Blog Post #10: Romeo and Juliet

We're studying Romeo and Juliet in class right now, and coming into this unit, I was very pessimistic. I was nervous about not being to understand the Elizabethan language and it's true meaning, and just not having a good time learning. But I was pleasantly surprised!

One of the things I really like about Shakespeare's writing style is that he uses iambic pentameter. Sometime's when we are reading the text, I stop at a certain line and count its syllables, trying to find one that doesn't have exactly ten... I always fail. For example, in Act 1, Scene 5, Romeo says "Did my heart love till now? Foresware it sight!" (1.5, 52). I stopped at this line in the play to count the syllables, and sure enough, there were ten. But nevertheless, I find it fascinating how Shakespeare has stayed consistent with this style of writing throughout the whole play! 

Another thing I really like about this play is that it is both a comedy and a tragedy. Since the two play styles are polar opposites, I never thought it would be possible to categorize a play in both genres. But Shakespeare was able to seamlessly combine the two styles in a way that engages the audience in a whole different way!

Finally, I have to say that I really enjoy watching the film adaptations of this play. Although I find the 1960's version a lot easier to follow, the 1990's version put a hilarious modern spin on the original which I also really enjoy! Check out the trailers to the two film adaptations below!

1968 Version

1996 Version

Blog Post #9

We're doing a book swap in English, and I decided to bring a book in, because why not? Since I brought in a book, I also got to pick one up from the pile! Looking for Alaska by John Green caught my eye. John Green is one of my favorite authors (and not just because of TFioS), so I couldn't wait to get into a new book of his.

This novel is about a 17-year-old boy named Miles,who leaves his family in Florida to go to a boarding school in Arizona to search for a "Great Perhaps.' At the school, he meets a Alaska Young, who he is immediately infatuated with. What I find interesting is that Alaska, although not the protagonist, seems like a more round character than Miles. She seems a lot more developed and I can already see the many sides she has to her.

So, do I like it? I'm not sure yet. It's a toss up, because finding out more and more about Alaska is what I find myself looking forward to every time I open this book, but so far, that's really it. No major events have happened that have propelled the plot so far, and I don't even know what the real conflict is yet. And being 55 pages into the book, I'm really hoping for some sort of twist! Otherwise, I'll be really disappointed with John Green this time. (No offence, John. You're still amazing.)

Have any of you read Looking for Alaska? If so, tell me your thoughts on it!... without spoilers of course. :)

Blog Post #8 : Multicultural Memoir

For my independent memoir, I have chosen to read A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Baeh, with Mckayla Peebles (blogger of the week hayooo). This memoir takes place in the 1990's in Sierra Leone Africa, during the civil war. The author of the memoir, Ishmael Baeh, tells the story of how he was forced to run from the war at the age of 12, recruited as a child soldier to fight for his country at the age of 14, and forced into doing terrible acts that no 12 year old should be capable of.


I found an article that I thought connected very well to this novel. This article covers the dangers of sexual abuse on young girls and the long-term psychological damage that can come from it, such as anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder. In A Long Way Gone, Ishmael recalls how he acted when he first got into the rehab facility, "The rebel boys drew out the few bayonets they had and rushed toward us. It was war all over again...As the boys rushed toward us, I threw the grenade, but the explosion was delayed. We leaped out from underneath the stoop where we had taken cover and charged into the open yard, where we began to fight." (135). The war greatly changed Ishmael as a person from who he was at the beginning of the book and lets you see the true dangers of using child soldiers in battle.


This book made me realize that the events of our lives shape us into who we are today. Life is about savoring the great moments, and learning to become stronger from the hard times. My question for you to consider: Has there ever been a major event in your life that has changed you as a person?