Benchmark Assessment Test

4.) Answer: D. What I put :C. Now knowing what the correct answer is I realize the error of my choice.The "vilely phrased" quote is pretentious because it's a round about way of sating Oxford Street. Why not just say Oxford street instead of "the street which borrowed it's name"? And now looking up the definition of pretentious, which means excessive or unjustified claims, I realize that the speaker is pretentious and so is his tone. This may be difficult because if the reader didn't know what vile or pretentious is and how it relates to the speaker it would be hard to understand.
7.) A ; B. Question asks to evaluate the way a particular sentence is used and how it is used in relation to other sentences, which I'm not really good at. I thought it was introducing an exception to the rule that everyone in the world is thinking except England, but that's wrong. I really don't know why it's the wrong answer( but I hope I learn tomorrow!) I also think that the reader had to know specifically what rhetorical and digression means.
9.) E ; A. I chose A because I thought that some the answers have some ti-bit of truth in them, so I chose the more broader answer because that process  has worked in the past. But I do see why the answer is right because reflecting on it this answer is found in the passage.
13.) C. I got this question right. I think the question is difficult because of the answer. Compared to A which is simple. C is very complicated. The combined words of "paradoxical", "inversion" and "conventional " all in one sentence is very confusing. But because I knew what these words meant I applied them to the passage and got it right. Paradoxes are contradictions that are circular. Inversion is like the opposite . And conventions are commonly perceived ideas. The speaker talks badly(inversion) about something everyone seems to like(convention): nature.
21.)D ; B . Grammatical questions are a hassle and are so out of the mainstream norm of level 2 questions it feels tedious to do them. People (me) don't give them any introspection and want to quickly get it over with so they'l go with their first instinct, which may not be right.
24.) E; D. If you don't know what idiosyncratic means you are really in a jam. Idiosyncratic means unique about an individual. The question states which is LEAST idiosyncratic , which is the meter, everything is pretty unique( capitalization, tone, diction).
54.) E ; D. I can't believe I got this wrong. I guess because the reader is so focused on Louisa, the main character being so subtle and quiet, I automatically assumed that Dagget is. Especially because of the sparse dialogue and quiet mood. Dagget is very straightforward and I realize I made a not so smart mistake.

Debate: Should Huck be Taught in Schools?

              I found the debate today to be very intresting. I haven't been in many debates but I think that is the best one yet due to the subject matter and how everyone was devoted to winning. Personally, I think Mr. Beddingfield won, but that was because he is super eloquent and knows how to spot hole in our argument.I also think he choose his stance purposely so that his chances of winning are higher. The student side had alot of information and ideas, but I feel that we were a bit unorganized and didn't work as a team. Though I feel that if we had that we could have won, we had evidence and good points. For all the controversy involving Huck Finn, I think schools should read it. It's got plenty of merits and in my opinion Heart of Darkness is much worse(Jim actually was an individual, not a swirling mass of elderich abomination). And, at the end of the day, the book is just a book. It won't change a person's life, except maybe a fledging black panther, and it's not going to give soemeone a great epiphany.

Toni Morrison's "This Amazing Troubling Book"

                      In the selection of articles written about Huckleberry Finn I find the Toni Morrison article to be my favorite. Not to totally disregard the other articles but I find it very interesting to hear an opinion of the book from someone who's black.I wanted to see how they felt about the book. Like Morrison, I too was a bit uncomfortable with reading the novel, it's odd seeing how people felt about other races back then. When I first started reading the article I expected it to be one that was against Huck Finn, instead I was totally wrong. It's not so much about race as a whole but the characters and their relationships with each other.Prior to reading the article I never knew that Huck was a bit depressed and suicidal, it was something I didn't notice while reading. I also didn't understand the relationship between Huck and Jim properly. I always saw Huck as the dominant one in their relationship, and that is true, he is dominant. But I failed to see Jim's paternal nature. I knew he was affectionate towards Huck, but I wrote it off as something someone like Jim would do to a white child, that he had to do it.I also realized that Huck and Jim's relationship had a time limit to it due to who they were, a black man could not act as a paternal figure to a white child. The characters knew it and silently accepted it, giving the novel unexpected depth. Another thing I learned was about Huck's chosen isolation from civilization at the end of the novel. He has a home, and money, and a best friend, but because he is disgusted with society he chooses to leave.Plus the article was a breath of fresh air from the other articles and their sole focus on race.

Comedy and All His Cohorts

http://www.cracked.com/article_19549_5-old-timey-prejudices-that-still-show-up-in-every-movie.html
             The article, 5 Old -Timey Prejudices That Still Show Up in Every Movie, to be hilarious because it tells a truth. It explains the rather idiotic conventions of Hollywood. Such as there not being any female sexuality, little to none black male lead characters, and white washing history. These are all inequalities in the movie industry that everyone seems to either ignore or not care about. The article is humorous because it presents the flaws of Hollywood in a sardonic light. They point out the flaws and state the current system, such as a part of the article that reads: If It's A Blockbuster the Actor Better Be White (Or Will Smith). It's funny because it's true. Will Smith is one of the few minorities that can actually star/act in a movie without being killed off half way through it or being someone's best friend. Presenting the issues in a humorous way lets more people understand and relate to the article. If it was in the New York Times or something serious many people wouldn't give it the time of day, but because it both informs and entertains us we like it. It has a very serious message, that prejudice still exists,that is presented in a funny way.

Dear, Mr. Twain

            Well, Mr Twain, as of right now I'm reading the novel you wrote called "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". Though I am not finished I find the novel entertaining and thrilling. I am often on the edge on my seat because of all the scrapes Huck get's into, like his almost lynching . Tell me, who did you model Huck after? He's an interesting bright little boy who's wiser than most around him. Is he like you when you were a child? And were his experiences, like abuse, running away, and witnessing murder like yours? I also have to commend you the adventures Huck goes on, each one builds or adds to his character and each adventure is different. It gives the novel a epic and archetypal presence. A novel of self discovery. Jim seems to stand out to me. As a black person I am slightly offended by his portrayal. But as I think more about it, this is what people thought of black people at the time. And even worse , some were this way. As I read more of the novel Jim is revealed to have more depth, which is a relief for me because I wouldn't find your novel very enjoyable. And as of right now, I do find the novel entertaining. It has made me laugh at the absurdity of people's logic, cry at the senseless death's of children, and scare me when Huck is close to death.  You've written a novel that will last through the ages.
Sincerely, Maugrette

Huckleberry Finn

                I think "Huckleberry Finn"  is one of the most interesting novels I've read in class. It's unique that the reader is told a complicated story from a child's eyes. The novel plays out so far as episodic.Huck and Jim are traveling and they meet new people. I feel that if this were a movie or a t.v series or even a cartoon(!) I would watch it. As Huck and Jim go to a new place they grow and experience new things (kind of  like "Star Trek").Huck is the main character, he isn't good or particularly bad, he's just a kid who likes to have adventures. He's a mischievous, cunning, and (sometimes) caring little boy. And I like him well enough, he's surprisingly wise for someone so young. I also like his shifting views on Jim. Jim, a runaway slave is supposed to be property, yet how can someone care for and befriend property?Huck sees the little cracks in society that most people pretend not to notice. I think Twain wants to say sometimes is that " There's something wrong with you and the only person who realizes this is a kid."  I like Jim, at first I didn't but now after having some kind of back story(his wife and daughter) I've changed my mind. In the beginning  though that he was a black stock character stereotype. He is superstitious, simple, and is a sidekick to Huck.  But then I realize that he's a person. He isn't just a slave without feelings and emotions, he didn't choose to be a slave and he can't control what others feel about him. So maybe his superstitions and things like that are his ways of dealing with his life.(But this may be me adding my own thoughts and opinions on slavery to Jim's character) A theme I see in the book is failure to conform to society will make one an outcast. As Huck fails to conform to Miss. Watson's teaching and other standards and longs to be away from it all. Another theme is that  hate is an irrational emotion that can only lead to violence. Exampled in the feud between the warring clans and hatred towards black people. I also want to learn more about Huck's relationship with Tom. I know that Tom is a foil to Huck, but so far I don't have much of a back story. To me Huck seems to admire him in a childish way, I think Huck sees Tom as a sort of father or older brother figure. Also, where are the police? People are dying left and right and I've only seen one policeman.

Othello Questions

Act 4
1.) Besides Iago's lies to Othello and the handkerchief Iago stages a conversation between he and Cassio about Cassio's mistress, Bianca. Othello however interprets this as Desdemona.
2.) The handkerchief is very important because it is the physical "proof" that Desdemona is cheating on Othello and one of the first clues that leads to Othello suspecting her. The handkerchief symbolizes Othello and Desdemona's love, the purity of their love (strawberries could symbolize innocence) , and betrayal. I find that Emilia's actions are far too convenient and may have been deliberate.
3.)Othello believes she is unfaithful and thinks that anyone who married him has some kind of flaw.(Also Emilia walks in as he's about to have a turn around).
5.) In their conversation Emilia is revealed to be more worldly and more aware of the problems between men and women. Desdemona is more pure and more devoted to her husband.
6.) A scene that has dramatic irony was when Desdemona says her sheets are her death bed, they actually do become her death bed in the next Act.
Act 5
1.) After Othello kills Desdemona and Emilia walks in the story is told. Emilia reveals that she found the handkerchief and gave it to Iago, who gave it to Cassio. She also relates Iago's deceitfulness and the purity of Desdemona, and then Iago is caught in the act. He really is revealed to be guilty when he attacked his own wife.
4.)Othello kills Desdemona because he cannot deal with the shame and humiliation that she "cheated" on him. He wants revenge on her and everyone she is involved with(Cassio), I don't think this is avenging other men she's hurt but kills her for himself.
5.)Othello's flaw was that he was trusting of everyone, which includes bad people. These people took advantage of Othello's love and used him.
6.) I think that the Othello's ending speech helps clear him of most of his crimes but not all of them. Just because he's really sorry he killed his wife doesn't mean that all the damage he'd done is gone.But I do think the speech restores some of his original glory and valiance that he possessed at the beginning of the play.