How the Novel Spoke to me

     When I heard that we got to read To Kill a Mockingbird I was thoroughly excited, for I had heard from many people what a wonderful novel it was. The novel definitely lived up to its reputation. For me, I definitely was touched on a personal level, in a few ways, by this book. Contained in this book were a various number of themes, any one of which could be related to something that someone has experienced within their life. I feel that if someone were to just read this book, without any latter dicussion, it could seem, perhaps, simplistic, yet with everything we've done I've realized just how complex this novel really is. There are many different sublots, many themes, and other plot devices worked into the novel so well, that the reader doesn't quite realize until further examination.
  
     In many instances, I was able to compare myself to Jem. For the most part he stays calm and passive, but certain things will push him to his limit. An example is when Mrs. Dubose calls Atticus a "nigger-lover," Jem looses his calm demeanor, and destroys her flowers. With this scenario in the book came fresh memories from a scene in my childhood very similar to this, except that what was directed towards me was about me. It happened in the summer after third grade if I remember correctly. I was with friends when they started talking about their religion, it didn't bother me, I just wasn't engaged in the conversation because they all went to church together, and I didn't. They asked me if I prayed every night, and I said no. The reply to my no were wispers of "He's not going to heaven." At the time I had very little knowledge of religion, but I knew what they were saying. I didn't get mad often, but this time threw me over the edge. Contrary to what Jem did, I remained passive, but yelled, then walked home, very shaken. To me, the theme that Atticus talked about, how it's better to keep your cool in situations, and really just try to work through it stuck out to me, because that's the advice my parents gave me at that point.
     I also felt that I was able to relate to Scout's coming of age. When I was younger I was very judgmental, and wouldn't think before saying certain things in the presence of others. I didn't realize yet that there were numerous types of people, and not just a couple. Throughout growing up, I learned just how different everyone was, and that different didn't make it wrong, because different for one person is normal for another, so that there actually is no defined "normal." Scout and I both changed our views towards others, going along with the theme acceptance of diversity, and not creating preconceptions of others.  
  

My Boo Radley

     Growing up, around the age of five or six I believe, I never realized what was so special about the moon, and more importantly, going to it. Truth be told, I was scared of it. Whenever my grandparents took me on a drive at night when there was a full moon, not knowing any better, I thought it was following us, and only us. I thought it was very close, and not special at all, just very ominous, a bright yellow eye staring down upon me. I thought maybe it followed me because I had something special (remember, I'm five).
  
     When I was six or seven, I read a story about the moon landing, and was able to slightly comprehend just how far away it was. After reading this, I asked my parents why the moon followed me. It was then explained to me that the moon just looks like it's following me, but really it isn't, and that that's just what all little kids think. I had this new found fascination with the moon, and the moon landing. I wanted to be an astronaut like Buzz Aldrin, or Neil Armstrong, and fly to the moon when I was all grown up.
    
     This can metaphorically compare to Scout's Boo Radley because it was something I had all of these certain ideas about, yet it was all really unknown to me. I didn't realize that the moon wasn't spooky until I looked at it in a different light, and saw that it looked very nice against the black backdrop of the cold black sky. The moon became my fascination, and at that point in my life it made me want to be an astronaut instead of the construction worker I had originally wanted to be.

English Blog Assignment 1

     Clearly, I like reading and writing, for I chose to be in Honors English. I enjoy creative writing more than essay-type writings because I really like to be creative with things I do. Writing essays actually really bore me, but I do get them done and I think I put a good amount of effort into them. Reading is easier to me, I do not put in the effort because I have to, but because I actually do like reading. I always get my assignments in on time, (I forgot about this one until now though, good thing we have until midnight).
     I will enlighten this online blog world by posting hopefully interesting comments, ones that people will maybe want to take more than a glance at. I can also recall the events from a book very well, and will be able to type about them online with other classmates. I do think that the meaning of an English class is to help students better understand what the text they are reading truly means, and to then be able to relate your thoughts about it to others through writing or speaking.
     English is a four-year requirment because, to me, we need to understand certain things better and better as we mature. Proper grammar is important to learn, communication with others in small and/or large groups, and better understanding the literary work you are reading. Excelling in English will definitely give me better speaking skills, which is an aspect of mine that could use some improvement. I think it will also allow me to read a vast number of advanced novels and get more out of them than just the basic story.