Q2 Week 6 Comments

I commented on Sarah's blog.
https://sarahcenglish1.blogspot.com/2016/11/how-to-be-thankful.html?showComment=1480514529735#c1017958437020442463

I commented on Savannah's blog.
https://savannahenglish1.blogspot.com/2016/11/symbolism.html?showComment=1480514693495#c5349389434490700263

Symbolism

Symbolism comes in many forms, in many different circumstances. Symbolism for me comes from butterflies, especially light yellow ones. When my grandfather passed away, I didn't really know one thing that would symbolize him except for ordinary things like golf and race cars. Everyone remembered him by these things, but I wanted something that I could remember him by for myself. So, as the days went by after he passed away and after his first funeral in Baton Rouge, I sort of forgot to look for things to remember him by. Instead, I just remembered him as everyone else did.

A couple of days later, my family and I had to travel to Virginia for my grandfather's second funeral. I had completely forgotten by now about finding something that could symbolize him for me. After the funeral had ended, I obviously was sad and extremely hot during the summer heat. I wasn't very focused on anything until I looked over at the beautiful coffin and saw a light yellow butterfly swoop across the top of the coffin and back again. I knew this was a way of my grandfather symbolizing that he was still watching over me. From then on, everytime I see a light yellow butterfly, I know that my grandfather is still with me.

How to survive life with a younger sibling

Life with a younger sibling is very, very hard, but occasionally fun. I have a brother that is 2 years younger than me in 7th grade. Most of my friends think he's sweet or nice, even though I have a very different view of him. I think he is very annoying and definitely not nice, but that's just because I see him 24/7. Surviving life with a sibling is challenging but in some ways rewarding. For example, if you have a younger sibling, they will probably look up to you and ask you for advice. This is one of the benefits of having a younger sibling because it shows you how important you actually are in their life.

Some of the down sides to having a younger sibling are very clear like free babysitting, loud noises, and occasional, yet painful, physical fights. Free babysitting is always a good idea for parents, except when it's an older sibling. So, if you are forced to babysit your little brother or sister, come up with as many distractions as you can like tv or games. Loud noises come with any sibling no matter the age, so there isn't really any hope of you avoiding this. If the loud and annoying noises become unbearable, simply go outside.There are many ways to prevent or stop these fights like keeping to your own business or just being nice, but this doesn't usually happen with siblings. So, try to reason with your sibling or come to a compromise that doesn't hurt either one of you.

Q2 Week 5 Comments

I commented on Sarah's blog.
https://sarahcenglish1.blogspot.com/2016/11/critical-lotf-scene-piggys-death.html?showComment=1479156369727#c3071254712816169610
I commented on Jack's blog.
https://jackcenglish1blog.blogspot.com/2016/11/free-post-about-thanksgiving-memories.html?showComment=1479156494866#c8025048848344058806

Critical scene from LOTF

A critical scene from Lord of the Flies that especially matters to the novel is when Simon meets the Lord of the Flies on page 143. What the readers need to notice about this scene is that the Lord of the Flies is foreshadowing events that will happen later in the next chapter. For example, in Lord of the Flies there is a quote from the Lord of the Flies on page 144 that reads, "-Or else," said the Lord of the Flies, "we shall do you? See? Jack and Roger and Maurice and Robert and Bill and Piggy and Ralph. Do you. See?" This quote is foreshadowing Simon's death and it is showing that if Simon disobeys the Lord of the Flies, he will be killed by the others. Also, readers should notice that in this quote, the Lord of the Flies lists the order of who will join in the killing first and then last. While reading this scene, readers should consider if the Lord of the Flies is an illusion or if the Lord of the Flies is actually talking to Simon in some form.

This scene is important to this novel as a whole because it is the death of a main character. The readers are already emotionally attached to Simon when he dies, so it adds to the evil of this book. The readers don't want Simon to die and they aren't expecting it, so when they read this, it seems like the book rose to a new level of hatred and evil on the island. Also, this scene is significant because it is symbolic in showing that the order and good of the island falling apart. Simon's eath is building up to the final destruction of civilization and nonevil of the island, which is Piggy's death. Simon is the Christ figure and when he dies, it is almost symbolizing Jesus's death.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has changed a lot in the past couple of years for many reasons. Thanksgiving for my family used to be pretty simple and organized. Now, however, it seems rushed and very unorganized. For example, it is the week before thanksgiving and my family doesn't know the plans yet or exactly how long it will last. We usually go to our family's duck camp in Pecan Island, but now we go to False River because my great grandma can't make it all the way to Pecan Island and back in one day. Also, my whole family used to stay three to four nights together, but now some of my family only stay one night and some only for the day.

This change in Thanksgiving isn't all bad because there are also new family members. My baby cousin has only been to one Thanksgiving with us, and thanksgiving already seems better with her being there with us. She keeps everyone busy all day, which helps the grandparents prepare the food. My brother and I used to be the only kids at Thanksgiving, so I really like having another kid around, even if she is only one. Another benefit of this change is that the drive to Pecan Island takes around two and a half hours, while the drive to False River is only around thirty to forty-five minutes. Also, since my family doesn't stay together for Thanksgiving as long, we have more time during the week to travel after or before.

Q2 Week4 comments

I commented on Kaelyn's blog.
https://ksenglish1.blogspot.com/2016/11/who-is-your-role-model.html?showComment=1478791903401#c2714756864085373814

I commented on Sarah's blog.
https://sarahcenglish1.blogspot.com/2016/11/how-have-your-priorities-changed-from.html?showComment=1478792011920#c2937749073954882931

Write about your experience with high school so far

My experience with high school so far has been exciting and a little challenging. High school is a lot different than middle school but in a good way. In many ways, I like high school better than middle school. For example, middle school didn't allow us to have a lot of independent time. We were always watched as middle schoolers during break or recess, and now that we are in high school, we have a lot of independent time. I like having this sense of being independent and I think having a lot of this free time helps with social experiences because you don't feel like you are obligated to do a certain thing or hang out with certain people.

I also think that high school is a little challenging because you are required to be independent almost all of the time. At first, I didn't know a lot of the people that worked in the office or in other places of the school, so I was a little lost on who to go to when I needed something. Also, I didn't really know exactly where to go for some of my classes. I have gone to episcopal for a couple of years now but I still hadn't stepped foot in most of the campus. I would have liked more direction on where to go and who to ask when I started my high school career.

Q2 Week4 LOTF Reading Response

[Piggy:] "I don't agree with all Jack said, but with some.  'Course there isn't a beast in the forest.  How could there be?  What would a beast eat?"
"Pig."
"We eat pig."
"Piggy!"
"I got the conch!" said Piggy indignantly.  "Ralph--they ought to shut up, oughtn't they?  You shut up, you littluns!  What I mean is that I don't agree about this here fear.  Of course there isn't nothing to be afraid of in the forest.  Why--I been there myself!  You'll be talking about ghosts and such things next.  We know what goes on and if there's something wrong, there's someone to put it right."
He took off his glasses and blinked at them.  The sun had gone as if the light had been turned off. [...]
"Life," said Piggy expansively, "is scientific, that's what it is.  In a year or two when the war's over they'll be traveling to Mars and back.  I know there isn't no beast--not with claws and all that, I mean--but I know there isn't no fear either."
Piggy paused.
"Unless--"
Ralph moved restlessly.
"Unless what?"
"Unless we get frightened of people." (83-84)

This passage is significant in the book because this passage explains how Piggy views the Beast. Throughout the book, we learn that each character has a different view of the Beast. In this passage, we learn that Piggy views the Beast scientifically and sees the Beast as fear itself. Piggy explains that there is no Beast for reasons such as lack of food. Also, Piggy brings up that this is just the first thing that they will fear on this island, the second is ghosts. This passage shows that Piggy has knowledge of the overall plan of the island. Piggy seems to know what they will fear now and next, and even why.

This passage is also significant because Piggy mentions that the Beast could also be each other. Piggy thinks that the boys will eventually start to fear the others on the island, which is major foreshadowing of Simon's death. For example, the boys feared and killed the Beast that was coming out of the forest. This Beast turned out to be harmless Simon. Also, this passage is significant because the way that Piggy shares the information (saying unless and pausing) of fearing each other shows that Piggy has already pondered this idea.