Bolshevik Revolution Presentation

Click here to view my presentation

Cry, The Beloved Country.

            In Cry, The Beloved Country, the author, Alan Paton, uses detail of the land to help describe his message in the story. When he uses the detail and diction, he is showing the clash of cultures and how different each race lives. He rhetorical devices to help get his message across the readers by comparing and contrasting the land of each race and to prove the Europeans have taken over. His message in the story is to show how the land has changed drastically by the European, the natives’ ways have been forgotten, and to show the difference of how people are affected by where they live

            Alan Paton has used the describing of the land to prove that the European’s have taken over. According to Alan Paton, Ixopo has “grass [that] is rich and matted” it’s also “well-tended” but now “the grass is rich and matted” yet “it is not kept or guarded.” The author uses an antithesis to show the clash of cultures. The land has been corrupted from peaceful to dry and shows that the European ideas have taken over. Paton proves that the natives have real problems when “Shanty Town is [built] overnight” and it is made out of “plank and iron” but they all wonder “what {they will] do in the rain [and] in the winter.” The author uses rhetorical questions to show that the natives have questions but they really do not have any answers. The natives have been moved out of their towns and have been forced to build a new town to live in overnight while they do not have any money and it shows the natives have bigger problems now that the Europeans have moved in and taken over everything. 

Paton describes the land to show how people are affected by the way they live. Paton introduces the novel by saying “these hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it” but the land is hit with drought and the “streams are dry in the kloofs” and now “the soil cannot keep them anymore.” Paton parallels this open setting with the moral righteousness and purity of the character of Pastor Stephen Kumalo. The land’s transition from untainted to corruption shows Kumalo’s evolving perception of people’s ways of life during his visit in Johannesburg. Alan Paton proclaims in Cry, The Beloved Country that “the soil can not keep [the people] anymore. This sentence emphasizes one of Paton's main themes: one must maintain tradition to thrive and to thrive prosperously. Tradition is a reliable source for advice because it has been tested and proven successful by generations of people.

Alan Paton uses description of the land to describe many things in Cry, The Beloved Country. He uses the description to show his message to his readers. By describing this land he shows how the Europeans have taken over, how the natives’ ways have been forgotten, and how different people are affected by where they live. When he does this, the readers get a better understanding of, not just the book, but they understand why the characters act the way they do.

Moving On.

I’m looking out my window staring at the “For Sale” sign glaring back
into my eyes. I have, once again, lost track of time and stopped
packing. I know the movers will be here soon but, I can’t seem to pack
up all my belongings. I’m not sure what’s going on. I’m only moving to
a new neighborhood. I can still see my friends and I’ll still be
attending the same school. Looking at all my things scattered all
around my room, I start picking up things and putting them into boxes.
I pick up a box that is full of scarves and I remember all the snow
days I spent with Abbi and Holland.
“Wake Up!” screams Abbi.
I have stayed the night with two of my best friends and we have woken
up to snow which means one thing to us: no school. Abbi is ecstatic
and all I want to do is pull her comforter over my head and fall back
into a restless sleep. Of course, that isn’t exactly what happened.
After Abbi practically dragged me and Holland out of bed, we get ready
to go outside. Instead of being sensible and wear warm clothing to
keep warm, we decided to wear NIKE shorts, snow boots, and hoodies. We
ignore the stinging cold as we’re building our snowman and making
snowballs to throw at each other.
I notice I’m smiling and then I suddenly pick up all my movies and I
can’t help but think about all the movies days I’ve had with Haleigh.
Whether we were crying and singing “My Heart Will Go On” while
watching the Titanic or knowing every single word of Bridesmaids there
was never a dull moment.
I pick up a black summer dress and my mind instantly flashes back to
Florida. I’m on the way to the beach with Kristina and we’re both
excited. As soon as we get there we head straight to the ocean to
start tanning. We race go- karts and spend a day at the aquarium. On
the last day, we wear our matching black dresses. We sit in the sand
when we’re done and talk about how we never want to leave.
As I catch myself thinking about every single memory that’s happened
here, I can’t help but wonder if my new house will be the same. Will I
make even more memories? I sure hope so. I look out my window at the
“For Sale” sign and remember the first time I ever saw that sign I was
moving in. I realize I’m actually moving and I start planning things
to do so my new house will have even better memories.

Free-Spirited Reader.

I was never a bookworm when I was younger. I was pretty much the exact opposite of everyone in my family. I was always told I could never sit down long enough to turn a page. “Free Spirited” was the name I was given by my family. I pretty much did what I wanted and from what I’ve been told, I was stubborn. I will say this, I have no idea how I learned to read or why I never really enjoyed it.

Growing up, I never let my mom read to me before I went to sleep. I just was not interested. No one could ever figure out why, though. My whole family loved to read so it was a surprise when I couldn’t even sit down for two seconds to listen to a book. When I started school, things started to change. In my younger grades, we were instructed to read book and then test on them. It was commonly known as “AR Reading.” Each student was given a goal to reach and I always ended up reaching my goal and I usually doubled the amount I was supposed to read. At first, I would read little books and test on them as soon as I could. Then I discovered I actually enjoyed reading and went in search of bigger and better books that I could relate to. I think I really fell in love when I discovered Sarah Dessen. Basing her books on teenagers, they were easy to relate to. It was like she was writing my life story without even knowing it. Then, I couldn’t ever put a book down. All I would do is read. My mother would be dragged to every bookstore around Memphis to buy me books. My mom eventually had to be me a NOOK color so she wouldn’t have to be dragged all around the city. Now, with a click, I can have any book I want.

I honestly never thought I would fall in love with reading but, somehow, along the line I did. Reading is my escape from reality. It’s my safe haven. I can read and forget about the world and I don’t have to worry about anything. Lately I’ve been obsessed with the 50 Shades of Grey series. It’s a little bit more adult but, it’s one of my favorites. Maybe one day, I’ll become a great writer and write a book. You never know what might happen!

I Am..

I am determined and different.
I wonder if he'll ever make up for the past fifteen years.
I hear voices saying "You'll never be good enough."
I see everyone as an individual.
I want everyone to know you don't have to be perfect.
I am determined and different.

I pretend to be happy.
I feel other's pain instead of my own.
I touch hearts of others.
I worry that people will get the best of me.
I cry behind closed doors.
I am determined and different.

I understand that you should live with no regrets.
I say live in the present because life is a gift.
I dream of being a person who made a difference.
I try to always be myself.
I hope that I can reach you, someday.
I am determined and different.

Let's All Just Be Happy.

Did you know that death affects many people in different ways? Some can go into a depression or even celebrate the person’s life. In any case, death is very sad. Not only is a loved one gone, but only family members and friends are their to really remember who that person truly was. Yes, that person will never be forgotten and, of course, death is never easy for anyone. Only people who can look on the bright side of every situation can look at death in a positive way.

The people in the story The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World looked at death in the best way possible, I think. They celebrated Esteban’s life so that he would always be remembered in the village. They grew flowers and they changed themselves all for the better. Even thought they didn’t really know him that long, they picked him out a family and they called their village his home. Most people wouldn’t have even given him the time of day. Have you ever heard of Trey Erwin? He lived in Collierville, Tennessee. This 15 year old boy was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. The doctors only gave him about six months to live. Guess what? That didn’t bring Trey down. His exacts words were “If I’m not okay on Earth, then I’ll be okay in Heaven.” People all around the world learned about Trey’s illness and prayed for a cure. Trey didn’t win the battle to live but, by no means did cancer win. As in his family’s words “God won.” Although his family was sad, instead of throwing a sad funeral they threw Trey a going away party. They wore bright colors and wore glow sticks. They know that Trey is in a better place with the magnificent God.

What if you woke up tomorrow morning with everything you thanked God for the night before? Most people would end up with nothing. Although the people of the village didn’t pray, they sent Esteban off and you could tell they were thankful for him. He meant something to each and every person. He was perfect in a way those people never had known. They wanted to better themselves to make him proud. Trey’s family did the same thing. They threw him a going away party because he wanted them to go on with their lives and be happy. He was at his real home now and they didn’t need to be worried about him anymore. If it were you, how would you react if that was your son or someone you didn’t know? Would you help to remember them or just let them fade away and be in distant memories?