Glory in the Attempt

All week Matthew and I have been working on a catapult for physics and I never knew exactly what the saying glory in the attempt meant until last night at about 12:30 AM.
Originally, we started out making this catapult out of wood, but we came to the assumption that it was too small and wouldn't hold up. So naturally we changed to PVC pipe. For the past three days matthew, my parents, and my little sister have been going outside to our street to try new things to see if something different would work. After about the 15th try we thought we were finally done and could relax. Then at 12:00 at night as we were about to go to bed Matthew and I came up with a new plan that would have to work. Because my whole family was asleep except for my Mom, she gladly volunteered to help. At 12:30 in the night when it was pitch black outside we launched the catapult and it worked better than ever. It was more than just the attempts that made the glory in it. It was more about learning what is wrong and fixing it. Being able to revise and revise and revise until the product is finally where it is at its best is a great feeling.

Socratic Seminar Notes on Prufrock

• The poem relates to school based upon time
• He tries to reassure himself that he has time to do things, but in saying so he losing time
• Stages of procrastination in poem (also relates to school)
• Biblical reference of Lazarus connects to in the mind coming back to life
• Put yourself out there and chose to do it
• To do or not to do
• Title is ironic because he calls his life a love song, but it is the opposite
• The saying "time heals", but here it seems like it doesn't heal

Hamlet Quote Essay

The quote, "To be or not to be" is the most universally known quote in Shakespeare, but not many know its actual context or the meaning it evokes. It is the opening phrase of Hamlet's soliloquy in the "Nunnery Scene"of William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It gives insight to Hamlet's thoughts and internal feelings as well as allows the audience to capture his point of view. In saying, "To be or not to be", with literary techniques Hamlet addresses the recurrent theme of whether or not to fulfill his whole self in taking the act to avenge his uncle, King Claudius.
Shakespeare uses a soliloquy in this part of the text with metaphors to compound it. One of the main reasons Hamlet uses a soliloquy in this part of the play is so that only the audience can understand what Hamlet is going through. He does this particularly so that the other characters in the play can't connect with the thoughts and feelings of Hamlet. Of course many people miss the meaning behind the quote "To be or not to be". It is often thought that Hamlet is contemplating suicide, but its not that all. In fact, he is questioning if he should own up to being his whole self in killing King Claudius. Its obvious that Hamlet already has the answer.
Metaphors are utilized directly after "To be or not be" to captivate the audience's attention in looking back to the theme. The first is quote "The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" basically means the trials and tribulations of destiny. So, Hamlet is saying that are trials and tribulations in taking the action to kill King Claudius. He then contradicts that metaphor with another metaphor of  "Or to take arms against a sea of trouble". This quote translates to fighting back against the obstacles that take part in killing King Claudius. These metaphors relate back to the original quote "To be or not to be". The first metaphor connects with "to be" and the second metaphor applies to "or not to be".
 

Poem Essay

Are all poems alike? It seems like an obvious answer, but it takes some thinking to explain the answer. In the two poems, "The Place Where We Are Right" by Yehuda Amichai and "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein, they have similar qualities, but for the most part are different. The utilization of imagery creates the same scene, but at the same time contradicts each other with the mood it evokes.
Imagery is an extremely powerful tool in poems. It can create a picture or a video when there are just words. In these two poems the authors incorporate imagery delicately, but with ease. Amichai uses phrases like "Is hard and trampled Like a yard" to describe the place where we are right. With this the phrase creates an image that can be connected with the poem, "Where the Sidewalk Ends".  In Silverstein's poem he uses the sentence "Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black And the dark street winds and bends," to describe the place they are coming from. Both the phrase and the sentence produced a similar image yet they are different. In Amichai's poem it is the place where they are going. In Silverstein's poem it is the place they are coming from.
Another way imagery is so powerful is that it brings about a specific mood. In both poems imagery creates the mood, but at the same time changes in a matter of one line. In Amichai's poem, the mood starts out gloomy and dark because of the imagery that is in the words, but suddenly it changes to a mood of love once the imagery changed. In the poem by Silverstein, the imagery creates a peaceful mood when it talks about the place where we are right. Once it starts to talk about the place they came from, it changes drastically to a dark and gloomy mood like the other poem. 

Something Funny...

Here is a little something to get your mind off finals for a second. A sports analyst talks to kids on what football player should get an award.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-YBkfpuXmA

Poetry remix

"The Place Where We Are Right" Remixed by Bree, Bianca, Cameron, Aaron & Matthew

From the place where we are right

Flowers will always grow

In the Spring

The place where we are right

Is inferior and controlled

Like servants.

But hope and revolution

Dig up the world

Like a convolution

And a shout will be heard in the place

Where the silenced

Society once stood.

"The Place Where We Are Right" by Yehuda Amichai

From the place where we are right

Flowers will never grow

In the Spring.

The place where we are right

Is hard and trampled

Like a yard.

But doubts and loves

Dig up the world

Like a mole, a plow.

And a whisper will be heard in the place

Where the ruined

House once stood.