Weekly Blog: Week 18

This concludes the fall semester. And what a learning experience this semester has been. The significant part is, though, that this year I've learned more than ever, but not just in the classroom or in history books. Every class is becoming relative to another; every discussion seems it could continue on for hours, and that we have to end them so suddenly each day. I've noticed the way classmates have striven to reach their goals of being accepted into their dream schools, but along the way, they inspire other classmates to prosper. I have had a great motivation to expand my knowledge and further my thinking, and it's come from novels that I've actually enjoyed, articles and poems that we've dissected, and peers whose ambitious minds and determined attitudes have guided my decisions to push forward. While everyone thinks at some point that he is incompetent, or that her inability to decide what she wants will be her Achilles heel, it is important that we band together and realize that the journey will lead us to becoming ourselves.

Weekly Blog: Week 17

The photographers who captured the families' food and materials in different countries was capturing many other things. The different types of food and the amount of food from each group shows the countries' values. The American family had almost all commercial products and packaged goods, while the family in Kuwait had produce and grain. In light of Dalai Lama's beliefs, the materials and food also sometimes sontrasted the happiness of each family. Often times the family would be plentiful, and each member would be frowning or stern faced. Likewise, the poorer families, who had almost nothing on the table ground or on their lawns, would be smiling widely. We hear this all the time, but it is true that our materials do not create our happiness; we create our own, and many times we are able to do so in spite of lacking wealth.

Weekly Blog: Week 16

The mutual inability to love that Siddhartha and Kamala share is one of the novel's predominate ideas. They are both seekers, but not of love. Siddhartha seeks the truth, knowledge of the world and of himself. He seeks to learn from others, and therefore he cannot engage in another commitment. He has devoted himself to discovery and doesn't want love to hinder his way. Kamala practices the art of love and can't fall in love for this reason. She sees love as a play thing or a way to spend time or make dues. Thus, she unable to love Siddhartha. The two are meant for each other because of their similarities. Ironically, though, this major likeness is the same quality that prevents their love from flourishing.

Weekly Blog: Week 15

Today we stood along the 17-yard line on the BHS football field. Surrounding us were underclassmen circling the track like we did two years ago. Seeing our lives ahead of us, the whole 73 yards, made me see the important things in life. We can't worry about the little things; they only amount to a few inches of grass. I want to look back on my life, though, knowing that on every dash I did something great--I achieved something significant or impacted someone's life. I can't wait to read Siddhartha and see what kind of book inspired this activity.

Weekly Blog: Week 14

I made a deeper connection in Hamlet last week when I decided to write my essay not on the weaknesses in women, but the weaknesses of men in the play. They try to prove themselves strong and powerful by ordering around the women who they know will be obedient, and the women have to allow themselves to be controlled, which on some level takes much strength. People often try to prove themselves to others and live according to set expectations. These expectations leave us with no room to develop goals for ourselves if we try to abide by those of others. This creates limitations for men and women in society, which is what happens in Hamlet.

Weekly Blog: Week 13

This week we examined art that portrays Ophelia. There were so many views of her, but I thought most of them make her seem helpless, as if she is waiting to be saved. Ophelia demonstrates the classic 'damsel in distress' by being thrown around by men, waiting for one of them to end the madness and allow her to be her own person. She is manipulated and objectified throughout the play, and in the end, she gives up. She is done waiting for someone to save her, and she can't handle being controlled any longer.

Weekly Blog: Week 12

In Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare makes it seem as if the shrew gives in at the end and the man wins, while really, she has control over him from that point on after the story ends. I was thinking today that the women in Hamlet are viewed as much weaker than the shrew, and I am wondering whether or not the women have a deeper purpose than to be just puppets. So far, it seems as if the only depiction of gender differences Shakespere is trying to convey is that of men being superior. They care more about power and manliness than the love and respect they should show towards their mothers, daughters, and lovers. It is almost as if by showing this, Shakespeare can prove how men are weak for not standing up for the ones they love and instead proving them weaker.

Weekly Blog: Week 11

It seems as if many things are exponential. A problem, for example, can worsen more and more as time goes on. A person's actions can lead to another's, which often continues to happen endlessly. Hamlet's madness and inability to decide what to do increases throughout the play, as does the complexity of the number of people involved. Ophelia's love of Hamlet becomes greater suddenly in the play, as such happens in life, too. Friendships become stronger at an exponential rate, and these seem to be the best kind. I feel like I'm rambling about this, but I've noticed lately how life is so sudden and so often exponential, for better or worse. Hamlet is an example of this, and if you look around there are more all the time.

Weekly Blog: Week 10

The references of women in Hamlet are subtle, yet once found show how we have advanced in society since centuries ago (and how we haven't). Gertrude and Ophelia are blamed for many problems and are controlled by men in the story. Ophelia's father doesn't want her to be with Hamlet and she obeys him. Not only does her doubtless obedience show how society has changed, but they way her father assumes it is his right to decide whom Ophelia will love shows the difference of mindset between now and then.
I started wondering if I, in that time, would be offended by such treatment. Without today's supposed equality, would I have the same frame of thought as I would if I lived then? I think opinions are based on what we are surrounded by as well as our innate characteristics, so when one changes, will the other pull through?

Weekly Blog: Week 9

Last week we presented our sonnets; I was in Tennessee on my group's presentation day, but I was there in its preparation. The sonnet proved Shakespeare's talent in creating multiple meanings in a work of literature. It seems as if each sentence he writes holds a contradiction, and he wants the reader to pick apart each word to get deeper insight.
In Tennessee, I noticed the differences two cultures within a culture can really have. I also saw the similarities between the state and my mother's town. I also decided I don't want to live in Tennessee (at least not until I'm 21, since until then, there will be nothing for me to do).
Being there with certain members of my family also reinforced the importance of knowledge and experience. It is truly noticeable, the difference between an intelligent person and one that's not so. I met a friend of my cousin's who has been all over the world, even in his youth. He told me to skip vacations to Europe and go somewhere in East Asia. There, he said, he went without any plans beyond flights and had one of the best weeks of his life. It inspired me to think about the benefits of all this hard work we do in school, and that if the opportunity is taken, it will all be worth it.

Weekly Blog: Week 8

This week I'd like to blog about an event I attended during class on Thursday. Gabby Eaton and I were invited to Shelter Network's Benefit Breakfast as honored guests for our donation of artwork to the family shelter. We wanted to encourage our class to donate paintings to the shelter in order to let those living there know that there are people who care about them. We also painted a mural that now hangs in the main entrance of the shelter.
Dan Rather spoke at the event and even he, being a talented and experienced reporter, choked up a bit because of his passion for the organization. It is such a worthy cause, and I am so glad I became involved in improving the lives of homeless families struggling to get back on their feet. Seeing the number of people who attended the breakfast, and thus donated to Shelter Network, was inspiring. It's incredible to see so many people (nearing 1000) involved in achieving such a wonderful goal.

Weekly Blog: Week 7

As I've begun taking notes on law for my essay, I have been drawn to the moral side of the law and how it affects the choices people of a society make. In Antigone, Creon's son shares the ideas of his father, but he tells the king not to act so godly and to accept others' thoughts and opinions. At first Creon is happy to have such an obedient son, since that's the respectable way to be. But, this "respect" also encourages closed thinking. If the son is led to think the way his father thinks and such happens for generations, no new ideas are created and no one has an individual opinion. The same happens as an effect of law; when something is widely accepted and never challenged, everyone will think the same way. Law therefore naturally creates monotonous thought and should be challenged whenever seen necessary in order to preserve diverse opinion.

Weekly Blog: Week 6

Last week we discussed briefly the contrasts of fate and destiny verses free will. It posed a question that has lingered in my mind about how much fate plays into our lives and whether or not destiny decides what happens to us. I have always lived by "whatever happens is meant to be," but I also don't believe that the choices we make have no effect on our lives due to this idea and therefore that our destinies are predetermined. The thought has resonated with me and I can't seem to figure it out; to what extent is my 'motto' true, if true at all? I hope to focus on this question more as we continue reading and learning this year.

Weekly Blog: Week 5

Rudyard Kipling created an inspiring work of literature called "If," which was this week's poem of the week. The poem tells how to be the best person one can be, and the advice given has always in my life been proven true. Some of the greatest qualities in a person shine when he or she is faced with an unpleasant situation. To be truthful when others are lying, to be loving when others have hatred, and to be calm amongst chaos are accomplishments deserving of great respect. We often forget these guidelines when dealing with hardships, or we even choose to ignore them because of their difficulty in performing; but Kipling believes that if we can do such tasks, we can be the best versions of ourselves.
I want to be able to follow Kipling's words in my next big decision, or even my next small one, since these are often the most important.

Weekly Blog: Week 4

"The voice you hear when you read silently" by Thomas Lux was interesting to me this week; by the end of each week I find myself liking the poems especially. I like this poem because of the truth in that any one thing can evoke different emotions in a person, which is exactly what my essay is about. It is something we don't often think about, but our inner voice is always with us, and it's always making connections in the world that aren't being made in the minds of others.
Friday we discussed briefly the four philosophical problems, which hopefully we continue to look at. While the four things may seem harmless or even beneficial, there are deeper effects of each one; knowledge sometimes is better kept to oneself, like in the case of Pandora's box. These problems also stem from within ourselves, relating back to this week's poem. It is important to keep in mind our mind, meaning we should listen to it and acknowledge what it's thinking about even the simplest of things.

Weekly Blog: Week 3

"Lot's Wife" by Anna Akhmatova was this week's poem, and was interpreted in many different ways; I thought of it as a story of a common housewife, who went much deeper than people gave her credit for. While her decision to look back at the town may have cost her her life, she chooses to do so anyway. This is done often, I think, in life; the "unhappy wife" knowingly decides to gain one last look at the town in which her and her family made so many memories and perished in return. To her, the closure she receives from that last glance outweighs the consequences (which because of Macroeconomics, I concluded in a cost-benefit analysis). We sometimes do things despite the consequences, even if it may seem to others as if the benefit is too small compared to the cost. But what others can't see in times of decision making are one's feelings; this is why we must not ignore our own thoughts when making decisions simply because we are listening to others. Lot's wife sacrifices her life to cherish that last moment of it, and while the narrator implies that she is not of significant loss to the others and even that her choice was out of stupidity, her passion is apparent in her final choice to look back once more.

Weekly Blog: Week 2

This week made me feel as though AP Literature should be taught in elementary school. Certainly not because of any lack of difficulty, but because this week has showed my the importance of learning for learning's sake and thinking for the betterment of the mind.
One night's reading in Meyer's anthology explained why we students are told to write and how doing so can help students develop organized thoughts as they think deeply about what goes on paper. In my previous years of schooling, students have been taught to write for a grade, and I think many students feel as if the only purpose of writing a 'good' essay is for the credit. This week has showed me how writing can teach one how to use critical thinking to choose an independent position on something and defend his or her beliefs with words. The week has been a refreshing lesson on why we write instead of how we write.

Weekly Blog: Week 1

It's always helpful to begin with the basics. So starting this year of AP Lit with the Academic and Intellectual Profile was a good basis. It helped me to recognize my strengths and weaknesses so that I can further improve my writing and intellect. Responding to the critical thinking passage helped me see the difference between schooling and true learning, which many students overlook. It is beneficial to learn deeply and not just do assignments for the grade or stop thinking simply because a task has been completed. Hopefully realization such as this will create more curious and passionate scholars.
Wagner's survivor skills are things we looked at this week as well. At first I disagreed with the list because I didn't think each skill was necessary for one person to have in order to have global success. But then I thought about the difference between survival and success. Maybe as a society it is true we need each of these skills for survival, but as far as personal achievemnt goes, it is also important for one to have qualities to help him or her develop successful relationships with other people, and the list doesn't include qualities such as these. Global survival is possible with economic prosperity, but human survival, in a way, depends on relational fulfillment.

The Wanderer

Looking forward to the year ahead, there are many mixed feelings and thoughts. Senior year is both exciting and scary, happy and sad, all at once. The man in the painting we viewed in class today is looking out at a landscape and obviously is deep in thought. I'd like to know what he is thinking about; whether he is puzzled or feeling as though he's conquered the world. In either case, the painting relates to many viewers because they can put themselves in the man's position; everyone in some point or another is proud or confused, and depending on what's going on in a person's life at the time of seeing the painting, their perceptions of the man's position will differ. For me it has gone between a prideful man and a concentrated one. In thinking about certain things I feel like the man is wise and just soaking it all in; looking at it from other perspectives I feel like he is pondering something of great importance in his life.

Summer Reading

The Book Theif
by Markus Zusak
This is one of the best books I've read. Once I got a hundred or so pages into it, I looked forward to turning the page. I liked the author's writing style and how he breaks up paragraphs with side notes or details he'll return to later on. It put Nazi Germany in a whole new perspective for me since I've never considered what it was like for those who didn't agree with the ideas of the Party.
1984
by George Orwell
It took a long time for me to get into this book, but the second half was interesting. The novel is full of paradoxes, which made me think more about what it would be like to live in a world like that. It made me sad that Winton has to give up his beliefs in order to survive, so this was not the most uplifting story. However the ideas of Party members in the novel are abstract and different to think about.