My favourite poet is Robert Frost. He captivated me as his father died when he was young, yet he was continued to live on and not wept the day away over the loss of his father. When he sent his poems to The Atlantic Monthly, they were returned with this note which read "We regret that The Atlantic has no place for your vigorous verse." However, he was not deterred by this failure. It was followed by North Boston, which gained international reputation. The collection contains some of Frost's best-known poems: 'Mending Wall,' 'The Death of the Hired Man,' 'Home Burial,' 'A Servant to Servants,' 'After Apple-Picking,' and 'The Wood-Pile.' The poems, written with blank verse or looser free verse of dialogue, were drawn from his own life, recurrent losses, everyday tasks, and his loneliness. When he returned to US and the editor of The Atlantic Monthly asked for poems, he gave the very ones that had previously been rejected.
One of his quotes is "A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom." From this, I think that he is a wisdom person as he knows that reading a poem is fun but what good about poem is that you will learn something from it. Like the one about the "Road Not Taken", people have to make a choice in life and this choice will lead to other choice and there is a little chance of going back, so make a wise choice in life and never regret it. Biographers have different views about him. One sympathise him while other criticise him but I do neither. I uphold him for his determination and strongwill to live on.
Below are three of his poems:
Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Into My Own
One of my wishes is that those dark trees,
So old and firm they scarcely show the breeze,
Were not, as 'twere, the merest mask of gloom,
But stretched away unto th eedge of doom.
I should not be withheld but that some day
into their vastness I should steal away,
Fearless of ever finding open land,
or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand.
I do not see why I should e'er turn back,
Or those should not set forth upon my track
To overtake me, who should miss me here
And long to know if still I held them dear.
They would not find me changed from him the knew--
Only more sure of all I though was true.
An Old Man's Winter Night
All out of doors looked darkly in at him
Through the thin frost, almost in separate stars,
That gathers on the pane in empty rooms.
What kept his eyes from giving back the gaze
Was the lamp tilted near them in his hand.
What kept him from remembering what it was
That brought him to that creaking room was age.
He stood with barrels round him -- at a loss.
And having scared the cellar under him
In clomping there, he scared it once again
In clomping off; -- and scared the outer night,
Which has its sounds, familiar, like the roar
Of trees and crack of branches, common things,
But nothing so like beating on a box.
A light he was to no one but himself
Where now he sat, concerned with he knew what,
A quiet light, and then not even that.
He consigned to the moon, such as she was,
So late-arising, to the broken moon
As better than the sun in any case
For such a charge, his snow upon the roof,
His icicles along the wall to keep;
And slept. The log that shifted with a jolt
Once in the stove, disturbed him and he shifted,
And eased his heavy breathing, but still slept.
One aged man -- one man -- can't keep a house,
A farm, a countryside, or if he can,
It's thus he does it of a winter night.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Figurative Language
Sunday, June 28, 2009
0
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
In this poem, hyperbole is used to express that the poet sadness that he was unable to travel on both roads at the same time. He decided to travel on one road and kept the other for another day yet knowing that he would not come back. Therefore, he wanted to emphasize on how hard it is to choose which road to travel and that he would not be able to come back one day as one road lead to another road.
I like this poem as it depicts a person's life where at one point, we have to make a decision to choose what we want to do and where we want to be. For example, in our secondary schools, we have to choose what subjects we want to take even though we want to take all so that we can learn everything and hoping that in the future, we can do the other subjects but knowing that we might not have the time to do so. Life is a matter of choice, one choice lead to another and another and you might not be able to come back to the same choice as you will progress further with each choice. We must be prepare to face whatever decision we have to make and the hardships we have to suffer.
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
In this poem, hyperbole is used to express that the poet sadness that he was unable to travel on both roads at the same time. He decided to travel on one road and kept the other for another day yet knowing that he would not come back. Therefore, he wanted to emphasize on how hard it is to choose which road to travel and that he would not be able to come back one day as one road lead to another road.
I like this poem as it depicts a person's life where at one point, we have to make a decision to choose what we want to do and where we want to be. For example, in our secondary schools, we have to choose what subjects we want to take even though we want to take all so that we can learn everything and hoping that in the future, we can do the other subjects but knowing that we might not have the time to do so. Life is a matter of choice, one choice lead to another and another and you might not be able to come back to the same choice as you will progress further with each choice. We must be prepare to face whatever decision we have to make and the hardships we have to suffer.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Book Review
Monday, June 22, 2009
0
Book Read : Soul Stealer by Martin Booth
Application:
I learnt that when you are doing things, don't be rash but think calmly about whether your method will work. Also, your rashness will cause you to oversee some small matters or clues which might matter alot and would affect the results in the end, which may make you happy or sad. Think twice before doing something so as to ensure what you are doing is right and won't do harm to innocent people. Also make sure it will work without creating unnecessary trouble. Your actions can create chain actions which might create harm that you do not want.
Analysis:
I am going to show you the comparison between Tim and Sebastian. Tim is a inquisitive kids who likes to ask alot of questions and like to make some remarks about his sister but he is also a caring brother. He stood up for his sister when Scrotton bullied his sister and wanted to take her sandwich. He is quick thinking and can solve the problems that he encountered like in the supermarket, he saw a thief going around stealing stuffs yet he cannot do anything about without arousing the thief's suspicion. But then, he remember he had the power of a puniter which he did not know how is it like so he decided to try it out. In the end, the jacket of the thief was unzipped and the thief was eventaully caught. Meanwhile, Sebastian is an unpredictable person. One day he says he won't do this, yet the other day he did it. For example, he says that he won't change to an animal to go to school but on the next day, he did it, making Tim and Pip worried for him.
Synthesis:
There are many climax in this book but the most exciting part is the one at the end where Sebastian, Tim and Pip team up together to fight against Scrotton, Yoland and De Loudeac. Many battles happened there and the enemies almost succeeded in their plan in hoping to steal people soul. It was so exciting with what seems like 1 to 1 combat. And what the exciting is when De Loudeac held on to Yoland and pull him down into the reactor where both of them died due to the extreme heat. Scrotton exploded into thin air when the policeman shot him, leaving the police confused on what Scrotton was.
Evaluation:
I think that the book title is a good one. It tells us what we would expect in the storybook but I thought that it would be for the good side but it appears that the soul stealer was Yoland. It somewhat gives me the surprise that the soul stealing skill is not for the good guy but the opposite. Normally, the title of the book is to explain what is going on or what will the good side have that let them win the battle but this book is the opposite.
Application:
I learnt that when you are doing things, don't be rash but think calmly about whether your method will work. Also, your rashness will cause you to oversee some small matters or clues which might matter alot and would affect the results in the end, which may make you happy or sad. Think twice before doing something so as to ensure what you are doing is right and won't do harm to innocent people. Also make sure it will work without creating unnecessary trouble. Your actions can create chain actions which might create harm that you do not want.
Analysis:
I am going to show you the comparison between Tim and Sebastian. Tim is a inquisitive kids who likes to ask alot of questions and like to make some remarks about his sister but he is also a caring brother. He stood up for his sister when Scrotton bullied his sister and wanted to take her sandwich. He is quick thinking and can solve the problems that he encountered like in the supermarket, he saw a thief going around stealing stuffs yet he cannot do anything about without arousing the thief's suspicion. But then, he remember he had the power of a puniter which he did not know how is it like so he decided to try it out. In the end, the jacket of the thief was unzipped and the thief was eventaully caught. Meanwhile, Sebastian is an unpredictable person. One day he says he won't do this, yet the other day he did it. For example, he says that he won't change to an animal to go to school but on the next day, he did it, making Tim and Pip worried for him.
Synthesis:
There are many climax in this book but the most exciting part is the one at the end where Sebastian, Tim and Pip team up together to fight against Scrotton, Yoland and De Loudeac. Many battles happened there and the enemies almost succeeded in their plan in hoping to steal people soul. It was so exciting with what seems like 1 to 1 combat. And what the exciting is when De Loudeac held on to Yoland and pull him down into the reactor where both of them died due to the extreme heat. Scrotton exploded into thin air when the policeman shot him, leaving the police confused on what Scrotton was.
Evaluation:
I think that the book title is a good one. It tells us what we would expect in the storybook but I thought that it would be for the good side but it appears that the soul stealer was Yoland. It somewhat gives me the surprise that the soul stealing skill is not for the good guy but the opposite. Normally, the title of the book is to explain what is going on or what will the good side have that let them win the battle but this book is the opposite.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Book Review
Saturday, June 20, 2009
0
Book Read : The Key To Rondo by Emily Rodda
Application:
One lesson I learnt from this story is that a friend in need is a friend indeed so as a friend of someone, you must stand up for him/her and help him/her even if you are powerless and cannot do anything for him/her, even if his/her enemy is some wickest witch or a world evil gangster. Your support will give your friend moral courage, and let him have confidence that he/she is going to win even in the times of trouble, and let him/her persevere to the end. Nothing can overcome the power of true friendship.
Analysis:
I think there is a difference between Leo and Mimi. Leo is an obedient boy who never protest despite not agreeing with what others say about him and always listen to what others have told him. He also wouldn't dream of breaking the above four rules. But Mimi, his cousin, is mischievous and wanted to play a prank on Leo but it unlocks a secret world. But both of them are brave in their own ways and do not push the fault around like what people do nowadays. Leo put others in front of himself and would rather sacrifice himself than let the world become corrupted and being ruled by the evil Blue Queen. Mimi was still concerned about her cousin even in times of danger and her cleverness allows them to break free from clutches of the evil Blue Queen and escape. She even manage to surprise Uncle Henry, who was thought to be the smartest, and her uncle did not even figure out what happen until she told Uncle Henry.
Synthesis:
The climax of the story is at the ending where the Mimi and Leo face again the Blue Queen. This is the place where the truth comes out. It is the most exciting part as the real Key is not the ring, which was thought to be the Key all along but the pendant that Mimi wore around her neck which was first taught to be a useless and ugly pendant. Also, this is part where the Key was thought to be destroyed but it was actually an act put up by Mimi to fool the Blue Queen so that they will be able escape from her and Leo will also be safe and not harm. That was where Mimi's cleverness came in.
Evaluation:
The most interesting part of the story is where a hidey-hole save Leo and Mimi. This is the first time where I heard of a hidey-hole in a fantasy book and I didn't know that a hidey-hole would appeared and help Leo and Mimi escape from the police. I had thought that someone or some animal would come and safe them but in the end, it was a hidey-hole. I bet not many of you have heard of a hidey-hole. It is used for hiding people or animal from their enemies. It could read your thoughts and appear if you think of some place to hide. However, it could not hide you and travel at the same time, unlike a carriage. It could definitely talk as this book is about fantasy where many extraordinary things could happen! It could move inside walls and is definitely a good watchkeeper but sadly, it is only in fantasy. Below are the rules for successful hiding in a hidey-hole.
First rule of successful hiding:Don't dillydally!
Second rule of successful hiding:If there's a mirror, use it.
Third rule of successful hiding:Don't make your move too soon.
Fourth rule of successful hiding:Make a plan and stick to it.
Fifth rule of successful hiding:Don't lose your temper.
Sixth rule of successful hiding:NEVER jump out of a hidey-hole without warning it first.
There are four rules to the old, painted music box
Wind the box three times only.
Never wind the box while the music plays
Never move the box while the music plays
Never close the lid till the music stopped
Application:
One lesson I learnt from this story is that a friend in need is a friend indeed so as a friend of someone, you must stand up for him/her and help him/her even if you are powerless and cannot do anything for him/her, even if his/her enemy is some wickest witch or a world evil gangster. Your support will give your friend moral courage, and let him have confidence that he/she is going to win even in the times of trouble, and let him/her persevere to the end. Nothing can overcome the power of true friendship.
Analysis:
I think there is a difference between Leo and Mimi. Leo is an obedient boy who never protest despite not agreeing with what others say about him and always listen to what others have told him. He also wouldn't dream of breaking the above four rules. But Mimi, his cousin, is mischievous and wanted to play a prank on Leo but it unlocks a secret world. But both of them are brave in their own ways and do not push the fault around like what people do nowadays. Leo put others in front of himself and would rather sacrifice himself than let the world become corrupted and being ruled by the evil Blue Queen. Mimi was still concerned about her cousin even in times of danger and her cleverness allows them to break free from clutches of the evil Blue Queen and escape. She even manage to surprise Uncle Henry, who was thought to be the smartest, and her uncle did not even figure out what happen until she told Uncle Henry.
Synthesis:
The climax of the story is at the ending where the Mimi and Leo face again the Blue Queen. This is the place where the truth comes out. It is the most exciting part as the real Key is not the ring, which was thought to be the Key all along but the pendant that Mimi wore around her neck which was first taught to be a useless and ugly pendant. Also, this is part where the Key was thought to be destroyed but it was actually an act put up by Mimi to fool the Blue Queen so that they will be able escape from her and Leo will also be safe and not harm. That was where Mimi's cleverness came in.
Evaluation:
The most interesting part of the story is where a hidey-hole save Leo and Mimi. This is the first time where I heard of a hidey-hole in a fantasy book and I didn't know that a hidey-hole would appeared and help Leo and Mimi escape from the police. I had thought that someone or some animal would come and safe them but in the end, it was a hidey-hole. I bet not many of you have heard of a hidey-hole. It is used for hiding people or animal from their enemies. It could read your thoughts and appear if you think of some place to hide. However, it could not hide you and travel at the same time, unlike a carriage. It could definitely talk as this book is about fantasy where many extraordinary things could happen! It could move inside walls and is definitely a good watchkeeper but sadly, it is only in fantasy. Below are the rules for successful hiding in a hidey-hole.
First rule of successful hiding:Don't dillydally!
Second rule of successful hiding:If there's a mirror, use it.
Third rule of successful hiding:Don't make your move too soon.
Fourth rule of successful hiding:Make a plan and stick to it.
Fifth rule of successful hiding:Don't lose your temper.
Sixth rule of successful hiding:NEVER jump out of a hidey-hole without warning it first.
Friday, June 19, 2009
" I am lying. " True or false?
Friday, June 19, 2009
0
Do you think I am speaking the truth or telling a lie? This simple sentence is a simple liar yet a complicated one so I do not think any of you can answer this question cause there is no answer to this question. This sentence is an example of a liar paradox. This sentence may be true or false and therefore lead to a contradiction. If you are really lying, then it means you are lying about what you are saying right now so it means you are saying the truth right now. But if you are telling the truth right now, how can you be lying at the same time? Since this sentence is one or other, it is both! So it leads back to a contradiction as you still do not know whether I am lying or not. Even right now, I am confused about this liar paradox and don't understand what I am talking about. You have to think carefully about this sentence and give it some thoughts on what it is talking about. So if people ask you something like that next time, tell them they are contradicting themselves!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
How do you know who your friends are?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
0
We all have friends but what we want is more than just a friend, we want a true friend. The sign of a very good friend of ours is when we call them at any hour and talk to them without thinking about how much time has passed. We also speak about everything in our mind without caring what our friends will think. We will also feel more open talking to them.
However, a true friend is something more than a very good friend. A true friend supports you even if there is an advantage to him. A true friend will understand your needs and will always be there for you without having excuses of having something important like work. A true friend encourages you and forgive you when you did something wrong. A true friend will help you without request and would expect nothing in return. In the hour of desperation, a true friend will be there for you even if the whole world opposes you. It will be good to have a true friends rather than having thousands and millions of very good friends. Not many people have true friend as it is easier for us to expect than to give so not many people want to sacrifice their time and job for their friends. But first be a true friend to yourself.
The most essential in having a true friend and a true friendship is trust. A true friend must be trustable as we need to be able to confine in him/her our deepest secrets, without worrying it may end up on the Internet or being told to others. Faithfulness and loyalty are also key to true friendship. Without them, we would feel betrayed, left out and lonely.
An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.
However, a true friend is something more than a very good friend. A true friend supports you even if there is an advantage to him. A true friend will understand your needs and will always be there for you without having excuses of having something important like work. A true friend encourages you and forgive you when you did something wrong. A true friend will help you without request and would expect nothing in return. In the hour of desperation, a true friend will be there for you even if the whole world opposes you. It will be good to have a true friends rather than having thousands and millions of very good friends. Not many people have true friend as it is easier for us to expect than to give so not many people want to sacrifice their time and job for their friends. But first be a true friend to yourself.
The most essential in having a true friend and a true friendship is trust. A true friend must be trustable as we need to be able to confine in him/her our deepest secrets, without worrying it may end up on the Internet or being told to others. Faithfulness and loyalty are also key to true friendship. Without them, we would feel betrayed, left out and lonely.
An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
What is happiness?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
0
What is happiness? Happiness is an emotion or feeling ranging from contentment to intense joy. Sadness, love, guilt, hate and many others are also emotions. All emotions have causes, causes which can be understood and controlled. Happiness is a long lasting enjoyment of life and not just momentary where you lived a life by collecting moments of pleasure.
One has to have confidence in mind and have the virtues that make our life worth living to experience a result - an earned pride and a genuine self-esteen. And of course happiness. We would feel satisfied when we finished something something we have wanted to do and would feel happy. This would eventually make our day. More wealth doesn't equal to more happiness as happiness cannot be bought by money but this is not for every case. Then what about sacrificing for others? Some people are greedy and hate to give something they own to others even if they do not want it. Yet, some people donate willingly and feel pleased after seeing many people benefit from the money they donated. Happiness is not what you think it is, it is what your actions do.
Finding happiness is like finding yourself. You don't find happiness, you make happiness. You choose happiness. Self-actualization is a process of discovering who you are, who you want to be and paving the way to happiness by doing what brings YOU the most meaning and contentment to your life over the long run.
One has to have confidence in mind and have the virtues that make our life worth living to experience a result - an earned pride and a genuine self-esteen. And of course happiness. We would feel satisfied when we finished something something we have wanted to do and would feel happy. This would eventually make our day. More wealth doesn't equal to more happiness as happiness cannot be bought by money but this is not for every case. Then what about sacrificing for others? Some people are greedy and hate to give something they own to others even if they do not want it. Yet, some people donate willingly and feel pleased after seeing many people benefit from the money they donated. Happiness is not what you think it is, it is what your actions do.
Finding happiness is like finding yourself. You don't find happiness, you make happiness. You choose happiness. Self-actualization is a process of discovering who you are, who you want to be and paving the way to happiness by doing what brings YOU the most meaning and contentment to your life over the long run.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
If many people think something is true, is it true?
Sunday, June 7, 2009
0
If many people think something is true, is it true?
Personally, I think that it may not be true all the time. Even if many people may think the same, it might not be correct. You cannot trust a person that whatever he said is right even if many people think so. I think that everyone must have their own opinion and not blindly follow other people because they are the smartest among them or are the most reliable.
There are many reasons why others will think it is true when many people think something is true. Firstly, it is because many people are scared to raise out their opinions of fear of being opposed by other people and that they might not be able to argue back their points. Secondly, many people are timid and scared that their opinions are wrong and rejected by others, causing them to be embarrassed of themselves and then they will decide that they will be wrong all the time. Therefore, they will not speak out their own opinions and choose to agree with others. Lastly, many people are lazy to think for themselves and would always agree with others without knowing if they are true or false.
One such example is in class, when the teacher asks the pupils a question which everyone is not very clear what the answer is. So then, the top student of the class raises his hand and say out his answer. The teacher then asked who agree with him, slowly, people began to raise their hands even though who had their own opinions. However, not all the pupils raise their hands. So the teacher asked one the students that did not raise their hand to say out their answers. After the student voice out his answer, the teacher says that his answer is right instead of the top student’s answer. Astonished you might find that the top student answer might not be right.
So, not everything you should just follow blindly in people, agreeing with whatever they had to say. If we do so, we will be reliant on people and may become lazy, resulting in us not having in-depth thinking. Furthermore, I think that we all must have a stand for ourselves and should therefore voice out our thoughts and views on something and not be afraid.
Personally, I think that it may not be true all the time. Even if many people may think the same, it might not be correct. You cannot trust a person that whatever he said is right even if many people think so. I think that everyone must have their own opinion and not blindly follow other people because they are the smartest among them or are the most reliable.
There are many reasons why others will think it is true when many people think something is true. Firstly, it is because many people are scared to raise out their opinions of fear of being opposed by other people and that they might not be able to argue back their points. Secondly, many people are timid and scared that their opinions are wrong and rejected by others, causing them to be embarrassed of themselves and then they will decide that they will be wrong all the time. Therefore, they will not speak out their own opinions and choose to agree with others. Lastly, many people are lazy to think for themselves and would always agree with others without knowing if they are true or false.
One such example is in class, when the teacher asks the pupils a question which everyone is not very clear what the answer is. So then, the top student of the class raises his hand and say out his answer. The teacher then asked who agree with him, slowly, people began to raise their hands even though who had their own opinions. However, not all the pupils raise their hands. So the teacher asked one the students that did not raise their hand to say out their answers. After the student voice out his answer, the teacher says that his answer is right instead of the top student’s answer. Astonished you might find that the top student answer might not be right.
So, not everything you should just follow blindly in people, agreeing with whatever they had to say. If we do so, we will be reliant on people and may become lazy, resulting in us not having in-depth thinking. Furthermore, I think that we all must have a stand for ourselves and should therefore voice out our thoughts and views on something and not be afraid.
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