Reflection Blog

        This quarter I have made many improvements. In English Language Arts, I feel my writing has definitely improved. I feel that the more I write, the better it is. I've been very proud of my AOWs, blogs, and other essays. I feel that this quarter especially my writing has changed. With all of the argumentative units and essays my writing has become more formal. I also don't just write quickly I can now write with quality at the same time.

        Something I am very proud of this quarter is my "Night vs film" blog. I was proud of it right when I finished it. To be honest I've never really worked that hard on a blog before. I think I was just so intrigued by the topic I felt determined to do a good job. I feel that blog also made me realize that my writing has improved. The essay was more formal than I thought it would come out to be. I am still extremely proud of it. 

          The most challenging part of this quarter was keeping up with everything and really enjoying or getting myself into the topic. With all of the Holocaust stuff and making up old work I was struggling to keep up. However, I feel that I really pulled through towards the end of the holocaust unit. Other than really putting myself into the holocaust unit, I haven't been really interested in the other topics. Along with keeping up I just didn't really care that much about the stuff we were learning. As well as getting more caught up I also got myself more interested in the end of the quarter. I feel that those two things really go hand in hand.

TKAM Comparative Analysis

To Kill A Mockingbird Comparative Analysis

Prompt: What do you think is the most important difference between the written and filmed version? How would you prove or disprove that one version of To Kill A Mockingbird is more effective in delivering its message than the other?

           I think the most important difference between the written version of To Kill A Mockingbird and the film is the over all details. The film had all of the main events the Boo Radley house in the beginning, school, the trial, and when Boo saves Scout and Jem. The film also had less characters or didn't go in depth with minor characters and their contributions to the story. The book was much more detail and somewhat more personal. The book had descriptions for each new character, no matter how important they were. In the novel the reader got to know more about the town of Maycomb, Miss Maudie, the Finch family, Mrs. Dubose, Tom Robinson, the Radley family, and many other characters. The reader was also able to go more in depth with Scout and her personality. The film had some narration, but not as much as the book. Though the movie definitely had subtle displays of minor characters and the events over the seasons, for example when Atticus shot the dog or when Mrs. Dubose made her appearance yelling at the the children in the beginning. However, overall the main story is pretty conveyed in both versions.

          In my opinion the written version of To Kill A Mockingbird was much more effective of delivering its message. I think this because the film was slightly more vague and subtle when it comes to the morals of the story. For example Atticus had a very short talk with Scout about “walking in someone else's shoes”. The film also glossed over some minor but still important parts of the book. Events such as: Mrs. Dubose and her death, Miss Maudie’s house catching on fire, the hole in the tree lasted much longer than it did in the film, Scout and her family, etc. the film just displayed the most important messages but with very little detail compared to the novel.

           The book was very personal to me. It portrayed the morals with amazing detail and personality. The film only had one so-called “Mockingbird” which was Boo Radley. The book had several: Tom Robinson, Miss Maudie, Scout, Jem, Atticus, etc. All of these characters had their own little contributions to the messages of the story. The book also really depicted how Jem and Scout were growing and maturing throughout these events. In the book Scout and Boo had a much more personal relationship. In the end of the novel you can really see how Scout was in Boo’s shoes. She all of the past events of her life from the Radley porch. She felt a connection with Boo that is unexplainable. All in all the book was much more effective in displaying Harper Lee’s messages.

         

Out of My Mind Blog

Out of My Mind Blog

Ch. 4-6

Prompt: Select a quote from your reading that you liked. What made you pick it? How

does it make you pause and think?

       Even though I am not that far along in this novel, there were several quotes and phrases the author wrote that made me stop and think. These quotes really open up your mind about being able to express yourself through words, and not letting labels define you, and how easily we take advantage of our capabilities when others are greatly misunderstood and struggling because of appearance.

        The first quote that really popped out to me is, "Words have always swirled around me like snowflakes-each one delicate and different, each one melting untouched in my hands.”(page 1) This really stood out to me because of the figurative language and the imagine it created in my head. This also really shows how beautiful and fragile words can be. We don't always realize it, but words and expressions are very powerful. Having that ability to express ourselves through language is a gift that not everyone receives unfortunately. This quote is also on the first page, which is definitely how the author brought me into this story. The author did a great job of sucking the reader in and making them want more. 

         The second quote is when Melody's mother takes her to the doctor to see if she is able to attend school. The doctor gave her options of keeping her at home or sending her away. Melody's mother was appalled by this. She said lots of powerful things, the best one in my opinion is, "[A] person is so much more than the name of a diagnosis on a chart.” This quote really spoke to me. It shows how Melody is so much more than her disabilities. This also applies to any sort of label, whether it's a diagnosis or just what people call you. This is just something more people need to realize.

         The final quote is also about words and ability to express them; "Every word my parents spoke to me or about me I absorbed and kept and remembered. All of them. I have no idea how I untangled the complicated process of words and thought, but it happened quickly and naturally. By the time I was two, all my memories had words, and all my words had meanings. But only in my head. I have never spoken one single word. I am almost eleven years old.” This is much like the first quote. It shows how we take advantage of our everyday abilities and freedoms. Imagine what it would be like to be in love with words, but never spoke a single one. That's sounds like one of the worse things that could ever happened to a person. It's not just people who don't have the ability to speak, some don't have the rights. Several countries around the world control people's right to speak out. It just shows that words are extremely valuable and easy to take advantage of.

Personal Book Blog

Out of my Mind

Ch. 1-3

Prompt: Describe the main characters

        So far there are three main characters, Melody and her mother and father. Melody is the narrator of this book. She has a photographic memory, loves music, loves learning, and wishes she can express herself. Melody is disabled, she is strapped in a pink chair with buttons to move it and a tv remote. She can't talk, move, eat by herself or use the bathroom by herself, she can't pick things up, she just can't take care of herself. She is extremely frustrated she can't speak; because of this she notices more and remembers more. Unfortunately because of her memory she remembers everything, from advertising to books to an entire conversation, this annoys her because she wants to get rid of the useless and irrelevant memories like ads and annoying jingles. Sometimes she gets so frustrated with all of these things bottled up she has spasms. I feel really bad for her. It really shows you how much you take advantage of everyday things.

      

        Her mother is a nurse. She loves and defends Melody from others who judge. She loves classical music like Beethoven and Mozart. Melody likes classical because of her. Her mother, when Melody was a baby, insisted she was wrapped in blankets and given lots of love. Melody's mother sung to her and spoke to her in baby voices; which greatly annoyed Melody. 

         Melody's father is the opposite of her mother. The only thing they really have in common is that they both love and care for Melody. Her mother always had her wrapped in blankets and pillows, Melody's father took her out and let the sun touch her skin. He spoke to her like an adult. Melody's father loves jazz (her mother hates it). He always recorded Melody when she was a baby; expecting her to speak or crawl or grab or take her first steps. She never did. Even with all of this hurt they still love Melody.

Life is Beautiful Blog

       The movie Life is Beautiful and the book Night by Elie Wiesel are both about the same subject, the Holocaust. Though they may be similar in this category, they are very different from each other. One of the main differences between the two is the tone and mood. In Night everything is very serious, depressing, and disturbing. In Life is Beautiful there is a touch of humor even in the most unlikely events. They are similar because they both have characters with a strong father son relationship.

        In the book Night and in the film Life is Beautiful, the relationship between the two main characters (father and son) is very strong and important. However, the relationships are very different from each other. In Night Elie and his father have one purpose, they live for each other. Their care for each other is equal. When Elie is sick, his father cares for him. When his father is sick, Elie does everything he can for his father. In the book it says, "My father had huddled near me, draped in his blanket, shoulders laden with snow. And what if he were dead, as well? I called out to him. No response. I would have screamed if I could have. He was not moving. Suddenly, the evidence overwhelmed me: there was no longer any reason to live, any reason to fight." This shows Elie lived and fought for his father and his father did the same. This is different from Life is Beautiful because throughout the entire film the father mostly cares for the son because he is so young. He protected him from the truth, Guido made his son believe it was a game. Even though their relationship is as strong as Wiesel's,  it is certainly different. Joshua (the son) isn't scared for his father to die or anything because he doesn't know what's really going on. They both know they shouldn't separate, but only the father knows why. Guido is fighting to protect his son, but his son isn't fighting for his father. This may sound bad, however it was just the son's innocence that protected but stopped him from helping his father at the same time. 

        A very large difference between the book and film is the mood and tone. In the book Night the tone and mood is extremely serious. There are hardly any light moments throughout the story. An example of this seriousness is when they arrive at Birkenau, "In front of us, those flames. In the air, the smell of burning flesh. It must have been about midnight. We had arrived. In Birkenau." This is only one example of the level of seriousness in this memoir. There are many examples and circumstances that add to the depressing mood and tone. Examples such as all of the death and starvation and misery during this unfortunate time. This differentiates from the movie Life is Beautiful because throughout the whole film there are moments of humor. Humor is displayed mostly through Guido because he has such a goofy and weird personality. Even to his end he still displays this level of humor. Though the Holocaust is an extremely serious topic, the humor was still demonstrated very appropriately. 

         Life is Beautiful obviously shows how life can be absolutely beautiful. There are many examples and ways this is shown in the film. Guido's son's innocence plays a huge part in the movie. Without his innocence their lives could have gone even more down hill. Keeping his son believing it was a game let's Guido keep him safe and happy. I think this shows life is beautiful because he is hiding his true fear and emotions to protect his beloved son. It didn't matter what was happening, Guido kept his act together while around his son. This also represents sacrifice. Sacrifice saved his son. Dora's sacrifice of herself to get on the train to the camp even though she wasn't selected, and Guido's sacrifice of his true emotions protects their son from fatality. This is beautiful because they put their son's life in front of theirs. 

          Another example of beauty in life shown in the film is laughter. Moments of joy and laughter occur during the whole film. These light and funny moments add to how much they love living life. These moments show how happy the characters are. Happiness is beautiful, and these characters really showed that. They showed this through making jokes, being silly, and just plain weird. They also showed this happiness and laughter through Guido and Dora's love for one another. They were completely in love and loved every minute with each other. They laughed and had inside jokes, they were just completely happy with their lives together. I think that is just beautiful.

Night Blog

Night Blog

Prompt: How do Elie's experiences during the Holocaust change him as a person?

        These horrific events greatly change Elie and as well as many other survivors. Before the war Elie had a great life. He had friends, faith, and family. Before he knew it, all of that was taken away. He was separated from his mother and sister, he became distant from his religion, and only thought to stay with his father. As the war progresses he forgets about his other family and friends, revolts against his previous religious views, and almost start to think his father is a burden.

        The first sign of seeing him change is when he first arrives to Auschwitz. He saw the people and children being born. He thought of running to the electric fence to end the horror. He thought to himself, "For the first time, I felt revolt rise up in me. Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank him for?" P.31. This shows Wiesel's thinking during this disturbing event. He can't believe that his all mighty God would let such a thing happen. As events like these go on for this part of his life, he doesn't follow his beloved faith anymore. When Rabbi loses his son, Elie still prays for him. However, he says, "And in spite of myself, a prayer formed inside me, a prayer to this God in whom I no longer believed. "Oh God, Master of the Universe, give me the strength never to do what Rabbi Eliahu’s son has done." Wiesel specifically states he doesn't believe in his God anymore, he doesn't believe in his justice and his ways. However he still accepts his existence because he still prays to him.

        Throughout the entire war Elie is absolutely determined about one thing: staying with his father. Both at some point are weaker than the other. They cared for eachother. When Wiesel's father was sick he gave him his rations and would do anything for him. When Elie hurt his foot his father got help. They lived for eachother. Even with all of this love and care, Elie in the end basically saw him as a burden. After Elie wakes up and knows his father is gone he says, "I woke up at dawn on January 29. On my father’s cot there lay another sick person. They must have taken him away before daybreak and taken him to the crematorium. Perhaps he was still breathing … No prayers were said over his tomb. No candle lit in his memory. His last word had been my name. He had called out to me and I had not answered. I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep. But I was out of tears. And deep inside me, if I could have searched the recesses of my feeble conscience, I might have found something like: Free at last!" This is showing when Elie and his father are separated for good, Elie feels that he has no more responsibilities. He feels as if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. It shows how much he's changed because all he lived for was his father, now that he's gone he feels almost happy. 

        

Night by Elie Wiesel

Night Blog

Prompt: Write an editorial, an opinion essay, about an event/character from your reading.  

        Night by Elie Wiesel is a memoir about the holocaust. So, the author is also the main character. The reader and the author himself learn a lot about how people react to gruesome situations like being put in a concentration camp. We learn that author was becoming almost completely dehumanized. He was losing faith, hope, and care.

        Elie's world before this traumatic event was basically revolved around his religion; Judaism. When he was younger he became extremely interested in reading the Cabala. However, his father thought he was way too young to understand the wisdom it brings. He eventually continued to study it secretly with Moché the Beadle. Once he was forced from his home, family, and life, he would start to lose his faith.

          The first sign of Elie revolting against his religion was when he was entering Auschwitz. They were walking towards the flames and saw the burning children. He thought, ""For the first time, I felt revolt rise up in me. Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank him for?" P.31. This is showing him seeing all these horrible things and thinking, what God would ever let this happen? Another example of him questioning God is when they are speaking of him Auschwitz, "Some talked of God, of his mysterious ways, of the sins of the Jewish people, and of their future deliverance. But I ceased to pray. How I sympathized do with Job! I did not deny God's existence, but I doubted His absolute justice." P. 42 This is showing how people he is surrounded by are passionately talking their faith. If Elie hadn't changed so drastically he would probably be praying along with them. However, with all of the gruesome events he has witnessed, he questions whether God is good or bad, he questions his justice and whose side God is on.