Your son...

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield,

It has come to our attention that your son, Holden's mind may be disturbed. My colleges and myself have been reflecting on his time here at Pencey, and he seems to be clinically depressed. We have examined him- with his permission- and she determined that he came into depression after being shipped to boarding school as a teenager instead of being dealt with by his parents. Also, his brother, Allie, dying put a damper on his life. He has little interest in anything, and we highly recommend a therapist and a year or more, however long he needs, to stay home and rest. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Peter L. Griffin

Abstract.

So in English, we are supposed to find an Abstract eXpressionist of whom we like their work, and answer a few questions about them.

 I chose Helen Frankenthaler. Her lifestyle was relaxed, and so was her paintings. Her art exhibits emotion by using a lot of colors. I really REALLY hate this abstract "art" it's stupid an pointless in my opinion, but I guess since she uses pretty colors, it's okay. I think abstract art flourished because it drew attention from reality and took LITERALLY no talent to do. I mean, even a 9 month old baby could make this so called "art."

Goldilocks ;)

The poem I found that is too easy for me is called "A Pair of Potatoes Were Talking" by Kenn Nesbitt. It's too easy for me obviously because it's written for little kids. I can understand all of the words.

A pair of potatoes were talking, 
discussing what might be for lunch. 
One turned to the other and told him, 
"I think that I might have a hunch. 
As long as we stay near the kitchen 
and don't wander too far afield, 
I'm sure that we'll see what they're serving. 
We just have to keep our eyes peeled."

The hardest poem I saw was called "Elegy in a Spider's Web " by Laura (Riding) Jackson.
It is too hard for me because-well, look at it!


"What to say when the spider 
Say when the spider what 
When the spider the spider what 
The spider does what 
Does does dies does it not 
Not live and then not 
Legs legs then one 
When the spider does dies 
Death spider death 
Or not the spider or 
What to say when 
To say always 
Death always 
The dying of always 
Or alive or dead 
What to say when I 
When I or the spider 
No I and I what 
Does what does dies 
No when the spider dies 
Death spider death 
Death always I 
Death before always 
Dead or alive 
Now and always 
What to say always 
Now and always 
What to say now 
Now when the spider 
What does the spider 
The spider what dies 
Dies when then when 
Then always death always 
The dying of always 
Always now I 
What to say when I 
When I what 
When I say 
When the spider 
When I always 
Death always 
When death what 
Death I says say 
Dead spider no matter 
How thorough death 
Dear or alive 
No matter death 
How thorough I 
What to say when 
When who when the spider 
When life when space 
The dying of oh pity 
Poor how thorough dies 
No matter reality 
Death always 
What to say 
When who 
Death always 
When death when the spider 
When I who I 
What to say when 
Now before after always 
When then the spider what 
Say what when now 
Legs legs then none 
When the spider 
Death spider death 
The genii who cannot cease to know 
What to say when the spider 
When I say 
When I or the spider 
Dead or alive the dying of 
Who cannot cease to know 
Who death who I 
The spider who when 
What to say when 
Who cannot cease 
Who cannot 
Cannot cease 
Cease 
Cannot 
The spider 
Death 
I 
We 
The genii 
To know 
What to say when the 
Who cannot 
When the spider what 
Does what does dies 
Death spider death 
Who cannot 
Death cease death 
To know say what 
Or not the spider 
Or if I say 
Or if I do not say 
Who cannot cease to know 
Who know the genii 
Who say the I 
Who they we cannot 
Death cease death 
To know say I 
Oh pity poor pretty 
How thorough life love 
No matter space spider 
How horrid reality 
What to say when 
What when 
Who cannot 
How cease 
The knowing of always 
Who these this space 
Before after here 
Life now my face 
The face love the 
The legs real when 
What time death always 
What to say then 
What time the spider" 

Lastly, the poem that is right for me is called "Why am I Thinking of You?" (No author cited.) I understand it well, it doesn't take too much thinking, nor too little. The words just make sense to me.

Your eyes and your smile shine on me
But I am a stranger you only see
From time to time in an unchosen place
Your voice has a lilt that interests my ears
And though I have you by a few years
I could answer your song if not your grace
 
Your impish smile and your shining eyes
Are in themselves enough to hypnotize
Me so that I forget being slightly gray
But soon I'll be leaving for another State
And I'll be a fool if my heart won't wait
Though what tomorrow will bring, I can't say
 
So, why am I thinking of you
If that will only leave me blue
And not the blue of jasmine scented skies?
For though my heart longs for the chance
To reacquaint itself with the glories of romance
Perhaps I should forget your lovely shining eyes

Scary Shakespeare?

In English class, we're starting to read Shakespeare. We're supposed to fine 5 links to "better understand" the way he writes, but I do understand it pretty well for only being a freshman. 

The first link I saw was http://shakespeare.about.com/od/teachingshakespeare/a/shakespeare_words.htm

This link is about well, how to better teach Shakespeare's way of writing. 

http://homeworktips.about.com/od/englishhomework/tp/readingshakespeare.htm

Is five tips to better read Shakespeare. 

http://alliemacb.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Understand-Shakespeare
This website is about Shakespeare; and how to better understand his language.

http://www.wikihow.com/Read-and-Understand-Romeo-and-Juliet

Some people can't understand Romeo & Juliet, this site is help for those people.

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/tragic-love-introducing-shakespeare-1162.html

Introducing Romeo & Juliet, and describing in better words what it's about so it's "easier."

I commented on Jessica Donvito's blog, 

"I really would like to read this book.  I like your summary on it, it makes me want to read it. Good review. :)"

Little Brother

                                       Little Brother

       In English, we're in our Dystopian unit. We got a free book....and I chose Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. I chose this book because out of the others, there was more action and crime. I really wanted to read Feed, but it got voted out! :( I didn't want to read a "romance" book selected by a school, it couldn't be that romance-y. Since I like reading crime novels, I thought this would be a good choice. I've only read a chapter or two, but so far it's gotten my attention pretty well. I like the fact that it's based in high school, so it relates well to me. Also, w1n5t0n is very tech-y.... Relating to just about every 10+ kid! I mean, who in this day in age doesn't have a computer? Everyone I know does.

       So far, my book doesn't have too many Dystopia characteristics. It is a fictional society, but it seems real. There'e really not too much they do that we can't. It isn't really set in the future from my perspective- it's set in 2015....only two years from now. I haven't picked up on anything else yet, either.

Censorshit..haha.

Censorship? No thanks. Did they censor Fifty Shades of Gray? No. Why censor The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?? There's my argument. 

Think about it, the book was written in the 1800's. When slavery was happening, and people said "nigger" all the time.I think most, if not ALL high school students know what it means, and I agree that it is sometimes hurtful to say directly to and African-American person. But, AGAIN, this book was written over 120 years ago. It's stupid to go change one of the most well known pieces of American literature.

Another argument is that in the article, they say that it might be the first time someone has learned of slavery, and they don't want to use the n-word to present that. If you're in high school, you should know what slavery is. I started learning about it in second grade..... That's seven years ago. I do think it is appropriate for high school student to read this novel WITHOUT it being censored. But, that's my opinion, many other people probably disagree with me 100%. Good for you.... :)

I'm on a Bus!

So, in my English class, we're supposed to write a satirical song about something that bugs us.... soooo... I'm going to write a parody of "I'm on a Boat" by The Lonely Island. It's about being on a bus. Something that bugs me: Illinois. (We're going to Cincinnati...Jessie and I wrote it.)

I'm on a Bus

(Cincinnati!) Oh, dang! Get your pillows ready!
We're about to drive off! (Cincinnati, oh yeah!)

Everybody on the bus sit yourselves down! (Cincinnati yeah!)

But stay on your motherlovin' toes!

We runnin this, leggo!

I'm on a bus!

I'm on a bus!

Everybody look at me 'cause I'm riding on a bus!

I'm on a bus!

I'm on a bus!

Take a long hard look at the big charter bus!

Straight drivin on a bus lookin at all the trees

Bustin 55 mph

A/C freezin off our toes

You can't stop me cuz bro I'm on a bus!

Take a picture Trish! (trish)

I'm on a bus snitch!

We drinkin monsta energy cuz it's so crisp

I got my PillowPet and my Twilight copy

I'm eatin candy, you at school straight eatin crappy

I'm riding a coaster doin twists and spit

Some kid is pukin gettin everybody all sick

But we ain't there yet, we still on the bus

I'm on a bus bro, don't you ever forget

I'm on a bus and it's goin slow and 

I got a nice little doodad from a rest stop

I'm the boss of the world on a bus like lucinda

If you still in C'dale you sure ain't me!

Ohhhhh

Eff cars I'm on a bus a charter bus!

Eff trees I climb stairs like a pro bro!

I'm on a bussss...oh.

Shrek!

Shrek!

Shrek is a spoof (parody) of almost all of the Disney princess movies. In all of them, the savior is handsome. In Shrek, well, Shrek isn't too handsome... Which the filmmakers did to show that your true love doesn't have to be tall dark and handsome! He can be green fat and ogre-y.

When Princess Fiona defeats Robin Hood and his merry men, this is reversal. But then again, she IS an ogre, as well.

An example of exaggeration is when Shrek and Fiona blow up LIVE animals into balloons.....that isn't possible. Okay.

An example of incongruity is that wherever  they traveled, there was a house for Fiona to sleep in. In the middle of a field? Ok, let's put a house here!...no.

I think parody was the most used satire in this movie because the whole movie is a parody.

I don't think the filmmakers ever made through the satire. They used sarcasm through the entire movie, as well as all of the types of satire.

Until Next Time,

Sara(:<3