Latin Roots #7

Roots & Derivatives
1) Duc(t), Duce (to lead): Conduct, reduce, education, abduct, deductive, ductile, induction, deduce.
2) Fed(er), fide(e) (faith, trust): Federal, confidence, affidavit, infidel, bona fide, confide, confederate
3) Fine(e) (end, limit): Finish, confine, define, infinitesimal, affinity, infinity, finial
4) Flect, Flex (to bend): Deflect, reflex, reflector, flexibility, genuflect, flexor


Word List
1) Aqueduct: A large pipe or other conduit made to bring water from a great distance.
The Romans are responsible of the invention of aqueducts, which they used to transport water. 
2) Conductive: Tending to lead, help, assist, or result in.
In FFA, you must develop a conductive nature to organize a meeting by leading others. 
3) Definitive:  A completely accurate, reliable, and authoritative; decisive or conclusive.
His finger prints on the weapon used to murder the man was definitive proof that he was guilty.
4) Fidelity: A faithfulness to one's promises or obligations; steadfast faithfulness, technological faithfulness.
Adultery can also be considered infidelity for it is unfaithful. 
5) Fiduciary: An individual who holds something in trust for another; a trustee.
I made my friend my fiduciary, as she held my phone during my race.
6) Finale: A "grand" conclusion, as of a performance; the last scene of a play.
After the finale all the actors came out and took a bow during a final applause.
7) Finite: A limited or bordered by time or by any measurement; measurable.
There is no finite amount of numbers. 
8) Flexuous: Winding in and out; bending or wavering.
The young tree was quite flexuous during the storm.
9) Inducement: Anything used or given to persuade or motivate; an incentive.
With the promise of food as an inducement, I had my friends helping with chores.
10) Inflection: A slight change in tone or modulation of the voice, as in a point of emphasis. 
In an attempt to foreshadow what would happen next I changed my inflection for certain words in the story. 
11) Perfidious: Characteristic of one who would intentionally betray a faith or trust; treacherous.
Because of his perfidious nature, he had no second thoughts about spreading the rumor.
12)Traduce: To speak falsely of; to slander or defame; to disgrace another's good name; to vilify.
Our department manager called a meeting because one of our colleagues has been spreading rumors and traducing the name of our other colleagues. 

Lit Analysis #3 : The Joy Luck Club

“I closed my eyes and pondered my next move.” (Tan 101) Life is a game that gets more and more complicated as the years go by. We learn the rules and how to play from our parents from an early age.  For many, their mothers teach them many life lessons, many that at first they don’t listen to. In The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, we can see the relationship between mother and daughter, in which both learn from each other. In each story, four mothers instruct their daughters, learn from them, and realize many things about themselves.

            “You must watch what everybody else throws away and keep that in your head as well.” (Tan 33) Throughout the novel, we learn of the different hardships that each of the Chinese-American families has experienced. From Lindo Jong’s arranged marriage, to Rose Hsu Jordan’s loss of her brother, there’s one recurring thing in each chapter. The Chinese mothers attempt to advise and provide support for their white-washed American-Chinese children. In many cases, the daughters seem to realize that their mothers were indeed right. The mothers draw from their own experiences with their mothers, in attempts to save their daughters from suffering. Many of the mothers have a fear that their daughters will not be “proper chinese women” and proceed to try and chance their offspring.  An example of this is Jing-mei’s mother, Suyuan Woo. Out of jealousy of her friend Lindo Jong, she attempts to “bring out Jing-mei’s inner genius.” She wasn’t doing it so that her daughter could become a better human being, but rather so she could boast to her friend. Regardless to their beliefs, each of the mothers learn new things from their daughters that ultimately influence them and their decisions later on.

            “A mother is best. A mother knows what is inside you.” All four mothers of The Joy Luck club, believe they know what is best for their daughter. They never consider however, that maybe they could learn a thing or two from them. Lindo recognizes through her daughter Waverly that she has been changed by American culture. Ying-ying realizes that Lena has unknowingly followed her passive nature in her marriage to Harold. An-mei realizes that Rose has not understood the lessons she taught her about faith and hope, which she herself has lost belief in.    

Leopard Man First Reading Questions

9. Tom Leppard is known as Leopard man, as he is completely covered in leopard spots, Tom has also altered his teeth to resemble those of a leopard.

10. The author considers people with tattoos and piercings as antisocial freaks. He has these opinions based on his experience/knowledge with other people with these

11. The Leopard Man is different from other tattooed and pierced individuals because he doesn't do it for attention but just because he chooses to live this lifestyle.

12. The Leopard Man lives in a small cabin in the Scottish wilderness

13. According to Feys, society tends to fear people that are different because they're not like everyone else so people react in fear towards them

14. The world's most common but dangerous psychological order is conformity. Feys argues this by stating that the consequences of it are destroying one's individuality and just becoming like the majority of people which is horrible because you're doing this with your own consent

15. Leopard Man is happy because he has seceded from society, which has allowed him to break free of social pressures. He has created his own personal paradise by living the way he does.

Lit Analysis #2

The Giver

Part 1) The story beings with Jonas recounting a time he felt afraid. His recounting provides the reader with a small description of the dystopian setting in which the story takes places. The ceremony of 12 is approaching in which all the members of the communist like community will attend. All children age 11, will become 12’s and will receive the job they will continue doing until old age. Jonas is selected to be the new Receiver, or more specifically the successor of the only current receiver. He receives the memories of color, emotions, pain, etc. from the Receiver, as they are the only members who hold those memories. Jonas and the Receiver make a plan, so that all members of the community shall have to share the burden. The night of the escape, Jonas is forced to leave earlier due to the risk of death for a baby his family is taking care of. If the baby, Gabe, were to remain he would be killed. Jonas escapes the community, and goes out into the area known as Elsewhere, where he and Gabe, eventually starving and freezing to death, slide down a snowy hill towards what Jonas believes is a village or a mirage.

Part 2) I believe that the main theme was/is the importance of memory. Without memory, we wouldn’t learn from our mistakes, know true pain or true love, and we wouldn’t be able to become individuals. Our pasts shape us and prevent us from making the same mistakes over and over. 

Part 3) The protagonist, Jonas is a dynamic character, as he changes drastically from the beginning of the book. He changes from being a controlled communist-like drone thanks to experiencing true emotions and actually becomes an individual by being able to make choices. However, he is a flat character, as we do not really get to know him or his background in depth. Another important character is the current receiver of Memory, The Giver. The Giver transfers the memories into Jonas, helping him through the process of dealing with his newfound memories.

Part 4) The color red is a motif that appears four major times in the book. The first is the apple Jonas plays catch with. It is the first time he experiences “seeing beyond”. The next is the faces of people in a crowd, followed by Fiona’s hair, followed by the sled. This color represents Jonas venturing into a new world in which he feels emotions, sees color, and for once is an individual.

Part 5) I have read the book before, in 8^th grade and I loved it. I wanted to see if I understood the book from a different perspective now 2 years later. I really enjoy dystopian future books, as they make you think and like I stated, see things in a new light.

Part 6) Some connections I can make might sound negative, but one is the need to be the same. Many people, especially teenagers, strive to fit in and find their place in society. Likewise, the community in The Giver encourages sameness, and discourages individuality. That fear of being judged is prominent in both our and their culture/community. 

Part 7) An idea I will remember is that of the balance of pain and pleasure. Without hardships, we would not appreciate pleasure. And without pleasure, everything in life would be misery. Both balance each other, and are necessary to not feel superior or down in the dumps.” It was much the same, this memory, though the hill seemed to be a different one, steeper, and the snow was falling much more thickly than before.”(Lowry 108). On his first ride he experienced the emotion, but the second time it was the sensation of overwhelming pain. This shows how the same thing can give completely different experience under different circumstances.

Latin Roots #6

Roots and Derivatives 

1. corp(or) (body): corpse, corporation, corps, corpuscle, corporeal, corpus, corset

2. cred (to believe, to trust): credo, credit, discredit, credence, credentials, accreditation

3. cur(r), curs, course (to run, to flow): current, excursion, discourse, concur, recourse, curriculum, recurrent

4. dic(t) (to speak, to say): diction, indication, edict, jurisdiction, dictionary, addict, interdiction

Word List

1. benediction: the invocation of a divine blessing, as at the close of a religious service; a blessing or a state of blessedness
Example: He dismissed the congregation with a benediction.

2. concourse: a running or flowing together; a broad public walkway or hallway; a crowd or throng
Example: The woman was lost among the concourse at the concert.

3. concurrent: occurring at the same time; meeting or acting together
Example: Earthquakes and tsunamis are usually concurrent, causing massive damage.

4. corporal: related to the physical body
Example: Although corporal punishment is illegal in schools, some students see p.e as the same thing.

5. corpulent: very stout; fleshy and obese; fat
Example: More and more americans have steadily become corpulent due to fast food.

6. credibility: the quality of being believable or trustworthy
Example: The singer lost all credibility after being caught lip syncing the national anthem.

7. credulity: the (naïve)willingness to believe too easily without proof
Example: The internet has caused human credulity to become much more common.

8. cursory: done in a superficial or hasty manner
Example: The knot was cursory, ended up coming loose dropping the bag.

9. dictum: an authoritative saying or maxim
Example: His favorite dictum was, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

10. incorporate: to form into one body or functioning unit; to combine several different things into a whole
Example: The author liked to incorporate parts of her past into her writing.

11. incredulous: not believing, skeptical, or doubting
Example: The girl had an incredulous look on her face after watching the magician's act.

12. indicative: characteristic of or very much like; suggestive
Example: The results of the CAT scan were indicative of some type of tumor growth.

Greek Drama Questions

1. What kind of prize is given for dancing choruses of worshippers?

Answer: The dancing choruses of worshippers were awarded a bull or a goat.

2. How many spectators would gather in the open-air theatre of Dionysos?

Answer: As many as fourteen thousand spectators gathered in the open-air theatre.

3. How does the mask affect the voices of the actors?

Answer: These masks had mouthpieces that amplified the actors’ voices.

4. Why was Antigone suspenseful to viewing audiences?

Answer: Suspense came from their knowledge of things the characters on stage did not know.

5. How is the shepherd to leave the infant on the mountainside?

Answer: The shepherd is to leave the baby with his ankles pinned together.

6. What is the riddle the Sphinx gave to Oedipus?

Answer: “What creature goes on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?”

7. Who are Oedipus' kids?

Answer: Oedipus’ kids were two sons, Polyneices and Etocles; and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene.

8. After Oedipus is exiled, who takes over Thebes?

Answer: Jocasta’s brother and Oedipus’ uncle Creon took over Thebes.

9. What did the family do to the dead body?

Answer: Creon decreed that Polyneices; body be left unburied, to rot in the sun outside the city gates. 

Antigone Quickwrite

Everyone deserves a proper burial. However, I do not believe it is anyone’s right if you should be buried or not. I would of course mourn both of my brothers, as they are after all family. However, I would be outraged to know that my favorite brother cannot be buried, and even more furious knowing it’s a “crime” to do so. My sister, although family, would bring more dishonor than my “traitor” brother, at least in my opinion. I would do my best to convince my sister to help me bury our brother, but I wouldn’t beg. It does not require one to beg for something both of you know is morally correct. However, my sister will most likely neglect following the just and honorable path of burying our brother as she fears our uncle, which leaves the task to me alone. I would plan an explosive, dramatic event that would act as a distraction, such as a festival, banquet, dramatic production, etc. I would then proceed to making sure that the king, my uncle would be in attendance. While everyone is at attending the event, I would act fast laying small distractions that would slow down any wandering guards or civilians, yet alert me of their presence. Although I would gladly die attempting to bury my beloved brother, I would prefer not having to do so. I would steal the body from the dump and transport it to some hidden location. By doing this, I can prevent my uncle from ordering the body to be dug up again as he will not be aware of the location of the burial. I would then proceed to transporting the body the farthest distance from the city. After giving my brother a proper funeral, I would proceed to cover my tracks. I would have an alibi ready as to where I was at the time of the decoy event, as well as who I was with. To ensure this, I would bribe someone to testify they had seen me at said fake location. Even if I were caught, I would regret nothing. I could feel at peace knowing I did the right thing, and hoping someone would do the same for me. Although my sister refused to help, I would not hold a grudge as everyone has different views and fears. But if she did not at the very least try to defend me, she would no longer be seen as my blood. My only consolation would be knowing that I accomplished what I believed to be right, and gave my brother a proper burial. Everyone deserves to be laid down to rest, and no mortal man has the power to decide against it. 

Dog Pound=Possible Buffet?

     "Even the most enthusiastic carnivores won't eat dogs." In his 2009 novel, Eating Animals, Jonathan Safran Foer argues that, “Dogs are plentiful, good for you, easy to cook, and tasty.” Although growing up in America has made me see eating dogs as a taboo, Safran Foer makes some pretty convincing points in favor of the consumption of dog meat.       Although I cannot say I will immediately accept an offer of dog meat, eating dogs makes sense. I say this keeping in mind the great struggle of feeding billions of omnivores worldwide. “Three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized annually.” These millions of pounds of meat are converted into food for other animals we are already consuming. Safran suggests skipping the middle step (feeding it to other livestock), and directly consuming it. Safran states three main reasons for keeping dogs off the standard American meat-lover’s plate; “Don’t eat companion animal, don’t eat animals with significant mental capacities, and those things are bad for us.” There are various counterarguments to all three of these. First, to us Americans, consumption of dog meat may seem strange and bizarre, but so does eating cows to Indians, who consider cows a sacred animal. Secondly, we slaughter millions of pigs, cows, chickens, etc. every year. All of these animals show intelligence that at least matches that of a dog. Finally, “properly cooked dog meat poses no greater health risk than other meats…”                                 

      I do not expect eating dogs to become normal in America anytime soon. I do not plan on consuming any dog-meat product anytime soon either. However, if it were necessary, dog meat would serve as a perfect substitution for beef and chicken. Dogs are eaten in numerous places around the globe still today, and there is none of the shock and disgust that would be expressed here in America. Safran Foer goes as far as giving a recipe in his book for wedding style dog to show the hypocrisy in our culture. We refuse to eat dog, but gladly accept pigs, chicken, etc., simply because we are used to them. Meat is meat, and if necessary we might be eating dog meat in our Big Macs in a possibly near future. 

Latin Roots #5

Roots and Derivatives
1. cent(i) (hundred): century, centipede, centennial, centigrade, centimeter

2. cid(e), cis(e) (cut, kill): homicide, incision, suicide, scissors, circumcise

3. clam, claim (cry out, declare): clamor, exclaim, proclaim, disclaim

4. cord, cour (heart): accord, courage, encouraged, cordiform, cordate

Word List
1. bicentennial: a celebration of a two hundredth anniversary; happening once in a period of two hundred years or lasting two hundred years
Example: The bicentennial of the first town with plumbing is next week.

2. centenarian: a person who has lived to be one hundred years old
Example: One of my life goals is to live to become a centenarian.

3. centurion: a Roman officer commanding one hundred men; related to the military mind, especially as it favors military solutions for handling social problems
Example: Society tends to think of people with a centurion point of view are tougher.

4. clamorous: characterized by continuous loud and complaining voices; noisily complaining; insistent
Example: The moment the teacher announced the group project, the class became clamorous .

5. concise: covering much in few words; brief and to the point
Example: I admire people who are concise; since I have a tendency to babble .

6. concordance: a condition of harmony or agreement; an alphabetical index indicating reference passages, as from a writer's works
Example: My best friend and I were forced to come to a concordance, as we needed to work on a project.

7. cordial: of the heart; warm and friendly; amiable
Example: Even though they were mad, the gift was cordial.

8. discordant: (sounding) harsh or inharmonious; clashing
Example: The choirs performance was so discordant, the instructor quit. 

9. genocide: the systematic extermination of an ethnic group
Example: One of the most well known examples of  genocide is the Holocaust. 

10. incisive: keenly penetrating; cutting into
Example: The detective's interrogation was so incisive, he found out more than he was looking for.

11. proclamation: an official statement or announcement that informs or honors
Example: The king sent out a proclamation to honor the birth of his son and the heir to the throne.

12. reclaim: to claim again; to restore to former importance or usefulness
Example: The king sent his best troops to reclaim their captured land from the invaders.

Latin Roots #4

Roots and Derivatives
1. bon, boun (good): bonus, bounty, bountiful, bonify, boon, bon voyage, bonhomie

2. capit, capt (head, chief, leader): capital, captain, capitalize, decapitate, per capita, capitol

3. carn(i) (flesh): carnal, carnality, carnival, carnify

4 ced(e), ceed, cess (go, yield, surrender): recede, proceed, success, concede, exceed, procession, unprecedented

Word List

1. accession: the attainment of a certain rank or dignity; an increase by means of something added; the act of becoming joined

Example: Jesus' accession to heaven was considered his departure from Earth.

2. bona fide: in good faith; genuine

Example: With some people these days, you can't tell if their compliments are bona fide. 

3. bonanza: a sudden and unexpected source of money or riches; a windfall

Example: Due to a bonanza of jewels, the farmer started a jewelry store. 

4. bounteous: inclined to be generous; plentiful and abundant

Example: The garden's tree is always produces a bounteous harvest.

5. capitulation: surrendering, usually upon prearranged terms or conditions; a final giving-up

Example: The school's capitulation to the superintendients decision irritated me.

6. carnage: a great slaughter, as in battle

Example: The carnage of Godzilla's rampage was in the hundreds.

7. carnivorous: flesh-eating, as an animal

Example: Examples of carnivorous dinosaurs include T-rex's, Velociraptors, etc. .

8. incarnate: literally, in the flesh; in bodily form; personified; flesh-colored

Example: The movie Annabelle will center around a doll incarnate of a spirit.

9. intercede: to act on another's behalf; to meditate

Example: Having someone intercede makes me feel useless.

10. precedent: a previous act or decision taken as a valid model; having gone before.

Example: The Holocaust was seen as a precedent to better attention to global affairs.

11. recapitulation: a brief repetition; a summary, as of what has already been said.

Example: Recapitulations are irritating after 3 times of explaining. 

12. reincarnation: a thing that is reborn, or comes back into being, although perhaps in a different (bodily) form

Example: The idea of reincarnation appeals to spiritual beliefs, such as Buddhism and Hinduism.

Literature Analysis #1

The Scarlet Letter

1.  Hester Prynne has committed the unspeakable sin of adultery. Instead of receiving the traditional penalty of death, it is decided that she will stand in the town square for 3 hours wearing a scarlet letter A (which stands for adulterer), and will continue to wear it for the remainder of her life. She has given birth to a baby girl, but she refuses to name the father, choosing to endure both of their agonies alone. Hester receives a visit from her husband, whom many though dead, who wishes to know the name of the father of the child. Hester does not speak, but does make an oath to not reveal his true identity, as he wishes to not be known as a dishonored man. He leaves as Roger Chillingworth, determined to reveal the identity of the father. After being released from prison, Hester settled on a cottage located on the outskirts of town. In the next seven years, Hester supports herself and her daughter Pearl, with her incredible stitch work. In these seven years, she is also made an outcast of society, frowned upon by the townspeople for her sin, and completely alone with her daughter as her only companion. Meanwhile, the father of Pearl, is slowly decaying from the guilt of his sin. Meanwhile, her former husband, now posing as a physician, has taken up residence with Hester’s partner in sin. He slowly gets under his skin, and poisons his soul and heart. After speaking with Hester, he becomes aware of Chillingworth’s of posing as his friend, while slowly torturing his mind. Hester convinces him to leave New England and return to their homeland in England. This however, will never be as it is stopped by complications.

2.  I think the overall theme of the book is human corruption. Hawthorne may have intended to explain corruption by sin. Not the action of it, but its consequences and its effect on humans. Hester accepted her sin, and after a couple years is slowly accepted somewhat into society as a woman of incredible strength, and a doer of good deeds. Meanwhile, her former husband is affected by her sin, as he is consumed with revenge against the man who wronged him and sinned along with Hester. The greatest corruption, is the minister’s. Dimmesdale is highly revered by the townspeople, but little do they know that he carries a heavy secret in his corrupted heart.

3.  I choose this book after hearing of it for the first time in the movie Easy A, which attempts to tell a very loosely based modern version of The Scarlet Letter. I wanted to actually read the novel, and I waited for an opportunity I knew would come in high school. I knew some of the plot, but once I started the book, I barely made it through the first three chapters. However, I was hooked and I found the strange way in which he depicts Hester, the sinner, as a type of protagonist interesting.

4.  I found this book unrealistic, as Hawthorne makes many things improbable. First of all, the arrival of Hester’s former husband, on the exact day in which she is stand in the square, after being captured by Indians and escaping is farfetched. Secondly, the same main characters who were there at the beginning of the novel when Hester was standing in the square, just happen all be there when Dimmesdale has his breakdown in the middle of the night. Yet another example is Dimmesdale’s dramatic death, after finally revealing his death. I can make some connections to Hester, in the aspect of her dignity. Even if you’re different, and society sees it as a bad thing, embrace who you are, and you shouldn’t be afraid to show it.

5. The tone of The Scarlet Letter varies throughout the story. It starts off almost sarcastically, in mocking tone. In the very first chapter, Hawthorne seems to make fun of a simply serious and gloomy story, “But on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him.”(Hawthorne 10)  As the story progresses, the author changes to a more pitiful tone, as can be seen in Chapter 5, “Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment; and so, perchance, the torture of her daily shame would at length purge her soul, and work out another purity than that which she had lost; more saint-like, because the result of martyrdom.”(Hawthorne 39) The story also has a darker tone near the end, “The unfortunate physician, while uttering these words, lifted his hands with a look of horror, as if he had beheld some frightful shape, which he could not recognize, usurping the place of his own image in a glass. It was one of those moments—which sometimes occur only at the interval of years—when a man's moral aspect is faithfully revealed to his mind's eye. Not improbably, he had never before viewed himself as he did now.” (Hawthorne 125)

6. The book is full of symbolism in every chapter, if not every page.

       
        a. The biggest symbol is obviously the Scarlet Letter. From the beginning of the book, it represents Hester’s sin, adultery, but over the course of the novel comes to symbolize her strength, as well as her sin.

“But the point which drew all eyes, and, as it were, transfigured the wearer,—so that both men and women, who had been familiarly acquainted with Hester Prynne, were now impressed as if they beheld her for the first time,—was that Scarlet Letter, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself.” (Hawthorne 15)

   b. Another important symbol is Pearl. She is the embodiment of Hester’s sin, and like the scarlet letter, a reminder of it. She also symbolizes Hester’s guilt, but also her strength to continue living.

“She is my happiness!—she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a million-fold the power of retribution for my sin?” (Hawthorne 69)
  
   c. Pearl’s name is also another symbol in the story. This symbol is not the same as Pearl, as Pearl’s existence represents something else entirely. Pearl’s name represents the great price at which her mother obtained her.

“For so had Hester called her; not as a name expressive of her aspect, which had nothing of the calm, white, unimpassioned lustre that would be indicated by the comparison. But she named the infant “Pearl,” as being of great price,—purchased with all she had,—her mother's only treasure.” (Hawthorne 47)

  d. The scaffold is yet another example of symbolism. It symbolizes judgment, as it is where Hester is questioned, where she stands for her punishment, and where Dimmesdale confesses.

“It was, in short, the platform of the pillory; and above it rose the framework of that instrument of discipline, so fashioned as to confine the human head in its tight grasp, and thus hold it up to the public gaze.” (Hawthorne 16)

  
 e. Roger Chillingworth is a symbol for revenge. He symbolizes the dark side of intellect. Once a kind noble man of intellect, he was consumed for his need for revenge and uses his intellect in a cold, almost evil, manner instead.

“But the former aspect of an intellectual and studious man, calm and quiet, which was what she best remembered in him, had altogether vanished, and been succeeded by an eager, searching, almost fierce, yet carefully guarded look.” (Hawthorne 123)

  f. An example of personification is in Chapter 16, when Hawthorne gives human qualities to a brook, which helps bring about a more melancholy tone to the chapter.

“But the brook, in the course of its little lifetime among the forest-trees, had gone through so solemn an experience that it could not help talking about it, and seemed to have nothing else to say.” (Hawthorne 139)

  
 g. Another example of personification is Hawthorne’s depiction of the forest as a playmate of Pearl’s.

“The great black forest—stern as it showed itself to those who brought the guilt and troubles of the world into its bosom—became the playmate of the lonely infant, as well as it knew how. Sombre as it was, it put on the kindest of its moods to welcome her. It offered her the partridge-berries…” (Hawthorne 155)

  
 h. The forest is symbol for evil, but freedom of society’s views and laws. It symbolizes as a place where witches meet, where the “Black Man” roams in search of souls, and a place where sinners can find some peace for a while.

“…into the mystery of the primeval forest. This hemmed it in so narrowly, and stood so black and dense on either side, and disclosed such imperfect glimpses of the sky above, that, to Hester's mind, it imaged not amiss the moral wilderness in which she had so long been wandering…” (Hawthorne 136)

  
 i. The Black Man serves as a symbol for evil, or Satan himself. He is mentioned throughout the novel many times by Pearl, as well as other characters. The Black Man roams the land with a black book in which souls write in their blood to make deals with him.

“How he haunts this forest, and carries a book with him,—a big, heavy book, with iron clasps; and how this ugly Black Man offers his book and an iron pen to everybody that meets him here among the trees; and they are to write their names with their own blood. And then he sets his mark on their bosoms! Didst thou ever meet the Black Man, mother?” (Hawthorne 137)

  
 k. The broken glass on the governor’s house in chapter 7 serves as a symbol for pain. Although the house has a cheery appearance in which broken glass is covering the house, and reflects sunlight in a beautiful way. Even though the glass resembles diamonds sparkling, it is still broken trying to appear beautiful.

“It had, indeed, a very cheery aspect; the walls being overspread with a kind of stucco, in which fragments of broken glass were plentifully intermixed; so that, when the sunshine fell aslant-wise over the front of the edifice, it glittered and sparkled as if diamonds had been flung against it by the double handful.” (Hawthorne 59)

CHARACTERIZATION

1. An example of direct characterization can be seen with Hester’s description in chapter 2. “The young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance on a large scale. She had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam, and a face which, besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes. She was lady-like, too, after the manner of the feminine gentility of those days; characterized by a certain state and dignity, rather than by the delicate, evanescent, and indescribable grace…” (Hawthorne 14)

Another example is Chapter 6 entirely, as it is completely devoted to explaining Pearl’s appearance, as well as her personality. “We have spoken of Pearl's rich and luxuriant beauty; a beauty that shone with deep and vivid tints; a bright complexion, eyes possessing intensity both of depth and glow, and hair already of a deep, glossy brown, and which, in after years, would be nearly akin to black. There was fire in her and throughout her; she seemed the unpremeditated offshoot of a passionate moment.” (Hawthorne 58)

An example of indirect characterization is Hawthorne’s portrayal of Hester using the thoughts of others to further develop her character. Hawthorne uses indirect characterization when speaking of the Black Man. He never describes him, rather uses the characters to begin and develop him.

2. Hawthorne changes his dictation when speaking of Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth. He depicts Hester as a strong protagonist, when she is supposed to be a pitied sinner. He speaks rather harshly of her at points, but he speaks generally positive about her. Dimmesdale’s character, like Hester’s, is supposed to be a negative character who is frowned upon for his sins. He however, is seen as another protagonist. Even though he should be hated for his cowardice, he is spoken of in a pitiful tone. Chillingworth, who in other works would be the victim, is portrayed as the villain. He who was wronged, is spoken of in a dark tone. An example would be Hester’s talk with him by the forest. He is portrayed as a character who is evil for his deeds, and because of his hurt has changed into a malignant human being.

3.  I believe Hester to be a static character. Although some people may disagree, Hester does change throughout the novel. At the beginning she is a strong woman, who at first is reluctant to show the letter. By the end she is indifferent to it and although it still reminds her of her past, she has come to a sort of peace with it. She is definitely round, as she is described multiple times throughout the novel, both physically and personality wise.

4. I feel like I have met Hester Prynne. Not just her but Pearl as well. Both of them were well depicted, and I do feel like I have met them, and know their struggles. I feel for Hester’s end, and it did make me somewhat depressed. Well not depressed, but it made me feel some sadness for her. She was a strong woman who even in the face of rejection by society is still proud of herself. “So said Hester Prynne, and glanced her sad eyes downward at the scarlet letter. And, after many, many years, a new grave was delved, near an old and sunken one, in that burial-ground beside which King's Chapel has since been built. It was near that old and sunken grave, yet with a space between, as if the dust of the two sleepers had no right to mingle. Yet one tombstone served for both. All around, there were monuments carved with armorial bearings; and on this simple slab of slate—as the curious investigator may still discern, and perplex himself with the purport—there appeared the semblance of an engraved escutcheon. It bore a device, a herald's wording of which might serve for a motto and brief description of our now concluded legend; so sombre is it, and relieved only by one ever-glowing point of light gloomier than the shadow:—“On a field, sable, the letter A, gules.” (Hawthorne 221)

Enduring Memory

     An idea that I will remember is to be sure of your choices. If you’re going to do something that some people may not like, be sure that you want to. You must be sure you want to, and that you will be able to live with your choice, no matter how embarrassing it is. “Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment…Hester Prynne, therefore, did not flee…” (Hawthorne 39) Although she could have left the town and started over, Hester chose to stay, which shows her strength and dignity. She knew that even if she had left, the guilt would still haunt her. Another important lesson I will remember is how our choices not only affect us but the people around us. Hester’s choice affected Pearl in that she was known as a demon-child, who had no friends in the town. Her choice to keep quiet affected Dimmesdale, whose guilt eventually killed him. Lastly, her choice affected Chillingworth, firstly in causing him to change his name due to shame. It also caused him to slowly become confused with a vengeful nature that ultimately kills him and Dimmesdale.

Latin Roots #3

Roots and Derivatives

1. aud(it): audience, auditorium, audition, audiovisual
2. avi: aviation, aviculture, aviatrix, avifauna 
3. bell(i): rebellion, rebel, belligerent, postbellum
4. ben(e): benefit, benevolent, benediction, benefice, benison

Defenitions and Sentences

1. antebellum: before the war, especially the American Civil War; typical of how things were done before any war
Ex: The antebellum plantations are infamous because of their use of slaves.

2. audit: to attend a class only as a listener, not for credit; to check or examine a company's financial records; the process of making such an examination

Ex: Many companies dread the time of year when an audit is required.

3. auditory: related to the sense of hearing

Ex: Auditory tests are performed during physicals to test hearing.

4.  avian: characteristic of or pertaining to birds

Ex: Not only did the creature have the avian characterstic of a beak, it had feathers as well.

5. aviary: an elaborate structure for housing birds

Ex: The aviary at the San Diego Zoo is always loud with the cries of the different species of birds.

6. avionics: the technology of (using) electronic equipment in aviation, missilery, and space flight

Ex: Humanity has come so far in avionics, that we can now send satellites to other planets.

7. bellicose: eager to fight or quarrel; hostile

Ex: Due to a day full of stress and immature people, the boy was feeling very bellicose.

8. belligerency: the condition of warlike hostility; a hostile action

Ex: During the bombing of 9/11, America was in a state of belligerency.

9. benefactor: a person who gives another (financial) help; a patron
Ex: The more benefactors the club has, the more activities they can do.

10. beneficiary: one who recieves a benefit (of payment), as from an insurance policy

Ex: After the hurricane, the beneficiary receieved a large payment from the insurance company.

11. benign: not malignant; gracious and kindly; good-natured

Ex: The goddess Athena was benign most of the time, as she helped mortal heroes.

12. inaudible: unable to be heard

Ex: Due to being inaudible during his speech, no one knew what he had said.

Athena: The Wise Goddess

ATHENA

• This myth focuses around the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena. One of the 12 Olympians, Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom, Arts and Crafts, and War. She is also the patron of the city of Athens, and advisor to Zeus. Athena prefers peace over war, attempting to reason before fighting. Although being the polar opposite of her brother, Ares God of War, she has managed to defeat him multiple times in battle.
• Other minor characters include: Poseidon god of the Seas, Zeus god of the Sky, Hephaestus god of the Forge, and Ares god of War

The myth has multiple settings not taking place in one set location. These include the Acropolis in Athens, Mount Olympus, Troy, and Greece in general.

One day on Mount Olympus, Zeus was suffering from a massive headache. The pain was so painful, that naturally he asked his brother Hephaestus to split his skull open. With a mighty blow from his hammer, the God of the Forge split Zeus' head in two. Out emerged a fully grown Athena, clad in full armor. Athena was Zeus' favorite child, and was trusted with his weapons, and eventually became his advisor. Athena also engaged in a contest with Poseidon for patronship of Athena and won. Her gift to the city, the olive tree, beat out Poseidon's salt water spring, and became one of her symbols. Athean cared deeply for the affairs of humans, and aided heroes whenever possible. Some of these heroes include Perseus, She sided with the Greeks during the Trojan War, who later ended defeating the Trojans. Unlike her brother Ares, she prefers peace, but is a superb war strategist, capable of defeating Ares.


This myth does not have one conflict or plot. It is more of a collection of Athena's myths and her importance in Greek culture. Some subconflicts could be Zeus's headache, Athena competing against Posiedon for Athens, and the Greeks vs. Trojans.

The myth of the goddess of wisdom attempts to explain the importance of wisdom in our everyday lives, as well as in war. It also explains how the most powerful isn't always the best way to go. An example is Poseidon's gift of the "ocean", but it wasn't drinkable and served little purpose.

  

Latin Roots #2

Roots and Derivatives:

1. anni, annu, ennui : year, yearly
2. aqua, aque : water, marine
3. arm : arm, weapon
4. art : art, skill, craft

Word List

1. aqua: the hue of the sea:, bluish-green                                   
ex) The aqua gem reminded me of the Caribbean Sea.

2. aquaculture: the cultivation of water plants and animals for human food 
ex) Breeding fish in aqua farms is just one example of aquaculture in our society. 

3. aqueous: like, of, or formed by water; watery 
ex) Kool-aid is very aqueous as it consists of mainly water.

4. armada: a fleet of warships
ex) The Roman Navy armada was a formidable threat in the Mediterranean Sea. 

5. armature: equipment or clothing for battle, or any protective covering; armlike extension
ex) In Chinese and European cultures, soldiers wore armature to battle. 

6. armistice: a temporary suspension of hostilities by mutual agreement, as a truce preliminary to a peace treaty
ex) In war, sometimes an armistice is needed when both sides are significantly weakened. 

7. artifact: any object produced by the art of the human hand; simple or primitive objects from the distant past
ex) One day iPhones will be considered artifacts of our era by future cultures. 

8. artifice: cunning ingenuity; clever or sly trickery
ex) Her artifice thinking helped her win the Hunger Games. 

9. artisan: a person skilled at a craft, usually a handicraft
ex) Artisans such as scribes and blacksmiths made up an entire social level in Chinese culture.

10. millennium: a thousand years; a period of peace
ex) At the turn of the millennium, people thought that Armageddon was upon us . 

11. perennial: year after year: throughout the years
ex) Children being born and people dying is a perennial event.

12. superannuated: worn out, or retired, from age and years of use of hard work: obsolete or outdated 
ex) Women not being able to wear shorts, vote, or have jobs is a superannuated concept.