To Kill A Mockingbird Character Relationships

      After reading chapters 1-14, we have met pretty much all of the major characters and people of Maycomb County, Alabama. First of all, there is Scout, the narrator. There is her brother, Jem, her father, Atticus, her family's cook, Calpurnia, and a bunch of other neighbors, friends, etc. All of the characters, however, have in some way shaped Scout's life. For example: Atticus and Aunt Alexandra.

      Atticus and his sister, Aunt Alexandra do have some similarities, despite being so different. For one thing, they do both want what is best for the kids, although they have different ideas as to what that is. In the book, it says, "'We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. It won't be many years, Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys--'" (Page 127) Aunt Alexandr a is coming and staying with Atticus and Jem and Scout because she thinks that it is best for the family. Atticus also does what he thinks is best for the family. For example, on page 137, Atticus says, "'Alexandra, Calpurnia's not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn't have gotten along without her all these years. She's a faithful member of this family and you'll simply have to accept things the way they are....Besides, I don't think the children've suffered one bit from her having brought them up.'" By standing up to his sister and telling her that no matter what, Calpurnia is staying, is him doing what is best for the family. Calpurnia has helped them out tremendously and Jem and Scout would not be the people that they are without her.

      Atticus and Alexandra have plenty of differences, on the other hand. For one thing, Atticus believes that in treating his kids like adults, and telling them everything that they ask. Alexandra is shocked by this and clearly does not believe the same thing. On page 132-133, it says, "'...Atticus said it cost the family five hundred dollars to get him out of that one--' Aunt Alexandra was standing stiff as a stork. 'That's all,' she said. 'We'll see about this.'" Atticus had obviously shared something with the kids that Alexandra is shocked by and would never have shared with the kids, had they been hers. Another difference between Atticus and Alexandra is their ability to listen to both sides of an argument. When Francis and Scout got into a fight, Alexandra didn't listen to Scout's side of the story, and Scout got punished for something that she didn't do. On page 85-86, it says, "'Well, in the first place, you never stopped to gimme a chance to tell you my side of it-- you just lit right into me. When Jem an' I fuss Atticus doesn't ever just listen to Jem's side of it, he hears mine too...'" This shows that when Francis got into a fight with Scout, neither Aunt Alexandra nor Uncle Jack stopped to listen to Scout's point of view. Atticus listens to both.

To Kill A Mockingbird Setting

      We started reading the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee last week. IN the book so far, we have been in traduced to many characters in the old Alabama county of Maycomb. The narrator Scout, is six or seven years old when the story begins. She lives with her father, Atticus, her older brother, Jem, and the family's cook, Calpurina. We have also been introduced to other people in Maycomb, such as the Radley family. Boo Radley, is though to be insane. There have been stories and gossip of him stabbing his father with scissors, eating cats and squirrels and creeping in people's windows at night. The children all see, to be scared of the Radleys. All throughout the story, the setting seems to play a role in character development.

      The photo I have chosen to represent Maycomb County, Alabama is a picture taken in Selma, Alabama. It shows a store front. There are dirt roads and farm-like land in the background, and there appears to be a man hiding in the shadows next to the store. In the book, it says, "Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square." (Page 5) Another thing that I think is helpful to know is that may families in Maycomb are poor. I think that this picture represents Maycomb because many aspects of the picture match up to the description of the town in the book. For one thing, the roads. As you can see in the picture, there are dirt roads in front of this store. And, Scout describes to roads turning to slop when it rains, which implies dirt roads.

      Another thing that Scout mentions is that a lot of Maycomb is farm land. As it says on Page 16, "Miss Caroline seemed unaware that the ragged, denim-shirted and floursack-skirted first grade, most of whom had chopped cotton and fed hogs from the time they were able to walk, were immune to imaginative literature." So, as you can see from the quote, the children were taught to work on farms when they were little, and education was not the main priority. I think that that quality of Maycomb matches up with the picture because, as you can see in the picture, behind the store is what looks to be farm-like land.

Evans, Walker. "Store with False Front. Vicinity of Selma, Alabama" Jan.      1936. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives, Library of Congress, Selma, Alabama.

Election Reflection

What are your thoughts of this election in general?

      I am very disappointed in the results of this 2016 election. If for some reason you did not know, Donald Trump won. I don't know how America could elect someone so racist, homophobic, and just all around, not a good person. Especially after all of the stories, tapes, and videos of him saying terrible things about people.

      During this election, I have heard many people say a lot of different things about Hillary. That she wasn't trustworthy, that she should go to jail, and that she was just not a good candidate for president. And to that I say: Yes. She is not the perfect candidate. But, Donald Trump is so much worse. I just want to say, would you rather have a president who made one bad choice in deleting emails (who by the way was cleared by the FBI), or someone who is constantly insulting women, people of color, disabled people, the LGBTQ community, the list goes on and on. At one point in the election, he said that he could shoot someone and he wouldn't lose any votes. I can't even begin to describe how I feel about America choosing him as president, when he is clearly not even close to being as qualified as Hillary. And I know that some people will disagree with my statements, but, that's my opinion. So, if your opinion differs from mine, that's fine. 

Would you like to be more involved in politics? If so, how?

I actually think that I am pretty involved in politics. For one thing, in OAV (Our American Voice), I, along with a couple other classmates, helped people register to vote. We, didn't get very many people, unfortunately, but most people that passed by the school and actually payed attention to us, had already registered, which was great. Another thing that I did, last weekend actually, was helping my mom go door to door (to registered Democrats) in Iowa, reminding people to vote. We got a clipboard of people who were registered as Democrats in a specific town/couple of blocks and we would go and knock on their door. Some of them weren't home, so they would get a "VOTE FOR HILLARY" sign on their door, but if they answered, we would remind them to vote, and to vote for Hillary. And although the entire state of Iowa went Republican, the county that we were in went Democrat. I am really disappointed though, because I don't feel like I made that much of a difference.

Remembrance of Death

The morning I saw death was red as blood
Red sky, red ground, red water
The air was thick with the stench
Of men greeting death, as I was

Friend and foe lay beside me
Titans laid slain, or nearly so
Some lay quietly, accepting their end
Others cursed the unfairness of it all

Over them floated a creature shrouded in shadow
The air around it seemed to ooze darkness
It was an odd sight on such a bright day
The thing glided over to me and lowered to the ground

“It is time.” The creature spoke softly, with a lilting tone
“What are you?” I asked
“I am you. Your future. I am death.”
“I am not ready,” I pleaded.
“Look at you,” it exclaimed, “you are injured. You are dying. You are ready.”

I continued to argue my point,
 “ I have a country to serve, I've given too much to give up now!”
“The country will survive,” death assured me,
 “ it does not need you, you have done what you could.”
Perhaps it was right,
But perhaps….

“One man is all that is needed!,” I insisted, “ One man could change the tides of war!”
It tilted its head at me, an air of tiredness seemed to surround it.
“Many a man on this very field have made such a claim, what makes you different?”
I considered it's words.
What made me different? Nothing. Nothing but a chance to beat back death and win.

“Remembrance, I can offer them remembrance.” I told it.
“Every soldier deserves that,” I continued, “and even if I am the lone survivor I am enough to give them what they deserve.”
At this death almost laughed.
“Oh? And those fighting you? What of them? Do they deserve a memorial along side you?”

This made me pause, I had to think on this.
Did they? Could I give them that?
Did it matter? Did we not all fight for our beliefs?
Who was I to say one was correct and others were not?
To another man I could also be the enemy, but did that make me wrong?

“Every person leaves a mark, whether we wish to see it or not.”
It was the only answer I could give.
“I do not make them, but I can carry them with me.”
At this the world grew silent,

“Very well, for now I give you a chance,” it paused,
“But should you forget those words, I will be waiting.”
With that I was left alone,
The morning I saw death was bright as the sun

1st Quarter Reflections

      I cannot believe that the first quarter is over already! It went by so fast. 

Where are you in your 20 Book Challenge?

So far this year, for the 20 book challenge, I have read 15 books. I have read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen, Counting but 7's by Holly Goldberg Solan, Paper Towns by John Green, Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. I have also reread some of the Harry Potter Series, including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I have also finished the Series of Unfortunate Events Series by Lemony Snicket. The Histile Hospital, The Carnivorous Carnival, The Slippery Slope, The Grim Grotto, The Penultimate Peril, and The End. I hope that I will continue to read more and finish the challenge, which I know that I will, considering that the challenge is only 20 books and I have three quarters left.

How has your writing progressed?

I think that my writing has come a long way since last year. Just this quarter, I have learned a lot about writing style, voice, formatting, grammar, etc. Looking back at my old blogs, I am noticing all of these little mistakes that I hadn't noticed before. 

What are your goals for ELA in the next three quarters?

My goals for the next three quarters are, for one, to get better ar vocab. Last year, I was great at vocab. I would study and I would usually do very well on the tests. But, this year, I am struggling. I usually forget to study and don't do as well as I would like to. So for the next three quarters, I really want to improve on that. Another goal for the next three quarters is to finish the 20 Book Challenge and hopefully get to 40. Last year, I got so close to finishing the 40 Book Challenge, I think that I read about 35 books. This year, my goal is to finally finish the 40 Book Challenge. 

Confessions of a Madman

The following is a recorded confession of Montresor to the murder by asphyxiation of one -- Fortunato.

You understand why you are here correct?
Yes.
So then, why are you so calm?
You do not frighten me. 
And why is that?
Nothing does, nothing ever has. Now then can we get on with it? You're wasting my time.
Just to clarify, you are speaking of your own free will?
Yes.
And you will speak the truth, and nothing but the truth?
Of course I will.
Now then can you please explain, in detail, why you are here?
You already know why I am here.
Yes, but you must say it yourself, otherwise it would not be a confession.
You have a point. I am here to confess  to murdering my dear friend Fortunato.
In detail, Mr. Montresor
Everything? From planning to the act?
Yes.
Very well. I first wished to kill him when he dared to insult me.
He insulted you? 
Yes.
Was it really deserving of murdering him?
Yes. 
Well, what did he say?     
He insulted the Montresor family. If I'm correct his exact wordswere, " The Montresors we once a great family, so full of culture and talent. It is a shame that they have been reduced to this."
Well that is rather harsh. When was this?
Over my dead mother's grave.
Ah....I see.
You understand my contempt for him, no?
Regardless of what was said and where, don't you feel remorse for your actions?
No.
Not at all?
No, not at all.
I see. Carry on.
I returned home and considered if I would ever have a chance for revenge. I wanted to reduce him to a mere sentence, as he did to my family. I understood that it would not be easy, he was a rather public figure, then there was the pesky matter of witnesses. I was thinking that I would need to lure him to a place he would not be noticed, and then do the deed. I know that murder can be a messy business, so I had to find a way to kill him without killing him. That way if they found him I wouldn't be directly responsible.
So why are you confessing?
I got bored.
Bored? Bored of what?
Bored of everything. I had been planning this for months, it was my everything. And so I now have nothing to do with my life.
You do realize the years you will be facing, right?
Considering the insults, and all the other things I had to bear, it was worth it.
What other things?
He hurt me in a thousand ways. 
Hurt? As in a physical injury?  
One could perceive it that way.   
You could be facing the death penalty, and you claim it was worth it?
I have no intention of facing my charges. 
And just how do you intend to escape them? 
I have just as many enemies as I do friends. 
Please elaborate.
I'd rather not.
It was not a request.
I do believe it was
I will repeat myself, how do you intend to escape your charges?
………….
Mr. Montresor?
…………. 

The recording ends there. There is no record of anything said or done by Montresor before the trial, where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death.

I commented on Sofia's Blog, Aine's Blog, and Hazelle's Blog.

"A Gift From the Angels" - Of Beetles and Angels Poem

This is a poem made from quotes taken from Of Beetles and Angels by Mawi Asgedom.

I was told to forget our differences.
And unite.
That I needed a heart that sees angels
A lifelong inspiration.
I was told that no matter how much strangers resembled beetles,
to treat them as if they were angels sent from heaven.
That they were to test the deepest sentiments of my heart.
In America, I found that people used a different calculator.
Beauty was external, money mattered, and so did skin color.
They only saw angels, when angels could help them.
To my parents, It didn’t matter who the person was or how much they had.
The poorest, most recently arrived refugee
received the same welcome as the richest American.
That is something I learned from them.
I learned that of the gifts that we can give,
the greatest is to see the beauty in each other
Because true power
comes from focusing on what we can give,
not just what we can take.
The big sweeping revolutionary actions are not always the most noticeable.
Quite often, it will be the small things that all of us can do
that will have the most impact.
And today’s small act of kindness
can become tomorrow’s whirlwind of
human
progress.