AOW Impression Blog

AOW Impressions

    I learned a lot from last weeks articles. Even though most (including mine) were about the Nepal Earthquake or the riots in Baltimore. The Nepal articles showed how news is constantly changing. It showed me because the number of deaths by the earthquake were constantly changing. Some people had 3,000 people or 5,000 dead. I just recently checked the number and they have risen to 7,500 and are still rising.

   I also learned what caused the Baltimore riots. The cause of them was a man named Freddy Gray, who died while he was riding in the back of a police van, his head slammed into the van and caused a severe head/spine injury killing him. This also relates to the Furgason riots. People are looting, burning police cars, throwing things at officers, etc.

   Some other news someone had was about child abuse. They said 1,593 children in 2011 died due to child abuse and most of them were under the age of 2 years old. Someone else had something on terrorism. Which is something I haven't really seen in a while. The article was about how terrorists are targeting Christians because they aren't their religion. Someone had something on endangered animals, google, and space. All in all, this gallery walk showed me how rapid news can change, and how different people can interpret
the news.

   

Dream Poem

"Dreams Give us a Reason"

By Lilly M.

Dreams give us a reason,

a reason to wake up in the morning,

to go to school,

and to get us through hard times

Dreams give us a reason to be determined,

they give a reason to keep going,

to be happier

knowing or hoping the future will be better

It doesn’t matter what it is

or why you want it

Its how much you want it

that counts

Dreams give us a reason to live

to keep going

to be happy

and to aspire.

4/29/15

Of Mice and Men 

By John Steinbeck Pages #56-76

Prompt: From your brainstorming session, choose at least two conflicts to explore more in depth in this blog. Be sure to include textual evidence and support and also identify the effect that the conflict has had on the plot so far. 

    The first conflict I chose is Lennie and Curley fighting. The type of conflict is a Man vs Man conflict because it was two people fighting each other. The effect it had was very negative. It left Lennie scared and terribly sorry for Curley. It also left Curley with a demolished hand. I know this because ing the text it says, "'I didn't wanta, ' Lennie cried I didn't wanta hurt him.'...'Lennie was jus' scairt, ' he explained." This shows that Lennie was scared and sorry for hurting Curley. This conflict has had some effect on the plot so far. I think it will become even bigger however we are still reading on what is happening on the same night as the fight. 

    The next conflict I chose was Candy's dog dying. This type of conflict is Man vs Self because Candy's guilt for letting a stranger shoot his dog is making him have an inner battle with himself. The effect of this leads him overhearing and wanting to join in on the dream ranch. Also, his feeling of uselessness makes him want to contribute and join in on the dream ranch. I know this because in the text it says, "He said miserably, 'You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody'd shoot me. But they won't do nothing like that. I won't have no place to go, an' I cant get no more jobs. I'll have thirty dollars more comin', time you guys ready to quit.'"This shows Candy is using his guilt to get in on the dream ranch. This conflict doesn't have that much big of an effect other than already getting more than half of the money they need.

     The final conflict I chose was Crooks being isolated from the other guys. The type of conflict is Man vs society because it is Crooks against the other guys at the ranch. The effect this had left Crooks depressed, lonely, grouchy, and needy. I know this because in the text it says, "' 'Long as you won't get out and leave me alone, you might as well set down.' His tone was a little more friendly...'A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, ' he cried, 'I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick.' " This shows that crooks is lonely and likes talking to even Lennie because he is so alone and depressed. This doesn't have much effect on the plot, though it might in the future.

4/22/15 Blog

Of Mice and Men 

By John Steinbeck Pages #1-39

Prompt: Describe the atmosphere of the ranch and bunkhouse. Be sure to include characteristics of different characters that were formally or informally introduced to us in this chapter. Support your choice with textual evidence and interpretation. Why doesn't Curley's wife have a name?   What message, if anything, is John Steinbeck  trying to send by not giving her a first name?  Support your choice with textual evidence and interpretation.

  The atmosphere in the ranch and the bunkhouse is tense. Every man fends for himself there. I think this because in the text it says, "'Say, what the hell you doin' listenin'?' ...'I wasn't listenin'. I was jus' standin' in the shade a minute scratchin' my dog. I jus' now finished swampin' out the wash house.' 'You was pokin your big ears into our business, ' George said. 'I don't like nobody to get nosey.'" This shows the atmosphere is hostile and tense because they were arguing with each other because George thought someone was listening to their conversation. There are serval dialogues like this. It shows the guys here get mad pretty easily.

   Some characters easily get more mad than others. Such as the boss, Curley, and sometimes George. The boss and his son both mainly affect the negative atmosphere because they both have a short fuse. I think this because in the text it says, "'Let the big guy talk.' Lennie twisted with embarrassment. George said, 'S'pose he don't want to talk?' Curley lashed his body around. 'By Christ, he's gotta talk when he's spoke to. What the hell are you gettin' into it for?' 'We travel together, ' George said coldly. 'Oh so it's that way.' George was tense and motionless." This shows the tone is tense between the two men. Therefore the atmosphere is mostly negative energy.

     I think Curley's wife doesn't have a name because she is irrelevant to main parts of the story. I think this because the boss doesn't have a name and he might only be important in the first few chapters. Curley's wife might not also have a name because she isn't deserving of one. I think this because in the book they call her a "...tramp..." and that could be a reason Steinbeck didn't think she deserved a name. The message he might be trying to send is you have to be a good enough person to earn a good name. I think this because it seems like Curley's wife isn't such a good person, so that could be why because she doesn't have a name.

    

  

4/15/15

The Birchbark House 

By Louise Erdrich Pages #27-177

Prompt: List five major events in order from which happened first to last.

(Spoilers)

   The first major event in this book is when Omakayas found the bears. This is important because even though the mother saw Omakayas with her cubs she didn't hurt her. This event leads on to finding that she might be special to the spirits. The second major event in the book was when Omamkayas and her sister were keeping the crows away from the corn. This is important because one of the hurt crows was taken in and kept as a pet. They named him Andeg and he becomes important later on in the story. 

      The third major event in this book was when they were setting up their cabin for winter. This is very important because they have to survive the winter. They spend most of the year drying hides and meats and berries for the winter. Winters in their location are freezing and dangerous if you are not prepared. It is important they spend so much time on the cabin and their supplies so they can last as long as possible. The fourth major event was when the visitor came. The visitor was a white trader, and after he visited he died of smallpox. After he came everyone had to be very careful, smallpox was incurable. 

      The final major event so far was when Omakayas family started catching smallpox. It started with her sister, then her mom, then her brothers, and then her dad, and finally herself. She lost her baby brother and everyone was very weak for a long after the sickness. Everyone was hungry for their sickness wasted all of their food. This in my opinion was the most major event so far because it was so impactful.

Poetry Reflection

Poetry Reflection

  Poetry is important in my life because it has a different way of describing things. It describes things like feelings, and memories, and simple things in a different way than regular literature. Its more personal in a way. It shows things like feelings in a more confusing yet understandable way. (By this I mean you have to read it most likely more than one time to understand it.) However, poetry isn't the most important piece of literature in my life. I think this because sometimes it can be way too confusing. For example "Jabberwocky" was so confusing when I first read it. Then I reread it and listened to it and it finally made sense. Poetry is still pretty important in my life, even though it is sometimes confusing. However, I have to be in the mood to read poetry (because sometimes I don't feel up to read something over and over).

   I don't think poetry belongs to everyone. I think this because, like I said, its confusing. Some people don't feel like reading something over and over. Others may not understand it even if they read it multiple times. Or they might just not relate or get the connection to it. This happens to me sometimes as well. Another reason poetry may not be for everyone is because they might think its boring. I think this because I know a lot of people who think it is boring. The reason I think they think its boring goes back to not understanding it.

  A poet's life greatly affects his/her writing. For example if they have had a hard time in their life, they have a different perspective than someone who hasn't. A person's life affects their perspective, thoughts, style, diction, and what they write about. Poets with difficult lives would most likely write about how more negative feelings and things. Poets with better lives would most likely write about positive things. I think this because Edgar Allan Poe had a really hard life, and he wrote lots of spooky and negatively connotated poems. This made me realize that most poets seemed to have difficult lives, or had a difficult time at least.

Poems:
Extended metaphor poem
Bio poem
Where I'm From poem
Two Voice poem
Spine poem
Found poem
Nonsense poem
  

  

Nonsense Poem

"The Forest"

By Lilly M.