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YOG Torch

2010-08-20T22:28:00.000-07:00

The torch has been in several countries, and its finally coming to our school, Hwa Chong Institution. In the morning, it was a long wait. The weather was not that good, we had stand for more than an hour to witness the torch before our eyes. Though it was a tiring wait, it was a once in a life time opportunity for us to see the torch. The torch was accompanied by runners ready to pass on the torch to the next runner. There were also cameramen there to film the torch. It was really a great day for all of us, and i hope i will be able to witness it again.

11/08/2010

Emily of Emerald Hill

2010-08-20T22:14:00.000-07:00

We started on a book, a one-woman play, known as Emily of Emerald Hill. Its somewhat interesting, and it uses a dramatic monologue. Though there is only one character, we can infer from her actions and words who is she talking to.

Review of Emily of Emerald hill

The plot revolves around a woman named Emily as she grows from a young girl into an old woman. The themes that are highlighted include women against men, society and women in a family.

Emily was a mother who by a series of schemes rose from a lowly second wife to the family matriarch. So Emily who knew in such a society, she would definitely be below a man in terms of status, began to take care of every need. A notable incident would be when she chose and took care of the schooling arrangements and another clear one is where she makes every single decision for her children. She does not give a choice and forces Richard to give up taking care of horses to study in a university which in the end results in him committing suicide. This can be seen as a sign of escape from his mother's scheming as she feeds him, clothes him and takes care of his every need in life. Yet later, she realises her mistake and begins to make suggestions in the hope of bringing the family back together but fails. This theme is conveyed strongly through a series of events ending with Richard's death and also when she just suggests that her daughter spend more time with the man she wants to marry.

Emily was a lowly second wife with no maid of her own at the start. She learned that power lay with the matriarch of the family and earned her favour. Eventually, Emily takes care of every need for her husband. When her husband starts to live with a mistress, Emily makes it inconvenient by tossing a few comments in her face. Emily also continues to take care of his food but does not let him divorce her as he wishes. This is because Emily feels she has not done anything wrong and will not give him the satisfaction of a divorce. And then, during a dinner to celebrate the end of the Occupation, she brings all his clothes back 2 days before it starts from the house of his mistress. After that, he never saw his mistress again but he began to gamble and lose a lot of money, eventually dying in the hospital and refusing to see his wife. She won the conflict yet lost her husband. Society commands that women obey their husbands and she does so but twists it by forcing him to obey her will because of his dependency.

The actor was also very versatile and was acclaimed as a good actor. Margaret Chan could suit the various ages used and expressed the emotions well. Stage lights start out focused on Emily and slowly spreads to the rest of the set. The focus hints at the focus on Emily. In act 2, the main stage is dark with low lights on acting area. Later Emily enters and this shows the focus on her and that the rest of the characters are less important. The stage grows dark with the light on her when she reflects on her past. This creates a atmosphere with tension as it leaves the watcher wondering why is there such a focus. In the end, the lights go out as she begins to talk to Richard, her dead son.

30/07/10

Task 2

2010-05-26T00:28:00.000-07:00

Analysis of Poem - Children in the Darkness
1. Point of View
The poet is trying to send a message to the people to tell them that children are being used as soldiers and sent to war to fight. This will endanger their lives as the phrase "or will a war consume them" suggests. He is disappointed that children are not able to be like normal children and were deprived of their freedom. This can be seen from "and these children are not free" and "could we give them half a chance".

2. Situation and Setting
The situation is the Vietnam War. The author wrote this poem in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The author sees the harsh effects on war on the children of Vietnam. The children live in a “dark” place as they have to learn how to kill others unlike children in other countries who are living in a “bright” place as they learn how to read and dance.

3. Language and Diction
In the first stanza, the author repeats “There are children in the darkness” The use of repetition emphasizes the effect that the children have a very “dark” and sad life. In the third stanza, “could we” is repeated. This emphasizes the fact that the children are very pitiful. The words “light” and “darkness” shows the contrasts between those children and the children in other countries

4. Personal Response
I feel that children should not participate in wars. They should be given a chance to live like normal people. They should have their own freedom to do what they want to do and not fight in wars. They are still new to the world and if they participate in the war they are going to leave very soon. I hope that there will be no more wars that will break out in the future.

Task 1

2010-05-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

Background:
I was in Vietnam in 1967 - 68 and again in 1969. I go back often because my soul lives in Vietnam and I go back to visit it from time to time.
I was sitting in my hotel room in Saigon just before Christmas 2009 and I was trying to write a poem about the girls who work in the park and how badly men treat them. I was angry but unable to write anything that did not sound trite or weak. I looked at the TV and the news was on. I did not know what the news reader was saying but in the background was a photo of a small boy with a helmet and an automatic rifle. This poem flowed out. The words just came to me and I typed as fast as I could to get it all down.

Source: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Children_

Maycomb

2010-03-02T06:22:00.001-08:00

To Kill A Mockingbird:

Naturalist:
They are best known for the habit of some species mimicking the songs of other birds, insect and amphibian sounds. They feed on berries and fruits.

The condition of Maycomb is just suitable for mockingbirds to live in as there are trees with berries and fruits, no pollution, people do not kill mockingbird as they do not offend humans by building nests in their houses.

Intrapersonal: Who would you be friends with in the novel?

For me, I think i will be friends with Atticus Finch. He has two children, Jem Finch and Scout Finch. He is in his fifties. He is a lawyer in Maycomb. He defends for the black people in Maycomb.

I would choose him to be my friend as he is a great man. He takes care of his children well. He is the only parent in town that teaches his child to read. He also displayed much concern for his children when Tim Johnson came and he rushed back to kill it.

Besides that, he is also a man who fights for justice. The story was set in the 1930s, where segregation and prejudice was throughout America. He was trying to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who was sentence to jail just because he was black. Even thought Atticus knew that there was no way to win the case, he still tried his best.

Furthermore, he is also very understanding of other people. When Mrs. Dubose said that Atticus was no better than the trash he works for, Scout was very angry with Mrs. Dubose but Atticus sees it in a positive way instead of an insult.

M.I.

2010-03-02T05:49:00.001-08:00

Mission impossible?
Nice try but no.
Michigan?
No, nothing to do with USA.
Then what is it?
Multiple Intelligence.

Quite true. Linguistic study and logical study are below average, needs improvement. Dominant in music and kinaesthetic studies.

The tests should have more questions to allow a better analysis as questions on kinaesthetic are not enough to give accurate data.

Besides that these test can also be inaccurate as people tend to choose the best answer to allow them to have a good result. Nonetheless, I still believe that the test results are accurate enough to tell which intelligence i am dominant in.