Sunday, December 13, 2009
Period 4, Michael Carleo, Eng 4 HNR
In Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the use of sight and tragic irony are used many times in the play. These literary techniques really made Sophocles enhanced the story of the play. In addition, Sophocles used both of these techniques in many ways to express the plot in a very interesting way. He used sight and tragic irony hand in hand to enhance the story of the play. Sophocles first used "sight" when the chorus revealed the plot and gave hints about the outcome that will happen. The audience can "see" what is going to happen in the end, and this enhances the tragic irony of Oedipus. During the story, he goes on further using the chorus as the "seers" of what is going to happen when they talk to the audience. During the play, the blind prophet Teiresias knows the truth of Oedipus' fate, and Oedipus, who has eyes, is so blind and obnoxious of his actions. Teiresias gives off many clues that Oedipus killed King Laius, while Oedipus is cursing "the killer" of the old king. This is a perfect example of situational irony that a blind prophet can see the truth while a king with eyes cannot. This is also tragic irony because the "sight" enhances his tragic flaw that will eventually destroy Oedipus. Lastly, when Oedipus found out he killed his father and married his mother, he decided to stab his eyes out. This use of the lack of "sight" now shows that he knows his fate came true. This further proved the tragic irony was true that the audience was shown in the beginning of the play. It showed that one does not need eyes to know the truth. All of these examples further expressed the conflict between Oedipus v. Fate/Truth.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Period 4, Michael Carleo, Eng 4 HNR
In this article, the author makes his point in various ways. He is proving that Jay Gatsby is a fictional character that is totally real in our lives. Even though he was made up, he represents what happens in our lives each day. Gatsby turned out to make money right until the end, but before he stole his money with Meyer Wolfsheim. However, Gatsby did show his purity in this book by trying to win Daisy back ever since he first saw her before the war. That is the purest thing because he would have sold his soul to be with her, which represents that he understands how dark and cruel the world can be sometimes. He was like almost every American kid was, he told his father what he wanted to be when he grew up, and he planned out his life. Gatsby might have bad qualities, but he is just like every American who is searching for that perfect "American Dream."
It is compelling to see Jay Gatsby as this. To understand what he went through is a similar situation of what we go through everyday to try to make something of ourselves. We might not do it in that form or way like stealing money, going to the army, and becoming rich, but we see how the world has brought such things on us to be perfect. Gatsby saw that he was flawed in this flawed world, and we have to see that as well. It is compelling of how Fitzgerald chose the color green to represent all of our desires like women or men, money, gratitude, etc.
I agree with the editor because I feel that Fitzgerald did use Jay Gatsby to represent us as people in a fictional way. Through all of the media, music, and marketing that our generation goes through is what Fitzgerald is trying to get us to see. All of these materials and "perfections" we are trying to meet isn't the way to get that "American Dream". He related the war in the 20s to the war now that we face. He related the corruption in the story to the corruption of the Watergate. All of these symbols in this novel represented us as Americans or even people in some shape or form. I believe that Gatsby is a true symbol of what an American can potentially be.
It is compelling to see Jay Gatsby as this. To understand what he went through is a similar situation of what we go through everyday to try to make something of ourselves. We might not do it in that form or way like stealing money, going to the army, and becoming rich, but we see how the world has brought such things on us to be perfect. Gatsby saw that he was flawed in this flawed world, and we have to see that as well. It is compelling of how Fitzgerald chose the color green to represent all of our desires like women or men, money, gratitude, etc.
I agree with the editor because I feel that Fitzgerald did use Jay Gatsby to represent us as people in a fictional way. Through all of the media, music, and marketing that our generation goes through is what Fitzgerald is trying to get us to see. All of these materials and "perfections" we are trying to meet isn't the way to get that "American Dream". He related the war in the 20s to the war now that we face. He related the corruption in the story to the corruption of the Watergate. All of these symbols in this novel represented us as Americans or even people in some shape or form. I believe that Gatsby is a true symbol of what an American can potentially be.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Period 4, Michael Carleo, ENG 4 HNR
"I AM" Poem
I am
Odysseus
The Technician of Tactics
Son of Anticlea and of King Laertes of Ithaca, Husband of Penelope, and Father of Telemachus
Who likes being king of Ithaca, Tactics, Puzzles, and Deceiving
Who loved Helen of Troy, but loves Penelope
Who fears nothing
Who wishes to make Ithaca wealthy
Who admires Sisyphus and his cleverness
Who needs money to make Ithaca wealthy and to have companionship
Who aspires to make Ithaca wealthy, to loneliness, and to move from matter to spirit
I am
Odysseus
The Technician of Tactics
Son of Anticlea and of King Laertes of Ithaca, Husband of Penelope, and Father of Telemachus
Who likes being king of Ithaca, Tactics, Puzzles, and Deceiving
Who loved Helen of Troy, but loves Penelope
Who fears nothing
Who wishes to make Ithaca wealthy
Who admires Sisyphus and his cleverness
Who needs money to make Ithaca wealthy and to have companionship
Who aspires to make Ithaca wealthy, to loneliness, and to move from matter to spirit
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Period 4, Michael Carleo, Eng 4 HNR
1)
During the excerpt of Book 1 from the Iliad, Achilles show anger very much to the people he came in contact with. Although Achilles’ anger showed that he was powerful and strong, he actually showed his insecurities of being threatened by another warrior, like Agamemnon. The response to his anger was either detrimental to Achilles by instigating it, or beneficial to stop him from being angry. When Achilles came in contact with Agamemnon, he was always enraged when he saw him. From lines 175 to 202, Achilles expressed his anger stating that no Greek would listen to Agamemnon, and that only they would listen to him. He also expressed how could they listen to him and not Achilles. Agamemnon’s responded by saying if Achilles really thinks that, then think that because soon enough the Greeks will follow him. He doesn’t need Achilles, and he thinks nothing of him. This is significant because by responding like that to Achilles, this made Achilles angrier, and this was detrimental to Achilles. When the gods sent down Athena, Achilles was angry and asked why would they send her down, he doesn’t need any help. Athena responded by saying that you must stop now and not hurt him, because Hera loves you both. She said that you could say whatever you want to him, but just don’t hurt him. Like a child to a parent, Achilles obeyed Athena and didn’t do anything to harm Agamemnon. This is significant because he actually listened to Athena instead of just getting angrier when he was talking to Agamemnon. This was very beneficial to Achilles. When Achilles came in contact with Nestor, he expressed his anger toward Agamemnon still. Nestor, being an elder, responded by saying just stop this nonsense and stop this fighting. Peace is what he wanted. He also said to Achilles, that he doesn’t need to be afraid of losing his dignity of a warrior because “no one can match the honors dealt a king, a sceptered king to whom great Zeus gives glory.” This is significant because Nestor addressed Achilles insecurities about the situation, and it was beneficial to Achilles. Unfortunately, Achilles didn’t listen to him and just kept ranting at Agamemnon. Even though Achilles showed much strength and passion in his anger, he really showed his weakness and insecurities in his anger. The responses by each of the people Achilles came in contact with gave a different result. The first response showed the detrimental result and the last two responses tried showing the beneficial result of that anger Achilles showed.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Period 4, Michael Carleo, Eng 4 HNR
Page 231 #1 and 6
1) I understood the poem "He is More Than a Hero" the best for many reasons. The title of this poem helped me understand it the best unlike the other two because it was actually like a title instead of a line in the poem or an ode to a god. Also the content in the poem supports the title like in lines 3 through 8, "he who listens intimately to the sweet murmur of your voice, the enticing laughter that makes my own heart beat fast." This explains how important this person is to Sappho. As it goes on in the poem, it says that when Sappho sees this person, Sappho is star struck, almost to the point of death. The other two poems were too confusing to me because of the line setup and also the content within them. I also got lost going through the others until i read them 3 or 4 times. I understood this one the first time i read it.
6) These poems would do justice to a R&B singer like Beyonce or KC and JoJo. The reason why these poems fit their genre is because when each of these singers sing, they do it with such passion and believe in what they actually sing. Sappho does the same thing in poetry like the hero poem. Beyonce and KC and JoJo also have a lot of deeper meaning in their songs like Beyonce's "Dangerously In Love" and KC and JoJo's "All My Life". These songs can relate to the hero poem again and also to "To Aphrodite of the Flowers, at Knossos" because they speak about one person, god in Sappho's case, and how much they care and wait for that person.
1) I understood the poem "He is More Than a Hero" the best for many reasons. The title of this poem helped me understand it the best unlike the other two because it was actually like a title instead of a line in the poem or an ode to a god. Also the content in the poem supports the title like in lines 3 through 8, "he who listens intimately to the sweet murmur of your voice, the enticing laughter that makes my own heart beat fast." This explains how important this person is to Sappho. As it goes on in the poem, it says that when Sappho sees this person, Sappho is star struck, almost to the point of death. The other two poems were too confusing to me because of the line setup and also the content within them. I also got lost going through the others until i read them 3 or 4 times. I understood this one the first time i read it.
6) These poems would do justice to a R&B singer like Beyonce or KC and JoJo. The reason why these poems fit their genre is because when each of these singers sing, they do it with such passion and believe in what they actually sing. Sappho does the same thing in poetry like the hero poem. Beyonce and KC and JoJo also have a lot of deeper meaning in their songs like Beyonce's "Dangerously In Love" and KC and JoJo's "All My Life". These songs can relate to the hero poem again and also to "To Aphrodite of the Flowers, at Knossos" because they speak about one person, god in Sappho's case, and how much they care and wait for that person.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Ms. Johnston, Period 4, Michael Carleo, English 4 HNR
Michael Carleo 9/21/09
Ms. Johnston – Period 4 English 4 Honors
In the history of the world, there has always been a struggle between good and evil. At the battle of Rama and Ravana in Ramayana, many people can consider this an epic battle between good and evil. The story of the battle between Rama and Ravana is one of the most popular epic stories in the Hindu culture and religion. In addition, one can compare this battle tale to a modern battle between good and evil. The series of movies, television shows, and books about the story of Star Wars is a great example that will show there is a modern way to express the battle of good and evil. Because Ramayana showed the aspect of the struggle between good and evil in the ancient times, one can compare that to the modern struggle in Star Wars.
When compared to each other, Star Wars and Ramayana are very alike. Both stories have two opposing sides that fight against each other until death. In the ancient epic, the good side is consisted of a warrior and a charioteer, and the bad side is consisted of the same. Also, there are gods on both sides of the battle that help each warrior in this epic battle. In the modern epic, the dark side consists of the Sith Lord, his apprentices, and rebels against the republic of democracy who have taken the Jedi Force and put evil into it. The good side consists of the Jedi Knights that keep the peace in the galaxy who are in a constant battle with the Sith and his followers. Both of these stories have two opposing sides that are in a battle to be the best, so each side will do whatever it takes to win. Like Ravana, the dark side was always the one on the offensive, rather than the good side and Rama. Violence was the last thing Rama and the Jedi’s wanted. During the ancient epic, Rama was the one who would always defend rather than attack. In the modern epic, the Jedi’s were the ones defending the republic rather than seeking out for war. Even though the ancient epic has less people in the story as in the modern epic, they are still related in the sense of the battle of good and evil.
Both of these two epic stories have great ways of showing the battle and struggle of good and evil together. Ramayana and Star Wars both have that tension between the opposing sides, and that is what makes an epic story so great. They represent what people in everyday situations go through in making moral decisions. Evil can be just the decision to turn away from God, like killing another human being. Like the Jedi’s, Rama showed that heroic code in battle after he defeated Ravana. Even though the evil side always seems to have the power in numbers and in momentum, the good side never fails to win the war at the end. Comparing both of these two stories from the ancient times to the modern ages shows that the struggle of good and evil still exists and hasn’t changed from generation to generation.
Ms. Johnston – Period 4 English 4 Honors
In the history of the world, there has always been a struggle between good and evil. At the battle of Rama and Ravana in Ramayana, many people can consider this an epic battle between good and evil. The story of the battle between Rama and Ravana is one of the most popular epic stories in the Hindu culture and religion. In addition, one can compare this battle tale to a modern battle between good and evil. The series of movies, television shows, and books about the story of Star Wars is a great example that will show there is a modern way to express the battle of good and evil. Because Ramayana showed the aspect of the struggle between good and evil in the ancient times, one can compare that to the modern struggle in Star Wars.
When compared to each other, Star Wars and Ramayana are very alike. Both stories have two opposing sides that fight against each other until death. In the ancient epic, the good side is consisted of a warrior and a charioteer, and the bad side is consisted of the same. Also, there are gods on both sides of the battle that help each warrior in this epic battle. In the modern epic, the dark side consists of the Sith Lord, his apprentices, and rebels against the republic of democracy who have taken the Jedi Force and put evil into it. The good side consists of the Jedi Knights that keep the peace in the galaxy who are in a constant battle with the Sith and his followers. Both of these stories have two opposing sides that are in a battle to be the best, so each side will do whatever it takes to win. Like Ravana, the dark side was always the one on the offensive, rather than the good side and Rama. Violence was the last thing Rama and the Jedi’s wanted. During the ancient epic, Rama was the one who would always defend rather than attack. In the modern epic, the Jedi’s were the ones defending the republic rather than seeking out for war. Even though the ancient epic has less people in the story as in the modern epic, they are still related in the sense of the battle of good and evil.
Both of these two epic stories have great ways of showing the battle and struggle of good and evil together. Ramayana and Star Wars both have that tension between the opposing sides, and that is what makes an epic story so great. They represent what people in everyday situations go through in making moral decisions. Evil can be just the decision to turn away from God, like killing another human being. Like the Jedi’s, Rama showed that heroic code in battle after he defeated Ravana. Even though the evil side always seems to have the power in numbers and in momentum, the good side never fails to win the war at the end. Comparing both of these two stories from the ancient times to the modern ages shows that the struggle of good and evil still exists and hasn’t changed from generation to generation.
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