Tuesday, August 27, 2013

vocab #2

I would keep writing sentences using all the vocabulary words, but it's past midnight and I've had a long day. I'm going to try to sleep now.



accoutrements - personal clothing or accessories
 He picked out his accountrements carefully before prom. 


apogee- the highest or most distant point
 The apogee of the voyage came when they landed on the moon.


apropos- at the right time; opportunely.
 Obama's speech on civil rights was apropos after his election.

bicker- to engage in petulant or peevish argument.

 When it comes to music, my friends and I can bicker endlessly.

coalesce- to blend or come together.

 The ocean is interesting to me; a place where two different worlds coalesce. 

contretemps- an embarrassing mischance.

 Slipping on the banana peel was just contretemps.

convolution- a rolled up or coiled condition.

 While sleeping, the worm was in a convoluted position

cull- to choose.
 The verse was culled from that chapter of Genesis for its relevance. 

disparate- distinct in kind; essentially different.

 Even thought they were twins, the two sisters had very disparate characteristics. 

dogmatic- of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a dogma or dogmas; doctrinal.
licentious- unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral.
mete- to distribute or apportion by measure.
noxious- harmful or injurious to health or physical well-being.
polemic- a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine.
populous- full of residents or inhabitants, as a region; heavily populated.
probity- integrity and uprightness; honesty.
repartee- a quick, witty reply.
supervene- to take place or occur as something additional or extraneous.
truncate- to shorten by cutting off a part; cut short.
unimpeachable- above suspicion; impossible to discredit; impeccable.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

beowulf questions

I worked with Miranda Gomez (P. 5) and Lauren Lacsina (P. 3) to answer these questions. I was given all the questions regarding Beowulf's return home in part 2, his battle with the dragon, and eventually his death. 




BEOWULF AND THE DRAGON (lines 2200-3182, pp. 79-99) 



[THE DRAGON WAKES] (lines 2200-2509, pp. 79-86)

1.How much later does Part 2 take place? What kings have died in the meanwhile? What danger now exists?
- Part 2 takes place 50 years later, after the deaths of Hygelac and Heardred. A dragon now endangers the Geats.


2.Why is the dragon angry? Why did the man take a cup? How did the treasure come to be there in the first place? (The speech of the lone survivor, the one who put the gold in the barrow, is in a typically Old English elegiac tone.
- A slave stole a goblet that was from a massive treasure left over from an old civilization. The dragon found the treasure and claimed it as his own

3.What did the dragon destroy that evening?
- The dragon destroyed Beowulf's palace


4.Why does Beowulf think his home was burnt? Why does he order a new shield? How will he fight this battle? What will happen to him?
- Beowulf thinks he was punished by the gods. He orders a new shield to use against the dragon, but only uses a group of 11 men to fight the dragon, seeing no need for a large army. 


5.How did Hygelac die? (The description in lines 2354-2379 begins one of several versions of Geatish history and Hygelac's death we will get.) What did Beowulf do after Hygelac's death? What happened when he returned home? Did he accept Hygd's offer to become king?
- Hygelac died in battle, and afterward Beowulf returned home. He denied the offer to be kind in order to protect the bloodline. 

6. What happened to Hygelac's son Heardred? (That's the story in lines 2380-2390.) How did Beowulf plan to revenge Heardred's death (lines 2391-2396)?
- Heardred is killed in a battle with the Swedes. Beowulf then becomes king and makes peace with the Swedes.

7.How many men accompany Beowulf as he goes to meet the dragon?
 - 11.


8.What happened to Hygelac's oldest brother Herebeald? Who killed him? What did this do to his father King Hrethel? (This passage, lines 2425-2509, is the second account of Geatish history and of the death of Hygelac.) What happened between the Swedes and Geats after Hrethel's death? What happened to Haethcyn? How die Beowulf revenge Hygelac's death? 
 - Herebeald accidently died in a fight between the brothers. King Hrethel lived privately and depressed until he died. After his death, war with the Swedes still raged on, killing Hygelac.



[BEOWULF ATTACKS THE DRAGON]

1.What does Beowulf tell his companions to do?
- He tells them to wait while he fights the dragon alone.

2.What happens the first time Beowulf and the dragon fight? What do his companions do? How is Wiglaf different? What does he tell the others? What does he then do?
- The first time, Beowulf's shield melts and his companions flee. Wiglaf basically tells the rest of the companions that they're cowards and then helps Beowulf fight the dragon. 

3.What happens the second time Beowulf meets the dragon? What happens to Beowulf? Who kills the dragon?
- Beowulf is fatally wounded, leaving Wiglaf to kill the dragon. 


4.What does the dying Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do? What happens when Beowulf sees the gold? How does Beowulf want to be buried?
- Beowulf asks Wiglaf to let him see the treasure before he dies. He wants to be buried in the burrow and have it named after him. 

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

my opinion isn't (a) right

For me, arguments have almost always ended with one of the parties stating something along the lines of "I have the right to my opinion," and never have a questioned that; until I read this essay. In a time hell-bent on rights, whether they be civil rights, or gun rights, it's odd to think that someone doesn't have a right to their thoughts and opinions.

This is my first Socratic seminar, and I really enjoyed it. It's great to be given the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas without any barriers, maybe next time I'll speak up more. There are still a few points I wish I had made and so forth. 

Monday, August 19, 2013

vocabulary #1

  1. adumbrate- Report or represent in outline; indicate faintly
  2. apotheosis- The highest point in something's development; climax.
  3. ascetic-  severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
  4. bauble- A small, showy trinket or decoration.
  5. beguile- Charm or enchant someone
  6. burgeon- Begin to increase rapidly; flourish
  7. complement- A thing that completes or brings to perfection.
  8. contumacious- Stubbornly or willfully disobedient to authority.
  9. curmudgeon- Somebody bad-tempered or surly.
  10. didactic- Intended to teach, having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
  11. disingenuous- Not sincere by pretending that one knows less about something than they really do
  12. exculpate- Show that somebody is not guilty of wrongdoing.
  13. faux pas- An embarrassing remark in a social situation.
  14. fulminate- Develop suddenly and severely
  15. fustian- Thick, durable twilled cloth with a short nap
  16. hauteur- disdainful pride.
  17. inhibit- To hinder an act or process
  18. jeremiad- A mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes.
  19. opportunist- A person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather
  20. unconscionable- Not right or reasonable.

reflections on week 1

1. Nope

2. In 8th grade, my English teacher told me that if I didn't do anything in my life that involved writing, I'd be wasting my life. It was the first time a teacher had showed and given me something beyond the textbook. I learned that I can relate to other people and move them with writing.

3. I'm excited about the direction this class is headed. I like being able to express myself, read the books I want, and even share the music I want. There's a LOT of work involved, but that isn't really a bad thing. I'll learn discipline and how to manage my time better.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

poetry #1

1.) Charles Bukowski's "The Laughing Heart"

2.) Corporations are almost universally seen as oppressors that do things that the poem condemns, like club people into submission. Advertisements themselves are even submissive in nature.

3.) I don't think the poem and it's context reflect the author's reputation. Bukowski was somewhat of a cynical and harsh writer, not the inspirational leader that the poem depicts in the context of the commercial.

4.) In order to find out the author of the poem, I used Google. I've been reading Charles Bukowski for years and I'm familiar with his reputation and other works, so I didn't need much research.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

essay #1


Most view exile as a harsh, worthless punishment; to be torn away from a place that one calls home, a place filled with nostalgia. In The Poisonwood Bible, however, this is only partially true. Orleanna Price and her four daughters venture to Congo, lead by her husband, Nathan. Nathan is a minister attempting to “save the souls” of the villagers, ripping his family from their home and placing them in danger in the process.
For Orleanna Price and her daughters, the exile was somewhat of a necessary evil.  They face false hope, pain, rejection, and even death. As a rift is created between the Price family and their home, one is also created within the family itself. Through this alienation and pain, however, the family’s eyes are opened and they begin to take initiatives they wouldn’t have taken back home. Orleanna learns, after her husband refused to evacuate the dangers of Congo, how to stand up for herself against Nathan’s ignorance has he further endangers the family.

Like Edward Said stated, “Exile is strangely compelling to think about, but terrible to experience.” It is obvious that the experience of the Price family was, indeed, a terrible one. Said also states that exile can be potent, and even enriching.  I believe, in the case of the Price family, this is also true. The horrifying experiences in Congo taught Orleanna and her daughters the enrichment, courage, and ability to defy and even desert their patriarch and continue their lives in enlightened safety.

my big question

What is the difference between a life and a soul?
Is there something created in life that goes beyond some cells?