Learning and Re-learning?

     Isn't it just awesome that we get taught something in elementary school and the same information is taught to us again in high school? It is very different since it is phrased differently. In English we learn about punctuation. In high school we use fancy words instead of the same simple short words, and bang, it's something entirely different! First we learn where to use quotations in sentences. In high school, it is all technical with commas, and where to put commas and quotations if the words spoken are to be placed before, around, or after the person said is written. It is something entirely unrelated. There are also terms such as juxtaposition that we will use daily! I mean, our lives would be nothing but boring if there were no words like anecdote to use in our everyday conversations. It is simply amazing how teachers get paid to teach us what we already know.

Poetic Devices In Songs

I Am A Rock by Simon and Garfunkel

A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Don't talk of love,
But I've heard the words before;
It's sleeping in my memory.
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

     The song I Am A Rock by Simon and Garfunkel is a song that contains many techniques also found in poetry. The title of the song, "I Am A Rock", itself is a metaphor. "In a deep and dark December" is a perfect example of alliteration. The author states he has his "books and poetry to protect" him which is clearly showing personification. The authour is symbolizing solitude when he has  "built walls, a fortress deep and mighty". The theme of the song is solitude which is shown by "I am alone...I have no need for friendship". An example of assonance is "hiding in my room, safe within my womb". It is in these ways that a song can also be considered a poem.

Metaphors and Similies

    
     It is a duel between me and him. He wears a wide brimmed hat that protects his eyes from the intense rays of the sun and the sweltering heat. The frown he wears is like that of an merciless killer. His eyes bore through me like a hawk tracking its defenseless prey. He is a cobra waiting for just the right moment to strike the deadly blow. There is much confidence in the way he holds his magnums, it strikes fear into the hearts of all who look his way. I take out my own Desert Eagle. I see his expression flicker in a momentary show of fear. I will not back down. And he knows it.

College Application

I, the most charismatic person you will ever meet, am forced to apply to your unworthy college and hope you worthless, insignificant so-called humans will accept me.

     I have designed every Ferrari ever built. I have fixed the Leaning Tower of Pisa on three different occasions. I have rescued ships from the Bermuda Triangle. I have created the first university ever made. I have applied to seven different colleges and have had no replies back. All adore me. The person who inspired Da Vinci was me. The person who inspired Beethoven was none other than me. The person who inspired Galileo to improve the rather shabby telescope was I. The person who needs to be inspired to finish this letter is me. I never tire. The first one to land on the moon was me. The first one to climb Mt. Everest was me, in a mere hour. The first one to discover a planet was me. The first one to destroy a planet will be me...

Yet, I have to apply.

Actor Analysis

     In some ways, Lennie was almost exactly how I expected, yet in others, it seemed completely different. Lennie’s character image was relatively similar except for the hair and the age. I did not expect Lennie to be bald at the front. Also, I thought Lennie would be about the same age as his companion, George. Yet in the movie, Lennie seemed to be much older. The way Lennie talks is fairly accurate compared to how it was portrayed in Steinbeck’s novella. A major difference is that Lennie's voice is much softer than I expected it to be. Lennie speaks very softly and quietly. When Lennie got mad at Crooks for supposing what would happen if George never came back or if something happened to him, he didn’t raise his voice in the way I thought he would have in rage. His voice increased but not by much. If it wasn’t for him getting up and making Crooks back up into the corner, it would not have seemed Lennie was mad at all. This clearly shows good acting, for both Crooks and Lennie. Although there are a couple of differences, Lennie is still the same big, dumb guy as shown in the novel.

Dialogue

     "Hello there. How are you?" asked John as he walked over to where a young grizzled man sat.
     "Go away," angrily replied the man.
     "How was your day?"
     " You are not going to leave are you? Now that you mention it," remarked the man, "it was a really good day actually. I won the 2.5 million dollar lottery! Oh, indeed it was a glorious day. My name if Raju Khan by the way. What's your name?"
     "My name is John. John Stills. And congratulations on winning the lottery."
     "So, John,"questioned Bob "how was your day?"
     John exclaimed, "It was a pretty good day, actually! I bought a brand new Mercedes. And I was promoted to manager only today. I decided to take the rest of the day off. Which is why I had the opportunity to come here."
     "So why are you out here?" asked Bob.
     "It's just a place I come to," John explained "to get away from the world. I like it here. It's very peaceful."
     Bob proclaimed, "Indeed it is."
     "So, why are you sitting out here?" asked John quietly.
     "This is kind of my thinking place. To sort out the day's events."
     "Ah, do you mind if I accompany you here?"
     "Not at all! Please join. It gets depressing being the only one out here by myself. It helps to have a friend," claimed Raju.

Of Mice and Men: The Untold Chapter

     Once upon a time, on a dark and stormy night, George was putting one of the ranch's horses in its stall in the barn. He heard the sweet voice of Curley's wife, "Hi, George." George looked up in haste. Standing in the door of the barn was none other than Curley's wife.
George said, “You’d get outta the barn. You ain't wanted here. You just gonna cause trouble with a capital "T"."
Curley's wife spoke with scorn, “Hold yer horses. I ain't gonna stir up some trouble. I just need someone to talk to."
Then their eyes met. They fell head over heels in love. It was love at first sight. George's hair stood on end. Then George caught a hold of himself. He looked down at the ground.
"You ain't supposed to be on here. I don't want no trouble.", said George quietly.
"Well, I ain't givin you no trouble, now am I?” responded Curley's wife.
Curley's wife came over from the doorway.
"What will happen to us if Curley finds out? I'll get fired. Me, Lennie, and Candy had a plan. We was going to buy our own ranch.", asked George.
"We can never be together.” George continued.
"Yes we can. All is fair in love and war. Besides, Curley will never find out. He's too busy picking fights to care for me" said Curley's wife. "Come on George, love is in the air."
"I gotta go. The others are waiting for me.", replied George.
"George, don't leave me! Your know as well as I do, love conquers all.", pleaded Curley's Wife.
Needless to say, it took George all his will power to walk away. As George was leaving, he could hear Curley's Wife begging him to stay, but he never turned back.