40 Book Challenge 4/30/15

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Prompt: From your brainstorming session, choose at least two conflicts to explore more in depth in this blog. Be sure to include textual evidence and support and also identify the effect that the conflict has had on the plot so far
Pages: 37-98

     One conflict I chose was when whenever Lennie was in shock or in fear he always held tight to the thing that was scaring him. When he used to live in Weed he saw a girl's dress that was soft and he touched it. The girl yelled out because she thought Lennie was going to hurt her. He was very scared that he held on in shock. That includes when he was in the fight with Curley. It states, "George slapped him in the face again and again, and still Lennie held on to the closed fist." That shows the relation of the first and second incident, he is scared so he holds on. This was a Man vs Self conflict because he just froze out of fear. He never meant to hurt anyone.

     Another conflict I chose was how Candy was very guilty that he couldn't kill his own dog. He thought that he was useless because many people compared him to his dog. It states, "...a lousy ol' sheep dog..." He gets very frustrated at that and he feels guilty about his dog dying because a stranger shot him, instead of himself. This is also a Man vs Self conflict, he is very guilty about his dog dying.



I commented on Emily's, Omar's, and Mia's Blog.

40 Book Challenge 4-22-15

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Prompt:
-Describe the atmosphere of the ranch and bunkhouse.
-Be sure to include characteristics of different characters that were formally or informally introduced to us in this chapter. Support your choice with textual evidence and interpretation.
-Why doesn't Curley's wife have a name?   What message, if anything, is John Steinbeck  trying to send by not giving her a first name?  Support your choice with textual evidence and interpretation.
Pages: 1-37

     The novel states, "The bunkhouse was a long, rectangular building. Inside, the walls were whitewashed and the floor unpainted. In three walls there were small, square windows, and in the fourth, a solid door with a wooden latch." This makes the reader have an image inside of their head on the basics of how the inside of the bunkhouse looks. It also states, "Against the walls were five bunks, five of them made up with blankets... Over each bunk there was nailed an apple box with the opening forward so that it made two shelves... Near one wall there was a black cast-iron stove, its stovepipe going straight up to the ceiling. In the middle of the room stood a big square table..." This was the place of where George and Lennie would be staying for now, it was for the men that worked on the ranch.

     Many characters were introduced in this chapter, including Slim, Candy (aka Old Swamper), Carlson, Curley, Curley's wife and, the Boss. Everyone besides the Boss and Carlson were informally introduced. The boss and Slim actually greeted each other, in the book it states, "Glad to meet ya," the big man said. "My name's Carlson." "I'm George Milton. This here's Lennie Small." "Glad to meet ya," Carlson said again." This shows that they actually introduced each other, unlike how Curley's wife just walked in (without greeting them) and asked them one question and left. The other characters didn't say their name either like Carlson, George and, Lennie did.

     Curley's wife doesn't have a name because her significance is not as important in that time period, women weren't respected as much as they are now. John Steinbeck is trying to show the way women were respected, which was very minimum in that time. He wants the reader to know and feel how back then that different people were treated differently.

I commented on Lillian, Sebastian, and Nick's blog

40 Book Challenge

Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck

Prompt: - Describe the main characters.
              - How does the authors writing affect the book?

     George Milton, “...small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features… small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose.” Small guy, big leadership role, he is like the father of Lennie. He is the tough love guy, he would swear and curse at Lennie even though he loved him like a brother. He even said that at the end of Chapter One.

     Lennie Small, “... a huge man, shapeless of face, with large pale eyes,with wide, sloping shoulders…” Big guy, sidekick. He is the other guy that messes up everything. He gets in trouble and can't remember anything. He often loves George's stories when he explains it to him. He feels sorry that he ruins everything for George. And he squeezes mice heads till they die.


     The author's writing has a southern feel to it. It uses slang instead of full real words. It adds a different and cool affect to the characters' dialogue, it makes it sound cooler. It matches the characters with their personality, like the swear words. Honestly I think that is a good touch, it shows that George is more of a tough guy that can get angry easily.

I commented on Sebastian, Devin, and Siari's Blog.

Poetry Reflection

     The importance poetry has on my life is helps me express myself in a humorous way or more serious way. It also lets me understand other people's experiences other than mine. In my picture poem I described paradise for me and how I thought it would be. In my nonsense poem I thought of a monster I imagined in my head and put it on paper, honestly it's awesome how we can do that. Our imagination is not impossible to describe, we can draw or write or put it into a poem and BOOM! we have our thoughts on paper. Then on a serious note we can express ourselves on paper also. Like on my spine and found poetry I just described what I felt about serious topics, that also other could relate too.  Then when other also describe their experiences in poetry everyone just connects. That is also a good thing about poetry others can relate and enjoy your own poetry.

     Honestly poetry does not belong to everyone. Teenagers in my grade don't think of it as their favorite type of read, because when they think of poetry they think of Shakespeare and Edgar A. Poe, which is boring to our generation. People don't give poetry a chance, I didn't either. Now I actually enjoy poetry. I bet more people my age would enjoy it if they reach out to poetry that is relatable in any situation serious or humorous.

     The life and past experiences of a poet affects their life because it basically shows the type of poetry they are going to talk about. Like Edgar A. Poe, he had a kinda horrible history so he talked about creepy/sad stories. Their experiences also changes how they think in the future, so they could be better with their choices and even show it in their poetry. That is the beauty of poetry.

- Extended Metaphor Poem
- Bio-Poem of a Character
- Where I'm from Poem
- Two Voice Poem
- Spine Poem
- Found Poem
- Picture Poem

"The Monster from BlehhBlahh"

"You are Worth It" - Found Poem

"You are worth it. They need you, you're going to show people life for days."

     This found poem is supposed to bring a positive feeling to the reader. This basically describes a person who usually thinks down of themselves, and how they are totally apart of society and are  important. It also states that people need them, so if they where gone they will be missed. Then the last line "...you're going to show people life for days." means that you will tell them your story and how people should live with happiness all the time. I drew the Earth because I thought of how everyone matters to this world in their own special way. Also, the phrase "you are out of this world" also made me picture space and the Earth.

I commented on Omar, Sebastian, and Mia's Blog.

Spine Poetry

           I wanted to create this poem because I want to create a negative feeling but then add the positivity that over powers the negativity. In the first line "Trapped in Darkness Never Fall Down..." means that when you are very dismal and gloomy you don't want to give up or "fall down." Then as it states, "Don't Think Twice" that is also adding onto when you are gloomy to not think twice about your problems and also overthink, because in any situation that is the wrong thing to do. Then the final line "Hope was Here" means that no matter what, in darkness or in day that there is always hope. That line sort of empowers the whole meaning of this poem no mater what there is always some positive or good things in your life or problem.