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Peter E. Rowe

Final Exam (3 of 4) New Connections - 84 views

New Connections Choices Traps Decisions Existential Questions.

started by Peter E. Rowe on 25 May 14
  • Peter E. Rowe
    #1 Peter E. Rowe on 25 May 14
     
    Discuss the "big ideas" and themes from the literature we have read this year-
    Of Mice and Men, The Metamorphosis, No Exit, The Wall, Araby, The Lottery, A & P, The Cask of Amotillado,
    Gimpel the Fool, Bartleby the Scrivener, The Overcoat, The Open Boat, To a Mouse, I Know The Truth, Under A Dark Veil, Miniver Cheevy, Emotional Intelligence 2.0. Catcher in the Rye, Famous All Over Town. Stone Soup.

    Compare them to the videos, "Blind Melon-No Rain", "Twilight Zone-Five Characters in Search of an Exit" and " Walk off the Earth-Little Boxes", "The Teen Brain", "The Time You Have In Jellybeans)

    Make a new connection.

    What have you learned about yourself in relation to the universe? What are the most important questions? Will you be able to avoid the traps?
  • sky zhao
    #2 sky zhao on 28 May 14
     
    First i want to begin with a quote from the novel of Gimpel the Fool,"No doubt the world is entirely an imaginary world, but it is only once re-moved from the true world.". All stories contain different ideas, such as "relying on each other is the main essential skill in order to subsist in the world" from Of Mice and Men and "Always pursuing something that actually wouldn't make you different."from The Overcoat.
    You could say this happiness or resentment bothers our mind. However you have to assume the world is unreal, moreover you need value both of your moods in order to not stave off going from an extreme to another extreme. That is useful.
    We have seen a lot of things that bring us down or up. Have you ever noticed that every time you do something you more or less would make mistakes and results make you depressed.
    But do you really care about the results and stick with it? Keep letting the past bother you?
    Your caring to result is fine but you should learn letting things go. From the video of "The Time You Have In Jellybeans" reminds you that you don't live forever, one day you will die as a normal person. Do you want die with your complaining of " What! He says i am stupid". Don't have your resentment with you. You might find yourself waking up in a small house and search for an exit, your life could be a season. Just like summer, Brief but beautiful.
    the question to these stories is that do we have to play our life role seriously or we just play it like a game?
    Each failure that we make is like a trap to us.Nevertheless traps are different. Just like the movie of"Forrest Gump". His quote of Life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get"
    you need to learn it by yourself.
  • sky zhao
    #3 sky zhao on 28 May 14
     
    You guys need upload quickly.
  • Bryan Wang
    #4 Bryan Wang on 28 May 14
     
    The "big ideas" of the literature from this year is fable for adulthood life. Each books tell us about the dark side of society, mistrust of humanity and how to face the truth of the fact. Emotional Intelligence 2.0, teach us how to suit in the community. Of Mice and Men, show us the friendship of two irrelevant friends. No Exit, display a taunt drama between the torturer, murderer and instigator.

    The videos, "Blind Melon-No Rain", "Twilight Zone-Five Characters in Search of an Exit" and " Walk off the Earth-Little Boxes", "The Teen Brain" and "The Time You Have In Jellybeans", really give me a intuitional instruction of the adulthood life. The video, "The Teen Brain" and "The Time You Have In Jellybeans", tell me I start become a young adult never stop trying and don't wasting the time.
  • Yi Lin
    #5 Yi Lin on 28 May 14
     
    ZeFrank's "The Teen Brain" and Travis Bradberry's "Emotional Intelligence 2.0" emphasize the idea of teenagers should develop their self-management and relationship-management. In "The Teen Brain", Franks conveys the idea of "teen brains are more activated than people in any other age so that teenagers are not stable or in some senses not mature enough to make the right decision. On the other hand, "Emotional Intelligence 2.0" provide several strategies for readers, or at this case for teenagers to practice and strengthen their self managing skills.

    Me as a teenager, learn a lot about myself this year which I found myself having more appreciation towards people around me. However I wondering what else am I capable of that I haven't know? I do think I will be able to avoid the traps as I earning more knowledge.
  • Zilin Wang
    #6 Zilin Wang on 29 May 14
     
    Though all the literature we have read this year, it is not that hard to figuring out the main purpose or common for those article; like Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa was just a normal traveling salesman, in company his boss never accepts excuses or explanations from any of his employees no matter how hard-working they are, in the home he could not tell what's his real feeling; or such as "Twilight Zone-Five Characters in Search of an Exit" five improbable entities stuck together into a pit of darkness. No logic, no reason, no explanation, those thing represent the dark and unfair adult world which we are about to enter.

    From my point of view, we used whole year to learn all the injustice and evil side in our future, I should learn how to deal with these adverse effects, how to find my way of true value in my life.
  • xiaogang wu
    #7 xiaogang wu on 30 May 14
     
    The big ideas of those works we read are that human struggles by the trap that made by themselves.Human are struggle to face and solve the problem, and it because of the lack of awareness for themselves.For instance, in the "Twilight Zone-Five Characters in Search of an Exit", characters were trying to get out from the box.Audience realizes that they are toys after one of them got out. In the No Exit, Three characters can escape from the hell, but the lack of awareness of themselves and the scare to face the real themselves trapped all three forever. Those works tell us that we need to know ourselves in order to helps us to find the right direction, or we will be trapped just like the toys in the video and the characters in the No Exit. For instance, Ibbieta in The Wall who had the courage to face the death and realized the meaning of life survived. Therefor, self awareness are important for human to get out the trap that could decide our faith.

    I think the universe is huge trap and I could not change anything of it, so I am learning more about myself and the society in order to have the ability to face the problem that universe might give to me. I think the question i want to ask is that am I being honest to myself. I also believe that I know myself well and keep learning would not help me to avoid the trap,but it would help me to find the way to get out of trap
  • zeyuan tang
    #8 zeyuan tang on 30 May 14
     
    The big ideas of these literature that we have read and the videos that we have watched this year mostly shows us the truth of people life. We can see all kind of people life in the different time and get experiences from them. These literatures and videos tell me about the life have all kind of taste such as sour, sweet,bitter and spicy, but different level of EQ people have different way and ideas to face at problem.

    However, I feel the universe is absurd, funny and amazing, so we cannot change and forecast what are going to happen. Thus, the one thing that I can do is face at everything with intellect and keep developing my EQ to strong myself.
  • Deker Adelman
    #10 Deker Adelman on 31 May 14
     
    the main ideas of english 11 was the idea of the rebel spirit And it just was to appreciate life. my favorite video we watched was the jelly bean one because it really made it clear that you need to live your life and life it to the best that you can. do things that make you happy and feel good and find someone you love. life is short so make every day count.
  • Cris Boeckel
    #11 Cris Boeckel on 31 May 14
     
    This year in English 11 has prepared us all for college and adulthood. Videos like Ze Frank's "The time you have in Jelly Beans" and Emotional Intelligence showed us how to manage our time and how we should interact with the world around us. By learning about the world around us, we all learned a little bit about ourselves. Mr. Rowe always said that we would thank him when we get to college because of the things he's taught us. The main idea of English 11 is life preparation and bringing us closer to finally finding our unique potentials.
  • Dean Tian
    #12 Dean Tian on 31 May 14
     
    Through all the literature and videos that we read and watch during this year, I find all the thing's big ideas is about the dark side society. In the " Metamorphosis" Gregor's family abandon him because he transform a cockroach; In the "Gimpel the fool" people like making funny on him, no one try to really care about him; In the "The mice of man" George killed Lennie because Lennie's stupid cause he killed a women. All the thing we can see is negative. I do not know why I need to read those stories. A lot of times made me sad, maybe Mr. Rowe want to let us get more mature. I do not really know.
    Something I learned that how I can improve my vocabulary, and my writing skills. Also I learned some negative thing s and how to deal with them.
    For me, I feel I do not be able to avoid the traps, because this universe is magical, the things will happen with no reason, no indication, no time let you react. I can not predict everything will happen in the future. People's ability is limited, we can control our lives. So I am not be able to avoid the traps.
  • Bixi Zeng
    #13 Bixi Zeng on 31 May 14
     
    In this year, the main idea of what we have read and watch is life will constantly changing. Both of The Metamorphosis and The Time You Have In Jellybeans want to give us an advise that is we need to using time to do what we want to do. Because you will never know what will happen in your life. As same as universe, we can not control and forecast what will happen. So we need using rational time that we have. Than I can avoid the trap in my life.
  • Nate Smith
    #14 Nate Smith on 31 May 14
     
    This year since I have joined English 11 the theme or emphasis has been on relationships between people and the idea that everybody needs somebody. This idea is clearly portrayed in "Mice and Men' by the character Crooks. Crooks is lonely and is isolated and is grateful for just any communication. This theme is also prevalent in metamorphosis. When Gregor turns into a cockroach he is miserable but the only thing that gives him hope is the love and attention he receives from his sister. This all relates to the Jelly Bean video. You only have so much time in life so make sure you keep the truly important people around while you can.
  • james lee
    #16 james lee on 01 Jun 14
     
    from what i got over all we have covered is regret and how life is short so live it to your fullest and how sometimes life can also be cruel. So fight through the bad days, enjoy the good and learn from your mistakes because u never know when its your turn to dance with the devil
  • Avery Booth
    #17 Avery Booth on 01 Jun 14
     
    Personally, i think that the biggest idea from all of the works that we have read in English 11 is something along the lines of "keep the faith". In each work, the protagonist(s) are faced with an issue that they must fight to overcome. In order to fight and overcome these issues they just need one thing.. faith! Some characters do a good job and having the faith, and they succeed... while others don't do so well. For example, in Araby, the boy has so much faith that he will get the girl, and in the end he doesn't. while in 5 characters in search of an exit, they all try to get out and keep the faith that they will get out, and then they end up getting out. Just have faith!
  • Aaron Leffert
    #18 Aaron Leffert on 01 Jun 14
     
    Through out my time under Mr. Rowe's English 11 wing, it is obvious that with every piece of text we came across, there was a deeper meaning than what the average human eye can catch. With the works from amazing writers and role models such as Steinbeck, Poe, Jackson, Sartre, Crane, Bradberry and Greaves, Singer, Kafka, and many more, we find the true meaning in what these artists portray in their work. It shows us that we need to live on both a more emotional level, and social level. Become more active thinkers, speakers and problem solvers through EQ. The main idea is using your rebel sprit and love of life to guide you through situation to situation. When the situations get sticky, you resort to your high EQ test grades (hopefully we have all grown this year) and power though emotionally and socially. You don't have to always go with your gut or follow the rules, like in Of Mice and Men and The Cask of Amotillado. In those cases their gut lead to MURDER! Look up the the brave young men who stand out and do outstanding acts of bravery due to what they believe in, like in A&P and Gimple. You must always remember, use EQ daily and work it out, follow that rebel spirit, don't focus on the exact amount of jellybeans left but, the fact that you could wake up as a cockroach the next day and realize that you did not prioritize your jellybeans appropriately, and "there aint nothing like a slice of mommas pie."
  • Stefan El Baze
    #19 Stefan El Baze on 01 Jun 14
     
    The literature as well as the videos we have read and watched in English 11 this year have gave us a striking yet realistic insight to the struggles and setbacks we will inevitably face in the years to come. These life struggles, whether they may be on a quotidian basis or not, WILL make frequent appearances in our lives. Works such as 'No Exit', 'Of Mice & Men', and 'The Metamorphosis' all present struggles to each protagonist while simultaneously shows how they overcome each obstacle. If these works at times do not show how to break out of such struggles, they at least demonstrate how to cope with them.
    "The Teen Brain" and "The Time You Have In Jellybeans" depict many of the minor (but still very annoying) daily issues we face, but more importantly, these videos hint how to overcome them. They both imply for us to do what makes the most sense not in the moment, but in a more broad perspective of one's life. In other words, the videos message for us to choose the path that makes more sense and the one that is more beneficial for the long run.
    To avoid these traps strategically scattered upon our delicate road to success, we must pick and choose certain lessons learned from these works. Instead of choosing the option leading to instant gratification, we must choose the the option for even greater satisfaction and stability in the future. For example, George in "Of Mice & Men" plans out his life slowly and methodically with a mindset of 'struggle now and see its glorious results in due time'.
  • Paul Eleven
    #20 Paul Eleven on 01 Jun 14
     
    Most literatures I've read are philosophical debates in one form or another, "The Wall" expresses the randomness of the world, "No Exit" reflects on multiple topics including human nature, true evil. They all relate to existentialism, exploring our status to be. The videos have existentialism as a main topic as well, such as "Teenage Brain" makes people reflect on the importance of adolescent in the sense of learning and developing, "Little Boxes" and "Jelly Beans" have living as a major topic. The materials have not made me more reflective as to more confused, I am actively thinking more about those existentialistic questions because they do not provide definitive answers.
  • sam millard
    #21 sam millard on 01 Jun 14
     
    Some of the big themes throughout the stories we read have been lack of money, realizing adulthood and just not being excepted. Many have a similar theme to Blind Melon's No Rain with them both having characters that just don't fit in with many groups. The stories that focused on younger character directly connects to "The Teen Brain" and in a sense the all connected some way or another the Jellybean video.

    The most important questions are how can I be the most comfortable in life both emotionally, physically and mentally along with the question of how do I want to spend my days on earth. I believe traps are something you just have to think about the costs and benefits and weigh them out and see what you want to do.
  • Jake Deutschlander
    #22 Jake Deutschlander on 01 Jun 14
     
    The big theme from the 2013-2014 English 11 class is that of the transition from being a child to real adulthood. This theme may not be as evident to others as it was for me. I saw this theme a lot in the story "Of Mice and Men" Lenny was more of the child figure and George was the adult. I think this theme is presented to us because we are in that stage in life from transitioning from childhood to adulthood. I also see a theme of being stuck in a situation you don't like and having to deal with it and take out everything possible from it. For example in "No Exit" the characters were stuck in the situation they were in and had to move on with it, that can relate to a lot of students at Hyde with not necessarily wanting to be here but making the best of what they have. Lastly the theme that your not born with emotional intelligence and it is something gained along, it is expressed well in the "EQ" book along with Ze Franks "The Teen Brain". So with the school year rapping up we have covered a wide variety of themes in English 11 class but these themes are the ones that stick out most evidently to me.
  • Hang Zhao
    #23 Hang Zhao on 01 Jun 14
     
    "The Time You Have In Jellybeans" is about how life is shout, we only have few time to do what we really want to do. Which relates to Sammy in A&P, when he does not want to waste his life doing the things that he doesn't like. Therefore, he quits his job for new life. I have been wasting too much time on doing nothing and worrying about future. I should just take the risks and challenges in life and arm myself with knowledge and high EQ, then I will be able to avoid the traps in the universe.
  • Dow Drukker
    #24 Dow Drukker on 01 Jun 14
     
    If i were to come up with a collective theme for all the works we have ready, i'd say that it would be along the lines of the unexpectedness of the universe and how we really have no say in our fate as individuals. This is evident through the majority of the works we've read in one way or another. More obvious examples would be The Open Boat, Metamorphosis, and No Exit. This theme relates to The Time you have in Jellybeans, because it speaks about how you are unsure of what life might throw at your way so you minus well take advantage of the amount of time that you have.
  • tenzin11
    #25 tenzin11 on 01 Jun 14
     
    Im sad to see this English 11 class end because it really just began to hit me how great some of the works we read were such as Satras No exit or Gimpel the fool And my once and favorite A&P. I can erally really relate to sammy and feeling like im sick of being stuck with the everyday sheep. These stories make me know their is some truth out their and at the end of the day if i can be aware of the truth and not be fooled by the worlds cruelty ill be set.
  • Austin Makris
    #26 Austin Makris on 01 Jun 14
     
    One of the most major themes I have found throughout all of the works this year is that life is unfair. Throughout all of the stories there was a very consistent theme, whether it be death in The Metamorphosis or The Open Boat. The videos we read, while not stating this exactly accentuate this by stating you have to be careful to make the most of your life, and follow your own path.
  • Maryssa Haggett
    #27 Maryssa Haggett on 01 Jun 14
     
    What I learned in english 11 and comparing stories and videos that we've seen and read. I've learned in both Emotional Intelegence 2.0 and the teenage brain that its okay to have big emotions in our period of time. we might think that in this moment right now that its really not ok and we can let ourselves down a lot very easily. but its all about growing up and becoming the person that you always want to be, and that is yourself. we all have had moments where we can't even handle ourselfs. we've had moments where everything is ok. though both of these, i've learned that you should try to check in with yourself. Were in the middle of devolpment in our bodies and at the same time we have so much stuff going on all the time in our lifes. for me personally, its helped me alot to just take a few minutes to clear my mind up and just try to plan what I want to happen each day. Sometimes it doesn't happen. But at least I really try to make things happen but our lifes is just so busy. take things one day at a time and don't overwhlem yourself with everything.
  • Austin Makris
    #28 Austin Makris on 01 Jun 14
     
    In relation to the universe, I have learned about myself that I am not much of an existential thinker, and more of a progressive thinker thinking about what I can do in relation to events in life rather than in relation to life. The most important question is are you happy with yourself and what your doing in life, and just happy in general.
  • zach harrison
    #29 zach harrison on 01 Jun 14
     
    The General theme that connects all these stories is the general unfairness of life. How One day you can be on top of the world and, the next your fighting for your own survival, only to fail once you have come so far. In my relation to the universe I have found that I am small, so small in fact that I can't possibly make it from one end to the other, in an infinite number of lifetimes. " Knowing exactly where you are in the universe in relation to every one else has now become a method of execution, as the realization fries your brain. This phenomenon was first discovered when the inventors wife accidentally saw the map." - Douglas Adams, So Long And Thanks For All The Fish.
  • mike harris
    #30 mike harris on 01 Jun 14
     
    The general theme of English 11 is to teach us young adults how to manage ourselves and how to think outside the box. We have been taught this through a multitude of short stories and poetry each teaching us an important life lesson or a new way to think about a situation whether it be teaching us about how hell is not a physical place but actually is brought out in others. This class has taught me how to be a critical thinker and an abstract learner and instead of taking things so literally looking at them from different angles because it can open up a lot of doors you may not have seen.
  • Warner Raulston
    #31 Warner Raulston on 01 Jun 14
     
    The general theme from the written works that we have read this past year is the path we face in life and the dangers, and rewards it has.
    We sufffer (No Exit)
    Are made fun of (Gimpel the Fool) and
    Often have no one to listen to (The Catcher in the Rye)
    Yet we have friends and good times to look forward to.
    Tools to cope (EQ) and
    Great fun to have (Stone Soup)

    The videos from the past year flesh out, and clarify what we have read, as well as gicing us new ideas
    Falling into a rut (Little Boxes)
    The causes for what we feel (The Teenage Brain) and
    What little time we have (Jellybeans)

    In relation to the universe, I have learned that I make up a very small part of it, but that shouldn't discourage me because I am important to those who make up a big part of my own life.
  • Warner Raulston
    #32 Warner Raulston on 01 Jun 14
     
    (Accidental/unitentional post)

    Make a new connection:
    The writings often show us the mistakes people often make, while the videos show us how to avoid them by telling us how to look for them in real life and how to improve ourselves so we don't make the same mistakes.

    Important questions:
    Where am I going? and
    How can i help others?

    By answering these questions, I can be sure to live a very happy and prosperous life.

    Avoiding traps
    By using the skills I have learned this year, I am confident that I will be able to avoid the mistakes made by all people before me or at least be able to get out of the traps that I do fall into by using EQ, learning from the mistakes of others, and learning from my own mistakes.
  • Aidan Sperry
    #33 Aidan Sperry on 02 Jun 14
     
    I think an important theme throughout the bodies of work we have read this year is the general transience of life and how unexpected things can be. Life can be pretty absurd and a lot of what determines how successful, how happy you are everything, is how well you react to the roadblocks life can throw in your path. Life is short, demonstrated in "The Time You Have in Jellybeans" and its important to utilize the gift of life to its fullest extent, whatever that means to you, don't waste it. For me, some of the "traps" you mention, can waste a lot of time, I think this year has given me a new appreciation of the beauty of life, the wonder and joy of unpredictable circumstances, and most importantly, good literature of course. I think my favorite story we read this year was Stephen Cranes "The Open Boat". I loved the somber foreboding imagery and Crane really put me out there on the water i thought it was a genius story. I also really enjoyed reading "Catcher in the Rye" a second time when I had a little bit of a more mature viewpoint, and "Famous All Over Town" was another favorite.
  • Rich Ramirez
    #34 Rich Ramirez on 03 Jun 14
     
    The main theme that is discussed constantly throughout all of these works is this idea of life being cruel and unusual. In Sartre's "No Exit" he gives you this hell of other people which makes it very relatable because everyone has always been in a positon where they don't have control and someone else has control over thier lives. In the video life in jelly beans he gives you a very easy and quick way of understanding in statistics how short life is and how much time we have to devote to certain things. He's pretty much saying to prioritize your time because life is short and you should take advantage of everyday.
  • Michael Spencer
    #35 Michael Spencer on 03 Jun 14
     
    Discuss the "big ideas" and themes from the literature we have read this year-
    From what i was here for i learned how cruel but fair the world is. Also the odds are not always in your favor and you have to take the hand dealt to you and deal with it the best you.

    Compare them to the videos, "Blind Melon-No Rain", "Twilight Zone-Five Characters in Search of an Exit" and " Walk off the Earth-Little Boxes", "The Teen Brain", "The Time You Have In Jellybeans)
    i only saw the jellybean video and had seen it before and realized by just shifting a few things you in your day the time will add up. Also i learned how much of our time here is just wasted.

    Make a new connection. everything is interconnected ;)

    What have you learned about yourself in relation to the universe? What are the most important questions? Will you be able to avoid the traps?
    the most important question i have learned is, "What do you stand for", and "how will you avoid the negative influences in the world".
  • mlandt
    #36 mlandt on 03 Jun 14
     
    of mice and men talks adout how some accidents can lead to worse horrors and sometime friends ship can lead to tragidy. gimple talks about how trusting people can lead to dispaer. the wall talks about how people can give up on life in the face of death.
    i have personaly gone through a near death experiance that changed me
  • Ryan Moran
    #37 Ryan Moran on 03 Jun 14
     
    I think that the biggest idea I have learned in English 11 this year is that the universe isn't fair. This idea had the biggest impact on me for a few different reasons. One reason is that I think a lot of people along with myself have had many unfair things happen to them in life. I personally remained angry at the universe for a long time. However starting this year in English I kind of started to let go and just not care anymore. I started to realize that bad things can happen to good people. It is how you handle it that defines you're character and inner strength

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