Maus Night Blogging Assignment

There were several similarities and differences between Maus and Night. A difference between them was in Night it really showed how a father and son must put aside differences and help each other out in times of crisis. Because in Maus, it was really just one man fighting for his own survival. A similarity between it was that death is everywhere and there's no way to avoid it. All three of the main characters had to learn that they couldn't avoid it and millions of people were going to die eventually, so you might as well get used to it early. Another difference between them was in Night, I think Elie Wiesel portrayed the Nazi's more gruesome and mean than what Maus did for the Nazi's. A similarity between the two books is that they both showed extreme measures that people would go through to avoid being caught by the German's. In Maus II, on page 110, Shivek and Vladek go and hide in the top of the barn, also on page 80, Vladek and some people were going to hide in an attic to avoid being transferred but the German's were going to bomb the camp, so they had to leave. In Night, Elie and his dad don't go and hide from the Nazi's, but people that they know where trying to escape Poland to avoid being captured and sent to a work camp.

I think that we should read both books in class. Because they both tell different ways of survival during WWII and the Nazi invasion of Europe. They are both truly great survival stories, and I think that Art Spiegelman and Elie Wiesel wrote these books very well.

Fallen Angels Pre Write

1. The language barrior in Restrepo showed how hard it would be to communicate with the local people of the country. Because if the interpreter messed up one word, then the entire meaning of what was said could be messed up.
2. When Restrepo got shot it kind of reminded me of when Perry got shot. Because in both cases everyone was extremely sad and just seemed like that just drained them emotionally.
3. In Restrepo they got hit with a road side bomb out of nowhere so that kind of shows the part when in Fallen Angels they get attacked at their base how surprising it can be.
4. When they pumped up the music and started singing together and dancing, they didn't have that in Fallen Angels but it just showed how they did anything to pass time and they were all close to each other.
5. Watching two of the marines friendly fighting, for example, in the barracks reminded me of the scene in Fallen Angels where Monaco pulled out a fake grenade and pretended to try to kill everyone; in both cases they show their manliness for jokes.
6. When the soldiers in Restrepo would hang out in their hooches like in Fallen Angels when they would play games and talk in the barracks.
7. When they guys went into the rock slide operation they where scared a lot, In the book they had to do patrols and other things they where also scared shitless at some points.
8. When we saw they way the soldiers lived, it was similar to the way the soldiers lived in Vietnam.
9. Creating outpost Restrepo was a cool moment and reminded me of when Perry would kind of make his own outpost when on patrol when he would dig himself into the ground and then put sandbags up around him
10. They both are able to talk to their families through letters and phones, but they both usually act cool to their families and tell them everything is fine when it isn't.
    

Slaughterhouse 5 essay

Nick Boone

Period 3

Mr. Cheng

2.8.2011

Slaughterhouse 5 Essay

            I think that the theme of Slaughterhouse 5 is war is horrific, but it is a part of life. There are several parts in Slaughterhouse 5 that show this. Like when, the Tralfamadorian’s tell Billy that even they have had war on their planet. Another part that shows this is the Bombing of Dresden. Thirdly, when Billy describes the Battle of the Bulge in the book.

            First off, when the Tralfamadorian’s say that even they have had war on their planet, that shows that war is a part of everyone’s life. "Billy's high forehead is in the cross hairs of a high powered laser gun. It is aimed at him from the darkened press box. In the next moment, Billy Pilgram is dead." But it is saying how even the Tralfamadorian’s even have war on their planet. So it’s everyone on Earth and other planets, we just have it in our DNA.

            Secondly the bombing of Dresden shows that war is horrific but it’s just a part of our life. “Where are you?” said Lily

“Dresden” replied Billy

“Dresden” Lily told Rumfoord

I think that this showing that Billy knows what is going to happen to Dresden very shortly, but he doesn’t want to tell anyone what is going to happen. So that shows that war is a part of our life and that there is no controlling it.

            Thirdly, when Billy describes the Battle of the Bulge. That shows some parts that war is nothing that we can control, and it’s going to happen regardless. “Anybody touches me, he better kill me, or I’m gonna have him killed.” I think that this shows that he is going to kill everyone until the day that he gets killed by a German during the war. Because he’s saying that if someone touches him, they better kill him or they’ll be killed by him. So I think that that just shows our nature of war is just in our nature and that it is horrific.

Slaughterhouse Prewrite

Please list 10 ways you can improve your essay scores

1. Read the book throughout                       6. Participate in the large group discussions
2. Do good on the quizzes                       7. Have a strong introduction and thesis statement
3. Make sure that I take my time while writing                       8. Take my time while reading, rereading if needed
4. Make sure that I find quotes that relate to the topic                       9. Have a strong conclusion paragraph
5. Make sure you use PIE                       10. Read the book every night


Please write any 15 thoughts about the book Slaughterhouse-5.  For each thought, please refer to a specific part of the book that generated this thought (for instance, “It was funny” receives no credit; “It was funny when he described the Tralfamadorians” receives full credit).

1. I thought that it was funny when Billy described the Tralfamadorians with their shafts pointing upwards

2. I thought it was kind of awkward when the author was describing Billy and Valencia having sex

3. I thought it was interesting when the author said that the Tralfamodorians thought that Billy was beautiful even though he was an ugly looking guy

4. I thought it was intense at some points of Billy describing the war

5. I thought it was nice when the author described Billy and Montana having sex 

6. It was also serious when Billy was remembering back to the war and the poeple he saw killed

7. I thought it was interesting when I found out that the Germans used Jew fat to make candles and soaps

8. I thought it was interesting how the author said, "So it goes" after everyone died

9. I thought it was interesting while I read, I compared some parts of the book to the movie Inception

10. I thought that it was exciting when the 3 Musketeers were in action and how Ronald thought they were going to be famous

11. I thought it was funny when Ronald told Lazzaro to avenge him, then Lazzaro broke his arm

12. I thought it was cool how the author used the planet of Tralfamdore to make you want to read the book that much more

13. I thought it was sad when Edgar burst into tears after Billy gave him the lollipop

14.I also thought it was sad when Edgar was shot because of taking a tea cup

15. I thought it was stupid how the American soldiers were critisized for looking "sloppy"


State 5 possible themes for the book Slaughterhouse-5.
1. Appreciate life, because it can change in an instant

2. Don't take stuff for granted. Ever

3. War is a part of life and there's no way around it

4. Death is part of the life cycle, so when someone dies, you grieve, but then life has to go on

5. Always try to be nice to people because you may never see them again


Write a conversation between yourself and Billy Pilgrim in which he tries to teach you a lesson based on his own experiences.  You must explain IN DEPTH at least 3 specific events and details from the book in order to receive full credit.  This conversation should go on as long as it takes to demonstrate YOUR UNDERSTANDING of Billy’s experiences.
Nick: Hey Billy
Billy: Do I know you?
N: Nah man. But I read about you in English
B: O alright. Well do you wanna know anything about my experiences?
N: Yeah man. Dude, what did you think of Montana when you first met her on Tralfamadore?
B: I thought she was drop dead gorgeous, and as you read we ended up having sex
N: YEah I knew that. What was your most memorable part of WWII?
B: I would probably have to say the Battle of Bulge or when Edgar was shot because he took a tea cup
N: Yeah, I thought that was sad when Edgar was shot in front of the firing squad
B: I cried after that. Anything else you would like to know?
N:  Just one. Was it weird time traveling?
B: Yeah for sure. Ecspecially at first, because I didn't know what was going to happen. Like you know how people say, "don't step on anything, or the future will be changed forever."? I was really worried about that
N: OK. Thank you Billy. Very nice to meet you
B: Yup. Same here man. Bye

Siddhartha Blogging Assignment

During the book Siddhartha, he has a falling out with his friend, Govinda. I've had that with a friend from elementary school, his name was Austin Jones. He moved to South Dakota in 6th grade. We got into an argument during the end of 5th grade and never really talked after that. When i was reading the part where Saiddhartha and Govinda got into a fight, it really made me think about that.  Siddhartha says, "Do not forget Govinda, that you know belong to Buddha's holy men. You have renounced home and parents, you have renounced origin and property, you have renounced your own will, yoy have renounced friendship. That is what the teachings preach, that is the will of the Illustrious One. That is what you wished yourself. Tomorrow, Govinda, I will leave you." That is saying that he will leave him to follow his own path, and let Govinda go on his own path. From my life, we had an argument over something stupid, I can't even remember what it was. But we never reconsiled, and that's something that Siddhartha and Govinda at least can do. But me and Austin can not.