All Locked Up

The historical fiction novel, “Catherine Called Birdy” by Karen Cushman explores a journey through a girls life during the middle ages. Cushman shows us that the medieval times were tough especially for girls which caused powerlessness within the family, inequality, and freedom of the church. In this book, lots of people got frustrated for having absolutely no power. Catherine could only obey her parents and doesn't have a say in anything. Like when she got forced to marry Shaggy Beard because her father liked his money and power. But only Catherine's father made the rules around the house, which leads to inequality. Men back then had all the power, and they never really did anything. Whilst Catherine was sewing, spinning and locked up in her chamber, her father was only sleeping, getting drunk, and eating. Even Catherine's mother didn't have as much power as him. But something else did have more power than everyone, the Church. The Church celebrated all the saint's days, so everyone had to celebrate it too. They all have to do lent, have feasts and go to church. Back then life was extremely frustrating. Women were like chattel and never really ‘loved’. Most of the girls like Catherine had no freedom and were forced to marry at a young age. As long as there was someone there to 'control' them, they would never be free.

(picture - http://library.fayschool.org/Pages/images/catherine_called.jpg)

Does The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas deal with the sensitive subject of the Holocaust in an appropriate way?

Yes, I do think that The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne does deal with the sensitive subject of the Holocaust appropriately, because The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas really represented the Jews and how it was like in a camp.
Shmuel was skinny, tiny and you can see that there are young, old, and sick people here. Towards the end it shows that there it was very horrific in the camps and that the Jews get hurt, bullied, and killed for no reason. Also the author told the truth, he didn't make it all up.
Another reason why it delt with this subject in an appropriate way is because John Boyne used child's eye view to tell the story. John Boyne showed us how the children during the Holocaust got 'brainwashed' and how they didn't know what the camps were like and who the people were inside. For example, Gretel got rid of all her dolls and changed them for maps and pictures of Hitler and Germany, as she was indoctrinated.

As Bruno said in the novel, "What are they all doing there?" This makes a lot of sense. Why did the Jews have to go into the concentration camps? They never did anything wrong.

Questions About the Holocaust

In class we are reading the book 'Boy in the Striped Pajamas' by John Boyne. It is all about the Holocaust and so, to get a deeper understanding about it we visited a holocaust website (http://www.ushmm.org/)and each of us wrote 10 questions...

1. While the Jews were in Concentration Camps, what did they do in there to work? Besides being slaved? ~ (Click Holocaust Encyclopedia, after that click 'Gassing Operations')

2. Germans and their collaborators killed nearly two out of every three European Jews as part of the "Final Solution," What was the "Fianl Solution"? ~ (Click Holocaust Encyclopedia, after that click 'The Holocaust')

3. Look at the picture, what message do you think the people are trying to say and why? And also write 5 questions about the picture ~ (Click Holocaust Encyclopedia, after that click 'Antisemitism')

4. Look at this map, Why do you think there were so many major camps in europe? And remember these are only major... Why do you think they need so many camps? ~ (Click Holocaust Encyclopedia, after that click 'The Holocaust' then click the 1st image of the map, scroll down to 'Major Nazi Camps in Europe-January 1944')

5. Even though all the prisoners were suffering from starvation and disease, how do you think some managed to survive the camps? ~ (Click Holocaust Encyclopedia, after that click 'Liberation of Nazi Camps')

6. Children were especially vulnerable in the era of the Holocaust. Why do you think so many children and women had to die during the era of the Holocaust? ~ (Click Holocaust Encyclopedia, after that click 'Children during the Holocaust')

7. Why do you think the Nazis only pick on the Jews, Gypsies, the disabled, and some of the Slavic peoples; Why not anyone else? Did Hitler have something he didn't like about them? ~ (Click Holocaust Encyclopedia, after that click 'The Holocaust')

8. The gas van, a mobile gas chamber surmounted on the chassis of a cargo truck which employed carbon monoxide from the truck's exhaust to kill its victims. Who came up with all of these new ideas of ways to kill people? ~ (Click Holocaust Encyclopedia, after that click 'Einsatzgruppen_mobile killing units')

9. Why do you think Hitler did so many good things to people and their families? Do you think some people beleived/trusted him? ~ (Click Education for students, after that click, 'Nazi rise to Power'... Then click on the 'Election Poster')

10. When was Adolf Hitler appointed chancellor? What year and why do you think he was appointed chancellor? ~ (Click Education for students, after that click, 'Nazi rise to Power'

“The moment of Serendipity”

Steve McCurry, born in Philadelphia, is a famous photographer who is known worldwide for his captivating photo of the Afghan girl. In most of his photos, he captures not only the pain within the environment but also contains a powerful message. McCurry’s journey really began when he crossed the Pakistan border into Afghanistan with rolls of tape sewed into his clothes to take the brutal pictures of the war and all the victims who got injured. McCurry was an exceptionally amazing photographer with a lot of courage and this is what won him the Capa Gold Medal for Best Photographic Reporting from abroad and also many other numerous awards. Once these heart-melting pictures were shown around the world (ex. The Afghan girl) people began to realized and have an insight of the struggle and suffering within the conflicts of a war. McCurry also captures the loneliness and occasionally the joy of a situation and that is what makes his photos so interesting.
“If you wait, people would forget the camera and the soul would drift up into view.”-Steve McCurry; And hes truly done this in his photography


(http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51IqWCq9LXL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

In this photo, the 1st thing that captures the eye is all the red hand prints on the wall.Normally McCurry’s pictures are classical balanced but here you can really see movement, background, and position. For movement you can see the little boy somewhat running away from the camera or just running home, it is really interesting how McCurry got this picture because maybe the little boy did one or two hand prints on the wall and is embarrassed or maybe he is scared of the camera. The hand prints could be symbolizing the people who died during the war or just for fun/decoration they decided to put hand prints there. Another thing that catches the eye is the blue building in the background; The red hand prints and the blue wall are really contrasting and that makes an ‘intense’ feeling (A feeling of shock, excitement) and it also it doesn’t make the place seem very gloomy it really emphasizes the little boy as well as the red hand prints, in this photo the hand prints are like 1st thing that captures the eye.
If you compare this scenery with the scenery of the people in war, anyone would pick this; its calm, and there is no guns of any sort here. Its like here you forget all about your worries and you’re just carefree. This is one of the few pictures i feel really makes you think "I'll really remember that!" And also, this picture always reminds you the need to live everyday to the fullest, because you never know which day is your last.

I think the thing that makes McCurry's photos really great is that he doesn't only capture the person, but he captures their soul, feelings, and emotion; His photos all have a meaning and it tells me that photos can truly be more meaningful than words. I learned that photos are more that what meets the eye, their not just some decoration you hang up on the wall but its also a story of someones life. Photography can tell truth, and feelings. Every little detail on the image, every little line on the person's face, every bird in the sky, they all have a story/meaning; if you look between the lines, the true image and emotion captured will slowly appear and you would be amazed by how meaningful it really is. Photography tells the truth, it never lies; The emotion on the people's faces shows what they are going through - lines on the person's face can tell stories years back, the landscaping can't be changed after war even if people say it does, and it gives us memories truthful memories. The thing that makes a photo last, is if it has a strong meaning, if it has strong emotion the photo will be remembered for lots and lots of years to come. Just like the Afghan girl, who has touched many hearts around the world.

Jason and the Argonauts

The Myth about Jason and the Golden Fleece has been around for about 3,000 years. It is a tale about how one man (Jason) and the Argonauts go on a journey to the ends of the world on search for a very rare object... the golden fleece. Through the myth there are lots of obstacles Jason and the Argonauts need to overcome like terrifying monsters and so called 'temptresses'; it involves dark magic and even love. It is said that the only main reason Jason went on that quest was to restore his power on the throne and become king as it was supposed to be. This myth also involves this thing called a cycle of the hero; the cycle is basically the outline of the hero's life.

Birth/Home: Jason was born in Thessaly. Though Jason had to be taken out of his home city in Greece by his mother Pelias, when Jason's ambitious uncle Pelias invaded the city to take crown so he could be king.

Call to adventure: After a few years when Jason became older, he went back to king Pelias and demanded the throne back. Pelias said that if Jason could bring back the golden fleece, the kingdom would be his to keep.

Elixir: Jason's elixir was the golden fleece, it is like the main point of the myth and the thing that Jason is known for. It is his symbol and Jason's goal.

Helpers: Jason was given a group of people that would help him on his journey; the Argonauts. The Argonauts included Atalanta the huntress, Orpheus the musician, the great Hercules along with Oedipus and Thebes the wind brothers. Without them, Jason couldn't have accomplished this task.

Helpers/Amulet: Jason gained most of his knowledge from his teacher Chiron, he also took Chiron's sword when Chiron died to finish his quest.

Crossing the Threshold: If Jason and the Argonauts wanted to reach the Golden Fleece, they had to pass the Black Sea (which was considered the edge of the world) and then they would reach the kingdom of King Aietes. The Black Sea gave them lots of troubles because they had to go through the heavy currents, crashing rocks and other troubles put in front of them to stop them from getting the golden fleece.

Tests: While Jason and the Argonauts went on this quest, there were quite a few tests put in front on them like terrifying monsters and so called 'temptresses', there was even dark magic in some parts of this myth. The more and more Jason and the Argonauts overcome each obstacle, it proves that Jason really is worthy to be crowned king

Climax/Final Battle: Because Jason was attracted to Medea, the Argonauts nearly went down into the underworld but Jason used Chiron's sword and his will power to fight and defeat Medea and retrieve the golden fleece.

Return/Flight: Jason and the Argonauts took the golden fleece and is said to have taken sea back to the kingdom so Jason could claim his throne.

There are lots of elements in the myth that is said to have actually occurred. The place where Jason was born was said to be real and so was the cave where he grew up in, though I can't prove that there were gods that helped him through his journey that used dark magic and cast spells; But I'm pretty sure that this myth could have existed.
Here is some of the evidence I collected in humanities class:
• Mount Pelion where Jason was raised really does exist
• This myth took place at the same time of the Trojan war and that is a true event
• Georgia is where the golden fleece was, Georgia is real
• 1400B.C is when the quest happened and when the story happened
• Jason and the Argonauts went to Istanbul
• The cave where Jason grew up is still there and there are drawings of him inside
• The boat Jason and the Argonauts took can be made, all the wood that is needed to make it is on the mountain
• Scientists really did find Iolkos
• People found the bronze age place of Jason


There were lots of different interpretations of this myth, In some interpretations Medea was evil and used dark magic to stop Jason and the Argonauts from getting to the golden fleece; But in other interpretations, Medea was very nice and married Jason and helped him and the Argonauts to retrieve the golden fleece and to return home safely.
Another distinct difference in the ways it is told is that in some of the interpretations, Jason and the Argonauts stopped on a city called Lemnos, populated only by women. Jason and his crew didn't know what had happened to the males but without thinking, the women took the chance to 'repopulate' the island. Where else in other interpretations Jason and the Argonauts completely skip the city of Lemnos and go straight to Georgia.


People have been going around changing parts of the story and adding their own bits but overall they all have the same message and all of them are connected somehow; they all involve the great heroes Jason and the Argonauts.
There is a lot of Truth behind the fable and it is a very legendary story which will be remembered for a very long time, thought the way I hear and the way you hear it might be very different but it will always involve Jason and the Argonauts.

Pandora and Orphan boy Curiosity Paragraph

In these Greek and African myths, Pandora and Orphan boy, it teaches us about how curiosity can be dangerous because curiosity sometimes leads to change and change could be either good or bad. In the myth Pandora, when Apollo gave Pandora the box she had to know what was inside because she was too curious. When Pandora opened the box, slimy gross things came out called ‘evil’ and also a little thing called ‘hope’ came out and both of those things changed our world forever. Just like the myth Orphan boy, when Orphan boy came down from the sky to help the old man. But when the old man decided to follow Orphan boy one day, Orphan boy got so mad that he decided to abandon the old man and his cattle to suffer. This myth gave us suffering and appreciation to thank god for what we have. From this day on we all still have the things Pandora and the old man unleashed.

My Name

My name, I haven’t really thought about my name before. It’s a pretty slow calm name which means princess. My name is Hebrew and it is also the name of Abraham’s wife in the Old Testament. It’s not a thick name but neither is it a thin name, it’s… balanced.
My name is biblical and is really easy to remember. It’s a short common name which can sometimes be teased like Sahara or Zara but truthfully I don’t understand what’s so funny about it. Also, my name can be spelt lots of different ways like Sara, Zara, Sehra, Cera, Cerah, Sarai….It’s uncountable!!!!!!!
My name is angry and mad, happy and sad. It’s a pretty joyful name. I have never hated my name or understood it; and sometimes I feel my name is too simple and should be longer or it should have a different meaning, but a name is a name and there is no changing it.
Truthfully, I don’t know why my parents gave me my name; I guess they thought I was a nice name for their little girl to have. Sarah, that’s what they called me, just Sarah short, plain, and simple.
Sarah, a name that feels like a whirl of sparkling snow, a friend that helps you when you are sad and wobbles wherever you go. If I ever had one chance to change my name, I would pick Sarah. Just plain, Sarah.

picture - (http://rlv.zcache.com/1_rocktopus_genisis_by_ananda_rose_bennett_print-p228270498286854941tdcp_400.jpg)