accolade - noun a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
acerbity - noun a sharp sour taste; a sharp bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
attrition - noun the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction; a wearing down to weaken or destroy; sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation; the wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice; erosion by friction
bromide - noun any of the salts of hydrobromic acid; formerly used as a sedative but now generally replaced by safer drugs; a trite or obvious remark
chauvinist - noun an extreme bellicose nationalist; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
chronic - adj. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
expound - verb add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing;state
factionalism- noun a group or clique within a larger group, party, government,organization
immaculate - adj. completely neat and clean; free from stain or blemish; without fault or error
imprecation - noun the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation
ineluctable - adj. impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"
mercurial - adj. relating to or containing or caused by mercury;relating to or having characteristics (eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, thievishness) attributed to the god Mercury; relating to or under the (astrological) influence of the planet Mercury; liable to sudden unpredictable change
palliate - verb provide physical relief, as from pain; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
protocol - noun code of correct conduct; forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state; (computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data
resplendent - adj. having great beauty and splendor
stigmatize - verb mark with a stigma or stigmata; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
sub - noun a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes;a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States; verb be a substitute
rosa - noun large genus of erect or climbing prickly shrubs including roses
vainglory - noun outspoken conceit
vestige - noun an indication that something has been present
volition - noun the act of making a choice; the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
Monday, September 8, 2014
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Beowulf Essay
Beowulf exemplifies the heroic traits and the literary techniques of its time. Analyze this in the context of our class discussion and the commentary you read, and compare with a contemporary hero and the way his/her story is told.
Literature is a window into a different perspective. It teaches us about the person and time period it was written in. The same can be said about Beowulf, the way it illustrates a hero of a different time, however it shows us a hero that isn't too far different from heroes today. The zeitgeist of Beowulf is evident in the heroic traits and literary techniques used in the story, by comparing it to modern heroes it gives a better grasp of how society was during the time period this piece was written.
One of the most memorable things about Beowulf was his confidence, that can be reflected as almost arrogant through our more modern perspective. The way he volunteers to the hero's call even though he doesn't have to get involved, or the way he boasts about being able to take out Grendel naked, show how confident he is in his ability. He didn't ignore danger he faced it head on and tackled it. This shows us how society during that period valued confidence much more that humility. Compared to today's culture, a hero like Beowulf might be considered a jerk that is too egotistic. However this isn't the case for early English civilizations that wrote Beowulf.
Another characteristic we see in about Beowulf is that he relied completely on his brute strength and never really had to plan things out. He just came in storming and did his job. this is very different from modern heroes that are put through several tests and have to prove their intelligence as well as strength. This proposes a society that wasn't so interested in intelligence to determine leadership but brute strength. Beowulf didn't have to go through the typical heroes' journey like other heroes such as Odysseus. People simply saw his strength and excepted him as their leader.
One last thing that we see about the story in context to history is that their is only on e important female character, and she is a villain. Grendel's mother is all we can use to classify women of this time period, and the fact that they show her as a villain, tells the reader that society of this time period were sexist. women were seen as evil and worthless than men. Had this story been told through the perspective of a women, it probably would have never been told. Women during this time period were probably too scared to come up with such a story because of the social attention and segregation they would receive for describing such a controversial story.
The characteristics of Beowulf and the story have shown us glimpses of what society was like and how it compared to ours. Society valued power and confidence, as well as have a sexist view. We can see these things through the actions of Beowulf and how other female characters are described.
Literature is a window into a different perspective. It teaches us about the person and time period it was written in. The same can be said about Beowulf, the way it illustrates a hero of a different time, however it shows us a hero that isn't too far different from heroes today. The zeitgeist of Beowulf is evident in the heroic traits and literary techniques used in the story, by comparing it to modern heroes it gives a better grasp of how society was during the time period this piece was written.
One of the most memorable things about Beowulf was his confidence, that can be reflected as almost arrogant through our more modern perspective. The way he volunteers to the hero's call even though he doesn't have to get involved, or the way he boasts about being able to take out Grendel naked, show how confident he is in his ability. He didn't ignore danger he faced it head on and tackled it. This shows us how society during that period valued confidence much more that humility. Compared to today's culture, a hero like Beowulf might be considered a jerk that is too egotistic. However this isn't the case for early English civilizations that wrote Beowulf.
Another characteristic we see in about Beowulf is that he relied completely on his brute strength and never really had to plan things out. He just came in storming and did his job. this is very different from modern heroes that are put through several tests and have to prove their intelligence as well as strength. This proposes a society that wasn't so interested in intelligence to determine leadership but brute strength. Beowulf didn't have to go through the typical heroes' journey like other heroes such as Odysseus. People simply saw his strength and excepted him as their leader.
One last thing that we see about the story in context to history is that their is only on e important female character, and she is a villain. Grendel's mother is all we can use to classify women of this time period, and the fact that they show her as a villain, tells the reader that society of this time period were sexist. women were seen as evil and worthless than men. Had this story been told through the perspective of a women, it probably would have never been told. Women during this time period were probably too scared to come up with such a story because of the social attention and segregation they would receive for describing such a controversial story.
The characteristics of Beowulf and the story have shown us glimpses of what society was like and how it compared to ours. Society valued power and confidence, as well as have a sexist view. We can see these things through the actions of Beowulf and how other female characters are described.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Will Study For Food
The goal at the end of this year is to continue my education by going to a university that will allow me to get an education. This is task can already be a hard one, just because you have the stress of applying for colleges and checking that you have everything completed that will give you the best chance to compete for a stop on a prestigious campus. In my case this may involve editing and rewriting personal statements and retaking the SAT. You do all of this while still being a scholar in the classroom.
If you are like me and the majority of high school students, then the struggle doesn't end their because you still have to apply for scholarships and grants. This is probably the most important part of the entire process because as much as getting into your dream school is important, without the money to pay all your hard work is useless.
I aspire to major in biochemistry and continue my education to get a PHD. My real goal is to research medicine for a living and save millions of lives. Before I head off to college I have set a goal of about $20,000 in scholarship money for the first year. While this seems like a hard goal to reach, I felt that leaving myself with a challenging goal would allow me to push myself and surpass my limits.
I hope to be applying for many scholarships this year, and I hope others take advantage of all the opportunities out there and do the same.
If you are like me and the majority of high school students, then the struggle doesn't end their because you still have to apply for scholarships and grants. This is probably the most important part of the entire process because as much as getting into your dream school is important, without the money to pay all your hard work is useless.
I aspire to major in biochemistry and continue my education to get a PHD. My real goal is to research medicine for a living and save millions of lives. Before I head off to college I have set a goal of about $20,000 in scholarship money for the first year. While this seems like a hard goal to reach, I felt that leaving myself with a challenging goal would allow me to push myself and surpass my limits.
I hope to be applying for many scholarships this year, and I hope others take advantage of all the opportunities out there and do the same.
Vocab #2
Accoutrements- noun personal clothing, accessories, etc.; the equipment, excluding weapons and clothing, of a soldier.
apogee - noun apoapsis in Earth orbit; the point in its orbit where a satellite is at the greatest distance from the Earth; a final climactic stage
apropos - adj. of an appropriate or pertinent nature; adv. by the way; at an opportune time
bicker - noun a quarrel about petty points; verb argue over petty things
coalesce - verb fuse or cause to grow together; mix together different elements
contretemps - noun an awkward clash
convolution - noun the action of coiling or twisting or winding together; a convex fold or elevation in the surface of the brain; the shape of something rotating rapidly
cull - noun the person or thing that is rejected or set aside as inferior in quality; verb remove something that has been rejected;look for and gather
disparate - adj. including markedly dissimilar elements;fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
dogmatic - adj. characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles; relating to or involving dogma; of or pertaining to or characteristic of a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
licentious - adj. lacking moral discipline; especially sexually unrestrained
mete - noun a line that indicates a boundary
noxious - adj. injurious to physical or mental health
polemic - adj. of or involving dispute or controversy; noun a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma); a writer who argues in opposition to others (especially in theology)
populous - adj. densely populated
probity - noun complete and confirmed integrity; having strong moral principles
repartee - noun adroitness and cleverness in reply
supervene - verb take place as an additional or unexpected development
truncate - adj. terminating abruptly by having or as if having an end or point cut off; verb make shorter as if by cutting off; approximate by ignoring all terms beyond a chosen one; replace a corner by a plane
unimpeachable - adj. beyond doubt or reproach; completely acceptable; not open to exception or reproach; free of guilt; not subject to blame
apogee - noun apoapsis in Earth orbit; the point in its orbit where a satellite is at the greatest distance from the Earth; a final climactic stage
apropos - adj. of an appropriate or pertinent nature; adv. by the way; at an opportune time
bicker - noun a quarrel about petty points; verb argue over petty things
coalesce - verb fuse or cause to grow together; mix together different elements
contretemps - noun an awkward clash
convolution - noun the action of coiling or twisting or winding together; a convex fold or elevation in the surface of the brain; the shape of something rotating rapidly
cull - noun the person or thing that is rejected or set aside as inferior in quality; verb remove something that has been rejected;look for and gather
disparate - adj. including markedly dissimilar elements;fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
dogmatic - adj. characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles; relating to or involving dogma; of or pertaining to or characteristic of a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
licentious - adj. lacking moral discipline; especially sexually unrestrained
mete - noun a line that indicates a boundary
noxious - adj. injurious to physical or mental health
polemic - adj. of or involving dispute or controversy; noun a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma); a writer who argues in opposition to others (especially in theology)
populous - adj. densely populated
probity - noun complete and confirmed integrity; having strong moral principles
repartee - noun adroitness and cleverness in reply
supervene - verb take place as an additional or unexpected development
truncate - adj. terminating abruptly by having or as if having an end or point cut off; verb make shorter as if by cutting off; approximate by ignoring all terms beyond a chosen one; replace a corner by a plane
unimpeachable - adj. beyond doubt or reproach; completely acceptable; not open to exception or reproach; free of guilt; not subject to blame
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