Wednesday, April 27, 2011

summative #1

By this time my group has agreed to read up to the middle of the book, which is around pg. 200-225. Though, as the book has been so good, and quite exciting up to this point, I couldn't help but to read ahead a little bit. But, I tried to pae myself as I did not want to get too far ahead into my readings.

Our group discussions, thus far have been really well. I think that we have progressed a lot as a group as we talk more, and we help each other build up to questions. We learn with every group discussion and I am very proud of my group.

Some of the things we talked about, as we were still not quite exactly divulged into the real story behind the book, I presume, are the settings and the many different themes that this book has, as well as the main words that could be used to describe this book, and the layers and connections behind what has been happening so far. For our past discussions we used the words conflict and darkness as we thought that those two words have been the most fitting to our discussions. We talked about the conflict between Katherine and Mal'akh and Robert's conflict with the entire situation, and we mixed in how darkness is incorporated through Mal'akh's possible intentions.

Does evil or fear lead one to the following; experience of violence, infliction of violence and/or observation of violence?
Yes. By now, we have learned that Mal'akh went after the family years ago Mrs. Solomon. However, after Peter Solomon had chased him down and made Mal'akh run off a cliff into an icy river. This perhaps, made him extremely upset, which is why he chose to come back after him. Howevery, I am sure that something else must have happened previously for him to want to come in and kill the Solomon family.

summative #2

On Monday (April, 4th), we all had a chance to do some silent reading and the people in my group either finished the novel or only had a few chapters left to go. Afterwards we quietly worked on the worksheet where we found individual quotes from the book. This week, we really focused on imagery, so the quotes had to incorporate poetic devices such as metaphors, and similies to help build on the imagery used in this novel. This eventually lead to our discussion about how this imagery is used to really develop the themes, as well as the many layers of this novel. Though we did not have as much time as we would have liked to discuss everything, what we did get to talk about were some of the major points as this novel has such an immense amount of imagery.

One part of the novel that we focused many of our quotes on, were from the climax of the story. Robert Langdon, and Katherine Solomon have been tricked and are captured by Mal'akh. Katherine has been tied up, and Robert has been placed inside a coffin like box that is slowly filling up with fluid.

That scene reminds of episodes of fear factor where the contestants are placed in boxes and the are filled with/ or are being filled up with fluids/ bugs. I can only imagine that the fear that they had to go through is what Robert Langdon. must've felt as well. In these shows, you can see that the contestants or their partners are desperately trying to do everything they can to get the contestant out of the box. Which is like how Katherine pleaded for Mal'akh to let him go, or how Robert, with lack of thinking, considering his circumstances, thought extremely hard and told Mal'akh how to solve the pyramid.

We didn't really focus on the characters too much this time, as we mostly focused on how the imagery especially helped with the mood, and the setting. It also helped express the different layers that were occuring during these past few chapters. Considering the events that were happening it is easy to see that as a first layer it conveyed scenes and moods of evil and darkness. The imagery really helps build on the why's. Why is this evil and darkness being portrayed. Piece by piece the story was finally coming together, and Mal'ahk's reasonings started to become unveiled. If we peel another layer off, I believe that emotions would be next and Mal'ahk's raw feelings of frustration, and hatred really shine through. The imagery also helps us connect with the characters feelings throughout the novel, like when Langdon says that, "his lungs felt you can like they were filled with sand." When one attempts to imagine that, you can imagine yourself feeling extremely heavy, and all you want to do is reach out, get the the weight out of your lungs, and get air to breathe in. Which is presumably what drowning feels like and is exactly what Mr. Langdon was feeling at the time.

On Wednesday, Katie and I were not present for a majority of the class due to Chimo.
This journal is better because I added a connection as well as some details.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Formative Journal # 3

On Monday (April, 4th), we all had a chance to do some silent reading and the people in my group either finished the novel or only had a few chapters left to go. Afterwards we quietly worked on the worksheet where we found individual quotes from the book. This week, we really focused on imagery, so the quotes had to incorporate poetic devices such as metaphors, and similies to help build on the imagery used in this novel. This eventually lead to our discussion about how this imagery is used to really develop the themes, as well as the many layers of this novel. Though we did not have as much time as we would have liked to discuss everything, what we did get to talk about were some of the major points as this novel has such an immense amount of imagery.

One part of the novel that we focused many of our quotes on, were from the climax of the story. Robert Langdon, and Katherine Solomon have been tricked and are captured by Mal'akh. Katherine has been tied up, and Robert has been placed inside a coffin like box that is slowly filling up with fluid.

We didn't really focus on the characters too much this time, as we mostly focused on how the imagery especially helped with the mood, and the setting. It also helped express the different layers that were occuring during these past few chapters. Considering the events that were happening it is easy to see that as a first layer it conveyed scenes and moods of evil and darkness. The imagery really helps build on the why's. Why is this evil and darkness being portrayed. Piece by piece the story was finally coming together, and Mal'ahk's reasonings started to become unveiled. If we peel another layer off, I believe that emotions would be next and Mal'ahk's raw feelings of frustration, and hatred really shine through.
On Wednesday, Katie and I were not present for a majority of the class due to Chimo.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

response

Why was homework done during class? Hmmm??? Why do we question these things about darkness? WHy should we accept them? True both exiist, but could we not strive for a perfect worls? Although everyones peception differs one can work towards it. Is that not why hope exisits? Can yoyu try and bring in some more specific egs in your writing as well. GOod thoughts and points that you have mentioned.

Why is there darkness in humanity?

Darkness can be viewed in a literal form and/or in an emotional and implicational form.  Literally, darkness is an essential part of life that has to occur in order for everyone to have a full day. However, if we look at it like a connotation it is still just as essential in life as it is literally. Darkness/evil, happens,  I believe because we let it happen. But, if we didn't let it happen we could possibly be living in a stereotypical, 'perfect world' which from experience that we have learned that it cannot exist, and darkness will eventually come in, and over power whatever eutopia like life we had. It will always be a part of our lives, so why do we question it.

Monday, November 15, 2010

ACT ONE ; Scene 6&7 Understanding

The EQ's that my group has decided to use for our project are:
What is integrity? & How do we deal with conflicting elements within our personalities?

Act One; Scene Six
This is the scene where King Duncan arrives at Macbeth's and there he is greeted by Lady Macbeth. She greets him with utter respect and politeness, as a hostess should and as he is the King. This scene is extremely controversial and questions Lady Macbeth's integrity as she treats him with such politeness in this scene, but in truth she is just acting this way and really plans to murder him in his sleep. This is why we chose the question, "What is integrity?" Integrity is a moral or a principle, it is a virtue. It's a sense of wholeness, and honesty which Lady Macbeth has clearly lost, as she is willing to go through with murder, to fulfull her desires.

Act One; Scene Seven
In this scene Macbeth decides that he no longer wants to procede with the murdering of King Duncan. He has come up with numerous reasons and as he explains to Lady Macbeth, she becomes very upset and accuses him of his weak nature, and how he is a coward, and that she has more courage than he does. She eventually convinces him that this is their desire, and that they must continue on with the murder. With this scene we decided to ask the question,  "How do we deal with conflicting elements within our personalities?" It seemed to be a fitting question as Macbeth is in a conflict with his personality and his desire. Though he wants to be King, as he is an honest, and loyal person, he must weigh over his options. What is more important? His desires, or his integrity?