Essay #3

The Wanting Of What Lies Untouchable:

An Essay About Not Noticing Everything You Have And Wanting What You Can’t Have

Pine Point School

Ninth Grade English

October 20, 2011

By Schyler Davis

Have you ever wanted what you can’t have? In the song, “Desperado”, by The Eagles, the lyrics are about having positive aspects of life going for you but wanting what you can’t have. I believe that this song relates to my life because I don’t always get what I want, and I also think it relates to Sutton in, “The Lying Game.” I am trying to figure out why people, including me, want what they can’t have when “fine things have been laid upon” their table.

The lyrics in, “Desperado”, relate to me, and now that I know I relate to these lyrics, I have learned a new lesson, I  have changed, and I believe I have become a more grateful person (anaphora). One example is that I love fashion, so of course when I see cute clothes in catalogs and online I want them. I have a closet full of clothes, and some of them I don’t even wear, so I don’t need more. I am fortunate (FAST) to have lots of clothing because some people in the world barely have any. “Desperado” makes me realize all that I have- a loving family, pets, friends,and a wonderful education. I now know how lucky I am, and I should be pleased (FAST) with what I have. Discovering what this song means, has changed me and shaped me and caused me to be more grateful (polysyndeton). For instance, I rescue cats with Animal Rescue Fund, and I often foster them. I always fall in love with one kitten and want to keep it, but I have four cats of my own, so I know having the kittens for adoption is for the best. This song has taught me to love the cats I own, and give them the best home possible. Also, “Desperado” has taught me that there will always be the temptation of me wanting something that I think will be better, but I am lucky with all that has “ been laid upon” my table.

In the Television series, “The Lying Game”, Sutton, who was adopted by a kind, loving family, wants to find her birth mother. This relates to the lyrics, “Now it seems to me, some fine things have been laid upon your table, but you only want the ones that you can't get," because Sutton was extremely lucky to have a caring family adopt her, but she takes them for granted and wants her biological (FAST) mother. She doesn’t listen when her parents tell her that her birth mom died in a car accident. Instead, she eavesdrops on their conversations and discovers that her birth mom is still alive. She does some research to find out where her birth mom could be, and while researching, Sutton discovers that she has a long lost twin sister named Emma. Sutton and Emma start talking online, and Emma comes up to Sutton’s house to pretend to be Sutton. Emma just turned 18 and would do anything to get away from her rotten foster mom, anything to escape her lousy (FAST) life, and anything to have a normal family(anaphora). Sutton goes to California to look for their biological mom, while Emma lives Sutton’s relaxing life. Emma doesn’t understand why Sutton doesn’t love her family because they seem to be the sweetest people Emma has ever met. Sutton seems to take her life, a life where she is given amazing opportunities, an amazing education, and an amazing family, for granted(anaphora). I suppose it is difficult to understand all that you have when there is one object or opportunity or person(polysyndeton) you can’t have but is the one you want most.

    You need to open up your eyes to see how lucky you are because you have many positive aspects of life going for you.  Of course, as time goes by, you will still want what you can’t have, but you should understand and be grateful that you have all that you need in life. I will try my best to remember what I already have and will be thankful for it. Also, Sutton wants to find her birth mother, but I think she is fortunate to have a caring family and should realize that. You should always remember what you have because your life could change and take away what you take for granted.

Summary

A Raisin In The Sun:

A Summary About The Review Of  The Play

Pine Point School

Ninth Grade English

October 19, 2011

By Schyler Davis

           

In the review, by Brooks Atkinson, she writes about how Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin In The Sun, is honest. The play is about a black family in Chicago that wants “to preserve their family pride,” but they also wants to get out of poverty because of that Lorraine Hansberry as lots of topics to cover. Some of the topics are funny and some are painful. She is honest about these topics by not having the play “prove one thing or another.” Also, Brooks Atkinson writes about how all the characters have a dream. The son is dreaming of having his own business, and the daughter has a dream to be a doctor, so she can heal people. For their dreams, both of them are counting on the 10,000 dollars from their father’s death. Brook Atkinson sum up the review by writing the theme of the play is that honesty is the hardest thing in the worlds, and the most illuminating. 

Sentences that I really like in Brooks Atkinson’s review:

 “He is as eloquent when he has nothing to say as when he has a pungent line to speak.” I this is a well written line because I like how she uses the word eloquent and pungent. It really makes this sentence stand out.

 “And also the most illuminating.” I like how she makes this sentence fragment the last sentence. The fragment flows with the writing, making the writing elegant, and It really makes you think about honesty.

Essay #2

Simplicity Is More:

An Essay About How The Song “Simple Man” Relates To Beneatha And Myself

Pine Point School

Ninth Grade English

October 3, 2011

By Schyler Davis

           Do you ever think about being simple? You probably think that you should be a complex person; you probably think that being simple makes you boring, but I think being simple is better. In A Raisin In The Sun, Beneatha is simple because she understands who she is and what her dreams are. Also, I believe that I am a simple person because I always try my best. In the song “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, he sings, “Be a simple kind of man; be something you love and understand,” and to me being simple is to be yourself and try not to care about what other people think about you.
           I believe that Beneatha in A Raisin In The Sun is a simple woman. She wants to be a doctor, and won’t let being a colored woman stop her. She doesn’t care about what people think; she doesn’t listen to what people say, and she doesn’t care about pleasing others who surround her.  In the song “Simple Man”, the lyrics say, “Follow your heart,” and that is exactly what she is doing. She is aware that most women in 1959 aren’t doctors, but that will not stop her. She is going to school to get a wonderful education, so she can save lives. One problem she is facing is that school is expensive. She doesn’t come from a wealthy family, which causes her to work hard, so she can put herself through college. Beneatha is hoping to get the check from Mama,and that would help her a lot by paying for her college. She is simple because she knows who she is, and who she is destined to be.
    I believe that the lyrics,”All you need is in your soul, and you can do this, if you try,” relates simplicity to my life because I always try my best. I know I can do anything I want in life, if I try my best. To me, school is very important, so I always do the best I can. If I don’t understand a certain concept we are learning, I will ask a teacher for help, and if I make a mistake, I always learn from it. Also, when I do sports, I try to believe in myself. I have realized that when I am confident in myself, I excel at field hockey, jump rope, and gymnastics. I need to remember I can do it even when I am doing a trick that scares me like a round-off back-handspring on the wood floor in jump rope. In my opinion, I have become a simpler person this year; I have become a person that will tell you whats on my mind, and I have become a person that I “love and understand.” I don’t care as much about what people think of me. I feel that my confidence has grown like a flower blooming from a seed. “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd has taught me that you need to understand who you are and to always try your very best, and that is what makes you a simple person.
    Being simple is what everyone should strive to be. Beneatha from A Raisin In The Sun is simple because she always follows her heart. Also, I am simple because I try my best on whatever I set my heart to. Simplicity is not boring;simplicity is what makes peoples lives successful, and simplicity is what makes you admire the people you love.

Essay #1

 For A Dreamer;

An Essay About How “For A Dancer”, “A Dream Deferred” And My Life All Relate

Pine Point School

Ninth Grade English

September 15, 2011

By Schyler Davis

Have you ever wondered how a song, poem and your life can all relate to each other, even when they seem completely different? You can make any song and poem relate to your life by listening to the words. Try to think of important moments in your life, and try to relate a line from a song and poem to it. The song “For A Dancer” by Jackson Browne, and the poem “A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes both relate to my life because I have dreams and goals I want to achieve, but sometimes I come across obstacles; also, they relate to each other because the song and poem are both about having something important cut short.

       One of the reasons that    “A Dream Deferred” and “For A Dancer” both relate to my life is because of jump rope. I really want to make the USA Jump Rope World Team, to compete in Florida this coming summer, and making this team is important to me because of the experience of meeting people from all over the world. If I made this team, I would probably make it in double-dutch since that is my strongest event, but my double-dutch partners go to different schools, playing other sports [allit.]. It is hard to find time to practice because we all have different schedules, and practice is very important because at tryouts we have to hit a perfect routine to even be considered for Team USA. However, the song’s lyrics “keep a fire burning in your eye, pay attention to the open sky,” compare to my life because to me they mean don’t give up on your dreams. I think the lyrics also mean that the possibilities are endless. I believe we are good enough to make the team, and we will give it our best shot. The poem “A Dream Deferred” connects to my life because of the possibility of not making the team. In the lines “what happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” makes me think about will this opportunity still be here in two years, which is when USA Jump Rope Worlds will happen again. I am almost positive the opportunity will still be there because we will be older and better, but just the thought of it not being there is disappointing. “For A Dancer” and “A Dream Differed” both relate to my life in important ways that I have never thought of until now.
       “For A Dancer” and “A Dream Deferred” also relate to each other in many different ways. They are about what is gone, what won’t come back, and what might await in the future [allit.]. The song is about how you always thought that person would be there but they aren’t anymore, and the poem is about how your dream has to happen later. Both of them talk about what it’s like to not be able to have what you want most. Also, they both refer to each other because they talk about purpose. “For A Dancer” is about finding the purpose of your life, and “A Dream Deferred” is about the purpose of your dream. Finally, they link to each other due to sadness. In the song, you lose the person you thought would always be by your side, and in the poem, you have to wait on your dream. Both of those are sad. The song and poem are very similar; you just need to take a moment to compare the two.
           Now you are aware how a different song, poem, and life can all relate to each other. ”For A Dancer” and “A Dream Deferred” are both by different people and still pertain to each other. My life, at first glimpse, is nothing like that song or poem, but when I thought a little deeper about it, I could make a comparison. I have learned that you will always come across obstacles, but you have to remember to keep dreaming and to never give up.