Extra Credit!

I really didn't want to take this class. I mean, I've always done fine in English but I've never enjoyed it that much. But last year, my fabulous block teacher (Samantha Chandler) encouraged me to take it. I was pretty nervous going into Honors English this year and didn't know what to expect. And truthfully, I probably would have wimped out of it if I knew what was coming. There's been a lot of things that have challenged me this year. One example is memorizing poems. I never thought I could memorize a poem as long as Dover Beach but somehow I did it and still have it memorized! It definitely was a confidence builder to be able to recite it in front of the entire class. My favorite thing we've done this year was writing those short stories in January. It was really fun and not too hard. My least favorite part about English is DGP. Probably because I'm just bad at it and Jacob is a very harsh grader.

Skit Ideas

1. When Pip first meets his convict in the marshes. I think this would make a good skit because it gives background on Pip and foreshadows some of what will happen later on in the skit. It wouldn't be hard to do because there are only two characters.
2. The first time Miss Havisham and Estella meet Pip. This would be an interesting scene to act out because both Miss Havisham and Estella have entertaining personalities. It's also a key scene in the book because it changed where Pip's life/ the story was headed.
3. When Abel comes to Pip's apartment. I think this scene is extremely important because it's when Pip finally finds out who his benefactor is and Abel's life story. It begins to sum up the story and connect the characters. This might be a bit long to act out but it would be worth it.

Love her?

"Hear me Pip! I adopted her to be loved. I bred her and educated her to be loved. I developed her into what she is, that she might be loved. Love her!" (240) - Miss Havisham

This is the part of the book where Pip is once again visiting Estella and Miss Havisham. I'm not quite sure what Miss Havisham is meaning. Does she actually want Estella and Pip to be happy together or is she simply doing it because in her own selfishness she wants to see Pip suffer?

My question:
In this quote, is Miss Havisham using Pip's obsession for Estella to benefit Pip or herself?

Scarred Wrists?

In chapter 26, Pip is having dinner at Mr. Jaggers house when he calls his servant over "'I'll show you a wrist. Molly, let them see your wrist.' . . . The last wrist was much disfigured - deeply scarred and scarred across and across." (228) I was very confused on why Mr. Jaggers did that and if that relates to the story in any way. I mean, I get that he's showing that she has gained strength from battling through whatever gave her those scars but does it have to do with the story?
My question:
How do the scars on Mr. Jaggers' servant's wrist signify and how does it relate to the rest of the book?

Photo Representation

In Great Expectations, the main character, Pip is suddenly given a large some of money. He is encouraged to move to London (in order to learn to be a gentleman) and increase his social standings. For Pip, this is like a dream come true. The only catch is that he will have to leave the only family he has ever known. As the book progresses Pip begins to get dissatisfied with his life and begins to miss his old common life. I think Sour Patch Kids represents this part of the book quite well. Let's pretend you're really hungry and the only thing to eat in the world is Sour Patch Kids. The candy is sweet, but a little sour on the outside. Pip is given money-sweet. But he has to leave his family-sour. Now, eat the candy. It seems great at first. But if you're really hungry, it's not going to fill you up.

Great Expectations.

"Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."

In this passage Pip was referring to the first day he went to Miss Havisham's house and found out about her life. It was a very memorable day in his life because he experienced many new things after meeting Miss Havisham. Looking back, Pip can see that this day stands clear in his memory as one that changed his life.
The day my brother left for college, I didn't really think it would change my life that much. I mean, I was about to start seventh grade and his life wasn't my top priority. Looking back, I realize how much I relied him. And he's no longer down the hall every time I need him. Looking back, I can see that day as the day that our roads diverged as he left for college.


My blog was being crazy and wouldn't let me post!!

Group Earnest Essay!!

So,
I'm doing the paragraph on dairies for our essay (topic #6). My first concrete detail is when Cecily says that dairies are a sensational read on the train. Second is when Cecily is talking about how she write everything down in her diary or else she would forget it. My final detail is when the two girls are comparing diaries while they are trying to figure out who the real Ernest is. Basically, I want to relate all these points back to the three-volume novel and show how they are pretty much the same. For my transition sentence, I'll say that diaries relate to three-volume novels as do the sermons...

Sound good?