2016 has had many up's and down's, and has had many rough and smooth patches. Many people have said that 2016 was their worst year. But I feel this is based on personal opinion. I personally have a mixed feeling on 2016. There were many times that I wasn't sure if I would make it through the year. But in the end, I feel that I came out stronger.
2016 was the year that I feel really shaped me for the rest of my life. It was the year that I realized who my friend really were, and who I could depend on. It was the year I threw out the struggle of my image. I no longer care what others think of me, because I have no one to please but myself. I threw away all the memories of times were I was in pain. I've moved on from those things. I am free from these burdens, and no longer am I held down by chains.
The previous year brought many good things too. Many films came out over the year, that were very exciting to see. Disney has made great progress with Star Wars in my opinion. Many actors/actresses, who portrayed many of my favorite characters, have unfortunately past away this past year. But they will be remembered, and left many great works for there families to be proud of.
Last of all 2016 was the year that my two largest skills increased the most. My skilled as a Musician have extended to things past being just a drummer. I can now play piano and other key oriented instruments, as well as read music and notes. My skills as an inspiring pilot have also increases. These skills will hopefully increase further in the current year.
I am leaving 2016 behind, but I am thankful for many of the things I have learned through out it.
Things like the true meaning on friendship, the life that exists beyond the pages of music, and what the taste of flight feels like. I bid 2016 well, and greet 2017 with a smile.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Friday, December 9, 2016
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Friday, December 2, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Animal Farm Characters
Characters of Animal Farm
Napoleon is a pig who has a lust for power and authority. He takes advantage of the other animals because of his superior intelligence. Napoleon uses terror, violence, and acts of trickery to get his way. He cares not for the wellbeing of his fellow comrades, but only for himself and living the most luxurious life as possible. He commits many crimes, but the worst crime he commits is completely transforming into Mr. Jones and ruining the dreams and hopes of the animals on the farm. Napoleon completely slaughters the plans Old Major had laid out for them.
Snowball is the logical thinking pig that has every intention to make things on the farm better and more fair. He devotes himself to helping all of the animals, even the less intelligent ones, grasp the idea of Animalism. Snowball tries his best to stick to the plans Old Major had bestowed upon them. He is selfless and noble, which is why he and Napoleon seem to always clash together.
Napoleon’s sidekick, Squealer, is a very clever pig. He is loyal to Napoleon and sticks around him to gain knowledge and information. Anytime Napoleon does something that the other animals find questionable, Squealer is the one to defend him, right or wrong. Although Squealer is most definitely intelligent, he is not always truthful. He lies to the animals in attempts to justify the rules the pigs are breaking on the farm. He tells many tales, but the most outrageous lie is told when Boxer is supposedly taken away to a “veterinary hospital”.
Boxer is tall and mighty horse who devotes himself to all citizens on the farm. He constantly pushes himself to work as hard as he possibly can. His personal slogan- “I will work harder”- shows just how determined he is to do his part, if not more. Throughout the rebellion, he proves himself to be a valuable worker and soldier. Despite his great strength, Boxer does not possess great intelligence, which is why Napoleon is able to fool him into thinking he is being sent to a veterinary hospital when he collapses during the rebuilding of the windmill. He is selfless, thoughtful, strong, and hardworking until the very end of his life.
The stubborn donkey, Benjamin, refuses to ever be enthusiastic about the rebellion from the very beginning. While all of his comrades are excited that the farm will now be run and governed by their own kind rather than humans, Benjamin tells them, “Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey.” The message that Benjamin is trying to convey is that although the farm is no longer run by humans, another form of tyranny will soon begin. Benjamin knows that life as they know it will carry on as it as it always has, badly.
Mollie is a shallow materialist who does not care about the worries, hardships, or struggles of her fellow comrades. Her only concerns about the revolution are if she will still have sugar and her prize ribbons. Instead of being strong, loyal, and hardworking like the other horses, Mollie proves herself to be the complete opposite. She is bribed off of the farm with material things and cares nothing for politics or the struggles of the animals.
Jones represents the tyranny which the animals rebel against. He cares little for Manor Farm and the animals who work there. He is everything that animal kind does not want for a leader. On occasions, Jones even forgets to feed his animals. Throughout ‘Animal Farm’, Jones is portrayed as a careless, forgetful, human who is unable to reclaim his farm. However, it is questionable whether or not the farm was better off without him.
Each character has their own outlook on the rebellion and how it has played out. Despite the different levels of intelligence, every animal has the sense that they are not treated fairly and that a change for the better has yet to happen. One thing all of the animals have in common is that they all want to feel like they are important, and they all want to be treated as though they are equal. However, not all of the animals are smart enough to know what needs to happen in order for that to be accomplished. Excluding the pigs and Mollie, all of the animals have a common goal that they want to strive toward. The plan Old Major had set out for them was one they all agreed on. Although the animals don’t have the power to achieve that goal, they still have eachother.
Monday, November 28, 2016
The Pearl and Of Mice and Men Comparion
Honors English 10--Mr. Hollister
Of Mice and Men & The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Introduction
In both of the novels, Of Mice and Men and The Pearl, John Steinbeck allows fate to be one of the main themes. At multiple different points in the plot of Of Mice and Men, fate is assisted by one of the main characters, Lennie, in ruining the plans made. And in The Pearl, fate allows many terrible things to happen with the assistance of the greed of Kino and the other people in the village.
Plot
Both stories, Of Mice and Men and The Pearl, follow a similar outline of important events in the story. The Pearl starts with more action, but both books have slow beginning. And the climax in both books is in chapter five. In The Pearl, Kino beats Juana because she was trying to throw the pearl back into the ocean. Then Kino ends up killing one of the dark figures that has been attacking him. Their brush house catches fire, and they hide in Kino’s brother’s brush house until they can escape at nightfall. In chapter 5, Of Mice and Men starts off with Lennie in the barn with his dead puppy. He kills Curley’s wife and when George finds out, he tells Candy that they aren’t getting the farm they wanted.
Of Mice and Men
George and Lennie, to migrant workers during the Depression, head to a new ranch hoping to find work. They escaped from the last ranch after Lennie was blamed for raping a woman. As the story progresses you find that what Lennie touches he ends up destroying. It starts off with a dead mouse, and he crushes Curley’s hand in chapter 3. Then in chapter 5, he has a dead puppy, and has killed Curley’s wife. And that caused him to have to leave the new ranch. At the end of the book, Lennie's companion ends up shooting Lennie.
The Pearl
Kino, a Mexican-Indian pearl digger, his wife Juana, and their baby Coyotito were living a peaceful life. However, Coyotito was stung by a scorpion and they went searching for a pearl to pay for treatment. Kino ended up finding the pearl of the world, which ended up bringing evil and darkness to their lives. The fate that brought them the pearl also ended up taking their son from them. After which they ended up, casting the pearl back into the ocean, because they didn't want the evil it brought.
Settings
In both books, Steinbeck was able to create a very common area for most of the characters. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck turned bunkhouse into a main setting once arriving at the ranch. George and Lennie are staying in there, and end up meeting most of the other characters there. In The Pearl, he managed to do the same thing with the brush houses. He allowed it to become a very central area in the book. The book starts off in Kino and Juana’s brush house and many important scenes throughout the course of the book happen in and around the brush houses.
Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men, one of the major location of the story is in the bunkhouse. This is where most of the men on the farm were all living as they were working there. Many of the important scenes take place in the bunkhouse, and it seems like a very common area. The bunkhouse is where the place where George and Lennie, end up meeting almost everyone on the ranch. When the first get to the ranch they meet Candy, but in the bunkhouse they meet the boss, Slim, Curley, Curley’s wife, Whit, Crooks, and Carlson.
The Pearl
In The Pearl, a lot of what happens takes place in and around the brush houses. Kino, Juanna, and Coyotito live in one brush house and they have neighbors in surrounding brush houses. At the beginning, Coyotito got stung by the scorpion in their brush house. The first time that Kino got attacked was actually in the brush house, and the next time he was attacked right outside. Then Kino, Juana, and Coyotito went and hid in Juan Tomás’s brush house, when they were waiting to flee at the end of chapter five.
Characters
In Of Mice and Men and The Pearl, you learn about two different couples, Kino and Juana, and Curley and his wife. In The Pearl you see that Kino and Juana both lean on each other. Juana couldn’t survive on her own, and Kino relies on Juana for support to make it through tough situations. In Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife is married to Curley because he is a stable option for her during the Depression., and Curley simply wants an attractive woman as his arm candy. If Juana and Curley’s wife didn’t need their husbands to guarantee their survival, they probably wouldn’t tolerate their behavior and stay with them.
Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men, one of the main characters is Curley. In the book you get to learn about his relationship with his wife. Curley’s wife only married him because she had to. She said she needed to get away from her mother, so she married Curley because he was a better, more stable, choice. When she was talking to Lennie in chapter 5, she said that she didn’t love him, and you can tell that Curley doesn’t love her. He only married her because he wanted a beautiful woman as his arm candy. You can tell there is no love between them, and they don’t work together. If Curley’s wife didn’t need Curley for stability, she wouldn’t be married to him.
The Pearl
In The Pearl, two of the main characters is Kino and Juana, and throughout the course of the book you get to see how they work as a team. Whenever Kino begins to feel unconfident in himself, or in a situation, he looks at his wife and she is able to boost his self esteem. It leans the reader more towards believing that Kino could not get by without having Juana. Even though, you see a glimpse of Kino’s anger towards Juana at the beginning of chapter 5, you still see that he needs her. Also, in the book Juana says that she needs a man to survive. She most likely wouldn’t even be able to feed herself without Kino. If Juana didn’t need Kino for her own survival, there’s no guarantee that she would even be with him.
Themes
In both books, one of the main themes is fate. In Of Mice and Men, fate, with service from Lennie’s inability to control his strength, and understanding of what to do, intervenes in the plans that George and Lennie were making for their lives. Fate brings Curley’s wife in the the barn, at the precise moment that Lennie is trying to figure out what to do with his dead pup. And in The Pearl, fate is what brings the pearl, and its darkness, to Kino and Juana. Fate is also what takes Coyotitio away from them in the end.
Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men, fate ends up playing a very large role. With the help of Candy, it finally seemed that George and Lennie were actually going to get their dream farm, but then fate steps in. Chapter 4 is when all the pieces start fitting together for George, Candy was going to help with the money for the down payment on the barn, and that only meant that they had to work for a month or two at the ranch before they had all of the money that they needed. However, in chapter 5, fate brings Curley’s wife into the barn at exactly the right time. Lennie was attempting to figure out what to do with his dead puppy, and was unable to control his strength in the moment. He wasn’t sure what to do, and ended up killing Curley’s wife. After that, all of their plans fell apart.
The Pearl
In The Pearl, a recurring theme in the book is fate. At the beginning of the book, Kino and Juana’s lives change irreparably when fate allows a scorpion to sting Coyotito. Then a strike of beneficial fate hits, and Kino is lead to the pearl. And the events at the end of the book is caused by a combination of fate and the greed of Kino and others. Kino was caught between the destiny handed to him by fate and the destiny that he was trying to make for himself and his family. Which al leads to the final conflict, where Coyotito is taken away from Kino at the end of the story.
Symbolism
Both Of Mice and Men and The Pearl, have major symbols, that Steinbeck uses as foreshadowing for what will happen later on in the book. In Of Mice and Men, Candy’s dog is a symbol for what ends up happening to Lennie. Steinbeck uses the scorpion in The Pearl, as a symbol; Kino couldn’t get to Coyotitio fast enough to save him from the scorpion at the beginning of the book, nor the gun shot at the end.
Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men, one of the big symbols is Candy’s dog. At the beginning of the book, Carlson begins to complain about Candy’s dog being too old, weak, and useless. He tells Candy that it would be easier for everyone if he just took it outside, shoot it in the back of the head, and put it out of its misery. All along this was simply foreshadowing for what was to happen to Lennie at the end of the book. In chapter 6, George decided to shoot Lennie in the back of the head, because he was simply putting him out of his misery and it was a much more merciful death.
The Pearl
In The Pearl, the scorpion is one of the big symbols. In chapter 1, when Kino sees that there is a scorpion on the rope of Coyotito’s hanging box, he attempts to grab it. However, Kino isn’t soon enough. Coyotito moves, and the scorpion ends up falling and stinging him. You end up later finding out that this scene is foreshadowing for what happens to Coyotito at the end of the book. When they are in the desert/mountains, Kino is heading to fight off the trackers, but he wasn’t there quick enough. One of the trackers shot their gun before Kino could stop it, and it ended up hitting Coyotito.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear to see that Steinbeck made fate a main theme and a very large factor in the plot of both novels, Of Mice and Men and The Pearl. In both books, fate, with the assistance of some of the main characters, causes many horrible things to happen. Fate didn’t care about the plans that George, Lennie, and Candy made in Of Mice and Men, nor all of the plans that Kino wanted to make with his newfound fortune. Fate managed to take everything away from the characters in both of the novels.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
OMM and The Pearl Comparison
Honors English 10--Mr.Hollister
Of Mice and Men & The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Fate
Introduction
Fate is something we don’t often think about in our everyday lives. But in these two stories by steinbeck, i think it something we can come to see.
Characters
Both sets of main characters in either book, Kino and Juana in The Pearl, and George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men, have special relationships. Each character's shares a special bond, that makes them a pair. They’re inseparable, and have the back of the other.
Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men, there are two main characters. Lennie, is a mentally unstable, and large man. He has memory problems and, isn’t really smart when decisions are up to him. George, his companion and caretaker, is a lengthy man, who is fairly strong, but not as strong as lennie. They two have a certain relationship with each other. A brother like bond, where george watches over because he feels he needs to, not because he wants to. They travel together, and work from ranch to ranch, only staying as long as they can, until Lennie messes something up. Lennie always gets into trouble, leaving george to fix it. They stick together because Lennie needs George.
The Pearl
The two main protagonists in The Pearl are a wedded couple by the names of Kino, the male, and Juana the female of the two, the two have a small child named coyotito, and live on the baja peninsula. These to also have a special bond. Throughout the book, even though she disagrees with what Kino chooses to do with the peal, she still stands by him, and loves him as he does her. They may disagree but, they love each other in the end.
Themes
Fate is taken many different ways. Some see it as the base of their whole life. They base their actions on what they think their fate may be. Some see it as just a superstition. That some day far in the distance, is your fate waiting and there’s no way to change it, it just happens. There are also those who believe they decide their fate, and their life is up to them. Do you accept your fate, or will you decide when that time comes.
Of Mice and Men
Fate, is what you could say brought Lennie and George to the ranch. That they were destined to end up there. Lennie was destined to meet Curley, and his wife, who would in the end be his demise. Curley’s wife was the whole reason that Lennie was killed. It's very ironic actually, that the thing the he wanted so much, brought him the thing he was trying to avoid.
The Pearl
Likewise in the pearl, you could say that Kino was destined to find the pearl. Hisson, stung by a scorpion needed medicine, and he just happened to find the wealth that could provide it. Been then he tried to play with fate, and tried to get the most from his pearl rather than what would have worked. Fate is what brought the dark figures to kino, and fate killed his son.
Plot
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Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a parable about what it means to be human. Steinbeck's story of George and Lennie's ambition of owning their own ranch, and the obstacles that stand in the way of that ambition, reveal the nature of dreams, dignity, loneliness, and sacrifice. Ultimately, Lennie, the mentally handicapped giant who makes George's dream of owning his own ranch worthwhile, ironically becomes the greatest obstacle to achieving that dream.
The Pearl
Another one of Steinbeck’s story, is based on the struggle of a Mexican Indian, Kino, who finds a pearl in the sea, as he's working his low class oyster diving job. The book continues, and follows his journey to sell the pearl, and the darkness is brings him. The pearl brings a burden with it, and takes more from him then he receives. It brings Kino and his family into tragedy, in more than one aspect.
Setting
The settings of our storys, are key points. They are both the place in which the story begins and end. Steinbeck seams to really enjoyin bringing his wrttings back the there starting location.
Of Mice and Men
There are many settings in Of Mice and Men, but the one that I feel has the most meaning, is the creekside. This is where we are introduced to our Main characters, and were their journey begins. They spend their night there, and then continue to the main setting farm in the morning. This creek bank, is also where our story ends. After the death of curley’s wife, Lennie runs the the bank, were George instructed him to come if he ever gt into trouble. But then George decides the best choice is for lennie to be put down, like a dog. When Lennie is shot and killed, our story ends. Right on that creek bank.
The Pearl
Similar in The Pearl, the sea is start and ending setting. It’s not the very beginning, but the beginning of the pearls influence. The se is where the pearl began, forminng in the shell of a clam, deep on the ocean floor. Until Kino, our protaginist, finds it. It then went onto land, where it inflenced kino, until it brought desaster, then he finally let it go.
Symbolism
Symbolism in these two books have very different tones. In Of Mice and Men the symbolism has a tone that brings sadness, But The Pearl brings a dark, hatred tones. They are similar in ways, but very different.
Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men one of the main symbols is soft things. It’s the whole basis of the book. Lennie is infatuated with things that are soft. The dress of the girl in the beginning, is what caused Lennie and George to run from Weed. It then came into effect with the mice, that Lennie kept in his pocket and pet. When he lost the mouse he moved on to the pup. Throughout the whole book, the drive of Lennie’s being, is something soft, the rabbits. All up unto Curley’s Wife’s Hair. Which was the last thing soft the lennie touched
The Pearl
The symbolism in The Pearl has a much darker tone. Greed is a main symbolism, and gives the book a totally different tone. The pearl brought greed to Kino’s life. He wanted to sell it to make his life better, but he couldn’t bear to give it up.
Summary
In conclusion both of Steinbeck’s books bring your attention to small things, and his styles are similar in both books. His writing has a deeper meaning when you take a closer look into the words. Fate can be your enemy, or it can bring you fortune.Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Monday, October 31, 2016
Of Mice and Men vs. The Pearl
Honors English 10 Mr. Hollister
Of Mice and Men & The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Comparison of The Pearl & Of Mice and Men
Introduction
Of Mice and Men, and The Pearl are both very eventful and interesting books. There is a lot of things happening in both but they tie in at certain parts. main characters are getting in trouble and trying to fix the problem themselves or, trying to avoid fixing it in fear of making it worse. The plots are pretty interesting and the main characters may present themselves as the innocent people. These people may not mean to do what they do or just don’t realize they are doing it.
Characters
The Pearl
Kino is the main character in The Pearl, it starts off saying what a beautiful morning it is. But then it gets bad, two minutes after it talks about the beautiful morning there is already trouble. Kino’s son who keeps coming up repetitively in every chapter is in danger. Coyotito is a baby, his name rhymes with coyote. He is almost always in danger during the whole book. Kino doesn’t realize it is his fault because he thinks he is doing what is best for his family.
Of Mice and Men
Lennie is the main character in Of Mice and Men, Lennie is the main antagonist in this book as well. George is Lennie’s best friend after his aunt Clara died. George and Lennie travel together and they work together on a farm. Lennie is the muscle and George is the brains of the operation.
Setting
The Pearl
The town in The pearl is the main place everyone is at. The doctor, the priest, the townspeople, the beggars, everyone lives here. Kino and his family along with their little community live just outside the town in little thatch houses with thin walls. The people who live in the town are mostly the pearl buyers and the rich people. Kino and all the fishermen live outside of town because they aren’t necessarily good enough in some people’s standards.
Of Mice and Men
The bunkhouse in Of Mice and Men is one of at least five main settings in the book. Everything happens in the bunkhouse Lennie gets in a fight and George plays cards with everyone. Curly comes in looking for his wife a couple times and then she comes in looking for him. Candy meets Lennie and George in the bunkhouse and plays cards with them. Everyone lives in the bunkhouse besides the Boss, Curly, Curly’s Wife, and Crooks. They live in houses away from the bunkhouse and the barn.
Symbolism
The Pearl
Coyotes in The Pearl are big symbols because the baby's name is Coyotito. While Kino, Juana, and Coyotito are running away from the bounty hunters. When Coyotito cries one bounty hunter thinks he is a coyote pup crying for its mother. While, taking a break Kino and Juana hear a coyote howl in the distance.
Of Mice and Men
Hands in Of Mice and Men are big symbols throughout the whole book. When George and Lennie get to the bunkhouse and get acquainted curly comes in and has a glove on his hand filled with vaseline. Candy is missing a hand from his wrist to his fingertips. Lennie has strong big hands while George has small weak hands.
Theme
The Pearl
In The Pearl greed and fate are the themes that I mostly recognized and saw. The people of the town were greedy and wanted Kino’s pearl for themselves. They didn’t care how many people got hurt trying to get it from him either. Kino wanted a better price for his pearl so he could make sure his son got a good education. Kino wanted a rifle, and he wanted a wedding for his wife because they didn't get to have one. He wants to be able to provide for his family and give them what they want but he is greedy when he wants all of this stuff for his family.
Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men, strength is a big theme, everyone is talking about their own strengths and weaknesses. Lennie is very strong he can toss a bag of barley over his head. Slim is a strong figure in everyone's eyes he is a strong leader. Curly is strong he wrestles as a profession. The boss is a strong figurehead because he runs the farm. George can’t be considered strong physically because he is smart so he is strong mentally. Crooks isn't strong because his back is hurt.
Plot
The Pearl
In The Pearl the plot is a little hard to find, but you can find one. The plot is If something comes to you too easy it might not be good for you. Kino finds a pearl he really just happens to see it he doesn’t work hard to find it at all. After he finds the pearl things start to go upside down, he starts getting aggressive, people start attacking him. His family is afraid he ends up killing people because they are coming after him for his pearl. Juana, Kino’s wife, recognizes that things are happening because of the pearl that he has found and keeps telling him. She keeps telling him that it's bad and evil things will happen but he doesn't listen.
Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men the plot is a lot easier to find it fairly presents itself in the second and third chapter. The plot is, objects you might like or people you might like may not always like or appreciate you back. Lennie likes soft things, curly likes his wife, George likes to solve problems. People like a lot of things but that doesn’t always mean we will necessarily be happy or that the people we like will like us back. People use their own preferences like when Carlson shot Candy’s dog because the smell was bad and he didn’t like smelling it and seeing it suffer. Candy’s dog could have lived several more years if he was taken good care of but no Carlson had to get what he wanted. People want things they like or want to see happening and if it doesn't happen how they want it to happen they get upset. When things do happen and other people get upset because it happened the people who wanted it to be that way don't care because they like it. It's a vicious cycle that goes on and on and no one can stop what is happening.
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