LRJ#1: Beowulf

Va Thao

Ms.Peifer

10 IB English

5th December 2008

LRJ#1:Beowulf

A value shown in this reading are the burial rites of an honorable warrior. An example of this is, " They stretched their beloved lord in his boat, /laid out by the mast, amidships, /the great ring-giver."(34). This gives the picture of how the people does the burial. They put him in a boat with precious items such as crafted blades. Evidence for this claim is, "They decked his body no less bountiful/ with offerings than those first ones did who cast him away when he was a child and launched him alone out over the waves."(43). Another evidence for this is, "so well furbished/ with battle tackle, bladed weapons/ and coats of mail."(38). These all support that the Danes bury honorable warriors with treasures. Another value is the celebration of heroism which took place in the mead hall. An evidence for this is, "for men to work on a great mead-hall/ meant to be a wonder of the world forever;/ it would be his throne-room and there he would dispense"(69).

An alliteration found in this reading is, "Head of the Heavens and High King of the World"(183). This alliteration is describing God. It also infers that God is a very great; Lord-like. Another alliteration is, "broad-beamed, bound by its hawser"(302). This is describing how the ship is riding through the water, how it's cutting through it. Another one in  this is, "in their grim war-graith and gear at the hall"(321). This is describing the armor of the crew who came along with Beowulf all dressed for battle.

Kennings found in this reading is, "to be earth's lamplight, lanterns for the men"(96). This is indicating the sun and the moon being the light for the sky in which it leads the way for men. Another kenning is, "dark death-shadow"(160). This refers to Grendel about his sinister self and how devilish he is by using the connotations of "dark" and "death" together.

Antigone: Guilty or Not

Va Thao
Ms.Peifer
10-IB English
25 November 2008

The Honorably Guilty One

Ladies and gentlemen of the court, Antigone stands honorable guilty of how she tried to bury her dear brother Polyneices. As informed, she was caught red handed; putting dust over her brother’s corpse. Yes, Creon gave a public order to disapprove burial rites for Polyneices, but should Antigone ignore her brother and come to obey this nonsense? She may have gone against the laws, but she dared to do what others did not.
These points of Antigone’s honorable movement are proved by these information given during the investigation. One of the greatest evidence found was, “Yes. But he’s no right to keep me from what’s mine.”(61). This informs that Antigone has ownership of her own brother. It also notifies that not only does Polyneices is Antigone’s property, but Antigone and her sister are the only who is able to decide what should be done to their brother. Another proof is, “Then right away her hands/ threw on the thirsty dust.” (484). This was how Antigone buried her brother, so is it wrong to throw dust over the forbidden body although she knows it will no good compared to fully submerging the corpse into the earth? She never denied her work too. The evidence for this claim is, “I admit I did it. I won’t deny that.”(500). This informs that Antigone did perform the burial rites, but she boldly accepts her doing.
To end this dispute of Antigone’s actions, she has completely done a respectable crime. Even this should not be called a crime because to bury a beloved is a casual duty bound to every person. She has done what no other dared; she is one to marvel about and to learn from. Antigone holds her own rights, not this phony king of ours, O stubborn Creon.

Works Cited
Sophocles. “Antigone.” The Internet Classics Archive. Trans. R. C. Jebb. 04 Oct. 2000.
Classics.mit.edu. 25 Nov. 2008.

From Ismene

Dear Antigone,

Your plans in burying our dear brother Polyneices is too risky. I am thinking that you should be much more careful and that you shouldn't let anyone catch sight of you performing the burial. You are my only gem left to me. Although I agree with your plan to put dust over dear Polyneices' corpse, I am not confident if it will keep away the dogs and vultures from tearing away Polyneices' flesh. Another problem with your plan is that the corpse will rot and smell, which may cause the attraction of those blood-hungry dogs and vultures. By now the corpse is probably rotting... O pitiful Polyneices! I am not so confident, but let's try even if it will take our lives. That dreadful Creon is too stubborn to let anyone off the hook for disobeying his commands and orders, but I am hoping the gods will be on our side.
Please gods of heaven hear my prayer to my dear Antigone! Eventhough, I do not take action in this, I will pray for the gods to bless you and help you to bury our pitiful brother Polyneices! I may seem to have spontaneously come forth to stand with dearest Antigone, but I thought it through.
I want to do this with you, O bold one, because you are correct; Polyneices is one of our blood brothers so he shall also receive the same kind of burial rites as Eteocles. I recently changed my mind not long from when I realized your truthful words were more than reality. This was my motivation to stand tall and strong with you sister. Do not worry too much, just concentrate on our duties. I am hoping that the gods will take pity in Polyneices and let the dust bury him to his eternal slumber.

Your Sister,

Ismene

My Dream Society

Ever have your parents tell you to help your siblings on homework? Well, I don't because I am helping already! This is a way leading to the whole of society. My dream society is that everyone would contribute to society and receive it back. By this I mean, to teach a younger so they would sustain our knowledge. It's just like how a disease without a cure today may be easily treated years from now. In order to maintain society and its balance, we must make our future stronger. A way is to hold tight to your future and make it a future. Another way to accomplish this is to make that future meaningful! If you just try to live your life to the fullest by sitting on the couch everyday waiting for money, it will be as if you had died and placed yourself on a boat going down the stream towards the cascade. My dream society is one where everyone contributes and receives.

Watch this for your entertainment and see if it opens your eyes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_UnsgIgOpY

My Response

My first impressions on this blogging activity is actually clueless. I was a bit confused because I thought that we were going to read about Antigone. I also thought that my classmates were manipulating Ms.Peifer to get off task. I was a bit worried too because time to me is precious. Then again it was fun doing this blogging activity. This activity would be helpful because it helps me as such a conservative person to actually step outside of my comfort zone. It also helps students to improve and communicate with others for help, resources, and we can even all learn how to contribute to society. This blogging activity would be great for schools because if we as an individual see others facing the same stress or even strength, then we can connect with each other and form a stronger group.

Everyone is talking about it...

The majority of my classmates are writing about their experiences with technology. My experience with technology is much more different than theirs. What I saw in their view that they probably didn't mention was that they were born with technology taking control of their lives. To me I never had the experience of technology being a big part of my life. My parents came to the America in 1995 in March. They were not very well educated and it was difficult for them to even seek help. We never had computers, cellular phones, or even a TV! All I can recall of my childhood with technology would be in a car or at school punching in something and the same thing would appear in a box. I haven't had a home computer until I was in seventh grade! Yes, I eventually experienced moving pictures inside a box, a rectangle that would let you talk with other people, and a box that could warm food up in seconds! But then again, my experience greatly differs from my classmates.

My First Blog Ever!

Today in English 10 IB we are creating blogs for LRJ's. Everyone is actually enjoying this hour [for once to be honest]. I still wonder what is up Ms. Peifer's sleeves. This is my first time to ever blog anything down to public so you might call me as an amatuer. I still feel very proud though, because I am actually enjoying this class! This is the word and I'm out!!! Bye everyone!