Mackenzie Greeley's AP Lit Comp Blog

I read my colleagues  work when I am unsure about the curriculum we are covering at a given point in time or that I see a point of confusion on the group page that I am able to clarify. Knowing that I can be checked on at any given time I start to really think about the diction I use in order to be as precise and to the point as possible without 'fluff'. If the course blog disappeared tomorrow I believe that it would be like walking into the class for the first time and we would have to re-educate ourselves without the technology. Having our class revolve around something other than the blog is more like a nightmare... If I couldn't publish my work this way, I don't think that this would be a tragedy  however, it would be a hassle to turn in work and wait for Dr. Preston's evaluation of our ideas. I can get a peer-evaluation with little trouble that is just as helpful if not more so. Learning in the classroom in more like an internet cafe, we enjoy the flow of ...

I only looked at two major poets of the English Augustan movement: John Dryden and Alexander Pope. From the readings of "Epitaph on Sir Isaac Newton", "The Rape of the Lock", and "Marriage a-la-mode" were the poems I focused on; however the Princeton Review also suggests "Mac Flecknoe", "Absalom and Achitophel", and "Windsor Forest" for more examples of the movement. I saw things that we have discussed in class like couplets, rhyme, and satire in iambic pentameter based on the sonnet lectures we have had in class. The difference was in these poems were based on 'human frailty', something that we have yet to really discuss in class. While our talks have covered the play No Exit, this talked more about the perceptions we have and the environment we create versus what happens after death (although they did go to hell). In the "The Rape of the Lock" the poet wrote about cutting off a noble maiden's hair, I sa...

Since we were looking at Plato's Allegory of the Cave last week, I decided after looking in my Princeton Review: English Literature & Composition Exam book, that this was a good time to look at the big literary movements and how they flow metaphysically throughout literature. Please look at the poets John Donne George Herbert Andrew Marvell These three men were highlighted in the book and because I am not an expert I would like to know if there are others of the same literary movement. I also memorized the sonnet by John Donne,'Death Be not Proud-- Holy Sonnet X' for the class assignment. Here I noticed the rhyme scheme so noted by Josh Montero a-b a-b c-d c-d e-f e-f g-g and the iambic pentameter style we learned about when we read Shakespeare's Hamlet. What I can is the flow of thought... "For those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow,   Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me." This is really very entertaining... M...

Imprisoned for all time until the head turneth; one was curious enough to see. The fire, the shadows, the refraction lead reality; the sun outside of the cave burns me. Free of the shackles binding, walk forward. Without the shadows the world is perfect, Now turn back and share the knowledge coward. Lessons here show the bravery of smurfette Go back, share, remember, and recall the new world But remember they also cannot see As you once were, trapped in the swirled views; turned away from the big blue sea The empirical world, so relative. The 'Forms' world, so expansive

1. I believe that the Allegory of the Cave is representing the ordinary people and intellectuals according to Socrates. 2. The key elements of imagery have to be the the contrast of the shadows and people shown on the cave wall from the fire. Also when the man comes back to talk to the prisoners he stumbles and his voice is altered within the cave so the prisoners take this to mean he is a fool and cannot be trusted. 3. The process of enlightenment and education for the people of the cave is being able to expand their minds, being open to learn from others, and exploring the unknown. 4. The imagery of the shackles and the cave suggests that the world is imperfect and subject to a lot of change without really understanding the 'world' around them. Before enlightenment would be the stage of becoming enlightened, these people are in 'the realm of becoming'. (This idea shared by Ben Dupre) 5. Shackles are only created by the lack of imagination of oneself, so I as a...

This is how I studied the Holy Sonnet X and I am hoping this is what makes the difference. Memo (1).m4a https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=75ba980313&view=att&th=13afd23b1afcba83&attid=0.1&disp=safe&zw Let's see if the technology works.

What should I be doing with my life that will make me succeed? What does success mean? Who defines success? Why does that entity or person get to decide? Who gave them the power to make such big decisions? What if that person made a wrong decision? Should I still trust that person?

HOLY SONNETS.X. Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so ; For those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow, Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest and sleep, which but thy picture[s] be, Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery. Thou'rt slave to Fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, And poppy, or charms can make us sleep as well, And better than thy stroke ; why swell'st thou then ? One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And Death shall be no more ; Death, thou shalt die. Listen to Richard Stevens' reading of this sonnet. Also, visit Ohio University's Wired for Books website for more poetry readings. Source: Donne, John. Poems of John Donne. vol I. E. K. Chambers, ed. London: Lawrence & Bullen, 1896. 162-163. ...

http://aplitandcomp.wikidot.com/hamlet http://www.apstudynotes.org/english/sample-essays/character-analysis-hamlet/ https://sites.google.com/a/ans.edu.ni/ansaplit/shakespeare/hamlet-1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdc5kGYOPlw    <--- So cool! https://sites.google.com/site/esmithliteraturetheatre/AP-Summer-Assignment/ap-syllabus/ap-hamlet

GENERAL  1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same). - The story began with the children (Scout, Jem and Dill), who in the beginning are pranking their neighbor Boo Radley. Being curious about their mysterious neighbor they taunt him because they don't really know him which as a figure lurking in a house in the 1930s can lead to some untrue rumors. Radley is looked down upon in "white society", and so is the entire African American race in Maycomb, Alabama. The difference is that a young black man named Tom Robinson was accused of the rape of a white girl named Mayella Ewell. Even though Scout's father, Atticus, fought hard and discredited the accusations against Tom; he was found guilty by the courts because of his skin color and shot by the guards 'trying to escape'. During the case Bob Ewell, Mayella's father, was proven by At...

If you look at the latest articles on Google achievement they virtually mapped the Grand Canyon, so we can now take a trip down without leaving our computer. Maybe in the future they will map our bodies and take us on a FANTASTIC VOYAGE. But the important thing is that the memory space we have now can be used instead of memorizing numbers, spelling, and dates; can be used to critically think and create something with that mental space for something greater. Now with the tools available students might have some attention span issues but that is only because they are noticing many more things that stream constantly from the internet, new and other social networks. In (http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ie=UTF-8&ion=1#hl=en&safe=off&sclient=psy-ab&q=how%20many%20commercial%20messages%20in%20a%20day&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&fp=fd65260dfa26cefb&bpcl=35466521&ion=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1280&bih=937)this article it is ...

Rather quickly we have dived into the drama since Hamlet's epiphany in Act II. King Claudius is now aware that his step-son is on the attack or just insane, just where Hamlet wants him I believe. Psychologically this has got to be eating at the King's personal sanity wondering if Hamlet is really crazy or if he should be concerned about the loss of everything that he murdered for. My favorite character when I first read the play was Hamlet, later on I will post why this is no longer true, because he was so ingenious with his toying with his mother and dismissal of the murder of Polonius! The true stroke of genius was hiding the body from every attendant, and instead giving them riddles that could not be solved unless you were loony yourself! I was really disappointing that Gertrude could not see the ghost after Hamlet killed Polonius, because I was hoping that this would spur his mother to support her son a little more openly or at least dist...

http://absoluteshakespeare.com/trivia/biography/shakespeare_biography.htm Has collected a great amount of information of Shakespeare's life. However " The evidence above proves William existed but not that he was a playwright nor an actor nor a poet." Suggests that he might be a fraud. And brings everything I know about him into question. Everything is in a shroud of uncertainty so the better question is: what facts do we have on the life of Shakespeare. His education, his creative integrity  and even his birth date are all unclear to many people. (We do know about his love life, friends and family though which are really constructive to understand how he was inspired to write plays like Hamlet.) I believe that Shakespeare is a drag, because there is a huge language barrier with vernaculars that have died off in the turn of the centuries. I didn't read the literature because I wanted to, Romeo and Juliet killed me inside with their teen love s...

Facebook is the greatest advance in social networking since they invented the internet! I can talk with friends and collaborate on projects with students from across the globe without having to call them at funny times. Really because of all the leadership seminars I have participated in without Facebook it would be very hard to get in touch with HUNDREDS of people simultaneously. So when I read the article about the risks associated with Facebook I just didn't want to believe it... I am not uninformed though I understand that there is identity theft and advertisements that are based on a stalked like algorithm about my past browser history. However I can not also reject all the advantages of using such a widely popular social network, because maybe one day I will need to use that algorithm to work like the KONY 2012 campaign. (I wasn't in class so this is all based on my own views. Please let me know the views you have on the subject.)

This is what I think of Hamlet as a teenager today.

These weren't created by me. But I didn't want to just keep these to myself. SPOILER ALERT: for those who have yet to finish the play this is my warning for the comparisons in this article by WordPress.com are somewhat explicit. http://dabbledabbledo.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/he-lives-in-you-hamlet-and-the-lion-king/

How should I do this... 1. Study my vocabulary tests to review what words I had trouble with. 2. Start looking at the sentences other people made for the sentences for each week to try and see a different perspective. 3. Make and organized all flashcards again! 4. If I am really nervous I will start re-writing all of the words and sentences for muscle memory.

a.  I know nothing about Hamlet, expect that they used the plot to create the Disney movie The Lion King. b.  Shakespeare a world famous writer who composed tales like Romeo and Juliette  and Julius Caesar . I really don't remember anything about these two stories, because I watched a few movies about the plays for class instead of reading the novel. c.  My frown comes from the fact that this text is something that I am unfamiliar with in an old kind of English. Without the benefits that I can fluently speak like the writer makes it all the more difficult to read, even without the hardships I already have with English. d.  Personally I want to discuss the topic without notes and read comprehensively without being bound to words that were written that I won't even understand later. Socratic Seminars are my favorite collaborative form of discussion during class time, because everyone in at an equal advantage to ...

The introduction of the "Virtual Choir" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyLX2cke-Lw&feature=relmfu This is their first piece and there are two others that follow this composition on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs&feature=relmfu

1. In Afghanistan a wealthy son and servant grew up together as brothers (spoiler: they really were blood brothers). Amir and Hassan were very different: Amir would see the greatness in Hassan's character and he became a foil to the honesty in Hassan. Baba was Amir's father and the master his old friend Ali and his son Hassan (biologically Baba's). The main point of the story was that Amir deserted Hassan when he was attacked by some older boys, while if the roles were reversed Hassan would have sacrificed his own life for Amir. To get rid of the guilt he set up a senario where Hassan would be sent away with his father for stealing from the family... what really happened was Ali took Hassan from the torments of living with vindictive Amir. Really Amir was a coward and Baba was just as bad because of the lies told all of his life to both of the boys. And after 15 years of living in America Amir travels back to Afganistan to save Hassan's orphaned son. 2. The theme wa...

Connections: Literature Around the World heroic stories sung and chanted by poet performers (Early Heroic Tales) epics- long narrative poems about the adventures of legendary heroes Some of the greatest being Beowulf, Gilgamesh and the Iliad from Gilgamesh: The Prologue  this journey in comparison to Beowulf? (heartbroken/reconciled) Uruk- ancient Sumerian city (footnote that is important to understanding the setting) who is Anu and Ishtar and why did Gilgamesh build a city for these two? remember the family introductions in Beowulf is similar to that in Gilgamesh Utnapishtim is the the survivor of the great flood why would Gilgamesh go in search for this man? how else is Gilgamesh like other epic heroes (look at lineage) from the Iliad

Beowulf ond Godsylla Meanehwæl, baccat meaddehæle, monstær lurccen; Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht. Ðen Hreorfneorhtðhrw, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl, Æsccen æwful jeork to steop outsyd. Þhud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! Ðe bigge gye Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe; Wicced Godsylla wæld on his asse. Monstær moppe fleor wyþ eallum men in hælle. Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bamaccen wæs; Hearen sond of ruccus sæd, "Hwæt ðe helle?" Graben sheold strang ond swich-blæd scharp Stond feorth to fyht ðe grimlic foe. "Me," Godsylla sæd, "mac ðe minsemete." Heoro cwyc geten heold wiþ fæmed half-nelson Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen Beowulf belly up to meaddehæle bar, Sæd, "Ne foe beaten mie færsom cung-fu." Eorderen cocca-cohla yce-coeld, ðe reol þyng. Beowulf and Godsylla Meanwhile, back at mead-hall, (the) monster lurked; Full of few too many drinks, he lurked for (a)  fight. Then Hreorfneorhtðhrw, son of Hrw...

I know that this is a television series, but this series has also become a novel spin-off. The Supernatural  story is about the journey of two brothers fighting to stop the apocalypse or any other evil stuff. Dean, the elder brother, has always had his father's guidance and one day he just disappears leaving only vestige. This is the turning point in Dean's life where he must seek out his younger brother to find their long lost father and maybe find the demon who killed their mother as children. Now that is initial goal and as they follow this path the road they travel only gets longer and longer, as they become closer as brothers in their 1967 Chevy Impala. But the main journey is based on the struggles Dean and Sam face internally as they follow their path, each character is tested by various tests where they are shown to be character foils for one another. Each task that is completed leads to another in the seemingly never ending struggle to fight for humanity against the...

I looked through the list of possible books and was surprised to see The Kite Runner . I realize that most of the people from the sophomore class have already read this book, so I have a little bit to catch up on. For a while now I have wanted to read the book that my parents and friends rave about, and this is my chance.

1. Accolade- any award, honor, or laudatory notice I have many accolades from elementary school that I have kept as mementos. 2. Acerbity- harshness or severity, as of a temper or expression Everyday there is an acerbity in my greetings towards most people after I wake up early. 3. Attrition- a reduction in size, numbers, or strength In my choir classes there has been an increasing rate of attrition to each of the beginning choirs. 4. Bromide- a trite saying Throughout the day I hear comments similar to "YOLO" and "TMI", at which time I begin to think we need to get ride of these kind of bromide statements. 5. Chauvinist- a person who believes that one gender is superior to another While the patriarchal society is efficient in many ways there are some chauvinistic patterns displayed in history. 6. Chronic-continuing a long time or reoccurring Many people suffer from chronic pain in America. 7. Expound- to explain or interpret In the past couple...

[PROLOGUE] 1. The unusual part about Shield becoming king is that he used to be an orphan and became king due to the fact that everyone was scared of how much of a fierce warrior he was they just fell under his rule. His funeral was very nice and grand and they respected his last wish of how he was buried through a ship with a lot of treasures to go along. Also I believe Hrothgar was Shield's great grandson. [Heorot Is Attacked] 2. Hrothgar undertook the magnificent work of creating a mead-hall grander then any other ever seen that was to be called the Heorot. Heorot was attacked by Grendel a great monster and in his first attack killed thirty men who were sleeping in the hall. After that his attacks continued for twelve years without stop and the Danes could not do anything about it but live in sadness and cry for those who's lives where taken. [The Hero Comes to Heorot] 1. When Beowulf hears of Hrothgar's problems with Grendel he immediately goes to find a ship...

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Let me know if anything doesn't make sense for the next tests!!! (A post to Michelle Crosby) I am culling over all my options about how to obtain the apogee skill in memorizing the new vocabulary. However I am also trying to mete all of my responsibilities to make my test a success tomorrow. And I wish this comment was in person so you could make a repartee. Which we might have to explain to many people that it is not us bickering! Instead it is just sometimes a polemic to truncate those assumptions. But our conversations cover many topics from the new accouterments we might be showing off to the dogmatic views about cup of noodles after school being a neccesity.  The supervene of our conversations has to follow the lines of the topics and how apropos each is for the day and how they coalesce after the many discussions we have had over the past five years. This is disparate some of the noxious gossip some girls have in their friendships and I am proud of our probity. You are unim...

As things strike me in the text. I am going to type them out. Simple way for notes and please comment if this also struck your interest while reading. Backround reflects both pagan and Christian traditions, because during this time England's culture began to change and missionaries converted the Anglo-Saxons The Wrath of Grendel Christian views in relation to the monsters of Cain (the murderous son of Adam and Eve), all the evils of the world spawn from the exile of Cain's children Why does Grendel continue to travel to the hall each night to kill? Is it based solely on the evil ancestry deep within himself? Was King Hrothgar's throne really protected by God? How would the throne be the only object protected by the power of God? The Coming of Beowulf Healfdane's son = Hrothgar, is this a norm for the culture that the son is known by the father? Higlac is the lord of the Geats and is Beowulf's uncle. "His life lasted many winters..." W...

  From the reading, I started to view opinions in a more sensitive light. That my views are different and should be challenged by others in order for my fallacies be corrected and the "opinion" would instead be a more substantiated preference. But is there a right and wrong opinion? Instead some ideas that are considered opinions are just preferences, and some people cannot make that distinction.   It's the opinions that have no real logic behind these opinions, then no you are not entitled to those rights. But even people who are logical and willing to hear the differences are forgoing their rights, so what is the point of having these so called rights? No person who is having a discussion or heated debate listens to the great point about the actual topic after using the con of "I have the right to my opinion."   For example when Nathan in the novel the Poisonwood Bible , had dinner with Anatole all of th...

1. The major inhibitors for my participation is class are concerning my family, my jobs, and my commitment to the school through various extracurricular activities. Recently a portion of my family moved to Santa Maria and we have taken on the role of supporting them as they become accustomed to the new lifestyle. While my friends in this class are my biggest supporters without them I just wouldn't be able to keep up with all the stress from 7 classes and family demands. While scheduling I am fairly good at, unless a curveball from my family is thrown, as long as I have ample warning I can weave any amount of work into my schedule. 2. In my life I have always learned from my parents and they have always showed me right from wrong and up from down. It maybe a little constricting, but I did grow to be an intelligent young woman through their training. My greatest learning experience was from my dad. When I became a "student", not a daughter or a friend, just a professional ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfTglPDBAaQ&feature=youtu.be Mwhahaha no poem in class for meeeeeee!!!! I love technology!!!

Really we are sacrificing the things we could be doing other than hugging people; for instance going to eat food, walking to a meeting, or even studying for some exams. But is there really a sacrifice or are we making a difference? Do we lose something when we decide that we have something better to do than contribute to a better world. Even if its just hugging someone. School always teaches me something new and always reminds me that even as an adolescent my actions matter. However sometimes the concepts taught in school are very different; and I hope that I can be both the entrepreneurial and the volunteer who gives out hugs without a second thought of my sacrifice.

Why is school so demanding!? If I could I would just leave for about 2 months to volunteer in Africa. This came up because my mom was talking about the trip that some students took earlier this year, and I just thought... Why didn't I go? Well maybe it was because I am out of the loop or that I just wasn't listening close enough. But now I will start to really think about more volunteer programs that will take me somewhere new where I can make a direct impact on someone's life. It may not be a huge difference but if I can help build a wall for a house for a family that maybe has never owned one. I would be really content. Because right now I feel as if I am just lazing around complaining about little nothings. (That makes me made at myself.) As I have learned in AP Economics the idea of scarcity, that time is not to be wasted on nonsense!

Well I left off talking about Austen’s perspectives in Pride and Prejudice ; most of her analyses of human behaviors were developed from her personal experiences. Meaning that the focal points of the book were focused on the complexities of the female mind, which really all men agree that the female mind is a fortress they hope to one day enter. However this book uses all the characters a narrators, which allows the reader some insight into the connections these men and women are making when they interact with one another. Elizabeth in particular has shed a lot of light on the subject of marriage and her views of who should be a suitable companion for herself, however there are complications when she doesn’t look behind Mr. Darcy’s mask. Behind that mask he was the most perfect partner for Elizabeth but because she could not just look inside his head to know his truth thoughts she was lead astray.  Elizabeth’s first encounter with Darcy was not the best, however if she had the abi...

The orientation video...  It took some time to figure it out... And with LOTS of help the finished product! YAY!  -  English 4 Orientation 2012

This being my first blog I sent salutations to all viewers! I hope I did that right... But anyways please enjoy my thoughts during the course of this year and share yours please. =)