Short Stories Summaries

Enzo DeLuca     

Chad Summers

Ms Peifer 

10 IB class 5

6-1-09

In Grace Ogots The Green Leaves the story revolves around a village in Africa.  One night cattle thieves try to steal the oxen from of the men of the village.  The villagers chase him down and injure him to a great extent.  They cover him in green leaves and return to the village.  A man named Nyagar returned to the scene to see if the man had any money.  At first, Nyagar's conscience wouldn't let him go near the man but his greed for money kept him going.  The thief wakes up and assaults Nyagar.  Nyagar, shocked by the blow stumbles backwards and falls. The thief throws the leaves onto Nyagar and runs away.  The next day the people of the village tell the white police people that they have killed one of their people.  When they check the green leaves, they find Nyagars dead body.

Elements:

• Greed and Beliefs-If Nyagar had not wanted to go out to check the man's pocket he would not have been killed that night. The villagers did not kill the thief because of reasons due to their religion.
  
• Imagery-The author describes many situations with detail,
• Setting-The setting affects the story through the white village oppressing the black village.  
• Motivation-The character would not have went to get the money without the motivation of greed.
• Mood- The mood of the story is very gloom and bloody.

In Isabel Allende's An Act of Vengeance there was a girl named Dolce Rosa and she was the most beautiful girl in the land.  Words of her beauty reached a brute named Taedo Céspedes.  Céspedes went to Dolce Rosa's town and raped her and killed her father.  For thirty years Dolce Rosa sought vengeance on Céspedes.  She and Céspedes met again, but she could not bring herself to kill him, she had fallen in love with him and he with her.

Elements:

• Love-Dolce Rosa had fallen in love with and Céspedes and Céspedes had fallen in love with Dolce Rosa
• Vengeance-Dolce Rosa sought vengeance upon Céspedes for thirty years after he had raped her
• Forgiveness-Dolce Rosa forgave Céspedes and ended up falling in love with him
• Blood-Céspedes was plunged into a world of violence at a young age
• Imagery-Allende used descriptive detail to make a setting, and describe what happens to the characters

    

The story A Gray Moon sets place in Japan at night.  A man is sitting at a train station alone waiting to head home.  He gets on the las train and there is a younger man that is asleep on the train.  The other passengers make fun of this young man and they say that he could be either homeless or drunk.  The young man finally awakes and said that he was supposed to get off at a certain stop. The passengers laughed and said that they had already passed that stop and that he was making a "full circle."  The young man said that it didn't matter to him anyways, and that effected the main character.

Elements:

• Setting-Shows how the Japanese people work very hard and late into the night
• Imagery-Author uses images to depict emotion and feelings
• Descriptive Details-uses this to describe the characters and their roles in the story
• Point of View-Author uses this to help the reader feel apart of the story.
• Theme-helps to display a central focus for the reader.

Zong Pu's The Tragedy of the Walnut Tree is a depressing story.  The main character Qingyi was a lonely old woman.  Her boyfriend left her to go to war, and though she waited he never returned.  Her daughter Ahyou could only visit her sometimes.  The only real companion that she had left was a walnut tree in her courtyard.  The walnut tree had become her best friend.  Qingyi could talk to the walnut tree when she was lonely, and the walnut tree would make her feel better when she was sick.  One night men came to Qingyi's house and vandalized it, they also took walnuts from her walnut tree.  Qingyi realized that to keep peace in her home the walnut tree would have to go, she would have to kill her best friend.  Qingyi did not have a permission to cut down the tree and she was fined, but it was a small price to pay for her peace of mind.

Elements:

• Personification-Zong Pu gave the tree human like qualities so that Qingyi would have a friend
• Imagery-Describes the pain that Qingyi was in when she had to cut down the tree
• Metaphor-The tree could have symbolized the missing people in Qingyi's life
• Religion-Zong Pu could have used the Buddhist belief of reincarnation and made the soul of Qingyi's boyfriend be the trees voice
• Nature-As in all chinese literature nature plays a big role

  In Before the Law a man is at a door and proceeds to try to open the door, but the door man stops him.  The doorman explains that there are more terrifying things beyond the door and that he should not enter the door.  The man sits at the first door and contemplates what could be beyond the door.  He however dies of old age and never finds out.  The man never really lived a life for he was afraid of the unknown.

Elements:

• Imagery-Kafka used details to describe the door and the area that the man was in
• Setting-Corresponded with the imagery
• Metaphor-The door was a metaphor for an unknown path, and the doorman could have represented the human conscience showing fear of the unknown
• Theme-Don't be afraid of the unknown, for if one avoids taking risks, then one has yet to actually live
• Point of View-The way the story was written applied to the suspense, and the philosophical thought

  

TAPER!!!!

It's almost that time of year again.  That time of year when TAPER FOR SWIMMING IS IN EFFECT!!!!  For those of you who do not know what taper is allow me to explain.  Taper happens at the end of the season and it is the most glorious thing to hit this planet period.  The two best things about taper season is that you get to finally see the sun and you do less work.

I remember the weeks before taper last swim season like it was yesterday.  Morning practice almost everyday at six in the morning before school, almost falling asleep from being so tired, good times.  Once the hardest weeks had come and gone it was time for the descend in the amount of work.  Eventually the team started to get out earlier and earlier, which was very nice.  I even got to see the sun, which it seems sad that seeing the sun is such a big accomplishment.  However when one has spent the last few months inside and not seeing the sun during the weekdays and then you finally see it, it is so beautiful you cry...or at least I almost cried the first time I got to see the sun.

For one to have a successful taper season one must: do less work in practice and have a big build up of energy, conserve that energy for ONLY swimming, and finally in your races dominate the other swimmers.  I remember last year I had a very good taper season and in section prelims I dropped 5-10 seconds in both of my events and made top 16 in both events which gave me qualification for section finals.  At section finals I did not drop as much time as I had at prelims but I was happy with what I had accomplished.  After my final race I hopped out of the pool and my friend handed me a Jolt (an energy drink) for the sake of destroying everything I had worked to hard to build up throughout the season.  At the end of that day I was a happy individual.

This year I hope for an even bigger drop on my times and possibly another Jolt to top off a great season.

 

Antigone Paper

Enzo DeLuca

Ms Peifer

English 10 IB Hour 5 

11/26/08

A Guilty Man

Creon was guilty of overriding the Gods laws with his own insensitive, hastily planned laws.  His anger at Polyneices'  be trail caused him to create a law that ignored the existing burial rites required by the Gods.  He didn't think about the consequences of changing the law and what effects it would have on surviving family members and friends.  Therefor, the tragedies that resulted from this new law and the personal suffering that Creon endured because of his actions were justified.  

Creon's first mistake was his law about burial rites.  Creon talking about Polyneices said, "... he'll have no burial mound, no funeral rites, and no lament.  He'll be left unburied, his body there for birds and dogs to eat, a clear reminder of his shameful fate" (Sophocles 233-236).  Antigone had also heard of this law.  While she was talking to her sister Ismene about the burial, she clearly states that, "He's honouring one with a full funeral and treating the other one disgracefully" (Sophocles 26-27). Antigone is referring to he brothers Eteocles and Polyneices.  While he may have been angry at Polyneices for acting out against the country, he had no right to take away Polyneices' burial rites.  In fact, it is against the gods law to deny someone burial rites.  The Gods law states that one must get the dead body ready for the Hades and the after life.  Anyone who goes against the gods laws will be damned for eternity.

Creon was also very self absorbed, he never thought of anyone else but himself.  He never considered the consequences of changing the law , the need for mourners to grieve and lovingly take care of the dead or  the effect it would have on his family as a whole.  When Haemon first enters the palace Creon says, "My son, have you heard the sentence that's been passed upon your bride? And have you now come here angry at your father? Or are you loyal to me, on my side no matter what I do" (Sophocles (716-719).  This is quite the biased question.  Creon does not care about his sons feelings.  Creon only wants to hear Haemon say that he is not angry at him for sending Haemon's fiancé to death.  The father, son conversation ends badly and Haemon exits saying, "No. Don't ever hope for that.  She'll not die with me just standing there.  And as for you your eyes will never see my face again.  So let your rage charge on among your friends who want to stand by you in this" (871-875).  Shortly after this Haemon killed himself with his own blade just to be with Antigone who had hung herself.  Creon's wife had also killed herself because of the death of her son.  Creon finally realized what his absurd law had done, however, this realization came to late his family  were already dead, and no one can cheat death.

Creon is guilty of the deaths for three very important people.  He is also guilty of not obeying the laws of the Gods and placing his own law above the God's which is sin that no one can return from.  Creon will be stoned to death, and Hades shall have him with the rest of the damned for eternity.

Work Cited

Sophocles, "Antigone."  Sophocles Antigone.  Trans. Ian Johnston 

09 Aug. 2008 Vancouver Island University 24 Nov. 2008 

LRJ #2 Antigone

Enzo DeLuca

Ms Peifer

English 10 IB Hour 5

11/26/08 

Antigone

Through out the play of Antigone, the image of death, and rotting corpses are repeated.  When Creon firsts enters the play he said about Polyneices, "He'll be left unburied, his body there for birds and dogs to eat, a clear reminder of his shameful fate.  That's my decision.  For I'll never act to respect an evil man with honours in preference to a man who's acted well" (Sophocles 234-239).  This image shows how Creon will have no mercy for those who have done wrong to their country.  That they will be given no burial rights, and be left to die while their corpse gets eaten by wild animals. 

Creon has the most flaws out of any of the characters in the play Antigone.  His biggest flaws are how stubborn he is.  He believes that everything he says and does is correct and no one can tell him otherwise.  Such as when he is talking to Antigone after she has pleaded guilty to burring Polyneices, he says to her, "And yet you dared to defy the law" (Sophocles 823).  He is believing that his law his high above everything else in existence.  Creon also believes that his word is better then a profit.  While talking to the blind profit Teiresias, he says, "No doubt. Speak: whatever you say, you will not challenge my will" (Sophocles 837).  Tieresias was trying to help Creon change his mind before he made a mistake that would take the life of his loved ones. 

Anagnorisis happens after Creon is finished talking with Tieresias.  Creon desides to go and set free Antigone and make amends for what he has done.  The messenger stops him before and tells him that his son Hamion has committed suicide because he was angry at his father for everything he has done.  It is also mentioned that Creon's wife is also dead.  He has an epiphany when he realizes that he has know to support him anymore, that he wishes that he could die just to be with his family.  No matter how bad Creon has acted through out the play, the audience's feelings turn to sadness at Creon's loss.  That's where catharisis happens in the play after Creon has realized what his laws has done to his family.  Creon really doesn't have a peripeteia because he can not change the past, he can not bring back his loved ones from the dead.  There is no change in fortune for him.  Only sadness and misery. 

Women in the play might be seen as anarchists through the acts of Antigone burying Polyneices.  Though they could be shown as disciples following the acts of the Greek gods and goddesses.  Yes, Antigone did break the law.  However, she broke a law that was set down by a mortal king.  Antigone could have been doing her duty to the gods assuring them that Polyneices got to the after life.  She could have been obeying the law of a higher power.      

Thebes news paper article

ANARCHY!!!

Anarchy in our kingdom!  Creon's royal decree has been disobeyed!   Early yesterday morning, Antigone was spotted at the scene of where Polyneices was buried.  She was brought to the palace, and Creon could not believe what he saw; his own blood has turned against him.  Antigone his niece broke one very important rule that Creon had made.  He said that anyone who has fought against the city should not be given a proper burial.  That they should be left out in the wilderness and the birds, dogs, and any other animal will feast on their decaying body.  

Creon found it hard to believe that Antigone buried Polyneices all by herself.  Our king being the intelligent and clever man knew that as Antigone was speaking, that she was trying to hide that her sister Ismene also helped in the burial of Polyneices.  Ismene too claimed that she helped Antigone though Antigone denies that Ismene helped her.  Antigone says that Ismene returned home after she had denied her help.  Antigone goes on to say later that her sisters death would be unnecessary seeing as though Ismene never had anything to do with the burying of Pelneices, that she never wanted to do so in the first place.  

What devil is inside these girls to have made them perform such a treacherous action?  If they had just done what they were supposed to do, they would not be in this situation right now.  Their punishment is their death.  It seems quite foolish to burry the dead when one is not supposed to, only to die in return.  This should prove to all citizens that our king will not give mercy to law breakers.  That anyone who breaks the law will be punished with death.  

Technology

The internet, one of the most handiest tools for human kind today.  Surfing the world wide web, checking out facebook, and myspace.  Talking to family that may be far away.  Talking to people who may be from a different country, then after a few minutes talking like you have been friends for years.  But do people know when enough screen time is enough?

Personally, I have been around technology my entire life.  I remember playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the original Nintendo system (NES).  Watching the two dimensional pixel characters jumping hitting the evil pig.  Alas, when certain circumstances did not go my way, I remember throwing a fit and chucking the controller and the television, or trying to snap the controller in half.  I never thought for a second that maybe it was operator error and not the characters fault.  

Computers another story completely.  Playing games on the old kid friendly Macintosh.  Games with a weird gopher that would try to tell you how to build a train.  But when you put a nail in the nail spot he says, "That doesn't go there" and then he laughs.  So you try other spots and he still says that it doesn't go there.  And all the time you are sitting in the chair wondering why that nail doesn't go anywhere that you try inserting it.  Going on the old Netscape internet browser and wondering when the home page for the pokémon website is going to finally load all the way.  Sitting there for five minutes eagerly waiting and then waiting just a bit more.  Until the anxiety becomes to overwhelming for a certain seven year old child and starts yelling at the computer to go faster (which I still do to this day).

In the words of the English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, "Techmology what is that all about? Is it good, or is it wack?" I think that technology wonderful and highly useful.  I look back sometimes and wonder how I ever survived without a cell phone: to call or text friends, call the family to let them know what is going on.  How did I survive without an Ipod: for long trips in the car watching videos, or listening to hours of music, on the bus to school attempting to wake myself up fully.  

Though there are sometimes when I believe that everyone should unplug themselves from their television, or Nintendo Wii, PSP, Ipod.  The way some people walk around they look like robots having wires coming out every end of their body.  Some people do creep on others on the internet, or they live their life in an online game.  

This is the first actual blog and I have to say that this blogging thing will be a fun and interesting.  

   

Start Up

Ok, let's edit this so they don't count me as a spammer.  This is my blog, for all kinds of english stuff, and blogging. Hopefully this will be long enough so they don't delete my blog. Bloody robots...