Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Eleanor's Polished Essay #17
Eleanor Hilton
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 28th 2009
Sorrow and Disappointment:
The Comparison of a Poem, a Short Story, and My Life
Before you can appreciate love you need to have experienced sorrow and disappointment. Before you can appreciate kindness you need to have experienced sorrow and disappointment. Before you can appreciate excitement you need to have experienced sorrow and disappointment. (Parallelism) The short story “Winter Dreams”, the poem “Kindness”, and my life have a lot in common and this example is just one of them.
TS. The short story “Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald goes through a lot of emotional ups and downs. SD. At the beginning of the story Dexter, an assiduous but distracted man, quits his job as a caddy. (Appositive, SAT word and Antithesis) CM. “The little girl who had done this was [Judy Jones]” and for the rest of Dexter’s life that would be the way it was. CM. He would give up everything for her- his wealth, his riches, his career, his well known name, everything. (loose) CM. This would go on, for entire summers, until Dexter realized he couldn’t have her. CM. Judy Jones would be the single thing in his life that he didn’t get. SD. He tried taking his mind off her by marrying some-one else, but in the future when they were both old and both married, Dexter found out that the “great beauty” that stole his heart away was now no more than “all right.”. CM. The story ends here, and as sad as it sounds, it’s not. Dexter wouldn’t have been happy with Judy. CM. She jumped from man to man like there was no tomorrow, and the sole reason that Dexter loved Judy was because she was a “glittering thing”, it wasn’t the personality, or anything else. CS. By understanding what was right and what was wrong, Dexter Green was able to fix his life, even though at first sight it looked a lot worse.
TS. Like the short story, the poem “Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye also moves up, down, left and right emotionally. SD. It seems, after reading the poem over a few times, that Ms. Nye went to India after a tragedy that happened in her life. CM. “Before you know what kindness really is / you must lose things,” she puts this at the beginning at her poem and I find that it has a strong connection to “Winter Dreams”. CM. Dexter had to lose it all before he appreciated the love he had, and Naomi Shihab Nye had to lose something before she appreciated kindness. SD. Also, like “Winter Dreams”, the poem ends on a good note, “[when] kindness […] raises its head”. CM. Kindness after a long journey finally reveals itself to help you finish the last leg of the journey. CS. When you have crossed the finish line “it goes with you everywhere / like a shadow or a friend.”, to keep telling you how far you’ve come and what benevolent and opulent (SAT words) things are to come of the dark pit you called your sorrow.
TS. At the end of eighth grade everything was ready for me to move up to the upper math group. SD. I had planned it out and knew what I would be learning when. CM. I was excited because I thought that in the next year I would be learning math, as fast as I needed to. CM. Unfortunately it was a lot harder than I thought, without a teacher it took a lot longer to learn the certain skills and keep them in my head. SD. I also became stuck with the flow of summer- getting up late, having a swim, doing hardly any work. (Loose) CM. When the test came around I did okay but it didn’t match up to the 85% mark by a few points, my hopes had fallen. CM. I felt like I had lost a great battle, which was silly, and soon enough, like the poem and the short story, I was back on my feet. CS. Sure all the hours, problems, studying and lessons were for nothing, I would be re-learning everything I had done that summer, but it didn’t matter to me, I will get to Algebra 2 next year. (Tetracolon Climax)
Life has disappointments, we all know that. It’s what we choose to say and do after that disappointment is what shapes us for the future.
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 28th 2009
Sorrow and Disappointment:
The Comparison of a Poem, a Short Story, and My Life
Before you can appreciate love you need to have experienced sorrow and disappointment. Before you can appreciate kindness you need to have experienced sorrow and disappointment. Before you can appreciate excitement you need to have experienced sorrow and disappointment. (Parallelism) The short story “Winter Dreams”, the poem “Kindness”, and my life have a lot in common and this example is just one of them.
TS. The short story “Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald goes through a lot of emotional ups and downs. SD. At the beginning of the story Dexter, an assiduous but distracted man, quits his job as a caddy. (Appositive, SAT word and Antithesis) CM. “The little girl who had done this was [Judy Jones]” and for the rest of Dexter’s life that would be the way it was. CM. He would give up everything for her- his wealth, his riches, his career, his well known name, everything. (loose) CM. This would go on, for entire summers, until Dexter realized he couldn’t have her. CM. Judy Jones would be the single thing in his life that he didn’t get. SD. He tried taking his mind off her by marrying some-one else, but in the future when they were both old and both married, Dexter found out that the “great beauty” that stole his heart away was now no more than “all right.”. CM. The story ends here, and as sad as it sounds, it’s not. Dexter wouldn’t have been happy with Judy. CM. She jumped from man to man like there was no tomorrow, and the sole reason that Dexter loved Judy was because she was a “glittering thing”, it wasn’t the personality, or anything else. CS. By understanding what was right and what was wrong, Dexter Green was able to fix his life, even though at first sight it looked a lot worse.
TS. Like the short story, the poem “Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye also moves up, down, left and right emotionally. SD. It seems, after reading the poem over a few times, that Ms. Nye went to India after a tragedy that happened in her life. CM. “Before you know what kindness really is / you must lose things,” she puts this at the beginning at her poem and I find that it has a strong connection to “Winter Dreams”. CM. Dexter had to lose it all before he appreciated the love he had, and Naomi Shihab Nye had to lose something before she appreciated kindness. SD. Also, like “Winter Dreams”, the poem ends on a good note, “[when] kindness […] raises its head”. CM. Kindness after a long journey finally reveals itself to help you finish the last leg of the journey. CS. When you have crossed the finish line “it goes with you everywhere / like a shadow or a friend.”, to keep telling you how far you’ve come and what benevolent and opulent (SAT words) things are to come of the dark pit you called your sorrow.
TS. At the end of eighth grade everything was ready for me to move up to the upper math group. SD. I had planned it out and knew what I would be learning when. CM. I was excited because I thought that in the next year I would be learning math, as fast as I needed to. CM. Unfortunately it was a lot harder than I thought, without a teacher it took a lot longer to learn the certain skills and keep them in my head. SD. I also became stuck with the flow of summer- getting up late, having a swim, doing hardly any work. (Loose) CM. When the test came around I did okay but it didn’t match up to the 85% mark by a few points, my hopes had fallen. CM. I felt like I had lost a great battle, which was silly, and soon enough, like the poem and the short story, I was back on my feet. CS. Sure all the hours, problems, studying and lessons were for nothing, I would be re-learning everything I had done that summer, but it didn’t matter to me, I will get to Algebra 2 next year. (Tetracolon Climax)
Life has disappointments, we all know that. It’s what we choose to say and do after that disappointment is what shapes us for the future.
Hannah's Essay (no tools)
Hannah Staley
Mr. Salsich
English 9
30 April 2009
Kindess:
An Essay on a Poem, a Short Story and My Life
OP: Kindness is not everywhere. You cannot simply show kindness or feel kindness. It is something that is evanescent and when you find it, embrace it. In the short story “Winter Dreams,” there are many examples of kindness. In my life, I have experienced kindness from family, friends and even strangers. In the poem “Kindness,” there are many examples and demonstrations of kindness.
TS: In the poem “Kindness,” Ms. Nye is diligent when expressing that there are different sorts of kindness. SD: The first demonstration of kindness is when Ms. Nye talks about loosing things. CM: In order for a person to show kindness, they must loose something sentimental to them so they know how it feels. CM: While a person is grieving, it is the job of friends and family to help by showing acts of kindness. SD: The second sort of kindness is simply to be kind to yourself. CM: Sometimes, when you realize you have done well, you need to treat yourself. CM: In the end of the poem, Ms. Nye expresses this by saying it “goes with you everywhere like a shadow or a friend.” CM: She is stating that although you may not always be in the best mood or be having a great day, what it comes down to is treating yourself with kindness.”
TS: Naomi Shihab Nye, a serious writer, a talented woman and a true poet, relates her poem “Kindness” in many ways to the short story “Winter Dreams” (loose sentence). SD: The poem relates to “Winter Dreams” because of how Dexter lost Judy Jones, sassy and determined, the love of his life (appositive). CM: When Ms. Nye writes “How you ride and ride/thinking the bus will never stop,” this can relate back to when Dexter never wanted his time with Judy to end. CM: Ms. Nye might be writing about something different, but these lines also apply to Dexter and how he comes to realize that “you must loose things.” SD: The second way these writings connect is when Ms. Nye writes “It is you I have been looking for.” CM: This line might not seem like much but it ties into the beginning of “Winters Dreams” when Dexter was a lonely boy. CM: Dexter was longing for someone to be with him and to love him and, until the relationship came to a sudden halt that is what happened with Judy Jones. CS: Although “Winters Dreams” doesn’t have much to do with “kindness,” when you examine the poem there are similarities.
TS: My life has many ups and downs, some more significant, some more serious and some that just take time to work through (loose sentence). TS2: In the poem “Kindness” there are many examples that relate to my ups and downs. SD: When Ms. Nye writes “you must lose things,” I can relate. CM: I have lost many things that are dear to me, like my best friend Elena. CM: In the fourth grade she moved to California and my life hasn’t been the same since. CM: Although we talk, it’s not the same as seeing her and getting together to have girl time. SD: The second thing I have lost is family members. CM: In the summer of 2004, we got a call saying my grandfather had died. CM: Being only in the fourth grade, I didn’t know how to deal with death, especially since everything happened suddenly and we were supposed to see him the next day to go on a family vacation. CM: But it was the reverence of the people we knew that made our grieving a little bit easier. CS: Whether it is from loosing a friend or family member, it is always the kindness of people around you that makes difficult times easier.
CP: Whether it is a short story, whether it is a poem, whether it is my life or whether it is all three, kindness is everywhere (Tetracolon climax). It comes in different amounts and is expressed in different ways. One person may find it within another, one may find it through their ups and downs and one may find it in a poem. But through it all, kindness is universal and shows others how you want it to be shown to you.
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Self- Assessment
1. What are you most proud of in this essay?
In this essay I think i did a good job of keeping my sentences tight. This has been something I have been trying to improve in my writing and I think I am almost there.
2. What was the hardest part of the assignment for you?
The hardest part of this assignment would have been all of the requirements. I found it diffucult finding space to fit everything and I feel as though my essay has to many tools.
Grade I give myself: B+
Mr. Salsich
English 9
30 April 2009
Kindess:
An Essay on a Poem, a Short Story and My Life
OP: Kindness is not everywhere. You cannot simply show kindness or feel kindness. It is something that is evanescent and when you find it, embrace it. In the short story “Winter Dreams,” there are many examples of kindness. In my life, I have experienced kindness from family, friends and even strangers. In the poem “Kindness,” there are many examples and demonstrations of kindness.
TS: In the poem “Kindness,” Ms. Nye is diligent when expressing that there are different sorts of kindness. SD: The first demonstration of kindness is when Ms. Nye talks about loosing things. CM: In order for a person to show kindness, they must loose something sentimental to them so they know how it feels. CM: While a person is grieving, it is the job of friends and family to help by showing acts of kindness. SD: The second sort of kindness is simply to be kind to yourself. CM: Sometimes, when you realize you have done well, you need to treat yourself. CM: In the end of the poem, Ms. Nye expresses this by saying it “goes with you everywhere like a shadow or a friend.” CM: She is stating that although you may not always be in the best mood or be having a great day, what it comes down to is treating yourself with kindness.”
TS: Naomi Shihab Nye, a serious writer, a talented woman and a true poet, relates her poem “Kindness” in many ways to the short story “Winter Dreams” (loose sentence). SD: The poem relates to “Winter Dreams” because of how Dexter lost Judy Jones, sassy and determined, the love of his life (appositive). CM: When Ms. Nye writes “How you ride and ride/thinking the bus will never stop,” this can relate back to when Dexter never wanted his time with Judy to end. CM: Ms. Nye might be writing about something different, but these lines also apply to Dexter and how he comes to realize that “you must loose things.” SD: The second way these writings connect is when Ms. Nye writes “It is you I have been looking for.” CM: This line might not seem like much but it ties into the beginning of “Winters Dreams” when Dexter was a lonely boy. CM: Dexter was longing for someone to be with him and to love him and, until the relationship came to a sudden halt that is what happened with Judy Jones. CS: Although “Winters Dreams” doesn’t have much to do with “kindness,” when you examine the poem there are similarities.
TS: My life has many ups and downs, some more significant, some more serious and some that just take time to work through (loose sentence). TS2: In the poem “Kindness” there are many examples that relate to my ups and downs. SD: When Ms. Nye writes “you must lose things,” I can relate. CM: I have lost many things that are dear to me, like my best friend Elena. CM: In the fourth grade she moved to California and my life hasn’t been the same since. CM: Although we talk, it’s not the same as seeing her and getting together to have girl time. SD: The second thing I have lost is family members. CM: In the summer of 2004, we got a call saying my grandfather had died. CM: Being only in the fourth grade, I didn’t know how to deal with death, especially since everything happened suddenly and we were supposed to see him the next day to go on a family vacation. CM: But it was the reverence of the people we knew that made our grieving a little bit easier. CS: Whether it is from loosing a friend or family member, it is always the kindness of people around you that makes difficult times easier.
CP: Whether it is a short story, whether it is a poem, whether it is my life or whether it is all three, kindness is everywhere (Tetracolon climax). It comes in different amounts and is expressed in different ways. One person may find it within another, one may find it through their ups and downs and one may find it in a poem. But through it all, kindness is universal and shows others how you want it to be shown to you.
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Self- Assessment
1. What are you most proud of in this essay?
In this essay I think i did a good job of keeping my sentences tight. This has been something I have been trying to improve in my writing and I think I am almost there.
2. What was the hardest part of the assignment for you?
The hardest part of this assignment would have been all of the requirements. I found it diffucult finding space to fit everything and I feel as though my essay has to many tools.
Grade I give myself: B+
Olivia's Essay that she really didn't want to do but forced herself to do it
Olivia Denison
Mr. Salsich
April 29, 2009
English 9
What is Kindness? :
Finding Kindness in a Poem, a Story, and My Life
Kindness may be expressed in many different ways. There are little gestures like picking up something for someone, and then there are greater acts of kindness. For instance, another person can comfort them with advice and compassion (SAT) when someone is experiencing personal hardships. (LOOSE) This system of support is a main idea in the poem “Kindness”, the story “Winter Dreams” and my own life.
TS In the poem “Kindness”, the author Naomi Shihab Nye gets right to the point in the first line of the poem and declares, “before you know what kindness is/ you must lose things/.” SD We might experience acts of kindness everyday, but what she contends is that we really don’t know what “real” kindness is until something bad happens. CM We do not, everyday, experience the kindness when a loved one passes and a person comes to our side in support and offers advice. CM Sometimes we feel as though kindness is unattainable, and we’re stuck in the middle, “between the regions of kindness/.” (TETRA COLON) SD When we are feeling sad we may “feel the future dissolve in a moment/.” CM We feel as if our whole world has come crashing down, and no one cares. CM It is isolating, but when someone comes along and helps us out of our pit of sorrow, it can be very uplifting. CS Always remember, that there is probably someone there for us.
TS In the story “Winter Dreams”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the main character, Dexter, witnesses a different sort of kindness. (APPOSITIVE) SD Dexter’s life fluctuates like a graph, exhibiting losses and gains. CM During the story, he loses the girl of his dreams several times, ultimately losing her in the end forever. CM Dexter did not have a support system to help him through this painful journey. SD At the end of the story, Dexter is talking to a man who explains to him that he has lost the love of his life one final time. CM Kindness has taken the form of honesty, but its tough reality has taken a toll on Dexter. CM Although we have no idea what happened to Dexter, his past suggests that he will carry on, but in a lonely misery. CS Honesty is a form of kindness, and although it might be harsh, its lessons can be life-changing.
TS Just like in the story “Winter Dreams”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the poem “Kindness”, by Naomi Shihab Nye, I have experienced kindness in times of need. SD The most memorable time that I have felt kindness was when my grandmother died. CM Friends were offering to treat my sister and I to dinner or the movies. CM The grandest act of kindness I witnessed was toward my mother. SD She received an adulation (SAT) of cards and flowers and a lot of people even prepared food. CM One person in particular offered advice on how to carry on, and had empathy (SAT), because she had lost a loved one as well. CM I found this very comforting when I saw how much this woman cared about my mother to actually support her in this way.(LOOSE) CS Every time I am upset about something, one of my friends is there to help me through it, even if it’s something insignificant.
Have faith that when you feel that you’ve lost so much, that someone in your life will support you. It can be devastating when something bad happens, but always realize that something good can come from something bad.
Self Assessment
Writing Issues I’m continuing working on.
Using tools apptly is one thing that I have trouble with especially appositvies. Also actualyl writing not the way that i talk.
Some strong points I see.
I definitely did a good job checking over my work. The SAT words that I used I think fit well with the sentence I used them in.
Some weak points I see.
I don't think I used the "/" right. Then again maybe I did. Also my tools might be a little off.
Grade I would give myself.
c+
Mr. Salsich
April 29, 2009
English 9
What is Kindness? :
Finding Kindness in a Poem, a Story, and My Life
Kindness may be expressed in many different ways. There are little gestures like picking up something for someone, and then there are greater acts of kindness. For instance, another person can comfort them with advice and compassion (SAT) when someone is experiencing personal hardships. (LOOSE) This system of support is a main idea in the poem “Kindness”, the story “Winter Dreams” and my own life.
TS In the poem “Kindness”, the author Naomi Shihab Nye gets right to the point in the first line of the poem and declares, “before you know what kindness is/ you must lose things/.” SD We might experience acts of kindness everyday, but what she contends is that we really don’t know what “real” kindness is until something bad happens. CM We do not, everyday, experience the kindness when a loved one passes and a person comes to our side in support and offers advice. CM Sometimes we feel as though kindness is unattainable, and we’re stuck in the middle, “between the regions of kindness/.” (TETRA COLON) SD When we are feeling sad we may “feel the future dissolve in a moment/.” CM We feel as if our whole world has come crashing down, and no one cares. CM It is isolating, but when someone comes along and helps us out of our pit of sorrow, it can be very uplifting. CS Always remember, that there is probably someone there for us.
TS In the story “Winter Dreams”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the main character, Dexter, witnesses a different sort of kindness. (APPOSITIVE) SD Dexter’s life fluctuates like a graph, exhibiting losses and gains. CM During the story, he loses the girl of his dreams several times, ultimately losing her in the end forever. CM Dexter did not have a support system to help him through this painful journey. SD At the end of the story, Dexter is talking to a man who explains to him that he has lost the love of his life one final time. CM Kindness has taken the form of honesty, but its tough reality has taken a toll on Dexter. CM Although we have no idea what happened to Dexter, his past suggests that he will carry on, but in a lonely misery. CS Honesty is a form of kindness, and although it might be harsh, its lessons can be life-changing.
TS Just like in the story “Winter Dreams”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the poem “Kindness”, by Naomi Shihab Nye, I have experienced kindness in times of need. SD The most memorable time that I have felt kindness was when my grandmother died. CM Friends were offering to treat my sister and I to dinner or the movies. CM The grandest act of kindness I witnessed was toward my mother. SD She received an adulation (SAT) of cards and flowers and a lot of people even prepared food. CM One person in particular offered advice on how to carry on, and had empathy (SAT), because she had lost a loved one as well. CM I found this very comforting when I saw how much this woman cared about my mother to actually support her in this way.(LOOSE) CS Every time I am upset about something, one of my friends is there to help me through it, even if it’s something insignificant.
Have faith that when you feel that you’ve lost so much, that someone in your life will support you. It can be devastating when something bad happens, but always realize that something good can come from something bad.
Self Assessment
Writing Issues I’m continuing working on.
Using tools apptly is one thing that I have trouble with especially appositvies. Also actualyl writing not the way that i talk.
Some strong points I see.
I definitely did a good job checking over my work. The SAT words that I used I think fit well with the sentence I used them in.
Some weak points I see.
I don't think I used the "/" right. Then again maybe I did. Also my tools might be a little off.
Grade I would give myself.
c+
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Hannah's Polished Essay
Hannah Staley
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 26, 2009
Sentimentality in Everything:
An Essay on Two Poems and a Passage from a Short Story
OP: Three different situations that are all connected. How you ask? Well simply by the word sentimental. The word sentimental is universal and means different things to different people. One person may cherish a book; one may cherish a piece of jewelry. In this essay, I am comparing a passage from a short story and two poems to the word sentimental. It wasn’t obvious at first but upon more examination I found some examples of true sentimentality.
TS: Caring deeply for each other, is sentimental (Participle phrase). You may fight, but at the end of the day it comes down to loving one another, enjoying each others company and knowing that your sibling often knows what you are thinking and mean to say. The word “sentimental” connects well to the second passage in “The Garden Party.” SD: “Sentimental” connects these two writings through Laura and her brother’s relationship. CM: It is sentimental because they comfort each other through tough times like death. CM: It is also sentimental that through comforting one another their relationship grows stronger and they bond. SD: The last way the passage is “sentimental” relates to the timing of everything. CM: Knowing that her brother made the effort to comfort her and that he really cared about her needs is special since not many siblings make such a beautiful gesture. CM: Laura’s behavior gives you a sense of how exemplary (SAT) their relationship is and what a good team they make. CS: Siblings don’t always get along, but the moment Laura and her brother share is special and full of sentiment.
TS: Stinking and strong, even an onion can have sentimental value (Participle phrase). SD: In the poem “The Traveling Onion” by Naomi Shihab Nye, the onion goes on many journeys, including one to the chopping block. CM: Once the onion arrived to the chopping block, a sentimental place for many chefs, its memories of the long journey there began to fade away (Appositive). CM: The aromas and layers that once gave this onion life were all gone and being merged with new ingredients. SD: Another sentimental element is the onion’s character. CM: An onion is an intrepid (SAT) vegetable and without it our diets would be dull. CM: In fact, many of the foods we eat would be bland and tasteless. CM: It’s as though we cook this vegetable for “the sake of others” so they can experience the flavors as well. CS: From death to an onion it’s all a big journey but within these journeys will be memories full of sentimental value.
TS: After reading the poem by Emily Dickenson, I realized that being by yourself has sentimental value. SD: Often it is nice to be by yourself and decompress. CM: It’s good to feel as if you are invisible and in total isolation. CM: It’s nice to feel this was because it can be “dreary to somebody” when all you get is attention. SD: Another reason why being nobody is sentimental is because you can break free. CM: When you are alone you don’t always need to feel “public” and you can simply enjoy life. CM: Also when you’re nobody you don’t need to feel invaded by people and you can do your own thing on your own time. CS: Being by yourself, like an onion, can be quite sentimental even though it may not be obvious at the first glance.
CP: Sentimentality, a universal word full of meaning, is found in almost every situation (Appositive). It may not be obvious at the first glance but it is there somewhere. In fact some of the memories that aren’t meaningful to you are the ones that end up staying with you forever. So whether it is mourning with a family member, a traveling onion or a poem on being nobody, it all has sentimental value.
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 26, 2009
Sentimentality in Everything:
An Essay on Two Poems and a Passage from a Short Story
OP: Three different situations that are all connected. How you ask? Well simply by the word sentimental. The word sentimental is universal and means different things to different people. One person may cherish a book; one may cherish a piece of jewelry. In this essay, I am comparing a passage from a short story and two poems to the word sentimental. It wasn’t obvious at first but upon more examination I found some examples of true sentimentality.
TS: Caring deeply for each other, is sentimental (Participle phrase). You may fight, but at the end of the day it comes down to loving one another, enjoying each others company and knowing that your sibling often knows what you are thinking and mean to say. The word “sentimental” connects well to the second passage in “The Garden Party.” SD: “Sentimental” connects these two writings through Laura and her brother’s relationship. CM: It is sentimental because they comfort each other through tough times like death. CM: It is also sentimental that through comforting one another their relationship grows stronger and they bond. SD: The last way the passage is “sentimental” relates to the timing of everything. CM: Knowing that her brother made the effort to comfort her and that he really cared about her needs is special since not many siblings make such a beautiful gesture. CM: Laura’s behavior gives you a sense of how exemplary (SAT) their relationship is and what a good team they make. CS: Siblings don’t always get along, but the moment Laura and her brother share is special and full of sentiment.
TS: Stinking and strong, even an onion can have sentimental value (Participle phrase). SD: In the poem “The Traveling Onion” by Naomi Shihab Nye, the onion goes on many journeys, including one to the chopping block. CM: Once the onion arrived to the chopping block, a sentimental place for many chefs, its memories of the long journey there began to fade away (Appositive). CM: The aromas and layers that once gave this onion life were all gone and being merged with new ingredients. SD: Another sentimental element is the onion’s character. CM: An onion is an intrepid (SAT) vegetable and without it our diets would be dull. CM: In fact, many of the foods we eat would be bland and tasteless. CM: It’s as though we cook this vegetable for “the sake of others” so they can experience the flavors as well. CS: From death to an onion it’s all a big journey but within these journeys will be memories full of sentimental value.
TS: After reading the poem by Emily Dickenson, I realized that being by yourself has sentimental value. SD: Often it is nice to be by yourself and decompress. CM: It’s good to feel as if you are invisible and in total isolation. CM: It’s nice to feel this was because it can be “dreary to somebody” when all you get is attention. SD: Another reason why being nobody is sentimental is because you can break free. CM: When you are alone you don’t always need to feel “public” and you can simply enjoy life. CM: Also when you’re nobody you don’t need to feel invaded by people and you can do your own thing on your own time. CS: Being by yourself, like an onion, can be quite sentimental even though it may not be obvious at the first glance.
CP: Sentimentality, a universal word full of meaning, is found in almost every situation (Appositive). It may not be obvious at the first glance but it is there somewhere. In fact some of the memories that aren’t meaningful to you are the ones that end up staying with you forever. So whether it is mourning with a family member, a traveling onion or a poem on being nobody, it all has sentimental value.
Eleanor's Polished Essay #16
Eleanor Hilton
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 20th 2009
A Balancing Act:
A Comparison between a Short Story and Two Poems on Sentimentalism
Our lives can be difficult to balance from time to time. Sometimes our thoughts are in the extreme, and other times there is so little to think about that it appears as if we don’t care. However, we need to find a balance between these two. There are two poems and a short story that I feel relate to this in the terms of being sentimental; “I’m Nobody”, “The Traveling Onion”, and “The Garden Party”.
TS: In the short story “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield, the main character, Laura, is overly sentimental about a man, dirty from working in the mines and living a lower-class life, who has died. (participle) SD: She even goes to the point where she wants the party planned by her family to be cancelled. CM: “And just think of what the band would sound like to [that family]” she says. CM: It is good that Laura feels sorry for the family that has to endure a death; that is natural for a human. CM: However, “You [can’t] bring a drunken workman back by being sentimental.”. SD: Unfortunately Laura frets about the situation through her whole party, and only understands the lesson near the end of the story when she visits the home of the deceased man. CM: “It was simply marvelous” she states and I knew after reading that one line that the story was complete. CS: I know that Laura was just trying to be prudent (SAT), but she ended up pushing herself to the extreme.
TS: Another poem, “I’m Nobody” by Emily Dickinson, I feel, comes to quite a different conclusion. SD: It appears as if she doesn’t mind being “Nobody”, it appears as if the poem has nothing to do with being sentimental at all. CM: However I find the truth to be that she’s writing this poem to persuade herself of something. CM: To persuade herself that she doesn’t want or need to be “somebody”. CM: “How public like a frog” she, worried and confused, tells herself. (appositive) SD: At her home in London while writing, she probably saw thousands of nobles, dignified and pretentious (SAT) “somebody’s”, traveling along in their carriages wanting nothing to do with peasants. (appositive and parralellism) CM: This poem is a example of going down into the lower extreme of not caring at all, even going to the point to try to persuade herself not to even want to be important, or noticed, or cared for. CS: You need to care and feel; you can’t lock it up forever.
TS: Another poem “The Traveling Onion”, by Naomi Shihab Nye, moves to neither extreme, but finds itself at the middle. SD: In the first stanza she sums up the onion she is chopping for her stew. CM: She peels of the “crackly paper” and slices it down the middle “A history revealed”. CM: In the second stanza she writes how as important onion is it is never commented on, never thought of; but it’s the single part of the meal that pulls everything together. SD: Even though she discusses the onion through the entire poem, it never feels as if she is being overly sentimental about it. CM: She is just writing about one small vegetable making a big difference despite the fact it is not once mentioned. CM: Subtlely giving the meaning, this is one of the best ways to write poems. (participle) CS: It’s not too deep but you find yourself thinking about the words for a long time after.
Not every poem can be balanced in terms of being sentimental. And as long as there is something else the writing is balanced about everything works. With “The Garden Party” it could be friendship, with “I’m Nobody” it could be a silence, and I’m sure that “The Traveling Onion” has a quality that is not so balanced.
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 20th 2009
A Balancing Act:
A Comparison between a Short Story and Two Poems on Sentimentalism
Our lives can be difficult to balance from time to time. Sometimes our thoughts are in the extreme, and other times there is so little to think about that it appears as if we don’t care. However, we need to find a balance between these two. There are two poems and a short story that I feel relate to this in the terms of being sentimental; “I’m Nobody”, “The Traveling Onion”, and “The Garden Party”.
TS: In the short story “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield, the main character, Laura, is overly sentimental about a man, dirty from working in the mines and living a lower-class life, who has died. (participle) SD: She even goes to the point where she wants the party planned by her family to be cancelled. CM: “And just think of what the band would sound like to [that family]” she says. CM: It is good that Laura feels sorry for the family that has to endure a death; that is natural for a human. CM: However, “You [can’t] bring a drunken workman back by being sentimental.”. SD: Unfortunately Laura frets about the situation through her whole party, and only understands the lesson near the end of the story when she visits the home of the deceased man. CM: “It was simply marvelous” she states and I knew after reading that one line that the story was complete. CS: I know that Laura was just trying to be prudent (SAT), but she ended up pushing herself to the extreme.
TS: Another poem, “I’m Nobody” by Emily Dickinson, I feel, comes to quite a different conclusion. SD: It appears as if she doesn’t mind being “Nobody”, it appears as if the poem has nothing to do with being sentimental at all. CM: However I find the truth to be that she’s writing this poem to persuade herself of something. CM: To persuade herself that she doesn’t want or need to be “somebody”. CM: “How public like a frog” she, worried and confused, tells herself. (appositive) SD: At her home in London while writing, she probably saw thousands of nobles, dignified and pretentious (SAT) “somebody’s”, traveling along in their carriages wanting nothing to do with peasants. (appositive and parralellism) CM: This poem is a example of going down into the lower extreme of not caring at all, even going to the point to try to persuade herself not to even want to be important, or noticed, or cared for. CS: You need to care and feel; you can’t lock it up forever.
TS: Another poem “The Traveling Onion”, by Naomi Shihab Nye, moves to neither extreme, but finds itself at the middle. SD: In the first stanza she sums up the onion she is chopping for her stew. CM: She peels of the “crackly paper” and slices it down the middle “A history revealed”. CM: In the second stanza she writes how as important onion is it is never commented on, never thought of; but it’s the single part of the meal that pulls everything together. SD: Even though she discusses the onion through the entire poem, it never feels as if she is being overly sentimental about it. CM: She is just writing about one small vegetable making a big difference despite the fact it is not once mentioned. CM: Subtlely giving the meaning, this is one of the best ways to write poems. (participle) CS: It’s not too deep but you find yourself thinking about the words for a long time after.
Not every poem can be balanced in terms of being sentimental. And as long as there is something else the writing is balanced about everything works. With “The Garden Party” it could be friendship, with “I’m Nobody” it could be a silence, and I’m sure that “The Traveling Onion” has a quality that is not so balanced.
Olivia's Essay
Olivia Denison
Mr. Salsich
April 23, 2009
English 9
Is Sentiment Positive or Negative?:
A Comparison of Two Poems, and a Story, to the Word “Sentimental”
One dictionary defines “sentimental” as “marked or governed by feeling, sensibility, or emotional idealism.” This definition emphasizes the positive aspect of being sentimental. In contrast, sentimental can also be defined as “having an excess of sentiment or sensibility.” This definition makes it seem as if a person has too much attachment to something and almost infers emotional weakness. The range of interpretations are like the differences between people, and these differences are lauded (FAST) in Emily Dickenson’s poem, “Nobody”, Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem, “The Traveling Onion”, and the story by Katherine Mansfield, “The Garden Party.”
TS In the poem “The Traveling Onion”, the author, Naomi Shihab Nye, emphasizes the importance of an onion in a meal, even though it seems to vanish. SD Before the poem even begins, she opens with an excerpt from a cookbook describing where the onion originated and how far it traveled to get here. CM Few ponder another’s journey, including an onion’s - how they got here, their birth place, and their experiences. Onions, like people, appear uninteresting, but peel back the layers and you may find something more. CM The onion with its layers tells a story and we should be grateful for that place in India where it came from when a “knife enters [the] onion /.” SD When we put the onion into a meal it “disappear / [s] […] “For the sake of the others /.” CM The onion sacrifices itself and fades into the background of the soup you are eating and you have to find it in order to taste it. CM For many, the onion doesn’t have any significance in a meal, but some actually try to pay more attention to the onion than anything else they are eating. CS It is important to “taste” something that you ordinarily would not as it could open up a variety of unforeseen (FAST) possibilities.
TS In the poem “Nobody” by Emily Dickinson, she refers to herself and how she likes being a “nobody.” SD In the second stanza, she declares “How dreary to be somebody! / How public like a frog /.” CM When the frog croaks, it thinks it is commanding people’s attention, with its loud obnoxious croaking, but people are actually ignoring it. (PARTICIPLE PHRASE, SPLIT) CM Those people who ignore the frog’s croaking may prefer paying attention to the “nobodies”, as they are so quiet that they may harbor a hidden sagacity (SAT). SD Emily Dickinson seems to embrace this in her poem, but she could have also thought that no one was thinking about her, even when they really were. CM Conversely, she may not have cared if people thought about her or not. CM I believe she likes being a “nobody” and that most people do not pay much attention to the “somebodies”, preferring the quiet people who write poetry. CS The way Ms. Dickinson writes about being a “nobody” gives me a sense of reassurance that my voice and sense of purpose will always be relevant (FAST).
TS In the story “The Garden Party”, the author, Katherine Mansfield, introduces us to an opulent (SAT) family who is planning a party, but Laura, one of the daughters, is sad about the recent death of a local man. (APPOSITIVE) SD Laura keeps on thinking about how the music will sound to the dead man’s family and her sister, Jose, says that she is going to “lead a very strenuous life […] by being sentimental.”(APPOSITIVE) CM Jose dismisses Laura’s sentimental feeling toward the dead man, because the man’s family is below their status. CM The dead man’s family are “nobodies”, and Laura sympathizes with them and wants to do something for them. SD So, Laura goes to the man’s house and sees him lying in his bed “sleeping so soundly, so deeply, that he was far, far away from both.” CM Laura begins to cry, and even though she doesn’t know this “beautiful” man, she feels as if she is one of the family members mourning for him. (PARTICIPLE PHRASE, SPLIT) CM She is sentimental toward a man and his family that she has never met and will never forget the warm atmosphere of their house and the love of each member of the family. CS Being sentimental is not something to be embarrassed about, but rather something to be embraced.
Be quiet. Be a “nobody”. Disappear. Be sentimental if you want. Let people think what they want, but don’t let them tell you how to be - you are, who you are. Your quiet confidence will gain the respect of others, even if they express otherwise.
Mr. Salsich
April 23, 2009
English 9
Is Sentiment Positive or Negative?:
A Comparison of Two Poems, and a Story, to the Word “Sentimental”
One dictionary defines “sentimental” as “marked or governed by feeling, sensibility, or emotional idealism.” This definition emphasizes the positive aspect of being sentimental. In contrast, sentimental can also be defined as “having an excess of sentiment or sensibility.” This definition makes it seem as if a person has too much attachment to something and almost infers emotional weakness. The range of interpretations are like the differences between people, and these differences are lauded (FAST) in Emily Dickenson’s poem, “Nobody”, Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem, “The Traveling Onion”, and the story by Katherine Mansfield, “The Garden Party.”
TS In the poem “The Traveling Onion”, the author, Naomi Shihab Nye, emphasizes the importance of an onion in a meal, even though it seems to vanish. SD Before the poem even begins, she opens with an excerpt from a cookbook describing where the onion originated and how far it traveled to get here. CM Few ponder another’s journey, including an onion’s - how they got here, their birth place, and their experiences. Onions, like people, appear uninteresting, but peel back the layers and you may find something more. CM The onion with its layers tells a story and we should be grateful for that place in India where it came from when a “knife enters [the] onion /.” SD When we put the onion into a meal it “disappear / [s] […] “For the sake of the others /.” CM The onion sacrifices itself and fades into the background of the soup you are eating and you have to find it in order to taste it. CM For many, the onion doesn’t have any significance in a meal, but some actually try to pay more attention to the onion than anything else they are eating. CS It is important to “taste” something that you ordinarily would not as it could open up a variety of unforeseen (FAST) possibilities.
TS In the poem “Nobody” by Emily Dickinson, she refers to herself and how she likes being a “nobody.” SD In the second stanza, she declares “How dreary to be somebody! / How public like a frog /.” CM When the frog croaks, it thinks it is commanding people’s attention, with its loud obnoxious croaking, but people are actually ignoring it. (PARTICIPLE PHRASE, SPLIT) CM Those people who ignore the frog’s croaking may prefer paying attention to the “nobodies”, as they are so quiet that they may harbor a hidden sagacity (SAT). SD Emily Dickinson seems to embrace this in her poem, but she could have also thought that no one was thinking about her, even when they really were. CM Conversely, she may not have cared if people thought about her or not. CM I believe she likes being a “nobody” and that most people do not pay much attention to the “somebodies”, preferring the quiet people who write poetry. CS The way Ms. Dickinson writes about being a “nobody” gives me a sense of reassurance that my voice and sense of purpose will always be relevant (FAST).
TS In the story “The Garden Party”, the author, Katherine Mansfield, introduces us to an opulent (SAT) family who is planning a party, but Laura, one of the daughters, is sad about the recent death of a local man. (APPOSITIVE) SD Laura keeps on thinking about how the music will sound to the dead man’s family and her sister, Jose, says that she is going to “lead a very strenuous life […] by being sentimental.”(APPOSITIVE) CM Jose dismisses Laura’s sentimental feeling toward the dead man, because the man’s family is below their status. CM The dead man’s family are “nobodies”, and Laura sympathizes with them and wants to do something for them. SD So, Laura goes to the man’s house and sees him lying in his bed “sleeping so soundly, so deeply, that he was far, far away from both.” CM Laura begins to cry, and even though she doesn’t know this “beautiful” man, she feels as if she is one of the family members mourning for him. (PARTICIPLE PHRASE, SPLIT) CM She is sentimental toward a man and his family that she has never met and will never forget the warm atmosphere of their house and the love of each member of the family. CS Being sentimental is not something to be embarrassed about, but rather something to be embraced.
Be quiet. Be a “nobody”. Disappear. Be sentimental if you want. Let people think what they want, but don’t let them tell you how to be - you are, who you are. Your quiet confidence will gain the respect of others, even if they express otherwise.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Polished Essay
Hannah Staley
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 14th, 2009
Themes and Similarites:
An Essay on a Poem and a Short Story
“The Little Brother Poem” and “Sonny’s Blues” are two very different pieces of writing. One is about the struggles in life and, the other is about overcoming jealousy and letting go of grudges. The authors are quite effective in using different writing techniques to get their point across. By taking different approaches they are able to make their points more visible. There is a lot of figurative language in both and many themes are explored, but there are only a few that bring these works together.
In Naomi Shihab Nye's "The Little Brother Poem" jealousy is the theme. Ms. Nye uses figurative language throughout the poem to emphasize this theme to the reader. For example, when Ms. Nye writes, “fingering receipts and stubs” it could either be taken literally or figuratively. I interpret it as figurative language because I already know what is happening in the poem. When you understand the context of this quote, the author or character in the poem is reminiscing about times that he or she spent with their little brother and how the time they now spend with their brother is not the same. This quote illustrates jealousy and figurative language nicely. Another example of figurative language that relates to jealousy appears right after the aforementioned (FAST) quote. Ms. Nye then writes “Trying to put them back in some kind of shape so you’ll be able to find everything later, when you need it, and you don’t have so much time.” This too illustrates figurative language because the older sibling isn’t actually shaping everything back together. This could be happening in their mind. The characters are trying to show that they are confused about their relationship with their sibling and they might be competing with one another. My last example when Ms. Nye writes “We’re different, always have been, you’re Wall Street and I’m the local fruit market, you’re Pierre Cardin and I’m a used bandana.” Ms. Nye or the person in the poem is having trouble dealing with the success of the younger brother and is feeling the need to let it out. This is the perfect example of jealousy because the older sibling is making a strong statement that they are in control and it has affected them. This quote also shows figurative language because the younger sibling may not have made it to Wall Street but may have achieved something of that sort. Also, the older sibling may not work at the “fruit marker” but they are definitely lower than “Wall Street.” Ms. Nye did an astonishing (FAST) job using figurative language and she clearly delivered her theme of jealousy.
“The Little Brother Poem” connects to “Sonny’s Blues” in many ways. The first passage from “Sonny’s Blues” relates to it due to a theme of loss. In the passage “little grace died in the fall” and in “The Little Brother Poem” the older sibling lost their little brother figuratively. Also, in both of these cases the characters feel the same kind of emotion, the same kind of loss, the feeling of hopelessness once they realize something they love so dearly is gone (Asyndeton). “The Little Brother Poem” relates to the second passage due to its references to freedom. When Baldwin writes “freedom lurking,” it applies to both writings. In “Sonny’s Blues” Sonny became liberated (FAST) from his worries. In Nye’s poem, the older sibling became free of the younger sibling once the jealousy subsided (FAST). The last thing these two writings have in common is love. Sonny, in this second passage, was surrounded by people who wanted him to succeed and do well in life. In the end, the older sibling “was glad” for the little brother and they really do love each other. But siblings can’t help fighting once in a while. “Sonny’s Blues” and “The Little Brother Poem” have a lot in common, but I would never have thought of associating the two.
These two writings are different yet so alike. These poems, having the same meaning and message, so different and also alike, and so focused on loss, are not easy to compare at first, do have similarities (Periodic Sentence). I would never have thought to compare a short story about handling life’s quandaries (FAST) and a poem about loosing a sibling. In fact, I find that it is normally the writings that you think have little or nothing in common that have the most to compare. Thinking about how to find similarities in these different pieces of writing, I leaned how to think about poems differently (Participial phrase as a closer).
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 14th, 2009
Themes and Similarites:
An Essay on a Poem and a Short Story
“The Little Brother Poem” and “Sonny’s Blues” are two very different pieces of writing. One is about the struggles in life and, the other is about overcoming jealousy and letting go of grudges. The authors are quite effective in using different writing techniques to get their point across. By taking different approaches they are able to make their points more visible. There is a lot of figurative language in both and many themes are explored, but there are only a few that bring these works together.
In Naomi Shihab Nye's "The Little Brother Poem" jealousy is the theme. Ms. Nye uses figurative language throughout the poem to emphasize this theme to the reader. For example, when Ms. Nye writes, “fingering receipts and stubs” it could either be taken literally or figuratively. I interpret it as figurative language because I already know what is happening in the poem. When you understand the context of this quote, the author or character in the poem is reminiscing about times that he or she spent with their little brother and how the time they now spend with their brother is not the same. This quote illustrates jealousy and figurative language nicely. Another example of figurative language that relates to jealousy appears right after the aforementioned (FAST) quote. Ms. Nye then writes “Trying to put them back in some kind of shape so you’ll be able to find everything later, when you need it, and you don’t have so much time.” This too illustrates figurative language because the older sibling isn’t actually shaping everything back together. This could be happening in their mind. The characters are trying to show that they are confused about their relationship with their sibling and they might be competing with one another. My last example when Ms. Nye writes “We’re different, always have been, you’re Wall Street and I’m the local fruit market, you’re Pierre Cardin and I’m a used bandana.” Ms. Nye or the person in the poem is having trouble dealing with the success of the younger brother and is feeling the need to let it out. This is the perfect example of jealousy because the older sibling is making a strong statement that they are in control and it has affected them. This quote also shows figurative language because the younger sibling may not have made it to Wall Street but may have achieved something of that sort. Also, the older sibling may not work at the “fruit marker” but they are definitely lower than “Wall Street.” Ms. Nye did an astonishing (FAST) job using figurative language and she clearly delivered her theme of jealousy.
“The Little Brother Poem” connects to “Sonny’s Blues” in many ways. The first passage from “Sonny’s Blues” relates to it due to a theme of loss. In the passage “little grace died in the fall” and in “The Little Brother Poem” the older sibling lost their little brother figuratively. Also, in both of these cases the characters feel the same kind of emotion, the same kind of loss, the feeling of hopelessness once they realize something they love so dearly is gone (Asyndeton). “The Little Brother Poem” relates to the second passage due to its references to freedom. When Baldwin writes “freedom lurking,” it applies to both writings. In “Sonny’s Blues” Sonny became liberated (FAST) from his worries. In Nye’s poem, the older sibling became free of the younger sibling once the jealousy subsided (FAST). The last thing these two writings have in common is love. Sonny, in this second passage, was surrounded by people who wanted him to succeed and do well in life. In the end, the older sibling “was glad” for the little brother and they really do love each other. But siblings can’t help fighting once in a while. “Sonny’s Blues” and “The Little Brother Poem” have a lot in common, but I would never have thought of associating the two.
These two writings are different yet so alike. These poems, having the same meaning and message, so different and also alike, and so focused on loss, are not easy to compare at first, do have similarities (Periodic Sentence). I would never have thought to compare a short story about handling life’s quandaries (FAST) and a poem about loosing a sibling. In fact, I find that it is normally the writings that you think have little or nothing in common that have the most to compare. Thinking about how to find similarities in these different pieces of writing, I leaned how to think about poems differently (Participial phrase as a closer).
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Eleanor's Essay #15
Eleanor Hilton
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 14th 2009
She’s Done It Again!
An Analysis of "The Little Brother Poem" by Naomi Shihab Nye
I have always enjoyed reading Ms. Nye’s poems, and "The Little Brother Poem" was no exception. Her clean, refreshing, amazing way of writing (asyndeton) about a barely broached (FAST) topic, the lives of siblings, is extremely interesting. Her use of figurative language really makes the poem stand out among others. To add to that I also feel that the poem can really match itself with the well-known short story "Sonny’s Blues" by James Baldwin.
Ms. Nye’s use of figurative language can become extremely confusing and, you often need to think about most of her poems to really understand the underlining meaning. In the third stanza she writes, “You disappeared into the streets of Dallas at midnight on foot crying” but does she really mean that? Is she trying to say that he simply moved away, disappointed with his life? (past participle) Personally, I feel he just moved away because nothing was working out for him at home and, maybe he was hurt by his sister Naomi. Also, in the fourth stanza she puts, “you’re Wall Street and I’m the local fruit market.” Perhaps it’s literally saying that they are in different classes or maybe he’s just behaving more professionally and has always taken the part of a leader. In this situation I think it might be literal. After all, this quote might be the reason the brother moved away. The final piece of figurative language that interests me is when she writes, “It’s a large order I know, dumping out a whole drawer at once.”. This quote to me is quite complicated because it’s a mixture of both. After those words she talks about cleaning that drawer, and before it she talks about everything she’s sorry for doing to him. I don’t know what to say on this one, perhaps we can just leave it as a pleasing combination of both. Just because I may never understand the full meaning of some of Nye’s complicated combination of literal and figurative language, it doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy her poems time and time again.
In my opinion most siblings have the same type of relationship; this is no different in the ‘The Little Brother Poem’ and ‘Sonny’s Blues’. Both siblings in childhood pretend to dislike the siblings. They will disagree with lots of the things they do, and sometimes even claim that they hardly know their brother or sister. Underneath it all though, that is not the case. Both siblings are in awe at whatever good things they do, and the older one will be surprised at how fast the other is growing up, and most importantly, deep down, they both love each other no matter what is said or done. One common theme between the short story and the poem is that both older siblings have regret. They regret that they never apologized for the things they did, and they regret that when both grew up they didn’t continue to care for one another as they did so many years ago. Another similarity is as I mentioned earlier, awe. Sonny’s brother was so impressed after Sonny finished playing the piano at the bar. “Freedom lurked around us, and I understood” he really understood what his brother was going through and it got to him. This is the same with Ms. Nye and her brother. She may not have been proud of her brother when he left, but from childhood to adult she was in awe with who he was and what he can do. Everytime I re-read a part of either the poem or the story, I can’t help but think of how close the two are.
With figurative and literal language, complicated quotes and interesting phrases, Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem is an amazing read. I don’t know what does it, but I am always so excited to read another of her poems.
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 14th 2009
She’s Done It Again!
An Analysis of "The Little Brother Poem" by Naomi Shihab Nye
I have always enjoyed reading Ms. Nye’s poems, and "The Little Brother Poem" was no exception. Her clean, refreshing, amazing way of writing (asyndeton) about a barely broached (FAST) topic, the lives of siblings, is extremely interesting. Her use of figurative language really makes the poem stand out among others. To add to that I also feel that the poem can really match itself with the well-known short story "Sonny’s Blues" by James Baldwin.
Ms. Nye’s use of figurative language can become extremely confusing and, you often need to think about most of her poems to really understand the underlining meaning. In the third stanza she writes, “You disappeared into the streets of Dallas at midnight on foot crying” but does she really mean that? Is she trying to say that he simply moved away, disappointed with his life? (past participle) Personally, I feel he just moved away because nothing was working out for him at home and, maybe he was hurt by his sister Naomi. Also, in the fourth stanza she puts, “you’re Wall Street and I’m the local fruit market.” Perhaps it’s literally saying that they are in different classes or maybe he’s just behaving more professionally and has always taken the part of a leader. In this situation I think it might be literal. After all, this quote might be the reason the brother moved away. The final piece of figurative language that interests me is when she writes, “It’s a large order I know, dumping out a whole drawer at once.”. This quote to me is quite complicated because it’s a mixture of both. After those words she talks about cleaning that drawer, and before it she talks about everything she’s sorry for doing to him. I don’t know what to say on this one, perhaps we can just leave it as a pleasing combination of both. Just because I may never understand the full meaning of some of Nye’s complicated combination of literal and figurative language, it doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy her poems time and time again.
In my opinion most siblings have the same type of relationship; this is no different in the ‘The Little Brother Poem’ and ‘Sonny’s Blues’. Both siblings in childhood pretend to dislike the siblings. They will disagree with lots of the things they do, and sometimes even claim that they hardly know their brother or sister. Underneath it all though, that is not the case. Both siblings are in awe at whatever good things they do, and the older one will be surprised at how fast the other is growing up, and most importantly, deep down, they both love each other no matter what is said or done. One common theme between the short story and the poem is that both older siblings have regret. They regret that they never apologized for the things they did, and they regret that when both grew up they didn’t continue to care for one another as they did so many years ago. Another similarity is as I mentioned earlier, awe. Sonny’s brother was so impressed after Sonny finished playing the piano at the bar. “Freedom lurked around us, and I understood” he really understood what his brother was going through and it got to him. This is the same with Ms. Nye and her brother. She may not have been proud of her brother when he left, but from childhood to adult she was in awe with who he was and what he can do. Everytime I re-read a part of either the poem or the story, I can’t help but think of how close the two are.
With figurative and literal language, complicated quotes and interesting phrases, Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem is an amazing read. I don’t know what does it, but I am always so excited to read another of her poems.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Hannah's Essay (no tools yet)
Hannah Staley
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 14th, 2009
Themes and Similarites
An Essay on a Poem and a Short Story
“The Little Brother Poem” and “Sonny’s Blues” are two very different pieces of writing. One is about the struggles in life and the other is about overcoming jealousy and letting go of grudges. The authors are quite effective in using different writing techniques to get their point across. By taking different approaches they are able to make their points more visible. There is a lot of figurative language in both and many themes are explored, but there are only a few that bring these works together.
In “The Little Brother Poem” by Naomi Shihab Nye, jealousy is the theme. Ms. Nye uses figurative language throughout the poem to emphasize this theme to the reader. For example, when Ms. Nye writes “fingering receipts and stubs….” it could either be taken literally or figuratively. I interpret it as figurative language because I already know what is happening in the poem. When you understand the context of this quote, the author or character in the poem is reminiscing about times that he or she spent with their little brother and how the time they now spend with their brother is not the same. This quote illustrates jealousy and figurative language nicely. Another example of figurative language that relates to jealousy appears right after the aforementioned (FAST) quote. Ms. Nye then writes “Trying to put them back in some kind of shape so you’ll be able to find everything later, when you need it, and you don’t have so much time.” This too illustrates figurative language because the older sibling isn’t actually shaping everything back together. This could be happening in their mind. The characters are trying to show that they are confused about their relationship with their sibling and they might be competing with one another. My last example when Ms. Nye writes “We’re different, always have been, you’re Wall Street and I’m the local fruit market, you’re Pierre Cardin and I’m a used bandana.” Ms. Nye or the person in the poem is having trouble dealing with the success of the younger brother and is feeling the need to let it out. This is the perfect example of jealousy because the older sibling is making a strong statement that they are in control and it has affected them. This quote also shows figurative language because the younger sibling may not have made it to Wall Street but may have achieved something of that sort. Also, the older sibling may not work at the “fruit marker” but they are definitely lower than “Wall Street.” Ms. Nye did an astonishing (FAST) job using figurative language and she clearly delivered her theme of jealousy.
“The Little Brother Poem” connects to “Sonny’s Blues” in many ways. The first passage from “Sonny’s Blues” relates to it due to a theme of loss. In the passage “little grace died in the fall” and in “The Little Brother Poem” the older sibling lost their little brother figuratively. Also, in both of these cases the characters feel the same kind of emotion once they realize something they love so dearly is gone. “The Little Brother Poem” relates to the second passage due to its references to freedom. When Baldwin writes “freedom lurking,” it applies to both writings. In “Sonny’s Blues” Sonny became free of his worries. In Nye’s poem, the older sibling became free of the younger sibling once the jealousy subsided (FAST). The last thing these two writings have in common is love. Sonny, in this second passage, was surrounded by people who wanted him to succeed and do well in life. In the end, the older sibling “was glad” for the little brother and they really do love each other. But siblings can’t help fighting once in a while. “Sonny’s Blues” and “The Little Brother Poem” have a lot in common, but I would never have thought of associating the two.
These two writings are different yet so alike. They both have the same meaning and try to deliver the same message. I would never have thought to compare a short story about handling life’s problems and a poem about loosing a sibling. In fact, I find that it is normally the writings that you think have little or nothing in common that have the most to compare. I really enjoyed this essay because it got my mind thinking about how to find similarities in different pieces of writing.
English 9
Mr. Salsich
April 14th, 2009
Themes and Similarites
An Essay on a Poem and a Short Story
“The Little Brother Poem” and “Sonny’s Blues” are two very different pieces of writing. One is about the struggles in life and the other is about overcoming jealousy and letting go of grudges. The authors are quite effective in using different writing techniques to get their point across. By taking different approaches they are able to make their points more visible. There is a lot of figurative language in both and many themes are explored, but there are only a few that bring these works together.
In “The Little Brother Poem” by Naomi Shihab Nye, jealousy is the theme. Ms. Nye uses figurative language throughout the poem to emphasize this theme to the reader. For example, when Ms. Nye writes “fingering receipts and stubs….” it could either be taken literally or figuratively. I interpret it as figurative language because I already know what is happening in the poem. When you understand the context of this quote, the author or character in the poem is reminiscing about times that he or she spent with their little brother and how the time they now spend with their brother is not the same. This quote illustrates jealousy and figurative language nicely. Another example of figurative language that relates to jealousy appears right after the aforementioned (FAST) quote. Ms. Nye then writes “Trying to put them back in some kind of shape so you’ll be able to find everything later, when you need it, and you don’t have so much time.” This too illustrates figurative language because the older sibling isn’t actually shaping everything back together. This could be happening in their mind. The characters are trying to show that they are confused about their relationship with their sibling and they might be competing with one another. My last example when Ms. Nye writes “We’re different, always have been, you’re Wall Street and I’m the local fruit market, you’re Pierre Cardin and I’m a used bandana.” Ms. Nye or the person in the poem is having trouble dealing with the success of the younger brother and is feeling the need to let it out. This is the perfect example of jealousy because the older sibling is making a strong statement that they are in control and it has affected them. This quote also shows figurative language because the younger sibling may not have made it to Wall Street but may have achieved something of that sort. Also, the older sibling may not work at the “fruit marker” but they are definitely lower than “Wall Street.” Ms. Nye did an astonishing (FAST) job using figurative language and she clearly delivered her theme of jealousy.
“The Little Brother Poem” connects to “Sonny’s Blues” in many ways. The first passage from “Sonny’s Blues” relates to it due to a theme of loss. In the passage “little grace died in the fall” and in “The Little Brother Poem” the older sibling lost their little brother figuratively. Also, in both of these cases the characters feel the same kind of emotion once they realize something they love so dearly is gone. “The Little Brother Poem” relates to the second passage due to its references to freedom. When Baldwin writes “freedom lurking,” it applies to both writings. In “Sonny’s Blues” Sonny became free of his worries. In Nye’s poem, the older sibling became free of the younger sibling once the jealousy subsided (FAST). The last thing these two writings have in common is love. Sonny, in this second passage, was surrounded by people who wanted him to succeed and do well in life. In the end, the older sibling “was glad” for the little brother and they really do love each other. But siblings can’t help fighting once in a while. “Sonny’s Blues” and “The Little Brother Poem” have a lot in common, but I would never have thought of associating the two.
These two writings are different yet so alike. They both have the same meaning and try to deliver the same message. I would never have thought to compare a short story about handling life’s problems and a poem about loosing a sibling. In fact, I find that it is normally the writings that you think have little or nothing in common that have the most to compare. I really enjoyed this essay because it got my mind thinking about how to find similarities in different pieces of writing.
Olivia's Essay
Olivia Denison
Mr. Salsich
April 16, 2009
English 9
Little Brothers:
A Comparison between a Poem and a Story
How are you supposed to react when you feel like you’ve lost a little brother or sister? Your attempts at finding them seem hopeless and all you have left are memories. These memories help to mend a strained relationship. The struggle between loss and reconciliation (FAST) is a central theme in the story, “Sonny’s Blues” and the poem, “The Little Brother Poem.”
As I read “The Little Brother Poem” by Naomi Shihab Nye, I identified some figurative language. The author uses imagery and metaphors to express the theme of the poem, moving on. Ms. Nye sympathizes with her brother that “It’s a large order I know, dumping out a whole drawer at once, fingering receipts and stubs, trying to put them back in some kind of shape so you’ll be able to find everything later, when you need it, and you don’t have so much time.” The metaphor at the end of the poem compares receipts and stubs to her brother’s life events and the memories that they may evoke (FAST) when he is close to dying. Imagery is used in her descriptions of their childhood and how some of the simple moments with her brother were actually the most fun and memorable. For example, the time when he “ran miniature trucks up [her] arms” or when she “told him monkeys arrived in the night to kidnap boys with brown hair.” I can imagine both of them smiling, laughing, talking, while her brother is imitating the sounds of a car driving on her arms. (ASYNDETON) I can also envision him reacting, screaming and hiding under the blanket when she told him monkeys come at night. (PERIODIC SENTENCE) She also uses imagery in the beginning of the poem to describe the things she is throwing away that once belonged to her brother. She says she “keeps finding little pieces of junk […] stashed away in the shed for future uses.” I can picture her sifting through a broken-down shed filled with her brother’s mementos as her eyes fill with tears, smiling all the while. (PARTICIPLE PHRASE, CLOSER) Ms. Nye’s use imagery is beautiful and magnetic, making the reader yearn (FAST) for more.
There are many similarities between “Sonny’s Blues” and “The Little Brother Poem”, as both are based on a relationship with a little brother. Sonny’s brother says, “I was sitting in living room in the dark, by myself, and I suddenly thought of Sonny. My trouble made his real.” This parallels (FAST) the poem when Ms. Nye asks, “Long distance I said are you happy? And your voice wasn’t sure. It sounded small, younger, it sounded like the little brother I don’t have anymore.” Likewise, Sonny’s brother can relate this to Sonny, because sitting in the living room alone; he doesn’t seem to have a little brother anymore, since Sonny is in jail. At the end of both the poem and the story, similar resolutions (FAST) occur. When Ms. Nye contends at the end of the poem, “It’s a large order I know, dumping out a whole drawer at once, fingering receipts and stubs, trying to put them back in some kind of shape so you’ll be able to find everything later, when you need it, and you don’t have so much time” reminds me of when Sonny’s brother proclaims, “Freedom lurked around us and I understood, at last, that he could help us to be free if we would listen, that he would never be free until we did…I heard what he had gone through, and would continue to go through until he came to rest in the earth.” These two quotes are comparable, because they both give examples of understanding one another and the struggle their little brothers will face before they die. A final comparison can be made when Ms. Nye states, “You’re not little anymore. You passed me up and kept reminding me I’d stopped growing. We’re different, always have been.” In the first and second passage, both Ms. Nye and her brother and Sonny and his brother accept that they are different from one another and that no one is perfect. The older siblings both realize that the seniority (FAST) that they once possessed (FAST) over their younger siblings is gone, but a whole new relationship and understanding can begin.
It’s sad when you believe that you’ve lost an emotional bond with someone and they just won’t communicate. Fortunately, Sonny and his brother started speaking to each other again. We don’t know if Ms. Nye and her brother ever spoke again, but I know she hoped they would, even if it was on their death beds.
Mr. Salsich
April 16, 2009
English 9
Little Brothers:
A Comparison between a Poem and a Story
How are you supposed to react when you feel like you’ve lost a little brother or sister? Your attempts at finding them seem hopeless and all you have left are memories. These memories help to mend a strained relationship. The struggle between loss and reconciliation (FAST) is a central theme in the story, “Sonny’s Blues” and the poem, “The Little Brother Poem.”
As I read “The Little Brother Poem” by Naomi Shihab Nye, I identified some figurative language. The author uses imagery and metaphors to express the theme of the poem, moving on. Ms. Nye sympathizes with her brother that “It’s a large order I know, dumping out a whole drawer at once, fingering receipts and stubs, trying to put them back in some kind of shape so you’ll be able to find everything later, when you need it, and you don’t have so much time.” The metaphor at the end of the poem compares receipts and stubs to her brother’s life events and the memories that they may evoke (FAST) when he is close to dying. Imagery is used in her descriptions of their childhood and how some of the simple moments with her brother were actually the most fun and memorable. For example, the time when he “ran miniature trucks up [her] arms” or when she “told him monkeys arrived in the night to kidnap boys with brown hair.” I can imagine both of them smiling, laughing, talking, while her brother is imitating the sounds of a car driving on her arms. (ASYNDETON) I can also envision him reacting, screaming and hiding under the blanket when she told him monkeys come at night. (PERIODIC SENTENCE) She also uses imagery in the beginning of the poem to describe the things she is throwing away that once belonged to her brother. She says she “keeps finding little pieces of junk […] stashed away in the shed for future uses.” I can picture her sifting through a broken-down shed filled with her brother’s mementos as her eyes fill with tears, smiling all the while. (PARTICIPLE PHRASE, CLOSER) Ms. Nye’s use imagery is beautiful and magnetic, making the reader yearn (FAST) for more.
There are many similarities between “Sonny’s Blues” and “The Little Brother Poem”, as both are based on a relationship with a little brother. Sonny’s brother says, “I was sitting in living room in the dark, by myself, and I suddenly thought of Sonny. My trouble made his real.” This parallels (FAST) the poem when Ms. Nye asks, “Long distance I said are you happy? And your voice wasn’t sure. It sounded small, younger, it sounded like the little brother I don’t have anymore.” Likewise, Sonny’s brother can relate this to Sonny, because sitting in the living room alone; he doesn’t seem to have a little brother anymore, since Sonny is in jail. At the end of both the poem and the story, similar resolutions (FAST) occur. When Ms. Nye contends at the end of the poem, “It’s a large order I know, dumping out a whole drawer at once, fingering receipts and stubs, trying to put them back in some kind of shape so you’ll be able to find everything later, when you need it, and you don’t have so much time” reminds me of when Sonny’s brother proclaims, “Freedom lurked around us and I understood, at last, that he could help us to be free if we would listen, that he would never be free until we did…I heard what he had gone through, and would continue to go through until he came to rest in the earth.” These two quotes are comparable, because they both give examples of understanding one another and the struggle their little brothers will face before they die. A final comparison can be made when Ms. Nye states, “You’re not little anymore. You passed me up and kept reminding me I’d stopped growing. We’re different, always have been.” In the first and second passage, both Ms. Nye and her brother and Sonny and his brother accept that they are different from one another and that no one is perfect. The older siblings both realize that the seniority (FAST) that they once possessed (FAST) over their younger siblings is gone, but a whole new relationship and understanding can begin.
It’s sad when you believe that you’ve lost an emotional bond with someone and they just won’t communicate. Fortunately, Sonny and his brother started speaking to each other again. We don’t know if Ms. Nye and her brother ever spoke again, but I know she hoped they would, even if it was on their death beds.
Monday, April 13, 2009
polished essay
Hannah Staley
Mr. Salsich
English 9
8 April 2009
Discovering “Courage”
An essay on a main theme in a poem and how the poem relates to my life
I have read the poem “Courage” by Anne Sexton a couple of times this week and have come to notice that discovery seems to be a key theme that we can all relate to. I have realized that if we reread the poem over we can really start to understand what the author is trying to get across. We can also start to piece together how this poem can connect to yourself and what impact it has on you.
The main theme in the poem “Courage” is discovery. In the first stanza everything seems to revolve around discovering. From “the child’s first step” to “the first time you rode a bike.” In this stanza Ms. Sexton was very good at getting her point across about how growing up is all about discovering yourself and the world that surrounds you. As for looking at this poem as a whole, you can see that the poem is based around the concept of discovering but in many different ways. Obviously, she mentions how growing up forces you to try new things, but also growing up in age is a new discovery. She talks about the younger years in the first two stanzas and then gradually switches to the middle years and eventually ends the poem with the thought of dying gracefully. Finally, Ms. Sexton talks about discovering within different people. In the second stanza she talks about friends and how they can help you in the toughest of times. She seems to be pointing out that even if you didn’t think they would help you, they would because they do it out of the pure goodness of their heart and that is something you have discovered. Discovery has played a key role in this poem, especially since you are walking through the stages of life. Ms. Sexton got her point across very accurately in this poem and discovery as a theme makes perfect sense.
There isn’t much I can relate to in this poem other than I have taken my first steps and learned how to ride a bike. But if I had to choose, there is one thing that does relate to me and that’s simplicity. This poem is simply just like my life at times. In my life, I like to take things as they come and not be rushed and that’s the vibe (FAST) I get once reading this poem. I guess you could say Ms. Sexton and I like to be “as simple as shaving soap.” Also, when it comes to complex situations Ms. Sexton and I have a simple approach. For example, Ms. Sexton doesn’t make growing up and dying a big deal. I like this because we all must grow up and we all must die at some point. Lastly, I can relate to this poem through the diction. Recently in class we have read some poems that have either been difficult to understand or had dense (FAST) words so I didn’t really like those poems. I find that by using simple diction like Ms. Sexton, the poem is more interesting and fun to analyze. Whether it’s talking about simplicity or approaching different situations or the diction of the poem or how it relates to you personally (polysyndeton), “Courage” by Ms. Anne Sexton, I can relate and that’s a cool thing.
Simplicity can be everywhere if you think about it, and that’s why it’s so complex (anithesis and loose sentence). For example, your homework can be simple, but does that mean you really understand it? “Courage” has brought so many thoughts to my head that I never thought I would think about before like how do you really approach death? Do you just “stride” out? I really think that this poem has opened a whole new level of understanding for me and I’m appreciative of that.
Mr. Salsich
English 9
8 April 2009
Discovering “Courage”
An essay on a main theme in a poem and how the poem relates to my life
I have read the poem “Courage” by Anne Sexton a couple of times this week and have come to notice that discovery seems to be a key theme that we can all relate to. I have realized that if we reread the poem over we can really start to understand what the author is trying to get across. We can also start to piece together how this poem can connect to yourself and what impact it has on you.
The main theme in the poem “Courage” is discovery. In the first stanza everything seems to revolve around discovering. From “the child’s first step” to “the first time you rode a bike.” In this stanza Ms. Sexton was very good at getting her point across about how growing up is all about discovering yourself and the world that surrounds you. As for looking at this poem as a whole, you can see that the poem is based around the concept of discovering but in many different ways. Obviously, she mentions how growing up forces you to try new things, but also growing up in age is a new discovery. She talks about the younger years in the first two stanzas and then gradually switches to the middle years and eventually ends the poem with the thought of dying gracefully. Finally, Ms. Sexton talks about discovering within different people. In the second stanza she talks about friends and how they can help you in the toughest of times. She seems to be pointing out that even if you didn’t think they would help you, they would because they do it out of the pure goodness of their heart and that is something you have discovered. Discovery has played a key role in this poem, especially since you are walking through the stages of life. Ms. Sexton got her point across very accurately in this poem and discovery as a theme makes perfect sense.
There isn’t much I can relate to in this poem other than I have taken my first steps and learned how to ride a bike. But if I had to choose, there is one thing that does relate to me and that’s simplicity. This poem is simply just like my life at times. In my life, I like to take things as they come and not be rushed and that’s the vibe (FAST) I get once reading this poem. I guess you could say Ms. Sexton and I like to be “as simple as shaving soap.” Also, when it comes to complex situations Ms. Sexton and I have a simple approach. For example, Ms. Sexton doesn’t make growing up and dying a big deal. I like this because we all must grow up and we all must die at some point. Lastly, I can relate to this poem through the diction. Recently in class we have read some poems that have either been difficult to understand or had dense (FAST) words so I didn’t really like those poems. I find that by using simple diction like Ms. Sexton, the poem is more interesting and fun to analyze. Whether it’s talking about simplicity or approaching different situations or the diction of the poem or how it relates to you personally (polysyndeton), “Courage” by Ms. Anne Sexton, I can relate and that’s a cool thing.
Simplicity can be everywhere if you think about it, and that’s why it’s so complex (anithesis and loose sentence). For example, your homework can be simple, but does that mean you really understand it? “Courage” has brought so many thoughts to my head that I never thought I would think about before like how do you really approach death? Do you just “stride” out? I really think that this poem has opened a whole new level of understanding for me and I’m appreciative of that.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Eleanor's Polished Essay #14
Eleanor Hilton
Mr. Salsich
English 9
8th of April 2009
Courage:
Thinking about the poem by Anne Sexton
Courage is not something that you prepare for; courage is something that comes from deep inside you in a time of need. Whether it’s as dramatic as saving someone, or standing up to something you deem important, to do those things you need to find the courage from within yourself.
I believe a famous poet, Anne Sexton, also agrees with me on this point. She doesn’t just write about courage as if it’s a topic of simplicity, something that can be discussed. She writes about courage in the complicated, unfathomable (FAST) way that it truly is. I have also noticed a main theme in the poem, about life. Every paragraph is a new stage of life. There is birth and growing up, young adult when you can more easily make stupid decisions, adult when you realize that your life is speeding by, and when your on your death bed getting ready to walk out the door into the abyss. She’s almost saying that no matter the age, you can be courageous-no one is ever too young or too old. As a child your first step was an audacious (FAST) move that was ‘as awesome as an earthquake’ when your parents saw you off the floor, or when you noticed that you could move faster. As an adult, giving any sorrow ‘a back rub’ instead of just taking the easy option by letting it seep into every inch of your body, is a courageous choice. As a senior, ‘when death opens the back door’, going into the light, finding out what’s on the other side is bold-whether there is anything there or not. Anne Sexton knows what courage truly is and how it works. I wonder how many times she had to go through the very same thing she wrote about in her poem.
When I was younger at my old school, our year four class had some struggles with getting along. With only nine of us it was easy to get frustrated at each other for something simple, as we were all together for practically the whole week with classes, sports, mandatory clubs, and field and leadership trips. (Polysyndeton) This meant that we were all, whether intentionally or unintentionally, bullied by each other, sometimes there were even teachers not too far off in the distance, but our school not being so good, it was often ignored. (Antithesis) It was never at the stage where there was punching and real fighting, but sometimes it could be brutal-names can hurt and when you’re given the silent treatment, you can begin to feel quite lonely. (Loose) Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that this was going on the whole time. There were many weeks and often months when most of us were all perfectly happy. Infact, one of my friends and I were practically inseparable and we even looked like twins. However when something bad, which usually included a few choice words, was thrown my way or at one of my current friends, I had to sum up the courage to tell them to stop, and that it wasn’t nice, and sometimes it was extremely difficult for me to start talking to someone in a rage about something silly. I feel that this part of my past relates to Anne Sextons poem “Courage”. It says, “When they called you crybaby or poor […] and made you into an alien,” it’s just the same as what I had to go through a lot. If I had never found that courage from inside of me, the names may have gotten worse.
The poem “Courage” probably speaks to a lot of people who read it. I was one, and am thankful that she wrote it, as it’s a wonderful piece of writing that should be treasured. She almost seems to be saying, “Keep trying, keep pulling out your courage to help.”.
Mr. Salsich
English 9
8th of April 2009
Courage:
Thinking about the poem by Anne Sexton
Courage is not something that you prepare for; courage is something that comes from deep inside you in a time of need. Whether it’s as dramatic as saving someone, or standing up to something you deem important, to do those things you need to find the courage from within yourself.
I believe a famous poet, Anne Sexton, also agrees with me on this point. She doesn’t just write about courage as if it’s a topic of simplicity, something that can be discussed. She writes about courage in the complicated, unfathomable (FAST) way that it truly is. I have also noticed a main theme in the poem, about life. Every paragraph is a new stage of life. There is birth and growing up, young adult when you can more easily make stupid decisions, adult when you realize that your life is speeding by, and when your on your death bed getting ready to walk out the door into the abyss. She’s almost saying that no matter the age, you can be courageous-no one is ever too young or too old. As a child your first step was an audacious (FAST) move that was ‘as awesome as an earthquake’ when your parents saw you off the floor, or when you noticed that you could move faster. As an adult, giving any sorrow ‘a back rub’ instead of just taking the easy option by letting it seep into every inch of your body, is a courageous choice. As a senior, ‘when death opens the back door’, going into the light, finding out what’s on the other side is bold-whether there is anything there or not. Anne Sexton knows what courage truly is and how it works. I wonder how many times she had to go through the very same thing she wrote about in her poem.
When I was younger at my old school, our year four class had some struggles with getting along. With only nine of us it was easy to get frustrated at each other for something simple, as we were all together for practically the whole week with classes, sports, mandatory clubs, and field and leadership trips. (Polysyndeton) This meant that we were all, whether intentionally or unintentionally, bullied by each other, sometimes there were even teachers not too far off in the distance, but our school not being so good, it was often ignored. (Antithesis) It was never at the stage where there was punching and real fighting, but sometimes it could be brutal-names can hurt and when you’re given the silent treatment, you can begin to feel quite lonely. (Loose) Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that this was going on the whole time. There were many weeks and often months when most of us were all perfectly happy. Infact, one of my friends and I were practically inseparable and we even looked like twins. However when something bad, which usually included a few choice words, was thrown my way or at one of my current friends, I had to sum up the courage to tell them to stop, and that it wasn’t nice, and sometimes it was extremely difficult for me to start talking to someone in a rage about something silly. I feel that this part of my past relates to Anne Sextons poem “Courage”. It says, “When they called you crybaby or poor […] and made you into an alien,” it’s just the same as what I had to go through a lot. If I had never found that courage from inside of me, the names may have gotten worse.
The poem “Courage” probably speaks to a lot of people who read it. I was one, and am thankful that she wrote it, as it’s a wonderful piece of writing that should be treasured. She almost seems to be saying, “Keep trying, keep pulling out your courage to help.”.
Hannah's Essay
Hannah Staley
Mr. Salsich
English 9
8 April 2009
Discovering “Courage”
An essay on a main theme in a poem and how the poem relates to my life
I have read the poem “Courage” by Anne Sexton over a couple of times this week and have come to notice that discovery seems to be a key theme that we can all relate to. I have realized that if we reread the poem over we can really start to understand what the author is trying to get across. We can also start to piece together how this poem can connect to yourself and what impact it has on you.
The main theme in the poem “Courage” is discovery. In the first stanza everything seems to revolve around discovering. From “the child’s first step” to “the first time you rode a bike.” In this stanza Ms. Sexton was very good at getting her point across about how growing up is all about discovering yourself and the world that surrounds you. As for looking at this poem as a whole, you can see that the poem is based around the concept of discovering but in many different ways. Obviously, she mentions how growing up forces you to try new things, but also growing up in age is a new discovery. She talks about the younger years in the first two stanzas and then gradually switches to the middle ages and eventually ends the poem with the thought of dying gracefully. Finally, Ms. Sexton talks about discovering within different people. In the second stanza she talks about friends and how they can help you in the toughest of times. She seems to be pointing out that even if you didn’t think they would help you, they would because they do it out of the pure goodness of their heart and that is something you have discovered. Discovery has played a key role in this poem, especially since you are walking through the stages of life. Ms. Sexton got her point across very accurately and discovery as a theme makes perfect sense.
There isn’t much I can relate to in this poem other than I have taken my first steps and learned how to ride a bike. But if I had to choose, there is one thing that does relate to me and that’s simplicity. This poem is simply just like my life at times. In my life, I like to take things as they come and not be rushed and that’s the vibe (FAST) I get once reading this poem. I guess you could say Ms. Sexton and I like to be “as simple as shaving soap.” Also, when it comes to complex situations Ms. Sexton and I have a simple approach. For example, Ms. Sexton doesn’t make growing up and dying a big deal. I like this because we all must grow up and we all must die at some point. Lastly, I can relate to this poem through the diction. Recently in class we have read some poems that have either been difficult to understand or had dense (FAST) words and I didn’t really like those poems. I find that by using simple diction like Ms. Sexton, the poem is more interesting and fun to analyze. Whether it’s talking about simplicity or approaching different situations or the diction of the poem or how it relates to you personally (polysyndeton), “Courage” by Ms. Anne Sexton, I can relate and that’s a cool thing.
Simplicity can be everywhere if you think about it, and that’s why it’s so complex (anithesis and loose sentence). For example, your homework can be simple, but does that mean you really understand it? “Courage” has brought so many thoughts to my head that I never thought I would think about before like how do you really approach death? Do you just “stride” out? I really think that this poem has opened a whole new level of understanding for me and I’m appreciative of that.
Mr. Salsich
English 9
8 April 2009
Discovering “Courage”
An essay on a main theme in a poem and how the poem relates to my life
I have read the poem “Courage” by Anne Sexton over a couple of times this week and have come to notice that discovery seems to be a key theme that we can all relate to. I have realized that if we reread the poem over we can really start to understand what the author is trying to get across. We can also start to piece together how this poem can connect to yourself and what impact it has on you.
The main theme in the poem “Courage” is discovery. In the first stanza everything seems to revolve around discovering. From “the child’s first step” to “the first time you rode a bike.” In this stanza Ms. Sexton was very good at getting her point across about how growing up is all about discovering yourself and the world that surrounds you. As for looking at this poem as a whole, you can see that the poem is based around the concept of discovering but in many different ways. Obviously, she mentions how growing up forces you to try new things, but also growing up in age is a new discovery. She talks about the younger years in the first two stanzas and then gradually switches to the middle ages and eventually ends the poem with the thought of dying gracefully. Finally, Ms. Sexton talks about discovering within different people. In the second stanza she talks about friends and how they can help you in the toughest of times. She seems to be pointing out that even if you didn’t think they would help you, they would because they do it out of the pure goodness of their heart and that is something you have discovered. Discovery has played a key role in this poem, especially since you are walking through the stages of life. Ms. Sexton got her point across very accurately and discovery as a theme makes perfect sense.
There isn’t much I can relate to in this poem other than I have taken my first steps and learned how to ride a bike. But if I had to choose, there is one thing that does relate to me and that’s simplicity. This poem is simply just like my life at times. In my life, I like to take things as they come and not be rushed and that’s the vibe (FAST) I get once reading this poem. I guess you could say Ms. Sexton and I like to be “as simple as shaving soap.” Also, when it comes to complex situations Ms. Sexton and I have a simple approach. For example, Ms. Sexton doesn’t make growing up and dying a big deal. I like this because we all must grow up and we all must die at some point. Lastly, I can relate to this poem through the diction. Recently in class we have read some poems that have either been difficult to understand or had dense (FAST) words and I didn’t really like those poems. I find that by using simple diction like Ms. Sexton, the poem is more interesting and fun to analyze. Whether it’s talking about simplicity or approaching different situations or the diction of the poem or how it relates to you personally (polysyndeton), “Courage” by Ms. Anne Sexton, I can relate and that’s a cool thing.
Simplicity can be everywhere if you think about it, and that’s why it’s so complex (anithesis and loose sentence). For example, your homework can be simple, but does that mean you really understand it? “Courage” has brought so many thoughts to my head that I never thought I would think about before like how do you really approach death? Do you just “stride” out? I really think that this poem has opened a whole new level of understanding for me and I’m appreciative of that.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Olivia's Essay
Olivia Denison
Mr. Salsich
English 9
8 April 2009
Courage:
Theme in a poem and what I’ve done that is courageous
Have you ever been hurt by the words of another? Or have you ever said anything hurtful about someone? (ANTITHESIS) If you do not think you have been a part of either of these things, that is out of the ordinary. You have not experienced what I have and what this person in Anne Sexton’s poem has.
In the poem “Courage” by Anne Sexton, the author’s main theme is whether a person has courage to overcome the horrible things people have said to them. In the first stanza, Sexton talks about how “you drank their acid and concealed it” when “they called you crybaby or poor or fatty or crazy and made you into an alien.” The “acid’ that she is referring to is the mean, pungent (FAST) words that people say and are hard to swallow. Even though the words might have stung as they penetrated your mind, you didn’t show any signs of the bad taste they left in your mouth. In the second stanza, Sexton reinforces this idea. She writes “if you faced the death of bombs and bullets, you did not do it with a banner.” The words are immensely (FAST) strong and deathly hurtful, but you did not reveal your feelings. Sexton also says that “you did not fondle the sadness within you”—you did not dwell on your feelings. In the third stanza, Sexton speaks about taking care of your sorrow, maybe secretly. She says that after “getting a transfusion from the fire” you “picked the scabs off your heart, then wrung it out like a sock.” She tells the reader that in order to heal their heartfelt wounds, they must be strong, and nurture their sorrow and try to forget the hurtful things said about them. This is good advice to follow in your own life.
In my own life, I try to exhibit courage by speaking my mind and by coming to the defense of those being hurt. (POLYSYNDETON) Whenever I hear someone saying hurtful things about someone else, I try to defend the person who is being maligned (FAST). I have been that person; I know how it feels to have hurtful things said about you, and it's not a good feeling. Most often, what is being said is not even true, but the rumors spread like wildfire. (LOOSE SENTENCE) I’ll ask "What's wrong with that person?" or "What have they ever done to you?" Usually these questions are answered with a shrug, because truly there is nothing wrong with the person or they haven’t done anything to warrant such remarks. Those who talk negatively about other people are actually unhappy with themselves. They put others down to make themselves feel better. After hearing what's being said about them, a huge wave of different emotions—anger, sadness, confusion--comes over them.(APPOSITIVE) Reacting to these words without deliberation can lead to seeking revenge. Unfortunately, I have resorted to revenge in the past without success. When I was younger, it bothered me when people talked about me. It still bothers me, but I have heard it all before and there is nothing new to be said. Why are people compelled (FAST) to make their hurtful thoughts public? Does it make them feel happier when the spiteful (FAST) words have left their mouth and are floating around? The person that Anne Sexton writes about is like me.
The person who is receiving the verbal assault must remain strong, unbothered by the hateful words of others. Tolerance of a different point of view or a different way of life can overcome such negativity. Perhaps thinking before speaking would prevent the wounds inflicted by these stinging words.
Mr. Salsich
English 9
8 April 2009
Courage:
Theme in a poem and what I’ve done that is courageous
Have you ever been hurt by the words of another? Or have you ever said anything hurtful about someone? (ANTITHESIS) If you do not think you have been a part of either of these things, that is out of the ordinary. You have not experienced what I have and what this person in Anne Sexton’s poem has.
In the poem “Courage” by Anne Sexton, the author’s main theme is whether a person has courage to overcome the horrible things people have said to them. In the first stanza, Sexton talks about how “you drank their acid and concealed it” when “they called you crybaby or poor or fatty or crazy and made you into an alien.” The “acid’ that she is referring to is the mean, pungent (FAST) words that people say and are hard to swallow. Even though the words might have stung as they penetrated your mind, you didn’t show any signs of the bad taste they left in your mouth. In the second stanza, Sexton reinforces this idea. She writes “if you faced the death of bombs and bullets, you did not do it with a banner.” The words are immensely (FAST) strong and deathly hurtful, but you did not reveal your feelings. Sexton also says that “you did not fondle the sadness within you”—you did not dwell on your feelings. In the third stanza, Sexton speaks about taking care of your sorrow, maybe secretly. She says that after “getting a transfusion from the fire” you “picked the scabs off your heart, then wrung it out like a sock.” She tells the reader that in order to heal their heartfelt wounds, they must be strong, and nurture their sorrow and try to forget the hurtful things said about them. This is good advice to follow in your own life.
In my own life, I try to exhibit courage by speaking my mind and by coming to the defense of those being hurt. (POLYSYNDETON) Whenever I hear someone saying hurtful things about someone else, I try to defend the person who is being maligned (FAST). I have been that person; I know how it feels to have hurtful things said about you, and it's not a good feeling. Most often, what is being said is not even true, but the rumors spread like wildfire. (LOOSE SENTENCE) I’ll ask "What's wrong with that person?" or "What have they ever done to you?" Usually these questions are answered with a shrug, because truly there is nothing wrong with the person or they haven’t done anything to warrant such remarks. Those who talk negatively about other people are actually unhappy with themselves. They put others down to make themselves feel better. After hearing what's being said about them, a huge wave of different emotions—anger, sadness, confusion--comes over them.(APPOSITIVE) Reacting to these words without deliberation can lead to seeking revenge. Unfortunately, I have resorted to revenge in the past without success. When I was younger, it bothered me when people talked about me. It still bothers me, but I have heard it all before and there is nothing new to be said. Why are people compelled (FAST) to make their hurtful thoughts public? Does it make them feel happier when the spiteful (FAST) words have left their mouth and are floating around? The person that Anne Sexton writes about is like me.
The person who is receiving the verbal assault must remain strong, unbothered by the hateful words of others. Tolerance of a different point of view or a different way of life can overcome such negativity. Perhaps thinking before speaking would prevent the wounds inflicted by these stinging words.
1st Body Paragraph
The main theme in this poem is discovery. In the first stanza everything seems to revolve around discovering. From “the child’s first step” to “the first time you rode a bike.” In this stanza Ms. Sexton was very good at getting her point across about how growing up is all about discovering yourself and the world that surrounds you. As for looking at this poem as a whole, you can see that the poem is based around the concept of discovering but in many different ways. Obviously, she mentions how growing up forces you to try new things, but also growing up in age is a new discovery. She talks about the younger years in the first two stanzas and then gradually switches to the middle ages and eventually ends the poem with the thought of dying gracefully. Finally, Ms. Sexton talks about discovering within different people. In the second stanza she talks about friends and how they can help you in the toughest of times. She seems to be pointing out that even if you didn’t think they would help you, they would because they did it out of the pure goodness of their heart and that is something you have discovered. Discovery has played a key role in this poem, especially since you are walking through the stages of life. Ms. Sexton got her point across very accurately and discovery as a theme makes perfect sense.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
England Journal
When I first heard my alarm clock go off, I did not want to get up. Who wants to get up at one AM anyway? Then I remembered why I was getting up so early, and it put me in motion. My mom and I drove to school in the dark, and were the first to get there at one fifty in the morning. It was a while until everybody else including the bus got there. When it finally did arrive we boarded it and started our journey to England. It took a while for everyone to get quiet, and for me to get in a comfortable position to actually get some sleep. I was lying there and I didn’t notice how quiet it had gotten. I had been listening to music, and I was so intrigued by it, I didn’t notice the background noise-silence. There were only a few voices, but I fell asleep despite off them. I was half asleep when I noticed a buzzing noise, which had been going on for a while. Then I lurched forward, putting my hand out for support, for the bus driver had stopped to fix what ever was making the noise. Then the bus became a riot again. My classmates and I, sitting, talking and laughing for a long time, were quieted, and it was once again silent.
The fish look dead in this pond. They look like big orange blobs all huddled together in the water. If you look closely though, you can see that they are moving. They have so much space to move around, and yet they just sit there. Maybe they are sleeping or too tired to move their fins. Maybe they don’t like this pond. The bottom is filled with leaves and muck. Maybe they don’t like the dead plants around them, which only show a few signs or life. Maybe they actually think that the fake kingfisher is going to walk over and eat them. What ever it is, I have no clue.
A lot of the things we saw today were covered with green from age. The gargoyles, and some of the building and gates, all had green, which added to the eeriness and the history. The moss that grew between the stones in a courtyard made a maze of green, which looked like a million rivers. Green is such a happy color. Every time I see something like moss on a tree or stones, I am intrigued by it, and I feel a calming sensation come over me.
As soon as we stepped on the train, and as soon as they knew that we were American, the chanting started. It wasn’t a bad chant, it was quite silly. I can’t remember it exactly, but one line was close to, “We are American!” They sang in the deep British voices. We got off the train and a group of about fifteen men were chanting something very loudly. The police were already there ready for anything. We walked through a swarm of people, the street was filled with supporters. I was amazed of how many people there were going to this particular soccer-“football” game. The stands were filled with people. Everybody was either talking or chanting some game song, which sounded like a huge chorus singing something that you couldn’t quite make out, but one thing for sure was that it was loud. During the game people were yelling out what the players should have done, swearing or actually cheering for their team.
People were moving everywhere. A million different voices, a million people, walking in a million different directions. The languages sounded like an orchestra of all different cultures. As I got closer I heard Italian, French, German, Chinese and different British accents. All of this blended into the techno music at a stand.
When we went to the globe and had an acting workshop, I really came out of my shell. I had never really acted before in my life, except in the sixth grade play. Everyone said I was good, but I didn’t go on to do anymore acting. The reason was because I thought people would think I looked or acted funny. Yesterday, I had a break through, and really listened and tried hard to express the feeling of my character. I tried to pick parts that I was uncomfortable with. One thing that I picked a lot was a high status character, because in real life I am a shy person. I gave it my best try, and on one particular part I heard someone yell to me, that what I had just done was really good. I smiled shyly and said thanks.
The Cabinet War Rooms were quite amazing, dark and small. It had many rooms and all of them had different jobs. In one room you could contact any important person anywhere in the world, but it would probably get confusing with all the buttons and telephones. This great range of communication amazed me since it was only the 40’s. In another room they had siren and Winston Churchill’s speech about the Blitz the day after it happened. They made it seem so realistic, but it was a little hard to understand what he was trying to say. I could hear the siren from a few rooms before, and it scared me. I guess that added to the affect of the cramped dark quarters, and what it was like in the time of WWII.
When I first heard that The Tempest was going to be South African based, I thought that the may go over board with the culture, and it would ruin the whole play. As I thought about the biggest themes to play, forgiveness and being confined, it started to make sense about why the play was taking place in South Africa. It turned out that the play was very well done. They made these outrageously huge puppets that were very beautiful. And the clothes and the scenery was amazing. I honestly can say that I loved the whole thing. The acting was wonderful. One part though that I particularly liked was the very end. Prospero is leaving, and he pours water over Ariel’s body and it’s makes the white paint come off, which I found to be very powerful. Also Caliban at the end stands on a rock, eyes closed looking into the only spotlight that is on him, and he finally knows that he is free. The music throughout the whole play was all live, and suited each scene very well. Especially at the end when you hear a women singing in a different language and plucking of a guitar, which was very eerie and gave me the feeling that everything is all right.
SONNET
I wish this could go on longer
I want to live here
And witness this beauty everyday.
In the grass I will lay
And maybe shed a tear.
I want every memory to be clear.
I want to simply stay.
And have everything replay.
I wish everything would reappear.
As the rows of green fields pass by
mixxed with the sad guitar I listen to,
I silently cry.
The sky, the ocean, my eyes and my tears are blue.
This is my final goodbye!
Without this, what will I do?
The fish look dead in this pond. They look like big orange blobs all huddled together in the water. If you look closely though, you can see that they are moving. They have so much space to move around, and yet they just sit there. Maybe they are sleeping or too tired to move their fins. Maybe they don’t like this pond. The bottom is filled with leaves and muck. Maybe they don’t like the dead plants around them, which only show a few signs or life. Maybe they actually think that the fake kingfisher is going to walk over and eat them. What ever it is, I have no clue.
A lot of the things we saw today were covered with green from age. The gargoyles, and some of the building and gates, all had green, which added to the eeriness and the history. The moss that grew between the stones in a courtyard made a maze of green, which looked like a million rivers. Green is such a happy color. Every time I see something like moss on a tree or stones, I am intrigued by it, and I feel a calming sensation come over me.
As soon as we stepped on the train, and as soon as they knew that we were American, the chanting started. It wasn’t a bad chant, it was quite silly. I can’t remember it exactly, but one line was close to, “We are American!” They sang in the deep British voices. We got off the train and a group of about fifteen men were chanting something very loudly. The police were already there ready for anything. We walked through a swarm of people, the street was filled with supporters. I was amazed of how many people there were going to this particular soccer-“football” game. The stands were filled with people. Everybody was either talking or chanting some game song, which sounded like a huge chorus singing something that you couldn’t quite make out, but one thing for sure was that it was loud. During the game people were yelling out what the players should have done, swearing or actually cheering for their team.
People were moving everywhere. A million different voices, a million people, walking in a million different directions. The languages sounded like an orchestra of all different cultures. As I got closer I heard Italian, French, German, Chinese and different British accents. All of this blended into the techno music at a stand.
When we went to the globe and had an acting workshop, I really came out of my shell. I had never really acted before in my life, except in the sixth grade play. Everyone said I was good, but I didn’t go on to do anymore acting. The reason was because I thought people would think I looked or acted funny. Yesterday, I had a break through, and really listened and tried hard to express the feeling of my character. I tried to pick parts that I was uncomfortable with. One thing that I picked a lot was a high status character, because in real life I am a shy person. I gave it my best try, and on one particular part I heard someone yell to me, that what I had just done was really good. I smiled shyly and said thanks.
The Cabinet War Rooms were quite amazing, dark and small. It had many rooms and all of them had different jobs. In one room you could contact any important person anywhere in the world, but it would probably get confusing with all the buttons and telephones. This great range of communication amazed me since it was only the 40’s. In another room they had siren and Winston Churchill’s speech about the Blitz the day after it happened. They made it seem so realistic, but it was a little hard to understand what he was trying to say. I could hear the siren from a few rooms before, and it scared me. I guess that added to the affect of the cramped dark quarters, and what it was like in the time of WWII.
When I first heard that The Tempest was going to be South African based, I thought that the may go over board with the culture, and it would ruin the whole play. As I thought about the biggest themes to play, forgiveness and being confined, it started to make sense about why the play was taking place in South Africa. It turned out that the play was very well done. They made these outrageously huge puppets that were very beautiful. And the clothes and the scenery was amazing. I honestly can say that I loved the whole thing. The acting was wonderful. One part though that I particularly liked was the very end. Prospero is leaving, and he pours water over Ariel’s body and it’s makes the white paint come off, which I found to be very powerful. Also Caliban at the end stands on a rock, eyes closed looking into the only spotlight that is on him, and he finally knows that he is free. The music throughout the whole play was all live, and suited each scene very well. Especially at the end when you hear a women singing in a different language and plucking of a guitar, which was very eerie and gave me the feeling that everything is all right.
SONNET
I wish this could go on longer
I want to live here
And witness this beauty everyday.
In the grass I will lay
And maybe shed a tear.
I want every memory to be clear.
I want to simply stay.
And have everything replay.
I wish everything would reappear.
As the rows of green fields pass by
mixxed with the sad guitar I listen to,
I silently cry.
The sky, the ocean, my eyes and my tears are blue.
This is my final goodbye!
Without this, what will I do?
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