Ideal Society

Stephen Hawking: Stephen Hawkings' role in this society would be that of a scientist and leader. His intelligence and ability to perform at incomparable levels, despite his condition, allow him to be viewed as an enlightener, inspiring others through his own life and achievements and through living by example. Stephen Hawkings' power is not found in his inability to move or speak but in his charisma and liveliness that is existent in a lifeless body. Hawking's is an essential piece of my ideal society because he represents the greatest qualities in a leader.

Robin Hood: Robin Hood's role in society is that of warrior, dreamer, and teacher. His loyalty to the people and willingness to throw himself into harms way for the goodness of the others reflect his warrior-eske personality. The common idea associated with Robin Hood, take from the rich and give to the poor, resembles his dream of equality among men of different classes, as well as liberty among the people. Through his acts of immoral charity he is able to instill a sense of hope and determination into the people which is a well needed characteristic when times get rough.

Elizabeth Bennet: Elizabeth Bennet's role in society is that of a female leader and dreamer. Her futuristic persona and way of thinking represent her ability to be a female leader, in addition to her willingness to speak her mind no matter the audience. She is ahead of her time and does not settle for less that she wants. These characteristics truly are essential to being a leader.

Bill Cosby: Bill Cosby's role in society is that of an entertainer, scholar, teacher(through his comedy). Through the comedy he creates about every day life Cosby is able to reach a broad spectrum of audiences ranging from young adults to elder folk. His comedy relates to the average family life, teaching people about every day life and dilemmas while murdering them with laughter. He would be an essential part of society to help people take a look at themselves.

David Alfaro Siqueiros: David's role in society is that of an artist who's masterpieces usually reflect the government's effect on the people of society, especially in Hispanic communities. David is an essential part of my ideal society because he is able to live in one world made up of art and politics, as opposed to separating the two. It is important to be able to live one identity and recognize the world around you than live two, and be oblivious to what is really happening. through his art he can keep the society true to its values.

The Stages of Courtly Love

The Stages of Courtly Love Today
-Attraction to the lady, usually via brief but decisive eyes/glances
-Familiarize yourself with that person through a temporary friendship
-Declaration of interest(declaration of immense passionate devotion could be viewed as a turn off or obsessiveness)
-Acceptance/playful banter by the lady
-Introduction/up keeping of faithfulness
-Be yourself
-Avoid temptation from others
-Act as though you are seeing your lady for the first time every day (which should be a positive mutual feeling)
-Never put down your lady outside the context of humor
-As you age do not allow your heart to mimic the effects of your body, allow it to be its own body and represent the same power that it did since day one

Essential Question #4 Part B

Hrothgar's farewell to Beowulf is both kind-hearted and extremely discomforting. His farewell basically generalizes the idea that Beowulf will one day be destroyed.That one day natures finest element will come knocking on his front door asking him to follow. This element is death and it will come, Hrothgar says, whether through battle or through old age. The worshiped, god-like Beowulf is not god like after all as he is only human. He constantly says that Beowulf's time will come.In addition to Hrothgar's rather interesting philosophical interpretation of Beowulf's fate he begins telling Beowulf of his unconditional gratitude to God. "Thus I thank the Creator, the Eternal Lord, that after our afflictions i have lived to see, to see with my own eyes this blood-stained head"(Lines 1762-1764). Obviously Hrothgar says this quote as he is overcome in joy in being able to gaze down on Grendel's bloody head for the first and last time. However, he does not really thank Beowulf here, he sort of hints that he is grateful for Beowulf's arrival in this farewell speech. Maybe he gave Beowulf a wink of appreciation after telling him that he was eventually going to die, or maybe even a pat on the head, after all he seems to be quite a character. It does not seem like Hrothgar uses his time to say farewell to express his unconditional gratitude. It seems as though he told Beowulf that he must, in modern English, live life to the fullest as it passes by quicker than expected. Hrothgar says that he has fought many battles and is overwhelmed in joy in the fact that he gazes down on Grendel's bloody face for the first and last time. Hrothgar indirectly thanks and blatantly warns Beowulf that the good things in life (which is the gift of life) never last and that he should live like never before, before it is all ripped away from his pulverizing grip and stripped from his very indestructible character.

Essential Question # 3

Wealtheow, in Beowulf, is portrayed as a very humble, kind-hearted woman who was, "adorned with gold." In the poem the purpose that Wealtheow fulfills is that of a hostess. When introduced into the novel she is described to be dressed in wealth and greeting the many men in the hall, offering drinks to all as praise for their presence. She can be seen as a goddess who knows no evil and is a representation of nurturing love and care. In the poem Wealtheow is a servant to some extent, offering drinks to all the men in Heorot, and taking care of her king as a mother would care for her child. She sets the stage for what Anglo-Saxon women might have been like, humble, kind, loyal, beautiful, and obligated to serve to some extent. Wealtheow's introduction into the poem is brief but resembles what women of that time period might have been like.

Essential Question #2

The social obligations of a hero are nothing. A hero is no different than you and I, not one singular person amongst billions, but someone who lives life like the vast majority of us do, like humans. A hero doesn't have super strength, the ability to fly, or x-ray vision, nor does a hero have to land an airplane in the Hudson river, saving many. A hero is no one out of the ordinary, but the very person you see when you look in the mirror every morning when you wake up. We are all heroes to somebody, whether it be our younger siblings or an entire nation. We are not obligated to do anything but be ourselves and wait for the very day when someone says, "you are my hero".

Essential Question #1 Part B

Lady Macbeth's role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth is purely progressive and nothing more. Her role as a determined woman who lusts after power and position simply adds to the climactic plot of Macbeth and demonstrates that Shakespeare has portrayed her as a woman of ahead of her time. The mere fact that Lady Macbeth plays an immoral character who sought after the few things that many people desire even until this day is irrelevant, as she was able to hold her own against the men of the time and coerce Macbeth into obeying her every whim. Characters such as Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello also play similar roles as a villain in the story, but at the same time they were sharp and cunning. The villainy is irrelevant in comparison to the ingenuity Lady Macbeth exhibits. To answer the question as to whether or not Shakespeare was progressive or misogynistic in his portrayal of Lady Macbeth, he was progressive, for Lady Macbeth’s clever and mischievous nature is what made this tragedy all the more epic.

Outliers writing assignment

Stephen Simmons-Uvin
Ap English 11/Mr. George
5/25/10
Outliers

I consider myself to be academically successful not in the grades that I receive but the distance I have come since the day I was born. Granted that I didn’t attend school, excluding preschool, daycare, and kindergarten, until I was around six years old in the first grade, I have come a substantial distance since then. To be quite honest, since then I had only strived to become what I feel that I am today, the guy who strives to be no greater than the best and no worse than the worst. I did what I needed to in order to get by in life and in school. I showed up to class with a pen, pencil, and a mind willing to pay attention. The first grade marked the beginning of this middle man trend and has brought me to where I am today, with opportunity. The structural elements that have led me to become relatively successful in regards to academics has been the way I was taught. Since the first grade I have always had mediocre teachers who would teach, drink a coffee between periods, go about their days, and repeat this cycle daily. However, these teachers took the time to explain the material in depth and in a way that pleased everyone’s learning styles.
From being in Ap English I think I have had a huge advantage over others who may not have. By being in this course I have developed a greater understanding of the English language and have learned specific literary tactics which helped to improve my writing. By being in this course with other very intelligent people I have been introduced to new ways of thinking and different levels of intelligence. In this class I have not only been taught by Mr. George, but my peers as well, which makes being in this Ap English course substantially advantageous.
In regards to accumulative advantages in my story of academic success, I was lucky. I was lucky that I had the same teachers for the first six years of my life. I was lucky that my other teachers cared more about a blunt paycheck and summer vacation. I was lucky that I got accepted to schools and had the opportunity to learn and study with very intelligent people. I was lucky, and that’s all it really was. I lived the academic dream life that many people would have desired and got the attention and help when I needed. I went to smaller schools and found myself more engaged in the material being taught and less focused on the giant, three hundred pound, person that could have been sitting forty rows ahead of me had I gone to public school. I became used to this environment and had an advantage over those who might have been new to the school or used to attending a school with four thousand kids. It was luck, sprinkled with a little bit of effort, that crafted the middle man I am today.