LOTF Final Journal

The end of the novel was quite funny to me. It was exquisitely ironic. The fact that the current war going on outside of their island is what interrupted their own war is a good piece of irony. Furthermore, the ending is ironic for Ralph and his comrades all strived for fire while Jack and his entourage could care less about a fire. It just so turns out that Jack came up with the idea to set a fire and its smoke is what alerted the naval officer to their presence.
I suppose Ralph cried at the end of the novel for he could finally succumb to his emotions. The danger was gone and he no longer needed to be strong. His storm, or more like typhoon, has passed and the bright sun breaking through the clouds casting a rainbow and illuminating the world has become to much for him. Ralph can once again be the kid he is and throw all his island responsibilities out the door. The heaviest burden he has carried has been removed and he begins to cry in relief and happiness.
I despise SamnEric the most. Not only did they sell out to Jack after being with Ralph for so long but they snitched on Ralph and his hideout when there loyalty is most crucial. I understand that they were forced to become a part of Jack's band of savages, but to sell out one's morals, ethics, and dignity for some barbecued pork? I'd choose death over betraying a friend who has sacrificed so much to making my survival a guarantee. In life we only have a few things that define who we truly are. Our money, friends, and other materials do not define us, but who are is defined by our integrity, dignity, and courage. Something, where even faced with death, I would not compromise like SamnEric. I have and will recommend this novel to a friend any chance I get. It explores topics that are overlooked in our society today. It is only right that this book has been tried to be banned over and over. Most people can't take the truth and that only serves as proof that The Lord of the Flies proclaims a message that needs to reach the ears, hearts, and minds of all.

Chapter 11 Questions

1. Ralph and the group decide that they must arm themselves and call an assembly in front of the savages. In order to get Piggy's specs and a signal fire going.

2. The twins were "seeing Ralph for the first time" in regards to his leadership. This is the first time Ralph has been an aggressive leader and stepped forth with dominance. A side that most boys have not seen in him.

3. The boy's attempt to get Piggy's specs and a signal fire is an imminent failure for the savages are belligerent and will not listen to Ralph. Especially with Jack as a leader. They come with spears and this already promotes confrontation.

4. Roger pushes the rock off the cliff because of the thrill of throwing the rocks at Ralph gave him. Just as an addict always pursues a greater high. Roger sent the rock over the side of the cliff in an attempt to obtain the feeling he had from throwing the rocks over the side of the cliff just on a greater level.

5. The destruction of the conch symbolizes the definitive end of all civilization. Law and order have diminished under the rule of Jack. Civilization has crumbled without the helping hand of Ralph. The destruction of the conch shows the inherent evil inside all of us taking over and dominating the boys. Their ID personality root has overcome their minds.

6. The boys' all want a chief because it provides them with a security and takes a responsibility off all their shoulders. It provides them with a parental figure that leads them in law and order.

7. How does hunting make you feel?
    If Jack stepped down as chief would you bring peace?

8. Jack is running things now and we all obey him. It really isn't that bad but we mostly do it out of fear. I can only imagine how sacred Ralph will be if he sees what Jack is now capable of. While I liked it better with Ralph as leader Jack is in control and the island is out of control. I feel powerless to stop him.
Rescue definitely sounds great right about now. Who knows what will happen next? I just hope no more blood is spilled. I don't want that on my hands. My best bet is to keep my head down and stay alive. I think the others feel the same way.

Lord Of the Flies CH. 10

1. Ralph feels guilty about what happened the previous night. he knows something is not right. "That was murder" (Golding 156)

Piggy knows it was Simon but believes it was just a mistake or accident. "It was an accident," said
piggy (Golding 157)

Jack is totally nonchalant about the entire incident and has swept it under the rug. Placing the blame on Simon for coming out at night. "He came-disguised" (Golding 160)

2. Ralph understands that it was a murder. He knows and everyone else knows that the "beast" was Simon. Ralph says "It was dark. there was that-that bloody dance. there was lightening and thinder and rain. we was scared!" (Golding 156). He attempts to reconcile by making himself believe it was an accident. On the contrary Jack could careless. He maintains a story that it was the beast in disguise. "Then, the beast might try to come in. You remember how we crawled" (Golding 160).

3. We are not giving any reason for why he beat up Wilfred. "I don't know. he didn't say. he got angry and made us tie Wilfred up" (Golding 159) Even Jack's own henchman don't know why they have tied and beat Wilfred

4.
 Ralph: Shut up piggy! I cant hear!
Jack: Hold em while kick!
SamnEric: Ahh! whos that?!
Roger: I gor em!
Piggy: My specs!!

Latin Roots #9

Roots & Derivatives

1. Grad, Gress (to step, to walk): Gradual, progress, graduation, progression, congress, gradation

2. Grat, grac (pleasing, favor): Gratitude, graceful, congratulate, disgrace, gratification

3. Greg (flock, herd, group): Congregation, segregation, congregate, desegregation

4. Host, hosp(it) (host, guest): Hostess, hospital, hospitality, hospitaler

Word List

1. Aggregation: Separate individuals joined in a group, often for a specific purpose; a mass composed of many parts.
All athletes joined together in an aggregation at the deceased coach’s memorial.

2. Aggressive: Tending to be combative or forceful; filled with initiative or bold enterprise.
His aggressive behavior always landed him on the wrong side of the law.

3. Degradation: A major reduction in worth, quality, or standing, a deterioration, as of moral character.
Once the package was opened it suffered a massive degradation.

4. Digress: To wander off the point or topic.
The professor was often hard to track with for she always digressed and discussed her cats.

5. Egregious: A standing out from others, but in a bad way, conspicuously bad; flagrant.
His baggy jeans and tattoos set her apart egregiously in her new private school.

6. Gracious: Characterized by kindness, courtesy, pleasantness, and charm; merciful and compassionate.

After donating all her life earnings before her death we were sad not to know such a gracious women.
7. Gratuity: a gift (generally money) given beyond the usual payment; a tip.

Understanding of the teen’s situation the business man tipped generously to help him out.
8. Gregarious: Literally, living in flocks or herds; fond of being with other people.

Millions of years ago humans were quite gregarious for it benefited their hunter/gatherer lifestyle.
9. Hospice: A place other than a hospital for the terminally ill to reside; a place of shelter for travelers.
The Red Cross has been setting up hospices after the disastrous earthquake in Haiti.

10. Hostel: an inexpensive place of lodging, as an inn or regional hotel.
During his trip to Ecuador he spent time in hostels for it was an easy way to save money.

11. Ingratiate: To (try to) make oneself appear favorable or necessary to another; to bring into the good graces of.
While applying for the job he was intentionally quite ingratiate in order to raise his chances.

12. Inhospitable: Not inclined to be kind or friendly; barren and forbidding.
The moon cast eerie shadows in the woods and they seemed quite inhospitable.

Ebola Article Answers

1. The author, Betsy, says that hospitals not being able to handle an Ebola patient and doctors and nurses not properly protecting themselves from contracting the virus is the problem

2. She says that moving Ebola patients to bio-containment centers instead of trying to rapidly equip hospitals to handle and treat Ebola without it infecting others may be the best solution.

3. Infection expert, Sean Kaufman, called the CDC guidelines "absolutely irresponsible and dead wrong."


4. Burgess points out that people like Thomas Frieden are underestimating how potent this virus is. He states that Frieden claimed any hospital could handle Ebola and in a perfect example of irony later died from Ebola when he visited Texas Health Presbyterian where he was infected.


5. I totally agree with her statements. There is absolutely no point in trying to establish make shift bio-containment centers when there are multiple at the ready for situations exactly lile this. Not only does it wreck the hospitals funds it allows the virus to spread due to lack of education and procedures.

Article Summary

In the article titled Canada backs doctor-assisted suicide the author describes how Canada's supreme court has ruled that doctors may help certain patients in the act of suicide. First, the author explains the laws about assisted suicide in Canada. Next, the author informs readers about the differing opinions in Canada. Also, the author points out that the assisted-suicide is only for patients with an incurable disease that causes intolerable suffering. In addition, the author mentions that the right to life, given to Canadian citizens in their own "Bill of Rights", does not require a prohibition on the assistance of dying. Finally, the author concludes by listing diseases and cases in which patients have used assistance in their own suicide.
The tone of this article is one of tragedy and objective.

Latin Roots #8

Roots & Derivatives
1. Flux(x), Fluct (Flow, Flowing): Fluid, influx, flush, fluctuate, influence, influenza, fluent

2. Fort, Forc (Strong): Fortress, forceful, reinforce, comfortable, effortlessly

3. Frater(n) Fratr (brother): Fraternity, fraternal, fraternalism, confraternity

4. Fus, Fund, Found (Pour, Melt): Transfusion, funnel, refund, fountain, confusion, foundry, fusion

Word List
Affluent: Flowing with wealth and riches; prosperous; a flowing stream; as a tributary.
Everyone was feeling quite affluent since the super bowl went in favor of their personal bets

Confluence: A coming or flowing together, as of rivers or ideas; a place of joining.
While traveling down the stream we came to a confluence with a second stream which made the current to fast for comfort.

Confounded: To perplex, confuse, amaze, or bewilder.
A blank stare overcame him as he sat there confounded, all his money lost in the last 20 seconds of the game.

Effusive: Pouring forth in an emotional way; unrestrained or overly demonstrative
Once comfort had been established the counseling session became quite effusive and all frustration brought on by her favorite team losing in the superbowl came out.

Forte: One’s special area of accomplishment or performance; one’s strong point.
He spent all his life searching for his calling but out in the dessert the shepherd may have finally found his forte in alchemy.

Fortify: To make stronger to strengthen; to establish defenses
With a break in the war the soldiers took it as an opportunity to fortify their defenses.

Fortitude: Strength of character; patient courage
With the end of the 2nd overtime coming it became evident that skill wasn't going to decide the winner. The team with the most fortitude and perseverance would be victorious.

Fraternize: To associate or socialize in a brotherly fashion; to be friendly with.
Despite past conflicts the team began to fraternize and a sense of brother hood grew.

Fratricide: The killing of one’s own brother; someone who commits such an act
The biblical story of Cain and Able is one fratricide.

Mellifluous: As if flowing with honey or sweetness; like the tones of a honeyed voice
In an attempt to smooth talk her way backstage her voice became quote mellifluous.

Profusion: A pouring forth, as of great numbers; plentifulness; an abundance
After shelling had ceased the enemy attacked and with great profusion.

Superfluous: (Flowing) beyond what is needed; in excess of a sufficiency.

In today's society one can see many people live a superfluous lifestyle.

My Opposition Of Capital Punishment

If every person went about their day as they have their entire lives tomorrow we could all expect that there would be 45 murders, a sexual assault case every 107 seconds, and 10,000 burglaries. According to a statistical study published on a government ran FBI web page there will be 38,400 violent and nonviolent crimes all in the span of 24 hours. There are millions of ways one can break the law but in the US only 41 are deemed worthy of the capital punishment. However, I feel that absolutely no criminal should face the atrocious death penalty no matter the severity of the case.

In no way does any party benefit from the implementation of the death penalty. Most feel the saying, “An eye for an eye” is perfectly fitting for a criminal they deem worthy of the death penalty. If this is so then shouldn’t someone convicted of assault be assaulted? Or a rapist raped? What most overlook is that the entire saying goes, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” and in that case is it perfectly fitting for a case that flirts along the lines of capital punishment. The capital punishment is a premeditated murder and when bestowed upon murderer only leads society to mimic the murderer. If such acts are evil in themselves, they do not become good because they are done by the authority of the government.

Also what kind of example is set when our government seizes the lives of others when they commit a crime? Giving the government the power to take someone’s life is taking too much power from the people they are supposed to serve. The fact that the government can take an individual’s life is a direct violation of their constitutional rights. The declaration of independence states that as a citizen we have unalienable rights and among those are the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What makes it ok for the government to impart the capital punishment when it is one of our “unalienable rights?”

Many argue that the capital punishment will rid our prisons of inmates and help to cut cost since there will be less prisoners to care for. However, this is entirely wrong. Placing a prisoner upon death row also accompanies with it 24 hour suicide watch, which almost triples the day to day cost of prisoner’s life. It takes a prisoner placed upon death row an average of 15 years for the sentence to be carried out. Many of these commit suicide before they can be lethally injected. Even a lethal injection is barbaric. There is no way to humanely take an individual’s life. All the preparation it takes to immolate one murderer is often more than it took for the initial murder to take place.

Despite contrary belief, the capital punishment benefits no one and should be abolished. 

Latin Roots #7

Roots & Derivatives
1) Duc(t), Duce (to lead): Conduct, reduce, education, abduct, deductive, ductile, induction, deduce.
2) Fed(er), fide(e) (faith, trust): Federal, confidence, affidavit, infidel, bona fide, confide, confederate
3) Fine(e) (end, limit): Finish, confine, define, infinitesimal, affinity, infinity, finial
4) Flect, Flex (to bend): Deflect, reflex, reflector, flexibility, genuflect, flexor

Word List
1) Aqueduct: A large pipe or other conduit made to bring water from a great distance.
The Romans were such a successful civilization because of their ability to transport water through aqueducts across their entire empire. 
2) Conductive: Tending to lead, help, assist, or result in.
Leaders tend to be quite conductive people for they must assist others through their obstacles. 
3) Definitive:  A completely accurate, reliable, and authoritative; decisive or conclusive.
His finger prints on the weapon used to murder the man was definitive proof that he was guilty.
4) Fidelity: A faithfulness to one's promises or obligations; steadfast faithfulness, technological faithfulness.
Adultery can also be considered infidelity for it is unfaithful. 
5) Fiduciary: An individual who holds something in trust for another; a trustee.
We used a mutual friend as our fiduciary for our wager.
6) Finale: A "grand" conclusion, as of a performance; the last scene of a play.
After the finale all the actors came out and took a bow during a final applause.
7) Finite: A limited or bordered by time or by any measurement; measurable.
There is no finite amount of numbers. 
8) Flexuous: Winding in and out; bending or wavering.
The young sapling was quite flexuous during the storm.
9) Inducement: Anything used or given to persuade or motivate; an incentive.
With the promise of a candy bar as an inducement I had my younger siblings cleaning the house in no time.
10) Inflection: A slight change in tone or modulation of the voice, as in a point of emphasis. 
In an attempt to foreshadow what would happen next I changed my inflection for certain words in the story. 
11) Perfidious: Characteristic of one who would intentionally betray a faith or trust; treacherous.
Because he only ever sought opportunities that would only benefit himself he had no second thoughts about giving the lock combination away for a few thousand dollars.
12)Traduce: To speak falsely of; to slander or defame; to disgrace another's good name; to vilify.
Our department manager called a meeting because one of our colleagues has been spreading rumors and traducing the name of our other colleagues. 

Joy Luck Club Essay Choice #9

Face of Conformity & Non-Conformity

“I think about our two faces. I think about my intentions. Which is better? If you show one, you must always sacrifice the other.” Lindo Jong the mother of Waverly Jong says this after realizing that her daughter has lost all the cultural values that she tried so hard to instill into her. Upon looking at her daughter’s face and her own she notices the obvious similarities and while they are almost identical she can see the subtle differences etched, by the American culture. Lindo Jong only briefly elaborates on the two faces that she can portray. One is her “American face.” This is the face that Americans think is Chinese, the one they cannot understand. On the other hand is her “Chinese face” the one that her daughter despises. Each of these faces represents either conformity or non-conformity.

Her “American face” represents the times she chooses to conform and play the oblivious foreigner. This face is blank and child-like for it must come off as ignorant. Her “Chinese face” is the face that she chooses when she stands firm in her beliefs and doesn’t care what others think. This face is battle hardened, prepared, and cultured for it is put into use when Lindo will not take no for an answer. We all use our own versions of these faces but they are our face of conformity or non-conformity.

Lindo also says, “One always sacrifices part of oneself by putting on one’s ‘American face’ or one’s ‘Chinese face.’” This is the same when one conforms and doesn’t conform to the societal standards. The wearer of the Chinese face is someone who is standing firm in their beliefs because they find the standards set forth by society to be unessential to their well-being. By doing this they gain a sense of pride for they did not need society to tell them what to do. The wearer of the American face is someone who decided to allow the pressures of society to overcome them and conform. However the wearer of the American face also gains something. They gain the reverence of society and fit in to the culture they live in just fine. However, donning one face means sacrificing something from the other. The wearer of the American face is sacrificing all of their beliefs, ethics, and morals. When they put on the American face they conform to the standards set forth by society and do not think for themselves. The wearer of the Chinese face also is at a loss for they sacrifice all relevance to society, will be shunned, and condemned to a life of scrutiny and ridicule.

Inside all of us is a face we wear when we conform to the pressures of society and another face we wear when we decide to put our foot down and stand strong. While each has its benefits it also comes with sacrificing part of oneself. We are constantly faced with a choice and must decide to pick a face that will benefit us the most. However, wearing one face for too long can mean that you have sacrificed the other face or part of yourself.

Leppard Man Questions

9. Tom Leppard is called Leopard Man because he has tattooed his entire body in leopard print and he often lives/acts like a wild animal.
10. The author thinks people with extreme tattoos and piercings are attention seekers and he thinks this because he believes some people are psychologically dependent on others opinions.
11. Leopard Man is different from other tattooed and pierced people because he doesn't desire people's reactions, he is the way he is because it makes him happy.
12. Leopard Man lives in solitude in a small cabin in the Scottish wilderness.
13. According to Feys society fears people who are different from the majority of the crowd and they fear them because they do not understand them.
14. The "worlds most common but dangerous psychological disorder" is conformity. Conformity is the worse disorder because it can lead to the suppression and destruction of one's self.
15. Leopard Man is so happy because he is doing what he enjoys and he is not subjected nor does he care about the opinions of society.

Diction Handout

Low Or Informal Diction
1) Grind, drop in, crossed up, dunked on.

Elevated Or Formal Diction
1) Undeterred by any though of rejection or ridicule.
Undeterred: Unable to be discouraged or restrained from acting
Rejection: The act or process of rejection
Ridicule: Speech or action intended to cause laughter
Others discouragement could not stop him.
2) An elevated tone makes the person seem stronger and larger than life while after paraphrasing the passage the person seems to be cut down to size.

Abstract & Concrete Diction
1) Happiness, time, freedom, fighting
2) Conrad may have left the captain, ship, and crew nameless because they either may not have carried much relevance or because he wanted these characters to be flat and static.

Denotation & Connotation
1) The denotative meaning of the title The Secret Sharer  means someone who is giving something to another without anyone knowing

Word	Denotation	Connotation
Cadaverous	Haggard and thin	Like a corpse
Darkling	In the dark	Threatening or menacing
Pale	Whitish complexion	Lacking color
Phosphorescence	Having a luminous appearance	Enduring under great trails
Ghastly	Shockingly frightful	Horribly done
Headless	Without a head	Stupid
Fishlike	Of or like a fish	Adapted to the water

Latin Roots #6

Roots & Derivatives

1) Corp (or) (body): Corpse, corporation, corps, corpuscle, corporeal, corpus, corset

2) Cred (to believe/trust): Credo, credit, discredit, credence, credentials, accreditation

3)Cur(r), curs, course (to run/flow):  Current, excursion, discourse, concur, recourse, curriculum, recurrent

4) Dic(t) (to speak/say):  Diction, indication, edict, jurisdiction, dictionary, addict, interdiction.

Word List

1) Benediction: The invocation of a divine blessing, as at the close of a religious service, a blessing or state of blessedness.
After the message had been given the preacher invited the lord into their lives during the benediction.

2) Concourse: A running or flowing together; a broad public walkway or hallway, a crowd or throng.
After training camp the players played with a state of concourse, each knowing the others moves.

3) Concurrent: Occurring at the same time; meeting or acting together.
The dropping of the ball and countdown are always concurrent to mark the beginning of the new year.

4) Corporal: Related to the physical body.
After stealing the thief was given a corporal punishment.

5) Corpulent: Very stout; fleshy and obese; fat
After being fed continuously to win the competition the pig had become quite corpulent.

6)Credibility: The quality of being believable or trustworthy.
After lying repetitively the child lost all his credibility.

7) Credulity: The (naive) willingness to believe to easily without proof.
Often older siblings use the credulity of their younger sibling to their advantage.

8) Cursory: Done in a superficial or hasty manner.
When told he could leave the house after he did his chores the boy did them in a cursory manner.

9) Dictum: An authoritative saying or maxim.
The school's dictum could be seen above the entrance to the main building.

10) Incorporate: To form into one body or functioning unit; to combine several different things into a whole.


11) Incredulous: Not believing, skeptical, or doubting.
No matter how the facts were given most people were quite incredulous about the idea of flying.

12) Indicative: Characteristic of or very much like; suggestive.
The dead animal appeared to have feathers, indicative of an avian descent.

Literature Analysis of "All The Pretty Horses" by: Cormac McCarthy

Part 1:
The novel, “All the Pretty Horses” by Cormac McCarthy starts out by introducing the reader to John Grady, a 16 year old boy who is mourning the loss of his grandfather. With the recent death of his grandfather, john feels compelled to cut all ties to his parent’s bankrupt ranch and sets out on a journey to begin his adult life with his best friend Lacey Rawlins. Before crossing a river they begin to feel as if they’re being followed and decide to set up a stakeout to ambush their follower. Sure enough the friends meet Blevins, a 13 year old boy that reeks of trouble.
After crossing a river with their new companion the trio sets off to Mexico leaving their troubles behind. However, it seems as though trouble will always find them. The two friends get separated from Blevins when he loses his horse and ends up killing the man who “stole it.” John and Rawlins then leave and find work at a ranch where John loses his heart to his boss’ daughter, Alejandra. Living a seemingly perfect life, trouble once again finds John Grady. Corrupt officers tie John and Rawlins to Blevins’ murder and imprison all three.
Once in prison they realize how different things are in Mexico. Continuously battling for their lives John and Rawlins finally escape when they are bailed out by Alfonsa, Alejandra’s great aunt. The two part ways each with home as their destination but John still has a few stops to make. All his detours are in an effort to win Alejandra over, find answers, and seek vengeance for his fallen comrade Blevins.

Part 2:
The main theme of the story that the novel addresses is the loss of innocence that comes along with the coming of age. Cormac McCarthy often addresses these topics as seen in his other novel, “The Road.” While most his books address denying the human instinct this one addresses the coming of age because in no other time is one most compelled to find oneself and lose innocence due to human instinct.

Part 3:
The protagonist in the novel is John Grady. Readers can find John to be quite flat but have a dynamic life experience. His image never changes. Throughout the book he maintains the image of a strong –willed prideful desperado. However, because of his experiences John learns much more about life and changes his personality just enough to be noticed.

Part 4:
In the novel water comes to represent John’s loss of innocence. Any body of water will be described in great depth to foreshadow John’s next action. Water appears when they first cross the river and over the threshold of no turning back. Water can be found again when John loses his virginity after swimming nude in a lake with Alejandra. Rain also appears when John loses Alejandra and sets out on his trek home. Often water or rain would represent his loss of innocence and realization to the harshness of life.

Part 5:
I chose this book merely because it was written by Cormac McCarthy. After reading, “The Road” also by Cormac McCarthy I often found myself lost in the worlds he created. His uncanny ability to design a character that spoke and acted seamlessly realistic has drawn me back to his works.

Part 6:

Throughout the book I often found correlation to my own life. More specifically, my relationship with my older brother. Growing up in the foster system my brother and I depended on each other, just as Rawlins and John do. Rawlins being rash, outspoken, and temperamental is a spitting image of my brother Nick. I feel I am more like John. While still outspoken I maintain my cool and am quite analytical because I cannot stand making a fool of myself. 

Part 7: 
The novel often addressed the topic of human instinct. More specifically, denying human instinct. No matter how much the trio tried to stay out of trouble some way or another violence and bloodshed would follow in their wake. The fact that life is unfair basically is what the novel portrays. For example, Alfonsa states to John that, “It’s not a matter of right. You must understand. It is a matter of who must say. In this matter I get to say. I am the one who gets to stay.” She disregards John and his desires because she understands this basic given aspect of life.

Antigone Questions

1. What kind of prize is given for dancing choruses of worshippers? A bull or a goat was the prize given.

2. How many spectators would gather in the open-air theater of Dionysos? 

As many as fourteen thousand spectators would gather in the open-air theater of Dionysos.

3. How did the mask affect the voices of the actors? The masks had exaggerated mouthpieces that amplified the actors' voices, making it easier for the entire audience to hear.

4. Why was Antigone suspenful to viewing audiences?Antigone was suspenseful to the audiences because although they already knew the story the actors didn't and the audience would pity and want to warn them about their impending doom.

5. How is the sheperd to leave the infant on the mountainside? The sheperd was suppose to leave the infant on a lonely mountainside with its ankles pinned together.

6. What is the riddle the Sphinx gave to Oedipus? The riddle the Sphinx gave to Oedipus was, "what creature goes on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?"

7. Who are Oedipus' kids?Oedipus' kids are Polyneices, Eteocles, Antigone, and Ismene.

8. After Oedipus is exiled, who takes over Thebes?After Oedipus was exiled Creon took over Thebes.

9. What did the family do to the body? After death, the family closed the dead person's eyes and mouth and began to prepare the body for the próthesis, the wake. The women of the house washed the body and dressed it in white or in wedding clothes. Then they placed the body on a bier making sure that the feet pointed toward the door and sprinkled it with wild marjoram and other herbs to keep evil spirits away. Then the men would enter in a formal procession, their right arms raised high in the air. When the closest relative reached out and hd the dead persons head with both hands, the other mourners began to beat their faces and tear their hair. They also wailed and sang to wind pipes.

Into Antigone

Upon waking up and only remembering a few uncanny and eerie sequence of events I think my first reaction would be to use an acronym I learned from one of Bear Grylls’ many survival shows. That acronym is S.T.O.P. it stands for S.top, T.ake stock, O.bserve, and P.lan. After applying that acronym to my situation I would have come to a realization. I would have come to realize that I only have two options. Either I leave my brother to rot and let his soul wander aimlessly and desperately around our world, or attempt to bury him in an effort to assist his soul on its way to the underworld. Eventually I feel I would have come to the decision that I must bury my brother for I am quite prideful and would not let someone in my family die an honorable death and only be left to rot without a proper burial.
After a day or two of planning, for I would not enjoy being caught in the act, I would make my move. My plan would be to sneak out in the dead of night because that would be when most are sleeping or on the verge of succumbing to their fatigue. Despite maybe being able to convince my sister to help I would not even try to enlist her into my crime because I would not like to take her down with me if I am caught. Even attempting to convince her would make her an accessory to my crime even if she denies my request. Therefore, alone, I would bee-line my way to the city dump to ensure that I wasn’t being followed. Once there I would survey the scene and decide on the best possible way to get in and out without being noticed. When I finally arrive in I would bury my brother as much as I could to prove to everyone else that whoever had done it was not afraid to be reprimanded. When I finally make it out safe and sound I would go directly to a friend’s house, after washing and destroying evidence, in order to provide myself with an alibi to the crime.

Johnathan Safran Foer Webinar Reflection

Category: Persuasive/Informative

Name of Presenter: Johnathan Safran Foer

Title of the Excerpt: A Case for Eating Dogs

Date Accessed: October 28, 2014

In the excerpt of “A Case for Eating Dogs” Safran Foer starts by first giving examples of how our society views eating dogs. Then he expands and elaborates on how many other cultures use dog as a staple meat supply. After that he compares dog to any other animal by giving a broader view of the situation and ask the question, “Why is it ok to eat other animals but not dog?”

I found that when Safran Foer stated that the consumption of “man’s best friend” is actually legal in 44 of the 50 states appalling. However, not in a way that suggests disgust. This also led me on to wonder about why we don’t eat dog and how we could benefit from it. When he later compares dog meat to other consumed meats I was also appalled and led to question my views again.

When Safran Foer gave a two sided argument with actual points that seemed valid for the other side only to rebuttle with an even more stunning case I was once again appalled. From the argument I learned what is crucial to Safran Foer’s entire argument. I learned that eating dog meat is actually a good idea for us to do but we don’t because we it as unethical when they are “just an animal” like other meats we consume.

Another point that struck me as important and crucial to his argument was when Safran Foer actually gave a recipe for how to prepare a wedding style dog. I realized that the recipe wasn’t to promote eating dog but the exact opposite. The recipe was put there to show just how much dog is like any other animal. Yet our society still believes in the hypocrisy that it is ok to eat other farmed meats but not dog.

Latin Roots #5

Roots & Derivatives

1. Cent(i) (Hundred): Century, centipede, centennial, centigrade, centimeter

2. Cid(e), Cis(e) (cut, kill): Homicide, incision, suicide, scissors, circumcise

3. Clam, Claim (cry out, declare): Clamor, exclaim, proclaim, disclaim

4. Cord, Cour (heart): Accord, courage, encouraged, cordiform, cordate

Word List

1. Bicentennial: (related to) A celebration of a two hundredth anniversary; happening once in a period of two hundred years or lasting two hundred years.

After 200 hundred solid years of quality service the clothing line had a bicentennial celebration.

2. Centenarian: A person who has lived to be one hundred years old.

Still breaking records and astonishing people all over the world there is a centenarian who competes in triathlons and marathons.

3. Centurion: A Roman officer commanding one hundred men; related to the military mind, especially as it favors military solutions for handling social problems.

Although there was plenty in the army, centurions played an important role in the empire of Rome’s conquest around the Mediterranean Sea.

4. Clamorous: Characterized by continuous loud and complaining voices; noisy complaining; insistent.

After the accidental gas leak at the school there have been a continuous flow of clamorous calls from parents concerned about their children’s wellbeing.

5. Concise: Covering much in few words; brief and to the point; specific.

After coming to terms with our procrastination we can all find spark notes concise summaries to be a life-saver.

6. Concordance: A condition of harmony or agreement; an alphabetical index indicating reference passages, as from a writer’s works.

For the fundraiser to be legal and safe it must fall in concordance with the city’s health and safety regulations.

7. Cordial: Of the heart; warm and friendly; amiable.

Despite having such a hard breakup I found her family to still be quite cordial when we ran into each other at the market.

8. Discordant: (sounding) Harsh or inharmonious; clashing.

With so many musicians missing practice for various reasons the orchestra sounded nothing but discordant.

9. Genocide: The systematic extermination of an ethnic group.

Most acts of genocide are made upon an ethnic group that some political leader has used as a scapegoat.

10. Incisive: Keenly penetrating, cutting into.

With years of studying under his belt the physicist was easily able to incisively solve the equation.

11. Proclamation: An official statement or announcement that informs or honors.

King Creon’s first proclamation was to ban the burial of Polyneices.

12. Reclaim: To claim again; to restore to former importance of usefulness.

Despite having no proof that it was his horse, Blevins, Grady, and Rawlings still snuck into the town to reclaim what was rightfully theirs.

Latin Roots #4

Roots & Derivatives

1. Bon. Boun (good): Bonus, bounty, bountiful, bonify, boon, bon voyage, bonhomie

2. Capit. Capt (head, chief, leader): Capital, captain, capitalize, decapitate, per capita.

3. Carn(i) (flesh): Carnal, carnality, carnival, carnation, carnify.

4. Ced(e), Ceed, Cess (go, yield, surrender): Recede, proceed, success, concede, exceed, procession, unprecedented.

Word List

1. Accession: The attainment of a certain rank or dignity; an increase by means of something added; the act of becoming joined.
After the accession of the soldier he know carried a rank of great stature.

2. Bona Fide: In good faith; genuine.
I trusted my little brother, in bona fide, to be responsible for doing his chores.

3. Bonanza: A sudden and unexpected source of money or riches; a windfall
After winning the lottery, one can expect a huge bonanza.

4. Bounteous: Inclined to be generous; plentiful and abundant
Now that he had enough to give the man became quite bounteous with his poor past in mind.

5. Capitulation: A surrendering, usually upon prearranged terms or conditions; a final giving up.
Once they realized it was in their best interest to not fight they arranged a capitulation.

6. Carnage: A great slaughter, as in battle.
The battle old veteran was a snapshot of what the carnage on the battle fields in Vietnam were like.

7. Carnivorous: Flesh-eating, as an animal
Being carnivorous, the shark went into a frenzy after the scent of blood entered the water.

8. Incarnate: Literally, in the flesh; in bodily form; personified; flesh-colored
After the full moon had waned the werewolf went back to being incarnate.

9. Intercede: To act on another’s behalf; to mediate
After the argument had become quite heated I interceded before things escalated out of hand.

10. Precedent: A previous act or decision taken as a valid model; having gone before
Teachers state the rules on the first day of school as a precedent to prevent any acts of mischief.

11. Recapitulation: A brief reputation; a summary, as of what has already been said
After being bombarded with important due dates our teacher gave us a recapitulation in order to erase any confusion.

12. Reincarnation: A thing that is reborn, or comes back into being, although perhaps in a different (bodily) form.
Many religions attribute life after the present life to reincarnation.

Literature Analysis of The Road by Cormac McCarthy

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read according to the elements of plot you've learned in past courses.
The story begins with the author introducing the reader to a man and his son who are struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. They continuously travel in search of food and survival. Their travels lead them to stumble upon marauding ragtag armies, cannibalistic trappers, and other people just fighting to stay alive. Eventually staring death right in the eye the pair decides to make a few desperate decisions that result in them running for their lives and his boy falling ill. The story climaxes when his child is on the brink of death but miraculously pulls through due to some medicine that is salvaged by his father at the expense of a few treacherous trips to the city. The rest of the story all falls together when they reach there seemingly never ending journey to some southern coast and stumble upon their biggest treasure trove so far, a beached ship. After stocking up they are once again on the road. The pair travels with only the clothes on their back some food in a shopping cart and each other, but even that relationship is at jeopardy in the hopeless world they stumble through.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. 

Although each new challenges that the pair faces usually brought up a new theme pertaining to perseverance and the unbreakable human spirit I believe the primary theme of the story was that whoever carries the fire will survive, the “fire” being the drive to survive and innocence that the man sees within the boy.


3. Why did you choose this book?
I chose this book because after seeing the list Mr. Ostini put up and hearing him make a few comments about the book I decided to check it out. I found it in his bookshelf by where I sit and opened to a random page in the middle. Upon opening it I noticed how the author didn’t use any punctuation during conversations and I also noticed how eloquent he wrote. Next I noticed the bleak and harsh tone the author used but still somehow managed to make me begin to feel for this nameless man and child. Once I began to read the same things kept me reading. I didn’t even know who this pair could have been before the apocalypse but I felt every emotion they felt and hoped for them just as much as they hoped for themselves.

4. Did you find the book realistic?
I found the book quite realistic. I noticed the way the man talked to his child and how it correlated to the way that social workers used to talk to me. Although I hated it I eventually realized a lot of what people did for me was to protect me from the harshness of what was happening just like the man did to his son. Plenty of times the man treated the child like an adult but also did his best to protect his innocence. Also from my past reading experiences the world they live in is quite the same to many other post-apocalyptic worlds that I have read about.

5. Describe the author's tone.
The author’s tone was quite somber and serene despite the world’s actual state of chaos. “Can’t we help him Papa?’ ‘No. we can’t help him. There’s nothing to be done for him.” “You took everything.’ ‘Come on, man. I’ll die.’ ‘I’m going to leave you the way you left us.” Countless situations like this arise where the boy and his father must push their emotions aside and leave others to die so they themselves can survive. The author treats these situations as almost nothing as they occur often and give readers the sense of inhumanity that goes on every second of the day in their world.

6. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques
Throughout the novel Cormac McCarthy used different literary elements and techniques. Prose is often used to emphasize the utter bareness of the world they live in. No form of mannerism is used throughout the story. “You’ll freeze your tokus off.” (pg. 217)

Common every day hyperboles are often used but without the nonchalant tone we use them today. Each one literally means what it means no matter how exaggerated we use it today. “I’m not hungry.’ ‘No youre starving.” (pg. 203)

Almost every sentence is written so eloquently that the words jump off the page and paint a picture for you. “What the boy had seen was a charred human infant headless and gutted and blackening on the spit.” (pg. 198)

The novel is full of metaphors that enhance our understanding and provides a better image. “Scrawny, sullen, bearded, filthy, a deer caught in headlights.” (pg. 255)

To provide the reader with a better sense of what is happening or how something appears to the boy and his father the author used personification. “The earth itself contracting with the cold.” (pg. 261)

The novel often has similes used in the same way as metaphors are used. “Raw, naked, filthy, starving, the same mental state as animals.” (pg. 257)

Among all these other different elements the novel is also filled with basic sensory details. “They stood in the wind from the sea with the grass hissing all about them.” (pg.233)

Symbolism is a key part of the story that comes up often in the form of fire. Fire is there key to survival in the wild and also their key to mental survival. The boy’s father refers to their inner drive to live as their fire that they carry. “Is it real? The Fire?’ ‘Yes it is.” (pg.278)

The dialogue in the story is also unpunctuated and I think that the author did this to provide emphasis on just how bare the world is and how primal in nature things have become. For example the lack of punctuation on the following quotes. “They wouldnt be able to see far.’ ‘No they wouldnt.’ ‘whats on the other side’ ‘Nothing.’ (pg.216)

The author also uses indirect characterization to prompt us to feel for the characters. When we see the little boy grow and mature we also feel for him as the father does. Each new responsibility and naivety pulls us closer to him. “We could take him and we could take the dog, I’ll give him half of my food and the dog can catch his own.” (pg. 86)


CHARACTERIZATION

1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. 

One example of direct characterization in the novel is when the author describes the man’s past and says that he was once a light-hearted man but now after the world betrayed him no longer trusts anyone. Also in the same scene the author details the boys boisterous and curious personality. The author indirectly characterizes the man every time he puts him in a situation where he would normally be seen as cruel to us but is actually just doing his best to protect his son. Indirectly characterizing the man like this gives us a sense of mystery and reinforces the mystery of the past since he is the only representation of what the world was like before the apocalypse. The author also indirectly characterizes the boy when he is reprimanded by the father for being so naïve and curious by wanting to keep a pet dog. Although he has already directly characterized this part of the boy’s personality by doing it this way we once again can’t help but notice the boy’s innocence and how he represents the good that is still left in the world. 

2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character?
The author’s syntax changes between the boy’s and father’s unique dictation. It also changes for other minor characters that are briefly a part of the story but instead of having their own unique diction they all possess the same diction. The father uses an advanced vocabulary but never tries to explain to the boy what he actually means only reassures him with and repeats what he says when is questioned by the boy. The father often makes joke about religion, god, and praying that the boy does not understand yet makes no effort to enlighten him. The boy uses the same words as his father but it is quite obvious that he doesn’t know what he is talking about.

3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
The protagonist is the boy in this novel and he is dynamic and a round character. Throughout the story the boy will become more responsible with his decisions. At first he pouted and cried when his father made a decision that he did not agree with but later on although he doesn’t agree with it he understands why his father does it and doesn’t intervene to make a change, which is a blatant representation of a boy maturing and changing personality.

4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character?
After reading the book not only did I feel like I had met a person or read a character I felt like I had walked through all their trials and tribulations right alongside them. When the father dies the boy spends a few days on his own until he meets someone who ends up being a part of “the good guys.” To know that the boy had found a new family after losing his mother and father it was quite relieving and resolved the entire story for me.


ENDURING MEMORY

Write a paragraph in which you describe the one or two ideas from this book that you expect to remember for a long time.
After reading the book this book I know I will remember one idea for a very long time. It is that we all carry a fire within us. It is our own personal drive to be the best we can and in some cases, like the father and his son, their strive to survive. For each of us carrying the fire is a choice. Evidently, some people cannot take it and lose hope, like the boy’s mother. Some may burn brighter than others but even when the world is doing everything it can to shut us out and put us down we will always have the choice to carry the fire. You aren’t just a good guy or bad guy, it’s a choice that we all have to make in our lives and what we stand up for determines just that.