The Mysterious Benedict Society II

Time for the second week's post--I think I"m getting better about doing this kinda stuff early in the week. =)

This Week's Assignment:
Blog your reactions and thoughts about your book as you read.

Well, to start with, I've actually FINISHED my book, and boy was it good. I really enjoyed the story. All the characters were very well rounded and the story was very well thought out. I don't want to spoil anything for any prospective readers, but I do have to say that the twists and turns in the plot-line, from finding long lost twins to ingenuous ways of investigating, Stewart's writing style for The Mysterious Benedict Society is perfectly fitting and his subtly implanted puzzles are the perfect little jewels in the story.

Like I mentioned previously, the puzzles are something unlike I've ever found before in a book. If it's a reader's first time going through the book, the author provides all the clues necessary for solving it beforehand. This lets the reader solve it right along with the main characters. It is, however, hard to do and works as a good brain teaser for anybody looking for a good mystery.

Anyways... don't think there's very much more to say--I would be giving away quite a bit of the story if I even went into minor detail! What I can say is that I'm very glad that I decided to pick this book for my report, and I'm excited to begin reading the next volume in The Mysterious Benedict Society series! =)

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Hi there everybody! It's getting close to the end of the year, so it's time to start getting things in gear and getting proactive with assignments!

This Week's Assignment:
Blog about the book that you've chosen for your book talk: discuss why you've chosen it, and your reactions to the book as you read.


Well, to begin, I've chosen The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart to read (it's sitting on my desk as we speak--I'm alternating between typing and reading). I chose it to read because of its amazing characters and it is the beginning of my favorite series. I had originally read it when I was around nine or ten, but never managed to re-read it since then (the thing is almost 400 pages). I figured that this would be a good reason to re-read on of my favorite books. I remember when I was younger I couldn't put it down, and the same effect holds true here.

In short, the book begins with a young boy going to take a very important test. He is eventually joined by three other children; all of them having incredibly skills from acrobatics to puzzle cracking to poetry writing to an amazing memory. After meeting with the enigmatic yet kindly Mr. Benedict, they realize that they are part of a massive plot to help overthrow an evil man and his evil intelligence.

My feelings to the book are just the same as when I was younger--utterly enthralling and imaginative. The characters are incredibly well though out. My favorite would have to be Reynie Muldoon--he's such an amazing protagonist, as are all the rest of the children (Constance Contraire is just amazing). The writing style is very beautiful and flows amazingly. Mr. Stewart has to be one of my idols when it comes to lovely writing.

I'd definitely recommend this book of hidden puzzles and beautiful writing to anybody with a good reading level--from children to adults. I'm excited to begin work on my book report and final video project. I'll post a link to it when I'm done! =)

Until then, adios!

TEOGROMITMM vs. Macbeth: Compare and Contrast

            The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man In the Moon Marigolds (TEOGROMITMM) is a novel filled with symbolism and subtle pokes at the flaws of modern day society. Though it is very different from the classic tale of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, there are some similarities between the old story and this new, Pulitzer Prize winning play.

            Some similarities between both plays include the sanity of the main characters and the role of regret. In TEOGROMITMM, both Beatrice and Ruth have their share of mental problems. Ruth probably has a severe case of OCD, but I can’t imaging what Beatrice could be other than just plain cracked. Both women have the same issues as the matriarch and patriarch of Macbeth. Both are severely troubled by ailments of their minds. Also, the cause of their ailments, or at least the main characters of Macbeth and Beatrice, have the same reason for their inflictions. Beatrice, Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth are all suffering from severe regret. Beatrice longs for the days that she wasn’t a mother that had all of her current responsibilities, and the Macbeths are suffering from guilty consciences.

            However, I can honestly say that the similarities stop there. Contrasting the two plays are much less complicated. For one, Tillie is completely unlike any of the characters in Macbeth. A sweet, unassuming little girl that’s hidden in the shadows of her home problems is completely unlike any of the cast members of Shakespeare’s play. Also, unlike Lady Macbeth, Beatrice has some traces of sanity left in her. There are some instances where she shows a trace of compassion here or there—usually to her two daughters—other times, she’s way off the deep end. (Like when she chloroformed the rabbit. That was just whacked.)

            So, there are lots of different ways to compare and contrast the two works of well known fiction. In this case, there’s quite a few more things different between them then there are things the same. But, then again, it’s probably a good thing that they’re so different. I mean, having to read two things that are really alike? How boring would that be?

TEOGROMITMM Assignment: Act I

Wow... that's a mouthful, isn't it? Anyways, welcome to my analysis of The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds... or at least the first chapter thereof.

This Week's Assignment:
Actively read through the end of Act One of the play. On your blog, describe how you can relate to the play.


Well, I did have to think about this for a little while. I mean, I don't have mentally disturbed parents that would really like to chloroform my pet. However, I could sometimes relate to what Tillie felt after she told her mother that she had won the science fair. There's always that terrible feeling when you've just accomplished something that meant a lot to you, and nobody seems to care. That must have been especially brutal coming from her own mother, too. (Although I use the term Mother loosely. Monster is a more applicable term.)

Despite the fact that this play is really interesting and I'm really looking forward to seeing where the story goes, (if Ruthie has a nervous breakdown, Nanny dies, Beatrice really does kill the rabbit, etc.) I really can't relate to it other than in the ways that I just described. Though I can certainly feel sympathy for Tillie, I can't sympathize with her, because I couldn't possibly know what its like to be in such an abusive home. And I really hope other kids can't sympathize with her either, but I know that's not true. =(

Macbeth Theme Essay

            Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth has many themes to choose from. They all develop throughout the course of the play, and all show to have a much larger role in the fates of the characters than one may have originally thought. Two such themes are the alluring, destructive capabilities of power and the relationship between gender and violence. Shakespeare has developed both of these powerful themes to play a massive role within the course of his play.

            One of the first themes to appear within the play is the draw of power. Ever since he was first shown his future by the three witches, Macbeth becomes obsessed with power and the emotions that it provides for him. At first, it seems harmless enough; Macbeth is just a man with ambition. Within days, however, his ambition begins to spiral out of control when his wife convinces him to kill King Duncan and become King himself. After this, Macbeth becomes convinced that Banquo will be his downfall, and kills his best friend out of sheer terror that his ill-gotten throne will be usurped. After this deed is done, Macbeth still isn’t content. He then kills Lord Macduff’s wife and children for no reason at all. Perhaps he has begun to enjoy killing, or he is simply so insane that he has no regard for human life anymore. One thing is now for certain: any hesitation that Macbeth might have shown when killing King Duncan is now replaced by a veil of insanity that can not be penetrated. Eventually, Macbeth’s obsession with power became his downfall by the end of the play. He believed himself to be immortal because he was so powerful, but overlooked the witches’ cleverly worded warning that told the King that he would eventually die: no matter how powerful he was.

            The second most important theme in Macbeth was an odd one: the relationship between manliness and violence. Many instances in the play showed a direct associated between gender and the ability to commit foul deeds. For example, Lady Macbeth managed to convince her husband to kill King Duncan by calling his “manliness” into question. When Macbeth’s courage was called into question, he immediately disregarded any of his fears and defended his manhood. It has also been said, however, that Lady Macbeth could have killed King Duncan just as easily. In that time, however, she could not have committed murder because she was a woman. Back in her day in age, women were not considered equal to men, and were never considered able to commit crimes such as murder. Another instance where this appeared was when Macduff first heard about the murder of his family. His response was that he absolutely fell apart, but Malcolm convinced him to turn his grief into anger and to take the situation from a more “manly” point of view. It would be his responsibility to take revenge on the man that killed his family. A woman would not have been offered the same opportunity. Instead, she probably would have to turn to her father or brothers to take action against a murderer.

             All through the course of Macbeth, many themes come to light. Some end up playing much more of a role that others, depended both on careful analysis and the interpereter. In the long run, the alluring qualities of power and the link between gender and violence are some of the most important themes.

Macbeth Act I: Reading Analysis

Well, I must say, I really enjoyed reading the play! Shakespeare's work never ceases to amaze me, and the characters in this are just... really fun! I love the fact that this takes place in northern Europe, as that's where a lot of my ancestors are from--particularly Scotland, which is where King Duncan rules over! I sense this is gonna be a fun read for me and my other two classmates that are doing this solo read with me. Oh, and good luck to the majority of the class reading Romeo and Juliet! I loved that play and hope you will too!

Writing Style:
One of the selling points of Shakespeare's amazing plays is the fact that it's written in old English. Not only that, but there's a specific rhythm to the type of writing that is unique to his plays and his alone. In addition, Shakespeare took pride in creating his own words to fit definitions that he needed filled. I've already encountered several, and had to look them up online just to make sure I was right! All in all, I find Macbeth as another example of the genius that is Shakespeare's work.

Characters:
Another one of MacBeth's great traits just has to be the colorful characters. I immediately fell in love with the witches and Banquo's description of their gender neutral-ness. That made me laugh so hard. And even within the first few pages that we meet the famous MacBeth, we see just how much of a multi-dimensional character he really is. He wants to remain loyal to Duncan, but also wants to see the witch's prophecies that depict him coming into the throne to come true. That's a completely human thing to want, and makes MacBeth that much more easy to relate to.

I also have to say that I just love Banquo as the sidekick. He's obviously a high ranking officer in the military, but there's a reason that Macbeth recieved the Thane of Crawdor's title after he was imprisoned. But I think Banquo takes it on quite well.

Plot:
Well, so far, I've been able to decipher the plot as following. It begins with the three witches discussing whom their next target will be, and they settle for Macbeth. Already, you can sense some trouble. Then, Duncan is visited by a wounded soldier and is told that Macbeth and Banquo have defeated Ireland and Norway in a battle, and captured the Thane of Cawdor. They praise Macbeth, and Duncan decides to award his general with the imprisoned title.

The scene than switches to Macbeth and Banquo talking about their recent victory. The witches then appear--telling Macbeth that he is destined to become king and telling Banquo that he shall sire many future kings of their kingdom. They then disappear, and Macbeth initially ignores their prophecies. But then Ross enters, and tells Macbeth that he has been named Thane of Cawdor. This was one of the witch's prophecies, and he begins to wonder if they could really be true, and if he could really live with ousting Duncan from power.

He then writes to his wife about the prophecies. Lady Macbeth than decides that she will murder Duncan so that her husband will secure the throne. From what I can tell from here, Macbeth is initially hesitant when he hears of her plans, but when she challenges his manhood, he consents to his wife's plan.

I am soooo looking forward to reading the next acts! I can't wait to see what happens with the murder plot and if it is actually pulled off! I wonder how exactly the prophecy will come true, because I'm sensing this will be one of those stories where everything in the prophecies come true, but in terrible, unexpected ways.

The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail: Act II Analysis

Well, to be honest, I'm a bit sad that this book is finished now. The play was a really good representation of the Transcendentalist spirit and an eye opening piece of work. I hope we get to read something of this caliber again. =) Well, let's get to the weeks questions.

This Week's Assignment:
Read Act II of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. Then discuss the following on your blog.

Question One: Many of the conversation in this book contain examples of irony. List a few and explain why each is ironic.
To be entirely honest, I had quite a bit of trouble finding a few examples of irony. However, one of the examples that I found I think satisfies the requirement. I found it quite ironic how, at first, Henry is trying his hardest to be outside the box and be what other people don't expect him to be. (Though this may not have been a primary goal of his, it was certainly achieved.) Then, near the very end of the play, his spirit and his way of being was exactly how other people expected him to act, which I think may have been the opposite of his desired effect, if there was any.

Also, I found it ironic as well when people viewed Henry as a bit of a simpleton. You know, living out in the woods and the such. Then, however, we find out that he is the most enlightened of all of his fellow people. And not only that, but they say that they have a great relationship with God. However, after seeing their cruel ways of acting (A.K.A discouraging questions and beating down those who had the audacity to question the world around them) I felt that Henry really had the strongest bond with God.

Question Two: List the three most important characters. Choose a present day actor/actress to take the role of each. Explain why you would make these casting decisions and base you answer on the words and actions of each of the characters from the play.
Oh boy, this was a bit of a hard one. You have no idea how long I spent looking up pictures of actors and actresses to try and fit the role of the people. However, I think I came up with a pretty good cast list, if I do say so myself.

Of course, the MOST important character would be Henry David Thoreau. To portray him, I believe that stage actor Jeremy Hays would be the absolute best H.D.T. that you could get. He's best known for playing the hotheaded rebel, Enjolras, in the Broadway version of Les Miserables. I was lucky enough to go and see him, and my immediate reaction while reading this was that their characters are similar. Both want change for the better and both disagree with the governments decisions. I just think that Hays and the characters would make an incredible match.

The second most important character that I would want to cast would be John Thoreau, Henry's brother. I would cast Owen Wilson with this role. Not only does he and Hays have a resemblance with one another, but   Wilson has a similar disposition to John. Both seemed like fun loving guys, but they can also be serious when a situation calls for it. I don't know, he just seems like a great person to fit the role.

Finally, I think that Edward Emerson was also an important character in the play--mainly because he shows the next generation and the kind of people that Thoreau wanted to effect. I think that Joel Courtney would be a good fit for the role--he has the same type of boyish charm that Edward had, yet he is in a state of adolescence that portrays him more effectively. Just remember, these are my picks, so ya'll can disagree and the like. =)

Question Three: Does Henry's protest prove successful in the end? Explain.
I do believe that Henry's protest was successful. He changed the life of the people that he met, such as the ex-slave that he encountered and Bailey--his jail mate in the cell. He gave Emerson something to think about and mull over. All in all, I think he achieved a new type of enlightenment while changing the world about him for the better, and also by changing himself for the better as well.

The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail: Act I Analysis

The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail is a play based upon Henry David Thoreau's life, and how his Transcendentalist ideals led him to be at odds with the rest of his society in Concord, Massachusetts. Despite his enlightened state of mind, he is arrested for tax evasion due to the fact that he doesn't believe the government is doing any good in the Mexican War. Through his night in jail, he reminisces about his lifetime and all that Transcendentalism has brought him.

This Week's Assignment:
Read Act I of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. Then chose one of the following quotes and discuss on your blog how, given the notes from class and any other legitimate, reliable resource, the passage reflects Transcendentalist thought.

Quote: Henry: Our own school, John. No buildings. Break out of the classroom prison All we need is the sky! (24)

I chose this quote to write about because I felt like it best supported the Transcendentalist ideals that Thoreau so idolized and lived by. All his life, he wanted to break the mold that society had set for education. He didn't want his students to fear asking questions. He wanted them to learn in their own way and make up their own minds on issues. He encouraged debate and questions that were considered blasphemous or inappropriate. He wanted to share his enlightened state with the ignorant masses.

Thoreau wanted to do this by teaching classes with his brother. He wanted to hold it within the meadow in the town: out of a classroom. He wanted his students to see the sky, and let their minds reach up to the heavens. Thoreau held the classes in the meadow because he wanted the sky to symbolize how boundless the mind is, if one allows themselves to open up to new ideas and to listen to everything possible.

If this is anything like what Thoreau was like, I need to start reading some of his stuff. This play is amazing!

Reading Analysis: A Perfect Day for Bananafish

            A Perfect Day for Bananafish, written by J. D. Salinger, ends with a man committing suicide. You know that the story is an interesting one when the tale ends with somebody killing themselves. And through analysis of the characters, the motifs, symbolism and the setting, I’ve found out that there’s more than one layer to the short story. There’s what people can read, and the deeper parts of the thing that they can interpret.

This Week's Assignment:

Read "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" and, on your blog, compare the characters to CitR

Comparison:

Truth be told, I honestly had a hard time comparing the characters to one another. But, finally, I came up with a good set.

I mostly identified Seymour with Holden, mostly because the two have a different way of viewing things. (Really, both characters have problems with their mental faculties.) Both have an obsession with innocence. However, Holden's story Catcher in the Rye is the story about how he loses his innocence. Seymour's is where he completely isolates himself in a state of innocence to the point where he can not function in a modern society.

Muriel could have been one of many characters in CitR, but I mostly compared her to Sally Hayes. Both women are completely taken by social status and material objects. The conversation in the beginning of the story just shows how Muriel and her mother are obsessed with how they look. Both have lost their innocence because of society.

Finally, I identified Sybil with Phoebe. Like Holden from CitR, Seymour finds amusement and beauty in her youth and innocence. I don’t believe that Seymour is necessarily a pedophile, but he is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome from his experiences from the war. He associates Sybil with innocence and finds her alluring and pure and radiant. However, he also realizes how people falsely try to preserve their innocence and how they’ve all together lost it. I do think that’s what eventually drove Seymour to his suicide.

You know, when I start up a new blog, I do think I’ll do a full on analysis of this story. I liked it better than Salinger’s novel, to be honest. =)

Reading Log: CitR Chapters 6-12

... I don't really like this book. Well, I guess that's not all true. The further I get into it, I'm enjoying some of the things that the writer decides to talk about--Jane specifically. But Holden... he's very prideful and not a very humble person at all. I appreciate J.D. Salinger's attempt, but some of the things seen through the eyes of a teenage boy are just plain... disgusting. Can't we read about ponies and unicorns instead? Or at least something mildly pleasant?

Questions:
If you were Holden, and you had just been kicked out of school, where would you go? Why?
Alright--let's change the scenario a little bit, because the idea of getting kicked out of school would never even remotely be an option. But if I had to go somewhere--anywhere? I might go to Paris. I don't know--something about the city just inspires me from what I've seen and heard about. Great artists come from that city: I want to be one of them. =) I would love to go abroad for a time, maybe go to Ireland or Scotland too. But if it had to be in the states? For some reason I'd want to go to Forks, Washington. (And not because Twilight was shot there.) I really, really want to see the scenery and the La Push. They're so beautiful in the movie and in pictures that I've seen.

Free-write about Jane's character and her importance to Holden.
From what I can tell so far, I know that Jane's a pleasant girl. Determined, strong-willed, easy to get along with (if Holden managed to do it, I'd think anybody could,) but I also think that she's a terrific liar. I don't think that her step-dad treats her right, just by the way he carried himself in the few pages that he managed to squeeze himself into. He just sounds like a disgusting man and he probably did abuse Jane at one point or another.

But she hides it. I think she's a bit on the prideful side too--considering how she wouldn't really open up to Holden and wouldn't talk to him about the big fuss his mother made over their dog. She's only really been talked about in one chapter so far, but I really hope she comes into play later in the story. I like her and her character--that's one character in this book I think I really honestly like.

At the end of chapter 12, Holden says "people are always ruining things for you." Discuss whether or not you think this is true. Can you think of a time someone ruined something for you?
Well... it's a bit of a broad question, isn't it. Of course people sometimes ruin things for you. That's just a bit of common nature for you: a dose of reality. Things like that are going to happen. I think it's really based on the type of person where you should draw your reaction from. If a person--a kind person--accidentally ruins something for you? I shouldn't be a big deal. But if a mean, terrible person went out of their way to ruin something for you? Then yeah, that deserves a fuss.

But whether or not you can rationally react to it, things will get ruined. It's always going to happen, and it happens to everyone. I remember one time I was so pleased with myself that I had such a good lesson in band and I managed to ace a hard challenge piece. Then this jerk had to ruin it by kicking my stand over and tripping me as I walked by to put my things away. That kind of ruined my good mood for me, but hey, it happens.

...Come to thing of it, that guy goes out of his way to ruin things for a lot of people. Just another reason why I shouldn't let it get to me, am I right?

Reading Log: CitR Chapters 1-6

Weekly Overview of the Reading:
So. I've seen this book before--sitting on the Barnes and Nobles' shelf. I wanted to read it really badly, but I'd always heard bad things about the language, the sex talk, the message. This gave me a good excuse to start what I've been wanting to do. However... I've got mixed feelings towards J.D. Salinger's only novel. It's a good one, certainly, but a little big much. The constant swearing, all the mention of sex, and the disgusting descriptions of the boy's bodily features.

I suppose this must have been what life was like for boys in this time... I'm glad I wasn't a pubescent male back then, that's for sure.

Questions:
What does it mean to be unique?
Well... unique in itself is an almost indescribable word. It means to be something special: something away from the norm. I usually view unique as different in a good way. I wouldn't go around saying that a serial killer was unique because he enjoyed the thrill of killing somebody... no. Somebody who takes advantage of their differences and uses them for good, as corny as it sounds. A painter may be unique because they find joy in painting, as does a writer in writing and a student in studying. Everybody's unique, even if it's not in completely unique ways.

How do we keep individuality in an adult world?
I think this ties in with last week's writing prompt pretty well. All of us should retain an essence of childlike curiosity and innocence, which all helped us view the world in a different way, once upon a time. By doing that, we can truly determine what makes us individuals, and what makes us happy. What makes us "unique," one may say.

How is Allie's character similar to a person you know?
From the brief description that Holden gave us, he seemed like a great person. I don't really get how watching his brother play golf made him a ginger... but anyways. He seemed to know how to enjoy life, like a lot of my favorite people in school. There's a certain group that he really reminds me of. There was a member of PATH class last year that still goes to my school--he and our friends really know how to have a good time. I value that in people.