Blog #7 Blog on Choice B

Choice B: Tell how the following characters respond to the jury's verdict: Jem, Aunt Alexandra, Dill, Miss Maudie, Bob Ewell.

When Atticus looses the case you can tell that he is upset. He walks in and Aunt Alexandra can tell that he is upset but he just says that he is tired. Atticus then says that he is going to get an appeal and keep trying. Atticus when talking to Jem says that he knew it was going to be very hard to win the case. He talks about how when it's a white mans word against a black mans that in that time the white man would always win. He also says that any white man that takes advantage of or cheats a black man is trash.

Jem is very upset by the fact that the jury ruled in favor of the Ewell's. When they arrive home after hearing the verdict of the case he begins to cry. He later also goes on to rant about how it was not fair that Tom lost. He gets mad and says that there shouldn't be jurys. He also asks why people like them and Miss Maudie arn't on the jury. He says that the jury can't convict Tom on evidence like "that." He feels very strongly about Tom being convicted of the rape and says many times that this is not a fair scentence.

Bob Ewell is happy that they won the case. He is also very mad though. He is mad at Atticus for defending Tom Robinson and for making him look like a fool in front of the whole town. Bob Ewell seems like he is very scared. He seems like he is scared that Atticus will prove him wrong and prove that he was the one who beat his daughter. Not Tom.

There are many different thoughts from characters on this subject. Some are a lot more sensitive and caring people and others are more harsh. Together it is a balance.

Journal #6 Reading prompt B

Journal #6
Reading prompt B

B. Compare and contrast yourself to either Scout or Jem at their age. Compare and contrast your summer activities, friends, relationships with your dad, siblings, and adults.

Me and Scout are somewhat similar. Me and Jem are also somewhat similar. Both I am similar to in different ways. Scout has a unique relationship with her father. They like to read together and they would do that when she was little and they still do know. Me and my dad also would read together when I was younger. This is something that I can remember that my dad and I used to do together quite often. At night before bed my daddy would read me a story. When I was Scouts age I was also a lot like her, in terms of her style. When I was that age I didn't like to wear dresses or skirts. I grew up wearing jeans and t-shirts.

Jem and I are also alike. Jem as it has shown through the last few chapters is very strong minded and stubborn. I am also strong minded and stubborn. I also can relate to the beginning of the book when Scout first started and he didn't want her to talk to him or anything at school. This is how I was toward my brother at first when he first started at High Tech Middle Media Arts. He embarrassed me. I can also relate to Jem in being the older sibling and having to grow up, be the responsible one, and wanting the younger sibling to grow up too. Jem also has shown interest in the law case that Atticus is in. I also have an interest in law.

Summers in this book go by really fast. The summers of Jem and Scout are similar to my own summers. They hang out with their friends and play games just like I do with my friends in the summer. Something different about our summers though is that they stay at home a lot or if they do go places its only to town. During my summers I also spend a lot of time with my family at places like the beach and the water park.

Scout, Jem, and I are similar and different in many ways. The way we handle situations and the way we look at and act towards adults are also different. There are many things that I can and can't relate to in this book.

Journal #5 Chapters 14 & 15 Perspective: Tom Robinson

Journal #5
Chapters 14 & 15
Perspective: Tom Robinson

Dear Diary,

I have been sitting in this jail cell for too long. I look outside my window covered with metal bars wishing I was able to emerge from my cell and back into the world. The only good part about being here is that I don't have to work. I worry about my family though. My wife Helen and all of our children. I have become very pensive wondering of my family. How are they? Are they starving. I feel so helpless not being able to help them and provide for them.

I am glad I have Atticus as my lawyer. Unlike most white folk he actually cares about me and if I die or not. I know that there are very slim chances that I will get out of this alive even if Atticus is a good lawyer. Atticus can't save me from being a negro and that is what could kill me. Atticus' reassurance is no compensation for the fact that so many whites are against me, and because of this I could die. The racism that comes from the white folk I don't understand. I don't understand how the could accuse me of something so horrid. I don't get why they antagonize me so.

I have heard the sheriff talking. I have heard him say that I could be killed by a mob. I am scared for my life any more now. There is so much to be afraid of. I am praying to God that I will not be hurt and that he will pull me through this difficult time.

Atticus came tonight. I knew that the mob was going to come tonight. I watched Atticus as he sat outside of the jail on his desk chair with of course a newspaper in his hand. Across the street from a window high up sat Mr.Underwood with his double barrel shotgun sticking out the window. I heard cars pulling up. My whole body became ridged. I looked down out of the window and I saw A huge group of men coming toward my direction and the jail. Atticus got up and folded his paper nicely. They asked him if I was here. Atticus said yes but that I was sleeping. I listened to them say that Atticus knew what they wanted, I knew too well what they wanted. They wanted to kill me.

I stood looking out the window and listening for a while. Atticus told them to go home and that sheriff Heck was near by. All of the sudden Atticus' little girl Jean Louise Finch came bounding up the road. Hey Atticus she said. Then came son Jem and another boy who looked a bit older then Jean Louise. Atticus looked at them. He told Jem to Leave but I didn't see Jem budge. After that I couldn't hear much. I then saw a big man pick Jem up by the collar. Jean Louise kicked barefoot but the man fell back because Jean had kicked him in a very sensitive spot. I didn't hear much after that. I heard "get em outa here" but I didn't see anyone leave.

A little bit later I saw Jean Louise looking at all the men in the half circle around her father. She stopped looking when she saw a man standing in the middle of the half circle. It was Mr.Cunningham. She apparently acquired some courage and said "Hey, Mr.Cunningham." When he didn't reply the first time she said it again.After he still didn't reply she began to speak. She asked questions and talked about Mr.Cunninghams son. He never said anything. Jean Louise stopped talking and something peculiar happened. Mr.Cunningham said "I'll tell him you said hey, little lady" He was talking about saying something to his son, from what I heard was named Walter. Mr. Cunningham I'm guessing began questioning what he was doing and said something to the rest of the men and I sat down. I heard a plethora of cars leaving and I asked Atticus if they were gone. He said "They've gone. Get some sleep Tom. They wont bother you anymore." I heard Mr.Underwood yell something and Atticus walked over to talk to him. I lied down on my cot.

For once I am not scared. I know I will be OK. At least for tonight.

Till another day,

Tom Robinson

Journal #4 Chapters 10, 11, & 12 Perspective: Mrs. Dubose

Journal #4
Chapters 10, 11, & 12
Perspective: Mrs. Dubose



Dear Diary,

About a month ago two kids from down the street named Jem and Scout walked past my house like they always have to to get to town. When people walk by my house no matter who they are I always say something to them. Everyone is acquainted with my ways of saying mean things. The things I say aren't very nice but I never realize what I'm saying until it's out of my mouth. This day when Jem and Scout walked by I said some mean things. The beginning of the conversation started with me saying that I was going to call their principal and tell him that they were playing hooky. Jem replied saying that it was a Saturday. I said that it made no difference and that I wondered if Atticus knew where they were. Jem said that they had been going to town by themselves since they were very little. I told him not to lie to me and that Maudie Atkins had told me that he had broken down her scuppernong arbor that morning. He denied this and I yelled at him to not contradict me.

I then began my conversation with Scout. I tolled her that she shouldn't be wearing overalls but instead a dress with a camisole underneath. I tolled her that if she was going to dress like that, then she was going to end up waiting on tables at the O.K. cafe. They began to walk away but I said "Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers!" This made Jem stiff. He stood still. I knew what I had said had really bothered him but I kept on going anyway. I said "Your fathers no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" Jem went scarlet in the face. He was angry. You could tell that he was very mad. Scout tugged on Jems arm and they began to walk away. This time I let them go.

I went inside my house and the next time I came outside I was surprised to see my camella bushes destroyed. All the flowers laid on the ground and there I also a baton, broken in half. I knew then that this was Jem. Jem had come when I was inside and destroyed all me camellas. That night I talked to Atticus. I had been debating on what I wanted Jem to do and I came to a conclusion. A while after I talked to Atticus there was a knock on my door. Jessie whom I have entrusted to care for me answered the door and there was Mr. Jem Finch. I had decided what I wanted him to do. He said sorry but he didn't sound very sincere. I told him that I wanted him to come to my house everyday after school and every Saturday for a full month to read to me. When I told him this he looked very perplexed, and he looked like he really didn't want to come read to me.

The first day Jem came to read to me he also brought Scout along. When they entered the house I was laying down. I know I must have looked very sickly and weak to them but still they still looked terrified. They sat a distance away from me but I told them to come nearer to me until they were adjacent to my bed. Jem then began to read. I only remember a bit of him reading then I don't remember anything. I just know that I fall asleep. I know that there is an alarm and when it goes off Jessie shoos Jem and Scout out of the house.

This went on for a month and everyday the alarm would go off a little bit later. On the last day of Jems reading I told Atticus that I just wanted Jem to read to me for one more week. I know that Jem was very upset about this but I really needed this. A week later Jem was done with his readings. I was like always asleep when they left. But these past readings had been different. I would get bored of the reading and I would begin to say mean things to them again as I had when they would walk by on their way to town. One day I said "Jeremy Finch I told you you'd live to regret tearing up my camillas. You regret it know don't you!" he said that he did. I told him that he thought he could wreck my snow on the mountains but that now my camillas were growing back. He muttered something but I couldn't tell what he was saying. Three weeks passed and I was sure I was close to dieing. I have been addicted to morphine. I am sick because of my addictions. I am about to die because of my addictions. But I am dieing old. I prepare a box for Jem. Inside I put a waxy white camilla surrounded by cotton. I wrapped it and put it away.

I am going to die. I can feel it. Its about to happen. I am calling Atticus. I tell Atticus to come over. Before I die I give him the box for Jem he takes it.

To all whom will remember me,
Mrs. Dubose

Journal #3-Chapters 8 & 9 Perspective: Uncle Jack

Journal #3-
Chapters 8 & 9
Perspective: Uncle Jack


Dear Diary,

This is the week of christmas. I as I always do have come down to have christmas with the rest of my family at Finch's landing but first on Christmas eve I arrive in Maycomb and stay with Atticus, Jem, and Scout for the night. The next day we head up to Finch's landing. I got two gifts, one for Jem and one for Scout. They are from their father but I had to go get them. The first thing Scout said when I got off the train was, whats in the packages. I told her it was none of her buisness. Jem asked me about my cat, Rose Aylmer. That cat is the only female I will ever be able to stand living with for she can not torment me.

Scout has began to cuss. It's not a good thing and I told her that she should not be using bad language like that. She used that language during dinner so I asked her to talk to me after dinner. When dinner was over we talked. I told her that young ladys should'nt use that language unless provoked.


The next morning was Christmas morning. Jem and Scout loved their air rifles but were pointing them in the house. I told Atticus he needed to teach them how to shoot. He told me this was my Job.


When we all arrived at the Landing my sister Alexandra her husband Jimmy and thier grandson Francis greeted us. Alexandra complained a lot about Scouts clothing and ways to Atticus and told him he wasn't doing a very good job. I was tired of all her tiranny. Scout said that she couldn't do anything in a dress and Alexandra said that anything she couldn't do in a dress, she shouldn't be doing. That night at Christmas dinner Scout was placed at the little table in the dining room while all the rest of us were seated at the dining table. Alexandras coooking was absalutly amazing that night.


I heard a commotion outside a little wile after dinner. I came outside and saw Scout and Francis. Scouts left hand was bleeding and so was Francis's face. I ran up and grabbed both of Scouts hands just as she began to swing her left arm at Francis. I yelled at Scout to stand still and then at both children "who started this." Francis said that Scout had called him a whore lady and jumped on him. Scout said that this statment was correct and I told her that she wasn't sapposed to use that language and that now she was in trouble. It was unanimous. between me and Alexandra she was deffinantly in trouble. She told me she wouldn't speak to me ever again and that she hated me, despised me and hoped that I would die tomorrow.


We went back to Atticus's home and Scout went strait to her room. Scout was very upset she desguised herself not wanting to be seen in her room like a chameleon. I wanted to talk to her so I knocked on her door. At first all she said was go away. She ket me come in and when I did she told me I wasnt fair. I asked her how I wasn't fair. She said "Your real nice Uncle Jack, an' I recon I still love you after what you did, but you don't understand children much. I told her "And why do I not understand children, Miss Jean Louise? Such conduct as yours required little understanding. It was obstreperous, disorderly, and abusive-" She Then asked if I was going to give her a chance to tell me what she thought. She began telling me that I didn't let her tell her side of the tory and that this was not fair. She then said that I said she should only use bad words under extreme provocation and that Francis provoked her enough to where she knocked his block off. I asked her what her side of the story was.

I asked her what her side of the story was and she began to tell me what happend. She said that Francis called Atticus something and that she didn't like it and wasn't about to take that. I wanted to know hat he called Atticus so I asked. She sais that Francis called Atticus a "nigger-lover" I was shocked that Francis called him that. Scout said that she wasn't about to let him talk about Atticus like that. She also told me that Francis said other things about Atticus too. Like that he was the ruinin of the family and that he let Jem and her run wild. This made me very angry. Scout looked scared for a minute until i said "we'll see about this, I have a good mind to go out there tonight." Scout told me to just drop the subject and not to tell Atticus. I told her that I was upset that Francis could get away with something like that but she tolfd me he didn't and mentioned her hand. This made me remember that he got his. She asked me to tie up her hand and I did. Before I left the room she asked me what a "whore lady" was. I just went into a story about an old prime minister. I didn't want to tell her. I left the room.

Later that night when the children were asleep I was talking to Atticus. I told him that I didn't want to have childrem and that Scout gave me a lesson on children. I apoligized for how i treated her and Atticus just said that she earned it and not to feel to remorsefull. I felt weird knowing that she did what she did for Atticus and yet he was the one saying she deserved my malignant behavior. I wanted to tell him about what Francis said but I had made a promise and I needed to keep it. We talked about his case and how he was defending a negro and how hard this would be. Atticus spoted Scout listening in and told her to go to bed. I was proud of myself for not spilling Scouts secret. Especially since she would have heard if I had. This was the end of my christmas.

Well I will write again soon, till then,

Jack

Journal #2- Chapters 4-7 Persperctive: Miss Maudie Atkins

Journal #2-
Chapters 4-7
Persperctive: Miss Maudie Atkins

Dear Diary,

Its summer and the children are all out of school. I have noticed Atticus's children and one of their friends playing in their yard. Jem, Scout, and Dill have been, I think, acting. Its real odd. I was looking at them one day when I was trimming my hedges and I think that Scout saw me looking.

As the summer has gone on I see Dill and Jem hanging out together a lot more without Scout. Scout has become my main company. She sits with me on my front porch. We would watch the twilight together most nights. Before we began doing this I had an agreement with the kids. I would let them use my front and back yard, and eat my scuppernogs if they would'nt jump on the arbor.

One day I had a very interesting conversation with scout. She mentioned Boo Radley whom I like to call Arthur. Scout had asked me if Arthur was alive. I told her I knew he was because he hadn't been taken out of the house yet. She suggested the idea that they stuffed him up a chiminey when he died. I thought that was crazy. She told me that Jem told her he was up the chiminey. Jem was getting more and more like their uncle Jack Finch every day.

Jack is my age. I've known him since we were kids. He has asked me to marry him every time he comes down to visit Atticus and the kids, but I allways say the same thing "Call a little louder, Jack Finch, and they'll hear you at the post office. I havn't heard you yet!" Jack is the last person in the world I would want to marry. But I love teasing him.

Me and Scout continued our conversation about the Radleys. I told her that all Arthur wanted to do was stay inside so thats what he did. I did'nt tell her this but really Arthur is the opposit of me. He likes to stay inside and I never want to be inside. I like to be outside enjoying Gods outdoors.

I told Scout about old Mr. Radley. How he was a foot-washing baptist. She thought thats what I was but I corrected her. I am just a baptist. Old Mr. Radley is the kind of baptist that believes anything thats pleasure is a sin. I told her that one time a few foot-washing baptists came out of the woods one day and told me that me and my flowers were going to hell. They believed that I shouldnt be spending so much time with Gods outdoors and more time inside reading the bible. Scout was real kind to me and told me that this was wrong and I was the kindest lady she knew. I told her thankyou but that to foot-washers women were a sin by definition. Our conversation about religion went on for a little while longer and then we came back to the topic of the Radleys.

She asked me if I thought that the things people said about Mr. Arthur were true. I told her that 3/4 of those things were made up by colored folk and the last 1/4 by Stephanie Crawford. I to,d her that I did't believe the things that people said about him. That is a sad house I told her. I told her about how I knew him when he was a kid. I told Scout all about how Arthur used to talk very nicely just as about nicely as he could to me. He wasn't rude. He was a very polite young boy. The last question scout asked me about him was if I thought he was crazy. I said that if he's not, he should be by now.

I was done with the conversation so I asked Scout if she wanted some pondcake and of course she said yes. My baking is the best on the block.

Sincerely,
Miss Maudie Atkins

Journal #1 Chapters 1-3 Perspective of Ms. Caroline

Journal #1
Chapters 1-3
Perspective of Ms. Caroline

Dear Diary,
Today was the first day of school. I came in feeling a bit Intimidated. I didn't know what to expect. I first began the day with a book. I read them a book about cats. After this I wrote down the alphabet and had one of the students read it. The students i had read the alphabet is named Jean Louise. She was not taught properly. I think her father has been teaching her at home and what he has taught her is not good. If he teaches her anymore it will interfere with my teachings. I told Jean Louise this and I am really hoping that she tells him not to teach her any more. She annoyed me with a ridiculous story of her brother and I could not stand to hear another word so I told her not to let her imagination run away with her. Her actions irked me but thankfully she did not bother me once more up to recess.

After recess we had lunch. I asked the children who had a lunch with them and who would be going home to get lunch. The was one child named Walter who didn't have a lunch so I tolled him I would lend him a quarter to buy one and he could pay me back tomorrow. He refused to take my quarter. I was becoming impatient and then Jean Louise stood up. She told me about how Walter was a Cunningham. I had no idea what a Cunningham was so I was very baffled on what this little girl was talking about. She began to explain saying that the Cunningham's wont take anything because they can't pay you back. She then told me that I was shaming Walter and that he didn't have a quarter to pay me back with.

I had heard enough of Jean Louise that morning and was getting tired of her. I became very irritated with her so I pat her hands about a dozen times with a ruler then made her go stand in the corner. I found later that when I made her stick out her hand she thought we were going to make a compromise. Jean Louise was not off to a good start of the school year.

After lunch we came back to the classroom. I screamed as I saw what the children call a cootie in Burris Ewell's hair. At first when I screamed I screamed its alive. I was so grossed out and I could not believe what I had just seen. The children thought I had seen a mouse.

The children asked me where it went and I pointed to Burris's head. A little boy named Chuck asked me why I was so afraid of a cootie. I had walked by and just saw the thing crawling out of his hair. Chuck tolled me there was nothing to fear and ran to fetch me a cold cup of water. I tolled Burris that he needed to go home and he needed to take a shower and wash his hair with lye soap then he needed to treat his hair with kerosene to get rid of the cooties. I also told him to make sure he bathed before he came back tomorrow. Burris was filthy. He was dirty and gross. H
e told me that he wasn't coming back tomorrow and that he had done his time for this year.

I was confused. One of the older children in the class began to explain that the Ewell's only came to school the first day of school each year and for the rest of the year I was just supposed to mark them absent. This shocked me. I didn't get why this was allowed to happen. I wasn't going to let Burris go that easily so I tolled him to stay. This made him angry and Chuck stood up again and tolled me just to let him go because Burris was a mean one. So I tolled Burris to leave. I was becoming very exhausted and tired. He called me a slut. He called me a snot-nosed slut of a school teacher. That's when I broke down and began to cry. The students came up and comforted me and tolled me to read them another story. So I did. By the end of the day I was exhausted and surprised at how many eccentric families there were in this town. Even though i have had so many challenges i need to keep going and persevere in my career as a teacher.

Till next time,
Ms. Caroline

Free Choice Reading. Post #3

NAME: Kelsey
DATE: February 3,2010
BOOK: The Lovely Bones
AUTHOR: Alice Seabold
PAGES: 214 - 328
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 328

QUESTION 1:What was one of your favorite lines (or sentences) in what you read today? Copy it down and tell why you liked it.

RESPONSE 1:
In what I read today one of my favorite sentences is "At the tips of feathers there is air and at their base : blood. I hold up bones; I wish like broken glass they could court light ...still I try to place these pieces back together, to set them firm, to make murdered girls live again."
I liked this piece from the book because this is one of the poems that Ruth wrote. This is the only poem that they show in the book and all though I don't understand the full poem I do understand some of it. I really like this poem though and I think it is very interesting. It really shows what Ruth is feeling. I think that "Ruth" in the book is a very talented writer. I think that she really channels her feelings well into this piece of work.


QUESTION 2: Explain how the author creates suspense in this book.

RESPONSE 2:
In this book there are times when there is a lot of suspense. One of these parts was when Lindsey snuck into Mr. Harvey's house. Lindsey breaks open a basement window of Mr. Harvey's house and begins too search for his bedroom. She thinks she has about 45 minutes until she has to get out. She finds Mr. Harvey's bedroom and begins to look for evidence that he committed Suzie's murder. She finds his sketchbook sitting on his beside table. During the time she finds it and walks over to it she doesn't put together the sounds of a car pulling up to the house, a squeak of the cars breaks, and a car door slamming shut, signifying that Mr. Harvey has come home. She begins looking through the sketchbook. She finds a page that can be used as evidence and tears t out of the book. Right then Mr. Harvey hears a board squeak and starts rushing up the stairs. Lindsey opens and jumps out of a window to get away, but Mr. Harvey still sees the soccer jersey with her soccer number on it and knows it is her.
This part made me very anxious and nervous. I started reading really fast at this part because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Alice uses good descriptions of what is happening and she lengthens out certain scenes to make them more intense and suspenseful.

Free Choice Reading. Post #2

NAME: Kelsey DATE: February 2,2010
BOOK: The Lovely Bones
AUTHOR: Alice Seabold
PAGES: 84 - 214
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 328

QUESTION 1: Which character would you like to be like? In what way? Why?

RESPONSE 1:
If I could be like a character in this book I would choose to be like Lindsey. Lindsey is a very strong person both physically and mentally. I think that out of all her family members besides Buckley she handles Suzie's disappearance the best. Lindsey acts very strong. She doesn't let Suzie's death effect her as much as the others do. She pretends like it didn't happen sometimes and then others she just tells herself that everything is going to be all right.
Another character that I like in this book and would want to be like is Ruth in the sense that she is very artistic and she is a very good poet. I like this about her a lot. I think this gives her character something different that none of the other characters have. Ruth is a very important character in this book because of how she felt Suzie touch her when Suzie's spirit left the earth. I like the way Ruth takes this experience and other things that she begins to feel about it and writes them down in the form of a poem. I really like this about her.

QUESTION 2: What other character(s) beside the main character is really important to the story? How and why?

RESPONSE 2:
I think that one of the most important characters in this book besides Suzie is Franny. All though Franny isn't mentioned much she plays a big role in Suzie's heaven. Franny is the person that gives Suzie the map to the pear tree where she sees the other girls that Mr. Harvey has killed. This is a good experience for Suzie it shows her that she isn't the only one that has been killed. I like this part in the book a lot and I like Franny's character. She reminds me of a nanny or a caretaker of the girls in heaven which is basically what she is.
I also think that Ruth is a very important characters in this book. Ruth is pretty much Suzie's main connection to earth. Ruth even though she didn't really know Suzie took great interest in her death after Suzie's spirit touched Ruth when going to heaven. Ruth writes poems about Suzie's death and thinks about it a lot. She also becomes good friends with Suzie's lover Ray. I think this is important because they become really good friends and Ray begins to be able to talk about what happened to Suzie with Ruth. Ruth writes down anything she notices about places where people could have been murdered or raped, and different scenarios she sees play through her head about what happened at these places inside of a journal she has. This journal also holds the poems about Suzie.

Free Choice Reading. Post #1

NAME: Kelsey DATE: February 2,2010
BOOK: The Lovely Bones
AUTHOR: Alice Seabold
PAGES: 1 - 84
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 328

QUESTION 1: What does this book make you wonder about? Why?

RESPONSE 1:
There are a lot of things this book makes me wonder about. One of the main things this book has made me wonder about is our world and how things like rape and murder can happen to anyone. This book has really come o make me realize that things like this do happen everyday. Young girls are being beaten, hurt, and that's sad to know. This book has made me wonder how many people might have had happen to them what happened to Suzie. As the family of a victim of that, that would be very hard to cope with.
Another thing this book has made me wonder about is the police and investigations. Through out this portion of the book the police are starting to begin their investigation and search for answers on what might have happened to Suzie. They don't find any evidence that could pinpoint to one person saying that they murdered Suzie. This makes me wonder about our own police force. Are there cases left hanging like this? Can the police and detectives sometimes not find anything? This portion of the book is just starting the investigation. When I read this portion I remember wanting to know what the police were going to find if they found anything, and how the case would end up.


QUESTION 2: What do you think about a particular character's actions? Was he/she right or wrong to do that?

RESPONSE 2:
At the very beginning of this book, in the first chapter it describes Suzie's rape and murder. The murderer and rapist is Mr.Harvey. Obviously I along with any other that will or have read this book think this is very wrong. Mr. Harvey was wrong to do this but without this beginning there would be no story. In this first chapter it talks about how Mr. Harvey gets Suzie into the hole in the cornfield with him. I think that Mr. Harvey planned this very well for the benefit of himself. I'm not saying that I think what he did was right but that I do think he planned the way he was going to rape and murder her well. He definitely had a good plan that worked. I think that because the police don't find anything but Suzie's elbow, hat, and book shows that he did a good job covering up his tracks. I think his actions were good for himself but from the readers point of view what he did was horrible and I hate how Suzie is killed in the end of the chapter.

Final blog entry for LOTF

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 12
"Cry of the Hunters"
Perspective: Ralph

Dear diary,
Jack and his tribe created a cordon to look for me all over the island. After they found me they were going to kill me. I hid inside the thicket at the bottom of the cliff near castle rock. I visited Samneric on top of castle rock. They gave me some meat from the feast with Jack. Samneric had to join Jacks tribe. I'm guessing that they were threatened and that they figured they would get beat if they didn't join his tribe.
Roger created a stick sharpened on both ends for me. I didn't understand what that meant at first. They tried to catch me first by pushing boulders onto the thicket from above. When that didn't work they tried to find where I was by poking their spears into the thicket. Last they lit the thicket on fire I had to get out so I sprung from the bush and stabbed at the boy in my way who could have turned me in to Jack.
I fled to the beach where I saw a man that had epauletts and white drill on him. He was a naval officer. He was just standing there on the beach. He looked as if this were a diddle. Jack and his boys were chasing me with a loud ululation so then we all ended up on the beach with the naval officer. The naval officer asked who the leader was and I said it was me. The naval officer was disappointed though. He was disappointed that we were so disorganized and he was disappointed that a pack of British boys couldn't keep it together. He was disappointed that we couldn't put on a good show. I tried to explain but I don't know if he really got it. He asked a few more questions then we went home with him.

Capter 11 Castle rock Q's

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 11
"Castle Rock"

1. At the beginning of this chapter Piggy tells Ralph to blow the conch and call an assembly. He also says that Ralph should give him the conch so that he can go talk to Jack with it.He thought it could be used as a talisman.
2. Piggy said he was going to tell Jack that he needs his glasses to see. He know that Jacks stronger and smarter then him but whats right is right and he needs his glasses back.
3. Ralph says their appearance should be clean like they were before. He said they ought to comb their hair and wash themselves.He didn't want to look truculently like Jacks tribe.
4. Roger challenged the boys when they first got to castle rock.
5. Jack had been out hunting before he appeared.
6. Ralph calls Jack a thief and this is what starts the fight between them.
7. After the fight Samneric are tied up by Jack tribe.
8. Roger had been throwing stones and leaning on the lever at the time during Piggy's plea for cessation of their savage behavior.
9. I believe that Roger is responsible for Piggy's death. Roger was the one who pushed the lever and made the rock fall on Piggy. He was not ordered by Jack at that moment to push the rock on to Piggy. He had only been ordered before to use the rocks to protect the fort from trespassers. It says in the text of the book that "Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever." This clearly shows that it was Roger who is responsible for Piggy's death.

Simons view

Lord of the Flies
Journal
Simon's Ghost

Dear diary,

I have been watching the boys after my death. Ralph and Piggy were talking about my death. At least Ralph recognises good and bad. He new that this was murder. Piggy said it was just an accident, and that it was somewhat my fault for crawling out of the forest. They said they were outside of the circle. Ralph saw what happened to me but Piggy said he only got an eye in here and there. They were on the outside of the circle. I'm disappointed that they had even been a part of all this. I am not happy that they killed me. It was murder. Why did it have to be me? I don't know what else to say about my death. It was sudden and no one could have predicted that it was going to happen. Things happen for a reason.

Jack has become a monster. He is tying his own tribe members up. He is going to beat poor Wilfred. But no one else in his tribe knows why. Jack wont tell anyone. I just know that he was mad and had him tied up. They talked about killing me. Jack and his hunters said that I supposedly was the beast in disguise. But I am not the only beast, the beast is in all of us. Jack takes Roger and Maurice hunting with him. They talk about stealing Ralph's fire. They also talk about meeting the beast again. I wish that I could have warned Ralph about this. If I had maybe Piggy wouldn't be dead.

I'm not surprised that Jack had his tribe attack Ralph's tribe. Jack never liked Ralph. Jack is a violent and evil person. He wanted fire so he attacked them and took Piggy's glasses. He could have just asked for fire, Ralph would have given it to him, but he didn't. Jack doesn't seem like the kind of person to ask for help or some thing like that. Jack always has to be the most powerful.

Sincerely,
Simon

Chapter 8 and 9 blog

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 8
"A Gift for the Darkness"

In this chapter I think that the scene in which Jack and his new tribe kill the pig and make the Lord of the Flies is the most terrifying scene. In this scene Jack and his hunters capture and kill a pig. They run after a nursing sow. They first were only able to get a few spears into her flank but after that it was easy to follow her because of the blood that left a path. When they caught up to the sow Jack jumped on top of her. He stabbed her over and over while Roger took his spear stuck it in her and pushed down with all his weight. Jack in the end killed the sow by cutting its throat. They then create an offering for the beast by cutting the pigs head off, and sticking it on a stake in the ground. Jack believes that this is a was they might be able to make friends with the beast, so that it wont bother them. I believe this is the most terrifying scene because of what Jack and his hunters are doing. They cut the pigs head off, stick that on a stake, and they also take out all the pigs guts and place those on the rock near the head. I believe this is very gory and terrifying.

Chapter 9
"View to a Death"

I believe that Jack and the Hunters were the cause of Simon's death. Jack says "Do our dance! Come on! Dance!" This is what starts all the hunters into their "dance." All the hunters use there spears to kill the "beastie." This is when Simon is killed. This is also how Simon was killed. So I believe that if Jack hadn't started the "dance in the first place this would've never happened. But also if the bays hadn't stabbed at some random thing they believed was the beastie Simon would still be alive. I do think that it is mostly Jacks fault for starting the dance in the first place. But it also was an accident. The hunters attacked out of fear that Simon was really the beastie.

Post #7

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 7 - Shadows and tall trees
"Hunting the Beast"
Perspective: Jack

Dear diary,

Ralph hit a boar today while we were hunting the beast. After this happened the dun expression on every one's face was gone. We found a boar and Ralph hit the tip of its snout with the spear. We all started to play a game of pretend. We pretended like Robert was the pig. We circled him and started poking him with the non-sharp end of our spears. We were all very excited after playing the game.

The boys and I all thought that we should have like a big bonfire colored nicely because of the brine that is soaked into the wood. We also said we should have a pretend pig, to play pretend that we were killing it again. But then Robert said that we needed a real pig so that we could really kill it. So I suggested because we didn't have a pig that we should use a littlun. I don't think this foreshadows much just maybe that a few littluns will be killed but never by me.

After we started back from the huge rock castle we decided to go to the mountain to look for the beast. But no one wanted to go up there. So I went by myself. I saw something. I saw something bulging out of the side of the mountain and it defiantly wasn't a rock. I ran back down the mountain to Ralph and told him that I saw a bulge. He said that I didn't really see thee beast. So I took him up the mountain to show him. When we got up there I showed him and he finally believed me. I believe the boys are so gullible because they haven't been in real society for a while now. Also they aren't very old and when your little you believe in those kinds of things. The boys are impervious to the reality that there aren't monsters.

I don't like Ralph at all. He is all about rules! He thinks that he is the best leader, but I would do better then him! I should be leader. Every one should have sagely chosen me for leader! I have had more experience with being a leader. I also have my choir boys hunting and keeping the fire going. I'm in charge of that why not be in charge of everything else. There is no point in talking to Ralph about this either because nothing will get resolved. I should say something with a bravado. I don't care what he thinks. So why not?

Blog #6

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 6 - Beast from Air
"There isn't a beast!"
Perspective: Simon

Dear Diary,

Today a grown up sign came from the sky. A dead aviator came floating down. There was an explosion, and then a dead aviator came down with a parachute.

None of the boys are aware of the explosion or the aviator at first because it is at night time. Also I doubt anyone was thinking of the war. We all have other things to worry about. Like survival and what we need to do next to stay alive.

Sam and Eric were scared because they thought they saw the beastie. They were watching the fire when Eric saw the so called beastie. Sam saw and then they ran through the forest. When they got to the shelter they looked so scared. It looked as if they had seen the leviathan or something. They shouted at Ralph to wake up. They described the beastie too. They said it had long claws, sharp teeth, and wings.

The boys wanted to figure out what to do next about the beastie. Jack always reacts by emotion. He doesn't think about what he is going to do, he goes off of impulse. Like with the beastie he said right away that they should hunt it down. He can get waxy too and that effects his choices. Ralph on the other hand likes to think thing through. He thinks about the consequences of his actions first. He created game plans and thinks things over first before making action. I think because these two are so different they often become embroiled.

I don't believe there really is a beast. I don't think so because it seems a bit ridiculous. Especially the way Sam and Eric described the beast. I really wish all the boys would stop all this nonsense about the beast but this idea seems very interminable.

I think that the boys hear noises from the wind. Maybe they see the shadows from the creepers and plants. Maybe they see the creepers flailing from the wind. I'm not quite sure exactly what they see, but I'm pretty sure there is no real beast.

-Simon

Post #5

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 5 - Beast from the water
"Is this beastie thing real?"
Perspective: Piggy

Dear diary,

Today Ralph called a meeting. I guess he must have called the meeting because no one was fallowing his rules. His authority was also being challenged by Jack. Jack isn't a very nice person. I will always be on Ralph's side when it comes down to those two.

During the meeting we talked about a lot. Ralph brought up some concerns. He first brought up water. No one had been bringing in water from the stream in the coconut shells. He said this was a problem because we had agreed on bringing the water from the stream and now everyone was drinking it from the river. Then he also brought up the huts. He said that no one had helped build the third hut, that all of us built the first, some the second, and only him and Simon had built the third. He brought up the fact that everyone is going to the bathroom wherever they want, even by the shelters and the food. He said that we are now only allowed to go by the rocks near the water. He went on about different rules like only building fires at the top of the mountain, and making sure that u keep control of your fire. There was one last thing he talked about and this was the beastie. He talked about all of us being scared. He talked of how the beast is fake and there is no beast. He was discursive and rarely stopped talking during his speech.

I think that these concerns did need to be brought up. They are important things that we need to remember. We all need to remember who we elected chief, and what our rules are. I also think that the whole thing about the beastie needed to be brought up. This fear isn't good. I said before during the assembly there isn't anything to be afraid of.

Things are definitely falling apart. Some people want Ralph to be chief and some want Jack to be chief. There is also the conflict between Ralph and Jack. Neither of them agree on what is the most important thing for them to do on the island.

The littluns are crying in their sleep because they have nightmares about the beastie. The one littlun named Phil said he saw the beastie in the forest after he woke up from his nightmare. But I dont think I believe him. All the boys were an effigy of this fear.

There is a littlun named Percival who believes that the beastie comes from the water. He said his name then lamentation rose out of him. He is scared of the beast just like all the other littluns. He is afraid of the beastie coming from the water because he thinks he saw the beastie come from the water.

The worst quality in humans is when people always want to be better then others. Everyone is equal some people may be smarter or stronger but I don't like it when people have to be better then everyone else. Jack is like this and I think it's ludicrous.

If I were the leader of the boys thingy would be different. I think I would do things pretty similar to Ralph. But if Jack was chief everything would change if I became chief. If I were chief I would change how much work we do, and I wouldn't have Jack in charge of so much. I think I would jeeringly lead the boys sometimes to bug Jack.

Blog #4

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 4-
Painted faces and long hair
"Rescue.... Nope!"
Perspective: Ralph

Dear, Diary

Adjusting to life on the island hasn't been very easy. Everything is different. Instead of having my parents to make dinner, put me to bed, make rules, and other things, I have to be impalpable and independent and do all this on my own. I think that is the hardest thing to adjust to on the island. All the boys have different jobs, which helps but after today I'm not sure how well this is going to work out.

The littleuns are cute but they don't do anything. All they do is eat sleep and play. They haven't helped out at all. I mean when we were building the huts they started to help but they all eventually just wondered off. Even the biguns wondered off after some time. I think that if the liluns really want to survive they are going to have to start helping out.

We don't all paint our faces just the hunters. They paint their faces so that they can blend in more with their surroundings while they hunt. Jack had said that he felt as if the pig could see
him. Painting their faces has seemed to work because they finally did catch a pig.

This foreshadows that the hunters should be able to catch more pigs, or other types of meat. I think this will be a good thing.

My face is never painted. If it was I would feel hidden with swarthiness. I think I might also feel more independent.

There was a ship that passed by the island today. But the hunters were all gone hunting at
the time and the fire died out. If some of the hunters had been at the fire like they were supposed to be, they would've kept the fire going and we could have been rescued. But because Jack blatantly took all the hunters to hunt, there wasn't anyone watching the fire, and it burned out. And as I walked up to the fire that was no longer burning it looked malevolently at me as i realized there was no hope.

The fire was allowed to go out because Jacks belligerence caused him to need all the hunters to surround the pig. He wanted to make sure he caught the pig. I don't think that Jack thought over the situation. He was the one who wanted his hunters to be responsible for the fire and the hunting so he should have been able to keep the fire going and fulfill his responsibilities.

To reassert my chieftainship I called an assembly. This gives me the power again because no one else can blow the conch. I am the one who brought everyone together with the conch and I called the boys together again for an assembly. I need to make sure that Jack knows who's in charge.

- Sincerely, Ralph

Post #3

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 3 -
Huts on the beach
"Hunting is way more important!!!"
Perspective: Jack

Dear Diary,

I don't get Ralph! He is all about shelter. It doesn't matter. Hunting is more important. If we don't get food then we will die. I think that hunting is way more important for the Lil ones then shelter. Although I do think we need shelter, we absolutely need food or we will all die. So I
guess I kind of think that shelter is important but I also feel that food is a bigger concern right now. After fighting with Ralph I feel a little contrite. I could have tryed to see his point a little better.

The boys all have a job. Me and my choir are the hunters. When we were hunting today everyone else was supposed to be building shelters. But when I got back there were only two shelters built and only Ralph and Simon were working on them. Ralph was very rapt in making the shelter. None of the boys really did there job except for me, Ralph, and Simon. These jobs weren't carried out because all the other boys decided to go do other things like, bathing, eating, playing, or swimming.

I feel the most important task for survival is to hunt. We need to make sure that we have food. We also really need meat for protein. We have fruit, but we will soon get tired of that and out bodies will need calcium, protein, and other vitamins and minerals. I do think we need shelter but that isn't as important as food. I have a great compulsion for hunting.

Simon is one of the choir boys. He is kind and helpful. But also very annoying. Like that one time when he stood up for Piggy. He is a very small boy and hes skinny too. He has black hair, he is tan, he has a pointed chin, and his eyes are bright. He also isn't wearing anything except for shorts. His feet are bare and so is his back. He is getting pink from the sun. But most of us are.

If we don't get rescued soon I'm sure that we will most likely die. We might even turn against each other. I wouldn't be very surprised if we did. Ralph and I definitely have our disagreements.

Recently Ralph and I haven't been getting along very well. Ralph started yelling at me for not getting any meat, but being out in the forest all day long. I also sent the rest of my hunters back to the beach which must have also upset him. I don't get it though I will get meat I know I will! He also thinks that since I didn't catch anything that I should have been back with them working on the huts. But I almost caught something and I am very impulsed to go hunt. The hunting was fun as I walked around the forest and saw all the tendrils wrapped around various plants. The sight of the traces. The inscrutible forest all around me.

Sincerely, Jack

Post #2

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 2 -
Fire on the mountain
"Rules rules rules"
Perspective: Simon

Dear diary,

I somewhat like the island were on, it is big. It has lots of fruit and other things too. But I would rather be at home with my mommy and daddy. A good thing is that we have established some order. Instead of all us boys running around like errant little kids we have rules.

There is a so called beastie on this island. Or that is what the little boy with the mark on his face thought. The beastie is supposedly a snake. I'm not sure if i believe that there really is a beastie or not. Right now I think we (the boys) have better things to worry about then beasties.

The beastie kind of makes me scared. I'm not sure if there really is a beastie as I said before. But why would a little boy make this up. Maybe there is a snake, beastie thing here in the forest. Maybe I should be worried.

I like the plan of using smoke from a fire to signal that we are on this island. I think that this gives us a good chance of being rescued soon.

To start a fire we used Piggy's specks. Ralph pinched Piggys specks then made a hot ray of sun shine onto the wood. Jack had said that piggy didn't do anything to help start the fire but we would never have gotten the fire started that quickly if Piggy hadn't been there. With out Piggy's specks starting a fire could have taken all day. I also stood up for Piggy and told Jack that it was Piggy's glasses who got the fire started. The fire didn't make much smoke, but after a bit the fire started getting out of control. The fire started burning up part of the forest!

I am not quite sure what happened to the little boy with the mark on his face. This little boy whom had to be induced to hold the conch to speak. I feel bad, I think he must have died. I'm guessing he went down into the forest before the fire had started to get out of control and when the fire did get out of control he was stuck. Another possibility is that he could have gotten eaten by the beastie. That is what some of the younger boys are thinking.

I am a lot different from the other boys. I am not mean like Jack, yet I am not a wimp like Piggy. I am in the middle. I faint a lot too. Which isn't a very good thing. I stood up for piggy too. I stood up to Jack! the leader of our choir, and now the hunters. He is like second in command next to Ralph. He is very officious but just because I think he wants his oppinion to be heard. I think I could be a good second in command just because I am nicer to people then Jack. I think I am full of more ebullience then the others also.

As I go to bed each night, I wonder when and if we will ever be rescued. I dont want anything to happen to me. I just want to get home and be safe. I am a little afraid of what is on this island. But I can only hope that we will survive.
Sincerely, Simon