Second Semester Reflection

Historical Fiction

      If I was to write a book about a certain time in history, I would choose to write about medieval times. It's the source of fairies and wizards, and all sorts of wonderful creatures. Although, my character likely would not encounter any sort of magical beings, it would be fun to place him in a similar setting. Besides, medieval history presents many opportunities for adventures. Even if dragons didn't run rampant, a knight could still rise to glory in a joust against a famed opponent or fight against an army for his King.  I would love for my character to encounter one of the legendary knights of the round table, or even King Arthur if he gets lucky. As long as he isn't struck down with the plague, he should be in for a good time.

Dickens' London

    Man, that game was a bummer. It does give you an idea of 18th century daily life though. I find it a bit sad that, although I made it through all the trials of the game, I came out half-dead. You really can't win unless you're one shrewd street-urchin.

Dickens

Is Dickens still relevant?
   While America may not be on the brink of a nationwide revolution, we still face a similar situation. Millions of families go without enough food each night, and individuals rave against the politics of a corrupt government. Conflict is simply a part of human society. No matter what form it takes, sin, the root of all suffering, remains the single factor of all hardship on earth. Therefore, despite the scenario, we will often feel comradeship with another human in a tough situation. We may not be able to relate to their exact situation, but chances are, we've encountered something similar.
     Another thing that ties us together is people. Although our clothes and mannerisms may change, the people behind them really don't. Kindness, greed, and virtue are still perpetuated in society everywhere we look. Likely, we all know someone, or a few people, like Carton, Lucy, or even the Veneers. However, Dickens' character aren't simply hollow replicas of humans. He breathes life and personality into every aspect of them, and frankly, that's how good writing is supposed to be.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/bleakhouse/animation.shtml

1800s: The Tiers of Education

   I had very mixed feelings about this article. On one hand, my national pride was sparked by the laws mandating public education. Largely because of the Puritans, America had one of the highest literacy rates in the 1800's. Unfortunately, my attention was soon drawn to the sections involving women in aforementioned public institutions. Female teachers were paid less than their male counterparts, however, the article reassures the reader that these teachers were "valued" for the womanly touch that they brought to their classroom. Quite demeaning, if you ask me. However, any integration of women into the work force is a step in the right direction.
   The article also references Frederick Douglas' revelation regarding the relationship of freedom and education. I find it odd that education, something that we often take for granted, was valued so highly. Today, we often mistake our rights for privileges.

1788: Race, Gender and Property—the U.S. Constitution

     Even after the evils of slavery have become commonly known, its unfairness and cruelty is still mind-boggling.  It's nearly impossible to comprehend that any Christian could praise the mercies of God one moment and then return home to mistreat a fellow Christian solely because of their race.

     These "slaves" were not only denied their freedom, but their humanity as well. Due to the three-fifths compromise, slaves were given the voting rights of only three-fifths of a man, and by most slave-holders, they were considered less than human. In Uncle Tom's Cabin, even though Mr. Shelby treats the slaves with much more dignity than other slaveholders, he still fails to see his slaves as human beings. He is hopeful that his slaves will embrace religion, however, he displays skepticism that his slaves can even comprehend the deeper concepts of Christianity.

Stowe 18-22

    In my word cloud, I made sure to include all the main characters. I have also included locations, adjectives to describe the characters, and themes. Many of the words present a harsh contrast, such as brutality and kindness. Both are present in the book, often intertwined closely in the culture of slavery.

Stowe, Chapters 13-17

Stowe, Chapters 5-8

Stoker Storyboard

Philosophy on Objectionable Elements

   In our world of staggering media consumption, it's often impossible to avoid objectionable material. The verse that I apply most to my decision process is I Corinthians 10:23, which states that, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify." When encountering inappropriate material, I first ask myself if the material is beneficial to me. Why do I want to read this? Will this be useful in either my everyday life or my spiritual walk? Very rarely do I encounter  any inappropriate material that I feel would be useful to me as a Christian. Second, I ask myself if the material might cause my mind to stray towards sinful thoughts. If I can watch something that is deemed inappropriate and still feel that I'm in complete accordance with God's law, then I would go right ahead and do it, but really, that's probably not the case.
   One of my biggest struggles is my own reading choices. Although I believe that books have helped me a lot in my struggle for wisdom, there have been many cases where books have gotten me into trouble. I've never been attracted to the types of movies or television programs which promote explicit material, however, it's very difficult for me to stop reading a book that I've already gotten into. If I'm reading a book and I find a scene that goes against my convictions, I need to be able to skip over it or boycott the book entirely. 

   I believe that as a Christian, it's best to avoid anything that can corrupt us. I've heard fellow Christians argue that as long as sinful material is viewed objectively, it can have no negative effects on our hearts. Although they may believe that their decision is righteous, I think it's unwise to invite evil into our hearts, regardless of the reason. I'd certainly not be the first Christian to be overcome by worldly sins, and it seems unwise to put myself in a position of temptation. Matthew 6:22-23 says, "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness."

Stoker 18-20

~ 251-275 ~

256. "A sacred bullet fired into the coffin kill him so that he be true dead."
I always thought I had a decent grasp of vampire lore, but I encountered a fact that I didn't know tonight. According to Book Drum, a vampire can be defeated by a bullet blessed by a priest. I always thought that bullets were used against werewolves rather than vampires.
255. "He may not enter anywhere at the first, unless there be some one of the household who bid him to come."
Although vampires were apparently unable to enter into a home without an invitation, the bustling nature of a Victorian household would allow a vampire to enter it rather easily. I suppose that's one benefit of my servant-less, small house.
256. "my friend Arminius, of Buda-Pesth University"
Bram Stoker may have based the character of Van Helsing on the Hungarian traveler and scholar,  Ármin Vámbéry. I find it interesting that so many characters and locations in Dracula may have been modeled after things in the real world.
256. "They learned his secrets in the Scholomance" 
Located in Transylvania, The Scholomance was a school dedicated to black magic that was was said to be run by the devil. Although the thought of a demon-led school isn't exactly good news, it does intrigue me. I suppose an interest in the unknown dwells within every man.
"An extract from Emily Gerard’s article ‘Transylvanian Superstitions’ describes the Scholomance:
As I am on the subject of thunderstorms, I may as well here mention the Scholomance, or school supposed to exist somewhere in the heart of the mountains, and where all the secrets of nature, the language of animals, and all imaginable magic spells and charms are taught by the devil in person. Only ten scholars are admitted at a time, and when the course of learning has expired and nine of them are released to return to their homes, the tenth scholar is detained by the devil as payment, and mounted upon an Ismeju (dragon) he becomes henceforward the devil's aide-de-camp, and assists him in 'making the weather,' that is, in preparing thunderbolts."
259. "a burnt rum punch, much patronized on Derby night"
According to Book Drum, burnt rum punch, also known as feuerzangenbowle, is prepared by soaking a lump of sugar in rum, lighting it on fire, and then allowing the sugar-rum mixture to drip into a vat of mulled wine. Some cultural food preparation is so interesting!
269. "The celebrated terrier "Major" kills 100 rats in 8 minutes and 58 seconds."
Although I've always been a cat person, this dog is pretty impressive!

275. "a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night"

Bram Stoker is referring to the pillar that God sent to the Israelites to guide them to the Promised Land. He presents in interesting comparison through this biblical allusion. So far, he seem to refer to the Scripture often.

~ 276-300 ~

281. "a new 'cold storage' building"

Before the invention of devices like the freezer and refrigerator, food was store in "caves, pits, or icehouses" that were filled with ice harvested during the winter. "The earliest cold storage buildings in London were constructed around the docks (such as Poplar) and the Smithfield meat market towards the end of the 19th century." When people see a need, they're pretty quick to remedy it. 

284. "the Aërated Bread Company"

According to Book Drum, Aërated Bread Company was a bakery and a tea shop for ladies. It sounds like a place that I'd love to visit. I feel like there aren't enough places that are meant for sitting and chatting with friends (while eating, of course!).

286. "such a smile as would have become the face of Malvolio"

In Stoker's Shakespearean allusion on page, he compares Renfield's expression to Malvolio's. Although it's been a long time since I've read Twelfth Knight, it painted a very strong picture in my mind. 

-Content courtesy of Book Drum

Objectionable Elements

   
Ojectionable : Undesirable, Offensive.
    Objectionable elements in both literature and the media are gradually becoming more commonplace. We'll often hear parents and grandparents reminisce of a time where smut was not so abundant, but what is causing this influx of objectionable material?
    I believe that the degree of objectionable elements in literature directly correlates to both its marketability and public acceptance. We all know that sex and violence sell, and as most people become more numbed to the flow of obscenity surrounding them, they are constantly searching for something new to shock them. If a book like 50 Shades of Grey or Twilight can sell hundreds of millions of copies, something is wrong with the readers of America.

    Objectionable content in literature is largely determined by readers. If a writer adds obscenity to his work, it's because he believes that it will enhance his piece or cause it to become more profitable. Until the public draws a moral line, authors will continue to test the boundaries of literary decency. For some authors, the salability of their book takes precedence over artistic integrity, and public outcry and resistance is the only cure for decreasing moral standards.  

Stoker 14-17

1. 205 - "There have been toads shut up in rocks for thousands of years."
Although rumors that frogs can live indefinitely within rock have been proven false, it has been proven that frogs can survive for over a year in porous limestone (which is still quite an impressive feat).
2. 204 - "Methuselah lived nine hundred years, and ‘Old Parr’ one hundred and sixty-nine."
Thomas Parr, if the rumor is true, lived for over 160 years.
3. 205 - "There lie the Indian fakir, not dead."
In 1837, Sadhu Haridas, a famous fakir, survived being buried underground for 40 days without water. I have often heard stories of fakirs who could levitate and withstand extreme, and although I may be skeptical of a spiritual link to these amazing feats, I've always been curious about them.
4. 209 - "We dined at 'Jack Straw's Castle."
Jack Straw's Castle was a London pub, which was frequented by Bram Stoker. It's really strange to think that the characters in Stoker's Dracula walked the same streets as he did.
5. 218 - "buy a pig in a poke."
Apparently, this phrase derives from con men who would pretend to sell pigs in a bag (a poke), but would actually sell the customer a cat or dog. This phrase now refers to "buying something inferior before examining it."
6. 224 - "The Host"
Although I was already aware of the significance of the communion wafer, I find it odd that some people believe that the wafer is the literal flesh of Jesus.
7. 226 "the passion masks of the Greeks and Japanese"
It's interesting that masks were used to convey expression, rather than just to hide one's face. Similar masks are used in Korean theater dance as well.
8. 226 " the coils of Medusa’s snakes "
Although I was aware of most of the lore surrounding Medusa, I didn't know she had wings in certain variations of the story. I feel like having snake hair and the ability to petrify people makes her more than powerful enough.
9. 228 " trembling like an aspen "
Apparently, the leaves of the Eurasian Populus tremula are known for their quivering motion. I believe I've heard the phrase before, but it's still an interesting little factoid.

10. 234 " we took the Underground to Fenchurch Street "
Apparently, Fenurch St. railroad station is not a real location in London. Curious.
-All contents courtesy of bookdrum.

Dracula Free Writing Response

19 Feb. Mililani. --- I sit in the frigid school library. The industrial, fluorescent lights flicker ominously overhead and the silence is broken only by the occasional shrill remark of an elementary student. As I pour over Dracula, I find it difficult to stave off the occasional nervous thought. What if Dracula is standing right behind me? Better not look, you'll just freak yourself out. Man, I should've brought a stake... I wonder dimly if I should call out to make sure that Amy is still alive in the cubicle behind me. Better not. That would make me sound crazy, or worse, I might alert the vampires of my presence. What if everyone else in the library has already been slaughtered by the Count, and I, in some miraculous occasion, was the only one left unharmed? 
P.S. Reading Dracula directly after marathon-ing The Walking Dead was probably not the best for my frazzled nerves.

Pride and Prejudice

Austen Gifts

Laurie

(Here)

As one of my few friends who can drive, Laurie cannot be expected to express her love of Mr. Darcy through something as mundane as a keychain or tote. She needs something that can keep up with her while she's on the go! Moreover, she can have all of Oahu wistfully daydreaming of the dashing Mr. Darcy as she drives past.

Kacie

(Here) 

Since Kacie's penmanship is legendary, she needs a tool fit for a writer of her callibur. With this lovely quill, which will be purchased in the alternate color of pink, she can amuse onlookers with her elegant handwriting and impress them with her appreciation of the finer things in life. She will also be upholding the valuable art of penmanship by sticking to a more traditional writing style.

Hannah

(Here)

I chose this lovely pendant for Hannah. The charming colors and retro design would go well with any outfit and would be a fashionable addition to any woman's jewelry collection. Since Hannah has classy taste, I think this necklace would suit her perfectly.

Amy

(Here)

For Amy's gift, she gets a date with this handsome man. Joking! Amy showed an interest in this particularly awkward shirt, and I'm sure she knows a gentleman who would wear it proudly (unless she's been eyeing it for herself). Whatever the case, I know she'd find a great use for it.

Cricket

 (Here)

For Cricket's gift, I would get her a jar of Lavender & Strawberry Marmalade. There's no better gift than an edible one, and Cricket seems like a girl who would appreciate it. I'm still a bit wary of anything flower-flavored, but I'm sure Cricket would be a good taste tester.

Keora

(Here)

 Keora is known to be a fashionable young lady, and this ring would be a stylish addition to her wardrobe. This ring also strikes me as artsy, and since we all know of Keora's interest in the arts, it seemed like a good fit. It is even a similar color to Keora's recent 3D sculpture.



How Fiction Can Change Reality - Jessica Wise' Response

Give an example of how a book really challenged the way you thought about an issue, society, an individual, or a group of people.

     Game of Thrones  drastically altered my expectations from literature (and indirectly, my worldview). In books, the protagonist is often a handsome figure who is impossibly strong (if not physically, in some other significant way). They are an invincible figure, and no matter how dire their situation, victory is always ensured in the end. However, Game of Thrones completely shattered my notions of a "hero". In Game of Thrones, everyone is flawed, and although some may be "better" than others, there is no glistening hero ready to save the day. 
     After reading Game of Thrones, I began to realize something about human society. Nothing is ever as black and white as we may think. Even the most "evil" of men is often a hero in his own eyes, and the men we put upon a pedestal are often found to be the most flawed. All hope should never be pinned on a single "hero", for even the greatest hero is tragically flawed. Instead, God should be the hero of our story, and following his legacy the greatest display of heroism.

“Life is not a song, sweetling.
Someday you may learn that, to your sorrow.” 

- George R.R. Martin

Austen Thoughts

Would you like to have lived during this time period? Why or why not?

Although there are many time periods that would have been far worse to live in, I don't have any particular desire to live in the 19th century. I'm accustomed to my lifestyle, and I think it would be very difficult to suddenly find myself in a time with completely different social customs, fashion, and technology. To be perfectly honest, I still haven't even deciphered the social protocol of my own time. 
Also, the Bennet's are a wealthy family (Does Mr. Bennet even have a job?), and the comfortable life that they life isn't shared by most of the residents of England in this time period. The rigid, monetary hierarchy of the 19th century defines their society, and finding a suitable husband seems almost impossible. One man makes too much to even consider you as a potential wife, while another man is too poor to be worth your interest. How on earth is anyone expected to get married? Even their chauvinistic views toward women can't compare to this stupidity.
I suppose the previously mentioned topic of marriage was what bothered me the most. Besides that, I can't find much wrong with the way they live. I enjoy the way they talk, it sounds so sophisticated! I can't even imagine being expected to sound so refined and elegant during normal conversation. I'm not quite sure if my mind could keep up with them though. I often find myself rereading particularly challenging bits, so I suppose I'm content admiring their language from afar.
  All in all, I wouldn't be too thrilled if I was suddenly required to live during the time of Pride and Prejudice. I do, however, admire various aspects of their culture, and I wouldn't be completely opposed to living there.

(Also, they have these side-burn curls...)