― ms.Lee

Throughout this year in English class, I think I was trying hard to do well at writing, speaking, and blogging project though I didn't get any good mark. However, I didn't really read every single day due to irregular life of many homeworks so I think I need to put more effort on reading this summer and even next semester. I think I am going to deserve quite bad grade as I see my grades I got through this year. Of course, I want to be in English 10 Language A next year but I think I still need to stay in English 10B Advanced.  

       There are many factors that influence human's behavior in the world. Human behavior is the collection of behaviors exhibited by human beings and influenced by culture, attitudes, emotions, values, ethics, authority, rapport, hypnosis, persuasion, coercion, genetics, the quote from movie or book, environmental situation, advertising, reinforcements and rewards they receive from their behavior. However, human's behaviors mostly get a direct influence by their social groups. This is the influence of social pressure that is perceived by the individual to perform or not perform a certain behaviour. Individuals learn through imitating the behavior of others around them to join the social group. For instance, suppose that there is a boy in middle school and their friends all drink and smoke. And if he doesn't drink or smoke, he will be excluded from that social group. Then he will also start to drink or smoke to survive in that group. And if everyone studies hard, that boy will also try to study hard to join them. This happens in every country. Human's behaviors are also influenced by what their friends or parents suggestions. In my case, my parents always suggested me to change my habits everyday and I don't have that habit now.

The stereotypical vision of the Egyptian Pyramids are large mountain like brown piles of stone uprooting from the desert having a rough contour. Though when first constructed around 2500 BC. The pyramids were paper white and as smooth as glass, toping the pyramid was a golden capstone that gleamed in the desert sun. It was an amazing spectacle. The pyramids somewhat stayed in this state until the Arab invasion of Egypt around AD 500. The Arab invaders stripped the pyramid of it's smooth limestone and built a huge section of Cairo. Many of the Mosques and Palaces of Cairo consist of the Ancient stones of the pyramids. Quite sad actually. 

My question about creating these pyramids is that "How did they construct pyramids even they didn't have good equipments to create?" and I found out that they used a path of wooden rollers so that sledges carrying the great stone blocks could move more easily. Ramps were built for the sledges to carry the blocks up the sides of the pyramids. As each layer of the pyramid was completed the ramp was made higher and longer. Once the blocks were hauled up the ramp, ropes and levers were used to move the blocks into position. After the blocks were in place a casing fine-quality limestone was put over the stones. The workers were housed in barracks. Skilled stonemasons and some laborers worked on the pyramid all year long. Others worked during the flood season when crops could not be raised. Some farmers used this work as a means of paying taxes.

These were built because the Egyptians believed that if the pharaoh's body could be mummified after death the pharaoh would live forever. They believed people in heaven lived the same as people on earth except without any problems. This is why the pharaoh was buried with food, furniture, and other items needed in regular life. Archaeologists even found models of objects from everyday life formed from clay inside the pyramids. The Egyptians believed that there was magical power to making models. Models of boats, soldiers, cattle, and people were found. A soul house was special kind of model. It was a little home for Ka. They were built with details like stairs and pillars. Egyptians ordered pyramids built because they feared their remains would be disturbed by grave robbers. Passageways were built at several angles throughout the pyramids and these passageways were later sealed with heavy stones. The pyramids were connected to other buildings by tunnels. Priests would visit the tomb to pray and leave fresh food for the dead person.

Traditional literature is a combination of four distinct, yet intertwined genres of children's literature. Myths, legends, fables and tales of fearless princes, magic castles, giants, wicked witches, and heroines saved bring childhood fantasies to life with all the wonderful dreams and beliefs that have delighted the hearts of children down through the ages of storytelling. "With their well-defined plots, easily identifiable characters, rapid action, and satisfactory endings, the tales lend themselves to many enjoyable experiences in the classroom, library, home, or around the campfire" (Norton, p243). Four forms of traditional tales are:

Folktales

Folktales deal with adventures both plausible and implausible wrapped in the forms of human or animal abilities. The Story of the Three Little Pigs is example of the childhood tales that we have all grown up with. They are the simple tale that have truly evil people or animals, and truly good people or animals, and the good always wins out in the end in these stories, giving way to the child's version of fairness. These stories usually start out like: "Once upon a time in a far away land there lived a....," or "Once upon a time there was...." All cultures have folktales and while the characters have changed slightly in some of the stories, or the plot might have changed in some fashion, the main idea is still there. An excellent example of the same story in different versions can be seen in the story of Lon Po Po from China, the story of Little Red Riding Hood from France, and the story of Little Red Cap from Germany, all of which share the same themes. A little girl who wears red goes through the forest on the way to her grandmother's house and is met by a wolf. The wolf gets into the house and somehow the people trick the wolf so that he does not get to eat or finish digesting the people he wants for a meal. Folktales proved to be excellent vehicles for teaching children the values and lessons in behavior which the storyteller thought appropriate.

Myths

Myths deal with ancient stories, such as the pranks of the Greek gods and their great feats of bravery. Roman mythology adopted the Greek gods, changing the name of Zeus to Jupiter, Hera to Juno, Poseidon to Neptune, and so on. The myths gave human emotions and qualities to the super- natural beings who were the heroes and heroines of their stories. Hera was known for her jealousy. Zeus was always trying to get things past his wife. Poseidon ruled the weather by his whims. These gods and goddesses helped or harmed mankind as they pleased. One charming story that is my favorite is that of Galatea, the statue a man carved to fit his description of womanly beauty that the gods bring to life. Loves, lost loves and love restrained are all interwined in the ancient Greek stories.
 

Legends

Legends may deal with real people like Henry VIII, or Robin Hood. The stories written about them could have been real because the tale deals with real historical figures. So whether there ever was a real prince and pauper does not matter, because the story made up around that time period is essential to help people believe that they won't always have to live in the same social system that they were born in. Other stories were used around the campfire like the tall tales of Mike Fink, or Pecos Bill who might have been real people but time has erased the line where the true history and legend separate. These stories leave questions and wonder in the listeners' minds as they ponder, "Did Mike Fink really wrestle a grizzly bear?" or "Had he beat up all the other river boat men on the Mississippi?" The historical facts have been creatively altered to intermingle many valuable precepts that encourage moral conduct and right living. Such narratives have an intermixture of fact that sets them apart from pure myth or popular tales.

Fables

The ones that often come to mind first are the fables by Aesop. These stories are short and in the end bring us to the simple truths that often we don't see in everyday life. One of these is the story of the fox and the grapes. Because the fox could not attain the grapes that were just beyond his reach, he supposed that they must be sour grapes. He did not know this for sure as he was upset that he could not attain them, so they were "sour grapes" to him. Fables are concerned with teaching us valuable truths in simple stories. The characters don't change. They just learn a valuable lesson that does not change their standpoint. In fact, most of the characters of fables are inanimate objects or animals that are represented with human interests and passions.

My character is Hamlet and I am preparing the scene III.iii. In this scene, Hamlet is hesitating whether to kill his uncle or not. By looking at this speech, I found out that Hamlet's personality is indecisive, which he can't do something at once. Also, I knew that Hamlet will move away from his uncle's door and kill him at another day like when he is doint something that has no relation with salvation.

Hamlet's father was murdered by his uncle and his mother married him just 2 months later, which made him really furious and shocked. So his behaviors against his uncle and mom became so rude and violent and he acts as he is insane. His love Ophelia also betrayed him that made him go mad. He usually talks very loudly as he is shouting.

―Hamlet, III.iii 

Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;

And now I'll do't. And so he goes to heaven;

And so am I revenged. That would be scann'd:

A villian kills my father; and for that,

I, his sole son, do this same villain send

To heaven.

O, this is hire and salary, not revenge.

He took my father grossly, full of bread;

With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May;

And how his audit stands who knows save heaven?

But in our circumstance and course of thought,

'Tis heavy with him: and am I then revenged,

To take him in the purging of his soul,

When he is fit and season'd for his passage?

No!

Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid hent:

When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,

Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed;

At gaming, swearing, or about some act

That has no relish of salvation it't;

Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven,

And that his soul may be as damn'd and black

As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays:

This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.