Category: English

The essay that you are about to read is a summary of the play, “The Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare.

The play starts with an English lord who tricks the drunkard, Sly, into thinking that he is a lord himself. The lord then puts on a play for Sly that is titled, “The Taming of the Shrew”. The play is about the 2 daughters of Baptista Minola who need’s suitors for them. The youngest, Bianca Minola, is a very sweet tempered and modest girl who has many suitors. Her older sister, Katherina Minola, or Kate, is the complete opposite of her younger sister. She is very ill – tempered and fierce and scares all off her suitors away. This is why she is known as the “Shrew”. Because she is this way, it is difficult to get her married. Because she wont get married, her younger sister can’t. So, Bianca’s suitors find a way to get Katherina married by telling a man named Petruchio, that there will be a prize for marrying her due to Baptista being very rich. Since Petruchio has a love for money, but also wants to find a wife, he accepts this offer and, after a very long argument with Katherina, marries her. This opens the door to marriage for Bianca, who then marries the man she loves.

But this play isnt about Bianca, it’s about how Petruchio “tames” Katherina. After they are married, (She doesnt really marry by her own will) Petruchio takes Katherina to his home. To tame her, he begins by “starving” her that night by saying that the food his servants cooked were not suitable for eating. He also tames her with other ways such as, not letting her have the clothes she wanted until she was more gentle, saying that the moon was up when the sun was clearly shining, and other silly ways such as these. sssss

Finally, Katherina and Petruchio get word that Bianca is getting married, and head back to the city where Baptista lives. It is not until this time when Katherina actually falls in love with Petruchio. This shows when three men, Petruchio, the man that marries Bianca, and one other, make a bet to see who’s wife will obey him when he calls for her. The very least person that everyone, besides Petruchio, expects to listen to her husband is Katherina. But it turns out that she was the only one who listened. She even took Bianca and the other wife with her because she was ashamed that they did not listen to their husband. She then called all the women together and gave them a lecture in front of the men. Here is a piece of it;

“Fie, fie! Unknit that threatening unkind brow, and dart not scornful glances from those eyes. To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor. It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads, confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds, and in no sense is meet or amiable. A woman moved is like a fountain troubled- Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty; And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty. Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it. Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee, and for thy maintenance commits his body. To painful labor both by sea and land, To watch the night in storms, the day in cold, whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe; And craves no other tribute at thy hands. But love, fair looks, and true obedience- Too little payment for so great a debt. Such duty as the subject owes the prince, even such a woman oweth to her husband; And when she is forward, peevish, sullen, sour, and not obedient to his honest will, what is she but a foul contending rebel. And graceless traitor to her loving lord? I am ashamed that women are so simple. To offer war where they should kneel for peace.”

After this “speech” she gives, she kisses Petruchio and the play ends.

I highly recommend reading this play. It is very funny and I couldn’t help laughing while I was reading it. The “Taming of the Shrew” movie from 1967 also helped me understand the play so I also recommend it.

In this essay, I will compare and contrast Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and Aunt Polly.

Tom Sawyer: Tom Sawyer is the main character in the book, “Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain. He is a very curious boy of the age of 12 and he tends to over- excaudate things and is very dramatic, he is also very superstitious. He likes to pull pranks and is very manipulative. This shows when he finds ways he can get out of work by making deals with his friends. In a lot of different versions of “Tom Sawyer”, the cover photo is usually a picture of someone white washing a fence while Tom stands by with a sly smile. Heres an example of this:

Besides these quirks, he can be a very nice and positive boy. I forgot to mention, he gets in trouble a lot, but if he didnt, we would have a very boring book called “Tom Sawyer”.

Huck Finn: He is better known as Huckleberry Finn, the son of the town drunkard. This makes him a rough, but fun, boy to be around. He is superstitious like Tom and doesn’t mind being known as a boy that no one wants to be around. Parents tell their children to keep away from him, but because of the state he is in, more kids are around him. He eventually has his own adventure in the book, “Huckleberry Finn”. He also doesn’t mind getting into a fight or two.

Aunt Polly: Aunt Polly is Tom’s aunt, whom is not mentioned in the book to often. She always threatens to whip or beat Tom, but rarely does. But when she does happen to beat him, she feels very remorse about it in the end. This shows that she has a bit of an compassionate nature.

Aunt Polly is much different from the two boys so it’s easier to find similarities in Tom and Huck. The two boys both love treasure hunting, playing pirates, etc. Tom and Huck are both curious, adventures, superstitious, and fun.

I personally think that “Tom Sawyer” is a great and funny book, and I highly recommend reading it.

I know I already wrote an English essay but my teacher had me wright two… one about a family member and the other about something that happened this week. This essay is about something that happened this week.

Nothing much happened this week besides the fact that I went to my friend’s house. I am not going to say her name or anything like that because I dont want to give out her personal info.

It was really fun. We mostly played on her trampoline with her younger sisters and her older brother. We played things like “Dead man, Dead man, come alive” and “Follow the leader”, where we have to try to do a trick that the leader does. It was super fun! After that, we went inside and played a board game… I forgot what its called though!

Other than that, my week has been pretty boring… so that makes my essay short…

My Little Sister

I’m the oldest kid of a family of eight, I have four younger brothers and a little sister. In this essay, I will talk about my little sister, Hannah.

My little sister was born June 13th, 2013, the same day I was born in 2006. She was, and is the best birthday present I have ever had and I love her ALOT. Before she was born, I had 3 younger brothers and I really wanted a little sister. Finally, she was born and I was super excited!

Hannah is a really cute 5 year old (Don’t tell her I said that or else she’ll try to act cute) who has blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a very sweet, loving, and silly personality, she listens very well, and she never throws fits. She loves, loves, loves horses and ponies (I might have influenced that…),kittens, dogs, bunnies and cute baby birds. She can be a picky eater but if there is something she likes, she gobbles it up in 5 seconds! Some of her favorite foods include, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, Reese’s, pancakes, cheeseburgers, tacos and potato chips. Hannah also likes talking and singing a lot so you will most likely here a lot come out of her mouth. This can be annoying sometimes but I politely ask her to stop and she listens well.

Since Hannah and I are seven years apart, we have different tastes. For example, she wants our room covered in all sorts of horse things. Sure, I love horses, but I dont want a room that is covered in horse stuff. I want a room that has some horse stuff in it. It will be nice when shes older cause she will realize that a horse covered room would be overwhelming.

I also like doing crafts with my little sister. Just recently, we drew some paper dolls and horses, and cut them out. She now plays with them all the time! I will sometimes play with her and I even find it kind of fun! I know I am a little to old for those kind of things, but I dont mind doing it for my little sister.

I may have made my little sister sound like a “Little angel” but as I said, I love my little sister a lot and I love seeing her grow up.

The assignment was to wright about worldviews of 2 or 3 authors from this year…

I would quickly like to point out what a Worldview in Literature is. Depending on what the Author’s worldview is, that is what will come up in their book. So if a Author was a Christian, his or her book would most likely have Christian characters and thinking.

Louisa May Alcott

This year, I read the book “Little Men” by Louisa May Alcott, who is an American author. Based on the book and others I have read, I think that Louisa May Alcott’s Worldviews are; Theism and Transcendentalism.

If you read “Little Men”, you will find that the boys sing several hymns, go to church on Sundays and listen to Father or Mother Bhaer read the Bible. This would mean that the Author is a Theist, or someone who believes in one god.

In “Little Men”, Mother ( or Jo) and Father Bhaer do not believe in beating the boys (This would mean not spanking, speaking harshly, and/or hurting them), Jo also sees the boys’ good sides and hopes to help them. She also tries to not look at the boys’ bad side and thinks that they are good no matter what. This would make Louisa May Alcott a Transcendentalist, or someone who thinks that people are born as “Sweet little angels” and that there is really no bad in them.

My next Author is Daniel Defoe, who wrote the famous book, “Robinson Crouse”. His worldview was most likely Theism. I cannot think of any other worldviews he might have because I have not read many of his books.

Daniel Defoe was most likely Christian because after the wreak, Robinson Crouse starts reading the bible more and more, and starts looking to the Father for help. Because the main character in the book is Christian, the author is most likely Christian.

There are many worldviews in the world. Some are not implemented today while others are very popular. The worldviews that are very popular today include: Theism, Atheism and Socialism.

(The assignment was to write a chapter that would fit in with Little Men by Louisa May Alcott)

(The title is Daisy’s Tea Party)

“Nan, I think that we must play a new game. I am so tired of the old ones.” Daisy said as Nan skipped along ahead of her. They were walking through the garden that day because the sun had finally shown itself after a long rain.

Everything was wet and slippery but Nan did not care and so, because of her carelessness, she slipped right onto her stomach while trying to leap onto a rock that was about a foot and a half tall.

“Oh Nan, are you alright?” Daisy quickly, but carefully, ran up to her to make sure she was alright.

“Oh, why do you worry about me so? I am just fine, I dont need any help.” Nan said as she got up.

“Oh, but what about your dress?”

“I dont mind. I quite like wearing a spoiled dress.”

“But what will Aunty Jo say? What about poor Nursey?” Daisy exclaimed as she looked down at her friend’s dress.

“Dont worry ’bout it. She will understand.”

“Oh, I hope so. Nan, did you hear my question I asked you before?”

“What question?” Nan looked at her companion in a confused manner. She was just “far to busy” to listen.

“Well, I asked if you had a new game in mind. I am tired of the old ones.” Daisy said slightly annoyed.

“Oh, well I think that we should go catch some frogs and prove to the boys that girls can do the same things as boys can!” Nan said as she put her hands on her hips in a proud fashion.

“Well,” Daisy did not like the idea for she was not at all interested in it. “Why dont we do something that is indoors.”

This, was in fact, a good idea for dark clouds were coming in, but Nan did not seem to care.

“Oh! I suppose that we must go inside now!” Daisy pulled her friend back inside because she knew that Nan would stay out there.

After getting inside, Daisy brought Nan to Aunt Jo to see her spoiled dress.

“Oh my poor dear! What happened Nan?” Mrs. Bhaer looked at the dress in a motherly way .

“I only slipped. Oh please Aunty! Please let me keep it on! I quite like it! Doesn’t the brown stains and spots look good on me?” Nan said holding her dress in a fashion so Mrs. Bhaer could see every inch of it. Mrs. Bhaer had wanted her to take it off, but seeing that the girl really wanted it on, she said;

“You may keep it on just this once. Oh, and I must say, it looks quite lavishing on you.” She said as she quietly laughed when she said “lavishing”.

“Oh thank you ma’am!” Nan hugged Mrs. Bhaer and followed Daisy into the Nursery.

“What are we doing Daisy?” Nan said closing the door behind them.

“Well, as you were showing Aunty your dress, I started to get thirsty. That is when I got an idea! We should have a tea party! I haven’t done one in so long! It will be jolly fun!” Daisy exclaimed as she put her little kettle on her small stove.

“Oh Daisy, how will I prove that girls can do boyish things if I am having a tea party?” Nan rolled her eyes. She was not at all interested.

“Well, it doesnt hurt to try it. Besides, I will catch frogs with you when it gets sunny again.” Daisy truly wanted to play tea party.

“Oh fine, if you catch frogs with me.” Nan said as she ran to get their dolls.

Daisy, who was quite pleased with herself, got some left-over pie and cookies and set them on the small table. Nan soon returned with seven dolls, including “the big one”. After setting the table, Daisy poured the tea into nine small cups as Nan sat the dolls down.

“How many spoons of sugar would you like Mrs. Giddy-gaddy?” Mrs. S.S. said for these were their game playing names.

“Oh, maybe five spoons, I quite like it sweet. Oh, and dont forget a lot of cream Mrs. S.S.!” Mrs. Giddy-gaddy said as she sat down.

“Of course Mrs. Giddy- gaddy.” Daisy, or Mrs. S.S., poured the cream into Nan’s cup. And so, with one big slurp, Mrs. Giddy- gaddy drank her cup of tea and then devoured a cookie.

“I’m done!” She said, jumping out of her chair. “Is it time to catch frogs now?”

“Na- I mean Mrs. Giddy-gaddy, I haven’t even finished half of mine! I have also not had a cookie or a slice of pie yet! Please let me finish!”

“Oh! I cant wait any longer!” Nan raced out of the Nursery, almost running into Mrs. Bhaer and Teddy, whom were coming to see what the girls were up to.

“Daisy, why are you alone?” Aunty Jo said with a sad look on her face.

“Nan did not want to have a tea party, so she went to catch frogs.” Daisy looked down with a disappointed look on her face.

“Well dear, some people think and play differently than others. Sometimes, you have to play someone else’s game.” Mrs. Bhaer said, stroking Daisy’s hair.

“Your right Aunty! I always make Nan play my game! I will go play hers! Besides, Demi will quite like the frogs I catch!” Daisy then ran off to play with her friend.

This is report is about the things that I have learned this semester. I hope you like it!

PLOT: There are five main points to a plotline of a story. These are:

Exposition: The introduction to a story. This is where the main characters and the conflict are usually introduced.

Rising Action: The rising action is when the conflict develops. It usually begins at the end of the first chapter and builds towards a climax. It may also introduce subplots.

Climax- high point of story: This is when you get to see how the characters respond to the conflicts at hand. The authors secret weapon at this point is knowing what the outcome of the climax will be.

Falling Action: After the story’s climax comes, the result of the outcome comes. This is usually the hardest point to write about because this is the point where you have to decide what happens to the characters, good or bad. When writing a book, authors have to really think about what the falling action will be.

Resolution: This is the ending of the story. It will either be a sad ending or a happy ending. This is also the point where authors can add their finishing touches.

SETTING: The setting of a book is to remain constant throughout the story. It defines the place and events of the book. It can also move as the character moves. Here are good ways to create good setting(s):

Milieu: A milieu is a person’s social environment, it makes the person the character they are.

Customs: What people do or are like during a specific time period. This would also be known as, Culture.

Visualization: When the authors almost paints a picture in your head, it is called visualization. This is very good to use when you create a setting.

Mood: When the author makes the character sad or happy, it is called “setting the mood.” Sometimes, when a character is either sad or happy, it makes you share the same emotion. The mood in a story changes several times.

CHARACTERIZATION: Is the way the author presents the characters. They will either present the characters right away (which is direct characterization) or, will present the characters over time (which is indirect characterization).

AUTHOR’S STYLE: The author’s style is the way the author writes his or her book. It is the way they “talk.” Some authors will have bad grammar, an interesting way of saying things, a way they explain things, etc. Author’s style is very important when writing a book. You want to have your own unique style or else all books will become almost equel.

FORMS OF LITERATURE: Whenever you read a book, that book is a type of form of literature. These forms are:

Novel: A novel is a long prose narrative that describes fictional characters and events usually in a form of sequential stories. A novel is most common and longest type of literature.

Short Story: A short story is written in a prose just like a novel. There is no set word length to a short story but, it does make use of a plot line, resonance and other dynamic components to a far greater degree than a anecdote, but far lesser degree than a novel.

Novella: A novella is a type of form that features fewer conflicts than a novel but, is more complicated than a short story. A novella is in the middle of short story and novel.

Poetry: Poetry uses rhythm or aesthetic qualities of language and prosaic language to create a new style of literature. Poetry has to be read differently than novels or short stories. Poetry usually expresses the author’s feelings and can be as long as you want it to be.

Drama: Drama is defined as the specific mode of fiction represented in performances and art. This includes, plays, ballets or theater work.

GENRES: A genre is a term used for categories used in literature. Examples of genre are:

Fiction and non-fiction: Fiction is a type of genre that “couldn’t really happen.” Non-fiction consist mostly of historical info of individuals and events.

Historical fiction and realistic fiction: Historical fiction is when a fictional character is in a real and/or historical event. Realistic fiction is an accurate portrayal of our world, but uses fictional characters and places.

Autobiography: Is a journal of someone that is published in a form of a book by another.

Biography: A book written by someone that is about another person.

Other genres include: Science fiction, horror, allegory, fantasy, mythology, fables, comedy and satire.

I hope you liked it! Please give me feedback!

Today’s evening paper will include, Sherlock Holmes and how he has done it again! He has once again solved another mystery and caught another criminal!

It all started when a man came to Holmes’s office one day. His name was Mr. Jabez Wilson whom is a pawnbroker whos hair is fiery red. He had an assistant named Vincent Spaulding who is actually the villain John Clay although, Mr. Wilson didn’t know it yet.  

“Vincent showed me a newspaper ad that was from the Red Headed League, offering a high-paying job to any man with red hair.  Since business was slow, I decided to take the opportunity. I didn’t think it would happen but, they gave me the job! My job was to copy a very large encyclopedia for the Red Headed League.” Mr. Wilson said.

Mr. Wilson had his assistant watch his store while he was away. Little did he know that this was a bad idea!

“I went to work one day when I saw a sign on the door that read, ‘The Red Headed League has been dissolved’. I was shocked!” Wilson says.

So, by questioning the landlord Mr. Wilson found out that the Red Headed League wasn’t a real company at all.  Sensing something wasn’t right, he went to see Sherlock Holmes right away. Holmes knew that Vincent liked to develop film in the basement so, he went to go “watch” the films. 

When Holmes got there, he knew that John Clay a.k.a. Vincent Spaulding was up to no good. Holmes, being superb at what he does, only needed to take one look at Clay to know what he was going to do that night. He saw that Clay’s knees were dirty as if he had been on his knees all day digging and, that there was a bank just about a block away. Sherlock Holmes knew that John Clay was going to rob the bank that very night.  

So, that night, Holmes, a police officer, Mr. Watson and some other citizens hid in the bank vault. When it came to that time of night, John Clay came into vault by the hole he had dug from the basement of Mr. Wilson’s house. Holmes team was ready and they were able to catch the criminal, John Clay.  

John Clay is now in jail where he should be, thanks to Sherlock Holmes!

A Knight of the White Cross by G.A. Henty is a fun book that is full of action and adventure.
G.A. Henty is a wonderful author but, in this book, I have found some down sides to his style. Henty explains things (such as an object or person) in his books in depth but, not in to great of depth. I do not like an author who doesn’t explain anything. This problem will make a book short and will lack substance. I also do not like an author who has to explain every last thing in detail. This type of author will go on and on about little things like a tree! He will have five, long paragraphs on a tree that will only be mentioned once in the book! This will loose the reader’s attention and make the book long and boring. Henty does good at not making his books this way. I have read three of his books now and one thing I do not like is that he makes time in his book go by very quickly. For example, in a Knight of the White Cross, Gervaise becomes a young knight in about five chapters, even though he was a young page in the beginning of the book. I have found that this is a constant problem. In the Dragon and the Raven and Wulf the Saxon, time goes by very quickly as well. I do not like this because it is like jumping all around in the book and, that can get confusing.
Henty’s plot line is really good but, it seems to go all over the place. For example, they are sort of at peace then suddenly they are war. Besides this problem, the plot line is great and, has a lot of historical information.
A Knight of the White Cross is a great book and G. A. Henty is a great author, I look forward to reading more of this author’s works.

Character development
In a Knight of the White Cross, G. A Henty doesn’t introduce Gervaise, the main character, right away. But when he does introduce Gervaise, time seems to go by very quickly. For example, in just a few chapters, Gervaise becomes a young knight even though in the beginning of the book, he was a page just starting out. To me, about five chapters seems like not enough time to become a knight. Also, Gervaise is constantly becoming some type of captain or commander. Don’t you think that he should be an older knight and, be more skilled to have these positions?
Besides those problems, Henty’s character development is great! I like how he doesn’t just introduce the main characters right away. I like that I get to know the characters by their actions through time. Another thing I like about Henty’s character development is how the main character always has a good friend constantly beside him. For example, the relationship between Gervaise and Ralph, they are both good friends, they always encourage each other and, are always together no matter what happens.

Author’s style
I like Henty’s style because he explains different things in his books in depth but, not too in depth. That is the kind of author I like. I don’t like an author who doesn’t explain his characters or what is happening. Sure, he might say, “There was pirates” but, that doesn’t explain enough. I also don’t like an Author who explains things in too great of depth. For example, that author explains just one thing in depth and it takes forever to get to the main plot because he will not stop talking about one thing. Then, that starts to make the book boring and, loses the readers attention. I personally like an equal balance that explains something but, not in too great of depth. Another thing I like about Henty’s style is, it is very smooth and easy to read. I personally think that his style is one of the best styles I have read.
Over all, a Knight of the White Cross is a good book and, I look forward to reading the rest of it.