The Book Thief Entry 3

(Response to Socrates)

I agree that the mayor's wife was a peculiar character. At first you wonder what is up with her. It's interesting how she is always identified by her bathrobe and her hair. She rarely talks and is always described as so frail and...almost broken. Zusak describes her smile as "the appearance now of a bruise". He goes on to say her "arms were hanging slenderly at each side. Like girls' arms." I can so easily picture her in my mind. Her character is not very out there and she doesn't seem to have a very bold personality, but, like Socrates said, she really sticks out. I personally thought her character was very memorable. I always wondered about her. She was so mysterious and unknown at the beginning. When she saw Liesel steal the book, I didn't know what to expect as her reaction. By letting Liesel into the house and into the library, I questioned Ilsa ( I think that's her name. I always thought of her as the mayor's wife). I had actually been kind of suspicious of her at first but as the story goes on, I saw her intentions were not bad. She seemed like a good person. After Liesel flipped out at her for firing Rosa and then stole the books, Ilsa's actions afterward really helped define her character. Though she was quiet and barely spoke, I got to know her by all of her actions. She had previously welcomed Liesel into her home, offering her books. Then she had known Liesel was stealing books but she didn't make a big deal of it or tell Rosa. She instead just left the dictionary with the note. She handled the situation in her own way. I really liked her character. I felt that there was more to her than just the mayor's wife whos son died.

The Book Thief Entry 2

(Comment On Cicero's)

I really liked Max too. Is it weird that I wanted Liesel and Max to hook up? I know they are like more than ten years apart but I really want them to end up together. In the end, Zusak didn't say whether they did, but I like to think it happened. There's a part where Death says Max sort of replaced her brother so that means they were close and cared for each other. Liesel just needed to get a little bit older... and then they could fall in love! I gave up on Liesel and Rudy very early in the book considering it was known that Rudy was going to die. I was completely freaking out when Liesel saw Max on his way to Dachau. That was such an emotional and powerful scene! They had both been looking for each other! Then they get to see each other briefly. It was so painful when Max said "You have to let go of me, Liesel". And then when Liesel continued to walk with him and said lines from the Word Shaker. It was so sad! And he had to continue to walk to what he thought was his death! I was so happy when he turned out to be alive! There was so much death. Everyone had died. But then Max turns out to be alive! I thought he was for sure dead because of Dachau but he wasn't! It's good Liesel got to keep at least one person she loved.

The Book Thief Entry 1

When Death first started giving away what would happen, I was kind of mad. As I continued to read though, I didn't really find it a bad thing. I've never really read a book with spoilers like that, so it was interesting and different that it changed how I read the book. I think I liked Rudy a lot more for some reason because I knew he was going to die. I paid a lot more attention to everything he did with that knowledge. This sounds kind of weird but I savored all of the scenes he was in where as if I had not known he was going to die, I don't think I would have appreciated him and his presence as much. Everything he does now is so much more important to me. I've been in denial this whole time, not wanting him to die! I keep hoping Death is lying. Zusak makes it so much worse when Liesel is realizing her feelings for Rudy. It's cute that she feels that way but at the same time, I don't want her to feel that way because she is only going to end up devastated. Poor Rudy! He's younger than me yet he is going to die! He's getting started with his life and he seems to have a lot of potential but that doesn't even matter because he will be dead!

By Andy Warhol

1. Look carefully at your picture. List some things that you see.

a. I see a soup can.

b. There isn't really a background.

c. It's a Campbell's soup can.

d. The picture is cartoonish. Not completely realistic.

2. How is the painting put together?

Lines-The picture has a mixture of curved and straight lines. They are both horizontal and vertical. There are many actual lines but also some implied ones like where the red and white meet.

Color-The picture has barely any color. The only bright color in it is straight-up red which is a primary color. The red contrasts with the black, white, and tan, intensifying the picture. The red brings out the soup can in the picture. The blah colored background also brings out the soup can.

Shapes-There is little irregular shape in the picture. The artist uses very geometric and regular shapes like the circles and rectangle that make up the cylinder of the can. The lettering is also pretty regular except the cursive.

Space- The picture is kind of flat. There isn't much depth in the picture and the can's shape seems slightly distorted, making the picture look very two-dimensional. The lack of a background also flattens the picture.

Lighting-The picture lacks a light source, making the picture very cartoony.

Composition- The picture appears balanced because of the use of color. The red is half and the white is half. The picture doesn't have much mood since it is basically just a soup can but it is kind of cartoony making it sort of fun. The actual lines contribute to the cartooniness as does the primary color red.

Renaissance Art

Titian

Bacchus And Ariadne

1520-1523

Brutus

In the play Julius Caesar, Brutus is the most interesting character to me. Brutus is a man of high rank in Rome. He is a powerful public figure. He is seen by others, and by himself, honorable throughout the play. In Act I Scene 2 lines 88-89, Brutus says "I love the name of honor more than I fear death". This shows how honorable he finds himself. He always wants what he finds is best for Rome. Though being honorable can be a good trait, Brutus also has a flaw of being very gullible and naive. He constantly misjudges others' character. Cassius at the beginning of the play, easily convinces Brutus that Caesar must be killed. Cassius uses Brutus's idea of honor to sway him to go against Caesar. Brutus doesn't see that Cassius's intentions are truly dishonorable. Also later in the play, Brutus misjudges Marc Antony's character several times. When talking with the conspirators, Brutus says that Antony doesn't need to be killed since he is nothing without Caesar, "And for Marc Antony, think not of him; For he can do no more than Caesar's arm when Caesar's head is off". He underestimates Antony. Later at the funeral he also lets Marc Antony speak to the people. Brutus doesn't realize what Antony is capable of. When it comes down to it, Brutus is constantly trying to do what he finds in noble and honorable. Unfortunately, he is easily swayed and convinced into thinking wrongdoings are right. In the end, he truly wants what is best for Rome. Marc Antony even says in Act V Scene 5 lines 68-73 "This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great Caesar; He, only in a general honest though and common good to all, made one of them". Though the other conspirators just envied Caesar, Brutus truly thought it was best for all of Rome. Brutus has a medium morality just because he does things for the common good. The things he does are of low moral but his intentions are good, putting him in between low and high morality.

I found that Brutus is the most interesting character because of his struggle between right and wrong. He is conflicted with what is and isn't honorable. It was interesting to watch him act on what he truly thought was best. Standing by his honor became an admirable trait for him. Brutus is the most interesting because his honor set him apart from the other conspirators. He sticks out from the other characters in the play. Unlike ALL of the other characters in the play, he isn't power-hungry or want to up his position in Rome. He really just cares for Rome.

Brutus is kind of like Lucy from The Chronicles of Narnia because of the fact that they are too trusting. They can misjudge people. Like Brutus misjudges Cassius and Marc Antony, Lucy misjudges Mr. Tumnus. Right off the bat, Lucy trusts Mr. Tumnus and even goes to his house with him. Little does she know that Mr. Tumnus plans to kidnap her and take her to the evil white witch. Though Brutus is under slightly different circumstances, they still have that trait in common.

The Allegory Of The Cave

1.) I believe that the "shadows" are the lies that we've grown up believing in. They are illusions that are deceptive and not what they seem to be. An example of a "shadow" would be magazines. Magazines have many hidden lies in them, whether it is edited photos or articles on how you should present yourself or act. Media such as the news and other television programs are also "shadows". Politicians can be very large "shadows". They tell you what you want to hear and alter what you don't.

2.) http://www.mastercard.com/us/gateway.html This website is a shadow because it colorfully advertises all of the benefits of having a credit card, but barely shows you the negatives. It lures you into wanting a credit card, only to then shove all the consequences and expenses at you once you get the credit card.

3.) "Shadows" have a great impact on all age groups. They seduce children into wanting that special toy, convince teenagers that they aren't good enough the way they are, and trick adults into believing their lies. Trusting these shadows can be very dangerous. Maybe not so much for the kid that wants a new toy, but they can push a teenager into depression, eating disorders, or even just being over self-conscious. Shadows are deceptive lies that display a false reality. Little good can come out of believing in them.