Motifs

Motifs were demonstrated throughout the book of mice and men. There have been examples of strengths and weaknesses. There have been examples of loneliness and companionship. Also there were examples of the corrupting powers of women. In fact motifs could be fund anywhere in this book.

Strengths that I really noticed, in fact one I think everyone noticed was the strength of Lennie. Not only was Lennie physically strong but also he had a great strength in helping a task to be performed. When working with the guys he made things a lot easier. Along with working strength, Lennie, Candy and George had a great strength when it came to strategy. All three were able to strategies a plan of success to get them living the or what we call “The Good Life”. One weakness, which got in the way, was Lennie and his condition.

Along with strength and weaknesses came loneliness and companionship. One prime example of that would have to be Candy and his dog. They had such a loving relationship, the two were inseperable. Candy had a one true friend in him and visa versa. This was all put to an end when the dog aged with candy becoming to old to work anymore and creating conflict between dog and workers. This led to the death of Candy’s best friend, causing him loneliness. This isn’t the only example, when Curley married his wife, it seemed, as very young married couple would think, that it was the start of great loving companionship. Things didn’t go as well planed. Curley’s wife lost that companionship she seeked, this causing her loneliness. In an attempt to fill the void she seeks out the attention of other males.

From the loneliness the true corrupting powers of women were truly shown. Not only did she try to flirt with George in the beginning of the story but she try s to flirt with almost every guy she comes across. Marrying Curley which had seemed to be a dream complete, turned into a nightmare of loneliness, longing and bondage. It was as if she had no right to anything. Curley gave her no attention and no one else was allowed to either. Through this circumstance Curley’s wife try’s as hard as she can to use her corrupting women powers. She would make sure she wore the right clothes, the right attitude and definitely she made sure she had the right words. This all led to problems between the guys and Curley all over ONE woman.

Motifs can be found in any situation. Every book you pick up to read you find a lot of motifs. The book of mice and men really had great motifs exhibited.

Service learning Plan 5/28/08

  The sales have been a success! so far in my service learning group (Community giving) we have raised over a hundred dollars. Now our only task is to figure out what exactly to do with the money, as well as how much to put towards what? i hope to evenly divide the money and spend it wisely on things that different children will be interested in based upon the wish list which had been given to us at the last meeting. After we purchase the items next  I plan on being able to send them to the hospital, whether we do it by mail or we travel on our own.

of mice and men bloom's taxonomy

1) What questions would you ask of Crooks to find out more of what type of person is on the inside? To truly get inside the mind of Crooks I would have to ask him questions pertaining to his own values. I would try to figure out his personal background such as things about his family, his house and his childhood. The greatest question I would have to ask was his feelings on life, asking was he lonely along with who is one person he really feels he can trust. Though Crooks may seem stubborn on the outside, I believe there is plenty of good inside.

2) Lennie loved to pet “soft things” he even would pet a puppy so much to a fatal point. How was this similar to the incident, which happened later along the line causing Lennie great controversy and affecting his fate? The incident where Lennie became too aggressive with a newborn puppy, which he loved so dearly, foreshadowed the killing of Curley’s wife. Just as Lennie fell in love with the texture of the fur of a puppy, he fell in love with the texture of Curley’s wife ‘s long brown hair. In both incidents Lennie crossed the line accidentally taking a life.



3) What was the problem with Candy's dog? Candy's dog had grown old causing difficulties with his health. He was not able to walk as normal due to joint problems; also he was suffering with not having all of his legs. Not was the dog doing harm to himself, but he bothered those around him. The dog caused problems with smell of the area causing things to stink. No matter how much Candy loved this dog, inevitably he would go as long as the other farmers were around.


4) What factors would you change if you were the caretaker of Lennie to avoid issues George came across? If I had the responsibility of taking care of Lennie I would barely let him out of my sight. Though it would be hard I would have to try and keep an eye on him 24/7. George knew just as well as anyone else that Lennie did not his own strength. In knowing that I wouldn't even allow Lennie to be in isolation at all, not even quietly with a pup.


5) How is Candy Similar to Candy's dog? Candy and his dog are very much alike. Not only are they alike age wise, but also they really have a lot in common. Candy and his dog had a connection as great as two humans. Just as Candy hel0ped his dog, comforting him, his dog gave him company in return, lastly both candy and his dog suffered from disabilities Candy, a missing hand and his dog a missing leg.

6) What are some of the problems with working on a farm and running your own land and business? Having the opportunity and responsibility of running your own farm and business could become very complicated. Though having your own is a nice thought. With ownership come responsibilities. Having your own land means you have to keep up with every part to make sure all is well. If you have crops you want to prevent animals from getting to them, as well as if you want to take care of your property well you need the right equipment. Though having plenty of workers is a good source, it is good to make sure that all are working; none of the property is stolen as well as being fair with pay.


7) If I were able to question Aunt Clara I would first begin by asking her “what happened to Lennie”? Did this problem occur during birth or did it happen due to an accident which as a child. Next I would ask Aunt Clara what age was Lennie when he first got a faddish for petting “soft things” and why didn’t you stop it earlier before it became a problem.

8) After the death of Curley’s wife I believe there were other possible outcomes instead of killing Lennie. George knowing of Lennies condition could of decided to take pity on him by not shooting him but by taking him with him on another run just lie when they escaped from “Weed”. By taking him to another location they could learn from their mistakes and decide not to go the same path again. Next time George could keep better watch of Lennie. I think that what ever the decision keeping Lennie was the best because he really was a great help.

9) The underlining theme of Mice and Men would have to be the principles of humanity. Though throughout the book conflicts of human Nature was demonstrated. These conflicts were shown by the way Curley’s father really didn’t seem to care about background too much just as long as they were good workers. During the interview with George and Lennie Curley’s dad basically judged based upon what was on the outside. Also Curley’s wife had a natural women instinct to her, which caused her to crave attention from males. Having just Curley wasn’t enough for her. She become bored, her human instincts made her have greed. Lastly the want of money and ownership caused the whole journey of the task to find their own farm to run.

American Dream

Have you ever dreamed before? You know, believed that your perfect little plan of success you had mapped out would all come to happened someday. That you would get that one true love of your life, or maybe you would get that job which doesn't realistically seem obtainable. In America this dream technique is very common, to be of a great success in the future, with a nice house, nice job, fame (for some) and fortune you could swim in. This is what we call THE AMERICAN DREAM. Not saying dreams aren't real and they can't come true , just simply saying there is always a stumbling block along the way. When you look at the book of mice and men, George and Lennie hold a dream . A dream which was yet to be altered by things society brought along. Things such as attitudes of "every man for himself ",along with unity of brotherhood which took a turn for the worst.

From the beginning George took his surroundings and place them accordingly to fit his puzzle of success. Though at first he inevitably had to work for a boss on a farm in which he did not own, he was able to meet a guy by the name of Candy who really took his dream to another level. Using Candy for money and also for work was a great way to help start his own farm. George being able to have his own farm...brought fortune. Aside from his own benefits , this would be the first time he'd be apart of a family. All three would finally feel like they have someone. George , Lennie and Candy could look out for one another. This was a good thing for it is true that in order to have a great start or even success, you need support.

At times we know support is essential for another success, but greed and distrust sometimes tend to get in the way. Curley's wife couldn't of set a better example. She just couldn't settle for one guy and one guy only. It seemed as if she were in between four walls and wanted to know what else is there? Curley's wasn't allowing that though , he couldn't he himself was dealing with a selfish, low self-esteemed side to him . Not trusting anyone, at times he would confront Slim on the where abouts of his wife. Slim wasn't the only one Curley harassed, but he even stooped low enough with his distrust and paranoia to attack Lennie. As long as he was around he wasn't allowing peace between any of the guy's. Controversy was Curley's style.

This style eventually led up to one of the greatest problems the guy's ever had to encounter. Like a lot of the problems they faced unity was the key to tackling them. Uniting to work together on a farm, also as hard as it was for Candy, coming together in order to put an end to what they called a miserable life for the dog. Like these incidents though, their last union had to be the greatest problem yet. Though Lennie meant well he had to face a conflict within himself, that issue was his own strength. This strength led to the one who loved controversies ,wife being killed. Everyone knew already of Lennie's condition , but that didn't stop Curley. The story ended with Unity. An union to put an end to Lennie's life. Leaving a dream of tending rabbits inevitibly ruined.

Dreams can as real, yet so fake, all depending on what standards you have set for yourself. We learn from our choices we make. Getting side tracked along the way, we may fall. With falling we may not reach our goals as fast , but with perseverance this "Dream" can actually become reality.

reflection 5/5/08

 We finally after all the hard work have came to a conclusion. Last session, task were assigned to several students in our group. Finally this Friday we will take our first step in our attempt to help children at The Children's hospital of Philadelphia. Friday May 9, 2008 we will be holding a fundraiser, where we will be selling ice cream along with water ice in exchange for new books for children. Hopefully we can gain things not only for reading but to help out with different children in all types of conditions needs. 

4-25-08 service learning

Today I plan on discuss in what we can do to further our attempt to help out at children's hospital. We can start by finding ways to raise money in order to buy things that are needed by the children at the hospital. i also hope to discuss things that are important such as what the hospital will allow us to do. 

First meeting reflection

Our first meeting turned out pretty O.K. As we sat in a group we discussed obtainable goals to help out the needy community. Our options consisted of helping the homeless, orphan children, people affected by HIV, people in hospitals with no loved ones along with people living in shelters. Though all of these ideals should be looked upon with concern, I really liked the ideal of helping the homeless and those in shelters. I feel that most of the time they have no voice. It seems as if everyday we walk by and glance without a second thought and go on about our business. If nothing else I feel that we can at least give what is needed to those in need and concern is one of them, if they have no one else to care for them, to show them love ,to realize that they are as much as a human as we are, them we as a community are not doing our job.

reflection

The last meeting i attended for service learning was heart touching. I was able to read a letter telling of a young little girl who was diagnosed with a certain cancer. Though the situation was very sad the little girl still had a sense of hope. By watching a video of a sick little girl along with reading a touching letter, I realized that this project was not just something that we want to do, but something we need to do. Some many people in trouble all over the world should be helped, and it should be the responsibility of those that have to give. 

Empire of the sun

  Jamie had an imagination so strong that it flew,  such as the air plane that he pondered on. He loved to play with his many toy planes, in fact he was spoiled with things that your typical nine year old wouldn't have for years. Jamie had servants whom he was capable of ordering in the rudest ways to obey him. His ignorance of the an human being should be treated didn't last for long.

   When Jamie woke up one day reality sure enough slapped him in the face. He became an orphan when he had been swept away by a mob in china. In fear, He had to become independent realizing no one there to kiss his backside anymore. In his Independence he hoped to be shown mercy by those he used to be on top of. Calling out to a few soldiers  "i--- i surrender , i surrender!" this attempt did not help him, for he still had not been shown any mercy. Being placed in a few training camps during the war , where the English and Americans were treated very poorly, he learned how to survive in a "dog eat dog World". (the one he had been shielded from all his life). Jamie became skilled at trading or what some might call  hustling. That wasn't his only skill though he also was a talented singer.

   Jamie's song of hope was demonstrated through out the movie. Even when a lady who the doctor could not save lied dying in bed, Jamie continued trying to save her even s the doctor chose to give up. 

  As a result of his independence a lot changed about Jamie. Changes such as becoming more mature and aggressive. Though occasionally he thought of his mom , his mind wouldn't allow him to remember having a human beings who were a wing of protection, a role model and a reliable source. As far as he was concern his parents were nothing but a little imaginative image which had gone stray from his life. Waiting to be happily reunited with his parents, a face of calmness, of sadness and resentment laid upon his face as his parents  greeted him. 

  Jamie had to be one of the strongest little boys ever. To be able to endure such hurt and abandonment and still able to take it in but he didn't let it  keep him down. Jamie still had a caring heart under it all which wouldn't allow him to lose Faith. Which in the end  ended him back with his parents.

Independent

For my independent service learning project i have not yet done all of my 15 hours. So far i have done about six. I decided to help work at a recreation center named "Happy Hollow". Where i was able to help with fixing up the inside of the building . All people from all over came and were put in different groups to work on what ever was assigned ,in one part of the building. My group was assigned to fix up the bathroom. First we started by taking tape and outlining the area that was to be painted  and placing plastic on the floor  so that paint would not drip. I had a lot of fun painting for the simple fact that i like art , but also because we had fun while doing it by joking and playing while we worked. When we were finish we took a break and were giving free lunch, which was really great because there was a variety of different things such as cold meals like sandwiches along with hot lunches like spaghetti. after eating some returned to the job to finish but my group just to decided to leave. i was fine with the idea though because i felt we had accomplished a lot already anyway. Over all the whole experience was a great learning opportunity and i would defiantly  do it again.

service learning

So far for service learning not many things have been accomplished. We did come up with several Service learning ideals such as raising money and giving to those in need,whether they are in the hospital, shelter or even homeless. I hope with in the next week or so we actually will be moving towards our goals by in some way  helping the environment , people and just the community in general. Overall I feel that this project overall will give us the group skills we need to accomplish things as a team.

NHD

At the beginning of NHD i was fustrated. i had no idea of what my topic would be i kept switching back and forth between hip-hop and religion. as i further inspected the details of each topic i reliezed that religion had sparked my interest more so than hip-hop. Then  the idea of religion in schools was the topic i chose to work on. learning of this topic really gave me a better perspective of how people felt about religion along with their religion. This project help me to learn about others cultures and background and see their feelings of freedom and equality in school. 

Native Son

Ch.1 You can’t win

This chapter demonstrates the struggles and challenges bigger faced with trying to be cool and keep a certain reputation along with being a young African American in a society like today. In this chapter Bigger is signaled from the ringing alarm clock all the way to the rat attack to
GET UP & GET OUT and face the WORLD.

Ch 2. Reality

I named this chapter reality because it shows how life is during the 1930’s. It’s a case of Man vs. Society. Bigger and Gus are forced to believe that this is how things are going to be. In this part of the book Bigger and Gus are sitting outside of the pool hall looking at a plane, which was writing in the sky. Then they begin to play games like what it would be like they (African Americans) were in power.

Ch. 3 Trapped

I chose to call this chapter trapped because it shows the traps bigger had laid for himself. Not only was he trapped in the room of Mary the daughter of Mr. Dalton but he is also trapped in a continues book of lies from the question of how Mary’s was missing to why her mother Mrs. Dalton smelt alcohol on her daughter breath the night before.

Taxonomy ?'s

1.Who was it that said “Bigger sometimes I wonder why I birth you?”...
Bigger Thomas' mother, a hardworking African American mother of three who is trying her best of making means for her family with out the presents of their father.

2.Suppose bigger and the gang had went on and robbed the store of the Caucasian male, what do you believe would have happened next?
I believe especially back then African American males had a stereotypical history of being capable of committing crimes along the lines of robbery.

3.What factors do you think you would change if you were stuck in the situation of capable of being Mary’s killer?
If I were in the same position as bigger sitting in a crime seen I would have to put on some real acting skills to make it seem as though I was clueless of what was going on. I would sit there screaming for help while at the same time trying to shake Mary awake.

4.What do you see as other possible outcomes after Mary was killed? After Mary’s death I think bigger could have automatically been accused of killing with out any real proof being showed. Bigger could have been killed, a runaway or possibly thrown in jail.

5. Why don’t you devise your own way to deal with your boss’ out of control teenage daughter? In order to deal with my boss’ out of control teen I would first try to warn her of how much trouble she could get into doing what she is doing. After that if she still insists on taking dangerous risk I would inform her that I would not be apart of anything and if it causes my job at least I won’t be framed of misplacing my boss’ daughter.

6. Do you believe that Bigger really is the character that he portrays himself as? I feel Bigger just really cares about the image that he reflects to others. I believe deep down Bigger is truly a kind-hearted guy, who is living for today and not tomorrow.

 Incoherent

Definition: Unclear, not able to grasp hard to follow ,incomprehensible

 

Antonyms: lucid                 Synonyms: disjointed

                        

                     coherent                                               scrambled            Sentence:     The definition given was incoherent

                                                                    

     

Merciful

Definition:  To show mercy forgiving, compassionate, clement,humane, tenderhearted, pitying, humane, tolerant,gracious, sympathetic.

Antonyms:       Synonyms:

                              

cruel                  understanding        Sentence: God is merciful.

unfortunate     benevolent

Renee's fear's

Religion in Schools

Religion in schools

 

Our school is involved in a program called service learning where we help out the community. Everyone is divided into three different groups. There was gardening, tutoring and mural. The group I was put into was gardening. In this group we put together   ideals of how we could make a positive impact on our community through gardening. We came up with planting flowers of different types and putting them together in a beautiful design to show how it doesn’t matter our differences, at the end of the day we together we form something great.

 

  As we continued in our attempt to start a garden we decided to start working with the national museum of Jewish History, since that’s where we were planting. Because of difference of belief people refused to enter the Jewish Sanctuary. Some students felt as though a religion was being pushed upon them.

 

   ¿Why or why not religion should be in school?

 

    For the longest people have had different beliefs. I believe because of the difference of belief everyone should be able to have freedom to believe and exorcise that religion in whatever way they want. If the theory evolution can be taught freely with no problem or hesitation or care for what anyone else thinks, why is it that we can’t even discuss religion in school?

 

   We come to school to learn new things we will need to know especially for careers. I feel we can all learn, but still get some freedom to express religious acts. I’m not saying miss class or any thing but I believe we should be able to pray anywhere we want. As long as no body is harming anyone else I think that it’s fine.

 

  You can’t force any beliefs upon any one whether it is the theory of evolution, theory of intelligent design or any religion. So if we can put theory upon students and discuss why not discuss religion that way we can learn about them all. One thing I don’t believe is that they can change someone’s belief or stop the way people exorcise them.