The Trojan Horse Response- Play and Original

Author's Note: This piece is comparing the original piece and the modern piece.  

In the original story, Trojan Horse the main characters acted differently since it was not modernized. It was mainly about the war and what the Trojans did about the gift given to them by the Greeks. At first they were going to burn it down until a pheasant from Sparta tricked them into bringing the wooden horse into Troy. Right there and then Sparta attacked, releasing the soldiers inside to destroy Troy leaving nothing but ashes left. However, in the modernized story the characters were ditsy and almost careless about the situation. The modernized piece was basically about Helen and Paris sneaking around to cover the affair. The Greek Gods wanted to play war so that is why the Trojan War started. Both pieces ended with Troy falling and nothing being left.

In the two stories it seemed as if the time periods were different because the way the characters acted. The author wanted the readers nowadays to be more entertained while reading, so they changed the tone of the characters. Also in the first piece we read it was mainly about what the Trojan Horse meant, while the second piece focused on how the war started and the background of the story. Both however, explained the story, just in different ways. Personally I thought the original was better, because it was simple and straight to the point. I thought the play kept jumping from situation to situation, not really explaining the whole story but just the little details. 

Which Path Are You?

Author’s Note: In this piece I analyzed the symbolism within the text in the poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. There was symbolism from beginning to end of the poem and that is what helped understand the main point of the poem.

All writing has symbolism, but it is up to you on how you interpret it. In the poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost the symbolism throughout the piece really creates a mental image in your head of the tough choices that you have to make in life. As you grow up you are going to have to make a decision that you could regret or you will love. This poem never gave up on the symbolism which added more to the message. 

Right from the begging of the poem the main parts of symbolism are shown when the author adds “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both...”(Stanza 1&2) because you now that looking at the piece the two roads mean the many different ways you can take your life. Not knowing what lies ahead, but once you start the journey, never looking back. Like in the poem you have to pick the “path” that is always best for you and the symbolism describing the paths add more depth to the critical choices you have to make.

As you read the poem, the roads start having many differences, which means the symbolism is expressed differently. “Though as for the passing there…” (Stanza 9) This stanza was an example of a road or path that people have always taken. Following everyone that has went before them, and not creating their own journey. Just being a part of the same-old thing, by following the lead of someone else. “And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear…”(Stanza 7&8) Thinking about this type of path, you know that many people would want to go down it. Knowing that it is already laid out for you without putting any work in. All you have to do is follow its lead. Taking the easy out, you think you have won, but did you really?

Although the straightforward path seems like the best choice, there is always something out there to make your life worth wild. When the poem says “In leaves no steps trodden black…”(Stanza 12) you can tell that no one has ever taken it before. But if you do step outside of your comfort zone, new doors could open in your life. Or being considered a leader, even though it may be risky at first. It is all about taking chances, because you can always defeat a setback. For example in the poem it says “To where it bent in the undergrowth…”(Stanza 5) and the symbolism in this section is the undergrowth meaning, weeds or problems that may get in the way of your path/life. However, overcoming the situation your path can become clear, and your life may turn out better than expected.

At the end of the poem the author added “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” (Stanza 20&21) and you know that whatever path he chose it was right for him. Wherever you choose to go with your life, is up to you and no matter what, never look back on your decision.

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The Trojan Horse Response

In the story The Trojan Horse, the main conflict was what the Trojans were going to do with a huge horse given to them as a present from their worst enemies, the Greek. Some thought to burn it, to show their God’s that they were not going to worship it. Others just thought it was a strange gift and wanted it gone right away. After the town is convinced to bring the horse into their town, unfortunately, you learn that the people who wanted to burn the horse were correct, because the horse was a distraction hiding all of the best Greek soldiers inside to attack the Trojans while they were caught by surprise.

I think things like this could actually happen nowadays. It may not necessarily mean war, but could happen in a more modern way. People have different opinions for everything and like to argue with others to get what they want. At school or work people could get into fights a lot, it maybe not exactly like the story, but very close in the sense of disagreeing. Another possibility could be a per wanting to become close to you and the next thing you know they turn their back on you, just like the story. I have seen many similar situations to the one in the story, but the one that I remember the most was on a television show. Prisoners escaped from jail by using a large object that they could all fit into, resembling to the attack of the Greeks.

Moving Forward

Author’s Note: I made one piece to complete two of my goals which was text analysis and to use text evidence in my writing.  I wrote my piece about the novel Hate List by Jennifer Brown. About a girl stuck in the middle just trying to move forward from a troubling past.

“The list was my idea.  I didn’t want anyone to die.  I didn't mean to be a hero.  Will you ever forgive me?”(Back Cover)  May 2, 2008 seemed like any other ordinary day for Valerie Leftman, let alone any other student who attended Garvin High School.  There were announcements, meeting with friend’s in-between classes, and after school activities; anything a typical student would do.  All until the first shot was fired, but more came after.  Unfortunately May second,  was not your regular type of day.  Author of Hate List Jennifer Brown wrote this novel about a girl in the background—the shooter’s girlfriend, who is just trying to forget the past, but keeps being reminded of the tragic event and a love that could still be.

All summer long Valerie sulked around the house. The devastating shooting turned on her and that’s when her life started to change. She was losing her friends, faith, and hope. Would you try to turn your life back around? Valerie tried to move on, but as school approached again in the fall it could not get any worse for Valerie. “I can’t sit here with her without thinking out the thing, trying to pretend that nothing has ever happened!”(69) When you picture this moment in your mind, you see that she has lost everything. People hardly want to be in the same room as her. Moving on may be the hardest although still the only thing that Valerie can do to improve her life.

While reading the book you realize the depression and pain that Valerie is going through.  All she wanted was for her life to go back to normal, but being “the girl that hates everyone.”(40) was that even an option?  “You may not have pulled the trigger, but you helped cause the tragedy.” (70)  “You saved me! Accident or on purpose, you saved me. Thank you.”(216)  Was she the hero or villain?  As sides were taken, no one was there to help the poor girl who was stuck in the middle of a terrible situation. “She should have committed suicide just like him!” (70)  Everyone blamed Valerie because Nick was gone.

Throughout the entire book, Valerie tries to forget the last time she was able to see the love of her life.  “All I could do was stand there and think the Nick I knew didn’t pull the trigger, the bad Nick did.”(20)  As she hid the feelings, you know that she was only introduced to one side of Nick. However, Valerie, like most high school girls, you are mesmerized by the “romantic” (48) or “charming “(48) side to a guy.  Forgetting “the one” (page 5) can be hard, but since “the scumbag” (51) is the new reputation of Nick, forgetting may be in the best interest for Valerie.

During life, you have to make choices that will help you in the long run.  In the beginning of the book, you knew Valerie as the girl who gave up on going to college, having friends, and having the life she loved. Over the course of the book, she recognizes for her to be happy and be able to move on from the past that she needed to do what was best for her. She was finally able to free herself from the past and began opening new opportunities giving herself a second chance on life.

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Response to Movie

After reading the story and watching the film of A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, you start to realize what makes a movie so great compared to the book, or what makes the book so great compared the movie. In this short passage written by Ernest Hemingway, the film stays very similar to the original text. Simply because all parts of the story were important, verse a longer movie where the little details may not be as important.  Watching Part One of the video, the introduction was very strong when they added the music. It really enhanced the tone of the piece. The sadness and loneliness really showed throughout the music. Killing the music once inside the café, added the amount of boredom and tiredness the two waiters had while waiting for the old man to finish his drink. Once the younger waiter kicked the old man out, the same music for the ending came on. The emotion changed again while you watched the old man walk out of the café.

Although most of the text stayed the same, bits and pieces were changed. In the story the old man was sitting in the dark, but in the film was sitting in the light. However, he was sitting in the only booth that was padded with black. I took this as symbolism, because black normally means death or depression. Since this I thought that the director decided to add this to still relate back to the original version.

Part Two generally stayed the same as the writing. Since nothing really changed I thought that the first video was more interesting, especially with the three different types of generations in the same café and the level of respect you always need to have for one another. I liked this exercise and the overall point of the story.

Reading Response--A Clean, Well-lighted Place

Write a brief analysis of the two waiters.  What do they represent about life? What does the café symbolize?

The younger waiter is disrespectful compared to the older waiter. I think this is because the younger man has a family to get home too, while the older waiter may understand of know where the man is coming from. The waiters correspond to a impolite man that may not care about anyone but himself and a kind and wise man that is attentive to others. I think that the café symbolizes that the old man is alone, depressed, because normally when people go to a café/bar late at night and continue to drink the rest of the night away they have a problem or situation currently going on in their life and going to the café is their solution to solving this problem. 

Title IX

Author’s Note:  This research piece is about the enactment of Title IX.  Title IX is best known for taking down and removing barriers for women and girls in athletics.  The overall objective of Title IX was to prohibit sex discrimination in education.  Regulation of Title IX revolved around key areas such as opening doors for females to pursue math and science, creating standardized testing, increasing opportunities for more female employment at colleges, changing the learning environment and much more.  My focus is on how Title IX impacted women in athletics to play competitive sports throughout the country.  Without Title IX women of all ages would not be offered the same opportunities as men.

“Your all just a bunch of wanna be’s! You’ll never be as good as us. Now get off our court, we are going to practice!” Imagine being screamed at by a boy who truly believes he is better than you.  Since this boy believed girls were not supposed to play sports, he felt he had the right to harass you?  Women were not allowed the same opportunities to play sports as men until 1972.  Women were discriminated against in more ways than one in sports and other areas surrounding education.  (Tite IX History )

Athletic programs for high schools and colleges must now offer an equal number of athletic programs for females and male students, and provide the same amount of money and time into both genders. Before Title IX, only 1 in 27 girls participated in high school athletics.  The main activities offered to women were cheerleading and square-dancing.  Today, 1 in 2.5 girls participate in high school sports.  Before this law was enforced, women were never given the same rights as men. (40th Anniversary of Title IX: The Next Generation, 2013)

Title IX fought an uphill climb through the courts and being enforced by the government in the 1980’s.  Title IX gained strength with the Supreme Court case in 1992 in Franklin vs. Gwinett County Public Schools.  The court rule victims could be awarded monetary damages in sex discrimination cases.  The ruling from the 1992 case scared colleges they could be sued by women filing lawsuits based on the rights of Title IX.  The ruling proved powerful as levels of participation by women and girls increased.  Before Title IX, young women were 7% of the students participating in high school sports.  By 2001, 41.5% of the students participating in high school sports were young women.  (Gender Equity in Athletics and Sports, 2013)

Girls were treated differently than boys through the changes of Title IX.  Girls were given charms for their athletic participation instead of the traditional letter jackets worn by the boys.  Girls wore pinnies while boys wore the full-blown jerseys for games.  Girls were shoved to the corner not being allowed to play on the main wood court, but rather given the sport court off to the side.  In Wisconsin, the first state basketball championship game was held in 1976.  Today, female high school athletes wear athletic jackets like the boys.  Girls wear true-team uniforms representing their high school and play on the main floor.  Today, the WIAA has five divisions for high school teams to participate in the state basketball tournament.  Participation in girl’s athletics has grown and programs offered have improved through the strength of women fighting for women under the guidelines and influence of Title IX.  (Source – Mrs. Muench)

Since 1972, Title IX has greatly influenced the changes in many areas of education for women.  Universities have enhanced their women’s sports programs and have increased funding for these programs.  While funding for women’s programs and opportunities for women coaching may not be equivalent, Title IX continues to chase equality and remove discrimination in athletics for women.  The rise of female participation in athletics and college classrooms has provided strength in numbers to ensure women will never endure living through the days prior to Title IX.

(This is an example of the small charm bracelets given to the women.)

Poems

Main Author's Note: My goal was to complete three poems, because I do not take to time to write some. I looked and fusion and talked with peers to try and create the best poems. 

Devastated

As I was writing this poem my inspiration was a girl who’s team doesn't always have the best of luck. This happened to my team but we ended up scoring so I took it in the other direction, by not making the final shot.

My skin: cold and wet,

My heart: racing uncontrollably,

My shoes: sopping  with mud and water.

My breath: racing in and out of me

The ball: skidding quickly towards me

I turn

I know that I have to score

I know that we can’t lose

We need to win

There is no other option.

There is no other choice

I dribble down the field

I shoot

I hear the cheers

But they’re not for me

They’re for the goalie that saved the game

They’re for the goalie who made us lose

I sank to my knees

Devastated.

Rain 

Weather is a complete mood changer.  On a nice warm day everyone is joyful, but on a stormy day, it feels like the worst day.

As the clouds overpower the sun

Darker and darker it became.

The wind tearing through the trees

Watching all but one leaf all to the ground.

Listening to every splash, every rumble, every movement.

Cold droplets stream down my face.

My numb hands continue to catch the chilling water.

Looking up at the clouds.

Pure blackness.

A beam of light appears out of nowhere.

The downpour carries on,

But with more speed, more water, more excitement.

Spinning in circles,

The puddle ripples.

Glancing down at my reflection.

Studying the fade image.

Emotionless.

As the picture disappears.

I feel my cheeks curve upward.

Even though it’s raining now,

It cannot rain forever. 

Together Forever

Writing about love is something I am not used too, however a friend told me to try a technique that you write something outside the box. I decided to try it because from her personal experience it has ended up being some  of her best work.

My heart stops every time I hear his name.

His smile.

His laugh.

His eyes.

His personality.

His everything.

He is perfect.

When our eyes meet the butterflies awaken.

Trying to escape from the sudden rush of excitement.

When our hands touch,

The world freezes.

Motionless, but spectacular.

Feeling lost without him.

You know he is right for you.

Imagining him holding you close,

Never letting go.

You were meant to be.

Together.

Forever.

Dreams Can Come True

Authors Note: This is an analyzing piece. Which is based on the book Pictures of Hollis Woods and how the author demonstrated the loneliness, adventure, and the love in this book. I really enjoy this book and think it has a great life lesson. I would recommend it to my friends. 

Imagine feeling alone and having no one that actually loves you. When all you want is a caring family, it may almost seem impossible. Hollis Woods is a young teenager who has never meet her real parents. Given almost every opportunity to be loved once again, but all she does is run away from it. Patricia Reilly Giff showed the loneliness, love, adventure, and finally a dream come true.

“Driving to the next foster home, I wonder if it will be just like the others. I hate my parents, how could they ever leave my on the side of the road. Why do I deserve this? Why? ”(20) Hollis is not your ordinary type of girl. Hidden behind the attitude is a girl wishing that one day she will have a family of her own. Keeping all of her feelings bottled up inside, she feels alone and hopeless. Hollis has never felt the love from someone, like most kids do. When Giff describes the pain Hollis goes through, you feel a hole in your heart because you visualize the endless possibilities of living without your family and their love. Living with so many different families, she cannot remember them all. Running away from all of them besides one.

Putting aside the bad memories, Hollis finds a home that she loves. A supporting and loving family that has a boy only a year older than her. Yet, she still decides to run away from the Regan’s after an accident occurs in the family. Moving on to the next foster mom Josie. An elderly woman who is needing more help from Hollis as the day goes on. However, she loves it there and never wants to leave.

Finally, Hollis feels accepted for who she is ever since the Regan’s. Without the love involved you cannot connect to the book. Realizing that love is what holds everything in life together. All Hollis wanted was to feel loved and what she didn't know was she was loved this whole time.

As Josie is quickly losing her memory, they run away together so that Hollis does not have to be relocated again. Josie and Hollis decide to take an adventure to the Regan’s cottage in the depth of the cold winter. Hollis remembered how to get to the cottage. Nobody is able to locate Hollis for days, except the boy from the Regan family knew Hollis loved the peacefulness of the cottage. Determined to find Hollis, the Regan family gambled and took a trip to their cottage with the adoption social worker. Reunited at the cottage, the Regan family tells Hollis they want to make her a part of their family.

Ending the book with a dream come true, Hollis gets adopted with the family that has always loved her from day one; the Regan’s. I try picture myself in Hollis’ position, life must have been really hard on her. However, she got up every day and lived life to the fullest. Putting aside the bad experiences, like the loneliness, she focuses on the good like the love she received from the Regan’s and being part of their family.

Breaking Dawn Analysis

Authors Note: I took sections from the book Breaking Dawn to identify and explain the multiple examples of figurative language and imagery used throughout the passages. 

1.) Humph- (page 20) This is an onomatopoeia because it is a word taking place of an action.

2.) The burning was like grabbing the wrong end of curling iron- (Page 375) This is a simile because it has like in it and is comparing two things.

3.) My arms were dead things lying somewhere at my side- (375) This is a metaphor/personification because it was comparing something without using like or as and because he arms were not actually dead.

4.) The darkness was holding me down- (276) This is a personification because the darkness wasn't actually holding her down.

5.) Burying me in the flames that were chewing their way out from my heart now, spreading with impossible pain through my shoulders and stomach, scalding their way up my throat, licking at my face- (376) This is a metaphor/personification because fire was not inside her body she was just describing it this way.

6.) She slowly smiled- (304) This is an alliteration because all of the words start with the same letter

7.) But now that she’s free of all the blind spots, it’s a piece of cake - (382) This is a metaphor because the author compared two things without using like or as.

8.) She’s going to be dazzling- (383) This is a metaphor/personification because they are comparing the character to something dazzling. Also she cannot be shinny and bright in this situation.

9.) Someone hissed- (383) This is a personification because of the "hissing."

10.) Dry as bone- (384) This is a simile because it has as in it and is comparing two different things.

11.) Pounding to the rhythm of fire- (384) This is a personification because you cannot pound to the rhythm of fire.

12.) My heart took off beating like helicopter blades- (385) This is a simile because it is using like and is comparing two things.

13.)The air whistled down my throat- (388) This is a personification because the air cannot actually whistle down your throat.

14.) How many hours? How many days? How many weeks- (390) This is an anaphora because it repeats the beginning of each sentence.

15.) Luminous as a pearl- (403) Again this is a simile because it is using as and comparing two different things.

Analysis: Throughout the book Breaking Dawn there were many parts where the emotion changed. However, the parts that I took out from the book, most of the tone was painful, and depressing. Using metaphors and similes like “grabbing the wrong end of a curling wand” or “dry as done,” expressing the pain and struggle the character is going through. During this time, they used the anaphora; “How many hours? How many days? How many weeks?” questioning when the torture would be ending. The passages saying “someone hissed” made me think of a personification. Yes, humans can make strange noises, but I felt that in the placing of this was a personification because of the hissing element. The imagery throughout the book and the several examples above you would not be able to make so many pictures in your mind relating to the reading, which would make the feeling not as strong. The figurative language in the book is very strong because there is a variety of examples and the pain feeling would be gone without it.

The Fighter

Author’s Note: I wrote this piece, because it is for one of my goals, so I am able to complete the sentence “The purpose of this essay is to.”  I wrote this piece to explain the struggles that my grandpa had to go through, along with many others. As he is currently in the hospital again, I’m praying for him every night. I love you grandpa. <3

From what I was told my grandpa was a ball of energy. Playing sports, going on vacations, tending to his farm, and going to anything his kids or grand kids were a part of. I unfortunately never knew this type of man. From a very early onset my grandpa was victim to many life threatening situations, that changed him forever. Sometimes it feels like God makes the best kinds of people suffer too much in one lifetime. But what makes him a fighter, is that he survived. Through some of the worst, he still has a smile on his face.

It all started when he was forty-four years old. The first life changing tragedy was a major heart attack, leading to open heart surgery. A million people in the United States die from a heart attack each year. My grandpa was able to defeat this first death scare. A few years later my grandpa needed angioplasty surgery. Without this he may have faced another heart attack which would have caused death. Having to change many daily habits grandpa survived again.

Unfortunately in October of 2000 grandpa received terrible news, he had prostate cancer. To prepare for yet again another surgery they needed take him off his blood thinners, which he had been on since the heart attack.

Who would of thought that something worse would come after being told you have cancer. Even with his rough past my grandpa didn't meet his biggest challenge until November of 2000. After being taken off of the blood thinners to perform prostate surgery for his cancer little did they know that he would have a stroke. Without the thinners a blood clot was formed causing him to have his stroke.Over 700,000 Americans die from stokes every year, but do they all have the same story as him? Waiting in the car for his wife while grocery shopping, it happened. As his arm fell dead to his side it knocked something, the car lock. Locking himself in, with no one to help. Being locked in the car and the nearest hospital miles away the drug to help stoke patients recover faster didn't work. After overcoming the battle to stay alive, his next challenge was to see how much he could recover. Sadly his stroke was very severe, hitting the left side of his brain leaving the right side of his body severely paralyzed along with no motor or coordination skills. At age fifty-two everything my grandpa was able to do in life was stripped from him. I was too young to remember my grandpa before his stroke, so I only know this way of life for him.

Over the years my grandpa has been able to adjust to his handicaps. Recently he fell and broke his hip. The doctors gave two options. The first being do nothing and die within months or have surgery knowing there was risk of dying during surgery or following due to infection or phenomia. Surgery was chosen. As my grandpa was wheeled out of his hospital room to be taken to surgery, my uncle said “Be Strong.” In return my grandpa proceeded to make a fist and held it up high. From that that moment on we knew he would once again be a fighter and make it through surgery, which he did. With a long road ahead of him, we all pray that he will step out of the ring a winner again. 

Living within the limitations of his own body and unable to truly communicate with his family. He has been deprived of a quality of life many people are afforded after retirement. Despite all of the setbacks and struggles, my grandpa is very happy being alive despite living through a rough quality of life the past thirty-four years. Which has made him a true definition of a fighter

(My grandpa and I before his stroke)

Forever

Author’s Note: This is a goal piece, so that it can be graded off of the writing rubric. It’s about the true love between the characters, the pain they overcome and the fighting that forms many adventures that will last forever. This does include some ending parts of the book and movie if you are yet to read or see Breaking Dawn. Author of this attention grabbing book, Stephenie Meyer created a memorable book that not many will want to set down.

"Opening my eyes for the first time, seeing my wonderful family all together, cherishing my new baby girl. As I lay there trying to remember the last thing that happened before I went down. Screaming Get her out! What are you waiting for?” (371) Looking down at her smiling, she is here with me. She is safe." In the book Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, this jaw dropping book mixed the emotion by involving love, pain, and fighting, leading to the wonderful adventures that the characters encounter throughout this astonishing book.

Throughout the years Bella and Edward have been together, they have now reached to the point where no one can break off the love they have for one another. As if there was no point in living without them. Wanting to be connected in every way possible. Losing their soul mate was not an option. Meyer’s created a visual for all her readers. The connection she made the characters have you could feel warm your heart as you read. Both ready to have an everlasting love with each other. They would be with each other forever. 

Wanting to live forever with Edward would be easy after becoming an immortal. However, the sacrifice and pain she had to go through was unimaginable. Trying to carry a half-vampire baby, as it ruined your body from the inside out. As Edward watched the creature break her bones, cause her to vomit or pass out for two to three days was impossible to accept. Bella was not going to let this baby die and Edward was surely not going to let that happen to either of them. Reading through the book during this time period, made you almost feel the wounding pain that the characters went through.

Although Bella recovered from the all torture her body witnessed. She saved her life, but her new born baby’s, Renesmee. However, this thriller was not over yet. The Volturi was coming to kill Bella and her precious baby girl. Having a vampire baby was against the rules, but what they were not aware that Renesmee was only a half-vampire with special powers that no one could read, but they could feel. It was a matter of time till the Volturi was going to attack.

Comparing this part of the book to the movie is very different. Stephenie completed her series with a peaceful ending. A nail biting twist was added at the end of the movie. In the book, the Volturi felt Renesmee and walked away from the power to kill the family, because they were told false information. Nonetheless, watching the vision Alice was reading to the head of the Volturi. The battle actually occurred and many characters died, some that were for the better and others that were very unexpected. The movie did not show you that he was seeing her vision until he was about to die and pulled away to stop seeing the horrific sight. Seeing that he would lose, they trusted the family and walked away. Both ending similar, they just had different events leading to the conclusion.

Accomplishing the undone, Bella and Edward will live for the rest of eternity happily together with their baby Renesmee. Mayer’s finished a spectacular series on a very high note. Leaving a lasting impression in her reader’s minds. Going through the ups and downs of the love, pain, and fighting, the happy couple will always remember the numerous adventures they had while; they share the rest of their lives together.

Meaning of the Music

Author’s Note: In my Point of View piece I wrote about the song “Stay Stay Stay” by Taylor Swift and what her song might mean to her as well as her the boy she is writing the song about. I also included a part where the boyfriend is talking and what his point of view might be.

Not many people listen to music for the meaning of the lyrics. You may memorize the song, do  you memorize the meaning? In the song “Stay Stay Stay” by Taylor Swift you really notice the importance of the song to the artist. When you are listening to the song  you feel as if the boyfriend may have done something wrong, and is the main reason why they are going through many fights. However, the real situation could have been different, but since the song was coming from the girlfriends point of view she sounds like the innocent one and he is the problem.

Throughout the song Taylor, encourages herself to stay, because no matter what happens she know she will always love this boy, especially when treats her with respect and shows that he really cares for her. “I’m pretty sure we almost broke up last night. I threw my phone across the room at you.” During this verse of the song, you are lead to believe that the boyfriend was the jerk in this situation and she was mad at him. Yet, she continuously explains her reasoning to stay, so in reality was she the one who messed up?  

Another line in the song that could mislead the listener says “Before you I only dated self-indulgent takers, who took all of their problems out on me.” This confuses the listener because you could take this in two different ways. Either she was overprotective for herself about getting hurt again, or the boyfriend was just like the others. On the other hand,  the next line states “But you carry my groceries and now I’m always laughing and I love you because you have given me no choice but to stay.” This line proves that she was wrong about him always being mad, but was it her choice to stay, or did the boyfriend apologized again?

Also when she says “you took the time to memorize me, my fears, my hopes, and dreams, I just like hanging out with you all the time.” You see that the boyfriend in this scenario is the one saving the relationship. “All those times that you didn’t leave its been occurring to me that I’d like to hang out with you for my whole life. Stay.” This line is a definite game changer. It proves that the boyfriend could have left time after time, but yet he decided to stay, which helped them stay together.

Boyfriend’s Point of View:

“Why are you making a big deal about this?” Reading the text over and over in my head trying to get the frustration out. I could not understand why she would take advantage of me. Making me feel bad time after time. As I sat there hating myself for always asking for forgiveness. It didn’t matter how much anger I had towards her, I would never be able to stop loving her. Reading her hurtful messages I could not read any longer. She was killing me from the inside out. Finally redeeming myself I picked up the phone to answer back. “Why are we even fighting anyways? You know how much I care about you!” Almost immediately she responded with “Oh, I don’t either, but I’ve been loving you for quite some time now and I really think that we should both stay. Right in that moment I knew that through thick and thin, we would always stay by each other’s side.

Link to Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bieHmn8C_Tk

The Chosen One

Author’s Note: This is my theme piece and is about the truth that comes out about Heaven from the book Heaven is for Real. I loved this book, and it shows that if someone doesn’t believe show them a reason too.

Everyone always says that Heaven is unbelievably extraordinary, but everyone is also afraid to die. What if you were the chosen one? To be able to experience the joys and wonders about something that not many people get to feel. Would you want to be the chosen one? Colton was only four when he got to sit in Jesus’ lap.  But if he told you what it felt like to  be there, would you believe him? As he continuously told everyone about his adventure, no one thought it was true, which is the main theme in  Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent’s book. Heaven is for Real demonstrates a great message that if people don’t believe you or the truth, show them a reason to believe in something “magical.”

Although Colton was only in Heaven for two hours during his surgery, he recalls being there for years. But while he was there he learned a lot about his family. Colton He had a sister that he never new because his  parents had a miscarriage. Colton told his babysitter that he wanted to go visit his sister even though she was just around the corner. Confused as she was she finally figured out that he was not talking about the one down the hall, he was talking about the one he meet in Heaven. He also meet up with someone he hadn’t seen in awhile, his grandpa. But he did not look the same compared to when Colton last saw him. He was a lot younger and had angel wings. At first his parents were very in denial  about the situation, but a these two different points of the book it made his parents realize that he may be really telling the truth.

However Colton was not done with explaining himself; “He could talk about Heaven forever.” His dad once mentioned in the book. “ I am a priest and very involved in the church and I am still leading new things.” The truth about the good times were told is many different ways, but there is more to Heaven than we know. There is a war going on against Hell. Many people would disagree with Colton and the magical things he learned about Heaven. After the continues facts that his parents could not describe, Colton’s family, friends, and everyone that enjoyed this book learned the pleasure of Heaven because one boy did not give up until people knew the truth.

Throughout this book it showed similarities with Breaking Dawn Part Two; by Stephanie Mires. This is because the Volturi was coming to kill Renesmee because they were told she was an immortal child. Since this was false information the Cullen’s had to gather their family and friends to prove to the Volturi that this was not correct. They did everything they could to get the Volturi to believe them and in the end they did, just like in Heaven is for Real.

Even though the genre of the two books are different both author’s never stopped trying to tell the truth. The main characters always believed in what they did from the start and effected many people’s lives just because they knew something others did not. The theme of both books is very important and to never back down from something you believe in and know is true!