Yay! Classic number 2 down!
WARNING: There are spoilers in this blog.
As my first individually tackled classic, I chose The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I chose this novel since it's only 177 pages which would be easier to fit in around my school reading. (Okay, okay I admit it, I'd read this over school stuff any day).
I really enjoyed The Great Gatsby which tells somewhat of a love story but also a story of mystery and intrigue (Okay, that sounds stupid but trust me it's good!). Nick Carroway tells the story of his summer with the mysterious Mr. Gatsby. Mr. Gatsby is his next door neighbor who seems like somewhat of a recluse though he hosts extravagant parties nearly every weekend.
Gatsby harbors an old love for Daisy who is married to Tom Buchanan who is anything but faithful to Daisy. Nick Carroway becomes the re-connection between Daisy and Gatsby and they are nearly reunited to be married. But, sadly, it does not come to pass and Gatsby is murdered by the husband of Buchanan's lover. There are many unanswered questions in the novel although the reader does learn much about Gatsby's past, the reader does not learn everything about what Gatsby has been doing recently (with Mr. Wolfsheim).
Notable quotes (aka my faves):
- And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I has that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with summer. (pg. 4)
-He smiled understandingly- much more that understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. (pg. 48- I actually like a lot more of this quote but I'm too lazy to type it all)
-I wasn't actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity. (pg. 57)
-"They'll keep out of the way," she insisted. "It takes two to make an accident." "Suppose you met somebody just as careless as yourself." "I hope I never will," she answered. "I hate careless people. That's why I like you." (pg. 58)
If you haven't read The Great Gatsby, I seriously suggest it. It's only 177 pages and it's pretty easy to read.
Happy Reading! :) -Kelsey
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The Iliad
One classic down! About a gazillion to go...
In my high school literature class, we just finished Homer's Iliad.
As my first real epic poem, it was definitely a new experience. We read Stanley Lombardo's translation which is still written in verse but it reads much like a novel. Many scenes are extremely graphic and bloody, and the story is someone hard to relate to in the current age. The Iliad is a story of war and glory which is not something that many people have experienced. While I enjoyed parts of the story, parts of it were also hard to get into.
The Iliad tells the story of Achilles' rage although Achilles is not present for over half the story. The story also shows the different aspects of heroes to different cultures.
I think I could have enjoyed the story more if I was not reading it for a class since I always had to take notes which slows me down while reading. I also think it would have been harder to understand some of the different aspects of the story. One of my favorite parts of the story that I may not have noticed on my own was the final battle scene between Achilles and Hector. Hector is wearing Achilles' armor from a former battle won and Achilles knows that if he kills Hector than he will set in motion his own fate and cause his death. It also appears that Achilles is killing himself since Hector is wearing his armor. So Achilles is in turn killing himself by killing Hector who looks like he is Achilles. It is quite a dramatic scene.
-Kelsey
In my high school literature class, we just finished Homer's Iliad.
As my first real epic poem, it was definitely a new experience. We read Stanley Lombardo's translation which is still written in verse but it reads much like a novel. Many scenes are extremely graphic and bloody, and the story is someone hard to relate to in the current age. The Iliad is a story of war and glory which is not something that many people have experienced. While I enjoyed parts of the story, parts of it were also hard to get into.
The Iliad tells the story of Achilles' rage although Achilles is not present for over half the story. The story also shows the different aspects of heroes to different cultures.
I think I could have enjoyed the story more if I was not reading it for a class since I always had to take notes which slows me down while reading. I also think it would have been harder to understand some of the different aspects of the story. One of my favorite parts of the story that I may not have noticed on my own was the final battle scene between Achilles and Hector. Hector is wearing Achilles' armor from a former battle won and Achilles knows that if he kills Hector than he will set in motion his own fate and cause his death. It also appears that Achilles is killing himself since Hector is wearing his armor. So Achilles is in turn killing himself by killing Hector who looks like he is Achilles. It is quite a dramatic scene.
-Kelsey
Reading the Classics
I am in high school and an avid reader. I recently decided to take myself on an adventure in reading classic novels. I usually read fluffy teenage-targeted books that in no way challenge my reading ability. I am just beginning to be challenged in my high school English courses. I put in a little research and found a list of 100 Books to Read Before College and 101 Books You Should Read in College. Perfect! This was great but quite overwhelming.
My future plans include attending college to become a high school English and literature teacher. If I plan on being successful in college and my future career, I know I must be more well read then I am now.
While my coursework for school is extremely difficult and my time is crunched, I plan on beginning to work my way through difficult novels over the next few years. My blog posts may be few and far between for awhile but I will also post on books that I am reading in my current high school literature course which focuses on the epic classics including the Iliad, Odyssey, Dante's Inferno and the Aeneid.
-Kelsey
My future plans include attending college to become a high school English and literature teacher. If I plan on being successful in college and my future career, I know I must be more well read then I am now.
While my coursework for school is extremely difficult and my time is crunched, I plan on beginning to work my way through difficult novels over the next few years. My blog posts may be few and far between for awhile but I will also post on books that I am reading in my current high school literature course which focuses on the epic classics including the Iliad, Odyssey, Dante's Inferno and the Aeneid.
-Kelsey
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