Sunday, May 26, 2013

Knowing where the "perfect wave" will be

Learning about Surf Forecasting in a quick slideshow. Sound fun? If Interested go to http://prezi.com/jpjm2svhreat/copy-of-untitled-prezi/?kw=view-jpjm2svhreat&rc=ref-34182449
(I know it has my brothers name I just borrowed his account because I don't have one. Sheesh.)

Thursday, May 2, 2013

In Class Essay 4 Question 3

Of all the ways an author can illustrate their meanings within in their work, one of the more subtle is the use of minor characters, which often time serve as a foil to the writer's main character or theme. One excellent example of this can be found within one of this world's most famous works of literature, Victor Hugo's Les Misreables . As the story follows the struggle of the main character Jean Valjean and his attempts to live a better life  Hugo illuminates this struggle with the use of a minor character Javert. Hugo use Javert as a foil to Jean Valjean to illuminate his theme of the ability to become a better person.

Javert's character serves to show Hugo's meaning of his work as a whole. Javert relentlessly pursues Jean Valjean for a crime that Jean Valjean committed so many years ago. Despite all of Jean Valjeans attempts and successes at leading a better life and becoming a better person, Javert remains determined to see him punished. This trait of Javert's strongly empowers Hugo's message to his reader. Javert believes that Jean Valjean cannot change and will always be a criminal. This contrasts directly with Jean Valjean's attempt, and eventually success at being a good person. Javert use as a foil character illuminates Hugo's message of self-redemption and betterment to his readers.

In Class Essay 3

In Ann Petry's novel The Street, Perty establishes a hostile relationship between Lutie Johnson and her urban setting very quickly. Anyone can relate to the feeling one can get when it feels as if everything, even the buildings are against you. So is the situation for Lutie, and Petry cleverly establishes this with the use of literary devices to establish her meaning. With the use of personification, selection of detail, and figurative language to establish the hostile relationship between Lutie and her urban environment.


  • Personification- the wind is described to have fingers, which chill Lutie's neck and make her feel naked and unprotected.
  • Figurative Language- A descriptive explanation of the dismal urban setting helps establish how cold it is.
  • Selection of detail  details such as the unappealing rusting sign with old paint make Lutie feel as if the urban city is a bad place to be.