Novel Study Essay

Mr. Boone snuck into the garden and killed Wellington

Wife 'died' (she was cheating on him with Mr. Shears)

Presumably he and Mrs. Shears had a thing after their spouses were gone

He had access to the tool shed since he did the gardening 

Mr. Boone killed Wellington, it's a simple indisputable fact. 

Two years ago, at the same time as when  it was found out that Mrs. Boone was having an affair with Mr. Shears, Chris was told that his Mother was in the hospital and died after a week. This is what I believe to be a Red Herring. But during the week that she was in the hospital, Chris wasn't allowed to visit her. We also never really see Mr. Shears during the book, meaning he probably left as well. This leads me to believe that Mr. Shears and Mrs. Boone both left their spouses together and are living together somewhere.

After they left, the spouses they left behind got together from shared grief and feelings of betrayal. My proof of this is that when Mrs. Shears came over that first time, she pulled Mr. Boone's head to her bosom. This does not often happen between neighbours unless there's something between them. And also, Mrs. Shears would come and 'sleep over' at their house, which is unusual because she has a perfectly good house just next door.

The father killed Wellington on a night where he was drunk, feeling mournful about remembering his lost spouse and the combined feeling with his special needs child. While Chris was 'detaching his mind', as Chris claims he can do which is akin to what Sherlock Holmes can do, he couldn't hear that Wellington was baying loudly and annoyingly, but Mr. Boone could hear him perfectly fine. So, in his drunken irritatedness, he grabbed the keys to Mrs. Shears' tool shed (he does her gardening, after all) and took the pitch fork from the shed, then impaled the dog.

This is the reasoning and methods behind Mr. Boone killing Wellington.

A Song That Represents Stress

http://youtu.be/ebAKoRcYFTA

Romeo and Juliet Formal Write

IE) The "language" of love is an important part of the relationships in the play. Choose your favourite passage/s on love and discuss how the words of the characters influence your opinion of their "love". Include characters other than Romeo and Juliet... and "love" in various versions. Why do you think HOW something is said is so important to validating the quality/worth of a relationship? What kind of language exists today that makes something romantic or "real love" and not just a crush? Find examples from modern stories or real world examples to connect to.

I chose this certain topic because it sounds like something simple, but interesting, to do. I could include things like phrases said by Juliet's mother to show how she cares for the father, and how Romeo and Juliet talk to or about each other to portray their love for each other. I could also mention some newer love stories(which is have to look up, as I'm not really into reading those kinds of stories... Yet)

My favourite passage with words of life;

Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew,— O woe! thy canopy is dust and stones;— Which with sweet water nightly I will dew, Or, wanting that, with tears distill’d by moans: The obsequies that I for thee will keep Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.

The Page whistles

The boy gives warning something doth approach. What cursed foot wanders this way to-night, To cross my obsequies and true love’s rite? What with a torch! muffle me, night, awhile.

The language of love in this story can be confusing, but some like this one can completely turn the tables on your thoughts.

Initially he appeared to be a creepy, obsessive man, always watching Juliet and making her feel uncomfortable. He tended to make rather awkward or even possessive statements like in the moment where Juliet went to confront the Friar about her plans since Romeo got himself banished;

(Paris

Come you to make confession to this father?

Juliet

To answer that, I should confess to you.

Paris

Do not deny to him that you love me.

Juliet

I will confess to you that I love him.

Paris

So will ye, I am sure, that you love me.

Juliet

If I do so, it will be of more price, Being spoke behind your back, than to your face.

Paris

Poor soul, thy face is much abused with tears.

Juliet

The tears have got small victory by that; For it was bad enough before their spite.

Paris

Thou wrong’st it, more than tears, with that report.

Juliet

That is no slander, sir, which is a truth; And what I spake, I spake it to my face.

Paris

Thy face is mine, and thou hast slander’d it.)

Because of such, this doesn't make his actual love for her all too clear.

He might be doing this all for a show. Some people might argue that he was marrying her purely because of her lineage, and the wealth and fame to be found there. He seemed to make it well known that he was now related, calling her father his father already (as mentioned in the above quote). Juliet's family is quite rich and well known, so it would be good for his wealth and fame to be associated with them, and the fact that Juliet is a beautiful young lady would most definitely contribute to that.

But he is doing it quietly, secretly, sincerely. He puts the effort in to make sure no one sees him lamenting Juliet's death, while he could show it all for the world to see to prove his love. He shows that he loves her even without all of the people there for him to put an act up for. He's showing his sorrows for only her, to show that it is true.

(Paris

Give me thy torch, boy: hence, and stand aloof: Yet put it out, for I would not be seen. Under yond yew-trees lay thee all along, Holding thine ear close to the hollow ground; So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread, Being loose, unfirm, with digging up of graves, But thou shalt hear it: whistle then to me, As signal that thou hear’st something approach. Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee, go.)

Doing this puts a twist on your thoughts about him, confusing how we think, therefore the language is important.

Official Mid-Term Grade

We were asked to do an official mid-term grading, and here's my arguments;

Part A - My attendance, in my opinion, is good. Whenever I can be here, I am, and if I'm late then I have a valid reason like getting my braces adjusted/fixed, same with being absent. For this category, I'd say I got a 22-23%!

Part B - This is a completion mark; I've completed 14/15 of the assignments; the one that I didn't do was one I was planning to do on the day where I had to leave early and ended up missing almost an entire week of school! I'd give myself the same as part A, a 22-23%!

Part C - This is a content mark; I'd say that what I put in my blogs is okay; it could be better, but it's okay. I put all the required things in the posts, but that's about it. I'd give myself a 13-15%.

Part D - This mark is for my participation. I'd say I participate and help a lot in this class! Whenever there's technical difficulties, I help try to fix the problem, and talk in the conversations! I might not comment as much under blogs, but I comment a lot on Edmodo! One of my comments would be, 'It seems you like poetry! I don't really like poetry much...' It's not as helpful, but it's generally being friendly!! I'd say I got a 18-20%

All together I'd say I got about 75%!!

Walt Whitman Argument

Today in class we read Walt Whitman's 'To a Stranger' and were asked to explain what we think the poem is about. Initially, I was under the assumption that it was about someone who had lost someone close to them, like a parent or spouse, considering the 'I can't talk to you, only think of you' line, and that they might be reminded of the lost loved one because as they are walking a stranger walks by them that looks quite similar to the one they lost.

But then, after doing some research on Wikipedia and a few other Ask websites, I found out that he was rumoured to be bisexual, and knowing that it takes place around 1820, where that wasn't acceptable, the poem took a rather interesting turn to it. Now, I think perhaps it is about him sitting somewhere, and thinking of his same-gender love, whom he is unable to see since both his family and the society doesn't approve of the relationship. He's thinking about how he can't talk to them, and only is able to think of them when they wake up alone as opposed to together, which they so direly wish to.

The very first section, which is 'Passing stranger! you do not know how longingly I look upon you,

You must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking, (it comes to me
as of a dream,)
I have somewhere surely lived a life of joy with you,' leads me to think of a few things. Him calling the person he is speaking of 'Passing Stranger' makes me think that he's speaking as if he doesn't know them, and is then confessing things as he goes by. Showing how much care he feels for the person, that he is looking for them, that he's shared a joyful life with them, he's confessing all these things, but not out loud. If he were to admit them out loud then he would surely be reprimanded for it, which means that he's thinking of all these things by his lonesome, wishing that he didn't have to.

Should he be Content?

So, our teacher has been teaching us about Charles Bukowski, starting off with us reading his poem 'How is your Heart?'. He then asked us to make an argument about whether he should be content with his lot in life, or not.

My answer?

No, he should not.

Some may make arguments like 'Money doesn't make you happy' or some random things like that. Pfft, it sure helps- Nah, just kidding. This argument isn't about money, he doesn't need to have some huge mansion and a trophy wife and a bajillion cars, but he should strive to at least have a house of some kind, a roof over his head, food on his plate. I would also say that he's lonely, but then you'd probably mention those he meets in bars, any possible friends, etc., etc., but haven't you taken into account the fact that humans are made for social things, and that we need healthy relationships?? Seriously? Some random person at the bar that's just as hammered as you are can't be considered a friend, nor can the relationship be considered healthy. He should strive to find some real friends, a real woman that won't just leave him in the morning after taking her money from you. He should want to have people that care for him, and to care for. 

So, no, he should not be content with his lot in life. No one should be content in that situation.

Interim Report #1

We were asked to explain what we would do if our parents asked for our grade.

Well, my parents (or at least the one that would ask) is very understanding, so I'd just have to explain that I think I got a G, because I do all the assignments as well as I can on the day that they're assigned, and I focus on the class, and do everything properly. 

     If she required proof, then I'd show her my blog and explain everything to her, let her read through things, and then explain to her how that relates to me thinking I got a G. I'd then get her opinion on it, and we'd discuss it, and see how it ended up.

Tattoo Assignment

I designed this tattoo on a few factors; like the circle of flags. They all represent the several ethnicities that make me, and make what I look like, therefore the outer shell. Going counterclockwise from the top, you can see them in order of most influential, to least. 

The six golden stars are to represent my six closest friends, who are all light stars in my mind and make everything brighter. The four golden koi are to represent my parents and grandparents, who are all golden to me and who I wish all the luck and fortune that the koi represents.

The heart in the center is actually based of of a tattoo I'm planning on getting in a year or two, though it's just going to be an outline of a heart inn black, and all the ladies in my family are going to be getting it. It's to represent being connected.

The 1000 is to represent that I was born on the eve of a millennia, and it being in a digital clock format is to represent that I was born in the age of a major increase in technology.

I'm an INFJ!!!

Wow, this is pretty spot on! Originally, I was confused by it saying I was introverted, but it actually makes sense now! I've been called creative, I've been called kind, people say that I love to help people, and I have to agree with them. If someone asks for help, I'm one of the first to assist them. I am also very strong in what I believe in; I won't do something if I think it's wrong. This made me think about the things I could think of as a job, because there were a few there that I had already thought of, and a few that actually shocked me; they think I'd be a good actor? A social worker, a teacher? I didn't really think of any of these as a career option. There's nothing really off about the test, though, now that I think about it. This is exactly me!

Teenager Life

So, for my second post I was asked to talk about teenager life. Well, most teenagers say that 'Being a teenager sucks!' or 'My parents never understand me!' but I couldn't say that anyone understands me BETTER than my mom. I'd say the same about my dad, but he doesn't see me as often since he lives in California and isn't able to learn more about me to understand, but my mom and I know each other so well, I mean, just this morning I was looking at a picture with a bunch of characters on my laptop with her right beside me and she idly looked over at the screen and pointed at the one that I had gotten from it and said 'That one's yours, isn't it?' and I was baffled. Her only explanation was that she 'knows me' and I fully believed it, because it's so true! 

I mean, sure I might complain over some things, but I'm entirely fine with it actually, I'm just lazy, and I know it, to be honest. It isn't difficult, it isn't tough, I have one of the most easy-going but strict at the same time parents ever, so life's good. Who'd ever wanna grow up when life's this good?

FIRST POST~!

This is my first post in my English 10 blog in Mr. Neufeld's class! This is supposed to be a history of English and Me, and my experiences with the subject. Well, for starters, he asked if anyone had read a full novel outside of class, purely for the fact that you wanted to. Of course, I raised my hand, because not only have I read just 1 book, which my first book was probably when I was around, I dunno, 5? But I've read tons and tons of books, like the Inheritance (Eragon) series, all four of them, and I've read the Ranger's Apprentice Series, the Chronicles of Narnia, and many others. I also spend huge amounts of my time writing various random little stories in Microsoft Word, some of them ranging to around 34-37 pages, one even at 64 pgs! I enjoy reading books, writing stories, and discussing the things I read. I'm not a huge poetry fan, but I can handle it. I like Shakespeare and some of his plays, though I haven't read many of them. I've heard of what happens in them and the basic storyline of some of them, but I want to read them myself, considering the language doesn't really confuse me.

Well, I guess that's my history with English, thanks for reading~