Hiding Something

Sometimes because of pride or ego or a mistaken idea, one person may not confide in another or tell them the whole truth. Have you ever been in a situation in which you didn’t want the other person to know something about you? You had something you wanted to keep secret? How did you act? Did the other person realize you were hiding something? How did your behavior change the way they acted toward you?

There's been many times where I have had a secret that I couldn't tell my friend, especially when its about them, and they ask about it but I can't tell them. It makes me sad when I can't tell them, but they really want to know, because I know how it feels to want to know something that you're friend won't tell you about.

Sometimes when that happens my friends get mad at me, because they think I purposely won't tell them, and then they won't talk to you. Secrets can really start a big mess sometimes and really hurt friendships. Sometimes when a friend won't tell me something, I feel like they don't think that they can trust me enough. Trust also has alot to do with secrets, when you tell somebody a secret that you can't really trust, then it could be spread, or took wrongly. 

Edgar Allen Poe

It seems like reading Edgar Allan Poe stories around Halloween is a rite of passage for students in English classes. He wrote poems such as "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee" and stories like "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Black Cat", "The Fall of the House of Usher", "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Masque of the Red Death", "The Pit and the Pendulum", etc.
If you have read Poe stories before, which ones have you read and what do you remember of them? Did you like them? How scary/creepy were they? Share your memories of you or teachers reading the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
If you have not read Poe or don't remember, describe to me what you expect from a classic horror writer? What kinds of stories do you think we'll be reading? Have you ever read scary stories?

In seventh grade in Mrs. Eaquinto's class we read some of his stories. The ones that I remember are The Raven, Annabel Lee, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Cask of Amontillado. They were all really creepy. The Raven we read first, and I didn't really understand that one, but it was still wierd. Then when we read The Cask of Amontillado we turned off all the lights but her lamp, and she read it to us in a really creepy voice.

The Tell-Tale Heart is one I remember most, and that one was definitely the creepiest. When we read that one I was creeped out for a long time after that. I really did not like them. I think I am also related to Edgar Allen Poe, somehow. It's hard to know though, because we never married or had kids, I just know that my grandpa told me we were related to him.

Beauty

Have you ever studied a skunk's eyes? Write about some item you find beauty in that many others might not.

I can't think of an example, but there have been many times that I've thought someone or something was beautiful that no one else did. When you feel that way and you tell someone about it, but they think that its ugly or weird, it kind of makes you feel bad and like an idiot, especially if they make fun of you about it, it really hurts then.

One time I was at the mall with Devri and we were in Aeropostale, and I found these sweat pants that I really liked, but they were boy sweats, and I asked Devri if she like them, but she said they were ugly, and they wouldn't look good on me and I shouldn't get them. It made me feel sad, and stupid when she was saying that because I liked it, and it was my opinion on them she didn't like.

Secrets

Have you ever known a secret that you thought you should tell? Did you tell? If you've never experienced this, what do you think it would be like to know a secret that you think is dangerous?

Well if it is a secret that someone could get hurt by, like a friend telling you that they're going to commit suicide, or something that could be dangerous, no matter what the person told you not to tell, I think you should tell it. If my friend was going to hurt their self or someone else I would tell someone who could help, like a parent or teacher.

A couple of times I have over heard someone talking to someone else about doing something bad to someone, and I have told that person so they can like watch out for it, or tell a teacher or get help.

Journal Entry

Nurse: Such a cute couple. Never before have I seen such a young couple so in love. I really hope their marriage will end this frivolous fighting between the families once and for all. No one is getting anywhere with it, its not making anything any better, and everyone else is just sick of it.

I also hope that it will not end badly, like Friar Laurence said, a love that comes on so sudden, might die out just as quickly, I truly hope that is not the case with them. Of course they will have their fighing and their arguments, but I think that it might be for the better, and we can finally bring the two families back together.

There is also the situation of Paris wanting to marry Juliet. I pray that her father does not make her, or if she refuses, inquires why she will not marry him. Hopefully one day they will be able to present their marriage to their families, and everything will end, and their parents will let them stay together.

Write a journal from the perspective of Romeo, Juliet, Friar Laurence or Nurse. It should take place after the end of Act II when Romeo and Juliet have been secretly married. Remember, you ARE this person writing what they would be thinking and feeling at this time. 3 PARAGRAPHS!

Friar Laurence:

What a strange scene today! Never have I seen such young couples so in love. I wonder what will happen next with their families. I dearly hope that it will finally end their foolish fueding. I am hoping that it wasn't a terrible decision to marry them, what if it will end badly? I am surely praying it does not, but who is to know, certainly not I.

Then again, this decision could've been wonderful for many reasons

9th grade:
Do you believe in Fate? Are there certain things in life that, once set in motion, are inevitable; things that cannot be stopped once they are started? The story of Romeo and Juliet implies that the path of their love and what happens to them is part of Fate's plan. Do you think this is possible?

Well I believe that there are certain types of fate, like things that were meant to happen. I believe that everything happens for a reason, but I don't really have an opinion on it really. Yes, I think there are ways that you can change what seems impossible and inevitable, it'll just take some time.

I think it just depends on who you are, if you really want to change something, and stop the inevitable, or in their case, not fall in love with someone, i think that you can. If you try and you don't want to fall in love, then you can stop the inevitable and impossible

Romeo: Benvlio is taking me to the Capulet party tonight. I do not want to go, he is convinced that he can find someone else for me to love, but I do not think that will happen. I am already too much in love with Rosaline, I am quite positive that it is impossible for me to find any other girl as beautiful and stunning as Rosaline, nor could I ever love anyone as much as her, she already has my heart, and it will be impossible to take it back without it being completely damaged and unfixable.

I am also unsure of going to the party on account of the family fued, this fighting has just become too much to bear. I am hoping that maybe tonight Benvolio could help me end the fued, no one knows why we're fighting, and no one wants to fight anymore. Hopefully ending this will be easy. For now I must leave.

True Love

Define true love. Do you believe it exists?

I do belive it exists. It is every girls dream to find a handsome prince charming to fall in love with and live happily ever after. But true love isn't something that just happens, it has to come over time. True love is when you truly do love each other, its not just some sort of "ya sure, love ya too" but its real, and you can feel it when ever you're around that person, it just makes you feel happy, and wonderful.

I have also seen true love happen in movies. Especially in Disney movies. Cinderella is a good example, because Prince Charming falls in love with Cinderella, even though he has no idea who she is, and when he does find out that she's only a poor sevant girl, he still loves her, just because of who she is. To me, that is true love.

My Reaction to Shakespeare

9th Grade: What comes to your mind when you hear the words, "Now we're going to read Shakespeare!" Do you cringe in fear? Do you giggle with glee? What past experiences have you had with Shakespeare to make you react the way you do?

Well, I have never really read Shakespeare, in drama class two years ago we did a couple of plays of Shakespeare and it was interesting. I have seen the play Taming of the Shrew, and Macbeth, but I've never read any of it, so I would say "cool." I would actually like to read the Twelfth Night, because I have seen She's the Man, and I think it sounds fun