Station

January 25, 2008

  In the poem “Station” by Eamon Grennanm, there are many contrast between light and dark to illistrate the father’s mined feelings. “He shoulders his black bag and shifts from foot to foot” His black bag could mean his responsibility. With his responsibility, he step to his new life. “He is entering into the light of the world, but it feels like a long tunnel as he leaves one home, one parent for antoher” The father feels that the son is going to start new life with hope and expectation, but leaving home and parent will  make the son’s new light world dark and dark as his train goes into long tunnel. The father knows this light and dark life as he is old now. ” I can feel mine scratchy with beard and stubble, his not quite smooth as a girl’s, harder, a faint fuzz when the light is right, his next life in bright first touches. What ails our heart?” But, his son is just now having his first step to new life. In the beginning, everything will look so good for the son, but the father worries about after beginning. His hear is breaking as he thinks about his son will realize the world is not so greatful as his son thought. “I imagine that white face carried along in the dark glass, shining through shadows that fill the window and fall away again” The father feels although the new world will blocks the son’s new light life, there is hope that will raise him up when he is in suffering.

MilkWeed

January 24, 2008

  Milkweed, written by Jerry Spinelli, is about a young boy named Misha, who lives in Warsaw during the Second World War. Misha is a young boy with no identity. When he was found by his friend Uri, He was wearing a yellow stone necklace, given to him by his family. Misha is a speedy and intelligent little thief. He learns quickly and sticks to knowledge like glue. Misha is my favorite character because even though food is scarce, he still tries to steal more food to give to other orphans. The author gives him realistic personality traits, just like a real person. Another character in this book is Misha’s friend Uri. Uri is the boy who first found Misha, while he was stealing bread from a store. I found that Uri can be very controlling and bossy; that is why I don’t like Uri. Misha likes to tag along with Uri and play with him, and is oblivious to Uri’s controlling attitude. Though controlling, Uri is an extremely intelligent boy who uses his wit to survive and stay out of trouble. One of Misha’s best friends is a girl called Janina. Janina is a young girl with a spunky attitude. She likes to tease Misha, but still has a friendship with him. At that time, Janina is a spoiled little girl who has many toys and positions that would make others die to have. I feel that Janina has a very interesting personality that can switch from kindness to raging fury. That is why I feel that she can be a slippery customer. I think that all of these characters have unique personalities that make them stand out from the crowd. They were very memorable and make you open your eyes to the world.

Searching

January 22, 2008

   It was the hottest summer he ever had. He was laying down on the floor and tried to sleep. He woke up in the mid-night because it was really hot to sleep. He tried to find a place where it is cool. He went to his sister’s room; He opened the door and felt  cooler air from the room. He laid down and closed the door.

 I wake up this morning with sweat shirt. This summer is going to make me crazy!! When I take shower at washroom, I hear a screaming sound. What is wrong mom? Mom says “our son is missing!!” well, I thought it is joke, but it was real; my youngest brother is missing. My mom phone to daddy, and I and my younger sister walk around the house and try to find our brother. However, he is not at any rooms. My dad come to home from his work, and my dad tells me that “we are going to phone 911, and you guys go outside and find your brother, okay?” I am kind of glad that I will miss the school today, but where is  my brother? Although my parents are so rush, I and my sister have a breakfast. We start to roll my blanket and move them to closet. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My sister start to scream so hard when she open the closet.

 I laugh so hard, but my sister cry so hard. Mommy and Daddy run to the room and ask us sharply “What is going on here?” I say to dad “look at the inside of closet” well.. there was my 5 years old brother….Joon.

Poetry assignment

January 22, 2008

Ciquain

Korea

Small, Fancy

Playing, Studying, Shopping

Fun, Tired, Interesting, Exciting

Country 

Ten line (Rhyming Couplets)

My Sweet Home

My favorite place is my home.

You don’t know how much I love it.

Now, I want to introduce it.

It’s very warm, soft and comfortable.

Can you imagine it?

Even though it is not quite beautiful, I like it the best.

However humble it may be, there is no place like home.

Ordinary people dream of their future happiness.

More cannot be happy when I was home.

Evening after evening I sleep happily. 

  

Limerick

The thing we all ask about Jenny  

Is “Surely there cannot be many   

Young girls in the place  

The answer to that is,”Not any!”

Descriptive Poem

Taffin is a Korean boy
With black hair and black-brown eyes
He lives in Canada becasue he moved for studying
He takes picture every moring for his family
He is really happy most of the time
He feels sometimes sad when he is alone
She eats lots of hot spicy Korean food
His family is hope, dream, and love
His enemy is vegetables
He is grateful to make a meomory in Canada

The prospector’s trail

January 22, 2008

   In the short story “The Prospector’s Trail”, written by Cathy Jewison, Norman and his wife Jennifer are looking forward to start their new life in Yellowknife after they failed their businesses in Edmonton.  Norman, however, is not  doing smoothly in the time at the new place. Norman  faces 3 conflicts: man VS man, man VS man, and man VS environment. 

   First, the relationship between Norman and her wife is not doing well. Opposite to him, Jennifer is a rush, thoughtless, and a rude person. Although she does not supports or help Norman, but sometimes she  gives him short time to let him make his movement, she always make a rush, press, stress to Norman. This relationship is not complete enough for Norman to keep holding.  

   Second, Norman need a time to get used to the new place because Norman used to make horrible mistakes that make him no longer get work in Edmonton. Moving to a different place is the only way for him to survive. Norman is not only must find a jon but also has to get to know the new place.

   Third, Norman has a hard time to decide whether he is going to start his business in Yellowknife or not. When Roy walks to him and tlaks about prospecting, Norman thinks that this is never going to work. However, fortunately Roy helps him when Norman has no one besides to support him and is almost going to make the worst decision. 

   It is very important to have someone who be with me and support me whenever I have troubles. Jennifer is not a helpful wife though, Norman still has Roy when he gets troubles. Norman now become a person who has dream and full of hope. 

The Masque of the Red Death

November 1, 2007

 <I cannot believe I did not publish this journal.. I was saving this for …. many days-_-; I am so sorry Mrs. Corman..T.T>

The Masque of the Red Death, Written by Edgar Allen Poe, is a short story that emphasizes on the inevitability of death. In the story, Prospero, a prince attempts to avoid the Red Death by isolating himself in one of his many castellated abbeys.  

  Edgar Allan Poe used symbolism in the names he used in his story. The name of the story itself is a symbol. “The Masque” to the average person means the mask, but the definition for masque is a masquerade which is a dance in which persons where masks and other disguises. The “Red Death” is also symbolic. In many religions the color red is associated closely with death. So what Poe meant by the name of the story is the dance of death which it truly becomes. Another symbolic name is Prince Prospero, which is the tragic figure in this story. The word “prospero” in Italian and Spanish means prospering or to prosper. This is very ironic because Prospero dies a tragic death at the end.  The rooms of the abbey are symbolic. It may be significant, too, that all in this company fell back to avoid encountering the gruesome figure. Prospero is the minute hand, and therefore the masked figure is the hour hand. Here Poe dreamed of escape from the harsh world, where such evils as the plague were dominant escape into a secluded place of pleasure he himself designed.

 The Prince thinks he is safe from the disease while in his abbey with his closest friends. “The wall has gates of iron” This shows how secure he wants to feel. “To and Fro in the seven chambers there stalks dream in fact a multitude of dreams. ” This symbolizes how beautiful the abbey is for the party. In conclusion, symbols are often used in stories and they help to clarify things.  This shows how protective and scared of the disease they are.   The third symbol used is the prince, which symbolizes people who consider themselves superior and invincible. This shows how he only wants his friends that are somewhat better than others. The masque ball symbolizes an attempt to escape from reality.  The prince’s abbey, the masque ball, and the prince himself are only a few of the symbols used in The Masque Ball. Another example used is ” the abbey is amply provisioned with such precaution the courtiers might bid defiance to contagion.” This is an example of how they try to ignore the problem. Poe uses these symbols that allow the reader to understand this story on a deeper level. A second example is introduced in this passage which is the courtiers bring furnaces and massy hammers and weld the bolts. He has all of his friends invited to the ball.

Lord of the Flies – 2

October 31, 2007

 “Lord of the Flies”, written by William Golding   

 In assembly, Ralph says that works are not getting done, and rules are not being followed. However, all the young children are preoccupied with the Beast because they still believe some kind of animal are living on the island. Jack says that he has been everywhere, and there is no beast, and Piggy says that a beast can’t exist in a world with science. But, Simon mentions that there may be a beast, but that “it’s only us.” Ralph, Jack and a group of hunters set out to get the Beast, while Piggy stays at the beach. They first check Castle Rock, where they had never been before. Although they find nothing, Jack thinks the place would be a great fort, and he and his hunters heave a large boulder off a ledge. Ralph prods them along, and they decide to continue to the mountain to look for the Beast. Ralph manages to hit it with his spear, but the animal escapes. Another tribal dance is formed, with Robert and Piggy. Unlike before, Ralph actively participates, and their acting becomes overly realistic, actually striking and hurting Robert. Jack calls an assembly and insists that the Beast is a major threat that should be hunted. Jack asks if anyone thinks Ralph shouldn’t be chief. Nobody responds, so Jack asks again for anyone to come with him..Their signal fire is being blocked by the Beast, as they believe, so they decide to move the fire to the beach. When they get there, they notice that most of the older boys did in fact decide to go off with Jack, except Ralph, Simon, Piggy, Sam and eric. Jack’s tribe begins to hunt, and they come across a sow and baby piglets in the clearing near Simon’s domain. They attack and kill the mother sow, while the piglets escape. The head is severed and put on a stick, which is embedded into the ground as a gift for the Beast. Jack finally realizes that he needs fire to cook the meat, so Jack’s group raid Ralph’s camp and steal a flaming log, and invite them to come feast. Ralph maintains that the fire is more important. Simon encounters the Pig’s head, and manages to start talking to the thing, although it is mostly in his imagination. The black cloud of flies coating the head causes it to now be called “The Lord of the Flies.” The Lord of the Flies says “I am part of you…We are going to have fun on this island.” It continues to say that if Simon tries to talk to the others about the Beast, that he will be killed by everyone, including Ralph and Piggy. After taking this all in, Simon feels a faint coming on and collapses. 

  Story is being more serious. Boys are trading from Ralph’s to Jack’s and they believe only thing they need to is hunting, not wating for rescue. Ralph is being reasonable though he is slowly collapsed, however, Piggy keeps being with him. It shows me Ralph is like human state right now. People go to school for learn and fill their brain; slowly lose original human senses and become logical. Ralph believes only way to survive is rescue. However, Jack is totally opposite to Ralph. His original senses are reminded, and as young boys see him, their instincts come out.

 We are trying to respect and be logical and smart person as Ralph is. But, If we are in dangerous situation, we might follow perosn who is like Jack because he is strong and has exact way to survive. By appearance, we are more like rational, but our wichdeness and vice are hiding in instinct.

Lord of the Flies

October 24, 2007

  “Lord of the Flies”, written by William Golding   

 The Britain that feel danger of nuclear war tried to move 25 young boys from nuclear war to safe place but the airplane that carry boys falls to the sea stop. With wounding pilot that of boys in uninhabited island land . These wait succor and take care of pilot according to Ralph’s command and keep order and lives. But, Ralph and Jack who emphasize hunting that must build the hut in sea if is rescued are opposed each and every event, and Jack and Roger make Gaengdan and bolt group finally.  When Jack arrives at the beach where Simon and Ralph are constructing huts. Ralph complains no other boys are helping them with their shelters, but Jack tries to argue that hunting is more important. (Ralph mentions that keeping the signal fire is much more important than hunting.)    Ralph and the other boys are swimming in the ocean later on, when smoke from a ship is spotted in the distance. The signal fire was out , not being watched, obliterating their chances of rescue. Unaware, Jack and his hunters come proudly marching carrying their first animal, trying to convey their excitement to Ralph. When Ralph yells that a ship passed them by and no fire was going, excuses are made and Jack tries to say that hunting is of the most importance. In the ensuing fight, Jack punches Piggy, breaking and knocking off his specs. Finally, the fire is lit again and everyone eats.

 It was quite interesting and shocking when boys voted for the chief and are separated by two groups: Rescue and Hunting; it looks like virtue and vice. Ralph and Jack have big difference; Ralph is being more reasonable and rational, but Jack is more like sinister that shows original picture of human-being. Another interesting thing was conch shell; it gives a right to speak in assembly.

  When I told my host mom I am reading Lord of the Flies in English class, she said it is gross book. Therefore, I did not really expect how this book is going to be interesting though this book is amazing. Maybe some parts are brutality, but this book make me to think how human being is improved and remind me how scare human being is.

The guest

October 16, 2007

The story is about Daru, a teacher in a remote school standing on a hillside. Although he lived in poverty, he was satisfied with his solitary life in a barren and cruel region.

Kindness – “When he held out the glass of tea to the prisoner, Daru hesitated at the sight of his bound hands. He might perhaps be untied. Sure, said Balducci. That was for the trip. He started to get to this feet. But Daru, setting the glass on the floor, had knelt beside the Arab.”  (Page. 75)

Cynical, unemotional –  “Then I’ll wait for the declaration of war!” (Page. 75)

Alone,Lonely –   “Daru looked at the sky, the plateau, and, beyond, the invisible lands stretching all the way to the sea. In this vast landscape he had loved so much, he was alone.” (Page. 82)

Distaste -“Listen, Balducci, Daru said suddenly, all this disgusts me, beginning with tyour fellow here.  but I won’t hand him over. Fight, yes, if I have to. But not that.” (Page. 82)

Companionable – “Then he listened for his guest’s breathing, which had become heavier and more regular. He listened to that breathing so close to him and mused without being able to go to sleep. In the room where he had been sleeping alone for a year, this presence bothered him. But it bothered him also because it imposed on him as a sort of brother-hood he refused to accept in the present circumstances; yet he was familiar with it. Men who share the same rooms, soldiers or prisoners, develop a strange alliance as if, having cast off their armour with their clothing, they fraternized everything evening, over and above their differences, in the ancient community of dream and fatigue.” (Page.81)

Painted Door

October 11, 2007

The Painted Door, written by Sinclair Ross, is a story set in a small house in country side.  there are charaters: John who is the husband, Ann who is John’s wife, and Steven who is attractive guy and John’s neighbor. John went across hills to check upon his other family in the storm. Because the storming weather, Steven is sent to help chores and be with Ann. Steven offered himself throughout the night, and kept reassuring that John wouldn’t be coming. He assured Ann that John wouldn’t be coming home, and if anything happened between them, no-one would find out. Finally, Ann gave in, and they had slept together. But Ann saw some shadows that she though could have been John, but ruled them out as a dream. Next day, John was founded dead with white pain on his hands one mile away from the house.

 The setting in the story is storming weather and white paint. Storming weather does not show piece and calm, however, it shows tough and hard. Also, white paint looks like does not mean anything though at the end, it proves the shadow was John. The event, Ann and Steven slept together, could be happened, even if it is not stormy, at the end, when we recognize John was founded dead in the snow with wet paint on his hands, cold snow and white paint on his hand make feel more tragic.

 The mood in the story was poor, sad and intense because Ann does not realize Jonh’s great compassion for her and instead feels alienated by him and their lifestyle. “Plenty to eat- plenty of wood to keep me warm- what more could a women ask for.” Ann wants more from her husband John but he does not realize it. “Pay no attention to me. Seven years a farmers wife- it’s time I was used to staying alone”, Ann clearly feels very alienated and alone. Ann was worrying about if John is coming back while she was laying on the bed with Steven. She saw the shadow from window, but she was not sure it is John because blizzard.