Lorenzo's 4th Blog entry.

Middle - Beginning of Part 2.

Theme: Education

"... Background doesn't mean Old Family ... it' how long your family's been readin[g] and writin[g]..."

Chapter 23, Page 258.

In this particular scene, shortly after Atticus' loss in the trial of Tom Robinson's case, Jem ponders deeply on the difference of the Finches to other people in Maycomb. Surely enough, the Finches were nearly the same as some of the folks in Maycomb, like the Cunninghams, but the Finches had something that was lacking within some folks in the County - it was education. In this particular scene, Aunt Alexandra expresses her loathe towards the so-called, "trash", Cunninghams as Scout shows her childish affection towards her classmate, Walter. Because of this, Scout and Jem were baffled as to why their Aunt has this much hate on these, "trash". Jem then came up to a conclusion that their Aunt just wanted them to be spared from the uneducated and were to take pride in their family's background and education. During the previous chapters, the Author gave us hints that a lot of people in Maycomb were uneducated. Like some of the Ewells and Cunninghams who barely attended school, or the African-American community that was introduced when Calphurnia invited Jem and Scout to their Church. Much to our surprise, most of them lacked the basic necessities we now take for granted during our education. Most of them were diligent enough to be self taught or were disciplined enough to be taught at home without the presence of a professional teacher forcing them to do homework. (E.g. Atticus, Zeebo, etc.) Like in our society today, a child's future would normally be foreshadowed through the child's educational prowess. Although, education does not ensure a successful future for anyone, it, without a doubt, plays a big role as to whether or not we would be like the, " noble Finches " or like the, " trash[y] Cunninghams" when we grow up. It is important that we take education seriously because as seen in the book and even in our era, education is a privilege that not all are entitled to have. To conclude, it certainly is an advantage that we all invest our time upon this sought for a higher education but - education is definitely not something that we should take for granted.

Lorenzo's 3rd Blog entry.

Middle - End of Part 1.

Theme: Understanding.

"... It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what ... "

Chapter 11, page 128.

Atticus plays a big role to his children in this particular chapter when Scout and Jem are obliged to have reading sessions with the most cantankerous lady in their neighborhood, Ms. Dubose. Ms. Dubose insulted Atticus that, " he is a nigger-lover," in front of the kids and angered the latter. Although Scout reminds Jem that they must, " hold their head high and [become] gentlem[en]," Jem loses his grip and destroys Ms. Dubose's Camellia bushes. This event lead up to the aforementioned reading sessions with Ms. Dubose. Much to their Father's delight, this reading session would still have happened even if Jem did not destroy said bushes because Atticus saw this session as an opportunity to help the suffering Lady. Ms. Dubose was a morphine addict and was trying her best to terminate the addiction. With the help of the time spent with the kids, she dies, putting a stop to her addiction. Atticus uses this as an example to help his kids understand other people in general. Jem, in this particular chapter, only believes that a person could either be good or bad. He cannot comprehend the possibility of a person having both these qualities. As Atticus shows Jem Ms. Dubose's courageous attitude as he explains her situation, Jem begins to slowly understand the presence of both evil and goodness in a person. In our society today, it is still a conundrum as to whether or not people who are pure evil and people who are pure good, exist. Nevertheless, may it be the most cussing racist person, or even the most religious person, we must understand the person. We cannot judge someone without, " being in their skin, " and without having to understand them. People often think that a person who possess these certain stereotypical qualities are like this and that - but no. Every single one of us in this world are created specially and are unique in our own little way. That's why, with the help of Atticus in this chapter, the Author stresses the importance of understanding others in our society. If we try to think about it, without understanding, we'd all be in peril right now. We can't socialize, we can't operate and most especially, we can't even have a proper and a descent conversation. To conclude, we must understand a person first before we criticize their existence - we must open our minds and " be on their skin. "

Lorenzo's 2nd Blog entry.

Early-Middle.

Theme: Loss of Innocence.

"... He stood there until nightfall, and I waited for him. When we went in the house I saw he had been crying ... "

Chapter 7, page 71.

Jem was depicted as a protector and was a source of answers to his younger sister, Scout, most of the time even in their young ages. Scout would almost often take Jem's advice as if it was carved on sacred scriptures and always makes it a point to ask her brother first about anything. Although Jem's answers could be considered as something that lacks experience, half baked, naive and innocent, she still heads his advices. Innocence here is described, " [as] the lack of knowledge or understanding," in any matter and/or situation. In this particular chapter, Jem's innocence in general, was slowly fading. As he realizes that his relationship with the mysterious figure of Maycomb, Boo Radley, was slowly becoming tangible and evident through the assumed gifts that he received from the latter, this ephemeral connection was impeded by Nathan Radley. Mr. Radley terminated the catalyst of the connection between Jem and Boo, by cementing the empty hole of the tree on the front yard of the Radley's. Jem, at first, was puzzled and perplexed by this occurrence and decided to ask Mr. Radley if he was the man at fault of this event. Surely enough, his inquisition on the matter was proven factual by Mr. Radley, although Jem found Mr. Radley's premise quite unorthodox. He then asks his Dad, Atticus and unravels the mystery himself - That friendship or socializing with Boo Radley is unwanted and is strongly opposed by the Radley's. This thought enabled Jem's perspective on his friendship with Boo to cease, and this resulted, slowly, to the beginning of his loss of innocence. In our society today, we still feel the grief and pain of losing something that is close to our hearts. Like the pain that Jem suffered after realizing the horrid truth, we too also feel this suffering. Although, through this pain, we gain new experiences, thoughts and ideals that will surely help us to mature - and to lose our innocence in certain affairs. Through time, as we compare the knowledge that we acquire to that of we have lost, it is relatively the same as to what we gain and lose in our innocence. Facts and certain truths in our society are slowly introduced to us as we grow older. Even if these facts were once devoid to our knowledge and even though sometimes they question the basic foundation of our morality, values and virtues, we will eventually encounter them - and lose our innocence. This occurrence may be something that we eagerly wish to happen, or maybe something that we inevitably avoid, but loss of innocence is part of growing up - and yes, we grow up.

Lorenzo's 1st Blog entry.

Beginning.

Theme: Prejudice.

"... Ms. Caroline, he's a Cunningham... "

Chapter 2, page 22.

Prejudice is clearly depicted in this brief statement of the Narrator, Scout, as she tries to explain to Ms. Caroline the reason of Walter Cunningham's dilemma. The significance of this line in the novel is nothing more than an introduction to the racial, social and economical prejudices that the Author would provide to the readers. In our society today, these kinds of comments are subject to critical dismay for it is considered as an anomaly and a racial comment. A racial comment, " [is a comment based] on a belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. " (Farlex Dictionary.) If we try to incorporate the definition of a racial comment in the words spoken by the Narrator, it is clear the she is implying that the name, "Cunningham [has a] difference in human [norms in their society.]" If we delve deeper to the source of this kind of mentality, it is evident that almost everyone in our world today are guilty of this state of mind. A state of mind in which we tend to judge a person solely by the name they posses, the color of their skin and by the country where they were born. Although the majority of us today are well aware of this social illness, knowing that the matter exists in our society clearly is not enough to disclose the affair. Having paradigm shifts on this matter, or changing in general, is not ultimately the awareness of what is it that needs to be changed but the actions that we implement in our daily lives. Ergo, we must not only be conscious to what we are saying, but we must also be conscientious to whomever we are speaking with. For who knows, a simple and flattering compliment on a person's hair style might be considered as a racial comment.

Kyles Vocabulary

1) Assuaged- To make milde, less severe.
When it healed Jems fears of never being able to play football were assuaged.
R- My hockey injury was assuaged.
2) Piety- Being religous a devot for god.
All we had was Simon Finch a fur-trapping apothecary from cornwall whose piety was exeeded only by his stinginess.
R- He said a prayer full of piety.
3) Dictum- An authoritive pronouncement, judical assertion.
R- He gave a dictum to the crowd.
4) Chatel's- A movable article of personal property.
R- He took his chatel to school.
5) Impotent- Lacking power or ability.
R- He was impotent at soccer.
6) Dispatched- To send off away aith speed, as a messenge, telegram, etc.
R- He dispatched a letter to his grandma.
7) Imprudent- Lacking discretion, incautious rash.
R- He was imprudent in his decisions.
8) Profound- Penetrating or entering deeply into subjects of thought or knowledge.
R- He was profound in his thnkng.
9) Talcum- Used in making lubricants.
R- His shirt was made of talcum.
10) Entity- Something that has a real existence.
R- Tiger Woods is an entity.
11) Revelation- The act of revealing or disclosing.
R- Bobs note was a revelation.
12) Habitually- Fixed by or resulting from habitat.
R- The house disinigrated habitually.
13) Repertoire- The list of dramas.
R- He had a list of repitoire.
14) Vapid- Lacking or have lost life.
R- The mans flowers had become vapid.
15) Malevolent- Wishing evil or harm to another or others.

Vocabulary- Kurun Soni

1. Ambled

   To walk at a slow, leisurely pace.

   He walked, ambled, thinking about his mistakes.

2. Sojourn

    A brief visit

    During his sojourn in our house he was very kind and polite.

3. Amiable

    Friendly, kind

    The queen was very amiable because of her wonderful qualities.

4. Contentious

    Always ready to argue or fight.

    The employees were always contentious due to their low pay and long hours.

5. Diminutive

    Smaller than ordinary

    The rock had many diminutive pores on one side.

6. Disapprobation

    Disapproval; condemnation 

    There was a disapprobation to use slang language in public.

7. Gravely

    Seriously

    He gravely proclaimed that their country is going to war.

8. Irked

    To be annoyed

    He was irked by his brother very easily due to his brothers snobby attitude.

9. Manacles

    A shackle for the hands; handcuffs

    The police put the manacles on the criminal before he could run away.

10. Melancholy

      Sad and gloomy

      My brother was very melancholy the day our grandfather died.

11. Asinine

      Stupid or silly

      The boy's asinine acts were not tolerable anymore.

12. Benign

      Kind and gentle

      The hotel manager was very benign to his residents.

13. Morbid

      Gruesome, horrible

      Watching the man get killed in the movie was morbid.

14. Placidly

      Calmly; quietly

      The girl's parents placidly announced the death of their daughter.

15. Apothecary

     An early form of a pharmacist.

     The apothecary made a remedy for the mans sickness.

-Kurun Soni

        

Additions To My Vocabulary

Unknown Words Present In To Kill A Mockingbird (Definitions Provided by Dictionary.com)

Wallow ("I never deliberately learned to read, but somehow I had been wallowing illicitly in the daily papers.")
Wallow: To live self-indulgently; luxuriate; revel.
He wallowed in his new found wealth.

Illicit ("I never deliberately learned to read, but somehow I had been wallowing illicitly in the daily papers.")
Illicit: Disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.
He illicitly lied to his mother as to where he was going.

Pronouncement ("Having never questioned Jem's pronouncements, I saw no reason to begin now.")
Pronouncement: A formal or authoritative statement.
The principal pronounced that there would be no tolerance for bullying.

Confer ("Miss Caroline and I had conferred twice already, and they were looking at me in the innocent assurance that familiarity breeds understanding.")
Confer: To consult together; compare opinions; carry on a discussion or deliberation.
We conferred as to whether we should go to France or Spain.

Sojourn ("My sojourn in the corner was a short one.")
Sojourn: A temporary stay.
My sojourn in Aftica is something my thoughts often revert to.

Arbitrate ("Jem arbitrated, awarded me first push with an extra time for Dill, and I folded myseld inside the tire")
Arbitrate: To decide as an arbitater or arbiter; determine.
Arbitrator: A person chosen to decide a dispute or settle differences, esp. one formally empowered to examine the facts and decide the issue.
I, being an indifferent bystander, arbitrated whose fault the car accident was.

Begrudge ("I don't know of any landowner around here who begrudges those children any game their father can hit.")
Begrudge: To be reluctant to give, grant or allow.
He begrudgingly disclosed his pin number.

Unsullied ("Atticus's office in the courthouse contained little more than a hat rack, a spittoon, a chackerboard and an unsullied Coade of Alabama)
Sully: To soil, stain, or tarnish.
With years of vigilance and carefullness, her favourite shirt remained unsullied.

Erratic ("She was furious, and when she was furious Calpurnia's grammar became erratic.")
Erratic: Deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion; eccentric; queer.
For some unfathomable reason, when he accidentally broke his mercury thermometer, his bahaviour became erratic.

Auspicious (" The remainder of my school days were no more auspicious than the first.")
Auspicious: Promising success; propitious ; opportune; favourable
I was overwhelmed with joy upon recieving the auspicious acceptance letter.

Cordiality ("With a click of her tounge she thrust out her bridgework, a gesture of cordiality that cemented our friendship.")
Cordial: Courteous and gracious; friendly; warm.
He was very cordial, but I still did not trust him enough to give him much of my contact information.

Furor ("The cootie's host showed not the faintest interest in the furor he had wrought")
Furor: A general outburst of enthusiasm, excitement, controversy, or the like.
The presence of a black widow spider resulted in a furor among all in attendance.

Assuage ("When it healed, and Jem's fears of never being able to play football were assuaged, he was seldom self-conscious about his injury.")
Assuage: To make milder or less severe; ease; relieve; mitigate.
Her hunger was assuaged just by the sight of fresh salmon.

Contentious (" 'Ain't got no mother', was the answer, 'and their paw's right contentious'.")
Contentious: Tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome.
Do you best to refrain from initiating a conversation with a contentious person.

Vapid ("By the end of August out repertoire was vapid from countless reproductions, and it was then that Dill gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out.")
Vapid: Without liveliness or spirit; dull or tedious.
The game I once loved, played with such passion, has become vapid from all the pressure that was put on me to succeed.

Subsequent ("If I could have explained these things to Miss Caroline, I would have saved myself some inconvienience and Miss Caroline subsequent mortification, but it was beyone my ability to explain things as well as Atticus, ao I said, 'You're shamin' him, Miss Caroline.")
Subsequent: Occurring or coming later or after (often followed by to)
If I had thought things through, I could have saved myself from falling, and the events subsequent.

Avineet

Vocabulary List.

Lorenzo Almonguera. [15 words.]

1.) "... Impurity of women doctrine ..."

Doctrine = A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma

Christianity is a religion based on the doctrines of God, the Father.

2.) " Still in wrist manacles ... "

Manacles = A device for confining the hands.

Before I could escape from the police, the manacles they have securely fastened on my feet, hindered my escape.

3.) "Our houses had no cellars ..."

Cellar = Basement.

I keep all my old belongings safely and neatly piled in the cellar.

4.) "... broke the taut circle. "

Taut = Stretched or pulled tight.

My pants always stay taut to me, even without a belt tightening it.

5.) " Punk, punk, punk ... "

Punk = A young person, especially a member of a rebellious counterculture group.

I have seen a group of Punks causing a pandemonium inside the Library.

6.) " His curtness stung me. "

Curtness = Rudely brief or abrupt.

My Moms curtness is obvious when she is annoyed at something.

7.) "... Flintlock pistol. "

Flintlock = A muzzle loader for a gun.

The gun's flintlock reflected the light coming from the sun.

8.) "... spared the grubbiness ... "

Grubbiness = Contemptible; despicable.

The neighborhood is filled with an aura of hostility and gloom, that it makes a person wonder as to whether or not the people who live here are capable of having a conversation, without the presence of grubbiness in them.

9.) " Enamored, upright ... "

Enamored = In state of love, infatuated.

As she walks pass by me, I was enamored, smitten and was blinded by her beauty.

10.) " Jem was adamant. "

Adamant = unyielding.

He was determined and adamant to keep his promise of fidelity with his lover.

11.) "... munching their dainties ... "

Dainties = Something delicious; a delicacy.

Ms.Crinkleberrytoenail makes the best dainties whenever I come over to her house.

12.) " In stately largo ... "

Largo = A slower passage or movement.

When the pianist was doing his solo, he kept his tempo at largo in order for the audience to appreciate every single note he played.

13.) "... with the rape statute ... "

Statute: An established law or rule.

The state formally declared the statute of banning candy consumption in all areas of the city except in the urinals.

14.) " Sin and squalor ..."

Squalor = A filthy and wretched condition or quality.

The harp was left in such a squalor that it was already considered obsolete.

15.) "... and florid diction ... "

Florid = Very ornate.

Political leaders often resort to florid speeches in order for them to captivate and persuade their listeners.

Spiel-To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird

One of the greatest and most influential works of modern American literature; "To Kill A Mockingbird" is written by Harper Lee and was published in 1960 by J.B. Lippincott & Co. It was originally copyrighted in 1960 and renewed in 1988. 323 pages of life defining moments that contributed to changing people's perpectives as we know it are present within this novel.

This Pulitzer Prize-Winning novel, is a narrative told through the eyes of a young girl, named Scout, residing in Maycomb County, Alabama; the very deep south of America. This literary work is set in an era of an economic depression, in which Scout's family, along with virtually all other residents, are facing financial and social difficulties; Atticus Finch-the widowed father of Scout and her brother Jem- is a prominent lawyer during these times, and therefore is somewhat better off than many other families. Atticus then takes on a controversial case whose subject is a coloured male, which engulfs his family in racial discrimination from the community.

Book Review Link: http://ezinearticles.com/?To-Kill-a-Mockingbird---A-Book-Review&id=78097

Book Trailer Link:http://www.youtube.com/v/no4x4wZKitY?fs=1&hl=en_US%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam