Blake on Lake

Although we have not read too much this year, I would say there is a clear top 3 of the works we have read. Gulliver's Travels, Othello, and I'm Glad My Mom Died were definitely my top 3 books this year due to the contrast they provided with each other. Starting with Gulliver's Travels, a satirical novel about English aristocracy, we were introduced to the rhetorical skills an author might take in portraying a message. Gulliver's Travels was not only informative on the use of rhetoric but it was entertaining as well. I especially enjoyed the presentation assignment associated with the end of the novel as it allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the work. I also enjoyed the class discussions on the reading as it was a chance to better understand the reading and important aspects of the book. Moving on to I'm Glad My Mom Died, a memoir based on the life of Jennette McCurdy, we were able to enjoy a book about something familiar to us or in this case someone. I e...

Tim Blake Nelson's film O, a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Othello" set in American upper class prep school was underwhelming. The film began with a basketball team playing a close game with the main character, Odin, modern adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello character, making a buzzer beater shot to win the game. Later at an awards ceremony, Odin is recognized as the team MVP or most valuable player. During his acceptance speech Odin says it wouldn't have been possible without his right-hand man, Mike, modern adaptation of Shakespeare's Cassio character, setting Hugo off, modern adaptation of Shakespeare's Iago character. Right from the start the movie falls into the Hollywood trap of casting big-named stars in high school character roles as they are looking to make more money off of their names rather than portray realistic looking high school students (Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, etc.). I think portraying the movie in an American uppe...

I wake up to the sound of my alarm—four AM. Rise and shine. It’s the middle of winter, I have school in a few hours, and I still have an English essay to write. I throw on some sweatpants and a sweatshirt, head downstairs, throw on my tennis shoes, and walk out the door. As I get outside I see mist with every breathe I take as if I was a fifty year old chain-smoker well past his prime. It's just me and my thoughts. I do my stretches and start my run. Up to the top of the court, down the street, through the woods, to the track. As I am running I begin thinking about how I could be back in bed under the warm covers, but this just motivates me to run faster. Weakness. Instead of counting my laps I count the people I lap. The two other early risers provide a nice goal to achieve. As soon as I pass one I race to pass the next. After around forty laps, my incentives decide to leave and I am alone once again. I run five more laps and head home. Once home, I see my mom at the door, hands o...

          Ever since I was little I remember playing lots of sports. In fact, I probably played every sport (Football, Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, Swimming, etc). My favorite of these sports was never the same as it changed depending on the season. In the fall, my favorite was soccer, and in the spring it was baseball. My dad was a big reason that I got into all these sports. In fact, I probably would've played close to none of them due to how laid back my mom is. They are complete opposites; my dad, the passionate “coach mentality,” while my mom, the caring, “mother bear” looking out for her cubs. My dad has always been passionate about sports and wanted to share his love for sports with me my whole life. Starting at six years old I first started playing baseball on the Rosedale rec team. From there I played travel/club ball and later for the Middle School "A" Team. I was so excited to make the team and see all my hard work over the years pay off. The countless...

            In Gulliver's Travels by Jonathon Swift, he uses many satirical methods to criticize topics of 18th  century English society and some of these topics even apply to today's society. However, I believe that Swift’s greatest satirical effect comes when he mocks the dumb reasons for which conflict occurs and how war in general is stupid.       When Gulliver, the protagonist, first travels to Laputa, he learns about the two opposing parties— Lilliputians and Blefuscu—and their different belief in how eggs should be cracked (right side up or right side down). It goes to the extent of the two parties fighting over this egg-streme crisis. Sorry, I had to. Anyways, Swift's objective when writing about the Lilliputians vs the Blefuscu is to show the reader that people’s reasons for conflict are often stupid and how war can be bad.       Another example of Swift satirizing these skirmishes is when Gulliv...

       Jonathan Swift, a satirical writer and commentator of the late 17th century, would have a lot to say if he was alive today. Maybe he would talk about the opposing republican and democratic parties who are separated by basically nothing. Maybe he would talk about modern day abortion laws and the inhumane acts that people commit upon their unborn babies. Maybe he would talk about how people in Congress gain their positions even if they are not fit for the job. Whichever he chooses to discuss, it would be through his famous satirical style where he criticizes the issue through sarcasm and humor. Out of all the issues Swift may talk about, how people gain their positions in Congress seems the most probable. Due to his description of Liliputians, fantastical characters in his novel Gulliver’s Travels, gaining their rank in government by rope dancing, it is most evident that he already takes a critical stance on an issue similar to Congress elections. Swift, for his...