The House/Henry

Imagine if you couldn’t change if something very important to you is gone, and you just can’t tell. You could be completely alone in the world but still live on when there was nothing there. Or what if your wife died and you couldn’t tell but mourned every time it turned to the day she was supposed to come home. How would you like to be compared to a house? Something that has no feelings, no real thoughts but in a way you, a human, are just like it.
In the story There will Come Soft Rain, A house lives alone after society destroyed its surroundings. This house in nothing like a house we know of today, but it is in the future. This house is ran by a “brain” and is set to a daily routine. When society kills everyone, burns everything, but this house still stands. It cannot tell the change, it continues its routines when there is no one to cook for. Society made it so it could not realizes this. Even at the end of the story when the house is almost completely burned down, the wake up alarm goes off like nothing happened.
What if a human was like this? How would it be if you a tragic event happen to you can you couldn’t tell because society keep you from it. In A California’s Tale, Henry lost his wife 19 years ago to Indians. He could not see it just as the house could not see what it had lost. One week out of the year Henry remembers of his wife and that she was supposed to be coming back “today.” Once again, Henry is put through a sad moment of thinking his wife is gone but still can’t completely realize it. Just like the house, who was burned again but still couldn’t tell that everyone is gone. So both Henry and the house continue on with their lives, not realizing what has happened.
Though, the reasons why they can’t realize everything is gone are a little different. The house has no feelings, and is only programmed to do what it does. It is really not capable t realize anything. Where as Henry, he is capable, being a human, but his friends prevent him from remembering. Then, there is the part where they are different because Henry is a man, and the house, well, it is just a house. But, just because they are two completely different things, don’t be so quick to think that they are completely different.

" The Son of America"

Symbol- Money symbolizes new things and a different way of living, Berl and Berlcha represent a way some people already live and are happy without modern technology

Outline the plot-
Exposition- When we are told about Berl and Berlcha's way of life and that they have everything they need. We are told about their son and the money he sends them. and that no one knows where it goes or who it is for.
Inciting event- Samuel arrives home
Rising action- He live with his parents and sees they way they live, he goes to church, and helps get ready for sabbath
Climax- When samuel asks his dad where the money is at
Falling action- He talks to his dad, goes for a walk and talks to and old man at the synagogue, he goes home and helps his mom while his dad goes to church
Resolution- Samuel realizes that his parents are happy, and that the village did not need to change

Protagonist- Samuel

Antagonist- Samuel's parents

Theme- Some people like they way they live and that they don't need or want to things because they have enough to survive and are thankful for that.

Conflict- person Vs. Self; Samuel had to realize that not everything needs to be new and some people are just thankful for what they have

Summarization- A husband named Berl and a wife name Berlcha (Pescha) live in a little, old fashioned village called Lentshin in poland. Their son moved to America when he was 15 and made a huge living there. Every month their son sends them money, known knows how much or were it goes. The husband and wife do not use the money because they already have everything they need to live: food, a shelter. The make just enough money to buy what they need. Then one friday their son, samuel comes home. He helps his family get ready for sabbath and joins them in their lives. His plans were to bring money andother funds to the town. He had presents he wanted to give to the village. Then one day when he ask his dad where the money he had been sending them was at. Samuel was shown a boot hid under the bed filled with money. When he asked why it was not used the only reply he got was they already had everything they needed. They didn't not want new stuff. That night, Samuel went for a walk, he went into the synagogue and met an old man there. The old man had no teeth, was poor but he was happy. The old man told Samuel that if god gives health, one keeps on living. When Samuel went home and remain with his mom while is father went to church, samuel realized that this ton did not need or want anything.

The vocab words from the first test

Ponderous; adj. slow and clumsy or awkward
Ineffable; adj. to great or extreme to be described in words
Inured;V. to be accustom to something unpleasant
Irrevocable; adj. Not able to be changed or reversed
Myopic; adj. shortsighted or narrow minded
Increments; N. increases or additions, especially on a series of fixed scale
Immutable; adj. Unchanges over time or unable to be changed
Grievous; adj. very severe or serious
Apprehension; N; anxiety or fear that something bad will happen
Recoil; V. to suddenly spring or flinch back in fear, horror, or disgust

The Bet

Setting- time- November 14, 1885
Place- In the lodge

Plot- Exposition- You find out who is in the story, the argument over the death penalty
Inciting Event- The bet is made
Rising Action- They years pass, The banker tells us of the stories the lawyer reads, the bet is coming to an end and the banker goes in to kill the lawyer, they lawyer has written a letter.
Climax- The banker reads the letter
Falling Action- The banker kisses the lawyer on the forehead, he goes home and cries, the guard tells the banker the lawyer has run away and the bet is over
Resolution- the banker puts the letter in the safe

Protagonist- Lawyer, The lawyer is the protagonist because the story revolves around the lawyer and how he has changed. If it is Person Vs. Society then it would be the lawyer because he is against the way society works in the end. In the beginning the bet represents they way society works and the lawyer is proving something.

Antagonist- The banker, (Side note: the banker turns into the executioner) he holds the money which is what the bet was for. So the banker represents society

Symbol- the money that the banker owes the lawyer represents greed

Conflict- Person Vs. Society, the why society worked is what starts they bet, society is what made the lawyer change because he read all of the books that say the way society works. The lawyer has given up on society, they way he saw society work changed him.

Themes-
Meaning of Home - To many home is a place where you can be comfortable. Be yourself, and feel safe. The lawyer might have felt himself but in a way he had lost his home. He was not comfortable in his surrondings and had given up on societey and other human beings. You are supposed to be able to act like himself but he was not himself he manipulated, when he read those books he had only seen one side. On earth he have never comfortable, he believe everyone would be wiped off the face of the earth. If his life, house, earth where home to him, he would not have starved himself. He would not be slowly killing himself. He did not believe in home, life; he hated it all. By the end he had no home.

Meaning of Freedom- If you have freedom you should be able to do what ever you want. Your own voice, ideas, you should be able to speak your own mind and thoughts. The lawyer lost all his freedom. Thought at the end he could do what ever he wanted he did npt think his own way. All the books he read over they year, with onyl thier side. They made him believe in things that he rally had no understanding. No personal experience or anyone on othersides input. He was physical free but mentally I believe he has lost it. But it was his fault he turned this way. Greed made him want the money, so he chose to stay in that house. He read those book when the whole time he could have asked to let out. When he was let go he was almost had less freedom,than when he was locked up. What he believe was not really accepted in the real world. He has lost his mind, and so he has lost his freedom.

Things that make me be the person I am

Growing up in a small town

vocab 9/22

Recalcitrant- adj. resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant;
The recalcitrant thief was hard to arrest.

Sublime- adj. supreme or outstanding, complete, absolute
The sublime basketball player was offered a scholarship to play at North Carolina State.

Verdant- adj. Green with vegetation
The verdant forest made it hard for the hunters to see the tiger

Acrimonious adj. Caustic, stinging, or bitter in nature, speech behavior
The acrimonious boy did not care that the girl had skinned her knee.

Ephemeral adj. Lasting a very short time
The ephemeral lead the Kake team had ended after a minute into the game.

Tremulous adj. timid, timorous; fearful
The tremulous elephant hid from the mouse

Silhouette N. the outline or general shape of something
The silhouette of the book made it very boring

Psychopathic adj. Relating to or affected with an antisocial personality disorder that is usually characterized by aggressive, perverted, criminal or amoral behavior
The psychopathic women was put into a hospital because she couldn't be controlled

Sedate adj. Quiet, calm or composed; undisturbed by passion or excitement
The sedate dog did not even jump when a his ball was rolled to him

Desolation N. an instance of being sorrow; grief; woe
There was a moment of desolation for the girl when she dropped her ice cream.

The Thrill of the Grass

Symbolism- Baseball is a symbol of America because it was America's #1 sport and when they thought of baseball, they thought of America. AstroTurf is a symbol of how technology is taking over everything. Grass is a symbol of the old days. The man is a symbol of freedom because he did what he thought was right

Protagonist- I voice, failed baseball player, locksmith
Antagonist- society
Conflict- person vs. Society because society is who took out the grass and put in the AstroTurf

Point of view- 1st person

Inciting event- When he first breaks into the the baseball field, it's when he sees the fake grass

Climax- When he lays the first sod because its when he starts his rebuttal back

Summary- The Thrill of the Grass, by W.P. Kinsella, is based in 1981, Houston Texas when all of the baseball players were on strike. The store is about an ex- baseball player who loves the game and misses it. So one night he breaks into the Houston baseball stadium and walks across the AstroTurf. The main character hates AstroTurf and remembers the good old days when they played on real grass. So he goes looking for another man that he had seen many times at the baseball games. He convinces the other man to join him in a rebuttal. They are to cut out one square foot of AstroTurf and lay sod down. That was the fee to join and they need to bring back a friend or two. Pretty soon many men join in laying sod. The story ends with the man thinking of what they have done and if the baseball players will be happy about the new change. Because he sure loved it.

Why is this story important- This story is important because it tells us not all people like change and that technology is not always something for the better.

Theme: Change is not liked by all, or for the better, and people will stand for what they believe in
Home- How the theme is connected to home is because a lot of the older players remember growing up playing on grass and in dirt, playing on AstroTurf is nothing like the same and it is foreign.
Freedom-It is connected through freedom because it wasn't any of the baseball players choices to switch. It was decided for them.
Technology- Technology is changing everything, even grass. It is taking over. Pretty soon we might just have rubber trees.

vocab words 9/9

Insolence- The dogs insolence made the owner mad.
Churlish- The churlish boy did not make it long in the ghetto.
Irate- The irated man smashed the tea cup.
Efficacy- The efficacy in the girl always brought great success.
Cajole- He cajoled the gir by saying she had pretty eyes.
Pummel- the jock pummeled the nerd for his milk money.
Perspicacity- The professors perspicacity made him a great science teacher.
Chagrin- The boy's chagrin made him leave the room.
Assiduously- She assiduously set the china glass down.
Maliciously- The theif maliciously stabbed the store owner.

Marilyn

Of course she is the one to blame. She was not supposed to go on this trip but because she wanted to, she did. She had no idea what it was like and just assumed the punishments weren't that bad. She didn't take notice to the warning signs, she just wanted to do something so she did. How can it be anyone else's fault. It was law to do what Bartin did, there were signs to try and prevent her from getting on. She is an adult and is responsible for the actions she takes. She didn't know bout the laws but thats not anyone else's fault, they can't babysit her. But I do feel sorry for her.

Freedom ( Harrison Bergeron)

When you hear the word freedom, you think of being able to act, think, be they way you want to be. This book, "Harriosn Bergeron", is showing us a world were people are supposed to be all equal, but, to me, they are certainly not free. No way do the people in this story have any type of freedom. If you are smart, or thought that your intellegince was above normal every 20 seconds you got a new head ache. If you were strong, you were weighed down my lead pellets hung from your neck. If you were beautiful, you had to wear a hideous mask. People are not free to think how they want to. The definition of freedom is, the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint and those that are stronger in this story are in physical restraint, they are being held down by lead pellets. Another definition is exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc. Everyone is controlled over what they wear, what they think, and how strong they are. If the government really thinks they are making everyone equal. They aren't doing very good job at it. People aren't becoming more stupid or weaker but are being tortured, while dumb people don't get anything.
I would hate to live in this type of world. Getting consent head aches, being weighed down. No one is suppoesd to be treated equal, its not the way people are and it can never be that way. I need real freedom. I need to be able to beat people, it is the way I am. Its the way everyone is. This world would never works. The people have been around for millions of years and if no is equal now, i don't thik in a milion year anything will be different.

The Pedestrian

I sat back in my seat and just watched out the window. I stared as we passed by every tomblike house. Thinking about each lifeless body sitting in front of that soul-sucking colorful box, and they thought I was crazy. All of a sudden the pitter patter of rain fell on top of the metal robot. So now I sit here, in my tiny antiseptic- washed cell, listening to the hummer of my jail and the soft thud of the rain. Five minutes into my ride I noticed that we were leaving the graveyard, only to be surrounded my dark barren land.
As we rounded a corner I noticed it immediately, the “Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies.” It looked like a rusted- old jail house, with a sign above and a door that looked like it was going to rust of its hinges. The sign above read “Psy hiatric C nter fo resre ch on Re ressive Tenden ies” because some of the letters were peeled away and the rest were cracked. Obviously this place was rarely used. Great, I thought, I should be a fun surprise.
The car stopped and I got out. As I walked up to the door, I looked around. I liked this place, it was just like home, everything was half dead. I turned the handle of the door, rust particles coming off in my hand, and the door opened with a screech. Inside it was completely different. It smelled just like the cop car, very very clean. The walls and the ceiling were bright white with florescent lights shining above. A nurse that looked more man then woman came up to me. “Hello Mr. Mead,” the she said, “let me show you to your room.” We walked down a long hall way and turned right. To doors down we stopped at room number two. The nurse took a ring of keys from her coat pocket and picked the one that said two on it. She then put the key inside the lock and turned it. The door opened with a click and the nurse motioned for me to go in. So, I did and the door shut a little harder then necessary behind me.
The room was small, dark, and very dirty. It had a twin sized bed with a stained mattress and a sheet for a blanket. There was a tiny barred window on the back wall, a clock on the wall, and a huge new T.V. in the corner, that was already on. I took my jacket off and put it on the end of the bed. I walked up to the T.V. and pressed the power button. Nothing happened, I pressed it again. This time all it did was change the channel. I pressed and pressed that button but the T.V. just grew louder. Finally I quit and went and just sat on my bed. I was beginning to not like this place. So, I needed a plan, I was going to break out. It was already late and the evening shows were about to come on. So, everyone should be in their rooms soon, and then I will break out.
I let three hours tick by, before even trying to breakout. I got up, got my jacket and began my breakout. Really, my plan was just to walk out the front doors. As I turned the corner to the last hallway, I ran straight in to a guard. But he wasn’t there with out his T.V. The guard looked up from his show and stared me down. He was a very big man, in fake quite scary. So, I just stood there. “Sit he said,” patting the floor next to him.
“No that’s ok, I should really get back to me room,” I said trying to get out of this situation.
“No, Sit.”
“Ok,” so I walked over and sat by him. He was watching some type of game show. There were two men on the stage. One was behind a counter the other with a microphone. In front of the man behind the counter there were girls with cases that had numbers on them. On the T.V. screen there was also a list of numbers the last on read $1,000,000. The man behind the counter chose a case and the lady with the number opened it. The whined at the $100,000 faded. Something else happened; the guy with the microphone was speaking now. Then the camera went up to a window were a guy inside was working, but you couldn’t see his face. The camera left and went back down to the other two guys. The phone rang and the bald guy with the microphone answered. He talked on the phone for a little bit then hung up. He said that the banker offer is $347,000, Deal or No Deal. This show was getting exciting, just then they guy with the microphone called a break and something else popped up on the screen. A commercial, nooo, I need to see what they guy behind the counter said. T.V. is great