Masterpiece Essay

Michael Hall

Dr. Preston

AP English Literature and Composition  

8 June 2015

Masterpiece Essay

            The idea of masterpieces is very interesting and it lead to an interesting year. Our classes were given a major amount of trust, some stayed true and others veered off the path. In the end all of us presented great masterpieces that impressed me with their level of thought and effort. As for me, I worked on my masterpiece for the majority of semester, given all I was doing was telling riddles to my friends in the back of the class, but that was my masterpiece after all.

            This year’s literary works varied greatly, Brave New World was a great and interesting science fiction novel that showed a dystopian world. It was a great representation of how our world could be and what needs to happen to prevent that. Hamlet was more of the traditional Shakespearean work that all students have come to know, but compared to Macbeth it was a much more entertaining play to read. Mainly because our class studied Hamlet with great depth that created a better connection with the work and characters.

            A passion that I had was riddle telling, in years past I enjoyed telling my friend ridiculous riddles to my friends. It wasn’t until two other class mates tried to solve a riddle off of my blog that I rekindled that flame. From that point on I told about 30 plus riddles to my group of friends and from that I picked five to share to the class. I still enjoy riddles but do not have any plans to do anything more than have fun from time to time telling riddles.

            I laughed a lot during the course, one instance was Elmo and Miles masterpiece presentation, the second video that they made had a lot of subtle jokes that me and my group of friends found to be some of the greatest parts. One was the use of Skyrim and GTA (video games) maps as well as the ”Half Life 3 confirmed?” reference.

            One commonality in masterpieces was peoples desire to help the world around them. Lilly showed how she is working to become a doctor and her experiences so far, Elizabeth got people to come together and donate their hair to help people suffering from cancer, Stevie went and gave gifts to sick children at the hospital, Sierra volunteered at the homeless shelter to help people, and lastly Courtney and how she helps with Special Olympics. Then there is me, just here telling riddles to my friends as they try to change the world for the better. Does that make me a hero? Most likely no but my masterpiece is something I enjoy and that my friends enjoyed with me, that is all that matters.        

              

Elmo's riddle time!!!

 How can you make the following true by adding a single line: .9 = 1.

Note: ≠ is not the answer.

Ap exams! No riddles!!!

Level 3
     Sergi and Sally were sitting in their family room one night. While Sergi was watching TV, his wife Sally was reading. All of a sudden the power went out and Sergi decided to go to bed, but Sally kept on reading. With no use of artificial light, Sally kept on reading. How?

Level 2
Jack is taking a tour through a museum's American Presidents exhibit. The person leading the tour tells him "We have a picture of each presidency. Currently Barack Obama is the 43rd person to hold the office." But Jack quickly realizes that there are 44 pictures on the wall. But while walking through the exhibit he realizes why this is.

Why is there one too many photos?

Level 2
There was a window cleaner who was cleaning a window on the 25th floor of a skyscraper. He suddenly slips and falls. He has no safety equipment and nothing to soften his fall, but he is not hurt at all. How do you account for that?

Level 3

This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious as to just how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so ordinary and plain that you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is highly unusual though. Study it and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out. Try to do so without any coaching!

Riddle time with Hikaru and Jared

A young man walks through the forest. He comes to a bridge. In front of the bridge is a large man carrying an axe. The man says, "If you want to cross this bridge, you must tell me a statement. If I think the statement is true, you will be strangled to death. If I say the statement is false, your head will be chopped off." A few minutes later, the young man walked over the bridge, while the larger man stood pondering. What was the statement the young man had given?

Imagine your in a sinking boat and there is alligators trying to eat you. How do you save yourself?

 A man in prison has a visitor. Afterward a guard asks the inmate who the visitor was to him. The inmate replies: "brothers and sisters I have none, but that man's father is my father's son." Who was the visitor to the inmate?

A poor man is sitting in a pub. He sees that the man next to him is extremely rich.

Poor man: I have an amazing talent; I know almost every song that has ever existed.

The rich man laughs.

Poor man: I am willing to bet you all the money you have in your wallet that I can sing a popular song that includes a lady's name of your choosing.

The rich man laughs again.

Rich man: OK, how about my daughter's name, Joanna Armstrong-Miller?

The poor man goes home rich.

What song did he sing?

Are you smarter than a 12 grader??

 
What single line can you add to the following statement to make it true?

5+5+5=550

A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a shotgun and points it at him. The man says, thank you and leaves. Why 

A man is lying dead with a backpack on, face down in the desert. What happened 

The riddle??!?!!

 A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?

A man was found dead in his study. He was slumped over his desk and a gun was in his hand. There was a cassette recorder on his desk. When the police entered the room and pressed the play button on the tape recorder they heard: "I can't go on. I have nothing to live for." Then there was the sound of a gunshot. How did the detective immediately know that the man had been murdered and it wasn't a suicide?

What 3 positive numbers give the same result when multiplied and added together?

Masterpiece Change!!!

While the idea of blowing shit up with my mind was amusing it is not practical. As time has gone on since that day I have thought very little about how to move that idea foreword. Dr Preston said to study the amazing things people can do with their minds. That was another interesting idea, but I think I have found something that truly interests me Riddles!!!! I am looking at what makes riddles good and challenging, as of lately I was posted a lot of riddles recently and o believe that they are all very good. I an looking for what makes riddles good!! More to come and many more riddles to be posted 

Stop!! Riddle time!!!!

How can you throw a ball 20 meters, and have it come back to you without hitting anything?

 A thief enters a shop and threatens the clerk, forcing him to open the safe. The clerk says, "The code for the safe is different every day, and if you hurt me you'll never get the code". But the thief manages to guess the code on his own.

How did he do it?

A man is found murdered on the ground with 53 bicycles scattered around the room.

How did he die?

What is the only question you can't answer yes to?

Math!!!! Riddles!!

What number do you get when you multiply all of the numbers on a telephone's number pad?

A hobo picks up cigarette butts from the ground and can make a cigarette with 4 butts. If he finds 16 cigarette butts, how many cigarettes can he make?

To riddle or not to riddle???

What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?

What is the center of gravity?

What starts with an e but only has a single letter in it?

Does England have a 4th of July?

Its a riddle?!!!

A married couple went to the hospital to have theit baby delivered. Upon their arrival, the doctor said he had invented a new machine that would transfer a portion of the mother's labor pain to the baby's father. He was asked if they were willing to try it out. They were both very much in favor of it. The doctor set the pain transfer to 10% for starters, explaining that even 10% was probably more pain than the father had ever experienced before. However, as the labor progressed, the husband felt fine and asked the doctor to go ahead and kick it up a notch. The doctor then adjusted the machine to 20% pain transfer. The husband was still feeling fine. The doctor checked the husband's blood pressure and was amazed at how well he was doing. At this point, they decided to try out for 50%. The husband continued to feel quite well. Since the pain transfer was obviously helping out the wife considerably, the husband encouraged the doctor to transfer all the pain to him. The wife delivered a healthy baby with virtually no pain. She and her husband were ecstatic. When they got home, the mailman was dead on the porch.

One day, the boss, named Harold, changed the computer's password. Then one of his employees, named Ted, came up to him and asked if he changed the password. Harold said, " yes I did change the password Ted." Ted replied " may you tell me?" Harold thought and said, " um.. Ok. The password is in this riddle" The employee said" ok got it. What is the riddle sir?" What is the password?

You have a large number of friends coming over and they all get thirsty. Your first friend asks for 1/2 a cup of water. Your second friend asks for 1/4 a cup of water. Your third friend asks for 1/8 a cup of water, etc.

How many cups of water do you need to serve your friends?

Riddle time!!!

A king has no sons, no daughters, and no queen. For this reason he must decide who will take the throne after he dies. To do this he decides that he will give all of the children of the kingdom a single seed. Whichever child has the largest, most beautiful plant will earn the throne; this being a metaphor for the kingdom.At the end of the contest all of the children came to the palace with their enormous and beautiful plants in hand. After he looks at all of the children's pots, he finally decides that the little girl with an empty pot will be the next Queen. Why did he choose this little girl over all of the other children with their beautiful plants?

A monkey, a squirrel, and a bird are racing to the top of a coconut tree. Who will get the banana first, the monkey, the squirrel, or the bird?

Riddles!!!!!!

 Tom wants to send Sally an expensive ring through the mail because they live thousands of miles apart. The only problem is that everything sent through the mail is stolen unless there is a lock put on it. Both Tom and Sally have plenty of locks and keys but they don't have any of the same locks or keys.

How can Tom send Sally the ring without it getting stolen?

Is an older one-hundred dollar bill worth more than a newer one?

For Jayce!!!(Logic Riddles)

 When is 99 more than 100?


During what month do people sleep the least?


A man leaves a $100,000 dollar bill on his desk and leaves work. When he returns the money is gone. He has three suspects: the cook, the cleaning lady, and the mail guy. The cook says he put the money under a book on his desk to keep it safe. They check and it is no longer there. The maid says she moved it when she was cleaning to the inside of the book between page 1 and 2. They open the book and look between page number 1 and 2 but it isn't there. The mail guy says he saw it sticking out of the book and to keep it safe he moved it to between page number 2 and 3. Once they are done the culprit is promptly arrested.Who did it and how did he know?

Throw Back to Chemistry

What is cesium and iodine's favorite TV show?

CSI

Riddles......

Macbeth questions

A collaboration of 4th period
I-1

1) Beginning the play with a dialogue between the witches sets the mood to be dark, evil, and mysterious. This foreshadows the plot, theme, and mood for the future of the story in the same manner. In comparison of Shakespeare's other plays, Macbeth requires more ambiguity and the syntax and diction used needs to be more bleak. For example, Hamlet highlighted the themes of betrayal and complexity of relationships and power. Even though, the theme falls in the same ballpark with Macbeth, the gloominess of the plot of Macbeth overpowers that of Hamlet. In the beginning of the play, the witches were going to meet Macbeth at the "ere of sunset." Line 10 was "Paddock calls" and line 11 was "Anon." The phrase paddock class means a toad, which symbolizes transformation. The word anon means soon or shortly. The "toad" and it's transformation could metaphorically be compared to Macbeth and his evolving and transforming to be a completely different person or even having a transformation in his status and power. The witch's response as anon signifies how Macbeth will shortly have a transformation - to be declared a thane. 

I-2

1. The bloody seargent indirectly characterizes Macbeth by glorifying his actions towards Macdonwald. Macdonwald is a rebel who was executed. He tried to attack them. Macbeth executed macdonwald with his sword. This did not end the fight with the rebels, the Norwegians are still attacking.
2. The traitor was the Thane of Cawdor, as we learn from Ross. Duncan says that its a relief the thane of cawdor was executed and that Macbeth now owns his previous title.

I-3

1. The witches speech gives a first look at Macbeth and his wife without saying who they are. Indirect characterization of the two. Similar to Hamlet where he gives a mini synopsis early in the story. "Weird" in Shakespeare's day meant future seers not weird as we know it, prophecy and destiny. Shakespeare means that Macbeth's wife has him by the balls. They  cast a spell to control his destiny. 
2. Macbeth says something very similar to what the witches said at the beginning of the play. This could be him falling into the destiny the witches set up. Dried, chapped fingers, gender ambiguity, hairy, old, they have literal beards. The witches tell Macbeth that he will thane of Candor and eventually King, right then he finds out he is thane of Cawdor. Banquo asked the witch why they had nothing for him, they told him he is lesser but greater than Macbeth. We knew he was thane before he was thane.
3. Banquo says the witches were a figment of their imagination that they lie or that they are hallucinating. Macbeth learns that he is thane of Cawdor from Ross and Angus. During lines 114-156 he was going over his plan in his head and how everything had just happened to him. He acts very happy and shows no incredulity at being thane. Macbeth's aside shows him rationalizing what happened to him and he begins to think that he is going to be King soon. Macbeth tells Banquo that he is happy and excited and nothing more he explains his behavior by saying he is confused.

I-4

1.Cawdor was executed after openly confessing his treason and pleading for mercy. Malcolm tried to stick up for the thane, but the king responds by basically saying that you can't trust a man according to his face. He doesn't believe the thane was truly repentant.

2.The king greets them by saying that he can never repay them enough for their good deeds, but announces he will leave all his estate and names his son, Malcolm, prince of Cumberland. He then proposes that they go to Macbeth's castle at Inverness. Macbeth tells himself that the only way to be king is to get rid of Malcolm, and even though he'll be appalled at his action, he must do it.

I-5

1. Macbeth was honest with his wife when he informs her of his new title as "Thane of Cawdor." He refers to the witches as "weird sisters" probably because he doesn't want her know that he is associated with the "evil servants."

Lady Macbeth responds by saying that she thinks Macbeth is playng things off as if everything is fine. By saying "but be the serpent under't", she describes him as someone that lies to make everything appear under control. This doesn't really match the characterization of Macbeth so far in the story which implies that there is something the audience doesn't know about him. 

2. The wife was confident about the guests visit. She also seemed prepared and a little cocky about the way her and her husband would handle it.

3. Lady Macbeth. Yes she wants to kill Duncan. No, he isn't sure whether he wants to follow through with Lady Macbeths orders or not. She tells him not to let Duncan see tomorrow. 

4. The question appears to answer itself. 

I-6

1. The opening speeches (1.6.1-10) describe how the surroundings of the castle are "pleasant" and the air is sweet-maybe even too sweet. From the outside, the castle appears to be paradise.
Lady Macbeth's welcome is formal. Her language is totally different from her language in the previous scene which shows how fake and dishonest her welcome was.

I-7

1. "If it were done when 'tis done then 'twere well." If it were done when it was done it was done well. (Meaning if he completed the death quickly and efficiently and with no complications then he did the job well.) Macbeth is determined to kill the king and be done with him but in lines 1-12 he is fearful of how the "inventor" will judge his actions. He's violating the hospitality of his kinship and responsibilities as a host towards his guest by trying to kill his guest instead of protecting them. The motivation that Macbeth attributes to himself in lines 25-28 is the attribute of an Arabic heaven-like God. He will be seen as a "God" and that is his source of motivation to get the job done. 

2. In lines 28-30 she is complaining about him leaving the chamber because it was  almost time for dinner. Macbeth responds to her complaining by saying did he ask for me? And lady Macbeth says don't you know he did? The positions are lady Macbeth is ready for the King to be killed while Macbeth is still hesitant and on the fence about it. Macbeth convinced Lady Macbeth by explaining that he is an respected person and doesn't want to lose his honor while Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth by convincing him to gain the power and kill the king. The stronger person in the scene is Lady Macbeth because  she's more verbally confident in her argument while convincing Macbeth to kill the King. 

Meet Macbeth

• We get our first view of Macbeth through the guard talking about him and their indirect characterization of his valor. 
• The witches  tell about how one of the characters in being "controlled" by their partner and that they do not have free will. 
• All he gives us is that Macbeth was a great hero and that he has now inherited a new title, other than that i am very confused on the rest of the setting, ect.
• Shakespeare decides Macbeth with a lot of indirect characterization, in that he is presented as a valiant hero witch seem to continue. 
• I don't have a response fop the this one yet.. to be updated.   

Riddles

For all Riddles please do not post your "answers" in the comment section, it can ruin the fun for other people. Find me or message me in a way and I will let you know if you are right.

Riddle

Start to: Poetry Essay

1981 Poem: “Storm Warnings” (Adrienne Rich)

Prompt: Write an essay in which you explain how the organization of the poem and the use of concrete details reveal both its literal and its metaphorical meanings

Using the Poem: Those Sundays by Robert Hayden

Thesis:

In the poem “Those Sundays”, by Robert Hayden, the author showed the struggle and ungratefulness that his father faced through his childhood. He symbolized this ideas and his realization through the way he places the questions at the end of the poem and his use of in depth descriptions.  

TPCASTT: Poem Analysis (The Weary Blues)

Title-  " The Weary Blues" is the title of the poem as well as the title of the song that the man is singing, it tells of how this man felt so alone and dead inside. The title means a tired and "dead" song.
Paraphrase- A alternative way for naming the poem would be " The tired blues"
Connotation-“Ain’t got nobody in all this world,Ain't got nobody but ma self.I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’ And put ma troubles on the shelf.” Resembles the feelings that many people feel all throughput the world, loneliness is a common illness in society. 
Attitude- The singer seems to be a lonely and depressed, his expresses his sadness and connects to people hearing his music.
Shift- The last line says, "He slept like a rock or a man that’s dead." At this point I believe that the poem turns from a man singing to the deeper meaning, that this man is so depressed and lonely that when he sleeps there is no difference between him and a dead man.
 Title v.2- the title shows the sadness of this man as well as the deep meaning that can be drawn out of blues songs an d the people behind the lyrics.
 Theme- The theme of this poem was that people can connect and express their ideas and inward expressions through songs an dpoetry, the man in the poem was so dead inside that when he slept there was no noticeable difference between him and a dead man.




In case you have not read this poem: 

The Weary Blues

BY LANGSTON HUGHES

Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,

Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,

      I heard a Negro play.

Down on Lenox Avenue the other night

By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light

      He did a lazy sway. . . .

      He did a lazy sway. . . .

To the tune o’ those Weary Blues.

With his ebony hands on each ivory key

He made that poor piano moan with melody.

      O Blues!

Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool

He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.

      Sweet Blues!

Coming from a black man’s soul.

      O Blues!

In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone

I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan—

      “Ain’t got nobody in all this world,

      Ain’t got nobody but ma self.

      I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’

      And put ma troubles on the shelf.”

Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.

He played a few chords then he sang some more—

      “I got the Weary Blues

      And I can’t be satisfied.

      Got the Weary Blues

      And can’t be satisfied—

      I ain’t happy no mo’

      And I wish that I had died.”

And far into the night he crooned that tune.

The stars went out and so did the moon.

The singer stopped playing and went to bed

While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.

He slept like a rock or a man that’s dead.

Masterpiece???

My master piece has taken a change from wanting to "learn how to blow shit up with my mind" to more like looking at the unbelievable things that people can do both in life and with their minds. I still don't really have any direction with what i will have to show at the end of the year aside from new information. All tips and collaboration are welcomed!! ;)

No voice?

Last Week I missed a lot of school because I got very sick on Saturday and lost my voice completely. I missed two day of school and 3 days of work, it was not fun, but I did get a new appreciation for being able to talk. On Friday I finally felt well enough to go to school but was completely unable to talk so I brought around a piece of paper that was my only way of communication. It was weird to have to take forever to to simply answer a question, plus my crappy hand writing did not help. Altogether it was an interesting day that gave me a new appreciation for the ability to talk.    

Riddle 4

PC Set Up

Specs:
PC; MSI Ghost Pro
Monitor: Samsung SD300 series 24''
Keyboard: Razer Black widow Chroma
Mouse: Steelseries Sensei Pro
Headset: Astro A40
 I love all of this gear, it works amazingly and I am able to play every PC game that I choose with crystal clear

Riddle 3

Riddle 2

Riddle.....

Solve.

lit terms

exposition
expressionism
fable
fallacy
falling action
farce
figurative language
flashback
foil
folk tale
foreshadowing
free verse
genre
gothic tale
hyperbole
imagery
implication
incongruity
inference
irony

Big Question

On the day of finals I said that my big question was" To learn how to blow sh*t up with my mind." The idea came from the movie Accepted. I have no idea if I will follow at all or what with happen with this idea, it had just come to my mind during class. Here is a clip from the movie to show my inspiration.