http://www.google.com/imgres?q=tide&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=631&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=LelUA6j0dVqlRM:&imgrefurl=http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/bore-tide-3389-pictures.htm&docid=qtQqlLSG4x_W2M&imgurl=http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/19/bore-tide_3389.jpg&w=468&h=315&ei=_XHlTs_vHYf9ggeJtf37BQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=545&vpy=344&dur=328&hovh=184&hovw=274&tx=103&ty=171&sig=106921747477879430316&page=1&tbnh=134&tbnw=182&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0

I chose to reflect on Tide Rises and Tide Falls, a poem we read in class during our Romanticism unit. Tide Rises and Tide Falls was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This poem talks about the circle of life through the example of a person dying and life going on after his death. Though life does keep moving along, everyone leaves a legacy behind, whether it is positive or negative. Some legacies may be large, others may be small, but no one is just forgotten after they die. Overall, I think Longfellow did a great job on this poem. He used great alliteration and consonance. Tide Rises and Tide Falls is a poem that I actually enjoyed reading.

Connection to Nature

         

http://free-extras.com/search/1/evergreen+tree.htm

   Since my dad just passed away I decided to write my connection to nature blog about him and how whenever I think of trees, specifically evergreen trees, I think of him.

            Evergreen trees are like my dad. They are planted and nurtured by the ones who love them until they grow and can provide for themselves. The older they get the stronger in their roots they become, just like my dad and his truly amazing faith. Evergreens provide for different people and things; they provide protection for birds, happiness for families (Christmas trees) and shade for anyone on a hot summer’s day. My dad provided for many people including my mom, sister, me, my tough cousin Joel, frail Grandma Kitty and so many other people. Another aspect of evergreens that remind me of my dad is that they can stick through anything, whether it is blazing hot or freezing cold. My dad was always like that. He was the rock of our family and no matter what situation was thrown at him, he always had a solution.

What Were You Thinking, Edgar?

            Rats scurried all over my body. I could feel the sharp claws digging into my skin. To my surprise they started nibbling at the leather straps that bound me to my death bed. It was too late to hope to live now, though. The pendulum was inches from my body. I could hear it as it swished through the air and slicing the top of my skin.

            The rats still scurried all over my body, oblivious to the pendulum. Instead of hitting me the pendulum sliced the head off of one of the rats and violently flung the head at the wall, which it then fell into the deep pit.

            I waited for the next swing of the pendulum, anticipating it rip up my body. I closed my eyes and heard the last swing of the pendulum. I opened my eyes expecting to see my guts all over the walls. However, it was not mine, but the guts of the gazillion rats that had been climbing all over me.

            Preoccupied with the sight before my eyes, I did not even realize that two buff men had charged into the small chamber, and were coming for the weak, crumpled mess that was left of me.

            The two men stopped in their tracks in shock at the sight of blood and guts all around. One fainted and fell down into the pit. The second started to come at me. I used the last bit of my strength and jumped down into the pit.

            The second man ran right into the pendulum and gouged his face and was dead before he hit the ground.

            I looked around the pit and found a door. I looked at the pit and the pendulum and without another thought, ran out the door and began my journey to freedom.

Reflection of The Crucible

          While reading The Crucible, I became very frustrated. For instance, when the group of girls said that Tituba made them drink blood and dance in the woods, and Tituba was beaten for it. It made me sick to read that because those girls were so self-centered to blame it on Tituba when she had nothing to do with the situation. Plus, all of the lying and being convicted for the wrong crime just bugged me because I am one of those people who needs things to be fair. An additional thing that perturbed me was the form of English The Crucible was in. I do not like Old English because it is hard to understand and you really have to think about it as oppose to today’s way of speaking. Though I was annoyed numerous times about different things in this play, I did enjoy reading it and learning more about the Salem Witch Trials.

HUAC

The House of Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee in the United State House of Representatives which was made to look for disloyalty in the United States government.  Largely associated with McCarthyism, HUAC set out to investigate and convict people of communism views. In 1947, HUAC began blacklisting Hollywood actors and producers, including Arthur Miller, Elia Kazan and Charlie Chaplin.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-huac.htm

Part of A Fire and Brimstone Sermon

Poor and miserable sinners! You are here on this earth to obey God’s commands; however you have cheated him and sinned against him like the animals you are! And because of your actions you will see the wrath of God! His hand is holding you above the fiery pits of hell, just waiting to let you go and fall into Satan’s hands for all of eternity! No matter what you do now, God does not forget your terrible sins against him! There is no hope!

Squanto- "God's Instrument"

After being captured to be sold into slavery, Squanto joined the Newfoundland Company where he learned English. After his work for the Newfoundland Company, he went back to his homeland, located somewhere near Plymouth. Therefore, when the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Squanto became their interpreter, guide, and agricultural advisor. While helping the Pilgrims adapt to their new surroundings, Squanto taught them how to catch fish, grow crops such as corn, and even how to fertilize their crops. An additional thing Squanto did for the Pilgrims was teach them out to construct houses that would save them for the terribly cold winters. By doing this, Squanto saved many pilgrims’ lives. Once the crops he taught the men to grow were harvested, he instructed the pilgrim women on how to cook the food. He also served as translator for them so they could trade with the Indians and better understand how to deal with them when it came to bargaining. He was considered by the Pilgrims to be "God's instrument". Without his help their story could have had a different ending.

mayflower history.com