I'm reading Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz. It's the 7th book in the Alex Rider series. The main character is a 14 year old spy for the British Intelligence Agency, MI6. While recovering from his last mission in Australia, Alex get another call. This time, from ASIS, the Australian Intelligence Agency. Alex had sworn a week ago that he would never agree to do another mission again, but a certain detail about this particular mission makes Alex unable to say no. The mission: Snakehead is the world's most profitable "illegal supermarket" It sells everything that can be bought legally. Guns, slaves, conflict-diamonds, fake documents, biological weapons, so on. ASIS is looking to infiltrate one of the biggest Snakeheads, located in Bangkok. So they need to get people inside the "supermarket" to get info without anyone having suspicions. Alex's job is to assist an older agent to make things less suspicious. Alex and the agent, whose name is Ash, will pretend to be father and son refugees from Afghanistan who want to be smuggled into Australia. The part about this mission that tempts Alex is that Ash is a good friend of John Rider, Alex's father, and is Alex's godfather. Alex believes that Ash can tell Alex about his father's unknown past including how he died. When Alex arrives in Bangkok, he looks out of the window. The author gives a description of the city...
"The city was spread out on the other side of a wide brown river that curved and twisted as far as he could see. Skyscrapers stood in the far distance. Nearer by, there were hotels, temples, palaces with perfect lawns, and--standing side by side with them--shacks and slumhouses and warehouses so dilapidated they looked as if they might fall over at any time. All manner of boats were making their way up and down the murky water. Some were modern, carrying coal and iron. Some were ferries with strange, curving roofs, like floating pagodas. The nimblest were elongated, long and wafer thin with the driver leaning wearily over the tiller at the very back. The sun was setting. The sky was huge and gray. It was like looking at a television screen with the color turned off." (78)
This entire paragraph gives a very visual image of Bangkok. The descriptive words were so effective that I was actually conjuring up images of what the city might actually look like. When it said "Wide brown river that curved and twisted as far as he could see" I imagined seeing a dirty brown river that flows off into the distance with no end. I imagined the New York City-like buildings rising above in the background. And then I imagined luxurious buildings for the rich when it said "nearer by, there were hotels, temples. palaces with perfect lawns." I really like the word "dilapidated". Dilapidated- In a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect. I thought it was one of those out-of-the-box words that you don't really expect to be thrown in. When using the word dilapidated, I can imagine miserable-looking buildings that are poorly constructed and unsanitary. And then I imagine the various boats floating on the river. Everything-- like luxurious leisure boats, commercial boats, and local taxi boats to travel from one side of the city to the other. I finally imagined the low sun making everything that it touched glow. It didn't matter if it was the very rich side of the city or the very poor side across the river. The azure sky and yellow-orange sun would outline everything and everyone.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Post for the Week of April 29th-- choose a line
This week, dive into the book you are reading and fish for some diction! Choose a line or a section from the novel you're reading. Look for something you like the sound of, or that has emotion, or that uses words in a really great way to describe something or capture the sound of a character's voice.
- Give the title and the author of your book and several sentences that give us an idea of what the book is about. Ground us and get us ready for your diction choice.
- Recopy the line or section directly from the book. Cite the page number.
- Compose a minimum of 1 solid paragraph dealing specifically with WHY you like what you wrote. Pull out words, make connections, talk about images....
Monday, April 22, 2013
Quotation Connection
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.” Chuck Palahniuk,Fight Club
This quote applies to Michael in Michael Vey: Rise of the Electroclan. After the Elgen captures his friends, girlfriend, and mom and Michael loses everything,even his house. Michael stops at nothing to get the ones he loves back. The Elgen have been capturing the kids with electrical powers and have destroyed everything and everyone thats stand in their way of accomplishing their goal. This character was then motivated to go after the Elgen and track down the head,Dr. Hatch. After Michael loses everything, he stops at no cost to get his friends and family back. Michael even blows up vehicles and Elgen buildings to finally defeat Dr. Hatch. This was a positive outcome because it taught Michael how to use his and helped grow a better relationship with his friends and family.
This quote applies to Michael in Michael Vey: Rise of the Electroclan. After the Elgen captures his friends, girlfriend, and mom and Michael loses everything,even his house. Michael stops at nothing to get the ones he loves back. The Elgen have been capturing the kids with electrical powers and have destroyed everything and everyone thats stand in their way of accomplishing their goal. This character was then motivated to go after the Elgen and track down the head,Dr. Hatch. After Michael loses everything, he stops at no cost to get his friends and family back. Michael even blows up vehicles and Elgen buildings to finally defeat Dr. Hatch. This was a positive outcome because it taught Michael how to use his and helped grow a better relationship with his friends and family.
Critical Lens Quotation Connection
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment
that
something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon
What this great quote means is that being courageous is not the same as being fearless. Having no fear is not what it takes to have courage. In fact, it may even be fitting to say that it is impossible to have courage in fearlessness, for there is no trouble in doing what someone with fear would be afraid to do. This idea connects with a series I have read this year, The Obsidian Trilogy. In this series, Kellen, the main character, has many reasons to be afraid. First of all, there are all the enemies that are trying to destroy him and the people around him. Additionally, he is heaped with huge responsibilities that would be nearly impossible to handle for anyone, much less a 17-year old boy. And he knows that he must even go beyond those responsibilities in order to save everyone. He is not able to go through these ordeals without fear; however, he judges that the safety of everyone else is more important than his fear, and he rises up to the challenge. He tries as hard as he can and, in the end, his resilient courage pays out.
something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon
What this great quote means is that being courageous is not the same as being fearless. Having no fear is not what it takes to have courage. In fact, it may even be fitting to say that it is impossible to have courage in fearlessness, for there is no trouble in doing what someone with fear would be afraid to do. This idea connects with a series I have read this year, The Obsidian Trilogy. In this series, Kellen, the main character, has many reasons to be afraid. First of all, there are all the enemies that are trying to destroy him and the people around him. Additionally, he is heaped with huge responsibilities that would be nearly impossible to handle for anyone, much less a 17-year old boy. And he knows that he must even go beyond those responsibilities in order to save everyone. He is not able to go through these ordeals without fear; however, he judges that the safety of everyone else is more important than his fear, and he rises up to the challenge. He tries as hard as he can and, in the end, his resilient courage pays out.
The Notebook- Connection
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.” Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
This quotation connects to a book I've read called The Notebook. the quote is saying that once you realize you have lost everything, you realize that you can dop anything you wish to do. In the book, Noah ends up losing his only love, Allie, when she moves away at the end of the summer. She was everything to him and he was heartbroken at first and then he realizes that he made a promise to her to fix up a old broken down house. he fixes up the house just like thay said they were going to do it. Since he lost Allie, he has had so much free time to do what they were dreaming of doing. he ended up fixing it to perfection and getting in the newspaper. Allie sees it in the newspaper and goes to visit him. So as a result, he got to see her for the first time in a long time. It was a positive outcome since they got back together, started a family, and grew old together. I think that this was a perfect exmaple for the quote above. It explains that if you lose everything you don't have to stop and drop what your doing. He took his free time to do something huge and ended up getting everything back.
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.” Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
This quotation connects to a book I've read called The Notebook. the quote is saying that once you realize you have lost everything, you realize that you can dop anything you wish to do. In the book, Noah ends up losing his only love, Allie, when she moves away at the end of the summer. She was everything to him and he was heartbroken at first and then he realizes that he made a promise to her to fix up a old broken down house. he fixes up the house just like thay said they were going to do it. Since he lost Allie, he has had so much free time to do what they were dreaming of doing. he ended up fixing it to perfection and getting in the newspaper. Allie sees it in the newspaper and goes to visit him. So as a result, he got to see her for the first time in a long time. It was a positive outcome since they got back together, started a family, and grew old together. I think that this was a perfect exmaple for the quote above. It explains that if you lose everything you don't have to stop and drop what your doing. He took his free time to do something huge and ended up getting everything back.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Quotation Connection
"It takes a
great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up
to our friends.” J. K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. This quote relates to a book I read this year. This book was Along Came a Spider by James Patterson. Patterson's main character, Alex Cross, has to make brave decisions that effect his enemies and friends. Cross's actions are directly related to J.K Rowlings quote.
J.K. Rowling's quote "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends," has a lot to do with bravery. He used this quote in his book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Rowling uses this quote in his book to teach the protagonist, Harry Potter, an important lesson. Harry's professor, Professor Dumbledore, tells this to Harry to prepare him for challenges that he will face later in his magical life. He tells Harry that he must be brave and courageous or else his enemies and even his friends will destroy him. Without this advice, Harry would've have been defeated and killed in the first book.
J.K. Rowling's quote also applies to James Patterson's book, Along Came Spider. Alex Cross, the protagonist, is a homicide detective in Washington, D.C. Cross faces many challenges every day that require the use of bravery. In this particular book, Cross uses his bravery and skills to arrest a psychopath named Gary Soneji. It took a lot of bravery and courage to stand up to Soneji. Also, Cross had to stand up to his friend. Her name was Jezzie Flanagan. Flanagan was one of Cross's new friends, and they worked together to capture Soneji; however, Flanagan was using Cross to commit a crime behind his back. She knew what Cross knew about the case they were working on and purposely did the unexpected to confuse him. When Cross found out, he had to use all of his bravery to bring Flanagan to justice. It took a lot more bravery to arrest his friend than to arrest a wanted criminal. Without Cross's bravery, Soneji and Flanagan would've kept commiting crimes, making D.C. an unsafe place to live in.
So you can see, J.K. Rowling's quote was directly related to James Patterson's book. I think we can all learn something from Rowling's quote. If we do not use bravery to stand up for ourselves and others, we will be taken advantage of our enemies and sometimes even friends. If you are being bullied, you must use bravery and take action by telling an adult so the bully knows that you will not tolerate his or her behavior. If your friend is making fun of you, you must be brave and make sure that he or she knows that those insults are not acceptable. We must be brave because bravery is essential for life.
J.K. Rowling's quote "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends," has a lot to do with bravery. He used this quote in his book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Rowling uses this quote in his book to teach the protagonist, Harry Potter, an important lesson. Harry's professor, Professor Dumbledore, tells this to Harry to prepare him for challenges that he will face later in his magical life. He tells Harry that he must be brave and courageous or else his enemies and even his friends will destroy him. Without this advice, Harry would've have been defeated and killed in the first book.
J.K. Rowling's quote also applies to James Patterson's book, Along Came Spider. Alex Cross, the protagonist, is a homicide detective in Washington, D.C. Cross faces many challenges every day that require the use of bravery. In this particular book, Cross uses his bravery and skills to arrest a psychopath named Gary Soneji. It took a lot of bravery and courage to stand up to Soneji. Also, Cross had to stand up to his friend. Her name was Jezzie Flanagan. Flanagan was one of Cross's new friends, and they worked together to capture Soneji; however, Flanagan was using Cross to commit a crime behind his back. She knew what Cross knew about the case they were working on and purposely did the unexpected to confuse him. When Cross found out, he had to use all of his bravery to bring Flanagan to justice. It took a lot more bravery to arrest his friend than to arrest a wanted criminal. Without Cross's bravery, Soneji and Flanagan would've kept commiting crimes, making D.C. an unsafe place to live in.
So you can see, J.K. Rowling's quote was directly related to James Patterson's book. I think we can all learn something from Rowling's quote. If we do not use bravery to stand up for ourselves and others, we will be taken advantage of our enemies and sometimes even friends. If you are being bullied, you must use bravery and take action by telling an adult so the bully knows that you will not tolerate his or her behavior. If your friend is making fun of you, you must be brave and make sure that he or she knows that those insults are not acceptable. We must be brave because bravery is essential for life.
Quotation Connection Blog
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.” Chuck Palahniuk,Fight Club
This quotes is saying that is not until we truly lost everything we have until we are free. We have things to hold onto- to cherish. If we have things to take care of, we don't have room to mess around or do whatever we would like. But when things start to vanish, you will eventually be left with nothing. But maybe being left with nothing isn't so bad after all. If you have nothing to hold onto or to worry about, it means you could have a fresh start- a new beginning. You wouldn't have to worry anymore. There's a whole world ahead of you with many exciting opportunities. So maybe this is what Cassia needs--a fresh start to escape from the stress of her old life.
In the book Crossed by Ally Condie, Cassia has lost everything. She lost her family, her friends, her life back home, all so she could find the one she loves. She sets out on a journey to find the one she cares most about because in the beginning, she lost him to. By running away from her home, she is also running away from the society. For years the society has been planning everyone's lives. From when they wake up, from when they go to bed. Everything they do is controlled by the society. So when Cassia finally escapes from the society, it is like she is finally free. She may have lost everything she ever cared about but it meant her freedom. Cassia knew her life would be hard, but her freedom meant everything to her. Now Cassia could start a new life. She could forget about her past and start a new beginning with the one she cares most about.
Quotation Connection
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.” Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
This quote talks about how if one loses so much they resort to try things, previously they didn't think they would ever do. For example if a rich man loses millions of dollars and goes bankrupt he would be willing to take a part time job at a department store. That's what is happening in my book. In the book Stormbreaker, the main character, Alex Rider, loses his parents. After that his uncle has to take care of him, he also dies. After his uncle dies, his housekeeper jack Starbright is now his legal guardian. When M16 comes to him they tell him that he could either join them and have jack Starbright stay with him or be sent to a foster home if he had said no. He decided to say yes because he had already lost so much and then he would have been sent to a foster home so he said that he might as well because he really doesn't have much to lose. That is what the quote means. It says that considering the situation, it can only get better from there.
This quote talks about how if one loses so much they resort to try things, previously they didn't think they would ever do. For example if a rich man loses millions of dollars and goes bankrupt he would be willing to take a part time job at a department store. That's what is happening in my book. In the book Stormbreaker, the main character, Alex Rider, loses his parents. After that his uncle has to take care of him, he also dies. After his uncle dies, his housekeeper jack Starbright is now his legal guardian. When M16 comes to him they tell him that he could either join them and have jack Starbright stay with him or be sent to a foster home if he had said no. He decided to say yes because he had already lost so much and then he would have been sent to a foster home so he said that he might as well because he really doesn't have much to lose. That is what the quote means. It says that considering the situation, it can only get better from there.
Quotation Connection
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.” Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
In the book Someday Dancer by Sarah Rubin Casey is
faced with a decision that will affect her whole life. Should she make the long
journey to NYC and try and make it big? Or should she stay at home in her small
town with her mom and grandma? Casey decides to go to NYC and try out for the
ballet school. Not only does Casey's grandma pass away, but she also does not
make it into the ballet school.
In the book Someday Dancer by Sarah Rubin Casey is
faced with a decision that will affect her whole life. Should she make the long
journey to NYC and try and make it big? Or should she stay at home in her small
town with her mom and grandma? Casey decides to go to NYC and try out for the
ballet school. Not only does Casey's grandma pass away, but she also does not
make it into the ballet school.
This quote means that once you lose everything you are able to get a fresh new start on life. This quote is related to Casey because she feels like she has
lost everything and has no way of following her dreams now. This is until Casey
was introduced to a new dance school that she can try out for. Casey ends up
loving this contemporary dance school. She is also very good too! Also, during the
ballet tryout Casey met a friend named Andrea. Casey and Andrea become very
good friends.
Casey loves it in New York City. She gets great parts in
dance shows for her studio too. If Casey had not taken the chance and
gone to NYC, she would have never known what great talent she really has! Also,
Casey would have never met Andrea. If Casey were to stay home it would have
been very hard for her and her mother due to her grandmas death. Casey probably
would have had to take on a full time job in order to help bring in money for
her poor family. In the long run, this decision of going to NYC was a very good
one. Casey was able to live her dream without being held back by anyone or
anything.
Quotation Connection
"Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right using of strength" Henry Ward Beecher
The main idea of this quote is that being strong is one thing, but using its power in the right force is another. In A Walk to Remember main character, Jamie Sullivan, is a very strong girl in the right force. She is diagnosed with terminal leukemia and has to accept the fact that she will soon die. She uses the greatness in her love of god to push forward and live the life she can before her time comes.
Jamie happened to have the strength she did and it's a good thing too. She was strong because she knew she was going to die. She loved Landon, male main character, very much and she knew she had to be strong for him. Also she had to be steong for her father, Jamie was all he had left. She was strong by not giving up on herself nor god, nor everyone else that had been there through these tough times. As a result, Jamie passed away and went with god. She suffered a long hard fight but in that moment her pain had ended. This was a negative yet positive outcome. Negative because she had to leave her loved ones and she was very young when she passed, positive because her pain and suffering was over. Her death did outline her greatness and strength. Everyone that knew her knew how strong she'd been and how much she fought. It was tragic, but a relief at the same time.
The main idea of this quote is that being strong is one thing, but using its power in the right force is another. In A Walk to Remember main character, Jamie Sullivan, is a very strong girl in the right force. She is diagnosed with terminal leukemia and has to accept the fact that she will soon die. She uses the greatness in her love of god to push forward and live the life she can before her time comes.
Jamie happened to have the strength she did and it's a good thing too. She was strong because she knew she was going to die. She loved Landon, male main character, very much and she knew she had to be strong for him. Also she had to be steong for her father, Jamie was all he had left. She was strong by not giving up on herself nor god, nor everyone else that had been there through these tough times. As a result, Jamie passed away and went with god. She suffered a long hard fight but in that moment her pain had ended. This was a negative yet positive outcome. Negative because she had to leave her loved ones and she was very young when she passed, positive because her pain and suffering was over. Her death did outline her greatness and strength. Everyone that knew her knew how strong she'd been and how much she fought. It was tragic, but a relief at the same time.
Quotation Connection
Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right using of strength" Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher's quote explains that anyone can be strong but the one with the true greatness is the person who uses it in the right way. Charlie, from The Perks of Being a Wallflower truely possess greatness. In several situations Charlie has had to use the correct use of strength. For an example, Charlie's friend was being beaten up because a his beliefs; Charlie stepped in and stood up for him. Charlie could have easily gone along with the crowd but he didnt. He used the "right use of strength."
Even though in the book Charlie suffers from anxiety and his past that haunts him and affects his daily life, somehow Charlie achieves true greatness. Not only does he stand up for his friends but he doesn't try to be someone he's not. To me, that is also true greatness. To not fall into the effects of society is hard but achievable. Henry Ward Beecher has discovered the meaning of greatness; not everyone has. I think if he met "Charlie" he would agree that greatness lies within him.
Quotation Connection
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that
something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon
This quote by Ambrose Redmoon is saying that some people have more things important things to do have fear. Some people have much emotion that overcomes the fear. Since they have no fear then they have more courage.
This quote is related to the book The Fault In Our Stars. This book is written by John Green. In this book a girl named Hazel who is batteling cancer. She has very bad lungs and takes special medicine to help tumors from growing inside of her. Hazel's parents force her to go to a support group. At her support group Hazel meets a guy named Augustus. The both of them become very close and there relationship is unbreakable. They become boyfriend and girlfriend. At the end of the book they go on vacation together together to see the author of their favorite book. Augustus and Hazel both love each other very much and can tell each other anything.
This quote but Ambrose Redmoon relates to the book The Fault In Our Stars. Both Ausustus and Hazel love each other very much. That emotion overpowers the fear and they don't feel the fear that each of them have. They are so in love that they don't worry about there sickness.
something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon
This quote by Ambrose Redmoon is saying that some people have more things important things to do have fear. Some people have much emotion that overcomes the fear. Since they have no fear then they have more courage.
This quote is related to the book The Fault In Our Stars. This book is written by John Green. In this book a girl named Hazel who is batteling cancer. She has very bad lungs and takes special medicine to help tumors from growing inside of her. Hazel's parents force her to go to a support group. At her support group Hazel meets a guy named Augustus. The both of them become very close and there relationship is unbreakable. They become boyfriend and girlfriend. At the end of the book they go on vacation together together to see the author of their favorite book. Augustus and Hazel both love each other very much and can tell each other anything.
This quote but Ambrose Redmoon relates to the book The Fault In Our Stars. Both Ausustus and Hazel love each other very much. That emotion overpowers the fear and they don't feel the fear that each of them have. They are so in love that they don't worry about there sickness.
Quote Connection
"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies,
but just as much to stand up to our friends.” J. K Rowling, Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
What J.K. Rowling is trying to say in this quote is that it takes a lot of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but even more courage and bravery to stand up to our own friends. This quote relates to the novel I am currently reading called A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. Landon Carter is starting to see "good girl" Jamie Sullivan in a different perspective. Jamie struggles socially in high school and does not have a lot of friends. Since Landon has been seen with her a lot lately, most of his friends look down upon him. It takes Landon some bravery to stand up to his so called "friends" for what is right. It takes him some courage to show his enemies and friends that he does not care to be seen with Jamie.
What J.K. Rowling is trying to say in this quote is that it takes a lot of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but even more courage and bravery to stand up to our own friends. This quote relates to the novel I am currently reading called A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. Landon Carter is starting to see "good girl" Jamie Sullivan in a different perspective. Jamie struggles socially in high school and does not have a lot of friends. Since Landon has been seen with her a lot lately, most of his friends look down upon him. It takes Landon some bravery to stand up to his so called "friends" for what is right. It takes him some courage to show his enemies and friends that he does not care to be seen with Jamie.
Quotation Connection
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.” Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
The book The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is about a freshman named Charlie. The quote is about how once you have lost everything there is nothing you can do but be free to do anything.
Charlie has had a hard time entering into high school alone. His only friend Michel committed suicide. His aunt also passed which caused him to feel lonely. Charlie meet two people that made him like school. Sam and Patrick are seniors in high school and are brother and sister. Sam and Patrick introduce Charlie to their friends and he is then considered "one of them". Charlie has a crush on Sam.
Ever since Charlies friend died he has been lonely. But if he hadn't died Charlie probley wouldn't have meet Sam and Patrick. He also wouldn't have fell in love with Sam. Its been a very emotional time for Charlie.
The book The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is about a freshman named Charlie. The quote is about how once you have lost everything there is nothing you can do but be free to do anything.
Charlie has had a hard time entering into high school alone. His only friend Michel committed suicide. His aunt also passed which caused him to feel lonely. Charlie meet two people that made him like school. Sam and Patrick are seniors in high school and are brother and sister. Sam and Patrick introduce Charlie to their friends and he is then considered "one of them". Charlie has a crush on Sam.
Ever since Charlies friend died he has been lonely. But if he hadn't died Charlie probley wouldn't have meet Sam and Patrick. He also wouldn't have fell in love with Sam. Its been a very emotional time for Charlie.
Quote Connection
"It takes a
great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up
to our friends.” J. K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J.K Rowling's quote is saying that yes you have to be very brave to stand up to someone that opposes you, but you have be even braver to stand up to your friends.
In the book Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian Percy and his friends are trying to prevent Kronos and the Titans from destroying Olympus. Even though the Gods might not be Percy's friends but he stands up to them by denying them to turn him into a God. Then Percy makes all of the Gods to promise that they will claim all of their children. This take a great deal of bravery because well you're standing up to Gods and your standing up to what his your friends and family.
J.K Rowling's quote is saying that yes you have to be very brave to stand up to someone that opposes you, but you have be even braver to stand up to your friends.
In the book Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian Percy and his friends are trying to prevent Kronos and the Titans from destroying Olympus. Even though the Gods might not be Percy's friends but he stands up to them by denying them to turn him into a God. Then Percy makes all of the Gods to promise that they will claim all of their children. This take a great deal of bravery because well you're standing up to Gods and your standing up to what his your friends and family.
Critical Lens Quotation on Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz
"Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right using of strength" - Henry Ward Beecher
This quotation is saying that good things cannot come out of brute and physical strength, but being efficient with the strength you have and getting the full value of your strength. This quotation is almost perfectly made for the main character, Alex Rider, in Ark Angel.
Alex Rider is a 14 year old kid. But he is not your average 14 year old, he is a special operations spy for MI6, the British Intelligence agency. He was chosen because he is mentally strong and can often outsmart his enemies. Alex has completed many difficult missions for MI6.
The situation which showcases Alex demonstrating the quotation is when Alex is in the St. Dominic's hospital. A sniper had attempted to murder Alex a few days before...unsuccessfully. He was being treated in the hospital when he snuck out of his room to get some fresh air. He was about to open the door into the main lobby of the hospital when he saw several men in leather coats. He stayed and watched through the window. They shot the receptionist. He heard the men talking and they were looking for a boy named Paul Drevin. Alex's eyes widened as he realized that Paul Drevin was the awkward boy in the next room. He quickly ran up the stairs back to his room. It's in the middle of the night so Paul is still asleep. Something inside of Alex just made him want to help the boy, even if it would endanger himself. Alex switched the room numbers and names of the two rooms as a plan was formulating inside of his head. The men came up to the Alex's floor and Alex opened the door of his room and stood down the hall. When the men asked if Alex was Paul, he nodded. Alex ("Paul") turned and ran. Now Alex had 4 armed and dangerous men after him and Alex was a 14 year old injured spy with nothing to defend himself. But Alex had some tricks up his sleeve... Alex ran and hid behind a large machine. The men had split up so Alex could hear one man's footsteps racing toward him. When he passed, Alex slammed two large pads into the neck of the person. That machine was a 300 defibrillator and it know sent electricity through the man's body. He was unconscious. 1 down. Alex went back into hiding. When the next man came, Alex hit him, full force, with an oxygen tank. He dropped to the ground. Alex ran to the physical therapy department. 40 seconds later, when another man came, Alex was ready. Alex had made a makeshift catapult using an elastic exercise band and 10 pound medicine ball. He tied the exercise band across the corridor. He released and another man was unconscious. The last man came chasing after Alex and Alex strategically led him into a room labeled MAGNETOM. The man was face to face with Alex and he said to come with him or Alex dies. The man took a step forward and his gun was stripped out of his hand. Next the man went flying into a large cylindrical machine. The man was wearing a metal watch and the machine was an MRI scanner. It was over.
This scene clearly shows Alex using his strength efficiently and wisely. Alex was an injured boy and he was able to take down 4 professional kidnappers. It just goes to show that greatness is not in being strong but in using strength wisely.
This quotation is saying that good things cannot come out of brute and physical strength, but being efficient with the strength you have and getting the full value of your strength. This quotation is almost perfectly made for the main character, Alex Rider, in Ark Angel.
Alex Rider is a 14 year old kid. But he is not your average 14 year old, he is a special operations spy for MI6, the British Intelligence agency. He was chosen because he is mentally strong and can often outsmart his enemies. Alex has completed many difficult missions for MI6.
The situation which showcases Alex demonstrating the quotation is when Alex is in the St. Dominic's hospital. A sniper had attempted to murder Alex a few days before...unsuccessfully. He was being treated in the hospital when he snuck out of his room to get some fresh air. He was about to open the door into the main lobby of the hospital when he saw several men in leather coats. He stayed and watched through the window. They shot the receptionist. He heard the men talking and they were looking for a boy named Paul Drevin. Alex's eyes widened as he realized that Paul Drevin was the awkward boy in the next room. He quickly ran up the stairs back to his room. It's in the middle of the night so Paul is still asleep. Something inside of Alex just made him want to help the boy, even if it would endanger himself. Alex switched the room numbers and names of the two rooms as a plan was formulating inside of his head. The men came up to the Alex's floor and Alex opened the door of his room and stood down the hall. When the men asked if Alex was Paul, he nodded. Alex ("Paul") turned and ran. Now Alex had 4 armed and dangerous men after him and Alex was a 14 year old injured spy with nothing to defend himself. But Alex had some tricks up his sleeve... Alex ran and hid behind a large machine. The men had split up so Alex could hear one man's footsteps racing toward him. When he passed, Alex slammed two large pads into the neck of the person. That machine was a 300 defibrillator and it know sent electricity through the man's body. He was unconscious. 1 down. Alex went back into hiding. When the next man came, Alex hit him, full force, with an oxygen tank. He dropped to the ground. Alex ran to the physical therapy department. 40 seconds later, when another man came, Alex was ready. Alex had made a makeshift catapult using an elastic exercise band and 10 pound medicine ball. He tied the exercise band across the corridor. He released and another man was unconscious. The last man came chasing after Alex and Alex strategically led him into a room labeled MAGNETOM. The man was face to face with Alex and he said to come with him or Alex dies. The man took a step forward and his gun was stripped out of his hand. Next the man went flying into a large cylindrical machine. The man was wearing a metal watch and the machine was an MRI scanner. It was over.
This scene clearly shows Alex using his strength efficiently and wisely. Alex was an injured boy and he was able to take down 4 professional kidnappers. It just goes to show that greatness is not in being strong but in using strength wisely.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Quotation Connection
It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.” Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
Chuck Palahniuk's quote means that you are not fully free in life until you have lost all you have cared about.
In the novel, We Are Soldiers Still, Harold Moore goes back to Ia Drang to meet with old enemies after both of the sides lost many of their own. Moore goes back and and talks about the battle with the old NVA Generals, something that takes a lot of courage and strength to do. Moore lost some of his friends in the battle and saw other Americans die. When Moore was talking to a General, the General said "your machine guns killed my son".
Chuck Palahniuk's quote means that you are not fully free in life until you have lost all you have cared about.
In the novel, We Are Soldiers Still, Harold Moore goes back to Ia Drang to meet with old enemies after both of the sides lost many of their own. Moore goes back and and talks about the battle with the old NVA Generals, something that takes a lot of courage and strength to do. Moore lost some of his friends in the battle and saw other Americans die. When Moore was talking to a General, the General said "your machine guns killed my son".
Quotation Connection Blog
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.” Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
This quote describes the main character, Charlie in the novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephan Chbosky. This quote is saying that once a person has lost everything, that they begin to do things freely. Charlie experiences just this in this novel.
Charlie is a 15 year old boy just about to enter high school. But then, Charlies best friend, Michael, commits suicide for some reason that no one knows about. Charlie is then forced to start high school alone. Charlie has never been able to step outside of his comfort zone. He has always been a very shy and Michael has basically been his only friend.
So now, Charlie basically has no friends. But, that soon changes when he meets two people that will change his life forever. Charlie meets Sam and Patrick, two seniors that go to his school. At first, it is a little awkward between them because they really didn't know each other. But, once they start to open up to each other, it becomes a completely different story. They slowly start to form a friendship that will change Charlie's life. Charlie finally has friends that he can open up to and really connect with.
Throughout the novel, Sam and Patrick include Charlie in their own friend group. Charlie gets invited to all of their parities that they have, and whenever they hang out. Charlie begins to become "one of them". They guide Charlie through high school and help him with any problems he may be having outside of school as well.
This situation really affected Charlie in a very positive way. If Michael would have still been alive, Charlie would have never met Patrick and Sam and every other person in their friend group. He would have stayed his isolated, shy self and would never be the person he is today. The fact that he lost his one great friend, allowed him to open up and meet a group of great friends.
This quote describes the main character, Charlie in the novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephan Chbosky. This quote is saying that once a person has lost everything, that they begin to do things freely. Charlie experiences just this in this novel.
Charlie is a 15 year old boy just about to enter high school. But then, Charlies best friend, Michael, commits suicide for some reason that no one knows about. Charlie is then forced to start high school alone. Charlie has never been able to step outside of his comfort zone. He has always been a very shy and Michael has basically been his only friend. So now, Charlie basically has no friends. But, that soon changes when he meets two people that will change his life forever. Charlie meets Sam and Patrick, two seniors that go to his school. At first, it is a little awkward between them because they really didn't know each other. But, once they start to open up to each other, it becomes a completely different story. They slowly start to form a friendship that will change Charlie's life. Charlie finally has friends that he can open up to and really connect with.
Throughout the novel, Sam and Patrick include Charlie in their own friend group. Charlie gets invited to all of their parities that they have, and whenever they hang out. Charlie begins to become "one of them". They guide Charlie through high school and help him with any problems he may be having outside of school as well.
This situation really affected Charlie in a very positive way. If Michael would have still been alive, Charlie would have never met Patrick and Sam and every other person in their friend group. He would have stayed his isolated, shy self and would never be the person he is today. The fact that he lost his one great friend, allowed him to open up and meet a group of great friends.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Week of April 15th-- Critical Lens Quotation Connections
This week, you will focus on making a connection between a quotation and one of the independent reading books you have read from September until now.
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment
that
something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do
anything.” Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
"Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right using of strength" Henry Ward Beecher
- Choose one (1) of the following four quotations:
"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies,
but just as much to stand up to our friends.” J. K Rowling, Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon
"Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right using of strength" Henry Ward Beecher
- Copy it to the top of your blog entry.
- Begin by connecting the main idea of the quotation (what the person is saying) to a character and a situation in one of the independent reading novels you have read.
- Use the rest of the entry to explain the specifics of this connection-- for example: which character has lost everything? Why and how did she lose everything? As a result what happened to her? Was this a positive outcome that highlighted her strength or was it negative and the loss caused the character to plummet.
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