Blog of 12/15/14

The Maze Runner By James Dashner

Prompt: List the personality characteristics of the main character (feelings, interests,

behaviors, etc.)

Pages Read: 33 - 63

The main character in The Maze Runner is Thomas and he has a lot of different feelings, behaviors, and interests. Thomas who is new to the Glade (the setting of the story) he has a lot of mixed emotions at the time. When he got to the Glade he had no memory of where he was, how he got there, why he is there, and when he got there. He had no memory of his past, all he new was his name and that's all. When he arrived at the Glade he was in a dark box, which was spinning in multiple directions. When the other people came to rescue him that is when he began having mixed emotions.

Since the beginning of the book Thomas has had a thing about asking a lot of questions. When Thomas arrived at the Glade he had no memory (besides his name) and he was really confused. As soon as Alby (leader) began to talk to him, all Thomas did was ask a bunch of questions. Chuck (last newbie before Thomas) was being friendly to Thomas but instead Thomas kept annoying Chuck with more and more questions. He asked questions like, "What is this place?", "Why are we here?", "Why do I have no memory?", etc. When Alby gave Thomas the tour every time Alby explained even a little detail, Thomas was trying to hold in every single question he had.

An interest Thomas has had is about becoming a Runner. On the first night Thomas spent in the Glade, he asked "What is that out there?". Newt (a character) answered "It is a maze." Chuck explained to him that everyday Runners go into that maze and come out so that they can figure out how to get out of the glade. Newt also explained that at night huge animals come out, and they are called "grievers". Since Newt told him about the Runners, Thomas has had a desire to become one. He has the feeling that he has to become one.

I commented on Yareli, Mia, and Gaby's blog for this week.

Blog of 12/8/14

The Maze Runner By James Dashner

Prompt: Do any of the characters feeling change as you’ve read? Explain why or why

not.

Pages Read: 0 - 33

Yes, Thomas's (main character) feelings do change as I've read so far. The Maze Runner by James Dashner was written in a third person point of view. This book tells the characters feelings in a direct characterization way. The narrator states clearly in the book how the character is feeling in that moment. In this book so far Thomas has experienced different feelings such as anger, confusion, sadness, and fascination.

 An example that the main character's feelings are changing is on page 11 where he is feeling sadness. In the book it said, "Emptiness ate away at his insides, quickly replaced by a sadness that hurt his heart." This direct quote from the book demonstrates how Thomas went from feeling good to feeling sad. Thomas has just arrived at the glade and he is really confused. He doesn't know anything and his memory has been erased. This shows that Thomas begins to become sad. This quote also shows how the author uses direct characterization. He uses direct characterization because he says directly in the quote that Thomas is feeling sad.

Another example that the main character's feelings are changing is on page 5 where he is feeling confusion. In the book it said, "He was consumed with curiosity but still felt too ill to look closely at his surroundings." This direct quote shows how Thomas (once rescued from the box) felt like he was consumed by curiosity because he had no idea who were the people who just rescued him. This also shows direct characterization because it tells you directly in the quote how the character feels, which is curiosity.

I commented on Joseph, Giovanna, and Yareli's blog for this week.

Blog of 12/1/14

Thirteen Reasons Why By Jay Asher

Prompt: List the reasons why another person should or should not read this.

Pages Read: 170- End

One of the reasons why I think people should read this is because it is a good book. Since the beginning when Clay Jensen got the tapes that included the 13 reasons why Hannah Baker committed suicide, it became interesting. Anyone who got those tapes meant that they were one of the reasons why. Clay didn't know why he got the tapes. He began to listen to them and the more he listened to them the more he regretted not talking to Hannah before she died. It is a interesting book, I would recommend it.

Another reason I would recommend this book is because could also relate to a real life situation. Not having someone mailing tapes, but the suicidal part in the book. By reading the book, you can see ways Hannah thought about other people and why she wanted to kill her self. This might help if you start to see those same things in another person in real life. On page 173 it says that one of the warning signs of suicide is "sudden change in appearance". This kind of information might help in a real life situation.

         These are two of the reasons of why people should read "Thirteen Reasons Why By Jay Asher". It is a very interesting book. It also teaches to be more careful on how you judge or talk to other people. The book becomes very interesting since the beginning, because you want to learn what happens during that party. That party was the last time Clay got to talk to Hannah. It is a nice story of how he begins to feel something for Hannah and how he regrets losing her.

I commented on Mia, Justin, and Diana's blog for this week.

Blog of 11/17/14

Thirteen Reasons Why By Jay Asher

Prompt: 
1) What are two emotions the main character has felt? What made the main

character feel that way?

Pages Read: 80- 170

  The book "Thirteen Reason Why" by Jay Asher is about a girl named Hannah Baker who just committed suicide. Before she died she recorded the 13 reasons why on tapes. She sent the tapes to the 13 people that are one of the reasons. Clay Jensen (main character) is one of the reasons why. He doesn't know how he got on those tapes, he never really talked to her much. He is listening to the tapes to see when his name pops up and why he is there. During this book Clay has a lot of different emotions. Emotions that only Hannah is making him feel. 
          The first emotion Clay has felt is guilt. Ever since Clay found out he is one of the reasons why Hannah committed suicide, he has felt guilty. Every time in one of the tapes it mentions where it took place, Clay feels the need to go there. In the book it says, "Because my turn is coming. I know that. And I want to be over it. What did I do to you Hannah?" Here in this part of the book, Clay is feeling guilty for whatever he did to Hannah. He is still not sure of what he did and he wants to find out.

          The second feeling Clay has is anger. In every tape Hannah says the name of the person and why they are one of the reasons, Clay starts to have anger against them. Before Hannah died, he went to a party and that's where he first met Hannah. Since then he fell in love with her. He gets a feeling of anger every time he hears something on those tapes that really hurts Hannah. He starts to feel a hatred feeling against the person that did that to Hannah.

I commented on Yareli, Justin, and Lillian's blog for this week.

Blog of 11/10/14

Thirteen Reasons Why By Jay Asher

Prompt: 
1) Analyze how dialogue or specific incidents reveal information about characters. Make sure to include textual evidence.
2) Analyze the impact word choice has on the meaning or tone of a text.

Pages Read: 0 - 80

  In the book "Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher" it both shows and doesn't show specific information about the characters in the book. It is a mix of bothAn example of how "Thirteen Reasons why" tells you the information right in the book is on page 17. It is where Clay (main character) is describing how Hannah (other main character) looked like (in his point of view). In the book it says, "The party where I first saw Hannah Baker. God. I thought she was so pretty." Here it shows how Clay thought of Hannah. He thought she was really pretty.


Here is an example of how "Thirteen Reasons why" tells you the information not clearly stating it. When Clay got the tapes from Hannah saying those thirteen tapes were the thirteen reasons why she committed suicide, and that whoever got those tapes were one of the reasons why. In each tape she mentions the place where that happened, Clay feels the need to go there. This shows how Clay actually liked her and needs to visits the places in why she committed suicide.

In "Thirteen Reasons Why", Jay Asher doesn't use much big words in this book. His writing is not too easy and not too hard to read. His word choice helps change the mood of the story. His word choice helps see how Clay feels in the story about Hannah committing suicide. In the book it says, "I was too shy. I was too afraid. Watching Justin and his friends that day, I got the sense that there was more to her than I knew." Here at the beginning of the sentence his word choice shows how Clay feels about talking to Hannah.

I commented on Anthony, Diana, and Michael's blog for this week.

Reflections on Poe

          Poe's life might have been the reason of why his writing is like this. Poe has suffered a lot in his life since he was small. Poe's parents died when he was at the age of 3. Poe had one sister and one brother. After his parents died, him, his brother and his sister had to get adopted. Once they did, they all got separated. These might be some of the reasons why Poe's writing might be kind of dark and has suspense in it. Most people back then didn't appreciate his kind of writing. Poe's writing creates suspense and a little bit of horror

          Poe's writing creates suspense and a lot of poets don't know how to do that. Poe is a really unique kind of poet. Each poet has their own kind of writing. Every poet has their only style of writing and their writing falls into a category... except Poe's writing. Poe was actually the poet who created the horror and suspense kind of writing, back in his time. A lot of people back then thought he had something to do with the devil because it had horror in it. Poe's writing is now really famous and known for his type of writing.


          There is a lot of similarities and differences between the 19th century and the 21st century. A difference between 19th and the 21st century is that most people were really scared of horror stuff. If you compare that to now there is a big difference. Most people nowadays don't get scared really easily. These days people like to read and watch horror things. They enjoy watching these things, but back then they thought this had to do with the devil. A lot of things have changed.


          Some similarities between the 19th century and 21st century are that people still like to write books/poetry. Back then not many people were known for their poetry. Nowadays a lot of people are known because of their style of writing. Poetry and writing was well known, back in the 19th century. It still is today, because their are a lot of authors out there that are also known because of their books. In the 19th century and in the 21st century writing/poetry is pretty well known.