TKaM blog 7

Most of the local people in Maycomb felt that it would be a disgrace for a black person to win in a dispute with any with a white person, so they took Bob Ewell's side. Have you ever been in a situation where someone took a side that they obviously knew was wrong? How did this make you feel?

Many times, I have seen or been part of unfair games. I am often chosen last or close to last because I am a girl. I think that this is unfair because I am usually able to play better than many of the boys but they are not willing to accept that. I usually just try to make them change their mind about me. It works most of the time!

Of course, doing theatre is always very subjective. Often, the director is looking for the perfect "look" for a certain part. so, If you don't keep a strong will, then you will end up getting your feelings hurt. It usuallly has nothing to do with talent which can get really upsetting.

TKaM blog post- 6

Prompt: Compare and contrast yourself to either Scout or Jem at their age. Compare and contrast your summer activities, friends, relationships with your dad, siblings, and adults.
When I was Scout's age, my brother was about 3 or 4 years older than I was. Just like Scout and Jem. We have a family that we are very close too. The older brother in that family is Danny's age(my brother), and the sister is my age. For as long as I can remember, They have been our best friends. When my best friend, who is one grade ahead of me, hit middle school, she and my brother and his best friend started acting like I was too young to join in their conversations and to understand what they were talking about. I remember getting really mad at them and refusing to talk to them.
My dad. I love my dad so much. We have such a great relationship. Right now, my dad is in Washington D.C. for his job. I miss him so much. We talked about so many different things. He was such a sturdy part of my life. It has been really hard for my mom to take care of both me and my brother. My dad has always been the more organized one. I look up to him as a role model. I can't wait till he comes back into town.
I tend to get along pretty well with adults. I can be very mature when I try to be. I have more trouble with people my age! I had a lot of trouble coming into middle school in 7th grade. I was really shy and I couldn't figure out how to make friends at all. I tried really hard to understand the "middle school mindset" but I had so much trouble adjusting. Now I am really different. I am loud and obnoxious and not shy at all. I think for sure that I have changed for the better.

TKaM post 4

Scout

Atticus is an old man! hes so old that he can't even play any football or nothin' like the other kids dads. He works in a lame ol' office. Not something interesting like a post office or something. Jem likes football. Atticus will spend hours throwing a football around. But when Jem wants to play tackle, Atticus says he's to old. Seems like hes too old for everything. After he made me promise to not fight anyone who were mean about his job and him defending a negro, word got out that Scout Finch no longer fought anybody. But I did fight relatives. I complained to Ms. Maudie. She told me that he was an amazing checker player. But that can't be true cause me an' Jem beat him all the time. Guess he might be letting us beat him. He apparently also plays the Jew's Harp. I don't really see the use of that though. What can you do with a Jew's pipe?

Me and Jem play with our air rifles a lot. We are always trying to find new targets. I was aiming at Ms. Maudie today but that old Atticus had to go and tell her. Atticus also told us to never EVER shoot a Mockingbird. It doesn't make much sense. Alls they do is sing. But thats why Atticus says we can't shoot them.

A while later, Jem came runnin' into the house at Calpurnia. He yells at her that there is a mad dog comin' down the street. I think at first she didn't rightly believe him, but then she started to believe. She called Heck Tate, the sherrif, and made everyone go into their houses. We watched that dog come down the street. It was all twitching and gasping like a fish. It looked like its trying to get to air. It was just comin on down the street like it had all the time in the world. It was old Tim Johnson. Calpurnia called Atticus at his office. He finally got home. Heck was already there. Heck was about to shoot that dog when Atticus came in. He told Atticus to take the gun and shoot the dog. I didn't think that was such a good idea. I mean, I never even seen Atticus pick up a gun. He's never even shot anything I don't think. But sure enough, Heck was right. I didn't even notice until it was done. But Atticus shot that dog with just one shot. Even Jem was impressed. Everyone we talked to after that said that Atticus was the best shot in Maycomb. He was called One-Shot Finch apparently. I wonder why I didn't know this information sooner. But Jem said I couldn't tell anyone at school or brag about it. Because he was a gentleman and Atticus probably didn't tell us for a reason. I didn't quite believe that but I didn't want to get Jem mad at me.

Me and Jem pass old Ms. Dubose's house every day into town. She always yelled insults at us and called me ugly every time we passed by. One day, Jem and me passed and she started calling Atticus names. Jem got so mad. He went back to her house afterwards. He started ripping off flowers and ripping up all the bushes. Then he broke my brand new baton in half and began walking away. I started shrieking and he pulled my hair and told me to stop. He kicked me and pushed me to the ground. I ran home. We waited for Atticus. Atticus came in quietly with my baton. He spoke quietly to Jem and had him go to Ms. Dubose's house to clean up. When Jem came back, he had gotten a punishment from Ms. Dubose. He had to go to her house for a month and read to her every day for two hours. I went with him. Ms. Dubose had saliva coming out of her mouth. We kept being sent home early. After a month, Ms. Dubose said that Jem had one more week to go. After he had finished, we were very relieved. A few weeks later, Atticus told us that Ms. Dubose had died and left a gift for Jem. It was a candy box with a single waxy flower in it. I saw Jem fingering it later.

TKaM- post 3

Ms. Maudie:
That Ms. Radley died. Scout and Jem were going on and on about it. It ain't much of a deal. But those kids sure think it is. They weren't even ACQUAINTED with her as I was. I am very PERPLEXED at why they care. The snow is started also. Those kids went out in the yard and asked me for my snow. I wondered what it was for but, if they want to get it off my driveway, its fine by me. They took it to build a snowman. I think it was Scout's first sonwman. I have not seen one in quite a while though. It started out being pretty innocent but then it started looking like Mr. Avery. Boy, did those kids get a laugh outta that! But Atticus said they had to change it. Those FANATICAL kids came into MY backyard and took out my sunhat and hedge clippers and put it on that snowman. That was funny but I couldn't very well laugh with those kids right there. Instead I yelled at Jem: "You devil! Bring me my hat back, sir!" Jem just giggled and looked at Atticus, who smiled. I turned on my heel and smothered a laugh as I walked back into my house.


I awoke to the smell of smoke. I hurried out of my house. The fire truck was wailing as it made its way down the street! The fire was slowly devouring my house. The house seemed ISOLATED by the flames. It began to beat down upon the ADJACENT houses while the men threw buckets of water on my smoldering house. I walked to the front of The Radley's house. I saw Arthur cowering back away from the fire. He stepped up quickly to put a blanket around Scout's shivering shoulders. She didn't even look up to see him. She just stared into the flames. Her eyes tearing. Mr. Avery got stuck in a window. He wiggled his way out and fell onto my precious bushes. Atticus stood next to me, reassuring me. As the fire died down, Ms. Stephanie Crawford invited me to stay at her house. I accepted. That Scout. She came over to give her apologies. I had to explain to her that I was not sad about the house. Only my garden. I slept at Stephanie's house that night. The next morning, I met up with Jem and Scout. They wondered how it started. I reckoned that it was the flue in the kitchen. They brought back my sunhat and hedge clippers.


That Atticus. He has taken up a case defending Tom Robinson. I spent Christmas with Ms. Stephanie. She had some of her family there. The table was set with beautiful china and silverware. It was difficult to focus on the happiness without those little kids here. They always lighten things up. Just thinking about them makes me chuckle. The house smelled like pine trees and ham. The food was good. I had made my special Lane Cake for the dessert. Ms. Stephanie ain't never gonna get her hands on this recipe. Nothing much happened After that at dinner.

Blog post 4-immigration lit. circles

"We'll adjust the Sudan flag
We'll alter the Sudan flag
For Sudan is confused herself"--Song written for John Garang pg. 321
This was a big step in Achak's life. Figuring out which side he is on is too difficult for him. At this moment, he is feeling that this side would be better. He is confused. He knows not to join either side though.
I feel that everyone faces big challenges in their lives. Nothing as big as Achak's problems have happened to me but I have definately had to choose sides between friends. It is so hard to do.
Have you ever made a descision that you ultimately regretted?

"Our days were now completely reconstituted. Where before there had been studying and soccer and simple chores like water-fetching, now there was manual labor-in addition to the farm work-and jobs we were much too young to be expected to do."--Achak Pg. 327

Achak was so expectant of an easier life in Sudan. He was let down. I think he is often let down in America also. He has so many expectations of many beatuiful things that he has heard of. But nobody prepared him for dissapointment.

I have been dissapointed many times before. I have also been expected to do more than I feel I am able to do.I try very hard and nobody else is proud of my work.

Have you ever felt like people were expecting to much of you?

What is the What:3

"After seeing the dead and dying of the lost Fist, I no longer had any faith in our journey or in our guides. It seemed logical that what had begun would continue: that we would walk and die until all the boys were gone."--Achak Pg. 217

Achak and most of the boys have by now lost all faith in their journey. Achak has given up on everything that he has lived for so far. He has no other chance to survive and he has given up on everything.

I have often felt useless or like I wanted to give up. seeing everyone around you hopeless is difficult to cope with. I remember when my great grandfather died. I had felt so lost and hopeless. But, the pain was more deep because my family was so sad.

have you ever felt lost or hopeless?


"We are not in Ethiopia, I thought. This is not the place."--Achak Pg. 227

Achak has waited so long to find this place that has been embellished so much by the fabrications of William K. and, when he finally has made it, he is sadly dissapointed. He has imagined it so differently. when he does finally make it, he is not expecting it to be similar to all the other refugee camps.

I have been dissapointed many times by different instances that I had gotten my hopes up for. It is one of the worst feelings in the world. and I feel very bad for Achak to have worked so hard for this and to be dissapointed in such a way.

Have you ever been this dissapointed about something?

What is the what?

"For the first time in my life, I welcomed the fabrications of William K."--Achak Pg.190
I realized that when you lose everything, then the smallest comforts can be so reassuring. Having William K. walking wih him and telling him stories is so important to Achak by now, that when they finally get to their destination, I think that Achak will still be going strong.
This relates to my life because I rely on friends to help me through life. At times, I feel that I should be more self sufficient. But I feel that My friends give me life.
DO you rely on your friends help you through life?

What is the What?

"As my dream day passes in the afternoon, I lean on my sister Amel as she grinds grain. I did this often because the leaning and its expected result gave me great joy."--Achak Pg.40
I chose this quote because I think that it shows how different life is in Sudan and America. In Sudan, Achak is so appreciative of things that kids in America take for granted. For him, just smelling his sister is so enjoyable, whereas, in America, siblings tend to hate each other.
I think that sometimes my brother annoys me, but I have a very stable relationship with him. I am not grateful for him as much as I should be, but I do like him sometimes.
Do you think that there is a reason for the society differences from America and Sudan?



"This boy thinks I am not of his species, that I am some other kind of creature, one that can be crushed under the weight of a phone book. The pain is not great, but the symbolism is disagreeable."--Achak Pg. 50
I think that this quote summarizes all of the racism and hatred in Achak's life. Achak has made it to America, and now he finds out how much everyone actually hates him. Most of his life has been spent running from trouble and now he is unable to do so.
I do not think that this quote relates much to my life, but I can understand on a smaller scale. I am often discriminated against ether because I am a girl. Or I am Jewish. It is really hurtful to hear people referring to me as "that one Jewish girl" or "OH! YOU're that Jewish kid!" and, I can understand how Achak feels to be discriminated against so badly.
Why do you think that the color of our skin or nationality matters to other people?

Independent reading 2nd entry

Question #2: What does this book remind you of in your own life? Why?
One of the things that struck me most about this book in that it related to my life, was that in the book, the main character is described as invisible. She is forgotten about because she is only an Aide to her older sister, Arilou. Even her name was made to be forgotten: Hathin. Hathin is like many people in my life that I have met, and forgotten. She could symbolize our teachers from younger grades, they impact our lives but are forgotten by the time we have grown, or they could be someone who helps us often but we never get the time to appreciate or notice them.

As a teenage girl, I feel like I have little respect for people who, without them, I would never have turned out to be the girl that I am now. There are so many people in my life who have made sacrifices for me and helped me when I needed help the most, and I have taken them for granted my whole life. This book has helped me to learn that although they may dissapear into shadows, these people have helped me grow and live and without them, I would never have grown into who I am today.


Question #13: Which character would you like to be like? In what way? Why?
The character that I would most like to be like and the character that I AM most like are two very different people. I would most like to be like the character Hathin. Although her whole life, she is living a lie and she knows it, she still gives her whole self to help the person that most needs her. I am very different than her because I am usually the one being helped. There are many times when I find myself whining or asking for something that I could easily have gotten myself or could have done. Hathin is the heroine in this book because she finds a way to lead a country after being let down by her town and her family.

Hathin pushes through to fulfill a destiny even though she has been insignificant her whole life. I really admire her for the strength that she has to be able to do that. Hathin is a strong girl who always tries her hardest to do the right thing. Hathin works hard to prove herself and, in time, becomes known throughout the land as the hero of Lace.

The Lost Conspiracy- In class writing assignment

I would put myself into the book as one of the Lost Inspectors. That way, I could help the Lace and specifically help Hathin to find out sooner that Arilou is actually a Lost. I would Change myself into a Lace because I would want to be trusted. I would Stay with Hathin and help her fulfill Arilou's quest. I would also try to warn the Lost about the blissing beetles in the school. That way, I would save the Lost from death and the Lace would not get blamed forthedeath of Prox and Skein.
Ithink that if I had a chance to go into the book, I would definately try to stop Eiven from going into the water and I would try to stop the Blissing Beetles from killing all of the Lost. I think that if I had the chance to go into the book, I would change the outcome of a lot of things.

Chapter 12 journal entry

In the beggining, Ralph hid in a small hole/ditch sort of near Castle Rock. He hid there because he felt that the boys would not look for him so close to their base.
Sam gives Ralph some of their meat because he feels bad about not helping Ralph and for betraying him.
Samneric joined Jack's tribe because Jack and Roger tortured them.
I think that Roger was planning to put Ralph's head on a stick like they did with the Lord of the Flies.
Jack flushed Ralph out by setting a fire in his hiding spot. The smoke then forced him out.
Ralph discovers a ship when he runs to the beach.
On the beach, Jack seemed like an innocent young boy.
Percival Wemys Madison.
Ralph takes responsibility for the thing that happens on the island.
The naval officer is upset at the boys because they are not acting like good Britich boys.

Journal entry Chapter 10

Simon's Ghost

I can not beleive that Ralph and Piggy are denying that they were there when I was killed. Although they both know very well what happened and who was involved, they still try to deny it to each other. I thought that it was very foolish of them to deny to each other and to Samneric because it is losing the trust of the group. There are only the four of them left and they need to be strong enough to stand up to Jack's hunters. They are losing to Jack and they need to be stronger.
Jack is an evil ruler. He beat Wifred today. He had no reason either. He just wanted to assert his power to the other boys. But, now everyone is scared of him. He is continuing to rule the boys and they just listen to him and treat him like a king. They have been plotting all day for an attack on Ralph's "tribe". Jack also keeps saying that the beastie was only hurt and that he was in a disguise. JAck is manipulating the boys into keeping him as their leader.
Jack also attacked Ralph and Piggy and Smaneric. They went to their shelter at night and took Piggy's glasses. Piggy can not see and the boys do not have fire at all. Also, Eric and Ralph were fighting each other instead of the boys coming in because they could not see anything in the dark. So, they are bruised and beat up while the other boys are perfectly fine. All in all, its a bad situation!!!

LoTF review

In Simon's secret place, the flies prefer the pig's blood to Simon's.
Simon decides to go to the mountain.
Simon untangles the parachute from the trees.
Piggy suggests that they go to the mountain.
Piggy gets burnt with the pork on a spit.
Jack declares that the conch does not work on that part of the island and that Ralph does not have it with him anyways.
The weather becomes stormy.
The boys sing the chant about killing the beast.
Simon emerges from the forest with the news about the beast.

I think that all of the boys are responsible for Simons death. It would be nice to point fingers and say that one of the boys was specifically at fault but, all of them participated and none of them thought it through or tried to help him. It could be said that Jack or Jack's Hunters were at fault but everyone joined in. Even Ralph and Piggy. It is everybody's fault that Simon was mistaken for the beast and killed.

Chapter 8

I think that the most disturbing part of chapter 8 is when the boys catch the sow and basically torture it. I think that one of the reasons that this is so disturbing to me is because it is a very barbaric thing for the boys to do. The first reason that it is so scary, is because you see signs of the evil in the boys, especially Roger and Jack. You see Roger hurting the sow in a horrible way while Jack stabs it to death. The boys are becoming more barbaric and savage. It is very scary when the boys decide to put the sows head on a stick because Simon is watching them.
Simon is the one who notices that the boys becoming the beast. He was the one that predicted that the only beast on the island is the boys themselves. He has started to hallucinate about the pig's head talking to him and he thinks that the sow's head on a stick is the beastie. I think one of the other reasons that this chapter is so disturbing is because of the conflict between all of the boys. Jack leaves at the beggining of the chapter and the boys start to separate. This is the most disturbing chapter in the book so far. The boys are beggining to show real barbaric tendencies. Not just little boys playing around at being grown-ups or being mean. They are actually starting to be so mean to their fellow boys. And, they are beggining to torture the sows instead of just playing around and ending up killing them. It is a very barbaric chapter.

Chapter 7 Shadows and Tall Trees

The Beastie
Jack

Ralph is becoming more of a hunter like the rest of us. He came with us on a hunt for the Beastie, and he joined in the games. He got excited when he stuck the boar with the spear. And he had a DEMONIAC expression when he told us about it. It is not fair that the boys still looked to him as a leader even when I am the one who should be leading them. He makes ridiculous TABOO'S that the boys follow. And he looked disgusted while I PAUNCHED the sows belly. He seems DEMURE but he is actually trying to keep me from being leader. But he thinks that he is in charge but he should not be. Nobody knows anything about him. He is not a PREFECT. He does not deserve to be leader.

The game that we played after we tried to catch the boar was fun. I wish that we could have had a real pig to hit instead of just Robert. But Ralph kept being annoying and trying to pretend to be grown up. When I said that we could just use a littleun I really meant it. If we wanted to play that game we could have actually killed a pig or a littleun. No one really cares about them.

I am very scared of the beast. I saw him and I am so happy that I was not closest to him. He sat up and looked at us but we did not actually see his face. I ran away. I was so scared. I am very ashamed that I ran away so quickly instead of walking away.

Chapter 6: Beast from Air Perspective:Ralph

I was really frightened of how rough the other boys were becoming. And with Jack leading them. I wish we could get a sign from the grown ups. If we had a sign, the boys would become civilized again. Jack would have to calm the excitement and maybe we could get rescued.
Samneric saw the beastie. We went to look for it in a large group of hunters. I am scared of what the beast might do if it finds us. I am really afraid because I am now sure that the beast does exsist. I just can not admit to the other boys that I am scared.
I feel like I should still be the strongest leader on the island. Jack is taking over but it is not his job. I am leader. I was chosen and I am the one who makes the better rules. All Jack and his hunters want to do is hunt and play all day long. I feel responsible to keep them in check and on task. It is hard though, to be the leader of a pack of boys. I wish that I could back down, but the island would go to ruin if I did.

CHapter 5 character POV- Simon

The boys are starting to stray from Ralph's leadership. Ralph blew the conch for the assembly tonight. The boys came but listened to Jack more than to Ralph. They chose Ralph to lead, but they follow whoever lets them have more fun. They do not listen to their leader. There were a lot of concerns brought up. But, the conversation ended up being just about the beastie. I am scared.
The littleuns are scared about the beastie. We need to do something because, there is a beast. I am just not sure what it is yet. The littleuns all listened to Percival's cries and they began to cry also. I am afraid that the littleuns are a bit out of control and are no help to us. They only hinder us from working...
I am starting to think that all men are born with the tendency to do evil and I am scared about what may happen on this island with the boys behaving as they do. What will happen to the small boys? And what will happen if the older boys gang up together? I am afraid to think about it. Everybody needs to be careful because this island is getting crazy and everyone here is scared about what will happen next!

CHAPTER 4: PAINTED FACES AND LONG HAIR

SIMON

I wish that we could get taken off of this island.

Ralph has taken me in as one of his main helpers. I have been trying to help out as much as the older kids but, I end up doing all of the work. I am happy that Ralph, at least, works on the huts and basically makes himself useful all the time. I wish that I could be more of a leader like he is. He is kind to everyone on the island even if they are not kind to him.
The littleuns, I think, spend most of their time eating fruit and playing games. They are not much help. But, I think that I know how they feel. They are scared. And, all of us are but they feel it the most. They understand about the beastie and they are as scared of it as I am. I wish that we could make the older boys understand about the evil that lives on this island and we have to get off of here as soon as we can. Ralph understands. But I am not sure about the other ones. I need to make them understand.
The hunters are turning into savages. Merridew has painted their faces so that just to look at them shows the evil on this island. As if they are not themselves. It scared me to think that they can transform into such monsters. I think that the Beastie is among us. Is one of us.
I also do not understand how the hunters could let the fire go out. They promised, PROMISED! And they let us down. We could have been saved. But instead, they had to catch a pig. And, not only that, but Merridew murmered a fake apology instead of a real one. And everyone turned to his side. It is not fair to Ralph. We chose him.
I do not know what will happen on this island next. I am too scared to think about what the hunters are going to do next. They are turning into savages. I am afraid to think of what they can do if they have all the boys on this island on their side. And, I am worried about the Beastie.

Chapter 3: Character POV

Jack

Who does that Ralph think he is? We need to HUNT. Not to sit around and build shelters all day. Besides, he and Simon were doing fine without our help. they should have just continued working while we hunted. It is only fair that while we get the food they work also.
We need to have food to eat and survive. And besides. I have this urge to kill. I cannot quite explain the feeling but I feel the need to hurt something. The little ones are annoying and Ralph always sides with Piggy. I thought that Ralph and I could be friends but now I know that we will never be friends.
And, Simon has been leaving the choir (oops, hunters) to work with Ralph on the huts and to explore the island. He has deserted us. He is the purest one on the island. He is always nice and always shares and never puts himself first. His never-ending good nature is starting to get under my skin.
I hope that we aren't rescued soon. I need to catch a pig still and I like the power that I have over the boys. I hate grown-ups. They always try to boss you and tell you what to do even when you just want to try things out.
And at the beggining I thought that Ralph and I could become friends but he is just being so mean and favors Piggy. He disagrees with everything that I say and no matter what I do it is wrong. He is acting like he can boss me around just because he "got chosen". But I am the better choice for leader and the boys will see that when I get them food. THey will see.

Character POV Chapter 2

Ralph


The second that I mentioned fire, the boys scurried off like a bunch of rabbits. I hurried after them with Piggy following closely behind me. He was huffing and puffing by the time we got to the mountain. Everybody had already begun collecting firewood and dry leaves. But then Jack told us that nobody had any matches. Then, we thought that maybe Piggy had some matches, but he said no, he did not. But suddenly we thought that Piggy’s glasses could be used for starting the fire. Maurice started the fire while Piggy yelled at us to give his specs back. The fire started very quickly and we called an assembly. I was irritated at the way that the boys were acting. There was no law or order. We needed to make some rules. For some reason, Piggy wanted to talk. I let him because I found that he often had good things to say. And, after all, we had pinched his specs. He started ranting on about how Jack had led the other boys to make the fire and how it was getting out of control. That is when the fire started creeping along the ground towards the trees. The trees caught on fire and piggy started gasping for breath. He was screaming at us now and the heat burned my face. Piggy asked how we knew where all the littleuns were. Hadn’t I told him to count them that first day??? Why had he not??? I started yelling at him but he yelled right back. And, he continued. “And, what about that kid with the birthmark on his face? Has anyone seen him since that first night? Remember? The boy who talked about snakes and a beastie? Where is he?”
The weight of his words sank in. Where WAS he? I could not remember seeing him and he wasn’t with us. Piggy leaned against a rock, trying to catch his breath. It was completely silent and all you could hear was the burning fire and Piggy’s loud gasps for breath. Even Jack had nothing to say. The silence seemed to sink in on us and I was very nervous. The small boys seemed to begin to look up to Jack now. He had fun with them. Not giving rules like we should be. Piggy is yelling for me now. But the fire has gone out. We should relight it.