Jigsaw Post

#3 Discuss the presence of evil on the island. Is evil inherent or is it created?

• Evil seems to be created on the island.
• Evil is empowered by Jack and the hunters
• They lose control and act wildly
• No supervision helps create evil and disorder
• Out of the control of Ralph
• Seen through death of Simon, treatment of Piggy
• Wildness creates evil

Essential Question #10

“Go out of the room[…] sentence” (34).

Rewrite:

‘Go out of the room; return to the nursery’ Mrs. Reed said reacting to the look Jane had given her. Mrs. Reed was clearly and irritated by Jane. Jane left the room for the moment, but she quickly returned, walking to the window and the close to Mrs. Reed.

Jane felt the urge to talk. She had been treated wrongly so much, but did not know how to react to Mrs. Reed. She had to think quickly. She gathered up the courage and energy to speak.

Analysis:

The difference in the writing style makes the story completely different. It is harder to feel a connection with Jane. She seems more out of control than mistreated. The story also loses the emotion used to capture the reader. I do not feel as involved in the story as I did. It is nice to see and understand all the emotions of Jane. The 3^rd person view also makes this story a little less enjoyable. 1^st person is the way the story was written and it should stay that way.

Essential Question 9

“How do Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein compare and contrast as men, scholars, and scientists?”

Robert and Victor both share a common desire to find success. Walton is a captain of a ship looking for new routes of travel while Frankenstein is a scientist driven to find the secrets of life. They both lose touch with those around them. Captain Walton says he feels distanced from his crew while Dr. Frankenstein is locked away for months doing his work. Frankenstein’s work consumes him. Once he has given life to the monster her is horrified by its presence. He leaves his apartment and grows ills at the thought or sight of any scientific equipment. Both men are focused on their work and are determined to succeed in their fields of work, no matter how it affects their lives.

Essential Question 8

Are Petruchio and Katherine in love?

Petruchio and Katherine are not in love. Their relationship did not start with love. Petruchio was used as a tool for Hortensio so that he could try and woo Bianca. Petruchio did not pursue Katherine on the basis of love. It was more of a challenge for Petruchio. He was paid to woo Katherine and that is what it seems to be. He does not show that he loves her. He is trying to tame her. Katherine does not seem to have much love for Petruchio either. She does things to please him, but there does not seem to be much love between the two. She disagrees with him as he tries to tame her, and only agrees with him so that they do not argue. Their relationship lacks love. This does not mean that love is impossible for them to attain. It is just not existent at this point in their relationship.

Essential Question #7

Do you think that Hamlet has created his own insanity, or has he lost his sense of reality completely?

If you were to just quickly read through Hamlet’s statements it would be easy to say that he is just insane, but that is not the case. Hamlet has been struggling through a very difficult time in his life. His father was murdered, and Hamlet is forced to obey the rules of his father’s murderer. Once you take a closer look into the situation Hamlet sanity is very clear. Hamlet is struggling with a giant decision that he has to make. He has to seek revenge for his father’s murder. His emotions take the better of him sometimes. He says, "I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk form a handsaw" (107). He is only “mad” sometimes, but he is able to still see the truth in some matters.

Essential #6

There are many parallels that can be drawn between the Pardoner’s prologue and his tale. The definition of a pardoner is a medieval ecclesiastic authorized to raise money for religious works by granting papal indulgences to contributors. In the definition we see a sin that the Pardoner preaches against. In the tale he preaches against gluttony, indulgences, fraud and vulgarity. The Pardoner is guilty of all the vices he speaks about. This tale is different from the others that we have read. In the first two stories the focus is on love and friendship, but in the Pardoner’s tale the focus is on the negative aspects of life and how they should be avoided. The Pardoner only speaks about love of money. His story focuses on sins because if he gets people to think of their sins they may buy pardons from him. His job is to make money and his story is just a way for him to continue his business.

Essential Question 5- My Society

The ideal society is impossible to come by. Today’s society is unbalanced and imperfect. To have the perfect society there has to be a balance of good and evil. There are many roles for people to fit. A society must have a structure that it follows. When all these are met a group of people becomes a society.
In my ideal society I chose five different people who would play many roles. I chose Tom Brady, Gerard Butler, Mother Theresa, Taylor Swift, and Megan Fox. Each person would play an important role in the society. The society has to have structure, and political structure that I would choose is a democracy. These choices help to make a society run.
I chose Tom Brady for many reasons. He is an all-pro quarterback in the NFL. Quarterback is one of the most difficult positions to play in football, and Tom Brady is one of the best of all time. Brady dissects defenses with his passes, and is a student of the game. He is very athletic which is a positive in the society. He is a very strong leader. Through his play we can see his intelligence. Tom Brady is also a very good-looking man, or so I have heard. All these attributes made the decision very clear that Tom Brady would be a very good choice as a member of society.
Another member of my society is Taylor Swift. She is one of the most talented new starlets around. Her music has sold thousands upon thousands of copies. She is an entertainer. She is a very pretty girl. She is young and full of energy and that is what a society needs.
The third member of my society is Mother Theresa. She plays a major role in my society. She could be the nurturer of the society. She would provide the spiritual guidance in the society. Mother Theresa has knowledge of medicine and could be a healer, and with her overall knowledge she would be the sapient of the society. She would also help to educate in my society.
One of the final members of my society is Megan Fox. She is one of the most talked about actresses right now. She is gorgeous, and she is not a bad actress. She would play the role of the temptress, and possibly the villain. Along with Taylor Swift she would provide the females needed for procreation, which is obviously the most important factor if a society were to make it to the next generation.
Gerard Butler is the final member of my society. He is a leader. He plays a huge role in my society. He is a guardian and protector. He is a father figure. He is the enforcer and the law. He is the quintessential man in my society.
My society is not perfect, and it has some flaws. It would be hard to have a democracy with so many stars. They would all want the power. My society is not diverse, and diversity is important to me. My society also lacks a true villain, or challenge. These cons do not make my society completely dysfunctional.
This is my ideal society. It contains people that everyone loves. Most, if not all major roles have someone to fill them. There are strong leaders, and a knowledgeable sage. My society would hopefully thrive.

Essential #4

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight
Choice 2: Where do we see seduction and lust start to destroy Gawain, our young hero? What is the author trying to tell us?

Lust and seduction are the downfall of many. Sometimes it brings the best of people to a lower level. In the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight lust and seduction also helps to bring down Gawain.
Gawain is given a warm welcome by his host while on his journey to find the Green Knight. His host feeds and clothes him. He shows him a lot of hospitality. Gawain sees the wife of his host and thinks she is beautiful. In the text the author alludes to affair between the two. Through this affair Gawain would break the five knightly virtues of friendship, generosity, courtesy, chastity, and piety. He takes all the hospitality that was shown to him and throws it right back in his hosts face. This will most likely lead to the downfall of Gawain because in novels of this nature no bad act goes without punishment. The only question is how severe will Gawain’s punishment be?

Rules of Relationships

1. Never talk about the opposite sex in a sexual manner.
2. On the first date hugs and kiss on the cheek only don't make yourself look too easy.
3. Be polite. Chivalry is not dead.
4. Treat them around others like you would if you were alone.
5. The guy should pay. After time they should split the bill.
6. Always be honest. Any lie is a bad lie.
7. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Respect it, even if you don't agree with it.
8. Don't spend too much time together. Don't forget about your friends.
9. Remind important dates, just because you may not think it is important does not mean that your significant other thinks the same.
10. Don't say I love you unless you mean it.

Beowulf Essential 2

Discuss biblical allusions and religious symbolism in Beowulf
Religion plays a huge role in Beowulf. During the time that this poem was written Christianity was becoming big, and there is a religious undertone throughout the text. Whenever anyone accomplishes anything they praise and thank God for what they have done. An example of religious undertone is the explanation of Grendel and how he was born. Grendel is born from the seed of Cane and is essentially a spawn of Satan. The same goes for Grendel’s mother. She knows her fate, but still chooses to live her life the way she does because she gave birth to a demon. Religion is key in the poem.
After Beowulf defeats Grendel’s mother he says, “our encounter would have ended at once if God had not guarded me” (1640-1641). Beowulf thanks God for him defeating Grendel’s mother. He said if God were not with him he would have died. This is just one of the numerous examples of religious symbolism in Beowulf.

Beowulf Essential 1

What are the social obligations of a hero? Is Beowulf aware of his deification process?

A hero is a person who helps protect society, and a hero is also admired by the people that he or she protects. A hero is courageous, strong, and is loyal to the people that he protects. the obligations of a hero are to uphold the certain qualities like selflessness and leadership. A hero must also live up to the expectations of society, and take upon themselves a role of leadership during a time of conflict or crisis. The hero must protect the people he serves, no matter how the outcome will affect him, and the hero must never give up because a hero is the one whom everyone relies on.

Beowulf is aware of his status as a hero, but not his deification process. He knows of his family's strong history. Beowulf knows of his great strength and bravery. Not only is Beowulf aware of these qualities but also others are aware. Beowulf is said to be "the strongest man alive, princely and powerful" (197-198). Beowulf is renowned for his strength and bravery, and Beowulf is highly respected because of these qualities. The people believe in Beowulf as a hero, but he has not reached the level of being a god yet.

P&P Essay

Andy Medina

AP English

Mr. George

Pride and Prejudice Essay

4/14/09

First Impressions vs. Pride and Prejudice

First impressions can be everything.  They are a major factor in how a person will be remembered.  In the novel Pride and Prejudice, first interactions between people are key to their future relationship.  In this novel there are many times when these first impressions turn out to be inaccurate.  First impressions in this novel are major factors in how the story plays out, and that is why the original title of First Impressions is more appropriate for this novel.  This title relates more to the characters than the title Pride and Prejudice, and is more fitting for the story.

Making a good first impression is hard, and the novel it proves this.  Many characters struggle with making good first impressions.  Jane is a good example of a character that makes a bad first impression which is very different from her true personality.  Mr. Darcy is close friends with Mr. Bingley who has seemingly fallen in love with Jane Bennet.  Mr. Darcy examines Jane at a ball, and the first impression she gives him is not good.  Mr. Darcy says that Jane’s “look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard” (Austen 195).  Mr. Darcy went on to say that Jane “received [Bingley’s] attentions with pleasure, [but] she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment” (195).  He thinks he is looking out for Mr. Bingley’s best interests and breaks up the intended marriage that Jane and the rest of the Bennet family were hoping for.  Mr. Darcy’s first impression of Jane was that she was not fully interested in Bingley, but in reality she loved him.  This event leads to Mr. Darcy stopping the marriage, for the time being, of Jane and Mr. Bingley.  This is not the only case of misleading first impressions in this novel as similar situations arise as the plot plays on.  

Mr. Darcy himself does not avoid a bad first impression.  He comes off as a proud, as many note: “‘His pride,’ said Miss Lucas, ‘does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. […] he has a right to be proud’” (21).  Mr. Darcy’s place at the top of the societal ladder makes him come off as haughty to those who are below his status, and this hurts his relationships with many, especially Elizabeth Bennet.  Elizabeth is told, by Mr. Wickham, that Mr. Darcy is an overcome with pride.  Mr. Wickham says these things about Mr. Darcy just a few minutes after he says that “It gives [him] pain to speak ill of a Darcy” (82).  Elizabeth already had been having ill feelings toward Mr. Darcy, and this created a prejudice against him.  Elizabeth believed that Mr. Darcy was an abominable man, but Mr. Darcy is far from that, he is almost perfect.  

Mr. Darcy is truly a kindhearted man, willing to give up a variety of things for Elizabeth, but she was blinded by the prejudice that was created by the bad impressions that Darcy had left with her.  This prejudice would lead to her rejecting his marriage proposal because she thought that he was such a debauched individual who cared for no one but himself.  Her prejudice blinded her to all the good deeds that Mr. Darcy had done and when the truth is revealed to her through Mr. Darcy’s letter she is humiliated and says, “Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind” (205).  The first impression of Mr. Darcy led Elizabeth to believe the worst about him, but luckily his love for her was not deterred by the cruel things that she said to him.  They are eventually married, but the poor first impression and the prejudice created from that, almost stopped that from happening.

In some cases, first impressions are not always bad.  In Mr. Wickham’s case his first impression is very beneficial to his public image.  He is a man who goes after girls for money and is in debt in many cities, but his strong first impressions make people believe that he is a respectable man.  Mr. Wickham is described as the “happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned” (77).  Elizabeth is attracted to him and she was the “happy woman by whom he finally seated himself” (77).  Mr. Wickham shows interest in Elizabeth out of mercenary needs only.  Elizabeth is unaware of this, and it is not until Mr. Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth that the truth about Mr. Wickham is revealed.  Mr. Darcy told Elizabeth that Mr. Wickham had taken the money that Mr. Darcy had given him, wasted it, and then came back for more.  When Mr. Darcy refused, Mr. Wickham tries to elope with Georgiana Darcy to get her money, but he fails.  Elizabeth is humiliated that she was deceived: “She grew absolutely ashamed of herself.  Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudice, absurd” (204).  Impressions can blind a person with prejudice, and decisions should not always be based on those feelings.

Pride and Prejudice is an appropriate title for this novel.  Pride and Prejudice is an exclusive title to the book and only is relevant to two characters, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth.  The title First Impressions relates to more characters and the different relationships between them.  The prejudice amongst the characters is hard to avoid and is derived from the first impressions that people make.  The prejudices created from these initial meetings are important throughout the novel and are an integral part to the development of the relationship between the characters.  These impressions can be misleading, but in the end the true nature of the characters are unveiled, and things are made right.  The first meetings between characters in the story are important and are major factors in the novel, and that is why First Impressions would be the more appropriate title.  As everyone knows you can never have a second chance at making a first impression, so make it a good one, but do not let it misconstrue who you really are.  

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice New York: Barnes & Noble Books 2004

Character Analysis- Darcy

Andy Medina

AP English

Mr. George

Character Analysis

4/12/09

Darcy

Mr. Darcy is the perfect man; he is rich, handsome, and would do anything for the woman he loves.  

Mr. Darcy is a unique character.  He is a man of great stature, and many have a lot of respect for him.  Through his actions others see him as a haughty, prideful individual, but there are times where he is depicted as a caring man, especially in his interactions with Elizabeth.  Throughout the novel opinions on Darcy change, but his mannerisms do not change.  As the novel continues, Darcy proposes to Elizabeth only to be turned down.  She thinks that his pride is overwhelming and that he only cares for himself, but she could not be more wrong.  Elizabeth thought badly of Darcy because she misinterpreted his actions.  He broke up her sister’s marriage because he believed it was in the best interests for his friend.  Darcy did not give Wickham the money he asked for because he had already given him extra money before, not because Darcy hated him.  Darcy did things in the interests of others, and that is truly the individual that he is.  

Mr. Darcy is like a pineapple.  When you first look at a pineapple you see a thorny object that looks like it could never be a fruit.  Darcy was mistaken for a man who only cared for himself.  When you get past the thorns on a pineapple you get to the delicious fruit that many love.  As the novel went on people saw Darcy for who he really was, and not the pompous man they first thought he was.  

Mr. Darcy can be compared to George Clooney because of they are both very handsome, rich men who are also very caring.  

Character Analysis- Jane

Jane Bennet

Jane Bennet is a very sweet young woman who cares for everyone that she meets, as long as they have good manners.

Jane is the oldest of the Bennet sisters.  She is very kind and beautiful.  Everyone takes notice of her beauty.  “Jane united with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and an uniform cheerfulness of manner, which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent” (22).  Jane is an optimistic person, and always gives a positive spin on negative situations.  She defends people, like Wickham, when others think very poorly of them.  The only way for someone to end up on her bad side is if she realizes their faults, like she did with Miss Bingley.  When Jane realizes Miss Bingley’s insincerity she does not look for a positive in her negative actions.  She does not make excuses for her, but when they become sister-in-laws Jane’s kindheartedness makes it so she accepts Miss Bingley again.  Jane is a good natured human being, and many other characters within the novel see that in her.  

Jane is a positive character and her feelings toward people stay the same like the needles on an evergreen tree.  There are times where her feelings toward others change, just as there are some needles of the tree fall off and become discolored.  For the most part Jane remains as a positive person, like an evergreen tree stays green all year round.  

Jane Bennet is comparable to Juliette Noonan, or really any of the Noonan girls, because they are very positive people, and try to see the best in people even if it is a bad situation.  

Pride and Prejudice 15: ch 16-END

“You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.” Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances” (354).

• In this quote Darcy tells Elizabeth that his feelings for her have not changed since he proposed to her.  He still is in love with her and he wants to know if her feelings have changed.  He says that if her feelings have not changed then he will not bother her with this subject again.  Elizabeth is so happy that she accepts his offer “not very fluently” which is surprising because she is very well spoken.  She is so happy that he is still in love with her and she now knows that she is in love with him.  She is probably excited because this also proves everyone else wrong.  Many said that Darcy’s societal status was too great for Elizabeth, and this proves all of them wrong.  
  

Elizabeth standing up to Lady Catherine is surprising because:

A.) Elizabeth is younger

B.) Lady Catherine’s position in society

C.) Elizabeth loves Lady Catherine

D.) Lady Catherine does not care about Elizabeth

Pride and Prejudice 13: ch 10-12

“She was even sensible of some pleasure, though mixed with regret, on how finding how steadfastly both she and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence subsisted between Mr. Darcy and herself” (316).

• Elizabeth’s love for Darcy has been steadily growing over the last few chapters.  In this section we see that Darcy bribed Wickham to marry Lydia.  The reason for why Darcy did that is unknown, but her aunt speculates, and drops hints, that it may be because he has feelings for Elizabeth.  Her aunt even goes out and says, “Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to say before) how much I like him?” (315).  Her aunt is speaking of how she likes Darcy and this relates to the part a few sections ago after the Gardiners met Darcy.  Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner both wanted to talk about Darcy and did not know how to go about it.  Now she feels comfortable speaking about it.  Elizabeth is dwelling on the fact that she spoke ill of Darcy and rejected him.  She feels stupid for doing it, and wishes it could be different, but she also realizes she may not get another chance with Darcy. 
  

“I fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of his character after all” (313).  The word obstinacy most closely relates to:

A.) Stubbornness

B.) Pride

C.) Selfishness

D.) Stupidity 

Pride and Prejudice 12: ch 7-9

“She wanted to hear of him, when there seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence. She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet” (301).

• This quote is very interesting.  Elizabeth is saying that if Darcy were to propose to her now she would say yes.  There is only one problem with that… she doesn’t know if Darcy will propose to her again.  Lydia’s marriage to Wickham was a huge controversy and it would deter Darcy from making another proposal.  Elizabeth is falling for Darcy head over heals.  It is possibly because she has experienced her younger sister marrying a man before her, and quite possibly the man she had thought would be a suitable husband.  There are many possible reasons for this, but none for sure.  It is most likely that she is finally realizing how Darcy is a good man.  She should have said yes before, but she did not understand him like she does now.  
  

Why did Mr. Darcy attend the wedding?

A.) He hoped to see Elizabeth there

B.) He felt obligated to go

C.) He forgave Wickham

D.) He has a secret love for Lydia

Pride and Prejudice 11: ch 3-6

“But that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance” (264). 

This interaction between Darcy, Miss Bingley, and Elizabeth is very interesting.  Miss Bingley knocks down Elizabeth in front of Darcy like she usually does, but there is a difference this time.  This time her words are harsher.  She attacks Elizabeth more directly than before.  It is most likely due to the fact that Darcy’s love for Elizabeth is growing, and Miss Bingley knows this.  She tries to make Darcy sound like he did not appreciate before, but in this quote Darcy avoids Miss Bingley’s attack.  I believe that Darcy is growing on Elizabeth.  She is beginning to fall for him more than she had before and her interaction with her aunt at the end of chapter 3 shows this: 

“The looks and behaviour of every body they had seen were discussed, except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention. They talked of his sister, his friends, his hous, his fruites, of every thing but himself; yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of him, and Mrs. Gardiner would have been Highly gratified by her niece’s beginning the subject” (264).  

They both are interested in Darcy, but neither knows what to say about him.

Why does Elizabeth not speak about Darcy to Mrs. Gardiner?

A.) She is afraid of her

B.) She does not like Darcy

C.) She still has feelings for Wickham

D.) She is nervous of the opinion her aunt holds

Pride and Prejudice 9: ch 14-18

“Mr. Darcy has not authorized me to make his communication public […] The general prejudice against Mr. Darcy is so violent, that it would be the death of half the good people in Meryton, to attempt to place him in an amiable light […] Wickham will soon be gone; and therefore it will not signify to any body here what he really is. Some time hence it will be all found out, and then we may laugh at their stupidity in not knowing it before.  At present I will say nothing about it” (221).  

• Elizabeth shares the information that she has learned from Darcy with Jane.  She tells Jane about what she has learned about Wickham.  They choose not to tell the people about Wickham’s faults because he is leaving soon and they think that the rest of the people will figure it out for themselves.  Prejudice against Mr. Darcy is also shown in this quote.  Mr. Darcy brought this information about and it would be hard for the people to accept it due to the prejudice they still hold against him.  It is a sticky situation that the girls are faced with and it will be interesting to see how it will play out as the story goes on.  It will also be interesting to see if Elizabeth confronts Wickham about the news.
  

Why do Elizabeth and Jane choose not to bring Wickham’s faults to the public?

A.) They do not want to hurt his reputation

B.) Elizabeth still has feelings for him

C.) They are not sure if the accusations are true

D.) Darcy did not give his permission

E.) We do not know

Pride and Prejudice 8: ch 11-13

"Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind.  But vanity, not love, has been my folly.  Pleased with preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away where either were concerned.  Till this moment, I never knew myself" (205). 

• Elizabeth has realized her faults through this quote.  She has been blinded by her first impressions of people.  She has also been blinded by her pride and prejudices towards people.  We now see where the two titles of the books came from.  First impressions are valued too much in this society and the people never really take a chance on getting to understand those who have a bad first impression.  On the other hand if a person has a good first impression they are thought to be a good person and their character is not questioned.  This is perfectly illustrated with Elizabeth’s feelings toward Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham.  Her first impressions of the two individuals created a prejudice that blinded her and it was not until now that she has realized her mistake.  She must not make an effort to try and make things right, but it will not be easy.
  

Mr. Darcy’s proposal and letter were

I- Heartfelt

II- Full of Pride

III- Thoughtful and showing his true feelings

A.) I

B.) II

C.) III

D.) I &III

E.) II & III