Lit Circles Journal Entry 5

Heading into our fifth journal entry, our group has begun reading a new book; "Of Mice, and Men" by John Steinbeck. In John Steinbeck's book, we are told the story of a pair of unlike travelers, on an expedition for work in a promising farm to "build a stake". George, a small guy, with an edgy attitude, and a quick tongue, and Lennie; a giant with a big heart, but a child's mind. As the story progresses, we then meet a few more interesting characters from within the farm, upon their employment; such as Curley, Curley's wife, and Slim. Curley, being the bosses' son, instantly sets himself up, as an antagonist in the story, by manner of introduction, and first impression, going as far as picking a fight with Lennie. Curley's wife, only known as "Curley's wife" is described as a pretty girl who's got the "eye" for people, and a dangerous flirt. Lastly, Slim: described as a man of the world, who has an inner charm and wisdom beyond his years. This story reminds me very much of a little brother-big brother type of partnership like "Freak the Mighty" in how they both profit and have a sort of "Mutualistic" relationship going on.

So far in our group, we have been doing well in terms of organizing, and handling work efficiently within class time. We have also started to open up more about our personal opinions and thoughts about the things we read and learn about within the stories and tasks we are assigned. All in all, I think that I have made much progress from the start in terms of my cohesion within the group too, and I think it can only run more smoothly from here.

Lit Circles Journal Entry 3

In this past week we have read up to pg. 80 of the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel. So far in the story, we see Elie and his father yet again moving from camp to camp, and as the story further goes along, it seems that we see more and more suffering and oppression. A notable part of the story so far is the concept of "selection" (P. 71), which as the book explains, is how the German Nazis weeded out the people not fit to work anymore, and got rid of them: permanently. As a group, we have discussed if we are implicated in injustice and whether or not we can do anything about it. In my opinion, I think it is true that in the world we live in, people everywhere are implicated by injustice; and it is just an ongoing cycle which we, as individuals can't do much about, due to things that we can't control. Although I think as human beings, we help feed the fire that burns us: in a way that we further oppress ourselves than what is already necessary. Based on our group's progression I would say, we have further grown in trust of each other: That is to say, we are now more comfortable talking loosely about things within the book, and we have built a stronger respect for one another. We now try to built upon each other's ideas and try to go deeper within the EQ questions. Such as how we further asked each other: "What are the things that further implicate humanity into injustice?" Overall, I think our group is heading towards the right way, and much progression has been made since the beginning

Oral Presentation Reflection

In our group project scene: Act II Scene III...

• "Had I but died an hour before this chance. I had lived a blessed time; for from this instant There's nothing serious in mortality; All is but toys: renown and grace is dead; The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees is left this vault to brag of"
  
  -Macbeth
  
  We see how power has corrupted Macbeth, through his actions and words. To the point in which Macbeth would murder the King's servants, to further rid any evidence of his misdeeds, as well as lie about the details regarding King Duncan's murder, to save himself of any suspicion. This newly-found corruption stems from the promise of power given to him by the prophecy of the witches. Showing that Macbeth's character is one that is willing to consider doing anything; so long as they get what they want.

• Something important which I've come to learn by working with this group, is that everyone brings with them their own unique ideas, experiences and abilities. These assets can help provide to an overall better quality of work to share to others. However, these qualities can also work against the group, due to many uncertain complications and personal differences within each other. The key to a successful collaboration is to maximize everyone's full potential to contribute, and to minimize everyone's concerns as well as weaknesses for the better of the group. As shown with how Josh, Elyjah, and I contributed different ideas that we thought only were the most necessary for the project, and assumed specific roles in the group based on what we thought we excelled at the most.

• Something that I noticed that I need to work on for next time, is my management of time. During the past few weeks working with my group, I noticed that we all had a theory down and a general concept of how the project would work; but it took far much longer for us to actually implement our ideas in tangible terms (actually going to work on the project). Therefore giving us less time to focus on the quality of our work.

•  Overall, the thing I am most proud of in our group's work is our incorporation of humor to give the scene a much more different tone than usually given off to the audience. This made the scene much more captivating and interesting, and I think that this attracted the audience. Some of our classmates congratulated us for our work, and that's all I aimed to do: To please.

•  If I were to divide a pie with our group's individual work percentages on it, I would divide it for everyone in three equal loads but in different portions. Due to how we all contributed equally in some way or another, but did so in different ways. Josh provided us with the space and tools to work, as well as gave important feedback on the project. Elyjah on the other hand, cooperated well and never hesitated to share his thoughts for the project. Despite never having been acquainted until now, he nevertheless delivered when it came to critical moments and always came prepared.
  
  Lastly, I provided ideas as well as plans for the project, and cooperated with the group with whatever was needed to be done. I always tried to incorporate everyone's ideas within my work so that we could have a project that we all could be proud of.

Understanding Macbeth: Act 2, Scene 3

In Act 2 Scene 3 we encounter alot of future foreshadowing as well as strange irony of things to come. In this scene, we begin to see Macbeth's actions give birth to later future consequences, as well as a hint of how everything will end. Portrayed by references of "the gate" from which Macduff; Macbeth's future killer arrives in, to the Porter, making references of the devil, as to signify the sins within Macbeth's walls and the beginning of a new change.

The 2 EQs we chose to do were "How power corrupts" and "How far one was willing to go to get what he/she desires the most."

Within this scene
we see by his deeds from the latter scenes how he has changed dramatically from neutrality to evil

"If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key" -Porter

(A reference to Macbeth's newly found-corruption)


We also see within this scene how far Macbeth would go to get what he desires the most, even as far as to kill King Duncan's chamberlains to get rid of further evidence, and lie about it

"O, yet I do repent me of my fury, that I did kill them." - Macbeth

This scene clearly lays out the now darker tone within the plays' plot and the turning point of Macbeth's story, The beginning of his corruption and tragedy.

comment power/ambition

You have some good insight and understanding into the first part of the play. What source have youused? Please acknowledge your sources? I was glad to see that you have backed up one of your points with evidence from the text.

Edit:

Ms. Caldwell, please see revisions when you can. Please and thank you! :)

My Deepest Desire

My deepest desire takes its place not upon the glory of fame or the lustre of wealth and riches, nor does it truly live in the comfort of dwelling in achievements of times past. But it resides in the air; untouchable, unseen yet all around us. Intangible.

Happiness.

Macbeth Act 1: Corruption

In the beginning of Macbeth, we are introduced to the concept of desire through the idea of power. In the story of Macbeth, we see as to how far a man may go for what he wants through his own personal ambitions and desires. The introduction of the tale describes a man's dark change through the portrayal of many contrasts and conflicting ideals. Numerous allusions are found in the very beginning of the story through the many dialogues spoken by key characters within the tale. One example of such, is Macbeth's first line throughout the whole tragedy: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen". This speech gives not only a visual of a middle ground between good and evil; but shows the many moral dillemmas and conflicts approaching ahead.

Power is one of many things that drives us as human beings; a desire. Macbeth is no exception from the rest of us. The story from the beginning, forebode a warning of the numerous consequences to unfold. A story of a man's selfish desire. One of humanities' oldest tales: A tale of tragedy

Edit:

References

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth/section1.rhtml

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth/section2.rhtml

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/full.html