Loss

In my family, we enjoy asking moral dilemma questions and psychology questions that ask those who are playing to make choices. You are now part of the discussion. I want you to think about what you have that is important to you. What defines you? What could you not live without? What would you give up and what would you keep?

Now, pretend that you are being taken from your home and you can only take what you can physically carry for long periods of time. You may or may not be able to plug in and whatever you choose eliminates something else from being chosen. What would you choose?

Think about the above questions. Answer carefully. Explain the significance/importance of each item to you. List each item and explain why it was chosen.

Darkness

We have been looking at the different Archetypes that exist in literature. These archetypes are one way that we may read and analyze a text. As individuals living in a world where we are bombarded by visual icons, and by visual interpretations of our words by way of texting emoticons, "sign language,"[the signs we see everyday either billboards, spam across the screen, advertisements, etc...] We are reading and interpreting all of the time. Sometimes, we do not even realize how much or how quickly we do this.

I am asking you to please watch this video and listen to the song. It is entitled, "Head full of doubt and road full of promises" by the Avett brothers. (click on the title. It is a link.) This brings in the idea of our archetypes, while asking us to think about what we know and who we are. Listen twice. Listen once to hear the lyrics and then listen while viewing to understand the video.

Listening without viewing: What is the artist trying to say in the song? What lyrics get to the heart of the meaning? What lines really jump out at you and make you think?

Listening while viewing: What is the video about? Do the video and the song match up? How does the video change your thoughts on the song? In the end, what is the artist trying to say?

Use your archetype notes to help you answer the above questions. As we go through the notes this week, you may add to your response through an additional response or you may wait until Wednesday to post once the notes are complete.

Tragedy

Look at your notes and the definition of tragedy. We use this word often. People will often say "It is such a tragedy" or "tragedy has struck again." Yet, Romeo and Juliet is considered a tragedy.

How does a story that is about true love get titled, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet? In looking at the definition from our notes, argue why the play is considered a tragedy. You must have quotes to support your answer to get all of the points.

Once you have made your argument, go back and comment on a peer's argument. You may discuss their points, ideas, but do not be nasty. If I find your response to be rude or nasty, I will remove it and take points off. This blog is also worth 25 points.

Fate

One of our big ideas is the idea of Fate. It is often said by many that fate is the reason they were in a particular moment at a prticular time, or that it was fated they would meet their spouse at a party they never intended to go to but decided to at the last minute. Fate is blamed and given credit for many events and meetings.

Look through the book, and think about the importance of the role of fate. Does it exist? Are the events in Romeo and Juliet guided by fate? Is fate an excuse?

Argue for or against the role of fate thus far in the play. Use the text to support your answer. Your points this week will also be dependent on you commenting on one other person's blog. Be sure to blog twice--once for yourself and once on another's argument. This week's blog will be worth 25 points.

Love

Yes, I am going to talk about this topic this week. Our second Act deals with the result of Romeo and Juliet seeing each other for the first time and kissing at the ball. Here, is the idea of love at first sight.

This idea has always been touted as a "romantic" idea only to be seen in Disney movies or romantic comedies. We see it in "Cinderella," "Snow White," "Little Mermaid," and many others.

I think there is a part of all of us that wants to believe that this type of relationship exists. We hope that we will see our dream across the room and our hearts will know before our minds that true love exists. However, love is more than this.

Yes, a spark may be ignited in an instant. This spark may burn us from the inside out with a desire to be with, dream of, and connect with our dream. But what is it that keeps the love glowing?

In looking at our play, love will show itself beyond the characters of Romeo and Juliet. Think about love. We know that love between man and woman involves many things. We are going to stick to the brain, heart, and soul components for this blog. (no physical discussion will be held.) Where does it come from? How do you know that you love? Is romantic love the only type of love? How does it evolve? Ultimately, how does it dissipate?

Reflection

I am a person who does a great deal of reflection. I look back at roads I have taken and think about what I have learned. I can recall one moment where I realized what it is that people have taught me. I wrote, "I am amazed what other people have taught me. Some teach me patience, some teach me disappointment, and others teach me silence." People teach us things everyday. I have learned recently that ignorance and blindness make people attack what they do not understand. I have also learned that when opinions are formed rapidly without knowledge a shell of understanding is formed and no argument can hold. In my youth, I struggled horribly with learning from people. My cynicism kept me from the glass half full and turned me to the opposite. As I have grown older, I have come to see people differently and learn to accept people regardless of their beliefs. This, however, was born out of seeing beyond my own place in the world. I have tried on other people's shoes and walked around in them. This has taught me much.

What I have found is that learning isn't something only gained in classrooms. Yes, it is where we are pushed, asked to think deeply and to demonstrate what we know. In addition, we learn from our surroundings. In Romeo and Juliet, we will see what happens when hate is learned and sides picked. In high school we learn more than books.

I want you to think about what you have learned this year? I do not want you to pick a class and list all of the vocab or dates learned. I want you to think BIGGER. What did you learn about yourself as a learner? What did you learn about friendship? What did you learn about family? What did you learn about relationships? What did you learn about high school?

These are just optional questions. You know what you learned this year. Please reflect without using names--this is not a slam fest where we attack others. Attacking other only breed animosity and anger. This is about finding future direction. We cannot move forward until we have examined the journey.

Loyalty

I have been watching the movie A Few Good Men, one of my favorites. It is about having honor and being a part of something greater than the self. It is about how honor starts with honoring yourself and those around you. However, it is also about loyalty. When I was in the military, it was imperative to be loyal. I was loyal to my platoon, my company, my unit, my country. However, loyalty does not just belong to those in the military. It is something we live everyday. We are loyal to our friends, we are loyal to our families, we are loyal to our spouse/significant other.

This idea will crop up in the pieces we read and the movies we watch. Romeo and Juliet will show us loyalty and its impact on those who abide and on those who choose disloyalty.

I want you to think about what loyalty looks like. Describe it. Who has your loyalty? Why do they have it? What is the cost of it? How do they lose it?