The Reflection Essay (The last essay of my high school career!)
My first impression of AP literature is that is wouldn’t be that much different than AP language. In some ways I was correct, we still analyze how the author uses literary (rhetorical) techniques to create an argument through their work. But for the most part, I had to readjust my writing style to fit more literary analysis rather than rhetoric. I remember the first essay I wrote in that class, the characterization one, where I referred to the story as an essay (and the red pen marks that severely underlined whenever I did so) as well as a good portion of my talking about rhetorical techniques rather than literary one; I thought I actually thought that I was going to get a decent grade.
I feel that my growth as a writer lies in my ever-growing pool of adjectives and verbs. While my personal style of syntax and diction stayed the same for the most part, over the course of the year I began to incorporate more and more adjectives and verbs to make my sentences juicier. I’ve notice that, especially in the beginning of the year, I go through verb phases (emphasizes, shows) where I obsessively use a verb over and over again. With my increasing range of dispensable verbs, I don’t have to worry or do that as much (hurrah verb sheet!). And with the spectrum of colorful verbs that I utilize, the variety and sophistication of my writing has sky rocketed, and is the biggest achievement I made throughout this year.
I feel like my biggest weakness is still in poetry. Even though I have definitely improved in the area, the structure of any poems and the constant and blatant use of literary techniques always hinders me from fully understanding them. This is the case with the in class essay with the poem about the author writing to her works. I find that I have to take much more time to understand a poem than I do with prose, but I definitely improved in the area as shown by my most lasted in class essay poem grade. It is probably my need to become accustomed to the genre in order to understand fully, and throughout this year, I definitely have become more use to it.
This year’s English class has also taught the necessity of time management. While having time management is a “smack your forehead, duh!” statement, it wasn’t exactly apparent to me in the beginning of the year, and as a result, I had many night where I writhed in pain wondering why I didn’t start my work sooner. It only took me two quarters to realize that it was actually quite satisfying to pass in work on time and instead of sneaking it into the bin while the teacher wasn’t looking. And on a related note, I’ve finally noticed that my work is much more thorough and lucid when I’m writing my work at 6 pm instead of 4 am.
This year’s class has given me a whole new appreciation of English. I begin to question everything the author does: why does he mention this twice, and in the format? Why is this character a certain way and the other character another? I find myself constantly believing that everything has a purpose in the novel or story. In some ways, this good. I can decipher the author’s meaning and purpose and make the work my own, but in other ways, I view that this English class has stripped me of child-like innocence in reading. Never again will I be able to think that the red room in Jane Eyre is just a fashionably decorated room, that any mention of a garden in a story is just a garden and not a biblical allusion, or that constant mentioning of an object, person, or act is just pure coincidence.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Revision Explaination
I found that the biggest problem with my cathedral analysis was the interchangeable use of the narrator, the main character, and the author. Of course this confused me to no extent when I was proof-reading and I soon learned that I had to stick with only one. So I chose to stick with narrator. Most of my revisions are from sentences with weird syntax and moving sentences around to strengthen the point I’m trying to convey in the paragraph. I also added much more verbs and adjectives into my paragraph, making it sound more spiffy. I worked the most on the introductory paragraph which I though was the weakest. When reading it over again, I felt that it made little to no sense and had a weak argument. So I reworked the sentences with better structure and adjectives and verbs. Also in my previous essay, I focused on two things, point of view and tone. I decided it would be more effective to focus more on point of view and use tone as a way to strengthen it.
Revision of Literary Analysis
Paul Yao
Mrs. Clapp
AP Literature
May 20, 2009
With the use of the first person point of view, Carver is able to convey the narrator’s bigotry towards the blind man as well as his eventual change in character when he accepts the blind man. The narrator’s narrow-mindedness is already apparent in the first few sentences where he refers to the blind man, who is established as an old friend of the wife of the narrator, commonly as just “the blind man” instead of showing courtesy and respect by calling him by his first name. By doing this the narrator also de-individualizes the blind man, referring to him as a stereotype as to an individual human being. The narrator’s syntax is simple and direct, bringing to light that he doesn’t exactly care for the situation and is instead complaining about it. While meeting the blind person for the first time the narrator comments in his mind that “He [the blind man] was no one I knew… A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to” revealing that his perception of the blind “came from movies … the blind moved slowly and never laughed.” (223) In contrast to his blatant and prejudice thoughts, the narrator is much more subtle when physically speaking to the blind man. The contrast between the narrator’s thoughts and what he says reveals his acknowledgement of his bigotry and also his fear and obvious lack of understanding for the blind. The use of the first person point of view opens a gateway into the narrator’s mind in which his prejudice and ignorance of people different from him is revealed and emphasized. The audience is then allowed to see the reasoning behind the narrator’s outrageous statement such as his amazement that the blind man could have such a long beard or that the blind didn‘t smoke because they could see the smoke when they exhaled.
Carver develops a skeptical and prejudice tone in the beginning of the story and a shift in tone after the feast between the main character and the blind man in order to expose that prejudice is based off stereotypes and lack of knowledge and it can be changed with empathy and awareness. When telling anecdotes, the narrator seems to have very little care and thoughts about them, instead giving every last detail as shown with little to no opinion, which is mirrored by his short and direct syntax. And in doing so, bringing to light his lack of respect and understanding. When he does have an opinion it is usually mocking and is conveyed through the use of italics or parentheses such as when he asked whether the blind man knew which side he was sitting on thinking, “Going to New York, you should sit on the right-hand side of the train, and coming from New York, the left-hand side.” (226) There is shift in tone from skeptical to a more of accepting and understanding one after the narrator, his wife, and the blind man have dinner. The narrator states, “ I watched with admiration as he used his knife and fork …. It didn’t seem to bother him to use his fingers once in a while, either.” (228) The uptight and ignorant atmosphere has lightened just a smudge and the narrator’s sarcasm has shifted from mocking to more playful and humorous signifying his enjoyment of the event and his guard being let down.
It not until when the blind man asks the narrator to describe a cathedral does the tone completely shift from skeptical to accepting. Due the narrator’s failure to describe a cathedral he is lowered from his believed elevated status as it reveals to him that he is no better than the blind man despite his vision. However instead of mocking, which the narrator would’ve have done, the blind man simply proposes to work together leading them to have a moment and a deep connection which is reinforced by the amazement of his wife when she step in on them. The narrator’s complete change from prejudice and ignorance is symbolize by his last statement about cathedrals, “It’s really something” (234) which contrasted his previous statement in which he stated, “Truth is, cathedrals don’t mean anything special to me. Nothing… That’s all they are.” (232) The giant shift in tone is strengthened by the altercation of the point of view. Instead of being restricting and narrow, the narrator gives more detail of his surrounding and the events, creating a sense of openness and accepting atmosphere.
By using first person point of view Carver is able to reveal the narrator’s prejudice and ignorance and show how they are formed through false assumptions and stereotypes. It also lays down a skeptical tone which shifts as the story progresses signified by the nearly stream of conscience point of view. Through this, Carver is able to demonstrate that bigotry and ignorance can be overcome with awareness and empathy using the main character and the example.
Mrs. Clapp
AP Literature
May 20, 2009
Prejudice and Ignorance Theme
In Raymond Carver’s short story Cathedral, the narrator’s skeptical tone and point of view is utilized to exemplify that prejudice is caused by false assumptions, stereotypes and lack of knowledge. With the use of first person limited point of view, a mental barrier is created that forces the audience to see through everything the narrator does, thus creating a sense of ignorance and inequality. Ironically enough, despite his perception that he is better than the blind man, he is metaphorically blinded by his own dogmatic views, putting him on par with the blind (maybe even less as he is completely unaware of his mental blindness for most of the story). The narrator’s blatantly judgmental and skeptic tone reveals his ignorance and mental blindness, and is only relinquished of these qualities, allowing his eyes “to be opened”, when he has an epiphany through a drawing experience of a cathedral with the blind man.With the use of the first person point of view, Carver is able to convey the narrator’s bigotry towards the blind man as well as his eventual change in character when he accepts the blind man. The narrator’s narrow-mindedness is already apparent in the first few sentences where he refers to the blind man, who is established as an old friend of the wife of the narrator, commonly as just “the blind man” instead of showing courtesy and respect by calling him by his first name. By doing this the narrator also de-individualizes the blind man, referring to him as a stereotype as to an individual human being. The narrator’s syntax is simple and direct, bringing to light that he doesn’t exactly care for the situation and is instead complaining about it. While meeting the blind person for the first time the narrator comments in his mind that “He [the blind man] was no one I knew… A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to” revealing that his perception of the blind “came from movies … the blind moved slowly and never laughed.” (223) In contrast to his blatant and prejudice thoughts, the narrator is much more subtle when physically speaking to the blind man. The contrast between the narrator’s thoughts and what he says reveals his acknowledgement of his bigotry and also his fear and obvious lack of understanding for the blind. The use of the first person point of view opens a gateway into the narrator’s mind in which his prejudice and ignorance of people different from him is revealed and emphasized. The audience is then allowed to see the reasoning behind the narrator’s outrageous statement such as his amazement that the blind man could have such a long beard or that the blind didn‘t smoke because they could see the smoke when they exhaled.
Carver develops a skeptical and prejudice tone in the beginning of the story and a shift in tone after the feast between the main character and the blind man in order to expose that prejudice is based off stereotypes and lack of knowledge and it can be changed with empathy and awareness. When telling anecdotes, the narrator seems to have very little care and thoughts about them, instead giving every last detail as shown with little to no opinion, which is mirrored by his short and direct syntax. And in doing so, bringing to light his lack of respect and understanding. When he does have an opinion it is usually mocking and is conveyed through the use of italics or parentheses such as when he asked whether the blind man knew which side he was sitting on thinking, “Going to New York, you should sit on the right-hand side of the train, and coming from New York, the left-hand side.” (226) There is shift in tone from skeptical to a more of accepting and understanding one after the narrator, his wife, and the blind man have dinner. The narrator states, “ I watched with admiration as he used his knife and fork …. It didn’t seem to bother him to use his fingers once in a while, either.” (228) The uptight and ignorant atmosphere has lightened just a smudge and the narrator’s sarcasm has shifted from mocking to more playful and humorous signifying his enjoyment of the event and his guard being let down.
It not until when the blind man asks the narrator to describe a cathedral does the tone completely shift from skeptical to accepting. Due the narrator’s failure to describe a cathedral he is lowered from his believed elevated status as it reveals to him that he is no better than the blind man despite his vision. However instead of mocking, which the narrator would’ve have done, the blind man simply proposes to work together leading them to have a moment and a deep connection which is reinforced by the amazement of his wife when she step in on them. The narrator’s complete change from prejudice and ignorance is symbolize by his last statement about cathedrals, “It’s really something” (234) which contrasted his previous statement in which he stated, “Truth is, cathedrals don’t mean anything special to me. Nothing… That’s all they are.” (232) The giant shift in tone is strengthened by the altercation of the point of view. Instead of being restricting and narrow, the narrator gives more detail of his surrounding and the events, creating a sense of openness and accepting atmosphere.
By using first person point of view Carver is able to reveal the narrator’s prejudice and ignorance and show how they are formed through false assumptions and stereotypes. It also lays down a skeptical tone which shifts as the story progresses signified by the nearly stream of conscience point of view. Through this, Carver is able to demonstrate that bigotry and ignorance can be overcome with awareness and empathy using the main character and the example.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Cathedral Literary Analysis
Paul Yao
Mrs. Clapp
AP Literature
October 19, 2008
Prejudice and Ignorance Theme
In Raymond Carver’s short story Cathedral, Carver uses the main character’s skeptical tone and first person point of view in order to convey that ignorance and prejudice is caused by false assumptions based off stereotypes and lack of knowledge and can be overcome with treating the other with equality. Carver uses a first person point of view allows the audience to go through what the narrator is going through, every thought process and reasoning. This allows the audience to see how it is possible for a person to come to such prejudice conclusions. Carver also allows a gateway into the narrator’s mind as his conversation with the blind man alone does not reveal his bias towards the blind man. The narrator’s obviously judgmental and skeptic tone emphasizes his assumptions about the blind man as well as setting an awkward mood once the blind man and the narrator finally meet.
With the use of the first person point of view, Carver is able to convey the main character’s bigotry towards the blind man as well as his eventual change in character in which he accepts the man. The main character’s narrow-mindedness is already apparent in the first few sentences where he refers to the blind man, who is established as an old friend of the wife of the narrator, commonly as just “the blind man” instead of showing courtesy and respect due to the fact he’s a friend of his wife’s. The narrator’s syntax is simple and direct, bringing to light that he doesn’t exactly care for the situation and is instead complaining about it. While meeting the blind person for the first time the narrator comments in his mind that “He [the blind man] was no one I knew… A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to” giving the reason in which he states that his picture of the blind “came from movies … the blind moved slowly and never laughed.” (223) However in contrast to what the main character thinks, what he says to the blind man is less direct and more subtle. The contrast between the narrator’s thoughts and what he says reveals his acknowledgement of his bigotry and also his fear and obvious lack of understanding the blind man. The use of the first person point of view opens a gateway into the narrator’s mind in which his prejudice and ignorance of people different from him is revealed and emphasized. The audience is then allowed to see the reasoning behind the narrator’s outrageous statement such as his amazement that the blind man could have such a long beard or that the blind didn‘t smoke because they could see the smoke when they exhaled .
Carver develops a skeptical and prejudice tone in the beginning of the story and a shift in tone after the feast between the main character and the blind man in order to expose that prejudice is based off stereotypes and lack of knowledge and it can be changed with empathy and awareness. When telling anecdotes, the narrator seems to have very little care and thoughts about them, instead he just giving every last detail as shown with little to no opinion which is mirrored by his short and direct syntax. When he does have an opinion it is usually mocking and is conveyed through the use of italics or parentheses such as when he asked whether the blind man knew which side he was sitting on thinking, “Going to New York, you should sit on the right-hand side of the train, and coming from New York, the left-hand side.” (226) The shift in tone from skeptical to more of an accepting an open one is apparent after the narrator, his wife, and the blind man have dinner as the narrator states, “ I watched with admiration as he used his knife and fork …. It didn’t seem to bother him to use his fingers once in a while, either.” (228) The uptight and ignorant atmosphere has lightened just a smudge and the narrator’s sarcasm has shifted from mocking to more playful and humorous. It not until when the blind man asks the narrator to describe a cathedral does the tone completely shift from skeptical to accepting. Due the narrator’s failure to describe a cathedral he is lowered from his believed elevated status as it reveals to him that he is no better than the blind man despite his vision. However instead of mocking, which the narrator would’ve have done, the blind man simply proposes to work together leading them to have a moment and a deep connection which is reinforced by the amazement of his wife as she would never suspect such an event. The narrator’s complete change from prejudice and ignorance is symbolize by his last statement about cathedrals, “It’s really something” (234) which contrasted his previous statement in which he stated, “Truth is, cathedrals don’t mean anything special to me. Nothing… That’s all they are.” (232) Carver’s use of language changes as the main character seems to reveal his thought more through words than in his thoughts signifying his new awareness and open-mindedness.
By using first person point of view Carver is able to reveal the narrator’s prejudice and ignorance and show how they are formed through false assumptions and stereotypes. It also lays down a skeptical tone which shifts as the story progresses signified by the stream of conscience point of view. Through this, Carver is able to demonstrate that bigotry and ignorance can be overcome with awareness and empathy using the main character and the example.
Mrs. Clapp
AP Literature
October 19, 2008
Prejudice and Ignorance Theme
With the use of the first person point of view, Carver is able to convey the main character’s bigotry towards the blind man as well as his eventual change in character in which he accepts the man. The main character’s narrow-mindedness is already apparent in the first few sentences where he refers to the blind man, who is established as an old friend of the wife of the narrator, commonly as just “the blind man” instead of showing courtesy and respect due to the fact he’s a friend of his wife’s. The narrator’s syntax is simple and direct, bringing to light that he doesn’t exactly care for the situation and is instead complaining about it. While meeting the blind person for the first time the narrator comments in his mind that “He [the blind man] was no one I knew… A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to” giving the reason in which he states that his picture of the blind “came from movies … the blind moved slowly and never laughed.” (223) However in contrast to what the main character thinks, what he says to the blind man is less direct and more subtle. The contrast between the narrator’s thoughts and what he says reveals his acknowledgement of his bigotry and also his fear and obvious lack of understanding the blind man. The use of the first person point of view opens a gateway into the narrator’s mind in which his prejudice and ignorance of people different from him is revealed and emphasized. The audience is then allowed to see the reasoning behind the narrator’s outrageous statement such as his amazement that the blind man could have such a long beard or that the blind didn‘t smoke because they could see the smoke when they exhaled .
Carver develops a skeptical and prejudice tone in the beginning of the story and a shift in tone after the feast between the main character and the blind man in order to expose that prejudice is based off stereotypes and lack of knowledge and it can be changed with empathy and awareness. When telling anecdotes, the narrator seems to have very little care and thoughts about them, instead he just giving every last detail as shown with little to no opinion which is mirrored by his short and direct syntax. When he does have an opinion it is usually mocking and is conveyed through the use of italics or parentheses such as when he asked whether the blind man knew which side he was sitting on thinking, “Going to New York, you should sit on the right-hand side of the train, and coming from New York, the left-hand side.” (226) The shift in tone from skeptical to more of an accepting an open one is apparent after the narrator, his wife, and the blind man have dinner as the narrator states, “ I watched with admiration as he used his knife and fork …. It didn’t seem to bother him to use his fingers once in a while, either.” (228) The uptight and ignorant atmosphere has lightened just a smudge and the narrator’s sarcasm has shifted from mocking to more playful and humorous. It not until when the blind man asks the narrator to describe a cathedral does the tone completely shift from skeptical to accepting. Due the narrator’s failure to describe a cathedral he is lowered from his believed elevated status as it reveals to him that he is no better than the blind man despite his vision. However instead of mocking, which the narrator would’ve have done, the blind man simply proposes to work together leading them to have a moment and a deep connection which is reinforced by the amazement of his wife as she would never suspect such an event. The narrator’s complete change from prejudice and ignorance is symbolize by his last statement about cathedrals, “It’s really something” (234) which contrasted his previous statement in which he stated, “Truth is, cathedrals don’t mean anything special to me. Nothing… That’s all they are.” (232) Carver’s use of language changes as the main character seems to reveal his thought more through words than in his thoughts signifying his new awareness and open-mindedness.
By using first person point of view Carver is able to reveal the narrator’s prejudice and ignorance and show how they are formed through false assumptions and stereotypes. It also lays down a skeptical tone which shifts as the story progresses signified by the stream of conscience point of view. Through this, Carver is able to demonstrate that bigotry and ignorance can be overcome with awareness and empathy using the main character and the example.
Pride and Prejudice DJ Sample
“She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.” (Pride and Prejudice, 8)
The first time Elizabeth meets Darcy, and I pretty sure that she hates him already. And who wouldn't. He is blatantly pretentious and an elitist. Just the way he makes everything center around him reveals his arrogance. He seems to lack social skills as he hints that he does find Elizabeth attractive, yet he doesn't know how to express it. I also think that there are social restraints that bind Darcy from speaking what he really thinks, and thus he must mask it with his pretentious and elitist character.
The first time Elizabeth meets Darcy, and I pretty sure that she hates him already. And who wouldn't. He is blatantly pretentious and an elitist. Just the way he makes everything center around him reveals his arrogance. He seems to lack social skills as he hints that he does find Elizabeth attractive, yet he doesn't know how to express it. I also think that there are social restraints that bind Darcy from speaking what he really thinks, and thus he must mask it with his pretentious and elitist character.
Extended Definition Essay (Research Sample)
Colonel Chicken
Ms. Clapp
English Literature
September 9, 2008
Gay
Oxford English Definition:
Synonyms - Lively, Carefree, Merry, Cheerful, Feminine, Homosexual, Stupid, worthless
Antonyms - Depressing, Colorless, Cheerless, Joyless, Non-indulgent, heterosexual, masculine
The word “gay” dates back into the 14th century with its definition as “full of or disposed to joy and manifesting or characterized by joyous light-heated, exuberantly cheerful ; addicted to social pleasures; Bright or lively-looking, esp. in color; Finely or showily dressed; In immaterial sense: Brilliant, attractive, charming; Brilliantly good; excellent, fine; In good health; well, convalescent”. However in more recent times it is used to identify anything considered even remotely homosexual and usually, if not always, comes with the connotation of being an insult. Gay has taken on a whole entire meaning as most use the word as a derogatory term to identify an object or a person as useless (i.e. “That’s a gay shirt” “You’re gay”). It has now become a synonym of the word stupid. In modern times, the Flinestones’ theme song which ends with “we’ll have a gay ol’ time” doesn’t not convey the same image to 20th century children compared to children who watched the program when it first started airing.
Synonyms for gay are any word that relates to happiness or being lively and flashy. However in the fine modern time of excessively unneeded homophobia, gay is more used more as a derogatory term and so words relating to effeminate, homosexual, and stupid can be added to its ever-expanding synonym list. Antonyms of gay are the obvious sad and scrubby along with any word relating to or buffing up one’s masculinity and heterosexuality.
Gay is now commonly used to identify a homosexual and also used as an adjective to describe something that is bad. And by associating homosexuality with the connotation of being stupid and unwanted, the term gay has u-turned from a complement to the ultimate insult. Many use it in order to buff up their heterosexuality and subtlety state that by using the word, he/she is not gay themselves. Others use the word solely as a derogatory term because they are either ignorant of its true definition or crack under social pressure because every other person in society uses gay in its derogatory form.
The negative connotation that comes with gay, spawning probably from homophobia, must be relinquished as it sets back the gay community decades of fighting for equal rights. Not only does using gay as a derogatory term indirectly show others that it is alright to discriminate as using such a word gives the user a connotation of being superior to homosexuals, but it also segregates the gay community and discourages many gay individuals from being themselves.
Ms. Clapp
English Literature
September 9, 2008
Gay
Oxford English Definition:
Synonyms - Lively, Carefree, Merry, Cheerful, Feminine, Homosexual, Stupid, worthless
Antonyms - Depressing, Colorless, Cheerless, Joyless, Non-indulgent, heterosexual, masculine
The word “gay” dates back into the 14th century with its definition as “full of or disposed to joy and manifesting or characterized by joyous light-heated, exuberantly cheerful ; addicted to social pleasures; Bright or lively-looking, esp. in color; Finely or showily dressed; In immaterial sense: Brilliant, attractive, charming; Brilliantly good; excellent, fine; In good health; well, convalescent”. However in more recent times it is used to identify anything considered even remotely homosexual and usually, if not always, comes with the connotation of being an insult. Gay has taken on a whole entire meaning as most use the word as a derogatory term to identify an object or a person as useless (i.e. “That’s a gay shirt” “You’re gay”). It has now become a synonym of the word stupid. In modern times, the Flinestones’ theme song which ends with “we’ll have a gay ol’ time” doesn’t not convey the same image to 20th century children compared to children who watched the program when it first started airing.
Synonyms for gay are any word that relates to happiness or being lively and flashy. However in the fine modern time of excessively unneeded homophobia, gay is more used more as a derogatory term and so words relating to effeminate, homosexual, and stupid can be added to its ever-expanding synonym list. Antonyms of gay are the obvious sad and scrubby along with any word relating to or buffing up one’s masculinity and heterosexuality.
Gay is now commonly used to identify a homosexual and also used as an adjective to describe something that is bad. And by associating homosexuality with the connotation of being stupid and unwanted, the term gay has u-turned from a complement to the ultimate insult. Many use it in order to buff up their heterosexuality and subtlety state that by using the word, he/she is not gay themselves. Others use the word solely as a derogatory term because they are either ignorant of its true definition or crack under social pressure because every other person in society uses gay in its derogatory form.
The negative connotation that comes with gay, spawning probably from homophobia, must be relinquished as it sets back the gay community decades of fighting for equal rights. Not only does using gay as a derogatory term indirectly show others that it is alright to discriminate as using such a word gives the user a connotation of being superior to homosexuals, but it also segregates the gay community and discourages many gay individuals from being themselves.
Memory Evoking Essay (Creative Sample)
Paul Yao
Ms. Clapp
AP English Literature
September 2, 2008
It was the summer of 2001, the bus had just dropped off the kids, which officially ended the last day of school. I was the last kid to get off that yellow bus, gleeful as ever, spewing ever swear word I know (quite an impressive variety I‘m proud to say; thank you Merriam Webster Dictionary and the inquisitive mind of a 9 year old regarding anything and everything sleazy and obscene) as my posse of eight and ten years of age admirers closely followed one by one as I passed the two. The rest of kids rushed back to their respective apartments, their bags jingling and jangling with broken macaroni arts and pencil boxes that had burst open releasing the color pencils and markers as well as the pencil shavings that kids are too lazy to go up and throw away. I announced to my minions, that it’s time to begin the summer with a bang. “Forsooth!”, they both shout in unison.
We were little kids, our good time is anything but, when I look back on it now. It was “Calvin and Hobbes” and “Foxtrot” comic books along with hours upon hours of video games and of course the infamous freezy pop that we considered was “having a party“.
Ah, freezy pops, that artificial flavoring in combination to vivid colors parallel to those of skittles, dying your tongue into a sickening shade. Those stick shaped icicles held in cheap plastic in which you have to either find scissors to cut open or rip with your teeth where the center of any summer in my neighborhood. My friends and I would alternate between who goes and buys the daily stash. We go through about 20 or so each, give or take. Failing to buy and provide the daily stash is a big no no which would result in dire consequences which include constant shunning and hazing.
A typical day would consist of first walking to the local Market Basket and purchasing literally 100 freezy pops at twenty five cents each and then quickly scurring back to the buyers house and starting a spree of video games and comics. We would eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the buyer’s house as well as spend the night there. The next day the whole process would begin again only this time rotating to the next person’s house.
Looking back at it now it was the blue one was always the one to evoke the memories of summers past. Whether it was the flavor of blueberry, or should I say what resembles blueberry , or the site of that blue frozen glow stick, or maybe a combination of both. But I have to owe my gratitude to those frozen sugar sticks as they kept a hold of the summer… literally. The unfrozen residue always dribbled on the comics making a simple task like turning the page very tedious and personalized the video game controller as the person left sticky fingerprints all over it. As to this day I’m still a sucker for those freezy pops, extra points if blue.
Ms. Clapp
AP English Literature
September 2, 2008
It was the summer of 2001, the bus had just dropped off the kids, which officially ended the last day of school. I was the last kid to get off that yellow bus, gleeful as ever, spewing ever swear word I know (quite an impressive variety I‘m proud to say; thank you Merriam Webster Dictionary and the inquisitive mind of a 9 year old regarding anything and everything sleazy and obscene) as my posse of eight and ten years of age admirers closely followed one by one as I passed the two. The rest of kids rushed back to their respective apartments, their bags jingling and jangling with broken macaroni arts and pencil boxes that had burst open releasing the color pencils and markers as well as the pencil shavings that kids are too lazy to go up and throw away. I announced to my minions, that it’s time to begin the summer with a bang. “Forsooth!”, they both shout in unison.
We were little kids, our good time is anything but, when I look back on it now. It was “Calvin and Hobbes” and “Foxtrot” comic books along with hours upon hours of video games and of course the infamous freezy pop that we considered was “having a party“.
Ah, freezy pops, that artificial flavoring in combination to vivid colors parallel to those of skittles, dying your tongue into a sickening shade. Those stick shaped icicles held in cheap plastic in which you have to either find scissors to cut open or rip with your teeth where the center of any summer in my neighborhood. My friends and I would alternate between who goes and buys the daily stash. We go through about 20 or so each, give or take. Failing to buy and provide the daily stash is a big no no which would result in dire consequences which include constant shunning and hazing.
A typical day would consist of first walking to the local Market Basket and purchasing literally 100 freezy pops at twenty five cents each and then quickly scurring back to the buyers house and starting a spree of video games and comics. We would eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the buyer’s house as well as spend the night there. The next day the whole process would begin again only this time rotating to the next person’s house.
Looking back at it now it was the blue one was always the one to evoke the memories of summers past. Whether it was the flavor of blueberry, or should I say what resembles blueberry , or the site of that blue frozen glow stick, or maybe a combination of both. But I have to owe my gratitude to those frozen sugar sticks as they kept a hold of the summer… literally. The unfrozen residue always dribbled on the comics making a simple task like turning the page very tedious and personalized the video game controller as the person left sticky fingerprints all over it. As to this day I’m still a sucker for those freezy pops, extra points if blue.
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