The First Six Weeks of Senior Year

The first six weeks of Senior year have been nothing like any of the past weeks of my life. First of all, my classes are much harder then before. Last year I took just as many AP's, but for some reason this year the AP's are harder. Literature makes me come up with ideas I have never even considered before. I have never taken a science or social studies class that make me use math like AP Physics and AP Economics. There is so much critical thinking required of me this semester, but I am enjoying it. I like to be challenged and expand my thoughts. The only class I don't enjoy as much as the others is AP Statistics. I am slowly learning to value w

hat we are learning; however, I do like "normal" math such as Calculus better. Throughout all of my classes and outside of school, one important act applies: do not procrastinate. I think I am doing a relatively good job at this. I am trying to minimize my stress related to homework and college applications by getting them done early and planning ahead of time. I cannot let "senioritis" overcome me at any point this

year. I am excited to see the outcome of all of my hard work these last six weeks and this semester.

Reflections for the New Year

This past Thursday was Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. On this holiday, we reflect on this past year, the good and the bad. We all think about what we would like to change and how we can do better. This year, I do not necessarily want to change all of my habits at school. I want to continue to work hard in school and absorb as much information as I can. However, what I can improve upon is my overall knowledge. Afterall, that is what school is for. I am learning how to convey my thoughts as words in various essays for AP Literature class. I feel as if I have learned a lot already in this new year of school. In addition, as I reflect upon my life outside of school, I must do the same and learn how to convey my thoughts more effectively. My mom always gets mad at me about our communication. As my mom wishes, I must learn to convey my thoughts so that she can better understand what I am trying to say and feel.

This coming year will bring many changes. I am starting senior year in the beginning, and by the end, I will be starting college. I do not know which college, but that is what makes a new year special. The questionable future, the unknown is abundant, and the possibilities are endless. I am excited to see what I make out of the year of 5771.

Critical Response- "Bartleby, the Scrivener"

In "Bartleby, the Scrivener," Herman Melville explores two characters and their differences in ways of dealing with conflict; however, the two characters exhibit similarity as well. In the beginning of the story, Bartleby is first viewed by the reader as a shy, diligent man. However, as the story progresses, Bartleby begins to show his real character and feelings. He "prefers not to" do his work. He would rather shut out the world and retreat to his own lonely thoughts at his desk. Bartleby deals with personal conflict but shutting down into silence.

On the other hand, the narrator/boss differs in his methods by being more upfront and attempting to get closer to Bartleby. He goes not hide behind his desk in silence; he reacts to the conflict between himself and Bartleby by asking Bartleby abut his life and talking t

o him. Just as Bartley's method does not help his situation, this method of getting closer to the conflict does not help to relieve the conflict either.

Even though the characters are contrasting in their methods, the boss trying to get close to Bartleby while Bartleby is trying to distance himself from all others, the two share the same passivity. They both "prefer not to" do various tasks. The boss tries to get closer, however, he never fully commits, afraid of the mysterious ways of Bartleby. He confronts Bartleby about not doing work, but then easily gives up and gives Bartleby whatever he wants. There is never a clear line dividing the methods of Bartleby and his boss.

Reactions to Change

Reflecting upon this last week's events, I realize that many of the messages of the stories and poems we talked about in class apply to my life this week. In "Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville, the piece of literature explores the possibilities of an unknown world, one that many wish to be true. I am referring to Bartleby's situation in which he does absolutely nothing, neglecting his work, only resulting in sympathy and wonder from his boss. I did not feel like doing any work this week for multiple reasons; however, I knew that if I did not complete my required tasks, I wouldn't just get looked at with wonder; it would affect my grades and overall education. I cannot be carefree like Bartleby; I cannot just ignore my duties.

In addition, I realize that my life at this point in time reflects the poem "Lot's Wife" by Anna Akhmatova. I have had many changes this week that were as sudden as Lot and his wife getting a notice from an angel saying that they have to leave their home. I feel the pain of Lot's Wife, wanting to look back at what she is leaving behind, what she is losing and has lost already. And just like the wife, I cannot help but do so. Thankfully, I do not turn into a pillar of salt when I look into the past. However, looking back does root me in my place of pain just like looking back at Sodom makes the wife's "body flak[e] into transparent salt, her swift legs rooted to the ground." I must learn not to ponder on the past, but look forward to the future so my mind and legs may be swift again and leave this place of pain.

Critical Response- "Three Girls"

"Three Girls," a short story by Joyce Carol Oates, is not just a story about two young women enthralled by the prescense of a celebrity in a New York bookstore, but the changing roles of women in today's society. On the surface, a reader can pick up the fantasy-like prose that Oates uses to create the desired mood of the unique night. Oates describes the girls as "drifting through the warehouse of treasures as though an enchanted forrest...enchanted by books," (77). Then the fantasy continues as they see Marylin Monroe in the bookstore.

However, this is where the role of women today comes into play. Marylin is not what the two girls expected. There was "no leading man, no dark prince...This Marylin Monroe required no man," (79). Oates is using Marylin as a symbol of the tamed, beautified woman of the olden days. However, she uses this character ironically to make a statement: women can be intellectual; they can wear men's clothes and go to a bookstore. Women are now independent as defined by not only their thoughts, but their sexuality as well.

In the end of the story, Oates reveals the real reason for the fantasy-like night: "that magical evening...when I kissed you for the first time." Oates builds up the story, breaking down the typical roles of women, and then she adds to the destruction of women mores by saying that the two girls kissed. Oates shows that the girls can be typical members of society, awestruck by a celebrity like everyone else in this world, and still be homosexual. Oates skillfully shows throughout "Three Girls" that there is a new type of woman nowadays.

Shakespeare in an ipad?

http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=48062

Last week Mr. Burke and I were discussing the future of literary works. Would all novels be turned into multimedia on kindles and ipads? How soon? For me, these thoughts are a little frightening. Unlike this cartoon depicts, I think that, like myself, Shakespeare would not be happy at all with the way novels are turning into digital files. I think books should be enjoyed thoughtfully, not read "on the go" as the ipad promotes. I like to sit down and allow myself to soak up the imagery and ideas of the literature. In addition, I'm beginning to get into the habit of underlining and making notes in margins while I read so I can keep track of the important details. That won't be possible anymore if I can't write on my books. My education would be impacted.

But more importantly is how this change would affect the writing itself. Imagery is what makes a book seem realistic, what connects a reader to the text (as I read in our textbook this week). If a novel is put onto a mini-computer so that a person can click and see a video of the imagery instead, it would take away that much more from the writing. My theory is that the writers would become lazier and think "I don't feel like describing that sunset. I'll just go find a picture." In addition, after much contemplation about what literature even is, my definition does not include pictures. I believe a piece of literature should be able to use such precise word choice that that should be enough. What happened to the days when, after a frustrating day of dealing with computers and other technology, the book was always there? The book- complex in ideas yet simple to operate. That is quite satisfactory for me.

Breaking the Cycle- Good or bad?

This past week in class, we analyzed the poem "The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats. As we discussed the poem, we came to realize a common theme: life is a cycle. In the poem, Yeats is critical of the second coming (the coming of Jesus), saying that it threw the world into anarchy; a world where "the ceremony of innocence is drowned." In this case, Yeats makes it clear that going off of the familiar cycle is bad; however; is this act always bad? My answer to that is no. This weekend on BHS's advanced leadership retreat, we broke from the cycle of our normal weekend routines and broke out of our comfort zones. One the second day we participated in the "cross the line" activity. The walls that usually suppress emotions were broken down, and our trust was built up. In the end, we all agreed it may have been a difficult experience, but a worthwhile one as well. Once we broke for the cycle of routine, our eyes were opened to the truth of the cycle of rumors and teasing, difficulties of life and death. I invite everyone to break the cycle, to open their eyes to something new. Most likely, it will make "things fall apart" in a good way.