Memorable Assignment

While I reflect back on my Freshman year of high school, the late study session and essay writing comes to mind. My most memorable part of English was making projects, for example the video I made for Great Expectations. This project really allowed me to have fun, while earning loads of extra credit! This assignment was a trailer to the movie version of Great Expectations. This video included some great eerie scenery shots and fun clips that all tied into the ghostly theme of the book.

What made this project worth while was learning about film-making in the process. It also gave me the opportunity to see the novel in a different perspective. I found different takes on the book, all while having fun!  This whole project was most memorable because I enjoyed myself while doing it. Through out the whole experience many laughs were shared. Hard-work and effort went into the making of this movie, thankfully in the end our greatest expectations were fulfilled.

A Good Experience with Poetry

My initial perception of poetry was something that was beautiful and romantic language shared only between lovers. This was based on my limited interest in culture. But, as my interest grew I learned more about poetry, I was exposed to the whole English language as a whole. My first introduction to poetry was by my fifth grade teacher. She was an eccentric English lover, she had a passion that was so contagious. From there my fascination for writing began. She introduced to me a world that abled me to express myself by not talking, a way that kept me from disrupting the class. From here my love for poetry took off.

From then to now, my interest in poetry has changed. Surprisingly I write a lot of poetry on my own. It may be the tellings of the day. A challenge I faced ad now conquered. But, mostly I allows me to look back and channel the feeling a had then. Some sad and other joyous. But, I seem to be incorporating it in my everyday, whether thats in the daily emails from Google apps or friends sending corny inspirational poems. Its amazing to know that people have really shaped their lives around poetry.

To be honest, I don't have an astonishing experience with poetry, but  collectively the times I spent in the presence of poetry has given me a better understanding of it. If come to truly love poetry and what it does and can do for people. Also, its something has been around for centuries. I can't express how thankful I am to my tattoo barrieing, phsycodelic fifth grade teacher for the foundation for writing that she gave to me.

Snippets of Poem by Adora Nwankwo:

A Path of Uncertainty

.....I feel lost sometimes
To be frank, I feel lost all the time
but, only I can help myself.
But, where am I to start?
I've been told many times
that the best place to start is the beginning
so I turn back to were I once was,
down the path of uncertainty
we call life.

Conflict in Romeo and Juliet

        An example of conflict in Romeo and Juliet that I've noticed is between  the two "star-crossed lovers" and fate. This "man vs destiny" conflict is helping to solidify the theme of fate, being very controblable. Throughout the play, the conflict between of Romeo and Juliet against fate is displayed from the first page as the chorus sings warning the audience of the tradgey ahead. The conflict that these two seems to encounter is driven by the many forces fighting against them. Their parents, society and their own consciences. But, something they seem to be forgetting are the many forces working for them, the nurse, the friar, and oddly enough death(free will). The goal is to be together, happily and love together. Yet, through all the endeavors Juliet and Romeo have struggled through, its Juliet who, in my opinion, that has shown growth and maturity. Juliet has stepped out of her parents shadow and is showing, little by little, initiative. Fate in the play is something controlled by each characters actions. "I still will stay with thee; And never from this palace of dim night depart again ... I set up my everlasting rest, And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars from this world-wearied flesh."(5.3.6) This explains the choices the Juliet's the purposeful decisions they make. The choice to break away from parents, Juliet's choice to let Romeo in, Romeo's choice to stop fawning over Rosaline, Friars choices to marry them, friars choice to give the poison, the nurses choice to relay messages. Its all about the choices each character has made. Fate is each characters free will being shown. Fate is this drama is each individual choice and decision. 

        The tale of Juliet and Romeo is a story most have heard of or seen intertwined throughtout the society. Conflict can be a daily and everyday thing. the small battle against you and the alarm clock, but would Romeo and Juluet help? Most likely not, unless you take the literal meaning and belief that death will come to you because your actions were unsatisfactory. But Honestly, this conflict can be really only be seen in a religious perspectuive because knowing that your own actions, the actions decided by the freewill of a higher being is what takes us places through life. This conflict gives us a outlook on unrational thinking and how to better handle situations in our life.

Romeo and Juliet: It's Everywhere

Romeo and Juliet is an epic tale of love and death written by William Shakespeare. Through his many pieces, Shakespeare has influenced modern day culture. This influence can be seen through movies, books, media, TV shows, sports teams and many more aspects of the 21st century. In the 1997 movie, Titanic, we are introduced to two people Rose and Jack, (whose intials are very similar to Romeo and Juliet; J and R). Also, quick interest and short relationship. Instead of two families, they come from two classes. The theme of forbidden love is central in both. As well as a a third person Caledon (Titanic) and Paris (Romeo and Juliet), both are striving the young girls heart. Sadly, both stories add in tragedy.

Connecting with Romeo & Juliet

Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet, I seem to be enjoying and reading regularly so far. This book is somewhat fun and especially different from Great Expectations. Also, I haven't found the need of Spark-notes this far. My favorite character within the play is Benvolio. I love his use of words and the way he's portrayed in the novel. He seems to be a helpful and peaceful with it comes to fighting and predicaments that others find themselves in. Benvolio is a close comrade to Romeo. In this relationship, he gives Romeo advice about his love life. I personally find a connection between Benvolio and me. His way is charming and has thoughtful things to say. All Benvolio's intentions seem to be pure and true.

When it comes to reading at home and discussing in class, I find it very helpful! It is giving me a better understanding for the assigned reading. The play is fun and drama filled, which is exactally what I like about it! For me its the kind of reading that is I can picture today, or with more modern characters. Overall, this is probably my favorite novel, in English all year!

Wrapping Up Great Expectations

             The theme that shines throughout the entire book is that materialistic pursuits lead to loss of identity and perspective. This whole book is about the hopes and dreams and where they take you. Dickens had this utmost desire to put forth his knowledge and possibly his personal experience. Perhaps to just write a book, but maybe more. To tell young people that selfish thoughts and haphazard aspirations can lead you to a place where you didn't intend to go. I never really thought this book meant anything to me, but as I write this I feel like I should be proactive to do something like Pip. Even thought he stumbled a lot and for a long time, he found himself in the end and isn't that what matters? Through the work that Dickens created many people most likely have changed their own ways to stop the unwanted destruction of there lives. I know that a lot of the time we haven't completely changed our lives but, there are ways to apply the overall message to your life. I think the theme and the intend message are completely different. The theme: Desires takes you to inadvertent extremes. The intended message: Don't let you petty wants and hopes get the best of you. Ultimately to achieve anything great, you must suffer first to understand the real growth made.

Great Expectations - Thoughts on Reading

Great Expectations is one of those books I would have never read out of  pure pleasure. The wording didn't make sense at most times. And a lot of the time I would find myself reading not knowing what was going on. I think because I read it in class, it wasn't enjoyable. I thought of it as an assignment, which is sad because I know the book had good morals and elements that were exciting and thought-provoking. The one that I did gain from reading Great Expectations, is a new and refreshing topic and genre. When I choose a book to read it usually falls into the category of Realistic Fiction, Romance, and especially Drama. It was nice to read something that made me think, something so different. Charles Dickens, isn't my favorite author and most likely won't ever be but I have earned a new respect for him and can now say I have read a book by him. He has phenomenal writing skills and adds thrills and suspense to his books. He did a great job on creating characters that were believable and not so believable (Miss Havisham). Of all the characters, Estella is my favorite. She is a beautiful girl, whose austere presence confuses people. This doesn't necessarily relate directly to me but, a majority of the time we judge people on how they look and talk but, not  really with what they put forth into the world.

I have to admit, some nights I didn't read. And other nights I read more than I needed too. My daily routine of reading started by me going to Sparknotes.com, where I would read a summary of the chapters, to get a general idea of what I was reading. From there I attempt to read the book. Some nights I lay in bed reading, while others included skipping pages and asking freinds "What happened in last night's reading?" or worst of all ... I sometimes had to re-reading the whole chapter...
Overall, the general idea of the book was conclusive and this story didn't help me grow but, I think through this year in English I've learned how to look for things, decipher words and the true meanings.