Lit Analysis #5

No Exit
So I thought it'd be fun to a Lit Analysis on this story, since I enjoyed it quite a bit. :)

General

1. This play started with three people being brought to a single room by a valet. They are surprised that there are no torture devices, it was just the three of them stuck in a room together. They come to be irritated more and more by each other, and soon can't stand each other. They bicker and argue and fight even after they reveal why they were condemned, and even then they couldn't be agreeable. Garcin finally realizes that "hell is other people."
2. The theme of this novel was probably best summarized by the sentence "Hell is other people." True hell can sometimes be summarized as something as simple as that. It was pure torture for Garcin, Inez, and Estelle to be in the same room as each other; that alone was making them suffer
3. Play's are told mainly through the dialogue of the characters. The three characters in the play were sometimes angry, sometimes panicky, and sometimes very solemn.
4. Sarte uses indirect characterization, allegory, imagery, symbolism, and many others. Allegory is particulary important, since the room really wasn't just a room, but a symbol for hell, and how incredibly simple torture and hell can truly be for people.


Characterization

1. Indirect Characterization - "INEZ: Suppose I try to be your glass? Come and pay me a visit, dear. Here's a place for you on my sofa." pg. 18; "ESTELLE: Pneumonia. It's over now, they're leaving the cemetery. Good-by. Good-by.Quite a crowd they are. My husband's stayed at home. Prostrated with grief, poor man.How about you?" pg. 9 The author uses indirect characterization in the dialogue, it not only shows who the characters are, but also what the other two characters think of him/her.
2. The author's diction and syntax don't change majorly with each character. Garcin, Inez, and Estelle sound just a bit different when speaking. Although, I would have to say Inez stands out a bit more than the other two. Garcin and Estelle are more in common, looking with fondness on their old loved ones and sharing a common crime. Inez on the other hand looks at them with a bit of disdain, saying they should just forget about their old lives. I would say she is just a bit more cold and accepting of hell than they are.
3. All three of them are static characters, but also round characters. Throughout the play, they remain the same condemned souls stuck in the same room together. Nothing about them changes, only their feelings of hatred toward each other growing stronger and stronger. But they are also characters that reveal personal and deep things about themselves. We learn about how each of them were condemned to enter hell, and we see their feelings clearly.
4. At the end, I felt like I had just read a story, and didn't really meet the characters, Honestly, I'm kind of glad I don't meet people like Garcin, Inez, and Estelle. Well, I'm sure I have, but I don't think I have spent a lot of time with them. To me, reading this story was kind of like looking at this room from above, observing each reaction from each character while eating some popcorn. It was kind of like I was God, or maybe even the Devil, and just delighting in these people suffering so much. :) Hehe.

Thinking Outside the Box

Both Plato's and Sartre's stories held an import message behind all the symbolism used in the stories themselves. In the allegory, the prisoners represented ignorance in a pure state, for they did not know what is real, and only believed the few things they knew to be what the world was. Sartre's play's message was summarized very well in a quote from Garcin "Hell is other people." At first glance, neither literary work seems to have much in common with the other. But after thinking about it for a bit, I realized that both had to do with the mind. Our mind is the ultimate thing that will make us suffer or help us progress. The prisoner's minds were closed to the thought of a world outside the cave, even when one of their own told them. The three prisoners in No Exit were also suffering by their own mind, allowing themselves to feel tortured by each other, and the emptiness that the room had to offer. Plato's solution was a bit more easier to decipher: you either have to open your mind to rid yourself of ignorance, or let others drag you out of it. As for Sartre... his solution was a bit harder to find. I think the only thing you can do when dealing with a personal hell is to embrace it. Not in a warm way, but just acceptance of what is happening is the first step in dealing with a situation such as that. And at the end of the play, the three characters did come to realize that they would be stuck together.

"Allegory of the Cave" Sonnet!

Now I'm not gonna lie. Poetry is not my strong point. Thank goodness I had my sister Lydia to help me out. She is the stronger one when it comes to art and poetry. Here you go!

The shackles holding them back

From the life outside their reality

The flames and shadows surrounded by black

Seems to be their only mentality

Selected to be unchained

Was a man no weaker than the rest

Let outside the cave and a life he’d gained

Better than he had ever guessed

Returned he had with many stories to tell

To his friends chained up and all

But for they did not believe the man

Of the life outside the wall.

Now friends, tell me whom you’d rather be?

The ones who sit in blissful ignorance, or the man who was set free?

Thanks again to Lydia!! :) People should bug at her school and say she's the best sister for helping out!

Lit Analysis #3

The House on Mango Street

General

1. I had seen this book analyzed by someone else in the class (Alex Ramirez!) and was happily surprised. I'd had this book for a few years and never really gotten a chance to read it. I'm so glad now that I have. The House on Mango Street focuses on a young girl named Esperanza, who lives with three siblings and her parents on a house that she is unhappy with. The story is told in short chapters, and it shows how Esperanza changes and matures emotionally and physically. She makes friends, loses family, and deals with obstacles along the way, from her discontent with her name to being kissed by an older man at her job. With the many experiences that she has to go through, this story was very touching and I enjoyed reading it.
2. I think the main theme is discovery of one's self. Throughout the story Esperanza is struggling to determine who she truly is. She doesn't like what her name means and wishes to change it so she can say who she is, and there also other events in her life that make her question herself, such as her choice of a friend like Sally. Not until the end does she truly know who she is: a writer.
3. The story is told in Esperana's point of view. She sounds young and innocent, but at the same time the way she describes things are very artistic. For example, in one of the first chapters called "Hairs" she describes her mother's hair:
     "...like little rosettes, like little candy circles all curly and pretty because she pinned it in pincurls all day, sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you, holding you and you feel safe, is the warm smell of bread before you bake it,.." pg. 6
Sometimes when she talks it seems like she says things in such a factual, nonchalant way, even though what she's saying could be considered quite sad or terrible
      "Most likely I will go to hell and most likely I deserve to be there. My mother was born on an evil day and prays for me." pg. 58
      "I am an ugly daughter. I am the one nobody comes for." pg. 88
4. The first technique I noticed was that the author did not introduce herself at the beginning of the story, which made me curious and interested as to who was telling me these things. I guess the way Esperanza speaks, her diction, is another technique that influences the story. Her voice is pure, and also gives a good look inside of Esperanza's mind, how she longs for a friend, a change in her name, and how she wants to leave this neighborhood. Pretty much the way Esperanza tells her story is the biggest literary technique to be noticed.

Characterization

1. We get most of the indirect characterization of Esperanza by the way she talks about things. She reveals how she feels about her house on Mango Street: "I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isn't it. The house on Mango Street isn't it." (pg. 5). Also, she talks about she wants to be when she grows up, beautiful and cruel: "I am one who leaves the table like a man, without putting back the chair or picking up the plate." (pg. 89) I didn't really notice a lot of direct characterization, nothing that the author Sanda Cisneros puts out there that is obvious for the reader to see. We can only figure out the characters through Esperanza's eyes and mouth.
2. Esperanza's syntax and diction do not stray much from its original type. Despite some traumatic experiences that she dealt with at such a young age, she seemed to retain her pureness of voice. She had been assaulted, and felt ashamed of how she lived, but towards the end the only thing that truly changed was her view of herself, and how she feels about her home on Mango Street.
3. The protagonist is dynamic and round. She went from being unhappy with who she was and where she came from to being more accepting towards it. It took her quite a few events to finally come to those realizations.
4. I feel like a met a person and connected with her. Esperanza reminded me of myself at a much younger, more scary time in my life, when reality hits you hard and fast. A lot of the time I wished I could've been that person she could confide in, that friend she desperately wanted. Sandra Cisneros created a wonderful voice for this young girl, and I can see why many people love this story.

Two Dogs - Sonnet

Sorry about the bad quality! I'm not really sure what happened!

Big Question

Are all lies considered to be wrong, or or some white lies acceptable in some situations?

Lit Analysis #2

Frankenstein

GENERAL

1. Well, this story is basically a story within a story. A sailor named Walton meets a stranger in the North Pole named Victor Frankenstein. Victor goes on to tell the story of his life. He has to marry his adopted sister in the future. He goes away to study, and learns how to create a body with corpse body parts and bring it to life. He then spins a tale of how his creation gets out of control, killing his younger brother because he was angry with the way the world treated him. His creation wanted a mate, so Victor makes him one, but decides to destroy after he's done, thinking that the two monsters will try to destroy things together. The first monster, having seen this, seeks revenge on Victor, and ended up killing his wife (sister) on their wedding night, which caused the death of his father. Victor then seeks revenge on the monster, and then chases him all over, until he meets Walton. THEN he dies. The monster came and saw this, realized he had nothing to live for, and then walked away to die. :(
2. I believe secrecy and revenge are too main themes in this story. A lot of the accidents and deaths that happened were caused by the withholding of the truth. Victor kept the truth of his younger brother's death which ended in the execution of an innocent servant. He also did not let anyone know about his monster, which caused the monster to hide from society. Victor and the monster are also seeking revenge on each other quite a lot, each doing terrible things to the things or people they cared for.
3. There was quite a lot of emotional stuff going on in this story. A lot of death and a lot of sadness coming from quite a few characters gave it a somber tone. Frankenstein's monster said emotional things like “I shall die, and what I now feel be no longer felt….” and  “Cursed, cursed creator!...my feeling of those of rage and revenge.”
4. Shelley uses techniques such as imagery (talking about things look e.g the moon), foreshadowing (Walton saying he needed a friend. Whoa  here comes a man on a sled!), and the constant change of points of view (Walton's, Victor's and the monster's) to make the story interesting to the reader.

CHARACTERIZATION

1. Two examples of direct characterization is when Victor is describing his creation. He is saying that he is a ruthless monster. Another example is when the author tells that he is consumes by the idea and creation of life and that is all the Victor can think of. Two examples of indirect characterization happen twice the the monster he has created. Once it happened when he asked victor if he could make him a companion and here the readers realize that he indeed has feelings. Then second time is after Victor dies the monster decides to go and kill himself because he creator has died. In this instant the readers also see that he is not just a ruthless monster but a caring one. The author uses both of these approaches I think so that the reader can see if the monster really is one of if he is like many other people.
2. The author uses diction because you can see the language change when he has Victor speak and the monster speak. For example you can tell the Victor is way more proper when he speaks and the monster is not. I think he uses this to show that Victor is more educated and the monster is not.
3. If views came that Victor was the protagonist I do believe that he is a dynamic character because his whole life after his creation was made was consumed of fear and wanting revenge. If the protagonist was considered the monster I would say he is also dynamic because throughout the story he was very confused. Then Victor decided to kill his partner I think brought the monster to be overwhelmed by grief and wanting revenge. I believe Victor is a round character because his character changes after his creation and after the death of his wife. I would consider the Monster a flat character because he stays the same pretty much throughout the story.  He is created knowing only a few things and does not really know anything else except for what he feels and what he thinks is ugly or wrong.
4. I felt that I came away actually knowing a person. The monster was the one I feel I came away knowing because you were able to see his true feelings and the end of the story when his creator died.

Tools That Change the Way We Think

    All this internet/media/technology has changed my way of thinking by helping think for me. I've thought about how easy it is for me to just Google an answer to a question I know, rather than spend a few minutes trying to brainstorm how to solve it. I used to believe that I couldn't possibly depend on the internet or my technology for everything, but lately I can use it for things I never would have dreamed of using it for, like math problems! It is so much different from middle school, where you could spend hours on one problem. Now if it's giving you too much trouble, you can just type in some phrase for help and it gives you the solution! Insane. This isn't always as helpful as it can be though. All the internet and technology has to offer can be just as distracting, and you can waste plenty of your free time sitting in front of your computer screen or scrolling through your smart phone instead of doing something productive. Even thought the use of all this technology can be helpful and/or hurtful it still kind of scares me that I've become to dependent on it. There won't go a day without me checking my phone at least once or turning on my computer.  It has changed not only my way of thinking but my way of life as well. 

Notes on Hamlet

    Well I'm definitely thinking Hamlet has changed from the person he was in Act I. I find myself trying to figure out when and where Hamlet will kill Claudius, clinging to the edge of my seat in anticipation. I also find myself thinking quite a lot more about Ophelia too. At first she was kind of that annoying bug in my ear, and I had this "why is she even here?" attitude towards her. But as you can see from my remix, I put myself kind of in her shoes and began feeling much more empathetic towards her and her situation. I'm kind of wondering about the ghost king though.. Why couldn't the queen see him?? He is really there, right? I know Hamlet is just pretending to insane, right? Just a question.. I do see that things are probably going to go downhill from now on. He's just killed Polonius in front of his mother, and she didn't seem really thrilled with that. I just hope there aren't anymore unnecessary murders in the story. HA what am I saying, I hope there are! They would make the story very exciting. :)

Who Was Shakespeare?

    Shakespeare is one of the most important writers in history,whose playwrights are read and performed to this day; but what do we know about this man? Who was Shakespeare?

    Well, there are a few things that historians don't quite know. For starters, his exact birth date is unknown. They know the year was 1564, but the only exact date they found from that year was his baptism (April 26, 1954). He did get married to Anne Hathaway at age 18, and had three children with her. The start of his career is, again, not known exactly, but supposedly it started mid-1580s. His career got its first boost with the playing company The Lord Chamberlain's Men performing Shakespeare's plays. In this period of time, from the mid 1580s to early 1600s, Shakespeare wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other works of different genres such as tragedies and comedies.

    Shakespeare is a name that almost every junior high and high school student knows. I know that he is not particularly popular with a lot of these students because initially his works of literature are difficult to comprehend. I am one of those students. But I'm slowly coming to realize how clever these works are and how clever of a write Shakespeare really is. Lots of literary elements I've missed as a younger student are more easy to spot, and I can actually understand what he's trying to convey through his characters' dialogue (still working on it though). I still do struggle with the style his playwrights are written in though (curse you, Old English!) Hopefully, before I'm too old, I'll be able to fully grasp the greatness that Shakespeare has provided for us from so long ago.

To Facebook or Not to Facebook?

    Oh Facebook. Such a wonderful thing, but at the same time quite irritating. I remember first hearing about everyone going insane over this new website that was just like Myspace but BETTER of course. This was upsetting to me, since I had barely created my own Myspace page and started getting the hang of social networking. Now here comes this whole new trend that I'd have to switch over to eventually, wonderful. After putting off the inevitable for a few months, the day for me to try out this newfangled website and see what all the fuss is about. I was initially impressed and a little overcome with how simple and actually kind of cool it actually was. It reminded me of a more mature Myspace, sometimes adults would use (I found out way later that that's what it's original intention was). That was the beginning of my 3 year, on and off relationship with Facebook.
    Now Facebook can be a great way to distract yourself from things you should be doing at that moment, and also a great way to spy on any person that you'd like. Many times I've spent more than a few minutes going through past pictures and statuses from an old middle school friend, or my cousin, or the celebrity crush I had at the time. It is so easy to connect with them, and vice versa, and conversations and problems can be discussed in seconds at times. But Facebook can be juuust a little risky. They ask for a little too personal information sometimes (why do you need my phone number?? stay on my computer screen only, for goodness sakes, and don't give out my number!) and you can be open to dangerous people online (don't add that 50 year old man, he shouldn't be even sending you a friend request in the first place). Since over half the users of Facebook I assume are of the younger generation, they should be cautious when it comes to using this site.
    The article kind of opened my eyes and made me realize how subtle they're profling me on Facebook. There have been times I wondered why that particular friend doesn't really show up in my newsfeed, even though I quickly brushed away the thought. It's affected the way I feel and think towards this site, making me grow a little leery of it. I don't enjoy the thought that it's changing what I see depending on what I click on, and keeping that information on me for as long as I have that account. It hasn't affected me to the point where I want to shut my account down, and lose that unique way of connecting with my family, friends, and others. But from now until the next new trendy website comes around, there will be that cautious attitude towards Facebook.

Vocabulary #9 The Remix

I thought for my remix I would just put the words into sentences a young teenage girl might say, sometimes they turn out quite ridiculous!

Abortive: Failing to produce the intended result

    My best friend's abortive attempt at getting that guy's number was soooo embarrassing; he was only eleven years old!

Bruit: Spread a report or rumor widely

    Oh my god, Becky totally bruited around the school saying I kissed Kevin! That was totally not okay!!

Contumelious: (Of behavior) scornful and insulting

    Some guys at this school act like such contumelious idiots sometimes, and I know they will never get girlfriends if they keep acting so insulting, ugh!

Dictum: A formal pronouncement from an authoritative source

    Principal McCarthy's dictum about nutrition was sooo lame; I totally texted the whole time, teehee.

Ensconce: Establish or settle:

    The teacher had my friend and I "ensconce our differences" and "learn to accept each other's differences." Yeah, right.

Iconoclastic: Characterized by attacks on established beliefs or institutions

    My parents are so iconoclastic, always picking on what I wanna do or say... it's so irritating sometimes.

In medias res: A narrative that begins somewhere in the middle of a story rather than the beginning

    So Jennifer and I were talking when Alicia jumps into the conversation and starts telling a story in media res, and we're like HOLD UP, start from the beginning, girl!

Internecine: Destructive to both sides in a conflict

    I don't care about what they're fighting about since it's gonna end up internecine to them all anyways.. the teachers are definitely gonna come and suspend them!

Maladroit: Ineffective or bumbling; clumsy

    Haha, Andrew gets so maladroit when I'm around; he obviously likes me.

Maudlin: Self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness

    Brittany becomes a huge maudlin mess when she drinks too much, and she cries way too much about how she loves me and wishes she was as great as me. Maybe if she didn't drink so much she could be...

Modulate: Exert a modifying or controlling influence on

    I try NOT to modulate my group of friends, but they act like such sheep sometimes that it's hard not to tell them what to do.

Portentous: Done in a pompously or overly solemn manner

    Hannah needs to learn to not live life in such a portentous way. I mean, there are lots of things to enjoy or laugh at!

Prescience: The power to foresee the future

    Remember the show with that girl who had prescience and would always get into random situations? What was it called? Oh yeah, That's So Raven!!!

Quid pro quo: A favor or advantage granted in return for something

    Telling some good gossip about my friend Brittany is quid pro quo for learning about how awful Melanie acts behind my back.

Salubrious: Health-giving, healthy

    Cutting back on those cars is definitely salubrious, and it keeps me in good shape.

Saturnalian: Of unrestrained and intemperate jollity; riotously merry; dissolute

    I love it when partys can be so saturnalian, and everyone can just go crazy all night!

Touchstone: A standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized

    Why does everyone always use that old touchstone to judge me?  It's a new era people, let's start judging by some other kind of rules.

Traumatic: Emotionally disturbing or distressing

    It was SOOOOO traumatic when I broke that nail, I almost broke down in the middle of the hall and cried.

Vitiate: Spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of, the legal validity of

    My science partner was angry when I fixed our project, saying that I was "vitiating" it and ruining our chances of getting an A.

Waggish: Humorous in a playful, mischievous, or facetious manner

    I can get a little waggish when boys are involved, but they find it cute no matter what I do.

Okay, so as I got further and further into the list, my teenage girl became a real mean girl. I shouldn't be watching Mean Girls so much! :)

Soft You Now, the Dear Ophelia! Remix

[Kate Winslet as Ophelia]

           Dear, dear Ophelia. How difficult it must be to be in Ophelia's position. As I was reading this scene, I felt so terrible for Ophelia! So many things are going on in this poor girl's life that her head must be exploding from all the different things being told to her and how she is being used and abused. I actually wonder what's going on in Ophelia's mind as she's seeing all of this unravel around her. So I kind of broke the scene down, focusing on Ophelia, and explaining in it my own words of course.

           The King, Queen, Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Ophelia gathered together to discuss Hamlet, of course. The King is hearing about how Guildenstern and Rosencrantz's spy mission went down, and what things they learned. After the spies leave, the King and Polonius turn to Ophelia and reveal HER mission: becoming bait. They basically tell her that she's gonna have to talk to Hamlet, the boy who's supposedly gone coo coo for cocopuffs, and see if SHE's the reason behind it. 

          Ophelia, of course, goes a long with the plan because she is a good daughter and always listens to her father. What choice or say did she have at all? And how confusing would that actually be?? Her dad is first like "Ophelia, stay away from that boy! He's like, no good for you, and he will totally take advantage of you, 'cause you're a girl and stuff." Now, Polonius has turned around and said "Oh Ophelia, I know I told you to stay away from him, but I need you to go up and do yo' thing with Hamlet so my boss Claudius and I can see what's up with him. Got it? Good girl." Thanks for turning a whole 180 on me, Dad. And worse, the queen told her that she hopes Ophelia is the problem for her Hamlet's craziness! I mean, that's got to put a LOT of pressure on the girl. Such conflicting suggestions and ideas from all these people would definitely drive someone insane (hint hint.)

          And here comes Hamlet, the source of all these problems Ophelia seems to be dealing with. This guy sees her after strangely talking to himself (Something about lose the name of action? Whatevever.), and then seems to be acting totally different! I mean, he called her a nymph! What is this nonsense, does he love her still? They keep talking, but things turn sour really fast. Hamlet denies having given her "remembrances" when she brings up returning them, and then later goes on to say that she should go to a nunnery, that she is deceptive, her father is a fool, and he never loved her! Okay, WHAT is going on with this man? This verbal abuse has just come out of nowhere (Although, he is right in most of what he is saying. I mean, she is acting as bait for her father and the King, AND her father doesn't seem to be the smartest dude). 

         Hamlet leaves, after getting one more "You should go in a nunnery!" in, and Ophelia is terribly upset. She can't believe that Hamlet has gone mad, and that he isn't the smart, handsome, brave guy that she first loved. This encounter has left her totally sad and upset. Of course, daddy and the king don't seem to care. They only discuss the source of Hamlet's madness, which doesn't seem to be love for Ophelia. Claudius wants to send him off to England, but Polonius wants to play spy one more time to make sure it isn't love that's causing him mad. This whole time, is anyone asking Ophelia if she's okay? Is anyone asking her what's going through her mind, or why she was upset? No. She is alone, having to deal with the confused feelings rushing through her head. 

End scene. :)

          

Midterm Autopsy

I can't believe how well I did on the midterm! A 78, that is quite an achievement. :) My score was definitely not expected, and I was so nervous going into that test that I wasn't sure if I'd be able to write my own name. I do wish that I had gotten a perfect score, I was so close! My new method of studying helped so much more than before. I would stay for half an hour every day, starting a week before the final was to happen. It did wonders, as you can see by that 78. I will continue this method when the final is approaching, and hopefully be more confident going into the test than before!

Vocabulary #8

Abeyance - A state of temporary disuse or suspension

Ambivalent - Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

Beleaguer - Beset with difficulties

Carte blanche - Complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best

Cataclysm - A sudden violent upheaval, especially in a political or social context

Debauch - Destroy or debase the moral purity of; corrupt

Eclat - Brilliant or conspicuous success

Fastidious - Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

Gambol - Run or jump about playfully

Imbue - Inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality

Inchoate - Just begun and so not fully formed or developed

Lampoon - Publicly criticize bu using ridicule or sarcasm

Malleable - easily influenced; pliable

Nemesis - The inescapable or implacable agent of someone's or something's downfall

Opt - make a choice from a range of possibilities

Philistine - A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them

Picaresque - Of or relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero

Queasy - Nauseated; feeling sick

Refractory - Stubborn or unmanageable

Savoir-faire - The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations

Dear Ophelia

Oh dear, it seems like you're in quite of a pickle there, O. First of all, any decision that you make should be of your own volition. They may be your family, but they should not be pressuring you to make certain decisions. Actions like that do not bode well for your future relationships with your brother and father. Approach them and tell them how you feel and what you really want, but don't be effusive in the way you bring up the subject, for you don't want to offend them. Communicating with people in this way is sine qua non for maintaining healthy relationships. As for the boy, you have to ask yourself: is this fantasy of us being together quixotic? Is it worth causing a vendetta between the man I love, my family, and myself? These questions are ineluctable, and if the answer is no to either of them, your father and brother's bromide statements might hold some truth in them. Then you might want to extract yourself from that quagmire, avoid the impasse, whatever you wish to call it. I wish you the best of luck in dealing with both the boy and your family, O.
    Sincerely,
    Sara

My Study Strategy for the Midterm

Well I'm for sure going to study every day starting today for the midterm! My plan is to try something new. I'm going to spend at least a half an hour every day going over as much as I can on all seven lists that have been assigned to us since the beginning of school. I'll study definitions, put the words in sentences, see if I can come up with fun and interesting ways to remember the words. Since there is no hint on how the test is going to be given, I have to be prepared for knowing the word forwards and backwards, up and down, side to side, I need to know ALL of the word. This well definitely benefit me in the end. Wish me luck! :)

Vocabulary #7

Aberration - An optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image; a disorder in one's mental state; a state or condition markedly different from the norm

Ad hoc - For the special purpose or end presently under consideration

Bane - Something causes misery or death

Bathos - Triteness or triviality of style; a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one; insincere pathos

Cantankerous - Having a difficult and contrary disposition; stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate

Casuistry - Moral philosophy based on the application of general ethical principles to resolve moral dilemmas; argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading

De facto - In fact; in reality

Depredation - An act of plundering and pillaging and marauding; a destructive action

Empathy - Understanding and entering into another's feelings

Harbinger - an indication of the approach of something or someone; foreshadow or presage of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle

Lackluster - lacking luster or shine; lacking brilliance or vitality

Malcontent - discontented as toward authority; a person who is discontented or disgusted

Mellifluous - pleasing to the ear

Nepotism - favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power 

Pander - to gives satisfaction to

Peccadillo - a petty misdeed

Piece de resistance - the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc. of a series or group; special item or attraction

Remand - the act of sending an accused person back into custody to await trial; refer to another committee or authority or court for decision; lock up or confine

Syndrome - a complex of concurrent things; a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease

Literature Analysis: The Crucible

1. The Crucible is a playwright that is based on the Salem Witch trials. A bunch of nonsensical girls in Danforth try a few spells and other forbidden things with a black servant. They soon get found out, but deny it all. They then proceed to act like they've been cursed and possessed by witches, all in order to stay out of trouble and to also gain things they wanted. The Puritan community is scared by the girls' actions, and many innocent women accused of being witches are sent to jail. The proctors are targeted by the lead girl, Abigail Williams, because she wanted to be with John Proctor. Ultimately John himself is sent to the gallows, and a year later the witch trials had caused lots of trouble, and came to an end.

2. I picked up two themes from this book. One big one is how quickly people can succumb to fear. When a few people started becoming afraid of the Devil and witches in their community, all the citizens began to panic, and started to think irrationally. The effect of this widespread panic was the death sentence of many innocent women accused of being witches. Another theme would have to be the way they treated the people they charged. Many of the women sent to death by the trials were women (and a few men) who didn't really fit into the community that well. They were known for odd things here and there, but not something that would've made them a witch before the girls started with the accusations.

3. Since this was originally a playwright, the author provided different tones for each person that was talking in different situations, since 85% of the book was dialogue. Yet a common thing between all character's voices and the bit of narration was how solemn it sounded, and sometimes even fearful. The story took place in a time of panic and fear.
"Mrs. Putnam, softly:Aye. Her voice breaks; she looks up at him. Silence." - Act One, pg. 39
"Hale: Believe me, Mr. Nurse, if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning." - Act Two, pg. 71
"Mary Warren, hysterically, pointing at Proctor, fearful of him: My name, he want my name. 'I'll murder you,' he says, 'if my wife hangs! We must go and overthrow the court he says!'" - Act Three, pg. 119

4. There is dramatic irony used in this story. Most of the time I knew what the girls were really up to, while the other characters did not. Arthur Miller is also very descriptive with some of his character's dialogue. The dialogue itself can be considered a literary element, since he uses it to provide indirect characterization of his characters. There is conflict between the innocent accused (Proctors, others) and the "possessed" girls and the juries and judges of the trials.

Vocabulary #6

Beatitude - Supreme blessedness
She was known to have the gift of beatitude, and she could do no wrong.
Bete noire - A detested person (disliked or avoided)
Our local bete noire frequented around the bar, but no one could even stand the sight of him there.
Bode - Be an omen of a particular outcome
The angry stares we were getting did not bode well for the competition coming up.
Dank - Disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold
All of the children were scared of the dank, dark tunnel that was located near the park.
Ecumenical - General, universal
The ecumenical agreement from all of the countries is that the tyrant must be terminated.
Fervid - Intensely enthusiastic or passionate
Her ex-boyfriend continued to pursue her, with plenty of fervid attempts on winning her heart again.
Fetid - Smelling extremely unpleasant
The remains of a dead bird left a fetid scent that lasted for about 2 weeks.
Gargantuan - Of great mass
Our jaws dropped as we saw the gargantuan middle blocker on the opposing women's volleyball team.
Heyday - The period of a person's or thing's greatest success or popularity
My dad always likes to reminisce on his heyday, calling those years the "best 4 years of his life."
Incubus - A cause of distress or anxiety like a nightmare
His incubus seemed to be the angry bullies that always tormented him during the day.
Infrastructure - The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation
The dorm room's infrastructure was flawed, with not enough dorms and bathrooms to comply with the residents.
Inveigle - Persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery
My friend always managed to inveigle herself into any man's heart, always praising how handsome and strong he was.

Kudos - Praise and honor received for an achievement

Kudos on finally dumping that boy, Chanel!

Lagniappe - Something given as a bonus or extra gift
I was surprised at the little lagniappe my fiancee had left on my nightstand last night.
Prolix - Using a or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
At first glance, the student's essay seemed to be somewhat prolix and boring to read.
Protege - a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career
The rich older man kept a strict eye on his young protege, in order to make sure he was going on the right path to his career.
Prototype - A first or preliminary model of something, esp. a machine, from which other froms are developed or copied
The prototype of the new car seemed promising, and with a few more adjustments it could turn out to be a great vehicle.

Sycophant - A person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer

He hadn't expected a sycophant as an assistant.

Tautology - The saying of the same thing twice in different words

Truckle - Submit or behave obsequiously

The dog truckled once his owner sprayed him with a water bottle.

Obsequious - Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

My sister had become increasingly obsequious, always following me around, doing anything I asked her to do.

Notes on pg. 64-82

The Epic

epic - long narrative poems that celebrated adventures of legendary heros

examples of epics - Beowulf, Gilgamesh, the Iliad

Heros were role models for their times

From Gilgamesh The Prologue

"he" (gilgamesh?) built Uruk (Sumerian city)

keeping place of Anu and Ishtar (father of gods of the sky, goddess of love)

Uruk is the city of Gilgamesh, son of Lugalbanda, son of Lady of Wildcow Ninsun

2/3 god, 1/3 man - Gilgamesh

From the Iliad

Athena disguises herself as soldier

leads Hektor to Achilleus

A fight ensues between Hektor and Achilleus, beginning with him throwing a spear at Hektor, but Hektor dodges

After fighting for awhile, Hektor realizes that the gods wanted him dead

He swings at Achilleus, Achilleus sees an opportunity and stabs him in the neck

Hektor begs to be taken back to his family

Achilleus refuses, seeking only revenge and no mercy 

Hektor curses him with his last dying breath

Achilleus does not seem to be bothered

From A History of the English Church and People

Rome protected Britain, then after leaving Britain was in trouble

Monks/scholar kept history alive (Bede)

Britain known as Albion 

Bede talking about the layout of Britain

Talks of natural resources

French came to Britain, Picts tried to go to Ireland, could not because Scots were already there

From The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Vikings went to Britain?

King Alfred ordered longships to be built

Danes @ Isle of Wight

Brutal fighting 

Vocabulary #5

Acumen - keen insight, shrewdness
Ex: The boss was known for his financial acumen, and how quickly he was able to make those decisions.

Adjudicate - make a formal judgment or decision about a problem or disputed matter
Ex: The judge adjudicated that the accused criminal was not mentally sane to stand trial.

Anachronism - a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists
Ex. My grandmother is an ancachronism in a sense, always wearing clothes from her time period, looking absolutely ridiculous compared to others on the street.

Apocryphal - of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true
Ex. Her apocryphal story turned out later to be false, just as we secretly suspected.

Disparity - a great difference
Ex. There is a vast disparity in the many members of the secret club, from farmers to politicians.

Dissimulate - conceal or disguise (one's thoughts, feelings, or character)
Ex. When you want to dissimulate how you're really feeling about someone, it is helpful to act the EXACT opposite way of how you really want to act towards them.

Empirical - derived from or guided by experience or experiment.
Ex. All of her empirical decisions were derived from all of the experiments she witnessed.

Flamboyant - tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness
Ex. Tammy, the most popular girl in school, was known for constant flirtatiousness and flamboyant style of clothing, which attracted looks from all the boys at school.

Fulsome - complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree
Ex. The foreigners were fulsome in their gratitude, almost embarrassingly so.

Immolate - kill or offer as a sacrifice, esp. by burning.
Ex. The lamb was to be immolated at tonight's ritual, as an offering to the gods.

Imperceptible - impossible to perceive
Ex. The new shower curtains we had hung made it imperceptible to see the person in the shower.

Lackey - a servant
Ex. We always used to treat her as our personal lackey: making her carry around our stuff, fetch us anything we wanted, and act as the scapegoat.

Liaison - communication or cooperation that facilitates a close working relationship between people or organizations
Ex. Officer Ziva David acted as liaison between the federal agency NCIS and her own father's agency Massad.

Monolithic - very large and characterless
Ex. The unimpressive, monolithic monument did not seem to have any unique story about it. It was practically purposeless.

Mot juste - the exact, appropriate word
Ex. During a heated moment, curse words just happen to be mot juste to the argument.

Nihilism - the rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless; extreme skepticism, according to which nothing in the world has a real existence
Ex. I am surrounded by constant nihilism: all of the people just refuse to believe there's a purpose in life.

Patrician - belonging to or characteristic of the aristocracy
Ex. You could tell she came from royalty: the patrician style of walking, with her head high, barely looking at the people around her.

Propitiate - win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them
Ex. The goal of all the villagers was to constantly propitiate the gods. They always found some way, every day, to try and please them.

Sic - to incite to attack, or to attack
Ex. I immediately yelled to my dog "SIC 'EM GUS" after spotting the intruder.

Sublimate - divert or modify (an instinctual impulse) into a culturally higher or socially more acceptable activity
Ex. We tried to sublimate our younger brother so the popular kids would stop making fun of his weird habits, but nothing we did worked.

Beowulf and Godsylla

Meanehwæl, baccat meaddehæle, monstær lurccen;
Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht.
Ðen Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl,
Æsccen æwful jeork to steop outsyd. Þhud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! Ðe bigge gye
Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe;
Wicced Godsylla wæld on his asse.
Monstær moppe fleor wyþ eallum men in hælle.
Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bamaccen wæs;
Hearen sond of ruccus sæd, "Hwæt ðe helle?"
Graben sheold strang ond swich-blæd scharp
Stond feorth to fyht ðe grimlic foe. "Me," Godsylla sæd, "mac ðe minsemete."
Heoro cwyc geten heold wiþ fæmed half-nelson
Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen
Beowulf belly up to meaddehæle bar,
Sæd, "Ne foe beaten mie færsom cung-fu."
Eorderen cocca-cohla yce-coeld, ðe reol þyng.

Translation:
Okay... What. The. Heck. I could not get through this without cracking up at least ten times. :)
Meanwhile, back the mead-hall, monster lurking;
Full few too many drinks, he was looking for a fight.
Then Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl,
Asked the awful jerk to step outside. Thud! Bash! Crash! Boom! The big guy
All of his bones broke, bit his nose off;
Wicked Godzilla wailed(?) on his ass.
Monster mopped the floor with all of the men in the hall.
Beowulf was in back room making a phone call;
Hearing sound of ruckus said, "What the hell?"
Grabbing shield strong and switch-blade sharp
Stood forth to fight the grimlic foe. "Me," Godzilla said, "make the mincemeat."
Hero quick gotten hold with famed half-nelson
And flying him like a frisbee back to fen
Beowulf belly up to the mead-hall bar,
Said, "No foe has beaten my fearsome kung-fu."
Ordering coca-cola ice-cold, the real thing.

Vocabulary #4

Apostate - a person who has forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.
         ex. The apostate left the church when he learned the truth of the religious practices they did.
Effusive - lacking reserve
         ex. Our guests had suspiciously effusive comments on our choice of silverware.
Impasse - a position or situation in which there is no escape, deadlock
         ex. It seemed as we had reached an impasse as we approached the huge tree trunk blocking our path.
Euphoria - a state of intense happiness and self-confidence
         ex. After her crush told her how pretty she looked, Amy was in a state of complete euphoria for the rest of the day.
Lugubrious - mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner
         ex. We had to endure the endless playlist of lugubrious break up songs all the way home.
Bravado - swaggering display of courage
         ex. The little boy showed much bravado after standing up to the neighborhood bully.
Consensus - majority of opinion, general agreement
         ex. We reached the consensus that our meetings should be moved from Monday to Friday.
Dichotomoy - division into two opposed or contradictory groups
         ex. The teacher asked the student to explain the dichotomy between malesand females.
Constrict - cause to contract or shrink, compress
         ex. Squeezing my throat, constricting air flow into my lungs, and the constant beating of my head was causing me to black out.
Gothic - a certain type of architecture that features flying buttresses, ornamental gables, etc.
         ex. We sneaked towards the ancient, gothic-style house, wary from all the stories we've heard of murderers, ghosts, and demons roaming the hallways.
Punctilio - strict attention to minute points of etiquette
         ex. They will not part with the least punctilio in their opinions and practices.
Metamorphosis - any complete change in character, appearance, circumstance, etc.
         ex. His complete change metamorphosis into this "hot jock" was quite a shock for everyone in the school.
Raconteur - a person who is skilled in relation stories interestingly
         ex. The local raconteur sat with all the village children surrounding him, each child anticipating the latest story that was to come.
Sine qua non - something essential; indispensable condition, element, or factor
         ex. The president of the prom committee was sine qua non to the setting up of the decorations, for she knew where everything was to be put.
Quixotic - exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic and impractical
         ex. As a child, my days at the playground were always taken up by the quixotic obsession of climbing the slide with my socks on.
Vendetta - any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, contention, etc.
         ex. An example of a vendetta would be the dealings between the Capulets and Montagues.
Non sequitur - a statement containing an illogical conclusion
         ex. Would you like fries with that?
Mystique - an aura of mystery, mystical power, or awe
         ex. The way he carried himself had a touch of mystique, as if there was something we didn't know about this man.
Quagmire (giggity.) - a situation from which extrication is very diffucult
         ex. The scientists have been stuck in this quagmire for the longest time, not finding any solution to the problem.
Parlous - perilous, dangerous
         ex. The parlous economic state in which the government found themselves was not good. Not good at all.

1987 AP Exam Multiple Choice Answers

I had these written down, just not posted. :P Sorry for the delay!

1. C
2. E
3. C
4. B
5. D
6. C
7. A
8. B
9. A
10. C
11. D
12. B
13. A
14. C
15. E
16. B
17. C
18. E
19. A
20. D
21. A
22. E
23. A
24. A
25. B
26. E
27. E
28. D
29. A
30. B
31. D
32. B
47. B
48. E
49. C
50. D
51. C
52. B
53. E
54. D
55. E
56. E
57. A
58. B
59. C
60. B
61. A

My AP Reading Choice

I decided to choose The Crucible by Arthur Miller. I was super excited when I saw that this book was on the list, because I have heard of it before but never had the chance to actually read it. I love reading about the Salem Witch Trials, whether it's actual historical fact or a slight tweak on what happened in that time period. I'm very interested in seeing how Arthur Miller wrote about this time, since I did enjoy his other book Death of a Salesman. :) Can't wait to get it crackin'.

Vocabulary #3

Definitions:

• Accolade - a mark of accomplishment, an award, an expression of praise
• Acerbity - being acid in temper, mood, or tone
• Attrition - reduction or decrease in numbers or size
• Bromide - a commonplace or tiresome statement
• Chauvinist - a person who is showing aggressive patriotism or an attitude of superiority
• Chronic - marked by a long duration or frequent recurrence; always present or encountered
• Expound - to set forth, to state, to defend an argument
• Factionalism - the splitting of a group into separate groups
• Immaculate - pure, containing no flaw or error
• Imprecation - curse, insult
• Ineluctable - not to be avoided, changed, or resisted
• Mercurial - characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood
• Palliate - to reduce the violence of; to cover by excuses and apologies
• Protocol - a code prescribing strict adherence to correct etiquette and precedence
• Resplendent - shining brilliantly, characterized by a glowing splendor
• Stigmatize - to describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval; brand
• Sub Rosa - in confidence, secretly
• Vainglory - excessive pride especially in one's achievements
• Vestige - a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something
• Volition - an act of making a choice or decision

Sentences:

• The volleyball player received many accolades for her leadership on and off the court.
• My mom spoke to my sister with a touch of acerbity in her voice, as ashe was getting tired of her crazy antics.
• The club had an increase of attrition in members after the unpopular president was elected.
• The teacher uses plenty of corny bromides when talking to his students.
• At the country club, the many chauvinists are gathered around each hole, discussing the many lowly people beneath them.
• I suffer from chronic dancing disease: I just can't stop moving my feet when I hear that music! (Hehe.)
• No one dared to expound the subject that was brought up in the courtroom.
• Peace was finally threatened by the factionalism, drawing the unity of the people to a close.
• My room was simply immaculate after I was done vacuuming, dusting, and straightening.
• Throwing imprecations into a calm, non-aggressive debate just starts a juvenile argument between children.
• Her mood was mercurial sometimes that we didn't even know who she was one day or the next.
• In order to palliate the fight going on in the cafeteria, teachers rushed in and separated the two students immediately, taking them to separate rooms.
• It is strict protocol to NEVER come to work without your uniform.
• Her wedding ring gave off a resplendent glow as she took to the floor with her new husband.
• In "Awkward.", the protaganist is constantly stigmatized as a "suicidal freak."
• I am telling you this sub rosa, and it must be kept between the two of us.
• All the constant complimenting of her number one artpiece has raised her level of vainglory to an unspeakable height.
• The only vestige left behind by the knight was the faded footprint behind the house.
• Leaving of her own volition is a right that her family had to give her.

Beowulf Questions

I worked with Jessica Rothanzl for about 3 hours. We kind of used our brains plus some help from good ol' Google to answer the questions. I did more of the dictating of how we answered the question while she typed and double checked to make what we were saying more or less made sense.

Beowulf And Grendel

Prologue:

1.       Shield’s rise to power came from the fact that he was more powerful than the rest of the Danes. They sent Shield away on the ocean in a boat, along with many treasures. Hrothgar is one of Shield’s grandsons.

Heorot is Attacked

1.       Hrothgar decided to build a beautiful mead-house. Grendel later attacked the mead-house, and he took over. The attacks lasted for many years, and the Danes tried fighting him off but they were unsuccessful.

The Hero comes to Heorot:

1.       When he heard of Grendel’s doings he gathered 14 strong warriors and sailed to the land of the Danes.

2.       They meet one of Hrothgar’s henchmen. He asks who they are and why they came over here and told them they should leave. Beowulf replied that they were there to fight Grendel.

3.       Hrothgar’s herald is Wulfgar a proud warrior. He asks them what their business is. He then goes to Hrothgar and tells them that these warriors have come to seek a meeting with him. Hrothgar answers that he has heard of Beowulf and his land.  I was sort of shocked that he already knew about Beowulf.  

4.       He tells him he has defeated 5 giants and that he has come to defeat Grendel and rid him from the land of the Danes. Hrothgar and the Danes have helped the Geats against the Wylfings.

Feast at Heorot:

1.       Unferth accuses Beowulf of not being able to hand the fight with Grendel. Beowulf rises to the challenge and speaks of his superior strength and tells of a fight between him and sea creatures. This episode is relevant because it reveals part of Beowulf’s character and personality.

2.       Queen Wealhtheow came into the hall with a cup and allowed each of the men to drink out of it, then came to rest beside Hrothgar.

The Fight with Grendel:

1.       Beowulf had planned to fight Grendel without arms, since that was the way Grendel fought.

2.       Grendel finds all of the men sleeping, and then proceeds to eat some of the Geats. Beowulf, who was awake, gets up and tackles him, bending his claws back. Grendel tried wriggling out of Beowulf’s grasp, but Beowulf held him steadfast for awhile longer. He finally did escape, breaking his arm in the process, leaving his arm, claw, and shoulder. (Ouch!)

Celebration at Heorot

1.       Sigemund was more famous for defeating giants and dragons, getting all the glory from killing them, just like Beowulf had defeated Grendel. Heremod was “urged to crime” and followed a darker path, unlike Beowulf.

2.       Hrothgar thanks Beowulf for defeating Grendel and praises his mother. He promises him treasure for his good deed. Unferth had nothing to say.

3.       The story was kinda hard to understand, but I think Finn had a feud with someone, and Hildebruh watched them die. It does not suggest that it is wise to use women as brides.

4.       Wealhtheow asked Hrothgar not to make Beowulf the heir to the kingdom.

5.       The men stay in the beerhall to protect Hrothgar and their land from harm. It was dangerous to stay there though because Grendel or any other creature like Grendel could easily burst through again.

Beowulf and Grendel’s Mother

Another Attack

1.       Grendel’s mother went to Heorot in vengeance for her son, a different motive then Grendel.

2.       Hrothgar had tried to fight her off, but she ended up killing a close friend of Hrothgar’s, causing him much pain and sorrow.

3.       The mere is like an underwater lair, a place where Grendel and his mother have lived.

Beowulf Fights Grendel’s Mother

1.       Beowulf tells Hrothgar that he should attack in vengeance, not be sad. He says they should ride out and fight Grendel’s mother.

2.       Beowulf and his troop see sea creatures, and shoots one to look at it closer.

3.       Beowulf prepares by telling Hrothgar of his wish of sending his armor to Hygelac if he fails at defeating her, and he takes Unferth’s sword Hrunting to fight.

4.       Grendel’s mother senses he is there and grabs him to take to the lair. Surprisingly, there is no water in the lair, even though it is completely underwater.

5.       Beowulf throws the sword to the side, since he likes fighting by hand better.

6.       Grendel’s mother tries to stab him, but the armor protects him from it.

7.       Beowulf uses the sword Eotens to strike Grendel’s mother, killing her. After she dies, Beowulf sees Grendel’s body on the floor. He cuts off Grendel’s head, but the sword he uses melted because of the blood of the monsters.

8.       All the men who were still waiting rejoiced at seeing Beowulf, even though most believed that he was defeated.

Further Celebration at Heorot

1.       Beowulf gives Hrothgar the hilt of the sword he used to kill Grendel’s mother.

2.       Hrothgar tells Beowulf that he knows no one with the honor and bravery that Beowulf has. He tells how Heremod was famous for defeating enemies, but never shared his treasures with the poor. He was telling Beowulf to learn from the example of Heremod. He was also warning Beowulf of the dangers of selfishness.

3.       Beowulf returns Hrunting to Unferth.

Beowulf Returns Home

1.       Hrothgar predicts that Beowulf will become a “worthy and wise king.”

2.       Hygd is the wife of Hygelac, and she was kind unlike Modthryth who punished any man who looked upon her.

3.       He plans to do that to end a feud between the two. Beowulf does not believe in marriage, and thinks that men will still fight over Freawaru. This might be a new side to Beowulf that we have not seen. (Not totally sure if this answer is right.)

4.       Beowulf reports his stories almost exactly the way the story is presenting it. He is doing a very accurate job of it.

5.       Beowulf gives all of the treasure to Hygelac, and Hygelac in turn gives him Hrethel’s sword, a whole lot of land, a house, and a throne.

The Dragon Wakes

1.       Part 2 takes place 50 years later. Hygelac and Heardred have died, unknown how. A dragon has been awakened by mistake.

2.       The dragon is angry because someone came into his lair and took a cup from his treasure. The man took a cup to appease a king for some crime that he did. A person who wanted to guard the treasure from a lost race had left that treasure there to be guarded.

3.       The dragon blew fire onto many homes as it flew away to find the thief.

4.       Beowulf thought he had angered God by breaking an ancient law. He orders an iron shield because he knew wood would be useless against fire. He plans to go alone since he has fought many dangerous beasts since Grendel.

5.       Hygelac fell in hand-to-hand combat, and when he returned home, he became Regent to Hygelac’s son Heardred who was king.

6.       After giving some exiles shelter, someone came and killed Heardred, and Beowulf became King. Beowulf planned to avenge him by assembling an army and pursuing the man who killed Heardred.

7.       Beowulf brought 11 other companions to search for the dragon.

8.       Herebreald was killed accidentally by his younger brother Haethkyn. King Hrethel was heartbroken, for he had to send Haethkyn to the gallows to be sentenced to death. The Swedes and Geats began to fight after Hrethel died. Haethycn was killed. Beowulf avenged the death of Hygelac by killing Daeghrfen.

Beowulf Attacks Dragon

1.       Beowulf told his companions not to interfere with the battle.

2.       Beowulf at first holds his ground against the dragon, even when the dragon is breathing fire on him. His companions flee into the forest. Wiglaf is the only one who stays behind to see Beowulf fight. He told the others that it was a shame to let their leader fight alone, and then goes to help Beowulf in fighting the dragon.

3.       The second time Beowulf tried to strike the dragon with the sword, but it broke. He was just too strong for swords. The dragon bit Beowulf on the neck, and Wiglaf ended up killing the dragon by stabbing him in the hide.

4.       Beowulf asks Wiglaf to show him the treasure that they had acquired now that the dragon was dead. When he sees the gold, Beowulf thanks God for seeing the treasure before he died. Beowulf asks Wiglaf to mark the place where he was buried as Beowulf’s Barrow for all to know.

Beowulf’s Funeral

1.       The companions will not receive any of the treasure, for it will mean nothing if word gets out that they had run from battle. Wiglaf said: “for all of the gold that their lord had gifted to them at the mead-hall, any treasure he could find, was worthless for they had failed him in battle. In his final hour, "Beowulf wreaked his revenge on the dragon.”

2.       The messenger told the city that their leader was on his death bed with the dragon dead beside him, with Wiglaf watching over both. Ongenthow attacked and defeated the king and took the queen as his own. Hygelac soon came to defeat him, and Ongenthow retreated to his home. He says the treasure should be buried with Beowulf, and the final image is of the dragon.

3.       Wiglaf tells the crowd of the death of their leader, and that they should not keep the gold for themselves.

4.       They tossed the dragon’s body into the sea, back to where it came from.

5.       They laid Beowulf’s armor and weapons on his funeral pyre and lit it on fire. A few days later a monument was built in honor of Beowulf and his legacy.

6.       The last three lines say: “quoth that of all the kings of earth, of men he was mildest and most beloved, to his kin the kindest, keenest for praise.” This wouldn’t be the kind of words I would use to describe a military hero. I would think of a kind, generous king that was peaceful instead of famous Beowulf, always killing monsters.