Scott Lee
Mrs. Himes
H.A.L. P.6
12/04/07
The Notorious Jumping frog of Calaveras County Reflection
In “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” Mark Twain uses characterizations and irony to make his story interesting. The characterization of Jim Smiley and one of the bets Jim has are the examples. First of all, in the beginning of the story, Mark Twain describes Jim Smiley, the character, “he was the curiousest man about always betting on anything that turned up you ever see, if he could get anybody to bet on the other side; and if he couldn’t he’d change sides” (Twain 526). Because of this characterization, the readers can easily understand how the story goes and how Jim likes to bet on anything. Second of all, the irony of this story also keeps the readers interested in this story. One of the bets Jim Smiley has in this story is the dog racing. Twain explains how Jim loses his bet, “He give Smiley a look, as much as to say his heart was broke, and it was his fault, for putting up a dog that hadn’t no hind legs for him to take holt of, which was his main dependence in a fight, and then he limped off a piece and laid down and died” (Twain 527). In the beginning of the story, the author describes how luck Jim Smiley is on bets, but in this, he makes this scene as an irony so that the author can convey how unlucky Jim Smiley is sometimes.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Reflection essay
Scott Lee
Mrs. Himes
H.A.L. P.6
12/01/07
The Outcasts of Poker Flat Reflection
In “The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” Bret Harte uses many similes and personifications throughout the story. Fist of all, one of the similes used in this story is the snow. Harte describes the snow, “Feathery drifts of snow, shaken from the long pine boughs, flew like white-winged birds, and settled about them as they slept” (Harte 541). The author basically describes how lightly the snow falls down on the characters so that readers may know what the author tries to convey. Also Bret Harte seems to be giving more descriptions so that the readers can imagine the scene. In addition, Bret Harte also uses personification in the story. He writes, “The moon through the rifted clouds looked down upon what had been the camp” (Harte 541). The author described the moon shining down in the darkness as a personification so that the moon seems to be looking down as a person looks down. By using these literally elements, Bret Harte conveys his ideas in more specific way and in more literal way so that the readers can understand either in better way or in easier way.
Mrs. Himes
H.A.L. P.6
12/01/07
The Outcasts of Poker Flat Reflection
In “The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” Bret Harte uses many similes and personifications throughout the story. Fist of all, one of the similes used in this story is the snow. Harte describes the snow, “Feathery drifts of snow, shaken from the long pine boughs, flew like white-winged birds, and settled about them as they slept” (Harte 541). The author basically describes how lightly the snow falls down on the characters so that readers may know what the author tries to convey. Also Bret Harte seems to be giving more descriptions so that the readers can imagine the scene. In addition, Bret Harte also uses personification in the story. He writes, “The moon through the rifted clouds looked down upon what had been the camp” (Harte 541). The author described the moon shining down in the darkness as a personification so that the moon seems to be looking down as a person looks down. By using these literally elements, Bret Harte conveys his ideas in more specific way and in more literal way so that the readers can understand either in better way or in easier way.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Which Villains do you like the best?
The poll is basically about which villains from the hero movies people like the best. The first choice was Venom from Spiderman 3. Though it was selected by 2 people in the first, it couldn't go on more. The next selection was Joker from Batman in which was in top with other villains. Unfortunately, no voters chose Dr. Doom while Lex from Superman and Megatron from Transformers were selected the most along with Joker. Through this result, it can be said that people like cooler, stronger villains better, and also the villains from old movies. Dr. Doom, and Venom are more likely to be the villains from recent movies while Lex, Joker, and Megatron are from old movies.
In conclusion, this poll shows that people like the villains from old movies that were re-appeared on nowadays.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Romanticism Essay
Scott Lee
11/10/07
Mrs. Himes
H.A.L. P.6
Romanticism Essay
“The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers—stern and wild ones—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss” (Hawthorne 182). As in romanticism, symbolism is used very often, and Nathaniel symbolizes the letter A to shame, despair, and solitude in the story, “The Scarlet Letter,” which brooded on problem of sin such as adultery in the early Puritan society of early America. Also, in this story, there are many other symbols and settings used. Additionally, the story, “The Devil and Tom Walker,” describes human greediness and the consequences of greediness; furthermore, there are many symbols and settings, too. Also, this story is obsessed with evil. The Scarlet Letter and The Devil and Tom Walker significantly reflect to the ideas of Romanticism period. The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, demonstrates that everyone is capable of committing sins by the way characters are symbolized, the settings of the story, and its plot. IN the Devil and Tom Walker, Tom Walker shows his greediness and the consequences of his greediness as well as the Scarlet Letter.
As the Romanticism period required many usages of symbols, there are many symbols in both The Devil and Tom Walker and The Scarlet Letter. In The Devil and Tom Walker, the black man whom Tom Walker deals with symbolizes the Devil. Washington writes, “Tom lost his patience and his piety—‘The Devil take me,’ said he, ‘if I have made a farthing!’ Just then, there were three loud knocks at the street door. He stepped out to see who was there. A black man was holding a black horse, which neighed and stamped with impatience” (Irving 244). In this quote, it can be clearly seen that the black man whom Tom Walker mentions to take himself is the Devil. From the beginning of the story, Washington does not describe the black man as the Devil until later when Tom Walker deals with him. As many as Washington Irving used symbols significantly in his book, Nathaniel used many symbols in the Scarlet Letter, too. For example, Nathaniel mentions about the letter A which Hester has, “The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers—stern and wild ones—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss” (Hawthorne 182). Through this quote he symbolizes the letter A not only to adultery, but also to shame, despair, solitude, and able later on. This demonstrates how letter A symbolizes different ideas at a same time, and also how Nathaniel Hawthorne sees the problems in the early Puritan society, a problem that many people commit sins, hide their sins, and behave like hypocrites. Overall, symbolism is one of the important literary elements which reflect the Romanticism. Washington Irving uses symbolism to show that the black man is the Devil ion the story, “The Devil and Tom Walker,” while Nathaniel Hawthorne symbolized Hester’s letter A to adultery, shame, and sins. Therefore, the readers can see how symbolisms of each novel are connected to the Romanticism.
Moreover, as symbolism is essential to the Romanticism, settings are also important. Washington Irving for example, describes its setting as a dark, evil, and dim place, “Anyone but he would have felt unwilling to linger in this lonely, melancholy place, for the common people had a bad opinion of it, from the stories handed down from the time of the Indian wars; when it was asserted that the savages held incantations here, and made sacrifices to the evil spirit” (Irving 238). This basically shows how the place is related to evil by describing the place darkly like the place where evil things are associated. This also shows that this setting takes it to the Dark Romanticism because the settings are obsessed with the enigma of evil. In addition, Nathaniel Hawthorne also sued settings to reveal its Romanticism its Romanticism. Nathaniel Hawthorne describes the period of time the story takes place, “…But in that early severity of the Puritan character, an inference of this kind could not so indubitably be drawn” (Hawthorne 43). This definitely shows the characteristics of Dark Romanticism because its setting is no Puritan time, which the Dark Romanticism is built upon. In conclusion, both books are related to the Romanticism and these reflect the beliefs of the Dark Romanticism by showing the settings. The setting in Devil and Tom walker is likely to be dark and evil while the setting in the Scarlet Letter, which is Puritan time, reflects to Dark Romanticism directly.
Lastly, the plots of these books also reflect to Romanticism. The plot in the Devil and Tom Walker is described, “you shall lend money at two per cent a money.’ ‘Egad, I’ll charge four,’ replied Tom Walker. ‘You shall extort bonds, foreclose mortgages, drive the merchant to bankruptcy’” (Irving 242). The basic plot of this story is that Tom Walker deals with Devil for the wealth, and finally perishes because of his greediness. This quote provides how evil Tom Walker is and the reason he will eventually perish. Furthermore, the plot in the Scarlet Letter also reflects the beliefs of Romanticism. One of the townsmen in the story explains what Hester did, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne, and her evil doings. She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church” (Hawthorne ). Although this quote does not directly show the plot, this provides the fact that Hester had committed adultery in Puritan society and therefore is in trial. This obviously shows that Hester’s action reflects to the belief of Romanticism. Overall, the plots of each story reveal its Romanticism beliefs through the deals Tom Walker has with Devil and Hester being in trial for committing sins.
In conclusion, literary elements such as symbols, settings, and plots used in the Scarlet Letter and The Devil and Tom Walker reveal that these two stories are written based on Romanticism. Hester’s letter, Puritan society period, and Hester in trial because of her sin are the example of each element in the Scarlet Letter; they reflect the Romanticism beliefs. Moreover, the black man symbolizing Devil, the dim place where the Devil is, and the plot that Tom Walker deals in an evil way are examples of symbols, settings, and plots in the Devil and Tom Walker; these also reveal the beliefs of Romanticism. Through these books, the readers know how the sins lead to bad consequences, and the readers should try not to commit sins.
11/10/07
Mrs. Himes
H.A.L. P.6
Romanticism Essay
“The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers—stern and wild ones—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss” (Hawthorne 182). As in romanticism, symbolism is used very often, and Nathaniel symbolizes the letter A to shame, despair, and solitude in the story, “The Scarlet Letter,” which brooded on problem of sin such as adultery in the early Puritan society of early America. Also, in this story, there are many other symbols and settings used. Additionally, the story, “The Devil and Tom Walker,” describes human greediness and the consequences of greediness; furthermore, there are many symbols and settings, too. Also, this story is obsessed with evil. The Scarlet Letter and The Devil and Tom Walker significantly reflect to the ideas of Romanticism period. The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, demonstrates that everyone is capable of committing sins by the way characters are symbolized, the settings of the story, and its plot. IN the Devil and Tom Walker, Tom Walker shows his greediness and the consequences of his greediness as well as the Scarlet Letter.
As the Romanticism period required many usages of symbols, there are many symbols in both The Devil and Tom Walker and The Scarlet Letter. In The Devil and Tom Walker, the black man whom Tom Walker deals with symbolizes the Devil. Washington writes, “Tom lost his patience and his piety—‘The Devil take me,’ said he, ‘if I have made a farthing!’ Just then, there were three loud knocks at the street door. He stepped out to see who was there. A black man was holding a black horse, which neighed and stamped with impatience” (Irving 244). In this quote, it can be clearly seen that the black man whom Tom Walker mentions to take himself is the Devil. From the beginning of the story, Washington does not describe the black man as the Devil until later when Tom Walker deals with him. As many as Washington Irving used symbols significantly in his book, Nathaniel used many symbols in the Scarlet Letter, too. For example, Nathaniel mentions about the letter A which Hester has, “The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers—stern and wild ones—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss” (Hawthorne 182). Through this quote he symbolizes the letter A not only to adultery, but also to shame, despair, solitude, and able later on. This demonstrates how letter A symbolizes different ideas at a same time, and also how Nathaniel Hawthorne sees the problems in the early Puritan society, a problem that many people commit sins, hide their sins, and behave like hypocrites. Overall, symbolism is one of the important literary elements which reflect the Romanticism. Washington Irving uses symbolism to show that the black man is the Devil ion the story, “The Devil and Tom Walker,” while Nathaniel Hawthorne symbolized Hester’s letter A to adultery, shame, and sins. Therefore, the readers can see how symbolisms of each novel are connected to the Romanticism.
Moreover, as symbolism is essential to the Romanticism, settings are also important. Washington Irving for example, describes its setting as a dark, evil, and dim place, “Anyone but he would have felt unwilling to linger in this lonely, melancholy place, for the common people had a bad opinion of it, from the stories handed down from the time of the Indian wars; when it was asserted that the savages held incantations here, and made sacrifices to the evil spirit” (Irving 238). This basically shows how the place is related to evil by describing the place darkly like the place where evil things are associated. This also shows that this setting takes it to the Dark Romanticism because the settings are obsessed with the enigma of evil. In addition, Nathaniel Hawthorne also sued settings to reveal its Romanticism its Romanticism. Nathaniel Hawthorne describes the period of time the story takes place, “…But in that early severity of the Puritan character, an inference of this kind could not so indubitably be drawn” (Hawthorne 43). This definitely shows the characteristics of Dark Romanticism because its setting is no Puritan time, which the Dark Romanticism is built upon. In conclusion, both books are related to the Romanticism and these reflect the beliefs of the Dark Romanticism by showing the settings. The setting in Devil and Tom walker is likely to be dark and evil while the setting in the Scarlet Letter, which is Puritan time, reflects to Dark Romanticism directly.
Lastly, the plots of these books also reflect to Romanticism. The plot in the Devil and Tom Walker is described, “you shall lend money at two per cent a money.’ ‘Egad, I’ll charge four,’ replied Tom Walker. ‘You shall extort bonds, foreclose mortgages, drive the merchant to bankruptcy’” (Irving 242). The basic plot of this story is that Tom Walker deals with Devil for the wealth, and finally perishes because of his greediness. This quote provides how evil Tom Walker is and the reason he will eventually perish. Furthermore, the plot in the Scarlet Letter also reflects the beliefs of Romanticism. One of the townsmen in the story explains what Hester did, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne, and her evil doings. She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church” (Hawthorne ). Although this quote does not directly show the plot, this provides the fact that Hester had committed adultery in Puritan society and therefore is in trial. This obviously shows that Hester’s action reflects to the belief of Romanticism. Overall, the plots of each story reveal its Romanticism beliefs through the deals Tom Walker has with Devil and Hester being in trial for committing sins.
In conclusion, literary elements such as symbols, settings, and plots used in the Scarlet Letter and The Devil and Tom Walker reveal that these two stories are written based on Romanticism. Hester’s letter, Puritan society period, and Hester in trial because of her sin are the example of each element in the Scarlet Letter; they reflect the Romanticism beliefs. Moreover, the black man symbolizing Devil, the dim place where the Devil is, and the plot that Tom Walker deals in an evil way are examples of symbols, settings, and plots in the Devil and Tom Walker; these also reveal the beliefs of Romanticism. Through these books, the readers know how the sins lead to bad consequences, and the readers should try not to commit sins.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Effects of Global warming
Scott Lee
10/22/07
Mrs. Himes
H.A.L. P.6
The Effects of Global Warming
The Global Warming became such a big issue that is an essential problem nowadays, and the effects of global warming are also big problems. Quite many people know what the effects of the global warming are. Melting of Greenland, the increase of seal levels, and the increase of air temperature are the main effects of the global warming.
First of all, the global warming is resulting on melting of Greenland. As the temperature goes up because the heat from the sun stays within the Earth, the ice in both North pole and South pole are melting down and so as is Greenland. This affects not only melting of iceberg, but also the land. This problem also leads to another problem, too.
In addition, as the icebergs melt down, the sea level also increases. Soon or later, this will be the most important issue because as the sea level goes up, the land is getting decreased. For example, Japan, one of the countries in Asia which is grouped of 4 islands, is going down. If the sea level increases rapidly, the speed of Japan going down will be much faster. The problem of increase of sea level is quite important because humans have to figure out a way to solve this problem. If this problem continues, the land will eventually be covered with ocean.
Lastly, the global warming also is resulting on the increase of air temperature. Since the Co2 level, known as carbon-dioxide gas, is getting higher and higher, the heat from the sun cannot go out of the earth and causes the increase of air temperature. Because of this problem, it leads to the melting of Greenland in which it leads to the increase of sea level. Because of this problem, the hot weather is continuing and is getting hotter and hotter each year. It also causes raining, snowing and hail storms on not profit season.
Overall, global warming has resulted on a lot of problems such as melting of Greenland, increase of sea level, and the increase of air temperature. Icebergs are melting on Greenland, the increase of sea level is resulting on the decrease of ground, and the increase of air temperature is resulting on hot weather and strange climate. Each of the problems is affecting many nations and humanity so badly. If these problems keep occurring continually, the earth will be ruined someday.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Bartleby criticism essay
Scott Lee
10/17/07
Mrs. Himes
H.A.L. P.6
How is Bartleby a Satire
Herman Melville’s Bartleby is seen as a satire Through the characters in the Bartleby, he ridicules different types of people by describing them sarcastically to show the problems of the society. In the Bartleby, the narrator describes Nippers, one of his employees, “Nippers, the second on my list, was a whiskered, sallow, and, upon the whole, rather piratical-looking young man of about five and twenty. I always deemed him the victim of two evil powers: ambition and indigestion” (Melville 7). He first describes him as a good employee, but then describes him as a victim of ambition and indigestion which are both Nippers and the real society’s problems. Through this, Herman Melville makes fun of the society. In addition, the way Bartleby answers back to the narrator shows how this story is a satire. Every time the narrator asks Bartleby to do something, he answers back, “I would prefer not to” (Melville 12). The reason Bartleby answers not to do is that his lonely background had affected him to be individualized. By making Bartleby answer, “prefer not to,” Herman Melville illustrates and ridicules the problem of individualities and loneness.
10/17/07
Mrs. Himes
H.A.L. P.6
How is Bartleby a Satire
Herman Melville’s Bartleby is seen as a satire Through the characters in the Bartleby, he ridicules different types of people by describing them sarcastically to show the problems of the society. In the Bartleby, the narrator describes Nippers, one of his employees, “Nippers, the second on my list, was a whiskered, sallow, and, upon the whole, rather piratical-looking young man of about five and twenty. I always deemed him the victim of two evil powers: ambition and indigestion” (Melville 7). He first describes him as a good employee, but then describes him as a victim of ambition and indigestion which are both Nippers and the real society’s problems. Through this, Herman Melville makes fun of the society. In addition, the way Bartleby answers back to the narrator shows how this story is a satire. Every time the narrator asks Bartleby to do something, he answers back, “I would prefer not to” (Melville 12). The reason Bartleby answers not to do is that his lonely background had affected him to be individualized. By making Bartleby answer, “prefer not to,” Herman Melville illustrates and ridicules the problem of individualities and loneness.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Poem
This is my own vision/opinion about Death
A life like a flower/star
A life that starts like a flower
weak, strengthless, and alone
a short life that
was given to it
the next thing it faces is
Death, in which
is the coldest moment
It withers and bends down
like a falling of a tiger
thy death is just the beginning
of a new life
Through thy death
numerous flowers were
given a new life
Death is just
A beginning of a new life
A life that starts like a morning Sun
Rises, shines, and sets down
It always takes a life and a death
Death, a horrible, cold, and scary moment
is nothing to the morning Sun
Because death is just
a beginning of a new life
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