PeaceLoveHappiness
By Brei Roberts
Peace. It's in the middle of
e v e r y t h i n g
people fight with fire in their eyes,
f i g h t i n g
for what they believe.
Killing to stop killing?
Fighting to stop fighting?
Pace, for maybe
o n e d a y
would fill peoples' hearts with
h a p p i n e s s
Monday, May 4, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Old man and the sea essay
The setting is the foundation of the story. Without it, we wouldn’t know where you were when everything was happening, and it would paint a much less vivid picture for the reader. Setting is one of the most important parts of a story. A story lacking setting would take place no where; making is difficult for the reader to picture what’s happening.
The old man and the sea takes place in a few creative settings. The first is a small island called Cuba. The second is out on the harsh sea in the small skiff. These are the two main settings. There are also smaller ones in between such as the peaceful hut when Santiago returns. In The Old Man and the Sea the most important setting is no doubt the sea. All the important action takes place there. Without the sea, there wouldn’t have been much of a story.
When Santiago, a jovial, wise, easygoing, carefree, sincere old man, goes out to sea on his skiff. it describes the beginning of his journey. “He fitted the rope lashings of the oars onto the thole pins and’ leaning forward against the thrust of the blades in the water, be began to row out of the harbor in the dark. There were other boats from the other beaches going out to sea and the old man heard the dip and push of their oars even though he could not see them now the was below the hills.” (28). Already has begun working, because of all that he has to do before he even pushes off into the water. He is also in the dark, which gives a sense of danger right off the bat. It hints that the sea is unpredictable, and might throw him aloof. Later on, the author describes how Santiago interacts with the sea and its inhabitants. “He was very fond of the flying fish as they were his principle friends in the ocean.” (29). Raises the question: why does he refer to them as freinds? He refers to them as friends because he talks to them and they help him find his fish. He goes on to explain more about the other fish and sea birds. He also describes his serene surroundings, like the water and the weather.
Much later in the story, Santiago is very deep out into the unsympathetic sea. He is planning the catch of the marlin. He describes his hunger, and also his surroundings. At this point, it is not much, only miles and miles of water and no sign of gloomy weather. “The sun was on the old man’s left arm and shoulder and on his back. So he knew the fish had turned east of north.” (67). This shows what time of day the story is taking place at this time. From this description we know that the sun is setting. When he actually catches the fish, you get another description of the setting that explains what time of day it is. “[Santiago] looked up at the sky and then out to his fish. He looked at the sun carefully. It is not much more than noon, he thought. And the trade wind is rising.” (96).
Finally, when the old man returns home, he finds his shack and eagerly lays down to sleep. “He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack. Inside the shack he leaned the mast against the wall. In the dark he found a water bottle and took a drink. Then he lay down on the bed. He pulled the blanket over his shoulders and then over his back and his legs and slept face down on the newspapers with his arms out straight and his hands up.” (122). This shows how tired the old man was when he returned home. The setting is not as vivid for this part of the story, but it desribes it enough so we know where santiago is.
Notice that Ernest Hemingway uses less description of the surroundings than most authors. He uses setting to describe the time of day more than anything. He also uses it to give a feel of the temperature, such as when he describes the wind blowing and the sun on Santiago’s back.
The old man and the sea takes place in a few creative settings. The first is a small island called Cuba. The second is out on the harsh sea in the small skiff. These are the two main settings. There are also smaller ones in between such as the peaceful hut when Santiago returns. In The Old Man and the Sea the most important setting is no doubt the sea. All the important action takes place there. Without the sea, there wouldn’t have been much of a story.
When Santiago, a jovial, wise, easygoing, carefree, sincere old man, goes out to sea on his skiff. it describes the beginning of his journey. “He fitted the rope lashings of the oars onto the thole pins and’ leaning forward against the thrust of the blades in the water, be began to row out of the harbor in the dark. There were other boats from the other beaches going out to sea and the old man heard the dip and push of their oars even though he could not see them now the was below the hills.” (28). Already has begun working, because of all that he has to do before he even pushes off into the water. He is also in the dark, which gives a sense of danger right off the bat. It hints that the sea is unpredictable, and might throw him aloof. Later on, the author describes how Santiago interacts with the sea and its inhabitants. “He was very fond of the flying fish as they were his principle friends in the ocean.” (29). Raises the question: why does he refer to them as freinds? He refers to them as friends because he talks to them and they help him find his fish. He goes on to explain more about the other fish and sea birds. He also describes his serene surroundings, like the water and the weather.
Much later in the story, Santiago is very deep out into the unsympathetic sea. He is planning the catch of the marlin. He describes his hunger, and also his surroundings. At this point, it is not much, only miles and miles of water and no sign of gloomy weather. “The sun was on the old man’s left arm and shoulder and on his back. So he knew the fish had turned east of north.” (67). This shows what time of day the story is taking place at this time. From this description we know that the sun is setting. When he actually catches the fish, you get another description of the setting that explains what time of day it is. “[Santiago] looked up at the sky and then out to his fish. He looked at the sun carefully. It is not much more than noon, he thought. And the trade wind is rising.” (96).
Finally, when the old man returns home, he finds his shack and eagerly lays down to sleep. “He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack. Inside the shack he leaned the mast against the wall. In the dark he found a water bottle and took a drink. Then he lay down on the bed. He pulled the blanket over his shoulders and then over his back and his legs and slept face down on the newspapers with his arms out straight and his hands up.” (122). This shows how tired the old man was when he returned home. The setting is not as vivid for this part of the story, but it desribes it enough so we know where santiago is.
Notice that Ernest Hemingway uses less description of the surroundings than most authors. He uses setting to describe the time of day more than anything. He also uses it to give a feel of the temperature, such as when he describes the wind blowing and the sun on Santiago’s back.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
3rd Quarter Outside Reading Book Review
Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer. Brown Young Readers, August 7, 2007.
Genre: Fiction
This book is the third in the series, and possibly the most exciting one yet. Bella and Edward are reunited in this book, because they had been seperated in the previous one. It takes place in the small town of Forks. Bella is torn between her best friend Jacob Black, and her true love, Edward Cullen. The situation is extra difficult because Jacob is a werewolf, and Edward is a vampire. The two hate eachother, but must put aside their differenced to protect Bella from the newborn vampires, and Victoria, a wicked vampire out to avenge her lovers death.
The back of the book reads, "A near-genius balance of breathtaking romance and action."
-VOYA
The writing style is very descriptive. All of Meyer's books are, I have noticed in my reading. She uses great adjectives that really spice up the reading and keep you alert and interested. She does a great job with the setting and characters. You always know exactly where you are, so it's like you're there watching it happen. All the characters are fully developed and you have a clear picture of them in your head. Her writing is unlike many other books I've read, but I enjoy her uniqueness.
"I stared up at him, confused and dizzy with releif. I started babbling, my eyes getting moist."
(311)
You can see in this quote her use of descriptive language.
The boook spoke to me in a way that not most books have. It was like the characters were my friends, and i was actually very concerned for their well being. I believe that the theme was that you can forget your differences and work together with someone you hate if it is for someone or something you truly love and care about. I can relate directly to the theme, because this is something I have had to do in my life. I would reccommend this book to many people, I loved it so much. I love all the characters and desciptions. It is simply a great work of literature.
Genre: Fiction
This book is the third in the series, and possibly the most exciting one yet. Bella and Edward are reunited in this book, because they had been seperated in the previous one. It takes place in the small town of Forks. Bella is torn between her best friend Jacob Black, and her true love, Edward Cullen. The situation is extra difficult because Jacob is a werewolf, and Edward is a vampire. The two hate eachother, but must put aside their differenced to protect Bella from the newborn vampires, and Victoria, a wicked vampire out to avenge her lovers death.
The back of the book reads, "A near-genius balance of breathtaking romance and action."
-VOYA
The writing style is very descriptive. All of Meyer's books are, I have noticed in my reading. She uses great adjectives that really spice up the reading and keep you alert and interested. She does a great job with the setting and characters. You always know exactly where you are, so it's like you're there watching it happen. All the characters are fully developed and you have a clear picture of them in your head. Her writing is unlike many other books I've read, but I enjoy her uniqueness.
"I stared up at him, confused and dizzy with releif. I started babbling, my eyes getting moist."
(311)
You can see in this quote her use of descriptive language.
The boook spoke to me in a way that not most books have. It was like the characters were my friends, and i was actually very concerned for their well being. I believe that the theme was that you can forget your differences and work together with someone you hate if it is for someone or something you truly love and care about. I can relate directly to the theme, because this is something I have had to do in my life. I would reccommend this book to many people, I loved it so much. I love all the characters and desciptions. It is simply a great work of literature.
Friday, January 30, 2009
A new life
I didn’t get very far when I felt a strong pull on my hair and the back of my shirt. The sudden pain stops me, and I fear what is going to happen next. I huddle closely to the corner of my kitchen, enjoying the coolness of its surface against my burning makeup stained cheeks. Only seconds later, my mother is screaming at me to go to my room, and telling me I’m disrespectful. I stand there for a moment, vexed by everything going on. “Go now or I’m going to pummel you!” she hollers. I refuse to move, even though I know that I should, to avoid another harsh threshing. I feel her fists upon my back, pounding on me. She picks me up and throws me into the wall again, and i figure it's going to leave a contusion. I’m surprised the clamor hasn’t woke the neighbors yet. I quickly turn around and push past her, and into my room slamming the door behind me. Realizing my quivering legs could not longer support my weight, I slide onto the floor and look at my surroundings through horribly blurred vision. Not even the nearly blinding yellow walls could brighten my mood this time.
My whole body is shaking in time with my sobs as I try to stand. I pulled myself up using my dresser as and aid, and look at myself in the mirror. My eyes are red and shiny from the fresh tears, and my makeup is sliding down my cheeks. My expression was very grave, and I felt worthless, a feeling that seemed interminable. I had a sudden craving for pain. I longed for the precise, sharp slice of a razorblade, and to see myself hemorrhage until there was nothing left. Absent-mindedly, I walked into my bathroom and retrieve a razor, inspecting it, stroking the blade with my fingertips. It sends shivers down my vertebrae. “I can’t do this.” I say between sobs, and put the razor back in its place. I know that once I put that razor to my skin, I’m hurting more than just myself, and i would abhor myself for it.
I run back to my room and pick up my cell phone. With shaking hands, I dial the number that has become so familiar to me, my one escape. I listen eagerly as it rings once, twice, three times… it feels like forever when I finally hear that comforting, “Hello.” on the other line. My breathing must have been uneven, because I didn’t have to say a word before he questioned, “Are you okay? Want me to come over?” he starts to sound panicky. I sob a few more times before he says, “It’s okay Bridgette, just try to calm down. I’ll be over soon.” and I hear the receiver click. I sat, thinking to myself how altruistic he was, when I hear the tap at my window. I stand up quickly despite my shaking legs, and hastily opened the window so Connor could come through furtively.He was barely all the way in before he caught me in his embrace, crushing my head to his chest. He pulls away, taking my hand and leads me to my bed so we can sit and talk. I feel his one of his strong arms around me, while the other is cupping my chin. He leans closer to me and whispers, "It's going to be okay Bridgette, i promise. If i could only keep one promise to you for the rest of our lives, it would be that everything will always be okay. Whenever you're not okay, i'll be here to make sure you’re happy, forever." he smiles and kisses me lightly, making my heart skip a beat. Taking his thumb, he wipes the tears from my cheeks and tells me he loves me. "We don't have to live like this Bridgette; we can run away so far that no one will know where to find us."
"What if we get caught?" I ask with a questioning countenance on my face.
"We won't get caught. Just pack what you need, and we can get in my car and drive until we're out of gas." he smiles.
"But what about you, don't you need anything?"
"I've got all I need right here." he says, grafting his arms to me. I gather only the necessary things, and put it all in my bag. Connor goes out first, and I follow, slowly crawling into his benign, outstretched arms, and he carries me to his car. We quietly back out and start driving.
Once we get to the highway, my phone rings, making me jump. I look at the screen and gasp. "It’s my mom." i say, starting to panic.
"Just stay calm, answer it and see what she says." Connor replies.
I flip it open and manage a quiet, "Hello?"
"WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? WHO ARE YOU WITH?" my mom screamed so loud Connor could hear it. He looks at me sympathetically, and nods once to indicate I should tell her. "I'm with Connor, mom. We're leaving, so I don't have to cause you problems anymore." I said, trying to maintain the placid tone in my voice.
"You can't do that! You're only 16!" she screams again.
"Mom, you can't stop me now. I don't want to continue living like this.”
"How could you do this to me? what about your sister, your dad, your friends?" she says, not screaming anymore.
"I have it all figured out mom. I don't need anyone else though. Don't worry about me, i'll be fine."
“Alright. But if you ever want to come back, I’m here.”
"Okay mom. Bye." i say, the surprise obvious in my voice. Even though my mom was nice to offer, I did not plan on going back to that life. I look at Connor and start to smile. "I'm free, we're free." I say, beginning to lament joyfully. Connor smiles, and reaches for my hand across the seat. I was the happiest I’ve ever been, and. I was ready to start a new life, our new life.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
2nd quarter outside reading review
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks. Grand Central Publishing, 2003.
Genre: Fiction
Nights in Rodanthe is another great love story that will capture the hearts of all ages. Like every well-written love story, Nights in Rodanthe includes suspense, confusion, and of course, tragedy. The story begins with Adrianne Willis, a woman of 45 years, struggling with her divorce. In an attempt to escape, Adrianne offers to look after her friend’s inn for a few weeks. This is where she meets Paul Flanner, another middle-aged man, also dealing with a few issues of his own. The two quickly hit it off and discover that they have many things in common, and subtly, a relationship forms. Their time together comes to an end, and they must go on without eachother while Paul is taking care of some buisiness with his son. The couple write letters to eachother everyday, counting down to their next meeting. Unfortunatly, due to bad weather conditions, that meeting never happens. Paul dies, leaving Adrianne depressed and confused.
“Nicholas Sparks is such a wonderful story teller. I started this book last night at 3 AM when I couldn't sleep, and less than 24 hours later I was finished. I couldn't put it down!” –Megan Parker
Nicholas Spark’s writing style is the same in all of his books I’ve read. I’ve noticed that all of his books are love stories, and either have happy endings, or almost unbearably sad endings, there’s never an in-between. Sparks writes with many descriptions, and it always sure to capture the feelings of everyone involved, so it’s as if you’re feeling the character’s feelings. He also describes the setting very well, so you know every last detail about where the characters are, and what exactly is going on around them.
“We all make choices, Adrienne. You chose that life, you chose that man. Do you even remember who you really are anymore?” This line was said by Paul Flanner during an argument between him and Adrianne. This shows how the author shoes the character’s feelings through their dialogue. You can almost feel the emotion during the arguments, and when they make up. This line stuck out to me because I think a lot of people forget who they are, and Nicholas Sparks brought that to our attention. Though I cannot relate to this book experience wise, I can relate to it emotionally. I feel Adrianne’s pain when Paul dies, and I know how it feels to be struggling with your family. I’m also very into romantic things, so I could relate to this book in that was as well. This book affected me because when Paul dies, it shows you cannot take anyone or anything for granted, and that things can be taken away from you right before your eyes. It made me want to value everyone in my life, more than I already do. This book was very enjoyable. Once I picked it up, it seemed I could never put it back down. It kept me hooked from the first page, to the last. I plan on reading more of Nicholas Sparks’ books in the near future.
Genre: Fiction
Nights in Rodanthe is another great love story that will capture the hearts of all ages. Like every well-written love story, Nights in Rodanthe includes suspense, confusion, and of course, tragedy. The story begins with Adrianne Willis, a woman of 45 years, struggling with her divorce. In an attempt to escape, Adrianne offers to look after her friend’s inn for a few weeks. This is where she meets Paul Flanner, another middle-aged man, also dealing with a few issues of his own. The two quickly hit it off and discover that they have many things in common, and subtly, a relationship forms. Their time together comes to an end, and they must go on without eachother while Paul is taking care of some buisiness with his son. The couple write letters to eachother everyday, counting down to their next meeting. Unfortunatly, due to bad weather conditions, that meeting never happens. Paul dies, leaving Adrianne depressed and confused.
“Nicholas Sparks is such a wonderful story teller. I started this book last night at 3 AM when I couldn't sleep, and less than 24 hours later I was finished. I couldn't put it down!” –Megan Parker
Nicholas Spark’s writing style is the same in all of his books I’ve read. I’ve noticed that all of his books are love stories, and either have happy endings, or almost unbearably sad endings, there’s never an in-between. Sparks writes with many descriptions, and it always sure to capture the feelings of everyone involved, so it’s as if you’re feeling the character’s feelings. He also describes the setting very well, so you know every last detail about where the characters are, and what exactly is going on around them.
“We all make choices, Adrienne. You chose that life, you chose that man. Do you even remember who you really are anymore?” This line was said by Paul Flanner during an argument between him and Adrianne. This shows how the author shoes the character’s feelings through their dialogue. You can almost feel the emotion during the arguments, and when they make up. This line stuck out to me because I think a lot of people forget who they are, and Nicholas Sparks brought that to our attention. Though I cannot relate to this book experience wise, I can relate to it emotionally. I feel Adrianne’s pain when Paul dies, and I know how it feels to be struggling with your family. I’m also very into romantic things, so I could relate to this book in that was as well. This book affected me because when Paul dies, it shows you cannot take anyone or anything for granted, and that things can be taken away from you right before your eyes. It made me want to value everyone in my life, more than I already do. This book was very enjoyable. Once I picked it up, it seemed I could never put it back down. It kept me hooked from the first page, to the last. I plan on reading more of Nicholas Sparks’ books in the near future.
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