JK Rowling

1. What are the benefits of failure? Do you fear failure?
2. In your life is there a difference or a bridge between what is expected of you and your own ambitions?
3. Who would J.K. Rowling most befriend from the two novels we have read in class? Why?
4. According to the novels discussed in class, who best discovers oneself after failure? In what ways?
5. In Rowling's speech she states, "we touch other people's lives simply by existing." In what way or ways are you proving her statement true?

"I was striking an uneasy balance between the ambition I had for myself, and what those closest to me expected of me." - Rowling
     I chose this powerful quote from Rowling's speech because it depicts how personal ambitions and others expectations can be in disordance. People so often shape themselves to others views, instead of doing what is right for themselves. While some people may have good intentions, only you know what is best for yourself and it is your responsibility to take control of life and move forward. Do not let others shape who you are, one must be different and become what they themselves fancy and personal quirks. If one does not do this they will never find true happiness and never fulfill or show their true potential.

"He was a foot taller than I was, and seemed as fragile as a child" - Rowling
     I chose this quote becuase it shows no matter what shows on the outside, everyone has a story. No matter size, race, or religion everyone can connect and has a story in which everyone can relate. Every person must experience failure, it is inevitable, but what we choose to do with it is our own choice. Whats on the outside matters only slightly, but what character and story one shields on the inside make them who they truly are. This quote depicts these traits because the man who was taller than Rowling was as nimble as a pin.

"Ultimately, we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it." - Rowling
     I chose this quote becuase it highlights how we ouselves must decide and have a hidden point where we constitute failure. Also, society can and will easily label us as failures by the actions, decisions, lifestyle, and purse (money) that we inhibit. We must ultimately decide our fate, in which we decide our own failures, because failure is inevitable. In order to decide our own failures we must have goals for ourselves, because without a goal there is no point to failure. At the forefront, one must recognize that failure is going to make itself evident and we as people must be able to grow from our personal failures into a better, more well rounded person.

Week of Oct 29th

What have you learned about English/Literature over the past 9 weeks?
     Through the past nine weeks of English/Literature I have learned a variety of many different things and life lessons. Some highlights of my new knowledge includes  greater ability to analyze a text, improvement upon thesis statements, and to provide more textual support within a essay or writing. Though I have had the ability to learn more than these few things, I feel these are the most important and most helped me develop as a literary analyst and writer. During this nine weeks I have also learned that I am very blessed to have such caring parents and love throughout my family and with my friends. I am very proud to say this and hope to better the lives of others.  

What have you learned about your classmates?
    I have learned that my classmates are all very unique and intellectual people, and there is more to them than meets the eye. Even though many have endured through tough times and hardships, they prevail and love one another including myself and find refuge in someone that they feel safe with. I feel more connected to my fellow classmates and credit this to my AP Course. Through these learning's of my classmates I have realized that everyone no matter how they may be perceived has a story and whether good or bad can make their life different in many ways. This is mind altering and I am glad to be a part of a special group of young men and women.

What have you learned about life?
    Through the course of the first nine weeks in class, I have learned different facets of life and how it doesn't shape us...we shape life. I have learned that no matter what life throws at us, we can prevail and become stronger because of it. As cliché as this may sound, the truth has been no short of evident in my AP Course. Through many class discussions, I have recognized that life is like a labyrinth and we need love and compassion and a will to succeed to escape it. One must always have a Great Perhaps and never lose sight of it, but if one does its okay because we all lose sight of things sometimes. I have also learned that life is a seemingly unsolvable mystery, but one must first figure out who they are before trying to solve the puzzle of life.

Did you enjoy the novel unit (Perks of Being a Wallflower and Looking for Alaska)? Would you recommend I use those two novels next year? What assignments changes would you make (if any)?
      Yes, I enjoyed the novel unit for this class and I definitely would recommend you to use the two novels,  Perks of Being a Wallflower and Looking for Alaska, in your future classes. The only assignment change I would make myself would be to make everyone read How To Read Literature Like A Professor all the way through.
 
What should I change for next year's class?
     Remotely no changes for next years class, other than assigning the whole How To Read Literature Like A Professor for each student to read in entirety.

What area of the AP Exam do you feel that you need to work on the most?
     I feel confident in my ability to do good on the exam, but I think more work on multiple choice and more timed writing practice for me to practice with my textual support would be perfect.

Julius & Paige Groupwork

Bold is Paige, normal is Julius

1. I believe the true significance of the title of the novel, "Looking For Alaska" in my opinion, is that Alaska's friends don't stop looking for her even though she is dead. They are searching even harder for every important piece of information they can find that will help them understand the person she was and help understand what led to her death. They are looking for her in the metaphorical sense. They are searching for a peace at heart that helps make it possible to go on and live a productive life even though the tragedy caused so much heartache for them.

2. I consider the very last chapter to be the most important in the novel because it captures the essence and overall meaning of the literary masterpiece “Looking for Alaska”. This chapter culminates every circumstance throughout the story and leaves the reader with a sense of satisfaction. Not only does it leave the reader satisfied, but it concludes maturity on behalf of Pudge whom finally has closure with how his friends and he will escape from the unsolvable labyrinth. Throughout the novel Pudge nor his close friends, including Alaska until her death, knew much about how to escape the maze of life and its sometimes seemingly unbearable traits and hardships. From the time of Alaska’s death, Pudge - and the novel - took a turn for the worse, but gratefully in the last chapter resurrected himself to once again seek his Great Perhaps.

3. I believe the most important quote in “Looking for Alaska” was the referenced Thomas Edison quote that Pudge used which was, “It’s very beautiful over there”. Like Pudge stated in the novel, one may not know where there is, but we believe it is somewhere, and we hope it is beautiful. These devout last words of Thomas Edison were perfect to use in the story especially put into context as Pudge did. These words speak volumes to a reader and emphasize the meaning of the work as a whole in a context unimaginable. This is possible due to the fact that throughout the story Pudge and his friends are unaware of their belonging in the world, they see no way out of the labyrinth of life. But towards the end, after the tragedy occurs, Pudge and The Colonel begin to figure out a little more about their meaning and place in the world day by day to make their time in the labyrinth bearable.

5. I believe Pudge is the most important character in the novel because he not only demonstrates a complete transformation from beginning to end, but he helps provide for others, such as, The Colonel in various forms. Related to the novel Pudge is a standout character; he exhibits a complete moral and emotional shift and always is compelling to the reader. So in search for the Great Perhaps, he encounters love, tragedy, friendship, and life’s agonizing adversities, which is in direct correlation with the stories overall message. To overcome such traits he strays away from destitution, caused by the loss of his beloved friend Alaska, and uses his loss for his own benefit. He first thought of life as something that comes and goes with nothing in between or after, but near the conclusion he finds himself yearning for knowledge of himself and of Alaska. This ultimately leads him to continue on his search for a more-than-minor life and the way out of the labyrinth. Conclusively Pudge is the most important character to the meaning of the novel as a whole.

 

8. In the novel "Looking For Alaska", I (Paige) believe I relate most to Alaska. In some ways, I can see myself of how she comes to blaming herself and feeling guilty for her mother's death; where in my shoes, I blame myself for my mother's drug addiction, and the brokenness of my family. one other aspect that relates us is that Alaska doesn't share her real feelings with people. She is like a mystery. Where I don't share my feelings with much people. I go about everyday acting happy sometimes when I am upset on the inside.

14. In the novel, "Looking For Alaska" the main character, Miles "Pudge" Halter, is related to the main character, Charlie, in "Perks of Being A Wallflower" by facing the same situations such as, many instances of heartbreak which are the heartbreak of Charlie losing his friends for a while, and Pudge , danger, death, and many moments of decision, all of which affect the rest of their stories. Not only have they both experienced the same situations, but they also started off inexperienced with life, and sheltered in some way, and in both stories it shows how both characters are "saved" and taken in by important friends in the books. One more addition comparison is that both say a meaningful quote that helps influence the book. Pudge says "seeking a great perhaps" and Charlie says "I feel infinite." Both quotes are very powerful, and not only help carry out the stories, but kind of show Charlie and Pudge as who they are.

Analyzed Playlist

Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd - This song demonstrates the overall understanding of Charlie and how he feels by the lyrics which describe loneliness and how people ignore him. Charlie is finally accepted and he feels infinite and, like in the song, Part II describes how they do not need to be controlled and to have fun and live life the way one chooses. Charlie finally feels loved, so he decides to live life for himself. When listening to the song, the reader has a better perception of Charlie and how he truly feels.

Landslide by Fleetwood Mac – This song influences the overall meaning of how Charlie feels continuously throughout the book through the lyrics of the song. For example, the song says “I took my love and I took it down, I climbed a mountain and I turned around, And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills, 'Till the landslide brought me down” This clarifies one of the emotions that Charlie feels, which is that at first he feels like no one loves him, but he finally is accepted and feels genuine love. This song shows connection to Charlie, and helps the reader understand his pain and suffering, but also the enlightenment from finally being loved.

Perks Part B Letter

September 11, 1991

Dear Charlie,

            I recently received your letter from September 7, 1991. It was very like one of my first days of high school! I did not like high school very much in the beginning either and our lunchroom is referred to as the “Commons Area”. Strange right? I also had a long lost friend in high school, just like that girl Susan you were writing about. She used to get picked on because she did all her homework and made straight A’s in middle school, her name was Ellie. I was her only friend, the bullies used to call her Smelly Ellie. I suppose one summer she started working out, using makeup, and wearing her hair down. She was beautiful. She acted like she wasn’t smart at all and talked with guys all the time. She had become very popular in high school. It was like she totally forgot about me, her best and not to mention only friend. I too felt sorry for my friend because she never did look as happy as she used to. And it’s okay Charlie; it’s just a letter you do not have to be grammatically correct all the time. I used to get picked on a lot too, only not “swirlies”, I was the football teams punching bag. I wish I had some of those cool moves your brother taught you back when I was starting school! I’ll remember, go for the knees, throat, and eyes. Its cool your brother plays at Penn State, but I know that must be hard with your parents sometimes. Remember this Charlie, do what makes you happy don’t try to live up to someone’s expectations.

                                                                                                                        Sincerely your friend,

                                                                                                                                                  Julius

Perks Part A

What is the overall meaning of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”?

The overall meaning of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is to associate with many children or anyone in general who can relate to young Charlie. The book not only mimics certain struggles of a typical teenage high school boy, but it illuminates the essence of love and acceptance. Everyone can relate to Charlie in some fashion and because of this the book allows the reader to be connected and in tune with the storyline. In turn, the storyline contributes many factors of life, such as, sex, love, passivity, drugs and alcohol. The book serves as an example for anyone like Charlie, a wallflower, to pick their selves up and to continue to move forward in their lives no matter what substantial obstacles stand in their pathway. Through the characters and scenes in the novel, teenagers can relate and for those children and teenagers who are blessed enough to have what Charlie does not, it makes them be thankful and have the urge to help others that may not. This book serves as a platter for everyone to pick what they need from it to use in life and to make a difference in society. Who knows, maybe you could be the difference in someone’s life and their search to feel infinite.

Does the movie emphasize or change the overall meaning?

I believe the movie emphasizes the overall meaning because if one could not visualize what was taking place in the book, they could see it first-hand in the movie. Barring some actions and sections of the book left out of the movie, the overall importance of the work was still evident. The ability for the overall meaning to be apparent in both the story and the movie not only shows the power of the storyline, but demonstrates how the actions and scenes are relevant to everyday society.

Chosen Song

I selected a song for my mother and it is titled “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men. This song has always been special to me because I love my mother very much and she pushes me to strive for the very best. My mother believes in everything I do and will always be by my side no matter what the situation. I am blessed to have such an amazing mother and father in my household who have taught me many life lessons and channeled me in the right direction so when I am alone I can continue forward, steadfast, and hold myself high in the Lord.