Blogging is a new, interesting way to get people to read others' work. I find it easy and fun! I love the fact that everyone can read and comment. I hope that in the future most schools will follow this technique of learning. Blogging also teaches students and non students how to type or increase their typing speed. Comments and suggestions may also improve the writers' ability to write. Blogging teaches all bloggers how to use the computer and its functions.
Blogging is an excellent way to help students with their writing and to show the world how good a writer they are!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Bee Themes
In the novel The Secret Life of Bees, there are themes purposely written to inform the reader of the main issues and situations. These themes are blended with the novel's words and are supported by examples and quotes. Some of the themes include the irrationality of racism, the power of the female community, and the importance of story telling. These themes are the main three found in the novel.
One of the most important themes in the novel is the irrationality of racism. Racism is a big dilemma which leads to violence, like Rosaleen and the men that beat her up because of their hate toward her color, Zach in jail, or the troubles April had when she was younger before her death that permanently scared May mentally. Racism is also difficult for Lily. She is unable to have an open relationship with Zach because he is black. At first Lily didn't realize that she was on the verge of being racist. She like most other whites thought that blacks were all the same; not smart or capable at doing anything other than housekeeping jobs, or like Rosaleen in terms of etiquette. For example, the police in the novel said to Lily," I'm just saying it's not natural, that you shouldn't be…well, lowering yourself "(p.246). In her mind, white people were the only ones who had different abilities. Other examples given in the novel are Lily's idea of black boys and how they all look ugly until she meets Zach, and the idea that Zach would think he would become a lawyer. May's suicide occurs because she couldn't stand the pain she felt for everyone and especially Zach's situation of being put in jail unfairly.
The Secret Life of Bees strongly puts forth the power of the female community. Lily grew up without a mother therefore she never really had a female role model except for Rosaleen who wasn't much of one, in many ways. After Lily moves in with the Calendar sisters, she comprehends that all the females support each other emotionally. They are particularly supportive with May because of her disabilities. They teach Lily about Mary, their Lady of Chains. Lily changes a lot while being around these intelligent black women. She admires August who plays the lead role sister in the Calendar sisters. After taking in so much about Mary, Lily starts to put Mary in place as a substitute for Deborah, Lily's mother. Following May's death, the sisters and Rosaleen stand strongly together as a group to maintain themselves during the funeral. The Calendar sisters are there to help all females of all colors. August teaches lessons by passing down old stories.
Sue Monk Kidd focuses on keeping readers entertained by including a few short stories that also have morals to them. The stories teach lessons, help the reader understand what's going on, and open up doors to curiosity. Some of the stories include the story about the Nun, Black Mary, Lady of Chains, and the story about Deborah, the most significant for Lily. The importance of the Lady of Chains story in chapter six (p.134) is that if we believe in signs from God, prayers, and freedom in Him, life can be free in the mind even if we are not physically free. Mary was put in chains over and over again and she kept breaking free. That's how blacks may have felt at this time in America or others who are struggling in their own lives. Lily was also put in chains over and over again by T.Ray, her memories of her mother, and her thoughts of being unloved. The importance of the Nun story in chapter five is that later in the novel Lily realizes that what August was trying to tell her is that Mary could stand in for Deborah as a spiritual mother guiding Lily through difficulties and joys of life. August also reveals the most crucial story to Lily, the story of her mother. Finally Lily has the truth whether or not it's what she wants to hear. "She planned to bring you here to Tiburon to live. She even talked to Clayton about filing the divorce papers. The last time I saw her, she was on a bus waving at me through the window" (p.314) .
This novel is built on themes. Themes are the backbone to most meaningful books. Therefore it gives the reader a deeper understanding of what's happening. The novel The Secret Life of Bees has many themes that give the story a colorful effect. Examples were given to support each theme. This novel is something one can not stop reading!
One of the most important themes in the novel is the irrationality of racism. Racism is a big dilemma which leads to violence, like Rosaleen and the men that beat her up because of their hate toward her color, Zach in jail, or the troubles April had when she was younger before her death that permanently scared May mentally. Racism is also difficult for Lily. She is unable to have an open relationship with Zach because he is black. At first Lily didn't realize that she was on the verge of being racist. She like most other whites thought that blacks were all the same; not smart or capable at doing anything other than housekeeping jobs, or like Rosaleen in terms of etiquette. For example, the police in the novel said to Lily," I'm just saying it's not natural, that you shouldn't be…well, lowering yourself "(p.246). In her mind, white people were the only ones who had different abilities. Other examples given in the novel are Lily's idea of black boys and how they all look ugly until she meets Zach, and the idea that Zach would think he would become a lawyer. May's suicide occurs because she couldn't stand the pain she felt for everyone and especially Zach's situation of being put in jail unfairly.
The Secret Life of Bees strongly puts forth the power of the female community. Lily grew up without a mother therefore she never really had a female role model except for Rosaleen who wasn't much of one, in many ways. After Lily moves in with the Calendar sisters, she comprehends that all the females support each other emotionally. They are particularly supportive with May because of her disabilities. They teach Lily about Mary, their Lady of Chains. Lily changes a lot while being around these intelligent black women. She admires August who plays the lead role sister in the Calendar sisters. After taking in so much about Mary, Lily starts to put Mary in place as a substitute for Deborah, Lily's mother. Following May's death, the sisters and Rosaleen stand strongly together as a group to maintain themselves during the funeral. The Calendar sisters are there to help all females of all colors. August teaches lessons by passing down old stories.
Sue Monk Kidd focuses on keeping readers entertained by including a few short stories that also have morals to them. The stories teach lessons, help the reader understand what's going on, and open up doors to curiosity. Some of the stories include the story about the Nun, Black Mary, Lady of Chains, and the story about Deborah, the most significant for Lily. The importance of the Lady of Chains story in chapter six (p.134) is that if we believe in signs from God, prayers, and freedom in Him, life can be free in the mind even if we are not physically free. Mary was put in chains over and over again and she kept breaking free. That's how blacks may have felt at this time in America or others who are struggling in their own lives. Lily was also put in chains over and over again by T.Ray, her memories of her mother, and her thoughts of being unloved. The importance of the Nun story in chapter five is that later in the novel Lily realizes that what August was trying to tell her is that Mary could stand in for Deborah as a spiritual mother guiding Lily through difficulties and joys of life. August also reveals the most crucial story to Lily, the story of her mother. Finally Lily has the truth whether or not it's what she wants to hear. "She planned to bring you here to Tiburon to live. She even talked to Clayton about filing the divorce papers. The last time I saw her, she was on a bus waving at me through the window" (p.314) .
This novel is built on themes. Themes are the backbone to most meaningful books. Therefore it gives the reader a deeper understanding of what's happening. The novel The Secret Life of Bees has many themes that give the story a colorful effect. Examples were given to support each theme. This novel is something one can not stop reading!
I AM FROM
I am from two different worlds
I am from camels in the desserts and dates in tents
I am from skis in snow and hot chocolate at home
I am from traveling
I am from two tongues, ancient and modern
I am from hot soup in Ramadan, and warm turkey on Thanksgiving
I am from black abayas
I am from colorful shorts
I am from blond and black and blue and brown
I am from sun and palm trees
I am from rain and green grass
I am from traveling
I am from two tongues, ancient and modern
I am from hot soup in Ramadan, and warm turkey on Thanksgiving
I am from black abayas
I am from colorful shorts
I am from blond and black and blue and brown
I am from sun and palm trees
I am from rain and green grass
I am from beaches and barbequing
I am from lakes and canoeing
I am from homemade supper
I am from burgers at Mc Donald's
I am from two worlds!
I am from homemade supper
I am from burgers at Mc Donald's
I am from two worlds!
Baby Girl
In this piece of wood
A young woman
Strong
Brave
Long gone
Still
Here
A woman
No family
Small village
Fire struck
War begins
No survivors
Only this child
A baby girl
She took the little one
RAN
Without food
Without water
Burning
Her feet
Wouldn't stop running
Baby in her arms
Something familiar
BABY, no family
She needs a better life
Baby Girl
Better life
North air fills her lungs
Throwing her hands in the air
Praying
Thanking the Lord
Strength
He's given her
She believed
Fate
Hiding this child
She was to raise the child as her own
She gave her the name
Precious
This story
Her legend
Caries
This woman with a child
In her arms
The whole way through
Throwing her hands in the air
Praying
Thanking the Lord
Strength
He's given her
She believed
Fate
Hiding this child
She was to raise the child as her own
She gave her the name
Precious
This story
Her legend
Caries
This woman with a child
In her arms
The whole way through
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Response to The Tell-Tale Heart
Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favourite authors. He writes mystery stories that creep you out a bit. The Tall-Tale Heart was an unsolved mystery that filled me with suspense. It made my blood rush. Edgar uses extraordinary words that make his stories all the more interesting. His words fill the sentence with juice and gives them stronger meanings. Words like: dissimulation, vex, stealthily,audacity, vehemently, derision...... In his story, the line, " Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased " is what caught my eye. The way he describes the beating of the character's heart is incredible! I wish that Poe could have lived a little longer to have written more stories.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Pandora's Box- Is curiosity a gift or a curse?
Pandora's Box was a short story about the Greek gods. They sent down Pandora with a box that she was not supposed to open, but her curiosity took over her and she opened the box. It released everything bad and evil.
Is curiosity a gift or a curse? I think that curiosity is mostly a gift but can be a curse. Curiosity is a good thing to have, it helps you discover new things that you never knew of. With out curiosity the world would be bland and boring, it wouldn't have any excitement. Sometimes when you're curious and dying to know the answer to something, and you finally get that answer, it upsets you. To me, that's the only way curiosity is a curse. Besides that, curiosity is a blessing that everyone should appreciate.
Is curiosity a gift or a curse? I think that curiosity is mostly a gift but can be a curse. Curiosity is a good thing to have, it helps you discover new things that you never knew of. With out curiosity the world would be bland and boring, it wouldn't have any excitement. Sometimes when you're curious and dying to know the answer to something, and you finally get that answer, it upsets you. To me, that's the only way curiosity is a curse. Besides that, curiosity is a blessing that everyone should appreciate.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Relationships - Breath, Eyes, Memory
In the novel Breath, Eyes, Memory, Edwidge Danticat describes different relationships in which the characters encounter conflicts with each other. The characters respond in different ways to the conflicts they have. Some of the relationships include: Sophie and Tante Attie, Sophie and Martine, Sophie and Joseph. The characters' relationships vary throughout the novel. Sometimes they have fun and are happy while other times it is the opposite. Edwidge Danticat shows the reader the complexity of Sophie's relationships with others and how it defines who she is.
Sophie grows without her biological mother, but she always had someone beside her. Her Tante Attie is her best friend and acts as her mother. Sophie, although bitter with her mother for abandoning her, still longs to be with her. When Sophie has the opportunity to go to her mother in New York, she feels guilty and hurt about leaving Tante Attie, and confused about going to live with her mother who is a complete stranger to her. Additionally, Sophie has to deal with learning a new language, new food, new school, and making friends. Sophie grows up with trust and love from her aunt, and she finds it difficult to trust her mother. They had a difficult time saying good-bye when Sophie left. It devastates them both. It's highly unlikely that Tante Attie would have tested Sophie as her mother does. In this way had Sophie stayed with Tante Attie, she would have possibly grown into a healthy young woman with out so many problems.
Sophie and her mother do not blend well. They don't talk about things like mothers and daughters often do. Martine does not know how to be a mother, and she herself is angry and emotionally disturbed due to her own past. Sophie's mother works hard to get Sophie the education she needs and therefore she feels that she is in control of every aspect of Sophie's life. She promises Sophie that when she reaches the age of eighteen, she would be allowed to be in love. When Sophie turns eighteen, her mother breaks her promise and does not allow her to be in love. This is when she began "testing". She tests Sophie to see if she is still pure and whole. This makes Sophie despise her mom, so she runs away with her love, Joseph and gets married immediately. Sophie's mother does not provide love in an emotional way. She is also a hypocrite because she allows herself to be in a relationship with Mark yet condemns Sophie's relationship with Joseph.
Because of many traumatic events in Sophie's childhood, she has problems in her marriage. Sophie may have experienced a more normal marriage had she taken therapy before hand. Martine makes Sophie feel guilty for wanting love and marriage – normal human desires. The testing is what causes most of her problems though. The testing makes Sophie feel disgusted about herself: her body image, her ability to trust or to be trusted. Ultimately it causes her physical pain and depression which nearly destroys her marriage and family. Joseph, despite all these things, still loves her and takes care of her and her daughter, Bridgette.
Sophie evolves throughout the novel. She becomes more at peace with her past, her mother, and the testing. Tradition affected the relationships: a daughter should be with her mother, a daughter should be tested for purity, and in her family's case, a woman should remain at home with her mother and feel guilty for leaving and loving. Sophie had to overcome all these things in order to be happy and healthy. It was necessary for her to face and deal with her family's negative traditions so that she could prevent passing it on to her daughter. In the end she succeeded and she still loves her family and culture.
Sophie grows without her biological mother, but she always had someone beside her. Her Tante Attie is her best friend and acts as her mother. Sophie, although bitter with her mother for abandoning her, still longs to be with her. When Sophie has the opportunity to go to her mother in New York, she feels guilty and hurt about leaving Tante Attie, and confused about going to live with her mother who is a complete stranger to her. Additionally, Sophie has to deal with learning a new language, new food, new school, and making friends. Sophie grows up with trust and love from her aunt, and she finds it difficult to trust her mother. They had a difficult time saying good-bye when Sophie left. It devastates them both. It's highly unlikely that Tante Attie would have tested Sophie as her mother does. In this way had Sophie stayed with Tante Attie, she would have possibly grown into a healthy young woman with out so many problems.
Sophie and her mother do not blend well. They don't talk about things like mothers and daughters often do. Martine does not know how to be a mother, and she herself is angry and emotionally disturbed due to her own past. Sophie's mother works hard to get Sophie the education she needs and therefore she feels that she is in control of every aspect of Sophie's life. She promises Sophie that when she reaches the age of eighteen, she would be allowed to be in love. When Sophie turns eighteen, her mother breaks her promise and does not allow her to be in love. This is when she began "testing". She tests Sophie to see if she is still pure and whole. This makes Sophie despise her mom, so she runs away with her love, Joseph and gets married immediately. Sophie's mother does not provide love in an emotional way. She is also a hypocrite because she allows herself to be in a relationship with Mark yet condemns Sophie's relationship with Joseph.
Because of many traumatic events in Sophie's childhood, she has problems in her marriage. Sophie may have experienced a more normal marriage had she taken therapy before hand. Martine makes Sophie feel guilty for wanting love and marriage – normal human desires. The testing is what causes most of her problems though. The testing makes Sophie feel disgusted about herself: her body image, her ability to trust or to be trusted. Ultimately it causes her physical pain and depression which nearly destroys her marriage and family. Joseph, despite all these things, still loves her and takes care of her and her daughter, Bridgette.
Sophie evolves throughout the novel. She becomes more at peace with her past, her mother, and the testing. Tradition affected the relationships: a daughter should be with her mother, a daughter should be tested for purity, and in her family's case, a woman should remain at home with her mother and feel guilty for leaving and loving. Sophie had to overcome all these things in order to be happy and healthy. It was necessary for her to face and deal with her family's negative traditions so that she could prevent passing it on to her daughter. In the end she succeeded and she still loves her family and culture.
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