War

Author's Note: This is a comparison between the two characters Helen, from Greek mythology, and Bella, from Twilight. Showing the similarities between their love. 

The face that launched one thousand ships or the face that launched the fight between supernatural creatures? Helen, Greek goddess  with undeniable looks, started the heated Trojan war. Men killing for the ownership of one women. Bella, awkward girl next door, caught the eyes and hearts of two men. One being a vampire, Edward, and the other being a werewolf, Jacob. These two women represent the power and movement their love can have.

It’s mainly the power. The power of love and ownership these women’s men look for. Although the time periods are different, the personalities and plot are much alike. Bella and Helen are indecisive women. Helen had an affair while Bella was deciphering between two men. Both women live fictional lives, Bella has love with mystical creatures. While Helen lived in the times of Greek mythology. Then when they finally choose a man a war breaks out.

A few tears and a Memory

Author's Note: This is a creative piece on a girls life and death. I struggled with this piece seeing I didn't want to make it too long and boring. I also struggled with ideas for it, but I needed to achieve dialog and figurative language. 

Being dead is not what it cracks up to be. Some say we diverge to Heaven or Hell. Others say our cold carcasses rot 6 feet under while our souls disintegrate with them. I still have unfinished business. I still have questions. You look back on life and realize, why? Why the pain and suffering? Why the temptation? My life surrounded this question. Why?

I’ll start from the beginning. I was birthed into an unforgiving world; my mother was 17 and pregnant. She was left alone with me and her outlet, Ecstasy. My occurrence brought on more than enough hardships and I’m reminded of this through each day of the rest of my 16 years.

5 years old, a memory much like a tumor. Attached and deadly. I was home alone playing with my favorite and only Barbie. She was all I wanted to be like when I grew up. Bleach blonde hair, skinny, and the whitest of teeth. Comparable to the snow that had just fallen that cold December. Sadly, I turned out to be a fire blazing red head with untamable frizz, while my body formed in to the ghastly shape. Anyways, as I played I could hear my mother’s heels scuffling against the floors outside the black door. I shiver, she’s wearing her yellow pumps. The door flies open to show one of the most repulsive women I’ve ever known. You know exactly where I would get my looks from. I hide patiently behind my bed. She yells for me, I don’t move. Then her purse becomes her choice weapon. I can only endure what comes to me. Struggling makes it worse. I feel like a baseball; hit, thrown, and played around with like a piece of equipment. She takes me in to the bathroom and I become fully submerged in water. The cold sends chills running up my back. My screams are muffled and you can only hear the snickers of my mother above me. I go limp and realize this is the end. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

For some reason my mother kept me alive for as long as possible. As a grew older my education was inexistent and I was too large to do normal tasks. I was useless except for being her punching bag after a long night at the club. When I became old enough to be self-sufficient on the streets of Detroit, I would go cause mischief with a few of my neighbors. Yeah, the place has a bad reputation, but that’s only if you’re part of a gang. I was just the dealer. 

Sadly, I followed in my mother footsteps. Both walking in the path of Ecstasy (except my footprints were a little deeper seeing our weights’ varied). But It wasn’t always the high that kept you coming back. It was the adrenaline of the hand off between dealer and receiver. My mother (when she was partially sober) had explained this to me, but you can’t understand it until you’ve been there. You know the law is broken and your undeniable thirst will be quenched with the contents inside that brown paper bag. Seeing that my dealing skills began to shape at the age of 8 I got pretty good at it. My mom and I actually became more of partners  than family. I gave her the antidote and she gave me the money. Or dinero, as my friend José would say.

“Cow!” He called to me; José had a way with nicknames. Fatty or ginger would have sufficed, but he needed to keep up his reputation. 

“Mex,” I reply sarcastically. As you can see I’m not witty or funny.

“Ha ha, you got my fix?”

“You got my money?” It’s rare to see a girl dealing. Most aren’t smart enough and don’t have guts. This business is a dangerous one. Mex is a pushover so usually I can get more money out of him than the normal customer. He’s a marijuana consumer. Which I always have an adequate amount of. You see, I’m the most diverse dealer in the area. I have ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, meth and marijuana. I’m like the melting pot of drugs.

“Yeah, have you seen Ed lately? I’ve called but I don’t get an answer.”

“You haven’t heard?” I felt like Niagara falls was being held up behind my eyelids, “Ed’s… Gone…  he got involved in a drug bust. It went very wrong and he was killed by a cop.” I try to break the news in the most comforting voice possible. José’s face fell, like me most nights. A fall from a hard punch; his to his heart and mine to my face.

I come home late that night. My mother lays limp on the couch with alcohol in her hand and drool slipping down her cheek. Her miniskirt, yellow pumps, and low cut T-shirt tell the story of her night. I take her glass to the kitchen and her shoes to the closet. I take care of the woman who chooses to torture me on a daily basis. I hear the screams behind me.

“My drink? Where is my drink? Jess, you stupid girl, what have you done with my drink?” The smokers rasp in her voice reminds me of the hate she radiates.

“It was basically gone ma. You don’t need it! Go to sleep.”

“Ahhh!  You can’t do anything right! I know what I need!” As she speaks a shadow emerges from the corner of the room.

“What are you yelling about!?” A deep bellow rings out, “You idiotic women have woken me up!”

“Oh, George. I’m… so sorry! I’ll keep her quiet! She can even leave. I’ll make her leave, is that okay?” My mother’s tone softens and she melts under the presence of the sketchy man. My mouth only drops. Although, he has no reaction to her smooth words. I turn and see my mother get hit. She stands stunned by the impact of his massive fist to her stomach. I scream out and naturally I run to protect her. I block his second back-hand to her face, instead I get hit. His fists were like bowling balls. Gasping and out of screams another punch is thrown, and another, and another. Until my body lies on the floor unconscious, but my soul watches my mother sob on her knees. The so called “George” continuously kicks my lifeless body.

I still resume to ask the question of “why?”. I was never put on this world to accomplish anything. I had fallen under the spell of drugs, hung out with the wrong people, got beat by my own mother, ate too much, and died from a man I’d never met. My life had consisted of pain and essentially, nothing. Is all I will give people are a few tears and a memory? 

Ribbons

Author's Note: Analyses of the short story "Ribbons". 

Beauty is pain. A phrase often used to describe the suffering women go through to achieve a look. America to China, despite cultural differences, have hurt within the definition of beauty. “Ribbons” by Laurence Yep, shows the superficiality of beauty in China. Parents would wrap their little girls feet with satin ribbons to halt the growth of their feet. Paw-Paw, the grandmother of Stacy, felt this torture first hand. She works around her deformity but lives her life in pure embarrassment and with insecurities. A never ending ache. The shoes resembles the cultural differences between Paw-Paw and Stacy, for Paw-Paw they resemble the pain and deformity she goes through. For Stacy, it’s the beauty and the love within her dance.

Although China has beauty through feet America is not much different. Surgeries and processes are applied for the perfect body or facial beauty. Pain and suffering for something so superficial. No one should have to do that for beauty. Beauty should be defined as something from the inside. But it happens all around the world and is a problem unsolvable as long as people are judged on their outer appearance.

“Ribbons”, the name of this short story is what this piece revolves around. The binds of life that can hold you up or pull you down. The title even reflects on the whole piece itself, these ribbons symbolize the bond and respect for cultural differences between Paw-Paw and Stacy. 

Who am I?

I live in a prickly fruit. My limbs, although thin, carry my box like body through the deep waters of the ocean. A figure unexplainable. My curves and pores add much dimension to my build. I would consider myself a total catch. I am the definition of perfection. I am giddy, happy, and forever part of the goofy goober club. My hobbies vary with range. I prefer blowing bubbles but I also enjoy jelly fishing.

My hobbies are fun but they wouldn’t be nearly as gratifying without my best friends. My neighbors/friends differ in contrast; happy, grumpy, strong, and greedy. They are very diverse in color and shape, quite like myself.  I also am a proud owner of the oh so wonderfully glorious snail. He is quite loyal and never responds rudely to my commands. Only with a subtle “Meow”.

Employee of the month every month. A motto used to describe my fry cook ethic. My technique would be nothing without my beloved spatula. Flipping patties is the highlight of my life. Also I take pleasure in working alongside one my closest best friends forever, a squid. My boss on the other hand is very avaricious. He cuts pay often. Most of the time money is short at my residence, but I will never give hope for a better life.

Any who, my shoes are always squeaky clean and my tie is so darn beautiful I get complements everywhere I go. All in all I am a beautifully wonderful glorious sponge. I am Squarepants, Spongbob Squarepants, and I am proud.

Death With a Twist

Author's Note: I am hoping to improve my score on conflict resolution with this piece on "My Sister's Keeper" With very conflicts that form in to unique endings. 

As a cancer patient, life slowly crumbles through your fingers.  Going to college, getting married, having children all become improbable dreams. The Fitzgerald’s know exactly how this works. Suffering from very persistent leukemia, Kate at only 15 had spent the majority of her life in a hospital bed. Only thing that has kept her alive for such an extensive time is her younger sister Anna. But, Anna has decided to be in charge of her body and give her sister what she’s always wanted. This created a large conflict between many of the characters in the book, “My sisters Keeper” By Jody Picoult , and an unique resolution.  

Cancer takes a toll on everyone involved, especially Anna.  She goes against the “right” thing to do and takes her life in to her own hands. Which is obviously frowned open in the Fitzgerald’s household. Resulting in a Person vs. Society conflict. Anna vs. her family; she is sick of being the backbone and done with being poked and prodded. Who can blame her? But, her parents do not understand Anna’s fight and choose to deny her of her needs, creating a large and obvious battle between the two. Also Kate has done the same as Anna; she has gone against her family (Person vs. society). She has chose to take her life in to her own hands. Hands that want to rip up her life and throw it away.

Even though she goes against her family it seems Anna has it all figured out; starting her own lawsuit alone and with no support. But Anna starts to question her own motives. She runs in to person vs. self. Anna starts to doubt her decisions on her lawsuit and whether it is for the best or not. Yes, her sister wants it but will her family hate her forever? Is she wrong for letting her sister die?

Although Anna rethinks her lawsuit she follows through with it. In fact, she ends up winning but death is at hand for Kate. It’s seems a perfect ending is that life spares Kate and she becomes sick-free. Everyone lives happily ever after, right? Not so much. Instead a twist takes place. Anna goes brain dead from a tragic car crash. Organs and all were donated to Kate, giving her a necessary transplant to go to college and start a life. All conflicts resolved with an obviously bittersweet resolution.  A very surprising, uncommon one at that.

Maybe surprising and uncommon but not as rare in the books  “Get Well Soon” by Julie Halpern and “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein. All have resolutions that end with trades and  all have conflicts that persist through the whole book. “Get Well Soon” a young girl, Anna, is sent to a mental hospital and each day prays to leave, until she meets the unexpected “love of her life”. Conflicts consisting alike with “My Sister’s Keeper”. This lovesick girl’s wishes come true and she leaves the hospital but without her acquired boy. Bittersweet is how I would define it. Bitter, heartbroken. Sweet, leaves the place that causes her agony. A Trade. Only “The Art of Racing in the Rain” is quite similar. Conflicts, although changing throughout the book, are none stop with person vs. self, person vs. society, and person vs. person.  Denny, Father and ex-race car driver, loses his wife to cancer and loses his daughter to a lawsuit. His money is gone and all that’s left is his loyal pooch Enzo. This resolution ends with the death of his best friend, Enzo, but his dreams of testing cars and having his daughter back are remarkably fulfilled. Again, a trade.  All depressing conflicts and bittersweet endings.

Kate’s life changes in the aggressive collision of two cars, Denny’s with a phone call, and Anna’s with a change of mind. Conflicts relating to resolution and resolution to conflict, especially in “My Sister’s Keeper” with conflicts that turn enormously during the resolution. Every part works together to make similar yet different twists on each book. Improbable dreams turn in to reality!   

Friendly Racism

 Author's Note: Mrs.Hanson's Class was given a writing piece called "After you my dear Alphonse" about the sensitivity of racism to analyze and think about the moral of the story. 

 ‘“After you, my dear Alphonse,”  “No, after you, my dear Alphonse,”’ Equal out looks on race are obviously shown through the this text by the two little boys in the story “After you my dear Alphonse” by Shirley Jackson. Showing that without a influence by a parent, teacher, or towns people children don’t notice the difference  between black or white. A child often shows more respect or gratitude then even an Adult of more than twice his age. Shown very much in this piece.

   Mrs. Wilson gradually becomes more and more racist through a subtle way. Using assumptions and stereotypes to offend poor little Boyd. Boyd family is normal, two children, scrawny father, stay at home mother, and money is not a problem at their home. Although, Mrs.Wilson thinks complete opposite  because of their skin color. She doesn’t realize that their two families are much of the same, though her unnatural friendliness and assumptions lead otherwise. I think the moral in this story is to show that treating a different race in a different way than you would treat your own is just as bad rudely criticizing them. Author Shirley Jackson demonstrated this beautifully. 

A clean, Well-lighted Place response.

Author's Note: My classmates and I were instructed to read and answer one of the question referring to the short story “A clean, Well-lighted Place”. I chose to answer the question "Write a brief analysis of the two waiters.  What do they represent about life? What does the café symbolize?" The is my response...
 

Two waiters were used in the story “A clean, Well-lighted Place” The youngest of the two became rude and inconsiderate to the old man. Representing evil within the café. Which the café could be interpreted as life or the world. While the older of the two waiters was patient and easygoing representing the good in the world. Both treating the old man, who could be depicted as struggles and challenges in life, in very different ways. 

Feeling Pretty?

Authors Note: Beauty, being a large part in society today it seemed that writing a research paper on the effects it has on people and their thoughts on beauty would be more interesting then the usual "Life of..." research papers! 

Beauty, is it the perfect body? The prettiest face? The best clothes? Or is it the utmost purity and humbleness within you? The media has had the largest and most detrimental impact on societies definition of beauty. Ad’s and magazines plastering the perfect airbrushed body and face on the front cover of every magazine. One in every three (37%) articles in leading teen girl magazines included a focus on appearance, and most of the advertisements (50%) used an appeal to beauty to sell their products. Is it wrong to be comparing yourself to a model when society expects that out of you?  

America 1950s, an era where women and men embraced curves. Every body type was used in campaigning and no one was judged based on facial beauty. America 2013, according to an ongoing study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute 40% of 9 and 10 year olds have attempted to lose weight. Only 9 and worried about looking like their idolized actress or pop-star. Even the famous are judged for their body! "In Hollywood, I’m obese … I’m considered a fat actress.” Jennifer Lawrence, Hunger Games star, states to the media. She’s perfectly toned and 22 years young, anything but “obese”. With the media’s tabloids throwing fat next to every actress/actor in Hollywood children and adults start to compare themselves, trying to reach goals in the wrong ways. Ways that cause anorexia, Bulimia, and EDNOS. 8,000,000 or more people in America are diagnosed with eating disorders each year.

People will give anything for their perfect body, from eating disorders to now procedures with our availability to new modernized technology. Children and technologies are evolving in each generation. Media streams through not only magazines but cell-phones, I-pods and internet. Children are developing along with technology, they become more attached to Facebook, Instagram, and the lasted trends. Tests have proved children are spending a quarter of their days with media. Easily available to the growing tendency of perfection; that anything but flawlessness is thought out to be unacceptable: acne, pointy nose, eyes to far apart, eyes to close together, round face, big ears, exedra.  Some of this has resulted in 1.6 million Cosmetic Surgery procedures a year and still growing by 5%. Now even teen magazines giving tips on how to achieve you’re “perfect look” as if teen’s natural beauty not good enough? One study reports that at age thirteen, 53% of American girls are "unhappy with their bodies." This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen. Is this because of their overexposure to media’s thoughts on beauty?

Along with being over exposed many people are inspired by a perfect petite actress/athlete and disown the famous who are not a size two! For me an actress like Rebel Wilson is someone I aspire to be like. At 213 pounds and 5’8” she has been considered by the media as “fat”, but she is one person who embraces their body. Sure she, like the rest of the world, probably has her insecurities but she gives a bigger pant size something to be proud of. “I know, I pick up the roles other actresses don’t want [laughs]. When there’s movies where there are two sisters and one’s the uglier sister, there’s always no actress that wants to go for it. I’m like, why not! They’re the best roles!” She acted upon her words in her latest movie, Pitch Perfect, playing “Fat Amy”. Rebel doesn’t let the media tell her she’s fat, she says it before they get to. Although this may not be the healthiest option she gives women and men a reason to embrace their bodies. But, she has become bullied and ridiculed by the public for her weight. Media being a horrible example to the public, letting them think it's okay to judge people. As said, Ms.Wilson doesn't let anyone knock her down and without people like this humanity would have no chance against the fight of media. 

The cameras, the callous words and the preposterous idea of “pretty”. America today is brainwashed by the modern media to think that prettiness is based on outer appearance then your true inner beauty. So whether you are 100 pounds or have arched eyebrows does not define who you are. That model on the front spread is just as pretty as the next girl!

 Bibliography

Cdc. National Center for Health Statistics . n.d. www.cdc.gov/nchs/. 10 April 2013.

Disorders, National Eating. National Eating Disorders . n.d. http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/. 10 April 2013.

Now, Children. Media's impact on Children. n.d. http://www.childrennow.org/index.php/learn/medias_impact/. 18 April 2013.

Relations, Media. Plastic Surgery . n.d. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/news-and-resources/press-release-archives/2012-press-release-archives/138-million-cosmetic-plastic-surgery-procedures-performed-in-2011.html. 18 April 2013.

Samhsa. SAMHSA'S National Mental Health Information Center. n.d. http://store.samhsa.gov/home. 10 April 2013.

Plums

Author's Note: In class we were instructed to write a parody to a poem. This is my parody from the point of view of the person who got their plums stolen!

The original Poem:

I have eaten 

The plums

that were in

the icebox

And which 

you were probably 

saving 

for breakfast

Forgive me

They were delicious

so sweet 

and so cold

My Parody-

I have seen

That you have eaten

my plums

From the icebox

And which 

you thought 

was so 

Clever

Forgive me

But they aren't

as delicious 

as they seem. 

The line between wealth and greed

Authors Note: This is a piece written on the obscure symbolism in the book The pearl. It demonstrates my knowledge on the symbols and my understanding of the topic. 

Objects, characters, colors, and actions used to portray and represent abstract ideas or concepts; also know as Symbolism. Whether it be the innocence and destructive symbol of a little girl dragging her baby doll across the ruff pavement or a white wedding gown depicting purity and life. Both giving text more connotation, like in the story The Pearl, written by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck used symbols to add to text and the formation of characters.

                Within the first chapter of “The Pearl”  symbolism quickly shows through. A scorpion stings Coyotito the main character, Kino’s, son. Biblically this small perilous creature generally represents the destruction of innocence but is easily seen as evil, death, or just devastation. Kino’s son is only a small baby so this “innocence” could easily be shown as that the Gods intended for young Coyotito to die or be on the brink of death. Also, color became very popular within the pages before the scorpion. Yellow eyes, black ants, yellow spots, and yellow sun light falling upon the house. Yellow is known to symbolize violence or decay and black is death or evil. These colors could be simply foreshadowing the events to come and making the text more intricate.

                Although the Scorpion played a large part in this book the pearl is why the book developed as it did. In the beginning a pearl was seen as wealth, luck and providence. “A pearl that might be” (A perfect pearl) is the prophecy that Juana (Kino’s wife) and Kino had thought they’d fulfilled. They are overwhelmed with aspiration for Coyotito’s future and the possible life free from the shackles of poverty. Soon the pearl starts to exhibit greed not only from Kino but neighbors and friends of the family. Though the family is being hunted Kino refused to give up the pearl as his wise wife had wanted so badly to do. This gem started to be a catalyst of change within Kino and as it is simple and beautiful, however, it becomes a symbol of destruction and danger once entangled with ideas of materialistic values.

                Pearls were a very large fascination in Kino’s town, everyone wanted one but they broke more then what is seen. Kino’s canoe symbolized tradition and his link to his culture. Canoes were used for food, making a living, and in this scenario, to find the pearl. Furthermore, it’s very significant that the possession of the pearl leads directly to the raft’s destruction in chapter 5. Which symbolized Kino’s devastating decision to part with cultural heritage since he wished become acquisitive.

                So whether it be a pearl, canoe, scorpion, or a color symbolism can truly turn a story from one end of the spectrum to the other. Bringing in change of character and a life lesson worthy of understanding. 

Saudade

Authors Note: Coming from a Portuguese background I was influenced a lot by this word Saudade, used for the the nostalgic feeling in your gut when you miss something or someone. Possibly a home, like the people from Portugal when they arrived in a new country for a better life. Or wanting to feel those certain feelings again or seeing that place. It means a different thing to each person, just depends how you define your "Saudade". 

As feet lose ground, 

as memories lose focus,

a feeling high in longing. 
Saudade.

                                                                                             

As longing grows to miles 

And miles to years,

A feeling high in hope.
Saudade.

As years fly by 

and nostalgia remains,

here’s to hoping,
Saudade.

What was once

For the wind to decide,

Our feet graze earth

and pictures become reality.

Saudade.

Bored or Intrigued?

Authors Note: I analyzed two poems "Summer Grass" and "Song for a Surf-Rider" Both used figurative language to enhance their pieces. Using tone and mood to make their poems both intriguing and interesting. 

Most people start to yawn and get sleepy eyed mid way through the first chapter of a book. Maybe the plots boring or the theme is not what they prefer, or maybe figurative language should have been used more? That’s exactly what they did in both “Summer Grass” and “Song for a Surf-Rider” figurative language was used to enhance tone, mood, and interest in each poem.

In “Summer Grass” by Carl Sandburg and “Song for a Surf-Rider” Sara Van Alstyne Allen, imagery and figurative language was used immensely. Mostly to dramatize the text and add desire. For instance, in the stanza “His eyes flash with an emerald fire” it seems through this type of imagery that the author tries to replicate passion and aspiration, it also adds drama which makes the piece appealing. Also some metaphors and anaphora’s were used emplace of tiresome word choice. The anaphora in “Summer Grass” really emphasized the chronological order of the rain’s actions. It also mixed  in personification, giving it that extra significance.

The two author’s used this type of imagery to add importance of the events taking place. Also making it much more engaging and easy to read (it all flows together). In “Summer Grass” the imagery and anaphora’s made the author’s tone very calm and cool, almost effortless. Also in “Song for a Surf-Rider” the personifications made the tone seem strong and ready to overcome anyone and anything. Making both of these pieces very intriguing!

Although the figurative language in these pieces made the tone show through they also made me, as a reader, feel certain ways. For example, the different personifications from “Summer Grass” make it seem like your wildest dreams could come true and that bad times in your life will get better. Just like it did for the grass. But in “Song for a Surf-Rider” strong word choice and personifications made it a very powerful piece, giving you the feeling of invincibility and that you could overcome any obstacle. I for one gained different moods from each piece.

In both, “Summer Grass” and “Song for a Surf-Rider” figurative language made each poem sound a lot more sophisticated and anything but boring. Also affecting the tone and mood of the reader.  So maybe, from quality figurative language, instead of a yawn or stretch you can be smothered by the book pressed in to your face.

Thrills and Chills

Authors Note:The Point of view can make or break a story, particularly in Tales of Mystery and Terror . The point of view it was in made it confusing and made you feel a bit foolish for believing it in the end. In this piece I analyzed the point of view of Sphinx.

Point of View

Thrilling Story’s and fictional objects make Edgar Allen Poe’s, Tales of Mystery And Terror, perfect for a complicated and exuberating read. At first many of these stories didn’t make sense to me; Sphinx being a prime example. It’s children’s story demeanor and “Scary Monster” cliché make this story seem far from what it is. A man seeing a monster that is bigger than an elephant but it’s actually known to be the size of an insect? Maybe he has problems that are much larger then they seem, or anxiety, or maybe he’s just plan crazy. But more importantly what is his friend thinking?

In Edgar Allen Poe’s Sphinx, the main character give the impression that there is truly an immense creature ready to attack him.  You feel the chills that run up his spine and sheer terror that envelopes him. It made me feel confused just like the main character! Only because you hear  his point of view; what he is feeling during his encounters.  He even states “As this creature first came in sight, I doubted my own sanity – or at least the evidence of my own eyes;” so he was admitting to the thought of this creature being preposterous! “and many minutes pass before I succeeded in convincing myself that I was neither mad nor in a dream.” But quite oddly I started to believe him too, this is a real thing. His confused words made me believe this distraught man.

Would I believe this man if someone else were telling the story? Of course not! My mind sways by the judgment of the narrator, thus, if the narrator was the host I would most definitely be thinking this man was crazy. Possibly delusional! If I wanted a clearer perspective on the whole situation I would want a 3^rd person point of view. Someone who is not part of the situation just an outsider telling the story, similar to myself. This way the opinions would be toned down and I would see each side. No one’s making me think things that are not quite correct or the way they play out to be. But, if it were to be a 3^rd person narration the story could have become meaningless and boring. Morals of the story would have been absent. The way it was really narrated made it intense and it made you think, although it made you think as crazy as the character did.

Although thrilling, this story is more of a delusional mans thoughts. Tricking you in to thinking this could be real. He learns to find his sanity in the end but he still made you undergo his fearful foolish puzzled mind-set. So depending on who recites the story makes a large difference on how you comprehend the tale and each character in it! 

Lives

Authors Note: I wrote a Haiku poem because of my lost interest in poems recently! I thought that writing a haiku could pull me back in to figurative language and give me some practice. 

Lives

Lives begin to fall

 Like the leaves during autumn  

Decaying with time

Just one jump ahead

 Discovering life’s assets

Success pulls me up

Illusion

Author Notes: When monsters turn to insects and life becomes confusing you feel scared and a bit crazy! But that is only when its written from the crazed point of view. What if its in a bystanders point of view? That's exactly what I showed in this piece. 

Thrilling Story’s and fictional objects make Edgar Allen Poe’s, Tales of Mystery And Terror,  perfect for a complicated and exuberating read. At first many of these stories didn’t make sense to me; Sphinx being a prime example. It’s children’s story demeanor and “Scary Monster” cliché make this story seem far from what it is. A man seeing a monster that is bigger than an elephant but it’s actually known to be the size of an insect? Maybe he has problems that are much bigger then they seem, or anxiety problems, or maybe he’s just plan crazy. But more importantly what is his friend thinking? What is this story like in a different point of view? That is what I want to demonstrate…

The friends version of Sphinx:

---

Finally, I had found the opportunity to get away. Finally, I got to free myself to a cottage with my friend for the weekend. Finally, I got to sit down and read a classic book. Until I hear my friend stand from his chair and peer intensely through the glass window. Close and opening his eyes, as if trying to get rid of an image. Weird? I wait for him to turn; instead he falls to the ground. As impulse I jump to his aid! Maybe he's ill? Maybe just passed out? Maybe different air pressure in the woods? No, definitely passed out. I poke him a bit before he has awoken, dizzy and confused.

“What happened?” I questioned. With no expression he shook his head.

“Th-there was a thing,” he stuttered, “it ran over the naked part of the hills.” He gives a scarce description of the beast that I presume is just a dream. He retrieves his book, which may I say looks like one from my library, and goes to his room. I sit pondering the thought of this creature.

Within four days my friend sits in the lounging chair near the window where he first saw this creature; without notice he screams in absolute terror. Failing to use his words he rambles and points.

"What?!" I yell in annoyance.

“Right there! Its running up the hills!” I step closer to see nothing and come to the realization that my friend either- one, had too much to drink or two, has gone mentally insane. Either way he is hallucinating; I see no beast in the distance. I decide that I will ignore my insane friend, but he will not shut up about this so called "monster"  so I pull out my synopses of Natural History. As we flip through the pages we only find one animal that fits his description- thick as the body of an elephant,  immense black shaggy hair at the root of his trunk, 2 tusks, wings, metal scales. Only could be classified as the Sphinx. Although, it turns out to be a bug. My mind tries to wrap itself around this problem. The only place to go is where his screaming attacks frequently happen.

I look through the window he first discovered this monster and find an insect dangling on a web right in front of my eyes. Could this huge monster turned out to be an insect a sixteenth of an inch? It's Nowhere near the size of his description. Obviously this is only an optical illusion playing tricks with my friends mind! But does this mean much more?

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A cold heart

Authors Note: Theme is a big part in every book./novel, that's exactly why I wrote an essay providing the importance of theme in the book A Christmas Carol while comparing it to two other wonderful books. 

Complete and utter loneliness is the life Ebenezer Scrooge walks in. He can’t saunter down the icy street of Great Britain without people giving him weird looks and straying far away from him. A normal human would feel disowned by this, but Scrooge was far from normal. This rudeness made Scrooge pleased that he didn’t need to come in contact with such idiotic pedestrians. Even during the merry time of Christmas! His cold heart wouldn’t warm one degree during the cold harsh season! That was until the night three phantoms haunted him; sent from his dead pal Marley. The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Changing his misery to jolliness just in time for Christmas day. Although Ebenezer Scrooge changes he still has the past of his lonely life growing up and running his business. That is why I consider Loneliness a large theme in the book “A Christmas Carol”.

Ebenezer grew up in a family that found him as a disgrace. He lived most of his childhood years in the lonesome boarding school, not even taken home for the Holiday Season. Obviously making Christmas a spiteful time of the year for old Ebenezer. Even the poorest of people had felt the warmth of Christmas, but Ebenezer felt nothing. It’s quite sad and a tragedy that Scrooge as a boy never received the unconditional love that every young child should. Making him envious of the people who did.

But that envious attitude didn’t end there, it went through his adult years as well.  Once Marley becomes desist he spends each day alone. Accompanied by his underpaid clerk, which he would not consider a friend.  Scrooge lives a solitary life keeping each door double locked, separating himself from the world outside. But once in contact with peaceful pedestrians he becomes irritated and cold. No one chooses to talk to him because of his negativity. Making him the most solitude man in town.

Having a solitary life wasn’t the result for only Scrooge in  A Christmas Carol  but, also many other books. Speak being one of those.  A adolescent girl becomes an outcast due to a huge misunderstanding. No one knows her true story and what she’s been through. Although, the kids at her school still end up giving her rude glares and ignore her completely. Just like the people on the street do to Scrooge. No one knows their stories. Along with Pictures of Hollis Woods. A lonesome orphan runs away from every family she’s been with, never feeling wanted or loved. Just like Scrooge as a boy. As you can see each book illustrates the theme of loneliness and demonstrates it quiet nicely.

Life for the lonely is bitter and cold. Only the heartless can deal with that and Ebenezer Scrooge, although it may seem otherwise, had a heart. A heart that just needed to find a purpose and thanks to the three phantoms Ebenezer found that purpose right in time for Christmas. Along with the girls from Pictures of Hollis Woods and Speak. They just needed that purpose and at the end of each book that purpose was fulfilled. Making loneliness sometimes turn in to a, cliché, but very happy ending.