Sparky

My house is a zoo. When a person visits, they are greeted by two dogs, two cats, a duck, a flying squirrel (see photo) and a blinde albino squirrel. The reason for all these crazy animals is my parents. My dad is a vet and my mom is the biggest animal lover I've ever known.
About this time last year, my family gained a new member. Her name is Sparky and she is a blue-tick coonhound. She is a very special dog. She was born with only two functioning legs. A nerve in her spine is pinched and she can't use her two back legs. They stick straight out and she drags them around with her when she walks.
For a couple months we were unsure what we were going to do with her. We already have a wonderful dog named Cider, who gets very jealous of other dogs. We tried to find a family who would take Sparky in, but no one was up to the task of caring for such a disabled dog. Finally she won over our hearts and is now part of the family. She loves to chew up everything and is not the smartest dog. She wears diapers and is quite dirty. Her front legs are so strong she can walk holding her back-end up off the ground. When she goes on walks she has a cart with wheels that she can run with. She is quite the handful to take care of, but she's a lovable puppy anyways.

Beowulf LRJ #3

Kelsey Vandegrift
MS. Peifer
Hour 5 10IB
9 December 2008

Specific values shown in the last section of Beowulf, "The Battle with the Fire-Breathing Dragon", include loyalty and leadership. Beowulf is loyal to his people and their leader until his end. "I risked my life/ often when I was young. Now I am old,/ but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight/ for the glory of winning" (Heaney 2511-2514). Beowulf has risked his life over and over again for his people because as king it is his job to protect them for his whole life. Beowulf is not the only loyal person worth mentioning. The men who he leads are more loyal to him than any other person. "Your deeds are famous,/ so stay resolute, my lord, defend your life now/ with the whole of you strength. I shall stand by you" (2666-2668). As long as Beowulf has men loyal to him he will continue to be the ultimate hero until the moment he dies.

This section of Beowulf is different than others because the reader is exposed to something close to a weakness of Beowulf's. In his battle with Grendel, Beowulf fights the gigantic monster with his bare hands and is still able to kill him. "I would rather not/ use a weapon if I knew another way/ to grapple with the dragon... But I shall be meeting molten venom/ in the fire he breathes so I go forth/ in mail-shirt and shield" (2518-2524). Beowulf has decided to arm himself with in this battle. Previously Beowulf did use a sword in his attempt to kill Grendel's but mother but this situation is different. A shield and mail-shirt are meant to protect the warrior and a sword is meant to hurt the opposition. This shows how Beowulf is more concerned that his enemy could harm him more than he ever has before. This shows Beowulf is worried about facing the dragon and is preparing for a different kind of fight.

Beowulf's death is a very honorable end for the magnificent hero. His final obstacle and the last danger to his people has been destroyed. One aspect of his death that makes it especially honorable is the fact that he died while saving his people. "... I give thanks. that I behold this treasure here in front of me,/ That I have been allowed to leave my people/ so well endowed on the day I die" (2795-2798). Throughout the entire ordeal with the dragon Beowulf's thoughts are always with his people and making sure they will be safe when he is gone. Another part of his death that makes it honorable is Beowulf excepts his death has come. "...he still spoke/ for he well knew his days in the world/ had been lived out to the end: his allotted time/ was drawing to a close, death was very near" (2725-2728). Beowulf has lived his life to his utmost potential and has been a great king. Now that he is dying he is ready for it because he has done everything he was meant to do.

Beowulf LRJ #2

Kelsey Vandegrift
Ms. Peifer
Hour 5 10 IB
8 December 2008

A very important value in the poem Beowulf is the pride and courage men have as warriors. The warriors themselves had enormous courage in Beowulf their leader who was the best among them. "Through the strength of one they all prevailed;/ they would crush their enemy and come through in triumph and gladness" (Heaney 698-700). The warriors followed Beowulf faithfully and with courage. "None of them expected he would ever see/ his homeland again or get back/ to his native place and the people who reared him" (691-693). Beowulf lead by example and there was no one else in the world like him, therefore other men became very brave as well.

An unrealistic part of Beowulf's character is his awesome strength. "...the hero displayed/ high up near the roof: the whole of Grendel's/ shoulder and arm, his awesome grasp" (8833-835). It is impossible for one man to rip an arm off a monster big enough to eat thirty men at once. When the poem would be read out loud the image of Beowulf's strength and actions would have been very powerful and would've had a big effect on the audience. However unrealistic his strength is, it is essential to Beowulf's character. Without his strength, Beowulf would not be the one-of-a-kind man he is. This would diminish his whole persona as a hero.

A very important and affective quote in the story is when Beowulf returns to Hrothgar with Grendel's head. "In he came then, the thane's commander,/ the arch-warrior, to address Hrothgar: his courage was proven, his glory secure" (1644-1646). The image of Beowulf entering the great mead-hall with the head of Grendel in his grasp is such a powerful image. The great monster is finally defeated and Beowulf has proven himself. The passage goes on to say, "... a horror for both queen and company to behold./ They stared in awe. It was an astonishing sight" (1649-1650). This part of the passage shows how magical and unbelievable Beowulf was to his own people. The sight of their leader coming back to them with all danger gone is a remarkable picture to imagine.

Beowulf LRJ #1

Kelsey Vandegrift
Ms. Peifer
Hour 5 10 IB
5 December 2008


In the Old English poem Beowulf, values such as community and pride are represented throughout. The importance of community and unity is shown through the creation of Heorot, the mead-hall. King Hrothgar believed strongly in having a place where everyone could be together and enjoy themselves. "...He handed down orders/ for men to work on a great mead-hall/ meant to be a wonder through the world ..." (Heaney 68-70). The hall was a joyous place where people came together to listen to stories, drink mead and forget about any worries. It was a happy place and everyone was invited and encouraged to attend.


Alliteration is very important to the poem. The repetition of the same sounds stress the point that is being made. Examples of alliteration are, "There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes" (4), "... he would dispense/ his god- given goods to young and old" (71-72) and,"...away with a will in their wood-wreathed ship./ Over the waves, with the wind behind her" (216-217. These sentences all flow nicely. Because Beowulf was meant to be an oral story or a song, alliteration makes the story sound better out loud. Repetition of similar sounds add emphasis to the story and create a strong tone when dramatically told aloud.


Kennings are used over and over again in the poem. By using kennings an object can be looked at in a new way. "The leader of the troop unlocked his word-hoard" (258). In this example a "word-hoard" is meant to be a mouth. This shines a new light on a mouth because it makes it sound as if a mouth is only meant for talking. Another example of a kenning is, "...the throne itself, the treasure-seat" (168). Hrothgar's throne is so important that calling it a throne does not do justice. Using the word "treasure" adds to the idea that it is special and one-of-a-kind. A final example of a kenning is, "...this corpse-maker mongering death" (276). Grendel is a terrible monster and who kills people every night. Calling him a "corpse-maker" is just another way to say how gruesome he is.

Antigone Breaks the Law

Kelsey Vandegrift
Ms. Peifer
Hour 5 10 IB
26 November 2008

Antigone was the daughter and niece to two kings. Because she comes from such a political family, she should have known her actions against the government would not be accepted. Antigone was acting deliberately and was fully aware of it when she broke Creon’s law. Although Creon is her uncle, his laws still apply to her as much as anyone else. This fact proves she is guilty.

Antigone is very determined to give her brother Polyneices’ the proper burial he deserves. Her plan to do this is already set when Creon’s finalizes his new law, “They say that Creon has sworn no one shall bury him, no one mourn for him” (Sophocles 816). Antigone says this to her sister Ismene soon after their brother’s death. This shows that although she understands the king’s law perfectly well, she is still intent on burying Polyneices. Ismene replies to her idea, telling Antigone, “Bury him! You have just said the new law forbids it!” (816). The words even pass through Antigone’s mouth, proving she knows she is breaking the law.

Antigone accepts the fact she is breaking Creon’s law at the precise moment she has decided to bury Polyneices. However, she believes breaking the law is essential for doing the right thing and therefore feels her actions are just. “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death” (817). In her heart, breaking the law, disobeying her uncle and dying are all worth it if she can give her brother the respect he deserves. Her conscious is innocent to her because the law has no meaning to her. Polyneices served his city just like his brother Eteocles and earns all the same honors.

However, even if Antigone herself feels she has not committed a crime, she still has. She knowingly broke Creon’s law. Creon has every right to create a law; it is his right as king. Antigone broke her uncle’s law and it resulted in her aunt’s, her lover’s and her own suicide. Now Creon, the innocent king, must deal with the death of his family which was started by Antigone breaking his law.


Works Cited
Spohocles. "Antigone." Literature Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: World Literature.
Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001.
814-826

LRJ #2

An important repeated image throughout Antigone is the image of a dead body being feasted on by animals. Antigone says about Polyneices' body, "But his body must lie in the fields, a sweet treasure for the carrion birds to find as they search for food" (Sophocles 816). This image is very important to the story because the thought of her brother's body being unburied is Antigone's motive throughout the entire play. The image of Polyneices' body rotting and being eaten is very disrespectful and disgusting to Antigone. She demands proper burial rites for her brother so he can rest in peace.

Creon's fatal flaw in the play is his stubbornness. He refuses over and over again to listen to anyone else. This leads to his niece, son and wife to all commit suicide. "No doubt. Speak; Whatever you say, you will not change my will" (837). Creon says this to Teiresias because his predictions are not what Creon wants to hear. Although it is obvious Teiresias' predictions will come true, Creon's stubborn personality doesn't allow him to realize this and his whole life comes crashing down because of it.

During the play Creon has a moment of anagnorsis which is when he realizes the truth. Creon is able to understand how his actions have caused him so much distress. "I alone am guilty. I know it, and I say it" (841). He is able to recognize how his stubbornness and his rules have lead to the death of his entire family. Creon's perpeteia and his reversal of circumstances comes when he realizes what fate he has left his niece to, "Oh it is hard to give in! but it is worse to risk everything for stubborn pride" (837). Creon finally understands that his family is more important than anything else and his laws and stubbornness need to be put aside. Unfortunately he realizes this too late. The catharsis of the play occurs when Creon's realization to what he has done overcomes him. "Whatever my hands have touched has come to nothing. Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust" (842). Creon has come to recognize the fact that everything he has done has ended horribly. His family is dead and it is all his fault. This makes the audience feel a strong surge of pity for Creon.

In the play, women are characterized as both strong, brave and influential along with unsure and scared. Antigone represents the strong-willed women. "Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way" (816). Antigone is so determined that even her uncle, the king, will not stop her from doing what she thinks is right. Her bravery overpowers anything and everyone. Her sister, Ismene represents women in the complete opposite way of Antigone. "But think of the danger! Think of what Creon will do!" (816). This shows women as unsure and scared to act. Ismene says herself, "I have no strength to break laws that were made for public good" (817). Although Ismene may want to help her sister, she is afraid to disobey the laws to do so. The characterization of women in both ways shows how both men and women thought of a woman in society in that time.

Works Cited
Spohocles. "Antigone." Literature Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: World Literature. Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 814-826

Who Done It?

Polyneices the son of Oedipus and nephew of King Creon was found dead two days ago. Although Polyneices was a disappointment to our city, speaking ill of the dead is terrible so this article will refrain from it. After investigation into the case it was learned that Eteocles was the murderer. After a throw down between the two brothers, a winner could not be chosen. The fight killed them both. Polyneices' body was found covered dusted in dirt in an attempt to bury him. This action was obviously against the new law Creon had just created. Only honorable people such as Eteocles were allowed to be buried properly. Therefore, Creon was furious when he learned his other nephew was the body that had been tried to be buried. A sentry took on the job of finding "who done it" at the risk of losing his own life. After careful investigation it was concluded that Antigone, niece of Creon and sister to the dead brothers Eteocles and Polyneices, was the culprit. Antigone had only one thing to say, "They are my flesh and blood. They both deserve proper burials". The fate of Antigone has still to be decided.