Warm-Up: One Stanza

http://www.teen-beauty-tips.com/images/broken_cup.jpg
Broken Mind

A mind full of thoughts is a cup
A cup that keeps hold of your thoughts
Make sure you steady your cup up
For you might lose all your oughts

News Article: Connection

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/archives/result_contents.asp

According to this article, what really happened was, a teenager in Korea had hired his friend to kill the teenager's mother and sister by putting up a fire on their house. The purpose of this was to gain money through insurance; the teenager had promised his friend to share him some 300 million won ($258,000). I can relate this artcile to, The Pearl by connecting with the theme I came up: greed of wealth canturn you into a destructive force. I personaly think that these two really connect and relate to each other because of the idea where both characters desired money, and they were willing to do something malevolent to gain.

Reflection: The Pearl

Reflection

The Pearl is a book that is amazingly short; however, this 90 pages book gives an important moral and meaning for us to keep in mind. As John Steinbeck has mentioned to us that this story, The Pearl was a story that was a parable. First, a parable is a story that basically gives us a clear, definite meaning. For The Pearl, I personally think that the meaning is that you should never be overwhelmed by the idea of greed, because if greed takes over you, you will become a destructive force to the near matter.

First of all, we can see the idea of this meaning through many parts in the story. In the beginning, we could see Kino as a person who is very paternal, caring, and a peaceful guy.

“Kino’s eye opened, and he looked first at the lightening square which was the door and then he looked at the hanging box where Coyotito slept. And last he turned his head to Juana, his wife, who lay beside him on the mat, her blue head shawl over her nose and over her breasts and around the small of her back.” (pg. 1)

This part of the story gives big information of how Kino was, the way he acts towards his family. Even during the night, he checks over his family to find out whether they are safe. However, as we keep on going to the end of the book, he becomes a totally different person.

““They have taken the pearl. I have lost it. Now it is over,” he said. “The pearl is gone.” Juana quieted him as she would quiet a sick child. “Hush,” she said. “Here is your pearl. I found it in the path. Can you hear me now? Here is your pearl. Can you understand? You have killed a man. We must go away. They will come for us, can you understand? We must be gone before the daylight comes.”” (pg. 61)

Already, it is shown that Kino has killed a man because he thought that the pearl was stolen by this person. The only reason that Kino might have killed this man other than self-protection is because of his greed and his want of wielding the pearl. This is a clear example of how the meaning of this book can be described as never become overwhelmed by greed, for greed will always make you into a destructive force.

Other evidences that might bring up the idea of this meaning of greed is when Kino can’t give up on his pearl.

““No one shall take our good fortune from us,” he said.” (pg. 57)

This text emphasizes the idea, not that greed is addicting, but how overwhelming the idea of greed is. If the idea of greed was just an idea that was a desire, Kino would have probably went with Juana to give up on the pearl or could have sold it to the pearl buyers. However, through this passage, we can come up with the idea that Kino won’t give up the pearl because of some thoughtless desire of his. This one irresponsible thought by Kino brings a disaster to his family.

Lastly, greed is not only shown in Kino’s perspective, but also in the people around him.

“Blood oozed down from his scalp and there was a long deep cut in his cheek from ear to chin, a deep, bleeding slash. And Kino was only half conscious. He shook his head from side to side. His shirt was torn open and his clothes half pulled off.” (pg. 56)

This passage basically tells you that Kino was attacked during the night by a man or a woman because of the overwhelmed desire of the pearl. Either the man or the woman couldn’t control his/her desires and greed that they eventually came to try and steal the pearl. However, they couldn’t. That was when they attacked Kino. Otherwise, it was because they didn’t want to be caught stealing. This clearly backs up the meaning that greed can turn you into a destructive force.

In conclusion, this book clearly shows the change of Kino from a paternal person to an evil murderer because of overwhelming greed. Next, Kino’s thoughts show how greed’s overwhelming power can lead to a disastrous ending. Thus, the fact that Kino’s neighbors tried putting hands on the pearl and attacking Kino showed greed with destructive force. Therefore, this book was a parable with a meaning: never be overwhelmed by the idea of greed, because if greed takes over you, you will become a destructive force to the near matter.

This meaning, that you should never be overwhelmed by greed, can always reflect to me. It is because I had many moments where I had become selfish because of greed. For instance, I had received a reward from my parents for doing something really good. However, when I had received it, this feeling of desire of more and this urge came to me. I wanted more. That was when I had done evil and not-right things. I tried to trick my parents to get other additional rewards like games, toys, and electronics. However instead, I got punished for asking for more. This desire of something and greed can surely turn you into someone totally different and get you into real mess just like Kino in The Pearl.

Guess the Tone

1ST Person Perspective

I'm not sure if I should ask Eric out...He is so handsome. Should I ask him out? Arg!!! I don't know... He has a girlfriend that is away, but will it be a good idea to ask him out? Oh my goodness... His girlfriend is my best friend...I really don't know what to do! He is such a good looking guy though... HE IS SO HOT! I don't want to lose him... What if he rejects me! Ah!!! I'm so confused!!! Will his girlfriend be mad at me if I ask him out? What if she says, "your not my friend anymore loser", what should I do?!?!? Maybe what if I ask him out secretly, will she not notice it?


3RD Person Perspective

He wants to ask him out...Should he ask him out? OR should he not ask him out? Eric already has a girlfriend... Though the other guy thinks that Eric is so hot... What should the other guy do? Ah...It is SO CONFUSING...

Guess the Mood

Today was a beautiful day for me. It was my birthday. The weather was pleasant, with a sunny warm beam shining down, the kind of temperature where you feel free and joy able, and the wind breeze was so calm and cool that it felt as if you were flying. My friend's attitudes were also amazing. As they saw me, they greeted me by saying "HELLO DUDE". I thought they would forget about my birthday, but they didn't. They congratulated me by giving me presents. It was so AWESOME. One of my best days ever!!! I had the opportunity to smile a lot today.

Warm-Up: Song: If I Ain't Got You By Alicia Keys

Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power, yeah
Some people live just to play the game
Some people think that the physical things
Define what's within
And I've been there before
But that life's a boreSo full of the superficial
[Chorus:]Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, Yeah
Some people search for a fountain
That promises forever young
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love them
Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be
No one to share
With no one who truly cares for me
[Chorus:]Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, you, you
Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, yeah
[Outro:]If I ain't got you with me baby, ooo whoaa
So nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing
If I ain't got you with me baby

The composer is basically talking about wealth; that money, diamonds, and rings aren't everything. That person is basically saying that a person is worth more than wealth, and the most important thing is love.

259,000,000,000

What would you do if you win 259 million dollars in a lottery?
- If I am a good, generous person, I would save the money on my account. Another option is that I could donate most of the money to the people who needs in other countries or people in our country. However, if I really win this humongous amount of money, I would probably think of all the things I want. First of all, I would probably quit school because there is no need to go to this school. I would work my best on my interests because those are the most things that I enjoy most. Also, I would buy a good, big house. Basically, I would be doing a lot of things that I want to do.