This website is a blog about my ninth grade english class. It incorporates many assignments from the year and offers explanations for all of them. Thanks for visiting, and feel free to comment.
IRJ # 22 March 2, 2010
In The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fagles, the long lost war hero, father, and husband, Odysseus, has yet to return from Troy and his meager son and wife seem to be held in a lull in their lives. Both still wanting to move forward from the past but to afraid to really put Odysseus out of their minds. Because of this the side plot of the party and temptress mother with the messed-up and cowardly child is used here.
Until Athena arrives Telemachus is trapped in a shell that is bound by the longing and lack of a fatherly figure and the absence of a strong mother. So when Athena arrives, she gives him both bold and brave words like a father and words of encouragement as from the point of a motherly status.
Telemachus believes that he is the unluckiest person in the world because of how his life turned out but Athena says, “Still,’ the clear-eyed goddess reassured him, ‘trust me, the gods have not marked out you house for such an unsung future.” (Book 1, 256-58) Athena turns Telemachus into a strapping and marvelous leader.
Homer, the original writer of The Odyssey, really emphasizes the Gods importance and power over the mortals. For Telemachus, Athena can be credited with his rise to power. She acts as is she is the mentor archetype by getting him to grow and mature into, hopefully, a hero (we must wait to see if this is true).
By continuing to read The Odyssey, we will begin to get a better understanding of Telemachus and his mentors’ interactions and adventures.
IRJ #21 February 5, 2010
Family Relationships: Relating to Family
In the book of Genesis, “The Bible”, a reoccurring motif is the idea of family relations and trust of those family members. As shown when Jacob arrives unannounced at his uncle Laban’s house and ends up staying there for the majority of his life. At the first arrival, “Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him; he embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house.” (Gen. 29.13)
In the case of family matters, Laban does not even know that Rebekah has a son, and even if he did know he puts so much trust into someone he has never even met of before.
This shows how different, the early biblical world is in comparison to the world today. People who show up unannounced at another’s house proclaiming that they are related would get the cops called on them. It is unfortunate how up tight our culture is but, it has good reason. Although there was crime in biblical ages there certainly was not as much organized and truly brutal crime as there is today.
The society in Genesis seems very trust worthy and easy going, and it is a shame that the world has evolved into a paranormal society, but at the same time also a blessing
IRJ # 20 February 4, 2010
Love Her For Who She Is: Love Her For What She Can Do
When “The Bible” was written the idea of love and relationship between man and woman were very different from what we believe it to be nowadays. When love is talked about in “The Bible” it is often used in terms of having sexual intercourse with someone. “ He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her.” (Gen 24.67)
Isaac had only just met Rebekah, yet he loved her? In the modern age for a relationship between two people to workout in marriage there is often an emotional bond that is formed between the two. Love is not only a physical attraction but also an emotional linkage between the partners.
The world as portrayed in its’ beginning and early biblical ages seems like a very solitary place. “The Bible” never dives into personal relationships or actions between characters. There is no description of the many characters’ personalities, qualities, or traits in “The Bible”. Which then causes an unemotional and bland relationship between the characters.
Love, in the biblical sense, meaning to know someone and multiply with them, does not compare to the modern bond that two people have between one another. Although the main purpose in early biblical life was to be fruitful and multiply, the love that modern people have for each other is much stronger and can outlast anything on Earth.
IRJ#19 January 29, 2010
Jealousy is a Sin: Respect is a Honor
God, the protagonist in the story, is portrayed as a very egocentric character. In chapter eleven, of the book of Genesis, the human race or mankind begins developing a society and a culture. The whole humankind creates and uses one language and builds an entire city, and instead of God being happy for his succeeding creations’ thriving lives, he destroys their advances by confusing and separating them.
The character of God does not think about his actions and the effects they have on his creations. For instance, there was no reason behind him ruining mankind’s city. He made mankind, and there fore is directly related to the reason that humankind was able to build such an amazing empire.
The people of Earth were not trying to over throw the Lord God; all they wanted and needed was a well-structured society that made sense. But, because of God the furtherment and evolution of humankind was slowed because he was so bothered by the fact that people wanted to live a good life and enjoy other tasks then reproducing and tilling the land.
God’s love for his own unique high power creates a barrier between mankind and evolution. Human nature is to exceed expectations and God made humankind, so the humankind is in need of respect from the great creator.
IRJ #18 January 28, 2010
Eve, the Mother of all Things Living: Eve, the Gullible Blonde
In chapter three, the of book of Genesis in the Bible, the woman figure is rather un-intelligent when she decides to go against God the second the Serpant says tells her to. Eve is portrayed, as the mother and the basis for all human kind and I think it is disappointing that woman were first viewed as such gullible and senseless creatures.
Reading the story of Adam and Eve made me feel bad for all the woman who were and still are being put down by men and their beliefs that they are better then woman. Now, I definitely do not believe that woman are superior to men but there is equality and I am glad that I live in a culture that embraces and respects this.
Also, as I was reading about Eve in this story I felt as if she fulfilled the blonde stereotype perfectly. This also struck a nerve because not only am I a woman, but I am also blonde. And since, these are things that I divulge from the story it is hard for my to picture Eve as the mother of all things living.
Seeing how the Bible was written hundreds of years ago, I feel like my point of view and what I take from the story of Adam and Eve is different from what the author, my family members, and my peers take away from it. Being able to have a story that can be interpreted in so many different ways is really what enhances the quality of the story.
IRJ-QR#17 November 20, 2009
Light Thoughts: Northern Lights
In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has the main character, Lyra, become very interested in the Northern Lights. In the beginning chapters she was mystified and full of awe over them and when she first saw them she was ecstatic. “At once she saw that something strange was happening in the sky… “The Aurora!” Her wonder was so strong that she had to clutch the rail to keep from falling.”
The lights represent a higher power. It is mysterious and enticing most like the character in the book, Mrs. Coulter. The lights are always watching once she crosses the threshold into the North. They are very spiritual in good but evil way. Later on in the book series I think the importance of the lights will be the main point in the story line. Lyra’s future interactions with them will tell us whose side they are on.
Even once Lyra saw the aurora, she was in utter shock, for she did not believe her eyes. The perplexity of colors and movements were even compared to Heaven. The Aurora symbolizes the journey that Lyra has embarked on. After this quote Lyra goes on to talk about the size and the amazement of the lights. She is mystified and almost looks up to the lights as a role model.
Pullman creates this mystery behind the Lights to keep Lyra childlike. With the more knowledge she gained back with Mrs. Coulter the older she seemed to become. The constant curiosity kept the real Lyra intact. As Lyra grows older the magic of the lights will fade.
The lights in this novel define childhood. Pulllman creates a parallel between the two using characteristics and hidden meanings. Lyra is now amazed by the Aurora but what will happen in the future.
PROPOSITION: Curiosity may kill the old cat but a young kitten still has nine lives.
IRJ-CP#16 November 12, 2009
Sometimes Stories can End Perfectly; Especially For Teddy and Daniel
Teddy, the typical teenage girl, attends high school as a sophomore. She is pretty on the inside and outside. As a social butterfly she is friends with everyone and loves each of them. Teddy has crushes on boys in her grade but because she remains a spunky teenage girl she has crushes on older boys, who of coarse barely notice her.
This one boy in particular, Teddy has known her whole life. The two families knew each other before either of them came onto the Earth. This boy, Daniel, is always sweet to Teddy and says hello with a nice hug. Daniel is a senior at a different high school. But this is not the only problem Teddy faces for he has good looks as well.
Teddy sees Daniel from time to time and eventually forgets about him. Until many years after graduating high school see runs into him. The two start a dialogue with each other and start having coffee to catch up with each other. Teddy begins to like Daniel again but this time Daniel likes her back. The two start dating and in a little over two years get married and live their lives happily ever after.
If only this would happen in real life. But, you never know maybe everyone will have stories as good as Teddy’s and Daniels.
IRJ-OP#15 November 11, 2009
We Make Mistakes; We Move On
On the way back from Mammoth Mountain, on my freshmen trip, we stopped by Manzanar, which was once a Japanese internment camp and is now a museum that tells the story behind Manzanar. Inside the museum there was a plaque with a quote said by Clarence Darrow that read, “As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever.”
What would the world be like if no man ever objected? What would happen if no one stood up for what they believe? And what would our world turn into to if everything were permanent?
Hitler would still be in heading the force of the Jewish Holocaust. Slavery would still be present all around the world. Japanese-American people would still be in internment camps. Males would still be sexist towards females. Our world would not be the same as it is today.
Good people sometimes make bad mistakes. But at the same time Bad people make bad mistakes, too. The difference between the two is that good people are able to acknowledge their mistakes and apologize and move forward from them. They are able to change and transform into a stronger and even better person. They grow from their mistakes. But, bad people do not understand what they did wrong and are not able to comprehend that they made a mistake.
People take the ability to move forward for granted. The world would be very different if people were not able to forgive and forget. The human race is a truly amazing species and will always be making mistakes and because people stand up against these mistakes we are continually progressing as a united world.
PROPOSITION: The human race continually progresses as it makes mistakes, and because of the ability to grow from the mistakes made we will prevail through anything we are faced with.
IRJ-CP#14 November 3, 2009
Twister: It is not a Time for Games
One day three brothers set out on an excursion. Craig, Mark, and Tom always went on larks but this time something was different. The trees swayed back and forth in the hot wind, which always foreshadowed a tornado coming. In the sky, copious numbers of birds went flying off into the North away from the wind. The three boys went out into the field and started to play. They were having a great battle. But just at the pinnacle of their imaginary battle the tornado sirens rang. The boys have lived through many twisters before so they were unalarmed by this sound. The three sauntered back to their house. The boys’ mother started yelling at the three of them telling them how they should have known better and how she taught she had taught them the rudiments to surviving but obviously it hadn’t got through their thick skulls. The father quickly pacified the mother reminding her that they needed to get into the shelter before the twister came. The five of them quickly went into the shelter and awaited the oncoming twister.
