Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Connnecting with Romeo and Juliet

I guese I can sort of connect with the characters. I deffinatley have my rebelious teenager moments. Like Juliet, I have never felt the need to be married by fourteen or lose my virginity as a child. Unlike her, however, I don't have a mom pressuring me into doing so. Quite the opposite, I'm sure I would be kicked out of my house and disowned if I were to ever pull either stunt before I move out.

I don't really like Romeo's character. He seems very wrapped up in his own "depression", which doesn't even appear to be that deep because I'm guessing he gets over her quickely when he meets Juliet. To me, I think he is acting this way to get attention through being overly dramatic. And why is he surprised that Rosaline doesn't love him back anyway? She just doesn't want to lose her virginity yet, and Romeo makes such a big deal out of it. I doubt he has even considered her point of view on it, he just wants the sex. It is really annoying to me when people don't even think about how an action will affect you and then are later mad about it. People think and feel differently. Some people want some things; others want other things. Who does it affect more? In Romeo's case, I think it is safe to say that it affects the girl more, as she would be the one to carry the evidence under her sweater.

I read the play at home and can understand what the characters are doing, physically. Like they are gong to a party or talking about Juliet. It is harder to comprehend the importance of each event. Also, I ussually don't get the puns and jokes. Occasionally I can pick up on the humorous banter. Reading in class and talking about it as a whole group seems to make the most sense and helps me understand it the most. Everthing seems to run smoother when we discuss as a class for the majority of the time. Also, it takes less time so we can cover more content when we don't have to worry about being a "facilitatator" or something. Not that there aren't good things about little groups too. It is easier to ask for help on something when the people are right across from you.

Alena

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Wrapping Up Great Expectations

Dicken had many little themes throughout his 500 page novel, but there was also one major theme. Being faithful and careing about the people you love is superior to having wealth and a stylish life. Also, gaining large sums of money can easily make you lose track of what is really important in life. This book helps to show people  that you should worry more about what people mean to you, and what you mean to other people than to be a Scrouge. The setting was taking place a very long time ago but this universal message about life and human nature is eternal. People one hundred years from now will still be able to learn from this valuable lesson and take it into their lives and learn to live by it. It is also human nature to want more than you have, like money, but then you have to realize that is not what life is about having.