor stopped the knife.
7.How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother? What weapon does he use? What happens when she dies? What does Beowulf take with him from her home? What happens to the sword he used to kill her?
- Beowulf kills Grendel's mother by cutting her neck with a sword he found in the cave that was made by gigants. When she dies, the mere is filled with light, since the light reaches the top, Beowulf's men assume that he died in battle. Beowulf takes her head to land as prove. The sword he used to kill her melted after she died.
8.What happens when Beowulf returns to the surface? Did his men expect him to return?
- When Beowulf returns, he finds that his men are gone because they thought the blood in the water was his.
[Further Celebration at Heorot] (lines 1651-1798, pp. 68-71)
1.What does Beowulf give to Hrothgar?
- Beowulf gives Hrothgar the head of Grendels's mom and what's left of his sword.
2.What message does Hrothgar have for Beowulf? What and why does he tell us about Heremod? Why and how did Heremod die? What lesson does Hrothgar teach with the Heremod example?
- Hrothgar tells Beowulf to be a fair king and not to be mislead by pride with the Heremod example.
3.What does Beowulf give to Unferth as he leaves?
- he give him his sword
[Beowulf Returns Home] (lines 1799-2199, pp. 71-79)
(ELISIA ESTRADA)
| 1. | What future does Hrothgar predict for Beowulf? - The future that Hrothgar predicts is that Beowulf will get cocky since he was able to kill Grendel and Grendel's mother while he got so much recognition from people. | ||||||||||
| 2. | Who is Hygd and why is she not like Modthryth - Modthryth is an evil queen who is brutal while Hygd is a beautiful and kind queen of Geat | ||||||||||
| 3. | Beowulf reports to Hygelac that Hrothgar may marry his daughter Freawaru to Ingeld. Why does he plan to do that? What does Beowulf expect the result will be? (Remember the Finn story, lines 1070-1158.) How does Beowulf think the peace will be broken? Is this the type of report we expected from the hero Beowulf, or are we seeing a new side of him? - He tells him because he wants him to be aware that Ingeld and Dane can betray Geat. Beowulf expects that the fighting will continue on instead of saying yes to the agreement. His pride disappears and a darker side of his personality is revealed. | ||||||||||
| 4. | How does Beowulf report about his own adventures? Does he report accurately? - He tells everyone of his adventures in great sugar coated detail. The monsters are "bigger" and "badder" and the riches he gains are exaggerated. | ||||||||||
| 5. | What does Beowulf do with the treasure he was given? What does Hygelac give him? - He shows it to Hygelac. Beowulf gains a sword, hides, land, a hall and a throne. BEOWULF AND THE DRAGON (lines 2200-3182, pp. 79-99) [The Dragon Wakes] (lines 2200-2509, pp. 79-86)
|
6. Heardred the son of Hygelac was killed by sons of Ohthere. Beuwulf planed to revenge his friends death by befriended Eadgils and then killing him.
7. Eleven men accompany Beowulf meanwhile he goes and kill the dragon.
8. Hygelac's oldest brother Herebeald was killed by Haethcyn from a bow-n-arrow. This caused Beowulf to kill King Hrethel with his bear hands. After Hethrals death the Swedes and Geats Battled and fought without a quarter. Haethcyn died in this battle.
[Beowulf attacks the Dragon]
1. Beowulf tells his army to wait outside for him so he can fight the dragon.
2. During the battle it is clear that Beowulf has clearly didn't know the dragons strength. His army tries to leave him but Wiglaf didn't. He tries to help Beowulf who is struggling to survive from the fight of the dragon.
3. They both try to kill the dragon Beowulf was badly injured, It is clear he may die. In end they defeat the dragon.
4. Beowulf told Wiglaf to take over for him because he wants him to protect those he cares about. He asked to see the gold. He wanted to be burned at the Headland and wants it named Beowulf's Barrow.
[Beowulf's Funeral]
1. They try their hardest to save Beowulf but it failed. Wiglaf says that he wishes to die because they are so in honorable. He thinks that the Geats will fall apart.
2. The messenger announces Beowulf's death. Ogentheow threatens the Geats. Hygelac saves them all by killing Ogentheow. The final image was the big dragon.
3. Wiglaf tells the crowd that they need to give Beowulf a proper burial, because they were all blamed for his death.
4. Wiglaf's men kill the dragon by pushing him into the ocean.
5. Beowulf's men mourned him and buried him with gifts during the funeral.
(MARISOL DUARTE)
6. What did the Geats say about Beowulf in the last three lines of the poem? Are these the terms one would expect to be used to describe a military hero?
- The Geats said that Beowulf was the most kind and gentle lord in the world. No, these are not the terms one would expect to be used to describe a military hero because military heroes kill their enemies and killing is neither 'kind' nor a 'gentle' thing to do.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
MY OPINION ISN'T (A) RIGHT
"The Right to Your Opinion" Notes
Notes:
- Knowing your rights is useful, we could all do better at it.
- Inquiry: a seeking or request for truth, information, or knowledge.
- Author believes that "you don't really have a right to your own opinions."
- You are entitled to an opinion only when you have good reasons for holding it: evidence, sound arguments.
- Epistemic: pertaining to knowledge or the conditions for acquiring it.
- "The law gives all citizens a right to life."
Socratic seminar notes:
- Interdependence: shared authority (everyone else depends on everyone else).
- Rights create obligations.
- You have the right to your own opinions, you don't have the right to use your opinions to change the opinions of others.
- Limbic: part of your brain, the emotional part of the brain.
- Schema: routines used to make sense of life.
Monday, August 19, 2013
REFLECTIONS ON WEEK 1
1. The only factor that may affect my participation and experience in this class is my ability to access the internet. I don't always have internet access at home, however, I do have a smartphone so I believe that I will be able to make things work.
2. An awesome learning experience that changed me was the backpacking expedition that I participated in last summer. While on my expedition I learned about myself and who I truly am as an individual. Not only did I learn outdoor skills that will benefit me in the future, but I also learned how to work with others, take chances, and be confident with myself. My expedition took place in the canyons and mountains of Colorado. I, along with thirteen other students and three leaders, spent a total of two weeks backpacking and a week volunteering at the Navajo Reservation and learning about the Navajo culture and their traditions. On the trip, I learned that I'm a hands on type of learner; I learn by doing. I also learned that I work much better with others than I do on my own.
3. The thing I'm most concerned about in this class is keeping up with the workload. I still have not been able to grasp on to the idea of open source learning, but I look forward to doing so. I 'm also looking forward to learning how to become a much better writer and critical thinker, as well as fully understanding the concept of open source learning. Not only will these skills prepare me for the future, but give me the opportunity to share my thoughts and ideas with others (something I never thought I'd be comfortable doing).
2. An awesome learning experience that changed me was the backpacking expedition that I participated in last summer. While on my expedition I learned about myself and who I truly am as an individual. Not only did I learn outdoor skills that will benefit me in the future, but I also learned how to work with others, take chances, and be confident with myself. My expedition took place in the canyons and mountains of Colorado. I, along with thirteen other students and three leaders, spent a total of two weeks backpacking and a week volunteering at the Navajo Reservation and learning about the Navajo culture and their traditions. On the trip, I learned that I'm a hands on type of learner; I learn by doing. I also learned that I work much better with others than I do on my own.
3. The thing I'm most concerned about in this class is keeping up with the workload. I still have not been able to grasp on to the idea of open source learning, but I look forward to doing so. I 'm also looking forward to learning how to become a much better writer and critical thinker, as well as fully understanding the concept of open source learning. Not only will these skills prepare me for the future, but give me the opportunity to share my thoughts and ideas with others (something I never thought I'd be comfortable doing).
VOCABULARY #1
adumbrate: (verb) To outline; give a faint indication of. To foreshadow. To overshadow.
- The climax was adumbrated at the beginning of the novel.
apotheosis: (noun) The elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god. The ideal example.
- Their leader was the apotheosis of bravery.
ascetic: (noun) A person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons. One who leads an austerely simple life.
- The Reverend lived an ascetic life.
bauble: (noun) A showy, usually cheap, ornament; trinket.
- Large, colorful baubles covered the entire Christmas tree.
beguile: (verb) To influence by trickery, flattery. To mislead, deceive.
- The politician beguiled the audience with his use of clever words.
burgeon: (verb) To grow or develop quickly; flourish. To begin to grow.
- The young boy burgeoned into a much better writer.
complement: (noun) Something that completes or makes perfect.
- Her accessories complemented her outfit.
contumacious: (adjective) Stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient.
- The group of boys displayed contumacious behavior.
curmudgeon: (noun) A bad-tempered, difficult person.
- Mary played a bitter, curmudgeon in the school play.
didactic: (adjective) Intended for instruction; instructive. Teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson.
- His work was contrived and didactic.
disingenuous: (adjective) Lacking in frankness, candor, sincerity; falsely or hypocritically ingenuous; insincere.
- The child's excuse was disingenuous.
exculpate: (verb) To clear from a charge of guilt or fault; free from blame.
- The defendant had been exculpated during the court hearing.
faux pas: (noun) A slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.
- I committed a terrible faux pas at my friend's going away party.
fulminate: (verb) To explode with a loud noise; detonate.
- The thunder was fulminating during the terrible storm.
fustian: (noun) A stout fabric of cotton and flax. Inflated or turgid language in writing and speaking.
- Fustian was unable to disguise the authors incomplete plot.
hauteur: (noun) Haughty manner or spirit; arrogance.
- The woman behaved in such a hauteur manner.
inhibit: (verb) To restrain, hinder, arrest, or check. To prohibit; forbid.
- I must inhibit myself from eating too much junk food.
jeremiad: (noun) A prolonged lamentation or mournful complaint.
- The book was a jeremiad of environmental threats throughout the country.
opportunist: (noun) A person who practices opportunism, or the policy of adapting actions, decisions.
- The man was an extreme opportunist of inspiration.
unconscionable: (adjective) Not guided by conscience. Not in accordance with what is just or reasonable.
- Using unconscionable tactics to get ahead was a challenge for Bob.
- The climax was adumbrated at the beginning of the novel.
apotheosis: (noun) The elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god. The ideal example.
- Their leader was the apotheosis of bravery.
ascetic: (noun) A person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons. One who leads an austerely simple life.
- The Reverend lived an ascetic life.
bauble: (noun) A showy, usually cheap, ornament; trinket.
- Large, colorful baubles covered the entire Christmas tree.
beguile: (verb) To influence by trickery, flattery. To mislead, deceive.
- The politician beguiled the audience with his use of clever words.
burgeon: (verb) To grow or develop quickly; flourish. To begin to grow.
- The young boy burgeoned into a much better writer.
complement: (noun) Something that completes or makes perfect.
- Her accessories complemented her outfit.
contumacious: (adjective) Stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient.
- The group of boys displayed contumacious behavior.
curmudgeon: (noun) A bad-tempered, difficult person.
- Mary played a bitter, curmudgeon in the school play.
didactic: (adjective) Intended for instruction; instructive. Teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson.
- His work was contrived and didactic.
disingenuous: (adjective) Lacking in frankness, candor, sincerity; falsely or hypocritically ingenuous; insincere.
- The child's excuse was disingenuous.
exculpate: (verb) To clear from a charge of guilt or fault; free from blame.
- The defendant had been exculpated during the court hearing.
faux pas: (noun) A slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.
- I committed a terrible faux pas at my friend's going away party.
fulminate: (verb) To explode with a loud noise; detonate.
- The thunder was fulminating during the terrible storm.
fustian: (noun) A stout fabric of cotton and flax. Inflated or turgid language in writing and speaking.
- Fustian was unable to disguise the authors incomplete plot.
hauteur: (noun) Haughty manner or spirit; arrogance.
- The woman behaved in such a hauteur manner.
inhibit: (verb) To restrain, hinder, arrest, or check. To prohibit; forbid.
- I must inhibit myself from eating too much junk food.
jeremiad: (noun) A prolonged lamentation or mournful complaint.
- The book was a jeremiad of environmental threats throughout the country.
opportunist: (noun) A person who practices opportunism, or the policy of adapting actions, decisions.
- The man was an extreme opportunist of inspiration.
unconscionable: (adjective) Not guided by conscience. Not in accordance with what is just or reasonable.
- Using unconscionable tactics to get ahead was a challenge for Bob.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
1987 AP Exam
NOTES
Overall, I felt like the exam was extremely challenging. While taking the exam, I found myself guessing more than anything else. I mainly struggled on the poetry section of the exam, the questions were very difficult and I was unable to completely understand what I was being asked. However, the vocabulary and diction presented throughout the exam threw me off the most.
The essays were also fairly difficult. I was very confused while writing. I had a very hard time coming up with ideas.
Timing was a challenge for me. I felt like once I got stuck, I spent way too much time on certain questions. During the exam, I found myself rushing more than I should have.
MONTAIGNE/AUSTEN ESSAY
The Styles of
Montaigne and Austen
In “Good Old
Neon,” David Foster Wallace states, “what goes on inside is just
too fast and huge and all interconnected for words to do more than
barley sketch the outlines of at most one tiny little part of it at
any given instant.” Wallace's notion contradicts Montaigne's
techniques and topics, while it supports the techniques and topics of
Jane Austen. Although both Montaigne and Austen's works share certain
similarities, Montaigne's writing style is unorganized and based on
his inner thoughts and ideas, Austen's style of writing, on the other
hand, is very structured.
Both Montaigne and Austen have a completely different writing style, Montaigne expresses his opinions and observations of life throughout his writing, while Austen's work is a piece of organized fiction. In Essays of Michel De Montaigne, Montaigne's essays consisted of random topics such as liars, thumbs, friendships, and cowardice. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was a romantic piece of fiction that portrayed life during the 1800s. Montaigne's writing was very unstructured and scattered, however, the reader was able to understand his points and ideas. Austen's writing consisted of a very structured plot, which directly stated themes such as reputation and love.
Both Montaigne and Austen have a completely different writing style, Montaigne expresses his opinions and observations of life throughout his writing, while Austen's work is a piece of organized fiction. In Essays of Michel De Montaigne, Montaigne's essays consisted of random topics such as liars, thumbs, friendships, and cowardice. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was a romantic piece of fiction that portrayed life during the 1800s. Montaigne's writing was very unstructured and scattered, however, the reader was able to understand his points and ideas. Austen's writing consisted of a very structured plot, which directly stated themes such as reputation and love.
Montaigne's Essays of Michel De Montaigne was written in the first person point of view. He shared his ideas with his readers, using “I” and “myself” throughout his entire work. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's story was developed through the third person point of view. Austen's writing also included characters and the use of dialogue, while Montaigne used a series of inserts and stories throughout his work in order to support his topics.
Though both Montaigne and Austen had completely different writing styles, they did, however, happen to share a few similarities in there writing as well. Both authors used criticism, in Essays of Michel De Montaigne, Montaigne criticized various kings, while Elizabeth criticized the ways of Mr. Collins. Anecdotes were also used by both writers. Montaigne used a series of anecdotes to support his ideas and Jane Austen used an anecdote when Darcy explained Wickham's past to Elizabeth.
Both authors
have very different styles of writing. Montaigne uses the stream of
consciousness within his writing and lets readers understand his
inner thoughts and ideas. Austen's writing style is much more
structured, using her characters in order to get her ideas across.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
POETRY #1
1. This commercial borrows (without credit) The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski.
2. The use of this poem by a corporation is ironic because the poem states, "your life, is your life," yet a corporation's only goal is to get consumers to purchase their products. In this case, Levi's is trying to get consumers to purchase their jeans.
3. Charles Bukowski had quite a challenging life, cultivating his reputation as a hard-living poet. I believe that the poem does reflect on Bukowski's reputation. Having faced the hardships of being bullied and having his work denied by a number of publishers, Charles Bukowski expresses that through times of darkness "there is a light somewhere." Though his life was dark, this "light" helped Bukowski overcome his challenges and gave him the power to keep moving forward.
4. I found the answer to #1 by googling the first line in the commercial, "your life, is your life." http://thebestamericanpoetry.typepad.com/the_best_american_poetry/2008/11/the-laughing-he.html.
I found the answer to #3 by googling "Charles Bukowski" and reading about him in the biography http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/charles-bukowski.
2. The use of this poem by a corporation is ironic because the poem states, "your life, is your life," yet a corporation's only goal is to get consumers to purchase their products. In this case, Levi's is trying to get consumers to purchase their jeans.
3. Charles Bukowski had quite a challenging life, cultivating his reputation as a hard-living poet. I believe that the poem does reflect on Bukowski's reputation. Having faced the hardships of being bullied and having his work denied by a number of publishers, Charles Bukowski expresses that through times of darkness "there is a light somewhere." Though his life was dark, this "light" helped Bukowski overcome his challenges and gave him the power to keep moving forward.
4. I found the answer to #1 by googling the first line in the commercial, "your life, is your life." http://thebestamericanpoetry.typepad.com/the_best_american_poetry/2008/11/the-laughing-he.html.
I found the answer to #3 by googling "Charles Bukowski" and reading about him in the biography http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/charles-bukowski.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
ESSAY #1
The Power of Wealth
Exile: The state of being barred from one's native
country. Although exiles are very compelling to think about, being
cut off from "home," can be a terrible experience and
ultimately break an individual completely. In
The Poisonwood Bible by
Barbara Kingsolver, Rachel Price experiences an exile that's
both alienating and enriching.
Upon arriving to the Congo, Rachel, a selfish beauty
queen, is quick to display her disgust for Kilanga and its
villagers. Being an American, the Congo was an extreme culture shock
for Rachel, which caused her to immediately form a shell. As a
Baptist, Rachel was disturbed by the “nakedness” of the
villagers, which only made her uncomfortable and unwilling to
associate with anyone in the village. Rachel's “home” was her
social status back in Georgia, which was taken from her once she
arrived in the village of Kilanga. Unfortunately, Rachel's
closed-mindedness only alienated her from the rest of the villagers
and made her experience in the Congo a miserable one.
Rachel's exile in the Congo not only displayed her
true selfishness and ignorance, but let us see the type of individual
she truly was. The only thing that seemed to matter to Rachel, was
having a high social status. Though Rachel hated Africa, she remained
there because she was becoming successful off of her hotel ownership.
By experiencing an exile, Rachel found her true happiness: Wealth. In
the end, Rachel didn't even care where she ended up living, as long
as she had a high social status she was happy.
Rachel's exile was a negative, yet positive
experience. Rachel's selfish manner and unwillingness to have an
opened mind alienated her from the villagers in the Congo. Although Rachel wanted
nothing more than to leave the Congo, she was able to discover that
her happiness came from wealth and social status.
MY BIG QUESTION
Why is it that individuals never seem to truly value life, or what they have until it's taken from them completely?
People often say, "Things happen for a reason." Do things really happen for a reason?
Does a person's name play a role in determining their personality or affecting their decisions?
What causes insecurity? Why does insecurity have such a negative impact on people's lives?
Why do people have a hard time loving themselves and who they are?
Why do individuals have such a difficult time being themselves?
People often say, "Things happen for a reason." Do things really happen for a reason?
Does a person's name play a role in determining their personality or affecting their decisions?
What causes insecurity? Why does insecurity have such a negative impact on people's lives?
Why do people have a hard time loving themselves and who they are?
Why do individuals have such a difficult time being themselves?
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