English PortfolioEnglish PortfolioTerm 1 - January 25, 2005Term 1 - January 25, 2005

Jake Rucker

Lord of the Flies

The Most Dangerous Game

Of Mice and Men

Romeo and Juliet

Why Boys Become Vicious?

The Gift of the Magi

Greek Mythology

Lord of the Flies

It’s ALL About Me!

Overview

Plot/Conflict: On the day before Christmas, Mrs. Young is distraught that she has only been able to save pennies for a present for her beloved husband, Jim. Della decides to sell her most-prized possession, her hair, to buy a fob chain for Jim’s gold watch. Ironically, Jim has just sold his greatest treasure and source of mighty pride, the heirloom gold watch, in order to buy Della a pair of beautiful, tortoise shell, jewel-rimmed combs for her hair.

Author: O. Henry - prolific American short-story writer, who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City. O. Henry is known for his twists of plot, resulting from ironic or coincidental situations, and surprise endings.

Setting: Mainly in a dilapidated apartment (flat)

The Gift of the Magi

Theme:

True Love’s gifts are not represented by money but by the sacrifices one is willing to make for another love. The greatest gift, and perhaps the wisest, is “generosity [with sacrifice] added to love.”

The Gift of the MagiAnalysis

Literary Devices:

Irony: Each lover buys a gift for the other by selling their most-prized possession, only to find that their gift, which was meant for the other’s most-prized possession, is no longer useful.

Simile: Della chooses the fob chain because “It was like him.” Jim and the chain are both described as quietness and great value, value by substance alone and not by ornamentation.

Allusion: The Magi refer to the Wise Men who brought gifts to infant Jesus, the first Christmas presents, according to Christian tradition.

Foreshadowing: The reader does not know why Jim is dazed by Della’s short hair. The author writes, “The magi brought valuable gifts, … this dark assertion will be illuminated later on.”

The Most Dangerous GameThe Most Dangerous GameOverview

Author: Richard Connell

Setting: Privately owned Ship-Trap Island in the early 20th century (when big game hunting was a popular sport)

Plot: Rainsford, a wealthy and avid hunter, falls overboard and washes up onto a jungle-covered island. He is rescued by General Zaroff, also a merciless hunter, who later engages Rainsford in a hunt to the death.

Conflict:

External – Rainsford must escape from Zaroff, though handicapped by having no weapon or knowledge of the treacherous jungle.

Internal – Rainsford cannot give into fear while being hunted by a far superior hunter than himself.

The Most Dangerous GameThe Most Dangerous GameAnalysis

Theme: People must experience both sides of a situation before understanding it completely and correctly. Rainsford gets a whole new perspective on hunting by becoming the hunted, not the hunter. Zaroff finds hunting humans a sport while Rainsford thinks that it is inhumane and uncivilized.

Literary Devices:

Foreshadowing: “Sailors have a curious dread of the place” suggests that something disastrous might happen to Rainsford. Zaroff tells Rainsford that he has “a quarry with which I can match my wits,” which hints that he hunts an advanced animal (humans).

Irony: Zaroff says, “We do our best the preserve the amenities of civilization here,” but he hunts humans.

Metaphor: Rainsford realizes that “the Cossack [Zaroff] was the cat; he was the mouse.”

AuthorAuthor: : William GoldingWilliam Golding

Overview

Setting: Desolate tropical island

Plot: A group of school boys from England have crash landed on an uninhabited island. Using their resources and minds, the boys attempt to survive.

Conflict: Ralph and Jack, the two main leaders, compete for power over the group of boys. Jack, tired of Ralph’s rule, creates his own tribe.

• SIMON represents purity, innocence, or the Christ figure. His murder by Jack’s tribe shows the decay of reason (civilization) vs. impulse.

• FIRE SIGNAL represents strength in relationships. Strong fire is peace, while weak fire is savagery.

• Piggy’s GLASSES symbolize intelligence, such as when they are used to create fire. When the glasses are broken, it signals the decline of civilization and the rise of Jack’s anarchy.

• CONCH symbolizes power at meetings. Whoever holds the conch has the right to speak.

AnalysisTheme: Civilizations will deteriorate over time without order or government. The group of boys changes from a civilized, productive society through competition for power to an anarchy resulting in murder.

Symbolism:

• RALPH symbolizes wise, considerate, and democratic order, while JACK represents savage anarchy.

Why Boys Become ViciousWhy Boys Become Vicious

Though Golding believes that all human beings are born with a black, Though Golding believes that all human beings are born with a black, or bad side, to their nature, he also believes there is a capacity for or bad side, to their nature, he also believes there is a capacity for love. So Mother Nature alone is not at fault for evil acts.love. So Mother Nature alone is not at fault for evil acts.

CHAOSCHAOSFor children chaos happens For children chaos happens when when a home-life is when when a home-life is unstable. Golding says unstable. Golding says children need two parents children need two parents to avoid developing evil.to avoid developing evil.

In his article “Why Boys Become Vicious,” In his article “Why Boys Become Vicious,” William GoldingWilliam Golding argues argues that there are two conditions in which evil will develop and grow: that there are two conditions in which evil will develop and grow: ChaosChaos and and FearFear. .

FEARFEAR Fear brings out the worst in people. Fear brings out the worst in people. Add fear to chaos and evil Add fear to chaos and evil flourishes. Gangs of boys bond flourishes. Gangs of boys bond together from their common together from their common viciousness. viciousness. To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird has a good example of this vicious has a good example of this vicious mob mentality.mob mentality.

Personally, I think that someone is born pure, with no hatred, racism, Personally, I think that someone is born pure, with no hatred, racism, or other vicious feelings towards another human being. With a good or other vicious feelings towards another human being. With a good upbringing and surroundings, a person can prosper and thrive. When upbringing and surroundings, a person can prosper and thrive. When raised in a bad environment, however, a person has much lower raised in a bad environment, however, a person has much lower morals and values, promoting violence and immorality. morals and values, promoting violence and immorality.

As Golding says, As Golding says, ““If there is no one around to guide children then they go wrong.”If there is no one around to guide children then they go wrong.”

Author: John Steinbeck

Setting: Salinas River Valley, Central California, during the Great Depression.

Plot: Two migrant workers, George and Lennie, are drifting from job to job in California. Lennie is docile and mentally slow but physically strong. George guides and protects Lennie but also depends on him for companionship. They share a dream of someday buying their own piece of land where they can farm and raise rabbits.

Conflict: Though George and Lennie are often able to get work, Lennie’s unintentional blunders get them into trouble and they are shortly forced to leave and move on to other places and jobs. The Salinas Valley ranch has a cruel boss’s son and a trouble-maker wife.

essential for survival and advancement. Lennie and George had a symbiotic relationship: Lennie provided physical strength and George provided intelligence and guidance. Although Lennie may have been dumb, he got George work because he was extremely strong. George nurtured and protected Lennie and tried to keep him out of trouble.

Themes• True love comes in all forms: there does not need to be a romantic relationship in order to have an everlasting bond between two people. Lennie and George would do anything for each other, even up the the point when George had to shoot Lennie to save him from a worse fate.

• Events or times, such as the Great Depression, can shape our lives and create unlikely relationships. Of Mice and Men was based during the Depression, a time of recoil and struggle. It explains why relationships were needed during this time and how having a relationship was

Mythology: Mythology: PoseidonPoseidon FAQs FAQs

drownings.” (Sellers) Known for his dangerous temper and jealous behavior, drownings.” (Sellers) Known for his dangerous temper and jealous behavior, Poseidon often argued with the other gods. He was also the god of horses.Poseidon often argued with the other gods. He was also the god of horses.

What is Poseidon’s genealogy?What is Poseidon’s genealogy?

Poseidon is the son of Cronus and Rhea, with siblings Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Poseidon is the son of Cronus and Rhea, with siblings Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Zeus. When the universe was divided, Zeus ruled the sky, Hades Hades, and Zeus. When the universe was divided, Zeus ruled the sky, Hades ruled the underworld, and Poseidon became ruler of the sea. He is the most ruled the underworld, and Poseidon became ruler of the sea. He is the most powerful god besides Zeus. Like Zeus, he had many affairs with different women, powerful god besides Zeus. Like Zeus, he had many affairs with different women, creating many different god-like creatures, including Triton (half-human and half-creating many different god-like creatures, including Triton (half-human and half-fish), Pegasus (the flying horse), Arion (a horse with two human feet), and fish), Pegasus (the flying horse), Arion (a horse with two human feet), and Polyphemus (the Cyclops blinded by Ulysses/Odysseus).Polyphemus (the Cyclops blinded by Ulysses/Odysseus).

What powers does Poseidon have?What powers does Poseidon have?In Greek mythology, Poseidon was the God of the Sea. In Greek mythology, Poseidon was the God of the Sea. His Roman name is Neptune. He controlled all the His Roman name is Neptune. He controlled all the oceans, rivers, streams, and fountains of the world.” oceans, rivers, streams, and fountains of the world.” (Allan) His powers ranged from controlling the sea (Allan) His powers ranged from controlling the sea tides and weather to creating earthquakes and tides and weather to creating earthquakes and tsunamis. Because Poseidon had human-like qualities, tsunamis. Because Poseidon had human-like qualities, the powers he had changed with his mood swings. the powers he had changed with his mood swings. When he was pleased and happy, he created new When he was pleased and happy, he created new islands and kept calm seas. When angered, he “caused islands and kept calm seas. When angered, he “caused unruly springs and earthquakes, ship wrecks, and unruly springs and earthquakes, ship wrecks, and

Why do sailors make sacrifices to Poseidon?Why do sailors make sacrifices to Poseidon?In ancient Greek times, sailors believed that Poseidon created swells and storms In ancient Greek times, sailors believed that Poseidon created swells and storms of great sizes. Because these treacherous conditions could destroy a ship, of great sizes. Because these treacherous conditions could destroy a ship, sailors needed to sail with good weather. Since Poseidon controlled the ocean sailors needed to sail with good weather. Since Poseidon controlled the ocean and therefore the trade routes, the sailors made sacrifices in order to please and therefore the trade routes, the sailors made sacrifices in order to please Poseidon to assure the crew a safe passage. This concept plays a great role in Poseidon to assure the crew a safe passage. This concept plays a great role in the myths about Odysseus and his long ocean voyages.the myths about Odysseus and his long ocean voyages.

Was Poseidon involved in any Greek Wars?Was Poseidon involved in any Greek Wars?

Poseidon was greatly involved in the Trojan War. He helped the Greeks in Poseidon was greatly involved in the Trojan War. He helped the Greeks in sending their troops to attack cities across continents and also prevented the sending their troops to attack cities across continents and also prevented the Spartans from traveling by sea.Spartans from traveling by sea.

Mythology: Mythology: PoseidonPoseidon FAQs FAQs (con’t)(con’t)

What are the symbols of Poseidon?What are the symbols of Poseidon?

Poseidon is represented by his three-pronged Poseidon is represented by his three-pronged trident or fish spear, dolphins, and a chariot trident or fish spear, dolphins, and a chariot made of shell drawn by winged horses, made of shell drawn by winged horses, sometimes depicted as sea horses.sometimes depicted as sea horses.

Romeo and Juliet

Plot: Two prominent families, the Montagues and Capulets, reignite an age-old feud, with servants violently battling in the streets. The children of the two families, Romeo (Montague) and Juliet (Capulet), become “star-crossed” lovers and secretly marry, even as hostilities continue to grow. When Romeo kills Juliet’s cousin, ensuing events result in the tragic suicides of both Romeo and Juliet.

Conflict: Romeo and Juliet are deeply in love, though their families are mortal enemies.

Author: William Shakespeare

Setting: The fair city of Verona, Italy, in the 15th century

• Shakespeare’s most famous play

• A romantic tragedy based on the 1562 poem by Arthur Brooke: The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet.

• Theme: Youthful love contrasted with violent hatred

• Foreshadowing:

The Chorus announces in the Prologue that Romeo and Juliet are "star-cross'd." That and other frequent references to the lovers' fate makes the reader think that destiny will prevail. Fate vs Freewill (next slide)

• Irony:

• Juliet feigns her death in order to escape with Romeo, but Romeo, misunderstanding the act, takes his own life.

• The deaths of Romeo and Juliet cause the families to end the feud but also mean that neither family has children to carry on the family line.

Romeo and JulietNotes

William Shakespeare poses the argument of fate vs. free will in his play Romeo and Juliet with fate prevailing.

The Stars Symbolize FateChorus announces that Romeo and

Juliet are bound by fate:“…a pair of star-cross’d lovers”

(Prologue)

Romeo anticipates the upcoming tragic chain of events:

“…Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars…” (1-4)

Romeo reacts to Juliet’s death:“…Is it even so? Then I defy you,

stars…” (5-1)

Fate vs. Free WillFate vs. Free Will

FATE – The “power” that determines the outcome of events before they occur; destiny.

FREE WILL – Freedom to choose a course of action without external influence.

Romeo believed that he was bound by “the yoke of inauspicious stars.”

I believe that the life of a man is not predetermined, but that it is the result of the choices he/she makes. This freedom to choose is a great responsibility and also a burden because then man is responsible for the consequences of these choices.

Learning Victory(a sonnet by Jake Rucker)

 This competition set on Saturday

Began a war of brains and beating strengths.Though ending with the sound of joyful play,The fight to win raged on for several lengths.When loss was for’boding, and almost sought,

My team advanced with pro coaching and skills,And when the score flashed we were almost caught,

Ravens of Canyon Crest delivered thrills.Fist, Double, Even, Odd, our plays devoured

Their sophomores, racing freshmen, parrying blows.Above the clouds, Athena Nike coweredAs basketball’s best bat’l unfolds below.

Last seconds slipped and echoed his advice:To learn is better than to lose by thrice.