My poetry out loud poem

My poem is "Old Ironsides" by Oliver Wendell Holmes. I feel a connection with the poem because it speaks so much about the glorious past being laid to rest. It talks of how the ship Old Ironsides was a glorious fighter that brought victory through the work of heroes. However, despite all of its glory, its going to be picked apart by the "harpies of the shore." Instead of living on in its glory, it is going to sit in a museum to rot. I feel like I can connect this with my own thoughts often. I personally feel like I've had some great days in the past that will never come again, and that how I remember them will have a great impact on me as a person. To convey this during my performance I will try to show my distaste for this in my use of the word "harpy" and "pluck". I might go for a nostalgic look, but that might be pressing my own dramatic ability.

Thank you for your time.

-Aaron

Extra credit: Applying the things I've learned

Certainly I used the skills that I learned about last time! I would never, ever, ever write just to write and be done with it. In all reality, that blog was very true. Last time I wrote about how the greatest challenge was the commentary and coming up with original thoughts. This time, I went back through and asked myself, "Is this obvious?" Believe it or not, it really helps. That simple question allowed me to weed out those tiny obnoxious rebellions and crush them with a titanium fist while screaming some obscure movie reference. Thats just the kind of intense experience I have writing paragraphs. Like this one. In the end, I think it really helped me to keep my thoughts away from repetitiveness and restatements and instead helped me to come up with original thoughts.

I've always believed originality is one of the most important parts of being a good reader. Even if its not original per se.

-Aaron

Poetry Out Loud

Part one:

1. A Locked House, by W. D. Snodgrass

2. Break of Day in the Trenches, by Isaac Rosenberg

3. Alone, by Edger Allen Poe

4. Old Ironsides by Oliver Wendell Holmes

    Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Part two:

Of the poems above, I enjoyed Alone and Kubla Khan. These poems kept me entertained in a greater fashion and I got the messages. Old Ironsides was fun looking at because of the historical aspect.

The other two poems I did not enjoy as much as I got less of the meaning out of them.

I will probably take Old Ironsides further and memorize it.

Part three:

The easiest will probably be understanding a poem. If I didn't connect with a poem in the first place, why would I recite it? Another easy one will probably be dramatic appropriateness. It just seems like it would be easier then the other aspects

The one I would have more difficulty scoring well in would be voice and articulation. I tend to get nervous and could stutter. Maybe. Physical presence can also be difficult if you don't really get the tic of a poem.

Part 4:

I watched Danse Russe and thought the reciter put a lot of voice into the poem to portray the meaning.

I also watched Forgetfulness and I thought it was successful again because the reciter really changed their voice for the meaning of the poem so the point could easily be taken.

Part 5:

After having went around on the poetry website, I can say that it seems someone put a lot of work into it. However, I do not really go out of my way to see poetry and honestly this contest is just another assignment for me.

Yes, I know my blog is late. AGAIN.

-Aaron

The skill I've learned

The most important skill I feel I've learned in the first quarter of English was probably the words that describe and help analyze literature. During the summer I was torn from my life of complaining about how little there was to do away to the land where I complained about how insane the workload was. I then went on a trek across the internet to discover meanings in these newfound wordlings, as I liked to call them. After I had finished the long and tiring work and school had started, we then spent an excruciatingly long time period dissecting TKAM. I will be honest when I say that it was not the most enjoyable experience I ever had, and that the unit seemed to drag on far longer than expected. However, the real importance of these events did not come at the end of my journey when I had thrown the plot coupon into the volcano, or when the volcano went off and I had to be saved by the mysticical avians, Deus Ex Machinas, but the valuable lesson learned afterwards. The words and the unit combined allow one to gain a new view of both individual books and literature in general. You can take a deeper look into the makings of a book to gleen a new message, and that can be something you can keep with you for the rest of your life.

Okay, yes I will admit it. Its very tempting for me to think the most important part was the part where the bad guy who kept trying to have me killed revealed that he was my dad and that if I only joined him together we could rule the empire as father and son. The only real reason that was overshadowed is because in retrospect I think I cried way more than I would have hoped I would.

Until we meet again,

-Aaron

Lobsters

One idea that interested me was the direct statement that the lobsters represented all people. I personally had a more narrow view of it the first time I read the poem. For me the poem had meant that there were certain groups of people, philosophers, out of place in an odd environment where they were doomed to a horrible fate. Instead the point that lobsters represent all people was brought up, and that suprised me with its bluntness.
Before the poem could be described at an attempt to scorn all those who judged others, or people who took joy at others suffering. However, when this point was brought up, it shows how blunt the poem is in targeting everyone. This changes the meaning of the poem to represent that everything you do is wrong, as opposed to one action. From an overall perspective this could be more scornful, yet it could also show how desperate the author is to have their point known and get people to change. Its an interesting way to look at the poem, though it probably should have been obvious to me.

Either way, the thought of lobster has caused me to drool again. Curse you beautiful crustacean tastes!

-Aaron

5 part paragraph

The most obvious skills that are required for five part paragraphs are the ones detailed in the requirments. You need to have good concrete details, good commentary, and good transitions. The most challenging and the one often commented on was commentary. Most either had problems coming up with their own original thoughts and simply tacked on something not meaningful, or they wrote too much. This could be rather painful at times, but others it turned out really well. Comeing up with this material was probably the thing that needs to be worked on most.

In the future I believe that these types of paragraphs will be much easier in that respect. The reason I believe this is because we've had so much time looking at what each other have done well and not well. I was able to look at someone elses work and think, "Thats a great way to explain that." It also allowed us to see what you wanted to avoid. This was pretty jarring for me, as I was among the last to read my paper. I read my own paper and wished I could have edited it for the things I had learned from my classmates. Ah well, there is always next time.

I'm aware of how late this is. I am such a fool...
-Aaron

Formal vs. informal diction

I was bored, so like any D&D dude, I was totally all like: "Bored man. Lets like, see the SRD, word?" I did it, and went to SRD. Was a great time. Mostly I remembered this one thing, because recently I had talked about LotR, and though about some thread over at OotS where they talked bout' all the cheesy PrC's you could use to make an actual elvy Legolas and pull of those stunts. I could have read DM of the Rings and got it all, but hey. So I looked at the arcane archer PrC. Kind've useless amirite? I thought cane arch' would let me pull all of the crazy stunts. Lego just seemed like he'd have been using magic, y'know? Right? Right? Nope. You get... +5 arrows? Seriously? Thats it for a bloody 3 bad feats, terrible race req. (even though L. is an elf anyway...) Bad MC'ing if you want to do it at all, and bad skills? Elves would pretty much be bad anyways, DEX for CON being the trade it is, I'm glad my DM added CHA bonus, though the thought of basically saying "elves are hot" is sort've.... akward, y'know?

Plus, I don't think L. shot through any walls. Though he did 1HKO alot of dudes, though that may be the +5 arrows coming in. Besides, he'd have been able to cast feather fall on the way off the... the... ele... elephhhh... Sorry, big word. Whateveh. Uh... Oh, yeah, either he's some none-core cheap munchkin, an epic MC bard/ranger/monk,  or he files his D20's. I'll guess the last one. Serious business aside, he goes OVAH 9000 way to many times for his ECL. I say hax, rocks fall, its over. Thats what shoulda happened. Would made a better ending anyway, y'know? I can see it. Frodo: "Look, I saved the world!" Gandalf: "But Legolas was killed!" Everyone else: "Who?" Lawl.

Naturally once I concluded my long shenanigan, I speeled for a while about it on my blog post, considered a universe where I was actually unable to pronouce any word with more then two syllables, and created an ending for this. Very enlightening. Now I'm tired. Dinnertime.

Until we meet again,

-Aaron

Outside reading

For my novel I am reading the book "The Count of Monte Cristo". So far it has been an interesting, if slightly morbid read. Its very thrilling and interesting with very few slow parts, but it also has quite a few dark moments, and considering the cruelty possessed by the main character, well, I said it was interesting. The important thing is its keeping me very entertained and is very thought provoking. I couldn't ask much more from a longer novel like this.
   One thing that interests me the most in this book is characterization. The main character is by his own name, the Count of Monte Cristo. His character is a most fascinating one. The story seems to be about his massive change in character when it reverts from him being a man about to marry, being given a well-paying job and on the brink of happiness to being crushed and in despair. Its amazing how well the author can illustrate the change in character the count has gone through after his ordeal is finished, from his physical look to his view of life. Indeed, I am confident I could write every sticky note about his character and not run out of content.
   The one and only book that I ever seem to mention strikes me as being so similar yet so different. That book of course, is "War and Peace". They both are considered classic books, but thats not what make them so alike. Perhaps its just the change in writing style, but they both seem interested in money, foreign bits about currency, balls, odd affairs, romantic ideas that would be considered alien in these days, and the use of violence. They also take place around the same time, with "War and Peace" being during the first reign of Napoleon, and "The Count of Monte Cristo" being right afterwards, with the restored monarchy and the second rise of Napoleon. On the contrasting side of things, the books strike me as being very different thematically. The count is a man on a mission of revenge, where he had everything taken from him only to recieve the gifts to get back on his betrayers, and the book analyzes the effects this has on him as a person. This is opposed to the story of Nikolai, who has to work hard throughout his life to discover his meaning and recieves his reward at the end. Nikolai dies a relatively rich and happy man doing what he was born to do. I can only predict that the Count's ending will involve far more folly and be slightly more tragic. I'll just have to wait and see on that account. Meanwhile "War and Peace" concerned itself with the effects of war on a large scale, Napoleon and the Russian armies fighting head on head. The other deals with the murder and death on a small scale and its effect on the immediate people around. Needless to say, they both give disturbing views of both.
   As for my project, I have absolutely no idea. I hope to be able to draw on an over-arching theme when I finish the book to get some good ideas. In english, I might procrastinate to the last minute. I've gotten myself in trouble that way before.

Wow, I didn't even realize I could write something that long. Remind me to learn to stop sometime.
-Aaron

Extending the theme

To Kill a Mockingbird had a few experiences that I felt related to me directly. Perhaps the greatest was Scout's encounter with the education system. I personally can think about times in my schooling carreer where I was either bored beyond belief and wasn't learning anything. It really did seem to be similar to my experiences, and I think that helped me better connect with Scout, as opposed to connecting through being say, a rash schoolgirl. I wouldn't say I actually learned anything new from that though. I learned all that information when I wrote my speech bashing NCLB.

One of the most deep insightful thoughts I can procure is the symbolism and literal meaning of Jem cutting up Mrs. Dubose's flowers. Those urges to go destroy something combined with the urge to get back at someone who's wronged you can be extremely powerful. The fact that he tried to destroy something that was so dear to her was the ultimate example of his anger. It also speaks to the strength of Mrs. Dubose. After all, flowers are serious business, yet she took their destruction in stride. It illustrates how you can have a desire to hurt someone so badly, and then fail utterly. I personally know how this feels, and I also know how it feels for your fruitless efforts to bite you. It makes the later regret that much harder to take, and I thought it was a masterful piece of writing for Harper Lee to try to pull off. It impacts the way the story progresses for me in a huge way despite being such a seemingly irrelevent scene.

Eh, anyways, I really don't have much more to say here. Thanks for the patience. Thank me for remembering I had this assignment due as I was about to fall asleep. I suppose impending doom is my muse.

What's the penalty for late assignments on these anyways?

-Aaron

My Boo Radley

I cannot relate anything easily to Boo Radley, but I will try my best.

I can think of only one thing that scared me at one time beyond belief when I was young. That thing was moving. The idea of going from one place to another and leaving all my acquaintances behind, never for me to see them again was a bit frightening. I admit it staggered the imagination the first time I did so. Then it happened, and it was over, leaving me in a new environment with a new school.

I spent a lengthy amount of time interacting with few. I knew nobody, had nowhere to go, and a closet full of legos. What was a boy to do? After it was over, the process happened again, and I was thrust into a new place. That time it was different. There actually were kids my age in my neighborhood, I could spend more time outside, and I had gotten a scooter. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

A bit later, the date arrived and again I packed up and left, spending about a month in a stuffy hotel room. I arrived at my new location and settled into my new surroundings. However, unlike the other times there was no fear. I had faced something head on a few times before, and this time I did not fear it. Instead I embraced the idea. I would get a new place, a new chance, a new cycle, and it would be fun.

This was my Boo Radley. Something scared me. I faced it. I discovered it wasn’t that bad, and now I have nothing to fear in the future.

-Me

Introductory assignment

Congratulations on my English blog? You have NO idea what it took to get here!

Oh yes, the assignment.

As an english student, I enjoy reading sometimes, and I also enjoy writing, not that I consider it to be of any particular quality. My blog will likely be extremely monotonous like most others, but I hope that things will be kept interesting through liberal use of witty jokes, not so witty jokes, and groan-worthy puns.

English is an important subject because of its point as a tool of communication. Any person must be able to communicate with others in their given field outside of college, and thus neccesary for success. Almost everyone will need to be able to properly communicate with others, and if they cannot then they won't be quite as proficient in their given occupation. English helps teach those communication skills, and is thus a very important part of basic education. Here in this blog is just one of the ways that we can learn to communicate with one another. I can feel myself trembling with excitement already.

Hopefully this assignment will not become much of a burden, undoubtfully resulting in much destruction. Thank you.

Aaron