Dissapointment in Fitting In

It can be strenuous to fit in a society one is not accustomed to be a part of. Primarily, it is hard to build expectations you are not sure will not be met. I have studied in various schools and know that not only do you want to fit in, but you don’t yet know exactly what you’ll be fitting in to. I used to want people’s attention because it’s very hard to be a new student where everyone knows each other. Like James, I would have trouble fitting in. God's Secretaries says that “The outcome of his violent, threatened youth was not someone filled with vitriol and vengeance, although James could be foul-mouthed, but what might be called exaggeratedly social behavior, a longing for acceptance and a desire for a life and a society in which all conflicting demands were reconciled and where all factions felt at home.” Pg. 9. I wouldn’t consider myself to have been that desperate for attention that I resorted to bad words, but I did try to fit in and not be a hassle to anybody. Also, my plans, expectations, and hopes weren’t always met, like if I planned to make friends, often people made that really difficult.Nicholas Adams stated that “the new king would soon discover, however, that seventeenth century Englishmen had about as much love for union, whether fiscal or political, as their modern descendants. The dream of unity-an abstract, intellectualized, Scottish and hence European ideal of political togetherness- would within a year fall foul of an English conservatism which valued it own hard-won freedoms far above any high-falutin’ ideas of political unity.” Pg. 13 I have learned now that, as the poet Max Ehrmann stated in his work, Desiderata to “Enjoy your achievements, as well as your plans”.

The Righteousness of Anonymity

I know from experience, that nothing can be more repulsive than a large ego. I used to be more egotistical with my grades, but in time, I learned that my attitude only tired people an repelled them from me. I had to learn that if I wanted to spend more time around others without them fleeing, I had to change my behavior. So far, my change has been effective. Nicolas Adams believes that "as a result, it does not suffer from one of the defining fault of age: a form of anxious egotistical self-promotion. It exudes, rather, a shared confidence and authority and in that is one of the greatest of all monuments of the suppression of ego." Pg. xii

Like this translation of the King James Bible, The God's Secretaries knew that if they wanted their work to be recognized universally, they had to be self-less, they had to have no ego, no opinion. They acknowledged the fact that if they had an opinion, that there would always be someone to counter it. It wouldn't be taken seriously.

Show Off is for Daredevils

Many times have I gotten overexcited when doing something, that my confidence speeds up too rapidly. For example, when trying to do a trick on a ramp with my mountain bike, if I start to swank, I only end up making a ridiculing myself in front of everyone I was trying to impress. It almost always ends badly. Like myself, Daedalus's son, Icarus, committed the same mistake when he ignored his father's precautions and flew high enough for the sun's heat to melt the wax that held the feathers together. The myth says that "they passed Samos and Delos on the left and Lebynthos on the right, when the boy, exulting in his career, began to leave the guidance of his companion and soar upward as if to reach heaven." It is better to go at it slowly than to take a big leap of confidence. All he ended up proving is that by trying to pose for his father, he can not only make himself appear disobedient and cocky, but can also kill himself in the process. It isn't worth the risk. Confidence can betray you. Your ego can make you look stupid.

Cliches

5 Plot lines that are Clichés:

1. Man rescues woman from bad guy and they live happily ever after.
2. Man in love with woman. Woman or man dies.
3. Bad guy threatens to kill many. One good guy saves them all by killing him.
4. Family rivalry obstructs love.
5. One good guy stripped of job (FBI, police, ect…) no one believes story, ends up correct.

5 Cliché Movie titles:

1. The Sum of All Fears
2. Enemy of the State
3. True Lies
4. Desperate Measures
5. Mission Impossible

Grammar

Grammar excercises.
1. Where is my jacket? I wanted to wear it today, and if I can't find it, we’re going to be late.

2. Jane wanted to go on the school trip, but her mother said that two hundred dollars was too much for the family budget.

3. As she waited for Rodney to become conscious, Selma was seized with an attack of conscience -- was there anything she could have done to prevent the accident?

4. The map led the intrepid treasure hunters to a lead box of precious stones.

5. Have you seen their coats? They’re going to need them; it's cold outside. I last saw the coats over there.

6. After conducting careful research, Shufang had a brilliant idea ; she'd write a paper on Thomas More's concept of the ideal society in Utopia.

7. Even though Bob would rather play video games than study, he decided to hit the books and then play some Halo.

8. It’s easy to admire a business that puts so much effort into creating its signs and window displays.

9. You’re fortunate to have survived the car crash without a scratch; it must have been because you were your wearing seat belt.

10. I would advise you to seek qualified legal advice about how to handle this situation.

Madly In Love

I have never been in love to the point where if I don't kill myself, I go mad, like Sappho. I have had strong crushes, and I know for a fact that if your crush doesn't feel the same way, then you can get a bid depressed. Sappho's case is a little extreme, but I think it has happened in real life, that people kill either themselves or their crush to appease their suffering of love. Sometimes it can be really difficult to gather the courage to take a Lover's Leap like Sappho, but it is always best to take the risk (all or nothing) instead of living with the doubt. " under a superstition that those who should take that “Lover’s-leap” would, if not destroyed, be cured of their love." Sappho was not able to cope with her love not being returned and so, she decided to kill herself, which, I think, is a bit extreme. At that point, it is not just love, but the person is mad (literally, crazy) with love. They don't think straight and often make irresponsible decisions. This does happen presently when people get drunk to take their Lover's Leap, that they end up ruining everything. In conclusion, I believe that this myth's meaning is that it is dangerous to fall in love too passionately.

His Dream Saved My Life

Our soon-to-be hero,
Zynth, knower of knowledge,
Learned The Knowledge from zero.
What he knew, he knew not from college.
But from his adventure that he dreamt
Are we saved from what is not meant?
What occurred, had never before,
And the fabric of time, he tore.
With one swift motion, we were saved
To live one day more.
And so we hear his story
Engraved in stone,
And sung by the sway of the trees,
Which is lent to our ears,
To listen but never to tell.
Forever we must remember,
For forget is repeat,
And repeat, is a great defeat:

Tonight the hunter stole,
Another’s achieved soul.
He has thieved a brother’s
Reputation and sold it to the others.
For this he must pay
That his guilt will eternally say,
What is known,
Solely to his soul.
His actions fueled by greed
Have earned him a great toll none can exceed.

That night he dreamt
A dream, that he will never forget.
But the dream trapped him with a net.
As prey, he never had a choice.
He was dropped upon a world,
That had no voice,
And so into a ball he curled,
Until he had the found the courage to explore.
So then, Zynth was determined to seek,
Seek the secrets to his deceit.
He found he was standing on stone,
Which he knew, was always prone
To be cold to the touch,
Yet the one he felt was warm. Punch
Is was what he did from instinct,
Because to him, extinct
May he become if he is fooled by a predator,
Which is always warm with blood from its prey,
Which never appears to be of topic to say.
Yet here we see the boulder,
Which hummed against his shoulder.
Unresponsive to his attack
Until he found the lack
Of life, or rage.
Either way, he never found a sage
To tell him the difference.
Then he accumulated more confidence,
Given to him by the god of the mountain,
When he found a fountain
That had odd symbols inscribed beneath the stone.
Concerning their meanings, he would have never known
That they warned of a traveller’s drink
That it may never be done without a moment to think
About the effort invested by nature to create that pleasure,
That life. The Thirst he gained upon his first drink was beyond measure,
For he had never been taught to thank nature’s will
Of gifting him with a life he has not appreciated still.
Then, nature’s mercy gave him an opportunity
To live despite his ignorance and lack of sense of community
And to live in gratitude with the gods and nature for life
And yearn for greater knowledge to light the darkness of ignorance.
As he quenched his thirst and thanked the forces of nature,
He continued on with his quest for his departure.
To his home, where he will tell others of his happenings
Was where he seeked to go, but some rings
On the edge of the fountain made him stop to wonder
To whom they belonged, and if there could possibly be anyone fonder
Of the circular objects than him.
For they were seducing him with their beauty, right there on the rim.
As he went to take them, his reflection made him halt,
For the water was informing him of his fault.
A whisper in his head told him of the effects of the rings.
It said they had the ability to do many things.
It gave him the power to rule.
It said the rings would use him as a tool
To control the world and take him captive
Behind his back, they would betray him with the motive
To make him forget,
Forget his mistake.
He saw the doorway out a few miles ahead,
But he chose the other path instead.
And so, being as obvious as it may seem, the temptation was unbearable,
For the effect instilled and kindled within him was terrible.
He stopped hearing the whisper in his head,
After it lastly said,
As punishment for your weak will,
I will never again be in your head for you have surely committed a kill
By ignoring the voice, you have capitulated
Your will to the rings, and by doing this, you have surely mated
With the devil, for you are no longer in control of you actions.
All that is left is a memory’s fractions
That will haunt you forever more.
For you have been given the opportunity to bore
Into the fabric of time and peek at what lies ahead if others take your same path. If all goes as you have assured it to go, as you see here. Sane
Will no longer be the people of your village, or of any other for that matter.
And it will get sadder and sadder.
For the people will never hear the voice you just murdered, the voice of conscience, which causes respect, honesty, generosity, love,
And numerous other virtues. The only hope (a trait that can never desert
any person, for it is encrypted in their souls) for your species, that you insert daily into this path of destruction, is that this memory which I have planted within you, shall sprout to be a prosperous and loving team which wanted
we always have, to become. This decision you have taken to accept temptation has not affected your imminent future. Erected
has always been your fate to rule your people during your lifetime,
but how you go at this you can choose to decide every step of the lime-savored path you have now chosen.
The door to my voice will now be frozen,
But in time, I trust that you may yearn to open it,
And so it shall be. Until that day arrives, you are no longer fit
To have a conscience, and thus, will power.
A spark I have left within you to remember of your sour
Choice, so that you may one day recover me. Yet the actual recovering must be done by your brothers, for your choice has left you without the right to live under the consent of the gods. The spark I speak of
Will travel to your time
And speak to your mates in rhyme. Good luck!”
Zynth was astonished at the voice he had heard in his head.
He forgot what it said
The instant he stopped to think about what he read,
On the stone of the fountain, which he could now comprehend.
He saw a white light exit from within his head, travel down to the ring, send
(for it was cold back home) the light towards the north, towards the exit door. For he was left alone with only a candle lit. As he saw his memory and his life flash by, he managed to beg forgiveness to his brother from whom he had stolen, and turn around to find he was in the future of his home if his people did as he did. What he saw made him shriek in fear.
The deserted desert was far too near.
And thus, Zynth woke without waking, for he had become a vegetable,
Trapped within his own mind, trapped by the uncontrollable.
Trapped by the gods.

BY VICTOR VAINBERG

PreAP Enlgish Contract

I, __________________________Victor Vainberg__________, hereby understand and will abide by the Pre-AP/AP
(Print your name)
Academy’s expectations, obligations, and admission/drop policy outlined below with respect to my

admission status and standing in the Pre-AP/AP Course, ___________________Pre AP English___________________.
(Print the name of the Pre-AP/AP Course)
Pre-AP/AP Academy Expectations;
• Maintain Acceptable GPA,
• Motivated and Positive,
• Responsible and Dedicated Work Ethic,
• Attend Opportunity Day and/or Additional Review Classes,
• Complete AP College Board Exam,
• Sign Pre-AP/AP Student Contract.

Pre-AP/AP Academy Admission/Drop Policy;
• First Progress Report with Teacher’s Signed Approval…receive no course credit,
• End of First Semester with Teacher’s Signed Approval…receive only partial course credit for grade of 6.0+. No partial credit will be awarded for any grade below 6.0,
• Students who Drop Pre-AP/AP Courses or who Do Not take the College Board AP Exam will have the Pre-AP/AP Designation for that course removed from their transcript and they will not receive any grade or GPA enhancement awarded for taking that Pre-AP/AP course.

Please note that at any time during the school year if the teacher deems that you are not meeting the expectations above for any or all reasons, then that teacher will require that you sign an additional academic probation contract. Your admission status and/or removal from the above identified Pre-AP Course will then be re-assessed based on your abiding by the academic probation contract signed and agreed to by you and the respective Pre-AP/AP Teacher.

Student Signature of Agreement,
Victor Vainberg September 23, 2008
__________________________________________ Date: _______________________________

I'll Do it When...

Very often, when told to get ready for bed while watching TV, I reply that I'll get to it when there is a commercial break. I never get to it because I didn't really mean the promise, or maybe I did, only that the commercial breaks aren't very frequent during the movie I'm watching. In this way, like Penelope, I'm knitting Penelope's Web, because I have the excuse to do something when another event occurs, only I make sure that that event never does take place. In this way, I'm being honest and at the same time, I'm being obedient and getting what I want, all at the same time. Penelope's Web is something people nowadays build on a daily basis. This is used as a technique for fooling other people without arousing your guilty conscience. Penelope was very clever when doing this for she was the pioneer of this method which is still widely used today, mostly among disobedient children.

Do what your Parents tell You

“Mother/Father knows best” is what they always say. I, personally, have come to acknowledge that through experience, I must heed to any advice or warnings given to me by my parents. If I fail to do so, like Phaeton, I mess up badly. For this reason, I believe that this myth describes the duty as a son to honor and to trust your parents. It saves you from many mistakes. You must appreciate the availability of other’s experiences, which, if taken advantage of, is a waste of opportunity to lean. It is easier to learn from other’s mistakes since you don’t have to experience them yourself. This can also be bad since you don’t know the importance of the lesson. Furthermore, another lesson this myth teaches is the obligation of recognizing the fact that there is always going to be someone greater and someone lesser than yourself. This is why, if you compare yourself with others, you will become bitter and envious. Phaeton failed to accept this fact, and for it, he had the need to prove his superiority. He didn’t NEED to demonstrate his godliness, but his ego got in the way. This is important when spending time with others. We can all learn from Phaeton’s mistake.

To give in to temptation, or not give in to temptation?

I really enjoyed this myth because of its variety of teachings. We can learn that envy is not worth it, through the actions of Psyche’s jealous sisters. “For now,” said they, “he will perhaps choose one of us.” With this idea, without saying a word of her intentions, each of them rose early the next morning and ascended the mountains, and having reached the top, called upon Zephyr to receive her and bear her to his lord; then leaping up, and not being sustained by Zephyr, fell down the precipice and was dashed to pieces.” We learn that it is best to just be happy for the person instead of envying him/her. We can also acquire the knowledge of the reason for mistakes, which is that if you don’t learn from them, then you will do them again. “When Proserpine has given you the box filled with her beauty, of all things this is chiefly to be observed by you, that you never once open or look into the box nor allow your curiosity to pry into the treasure of the beauty of the goddesses.” (Although, Psyche does open the box at the end, but this time, she is not punished as hard.) Last but definitely not least, we learn that temptation is a human’s weakness. Most people are like Psyche, who can not withstand temptation and must succumb to its forbidden knowledge so as to satisfy that desire. “Psyche resisted these persuasions as well as she could, but they did not fail to have their effect on her mind, and when her sisters were gone, their words and her own curiosity were too strong for her to resist.” The reason then, that I appreciated this reading so much is because of it variety of lessons which are developed in such an intricate manner.

Nature's Bizarre Justifications

In my opinion, I believe that most of the myths follow a very similar style. This style not only has themes including love, treason, hatred, curiosity, destiny, ext…, but they also have a connection to nature, or WHY some things happen as they do. For instance, the rise and set of the sun is actually a god who’s job is to ride his chariot of light across the sky every twelve hours. All of the world’s sicknesses are a result of Pandora and her box. Lightning is Zeus’s (or Jupiter’s, based on what mythology you follow) way of saying something’s wrong. These myths are clever justifications for natural phenomenon that couldn’t be explained with ancient Greek science advances. Blueberries are explained by the tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe. They are simple occurrences that are mythologically explained through these stories. This tragedy is one that is fairly stupid, for the whole terrible loss was caused by such a simple action. This is something that I dislike about these myths, that they are a bit too simple when it comes to the cause of the tragedy. There are no major character flaws that lead to the loss. For the most part, the character’s traits are its flaws as well, since the traits are commonly exaggerated within the person’s description. Also, most of the tragedies are caused by simple mistakes, like when Cephalus threw his javelin to his wife believing her a beast, or when Pyrammus mistook the lion’s blood for his lover’s. There are all silly assumptions which, in modern day, would never be committed. There is a Murphy’s Law that states, “Assumption is the mother of all mess-ups”, and I think that this rule applies to almost every one of these myths. The eye-like figures on the tail of a peacock are justified in the myth “Juno and her Rivals, Io and Callisto”, in which Mercury cuts of Argus’s head and Juno places his many eyes in the tail of the peacock.

Echo and Narcissus

I truly enjoyed this myth because of the way in which it not only describes the origins of a word we commonly use today, echo, but also demonstrates how the human is very vengeful. “One day a maiden who had in vain endeavored to attract him uttered a prayer that he might some time or other feel what it was to love and meet no return of affection. The avenging goddess heard and granted the prayer.” I notice how almost all of the myths have a love theme, and withing this love theme, love never ends up being perfect. In other words, all of these myths either have a character who’s love isn’t returned, or the love that is returned doesn’t end up “Happilly ever after”. I like this because it demonstrates a sense of anti-cliché, the cliché being that at the end of many modern novels, love gets its way. This change of routine is very interesting. For instance, “The maid answered with all her heart in the same words, and hastened to the spot, ready to throw her arms about his neck. He started back, exclaiming, “Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!”. This makes the story interesting. I also appreciate the way that revenge or desperation never pays off. In a way, Shakespeare adopts some of the characteristics of these myths, like in Appolo and Daphne, the idea is very similar to Romeo and Juliet. I believe that the gods' will stands out so much that each god becomes a completely different character. The punishments are not the everyday ones in which something is done to someone, but rather characters are restricted in certain ways in which their personality cries out in pain. For example, Echo's penalty wouldn't have been so bad for a quiet person.

Be careful what you wish for...

There are many stories that please me, although some are simply dull. In my opinion, one of my favorite stories is Midas, because of the manner in which the author depicts the saying, “be careful what you wish for, because it might come true.” I enjoyed the story of Midas because of the way it so excellently made an example of how greed leads to defeat, even more if you get what you aspire to acquire. “He raised his arms, all shining with gold, in prayer to Bacchus, begging to be delivered from his glittering destruction.” Not always will your mistake be fixed of forgiven as it was in the Midas story.

Reading Page-Long Lives

I think that these stories are like a short set of circumstances told so as to instill sense of awe within the reader, to realize the way that the themes love, hatred, friendship, greed, and treason cause consequences in the characters’ lives. This is probably to make the reader have a greater experience so that they can learn from the characters’ mistakes to as to not do them themselves. These myths are a smart way to explain a teaching without boring the reader. They are entertaining as well as captivating in a sense that you experience the page-long lifetime of ancient humans. One example of a fate situation is when œdipus killed his father, Laius, and then married his mother, all without knowledge of his lineage.

Legal Theft

In Gilgamesh, the ox king constructs a wall around the city of Uruk to shield it from the dangers of nature. When Enkidu gave in to the Harlot’s temptation, it was like Adam eating from Eve’s apple of knowledge. As Enkidu took the apple, he stopped being a Leaver and started being a Taker. When both Enkidu and Gilgamesh were Takers, Gilgamesh had an irresistible urge to prove his superiority over nature and thus secure fame to his children. They killed Huwawa, the guardian of Cedar forest. If Enkidu would have still been a Leaver, he would never have accepted such a mission. Also, I believe that by killing the Bull of Heaven, the destruction of Enkidu’s Leaver side was complete. Furthermore, when Enkidu built the raft with the tallest cedar tree to escape from the forest, he adopted mankind’s technology along with its belief of “taking anything that you want”. 5

I think this is the problem with today’s society... that we simply take from nature anything we want to use for ourselves. We steal from nature without giving anything in return. This is dreadful, but something even more shocking is the fact that we think we have the right to simply take from nature, and we have lost a sense of morality by thinking we’re not even stealing, thinking we’re not doing anything wrong.

One Small Favor

The human person is curious by nature. The question is, that if the knowledge we ask for is always pleasing. Sometimes, it’s best if we didn’t know something. Once you’ve learned the knowledge, there’s no forgetting it, no escaping it. This has never happened to me, or at least I don’t remember if it has. When Gilgamesh asked for the knowledge of the Nether World, he more or less opened Pandora’s Box. When Gilgamesh asked Enkidu to risk his spirit to go down to the Nether World, he obeyed without hesitation. This, only a true companion would do. There is one thing, though, that I think that Gilgamesh, the text, failed to refer to, which was the regret that Gilgamesh should have felt when sending his soul-mate on a kamikaze mission. The text says something I completely agree with, which is that those who have no one to miss them once they’re gone, suffer the most:


“The one who goes to the Nether World without
leaving behind him any to mourn for him?

Garbage is what he eats in the Nether World.
No dog would eat the food he has to eat.”

p. 92

This quote explains how the most important thing needed to be done on this earth is to be part of, to influence someone else’s life so that they mourn you once you’re gone.

It must be depressing to think that you've left no influence on the world you're about to leave.

Faith or Fear?

I’ve never been in a situation in which my faith is tested. First of all, what is faith? Faith is total confidence and trust in the unknown. I believe that if your faith is tested, your decision can be driven by fear. In tablets 10 and 11 of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh’s father, explains to his son the story of how he came to be a god. He had to compile a great deal of faith in order to leave his life so that he may live, or so they told him. Either he had great faith in his god, or he had great fear that if he didn’t do what was asked, his life may be destroyed. “The voice of Ea telling me the secret
Came whispering through the reed walls of my house:

‘You reed house walls, listen and hear me whisper;
listen and be attentive to what I tell you.

Utnapishtim, son of Ubartutu,
Abandon your house, abandon what you possess,

Abandon your house and build a boat instead.
Seek life instead of riches, save yourself.”

p. 66.

This is the type of load that Noah (Noah’s Ark) was given, which is enough to give a man diarrhea from anxiety. From this, we can learn that when given these types of choices, our only choice is to choose and pray that we chose correctly. (haha, this was on purpose). There is no way to be positive that the choice was the right one, just like we can’t be sure that in having faith, we are believing in something that actually exists.

Defeating Tradition, to Pioneer

I’ve never been in a situation in which I was forced to continue with tradition in a forceful manner, but I have seen circumstances on TV in which a character is obliged to follow his father’s footsteps because that’s the family legacy. I wouldn’t like to think what Gilgamesh’s sons would have to deal with to live up to their father’s reputation, especially when being pressured by the immortal Gilgamesh himself. There is one thing that I am sure of though, which is that it can be depressing to have to reach a bar that has been set so high. It not only sucks happiness from your life, but it also drags down your self esteem. If he manages to accomplish what Gilgamesh has set out to do, he will have secured a miserable life for his descendants so that he may have a famous one, believing he is also securing fame for his future generations. They will live in his 3 parts god, 1 part man shadow.

“Who is it dares come here? Why have you journeyed through fearful wilderness making your way through dangers

to come here to this mountain no mortal has ever come to?’
Gilgamesh answered, his body seized in terror.” (p. 50)

This is what Gilgamesh’s future descendants will have to deal with in order to receive his appreciation and approval.

Excerises 3

1. The problems involved in this operation are, I think, numerous.

2. Celene, who does not usually tell anyone what she feels, said she didn't want to go to the dance.

3. To get tickets for some Broadway musicals, one has to order three months in advance.

4. Listening to the radio, Jun heard an announcement that Spangler, his own dog, was lost.

5. I used to live at 16689 Sutton Avenue, Milpitas, California, but we have since moved to 1895 Holland Way, Dubuque, Iowa.

6. The Valley of the Moon, the name of a section in Napa County, California, is the heart of the state's wine producing area.

7. Chris did not see how he could organize, write, and proofread this paper in only two hours.

8. By the pilings of the old pier, I found four starfish, a clam, and a sea anemone.

9. Yes, Helen did mention that all three of you were coming for lunch.

10. I believe, therefore, that fraternities are good influences on a college campus.

Excercises 2

1. There was no question that John's painting, a huge, colorful, and ugly mural, was the worst entry in the art exhibit.

2. Werner von Braun, Willy Ley, and Edward Teller noted authorities in the field of rocket development, have done much to guide the missile program of the United States.

3. Mr. Cready's ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time is, I believe, amazing.

4. Running around, the house the dog was abruptly stopped by a fence.

5. If the opposition should win, our candidate would never have any political future.

6. Gracefully, lightly, and daintily, the ballerina moved across the stage.

7. Glamour, the woman's fashion magazine, recently incorporated with Charm, another fashion journal.

8. Joe was born on May 7, 1955, and his best friend was born exactly two months later, on July 7, 1955.

9. Mr. and Mrs. Kwon, my parents' best friends, sat in front of us at the football game.

10. November 11, 1918, the armistice ending World War I was signed.

Excerises 1

He left the scene of the accident and tried to forget that it had happened.

Oil, which is lighter than water, rises to the surface.

Madame de Stael was an attractive, gracious lady.

Nice is a word with many meanings, and some of them are contradictory.

The contractor testified that the house was completed and that the work had been done properly.

Some people refuse to go to the zoo because of pity for creatures that must live in small cages.

Taxicabs that are dirty are illegal in some cities.

The closet contained worn clothes, old shoes, and dirty hats.

The uninvited guest wore a dark, blue, tweed suit.

After surviving this ordeal, the trapper felt relieved.

Mark Twain's early novels, I believe, stand the test of time.

December 7, 1941, will never be forgotten.

The field was safe enough, wasn't it?

Write the editor of the Atlantic 8, Arlington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116.

He replied, "I have no idea what you mean."

After a good washing and grooming, the pup looked like a new dog.

Because of their opposition to institutions that force creatures to live in captivity, some people refuse to go to the zoo.

Men who are bald are frequently the ones who are the most authoritative on the subject of baldness.

Vests which were once popular have been out of vogue for several years.

As a celestial goddess, she regulated the course of the heavenly bodies and controlled the alternating seasons.

I hope that some day, he will learn how to be polite.

Sentence Fragments: Exercise 2

These paragraphs need proofreading for possible fragments. Use the space below each paragraph for revising.



1. How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me too long. About four weeks ago in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of my friends, Rick and Lon, the duo who were providing the entertainment that night for the club.

How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me too long. About four weeks ago, in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of my friends; Rick and Lon, the duo who were providing the entertainment that night for the club.




2. For the past twenty years, the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan has been measuring the level of Americans' trust and confidence in their politicians and quasi-political trust and confidence in their political institutions and their leaders. "Political" being all levels of government, and "quasi-political" churches, labor unions, large professional/business associations, educational institutions, and the like. The result is that a very sharp decline has taken place every year since 1964.

For the past twenty years, the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan has been measuring the level of Americans' trust and confidence in their politicians, and quasi-political trust and confidence in their political institutions and their leaders. "Political", being all levels of government, and "quasi-political"; churches, labor unions, large professional/business associations, educational institutions, and the like. The result is that a very sharp decline has taken place every year since 1964.

3. For 200 years Americans believed in better jobs, better homes, a better life for one's children. This confidence no longer exists. Polls now indicate that fewer Americans who feel they are better off today than they were five years ago. A public-opinion analysis group has found that large numbers of Americans, at some times and in some places, see themselves as lower on the ladder. Adding worse living conditions and anticipation of further decline over the next five years.

For 200 years Americans believed in better jobs, better homes, a better life for one's children. This confidence no longer exists; polls now indicate that fewer Americans who feel they are better off today than they were five years ago. A public-opinion analysis group has found that large numbers of Americans, at some times and in some places, see themselves as lower on the ladder, adding worse living conditions and anticipation of further decline over the next five years.



4. Well, in looking at the picture at the left you see an old lady. She has a very funny look on her face. As if she's lonely and just wants to be left alone. She also looks as if she has seen a lot and experienced lots of things.

Well, in looking at the picture at the left, you see an old lady. She has a very funny look on her face; as if she's lonely and just wants to be left alone. She also looks as if she has seen a lot and experienced lots of things.

5. A president is an appointed leader. Someone who is a decision maker in the executive branch of our government. This doesn't necessarily mean that the person the people elect is capable. Just hopefully assumes. Assumes through his past record as a politician, over the years' buildup of experience and handling situations.

A president is an appointed leader. Someone who is a decision maker in the executive branch of our government. This doesn't necessarily mean that the person the people elect is capable, just hopefully assumes; assumes through his past record as a politician; over the years' buildup of experience and handling situations.

Enkidu Description:

Brave: . “and Enkidu fought the bull and took the bull by the horns…” (p. 34).
Optimist: “But Enkidu once again told Gilgamesh that the dream he had dreamed that night was fortunate.” (p. 24)
Environmentalist (Animal-wise): “He has unset my traps and filled my hunting pits; the creatures of the grassland get away free. The wild man sets them free. (p. 6)
Easily succumbs to temptation: “The hairy-bodied man came over to her, and lay down on her, and then she showed him the things a woman knows how to do. For seven days Enkidu in his wonder lay with her in pleasure…” (p. 8)
Needs a permanent companion (non-solitary): “Then Enkidu, whos heart was beginning to know about itself and longed for a companion…” (p. 9)

SENTENCE FRAGMENT PRACTICE

My brother was always my best friend when I was a child, especially as we two were almost alone in the world. We lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country. Whenever I think of him now, I see a solemn, responsible boy; a boy too old for his years who looked out for me no matter what. Once there was a bully, John Anson, who looked enormous to me, though he was probably an average twelve-year-old. John had it in for me because he liked Littice Grant, who liked me. He decided to beat me up right before her eyes. I was lucky my brother came by. He didn't interfere any; he just stood there. Somehow though, his presence gave me confidence. I licked the stuffing out of John Anson. If my brother hadn't been there, I don't think I could have done it.

To take the Bull by the Horns

I’ve never fought a bull, but I have been present when its strength is challenged, and I can estimate that a small bull can easily pull like twenty men. It is amazing how two man-gods could stand a chance, let alone slay, the bull of heaven. In these tablets, Enkidu’s courage is proven once again when he is the first to take the “Bull by the horns”, a metaphor used literally and metaphorically in this chapter. “and Enkidu fought the bull and took the bull by the horns…” (p. 34). Usually, to “take the bull by the horns” is a metaphor commonly used to describe a situation in which someone takes on a problem or challenge head-on, with no second thoughts. I think this is what Enkidu felt when he threatened the bull, nothing but determination. Sometimes I wish I had the same motivation to “take the bull by the horns” in my daily life, like in discipline or personal flaws, to strive to make them better without hesitation. This is one of the primary characteristics I acknowledge within Enkidu.

A Loyal Companion.

I Seldom have nightmares, but when I do, they’re inexplicably abstract and terrifying at the same time. It’s like I’m not dreaming an event, but a feeling. So I can dream fear or desperation and I feel it without having an explanation for it. It’s horrifying. What I do know, is that like Gilgamesh, once I wake up, I like to try to decipher my nightmare or dream. Nightmares usually don’t symbolize positive things, but either bottled up feelings or stress and nervousness. Something more terrifying than having a nightmare is having consecutive nightmares. This is the kind of thing that makes you afraid of falling asleep. When Gilgamesh woke up the first night, he was troubled, but reassurance arrived when Enkidu told him his nightmare was a good sign. The next nights were big blows towards Gilgamesh’s courage, for each night he was more deeply troubled. He asked himself the reason for his nightmares to be good signs. With each temptation to turn back towards the plain or to capture Huwawa and make him build the gate to Uruk, Enkidu was there as his voice of reason, as his courage. It is much easier to overcome a fear when you have someone to walk you through it. When they confronted Huwawa, they supported each other in the following manner:

"Then Gilgamesh saw the face of Huwawa the demon

and fled from the face, hiding himself away,
and Enkidu found him and said: "Two people, companions,

they can prevail together against the terror."

Pg .26

A friend can act as an incredible helper in the path to overcoming fear. Also, in daily life there is fear of change, of acceptance, and of courage, all which a friend can serve as reliable assistance and support.