Friday, September 24, 2010
My Boo Radley
I believe that the Boo Radley in my life is not a person, but a sport. I think my Boo is baseball. Baseball follows generally the same route through my life as Boo did in Scout's life. At first I was scared of baseball, yet as I grew older it played major roles in my life. I was scared at first because as I was young I got hit in the face with a pop fly. I thought that I would never play again. As I grew older and my friends started playing it more I got interested in it. Baseball taught me life lessons that nothing else that I had done taught me. It taught me friendship, teamwork, and the value of accepting others. That last one is not the easiest to learn when you are as competitive as I am. Baseball has always been there when I needed something to take my mind off school, family, and just life in general. When ever I was mad I could just pick up a ball, go to the park, and throw it as hard as I could until I forgot about it. In a way Boo Radley wasn't around like baseball is around for me and yet he is still basically the same element as baseball in my life because of how baseball is there for me and metaphorically saves me in my times of need.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Blog Intro
I am the type of English student that will try his best, be on time, for the most part, and write as much as I can think of. Usually I can't think of much, so I compensate with long sentences that drag on (that is something I need to work on this year). I am the type of student who enjoys a well written book, especially historical nonfiction or historic fiction.
People who follow my blog can expect something that came truly from my opinion, not a spin off of some one else's. And sometimes something I write might even interest them. I will enlighten the online world with my interesting views on literature and other subjects. I can offer different angles on something that was possibly overlooked by another person.
I think that the meaning of an English class is expanding the knowledge of use of our large and complex language. It strengthens our vocabulary and as well as our communication skills. I believe that is why the class is a four year requirement for college, because of the communication aspect.
People who follow my blog can expect something that came truly from my opinion, not a spin off of some one else's. And sometimes something I write might even interest them. I will enlighten the online world with my interesting views on literature and other subjects. I can offer different angles on something that was possibly overlooked by another person.
I think that the meaning of an English class is expanding the knowledge of use of our large and complex language. It strengthens our vocabulary and as well as our communication skills. I believe that is why the class is a four year requirement for college, because of the communication aspect.
Friday, September 17, 2010
assuaged (vb.): to calm or lessen in importance
"...Jem's fears of never being able to play football were assuaged...(Lee 7)."
This means Jem didn't fear not being able to play football anymore.
apothecary (n.): a person that can prescribe drugs, like a pharmacist
piety (n.): devotion to religious duties and practices
"All we had was Simon Finch, a fur trading apothecary from Cornwall whose piety was exceeded only by his stinginess (Lee 8)."
This means Simon Finch was a pharmacist who was very religious.
chattels
taciturn/tacit (adj.): almost always silent
"She married a taciturn man...(Lee 9).
This means she married a person that rarely speaks.
unsullied (adj.): brand new; untouched; unused
"Atticus' office... contained little more than a hatrack, a spittoon, a checkerboard and an unsullied Code of Alabama (Lee 9)."
This means that the book was unused and most likely unneeded.
dispatched
vapid
malevolent (adj.): evil; very bad
"Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom (Lee 13)."
This means that the phantom that lives in the house is evil.
predilection (n.): a preferred way of doing something
"The Radley's... kept to themselves, a predilection unforgivable in Maycomb (Lee 13)."
This means that the people of Maycomb prefer the Radley's to keep to themselves.
domiciled (vb.): where you reside or live
"... an enormous and confusing tribe domiciled in the northern part of the county...(Lee 14)."
This means that the tribe lived in the northern part of the county.
sojourn (n.): a brief visit
"My sojourn in the corner was a short one (Lee 26)."
This means she didn't spend very long in the corner.
diminutive (adj,): smaller than ordinary
"He was among the most dimiutive of men...(Lee 32)."
This means he was a very small man.
fractious (adj.): mean or cross
"...she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways...(Lee 33)."
This means she had a mistake in being mean.
amiable (adj.): friendly
"He waited in amiable silence...(Lee 34)."
This means he waited happily.
auspicous (adj.): favorable
"The remainder of my schooldays were no more auspicious than the first (Lee 37)."
This means she did not like any of her schooldays more or less then her first.
benign (adj.): kind and gentle
"...she was only another lady in the neighborhood, but a relatively benign presence (Lee 46)."
This means that she was a nice lady.
obstreperous (adj.): noisy and unruly
"'It was obstreperous, disorderly, and abusive (Lee 90).'"
This means it got out of hand.
apoplectic (adj.): acting as if you were on the verge of a stroke
"...her reaction was apoplectic (Lee 104)."
This means she was very surprised in her reaction.
umbrage (n.): offense
"...but I took umbrage to Mrs. Dubose's assessment of the family' mental hygiene (Lee 106)."
This means the comment hurt her.
palliation (n.): lessening of pain
"She was a less than satisfactory source of palliation...(Lee 107)."
This means that she wouldn't help with issues.
austere (adj.): stern and severe
"His sermon was a forthright denunciation of sin, an austere declaration of the motto on the wall behind him...(Lee 124)."
This means that he strongly disapproves of sin.
formidable (adj.): impressive
"Miss Maudie's command of scripture was formidable (Lee 161)."
This means that the command was impressive.
myopic (adj): nearsightedness
"...because Sinkfield had reduced his guests to myopic drunkenness one evening...(Lee 133)."
This means his guests could barely see.
ominous (adj.): threatening or sinister
"There was a murmur among the group of men, made more ominous when Atticus moved back...(Lee 148)."
This means that Atticus brought a darkening mood with him.
countenance
elucidate (vb.): to explain
"We asked Miss Maudie to elucidate...(Lee 162)."
This means they asked her to elaborate.
solicitor (n.): a lawyer that travels to different locations to prosecute trials
"The circuit solicitor and another man...(Lee 167)."
This means that the prosecuter traveled there.
turbulent (adj.): stormy; unruly
"With his infinite capacity for calming turbulent seas...(Lee 171-172)."
This means that he can calm storms.
acrimonious (adj.): sarcastic, bitter, and nasty
"...when the debate became more acromonious then professional...(Lee 174)."
This means that the debate was less serious after a while.
impudent (adj.): disrespectful, bold, and sassy
"'Are you being impudent to me, boy (Lee 201)?'"
This means the man speaking thinks the boy is sassing him.
unmitigated (adj.): out-and-out absolute
temerity (n.): foolish or rach boldness
"'...and so a quiet, respectable, humble negro who had the unmitigated temerity...(Lee 207).'"
This means that his boldness is absolute.
ruefully (adv.): regretfully
"Jem grinned ruefully (Lee 218)."
This means he smiled with regret.
furtive (adj.): sneaky
"'Something furtive,' Aunt Alexandra said (Lee 221)."
This means she was explaining something as sneaky.
bovine (adj.): cow-like
"...the soft bovine sounds of ladies munching their dainties (Lee 235)."
This means they sounded like cows grazing when they ate.
brevity (n.): shortness
"When Miss Maudie was angry her brevity was icy (Lee 236)."
This means she seems taller when mad.
purloined
libel
mollified (adj.): soothed or calmed
"Mollified, Mayella gave Atticus a final terrified glance...(Lee 182)."
This means she was calm.
Bibliography-
"The TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Student Survival Guide." Web. 18 Sept. 2010. <http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Belmont_HS/tkm/>.
"...Jem's fears of never being able to play football were assuaged...(Lee 7)."
This means Jem didn't fear not being able to play football anymore.
apothecary (n.): a person that can prescribe drugs, like a pharmacist
piety (n.): devotion to religious duties and practices
"All we had was Simon Finch, a fur trading apothecary from Cornwall whose piety was exceeded only by his stinginess (Lee 8)."
This means Simon Finch was a pharmacist who was very religious.
chattels
taciturn/tacit (adj.): almost always silent
"She married a taciturn man...(Lee 9).
This means she married a person that rarely speaks.
unsullied (adj.): brand new; untouched; unused
"Atticus' office... contained little more than a hatrack, a spittoon, a checkerboard and an unsullied Code of Alabama (Lee 9)."
This means that the book was unused and most likely unneeded.
dispatched
vapid
malevolent (adj.): evil; very bad
"Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom (Lee 13)."
This means that the phantom that lives in the house is evil.
predilection (n.): a preferred way of doing something
"The Radley's... kept to themselves, a predilection unforgivable in Maycomb (Lee 13)."
This means that the people of Maycomb prefer the Radley's to keep to themselves.
domiciled (vb.): where you reside or live
"... an enormous and confusing tribe domiciled in the northern part of the county...(Lee 14)."
This means that the tribe lived in the northern part of the county.
sojourn (n.): a brief visit
"My sojourn in the corner was a short one (Lee 26)."
This means she didn't spend very long in the corner.
diminutive (adj,): smaller than ordinary
"He was among the most dimiutive of men...(Lee 32)."
This means he was a very small man.
fractious (adj.): mean or cross
"...she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways...(Lee 33)."
This means she had a mistake in being mean.
amiable (adj.): friendly
"He waited in amiable silence...(Lee 34)."
This means he waited happily.
auspicous (adj.): favorable
"The remainder of my schooldays were no more auspicious than the first (Lee 37)."
This means she did not like any of her schooldays more or less then her first.
benign (adj.): kind and gentle
"...she was only another lady in the neighborhood, but a relatively benign presence (Lee 46)."
This means that she was a nice lady.
obstreperous (adj.): noisy and unruly
"'It was obstreperous, disorderly, and abusive (Lee 90).'"
This means it got out of hand.
apoplectic (adj.): acting as if you were on the verge of a stroke
"...her reaction was apoplectic (Lee 104)."
This means she was very surprised in her reaction.
umbrage (n.): offense
"...but I took umbrage to Mrs. Dubose's assessment of the family' mental hygiene (Lee 106)."
This means the comment hurt her.
palliation (n.): lessening of pain
"She was a less than satisfactory source of palliation...(Lee 107)."
This means that she wouldn't help with issues.
austere (adj.): stern and severe
"His sermon was a forthright denunciation of sin, an austere declaration of the motto on the wall behind him...(Lee 124)."
This means that he strongly disapproves of sin.
formidable (adj.): impressive
"Miss Maudie's command of scripture was formidable (Lee 161)."
This means that the command was impressive.
myopic (adj): nearsightedness
"...because Sinkfield had reduced his guests to myopic drunkenness one evening...(Lee 133)."
This means his guests could barely see.
ominous (adj.): threatening or sinister
"There was a murmur among the group of men, made more ominous when Atticus moved back...(Lee 148)."
This means that Atticus brought a darkening mood with him.
countenance
elucidate (vb.): to explain
"We asked Miss Maudie to elucidate...(Lee 162)."
This means they asked her to elaborate.
solicitor (n.): a lawyer that travels to different locations to prosecute trials
"The circuit solicitor and another man...(Lee 167)."
This means that the prosecuter traveled there.
turbulent (adj.): stormy; unruly
"With his infinite capacity for calming turbulent seas...(Lee 171-172)."
This means that he can calm storms.
acrimonious (adj.): sarcastic, bitter, and nasty
"...when the debate became more acromonious then professional...(Lee 174)."
This means that the debate was less serious after a while.
impudent (adj.): disrespectful, bold, and sassy
"'Are you being impudent to me, boy (Lee 201)?'"
This means the man speaking thinks the boy is sassing him.
unmitigated (adj.): out-and-out absolute
temerity (n.): foolish or rach boldness
"'...and so a quiet, respectable, humble negro who had the unmitigated temerity...(Lee 207).'"
This means that his boldness is absolute.
ruefully (adv.): regretfully
"Jem grinned ruefully (Lee 218)."
This means he smiled with regret.
furtive (adj.): sneaky
"'Something furtive,' Aunt Alexandra said (Lee 221)."
This means she was explaining something as sneaky.
bovine (adj.): cow-like
"...the soft bovine sounds of ladies munching their dainties (Lee 235)."
This means they sounded like cows grazing when they ate.
brevity (n.): shortness
"When Miss Maudie was angry her brevity was icy (Lee 236)."
This means she seems taller when mad.
purloined
libel
mollified (adj.): soothed or calmed
"Mollified, Mayella gave Atticus a final terrified glance...(Lee 182)."
This means she was calm.
Bibliography-
"The TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Student Survival Guide." Web. 18 Sept. 2010. <http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Belmont_HS/tkm/>.
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