Mackenzie Greeley's AP Lit Comp Blog

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 share their thoughts on the topic.

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 was &

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.