A mahogany, black door, as narrow as was tall
opened for some visitors to a man in a hall.
A lanky man stood, skin as white as goose skin
beckoned with bony fingers for his guests to come in.
"Welcome, welcome all; I'm glad you've all come.
Please take a seat. Yes, have a glass of rum."
The count assisted his guests in taking their seats,
while his butler ran quickly to treat them to treats.
While all of the guests eyed each other with apprehension,
the count began to sense his visitor's tension.
He decided to enlighten them of his guilty pleasures
in order to remove his negative
Monday, October 24, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Blog entry#2: Anglo-Saxon Culture
Anglo-Saxon culture displays a wide variety of values and traits that are both commendable and frowned upon. Some of these values include courage, strength, greed, and many others. Many values of Anglo-Saxon culture are prominent in our society today. One key aspect of Anglo-Saxon culture that is quite present today is boasting. Boasting, or the act of showing off one's accomplishments, has been present for thousands of years and shows no signs of diminishing.
In the times of the Anglo-Saxons, visitors of towns would introduce themselves based on their past accomplishments and feats. In Beowulf, when he entered into King Hrothgar's palace, his initial introductions included his major battles, successes, and triumphs. Although his intentions were to acquire an amount of trust in the Danes, his boasting was another way to show off. Because of his boasting, the king and the Danes felt secure in knowing that Beowulf was a courageous and strong warrior--based on what he said.
Nowadays this value is very much present and only slightly different than how it was shown in Anglo-Saxon times. For example, when building a resume' or running for a position in office, it's mandatory to boast about accomplishments so that the employer or the people voting will feel secure about who they're hiring or choosing for a political position. Also, boasting in these scenarios may raise one above others and give an edge on competition. However, boasting can prove to make one seem overconfident or even vainglorious. In my experience, when a boy, for example, is trying to impress a girl, he may boast about his possessions, accomplishments, or physical state in order to raise their confidence as well as attempt to "win over" the girl. Many values of Anglo-Saxon culture are still prominent today, and boasting is one that is conspicuously present.
In the times of the Anglo-Saxons, visitors of towns would introduce themselves based on their past accomplishments and feats. In Beowulf, when he entered into King Hrothgar's palace, his initial introductions included his major battles, successes, and triumphs. Although his intentions were to acquire an amount of trust in the Danes, his boasting was another way to show off. Because of his boasting, the king and the Danes felt secure in knowing that Beowulf was a courageous and strong warrior--based on what he said.
Nowadays this value is very much present and only slightly different than how it was shown in Anglo-Saxon times. For example, when building a resume' or running for a position in office, it's mandatory to boast about accomplishments so that the employer or the people voting will feel secure about who they're hiring or choosing for a political position. Also, boasting in these scenarios may raise one above others and give an edge on competition. However, boasting can prove to make one seem overconfident or even vainglorious. In my experience, when a boy, for example, is trying to impress a girl, he may boast about his possessions, accomplishments, or physical state in order to raise their confidence as well as attempt to "win over" the girl. Many values of Anglo-Saxon culture are still prominent today, and boasting is one that is conspicuously present.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Blog entry #1: Goals and Expectations
British Literature is a subject that I've touched on in previous years with works such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and—with summer reading—The Picture of Dorian Gray. However, this year I will be completely introduced to another side of British Literature. I think that this year will be mildly challenging because of how difficult deciphering some of the texts will be. I am confident that my language skills will improve with our excessive amount of vocabulary words this year. I anticipate some challenges along the way as British Literature is mostly a new subject for you, but with hard work and determination I’m sure I will succeed in the class.
The extent of my knowledge in British Literature lies in my obsession with J.K. Rowling books. Whether or not the Harry Potter series is considered a work of British Literature is a whole other issue. Perhaps we’ll study a few of these remarkable novels at some point during the year. Honestly, before the school year started I wasn’t looking forward to this class at all. I felt that studying works centuries old wasn’t something I wanted to take part in; I assumed that modern literature would better fit me. However, as I dove into my summer reading, I fell in love with Oliver Wilde in The Picture of Dorian Gray. The depth and the intensity of the plot and the constant unexpected events that took place glued me to the book. After reading it, I felt a little more open-minded about taking the class and I decided to give it a shot.
I expect that this year I will evolve into a mature upperclassman and hope that I will excel in many aspects of my life. Participating in many extracurricular activities and intense classes will force me to improve my study skills and habits. I hope to procrastinate less and efficiently manage my time. Lastly, I hope to have a great year and ultimately become a better writer through your influence.
The extent of my knowledge in British Literature lies in my obsession with J.K. Rowling books. Whether or not the Harry Potter series is considered a work of British Literature is a whole other issue. Perhaps we’ll study a few of these remarkable novels at some point during the year. Honestly, before the school year started I wasn’t looking forward to this class at all. I felt that studying works centuries old wasn’t something I wanted to take part in; I assumed that modern literature would better fit me. However, as I dove into my summer reading, I fell in love with Oliver Wilde in The Picture of Dorian Gray. The depth and the intensity of the plot and the constant unexpected events that took place glued me to the book. After reading it, I felt a little more open-minded about taking the class and I decided to give it a shot.
I expect that this year I will evolve into a mature upperclassman and hope that I will excel in many aspects of my life. Participating in many extracurricular activities and intense classes will force me to improve my study skills and habits. I hope to procrastinate less and efficiently manage my time. Lastly, I hope to have a great year and ultimately become a better writer through your influence.
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