AP Prep post 1: Siddhartha

 

1)How was this novel an allegory and what was one theme from Siddhartha?

A.  I personally think the story from the novel is about the struggle to find your niche in society. The theme is self discovery.

http://www.gradesaver.com/siddhartha/q-and-a/how-was-this-novel-an-allegory-and-what-was-one-theme-from-siddhartha-130944/

2)What would happen if Siddhartha was alone and did not have Govinda?

I had trouble answering this question with little background information. This is the answer I found.

A.

I suppose Siddhartha would have had nobody to travel with. Govinda was a true companion that helped Siddhartha establish his path. Things would have changed slightly if Siddhartha had been alone but, as a major theme presents, Siddhartha's path would have only been slightly different on his way to enlightenment.

http://www.gradesaver.com/siddhartha/q-and-a/how-was-this-novel-an-allegory-and-what-was-one-theme-from-siddhartha-130944/

3) What purpose does self-denial serve in Siddhartha? What about self-indulgence?

A. With out self denial/indulgence there would be no self discovery. Siddhartha has not up until this point realized how alone in the world he is.

http://www.shmoop.com/siddhartha/questions.html

4) What does Siddhartha do that allows him to achieve enlightenment?

I didn't know the answer, but I found this.

A.He lets his son follow his own path

http://www.shmoop.com/siddhartha/enlighten-me-flashcards.html

5) Siddhartha’s father is a Brahmin, which means he is a what?

I found this answer online.

A. Religious leader. (seemed important to know the exact definition)

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/siddhartha/quiz.html

 

 

 

Hacking my education

During my last semester in this course I hope to learn to be a good mentor. My personal belief is the only way to get better at something is to practice. I have joined a collaborative working group filled with students my age who also hope to achieve this goal. We are coming together not only to help ourselves, but also to help each other. By doing this I think we are already becoming better mentors to each other. We will be enlisting the help of Dr. Preston and other teachers to get a better idea of what we need to improve in order to become better mentors. I want to be a good mentor, because in the future I want to be a teacher. I appreciate the opportunity I have to work with my peers to take the next step towards my career path.

What's in it for me?

This blog is a tool for me to share what I learn about both myself and this curriculum throughout the year. I want to use it as a way to connect with people who are at similar points in their lives. That is my goal in all of this. What is the purpose of taking my time to do these posts, if not because of you the people who read it? Sure you may be just a classmate looking for ideas on how to do your post, but hey my goal of sharing information would then be accomplished! So that is all my blog is meant for.

Life After this blog post

In my letter to myself I talked about what is important to me now. I wanted to see what would be important to me in the future. I wrote about my friends and family. I talked about what is stressful to me now, because I'm sure that will change in the future. I know I will change. I just want to remember my past as well.

Let's just breathe for a second

I have been really stressed out recently. Between finals and applications I have found myself hating the year that is supposed to be one of the best of my life. I don't feel like I'm the only one! What I have decided to try and do is take a second and realize that I have been in school for twelve and a half years now, what's one more? We all just need to remind ourselves we will go to college, and we can be successful. One bad final is not going to ruin our lives forever, even if you do need to start at Hancock. It will be okay! We can do it! Almost there! Just take a breath and do your best next week! 

Practice essay

Actions and Reactions

 

                                   How we react to change in our environment whether for the better or worse is what shapes who we are. A personality lies in an ability to be resilient in different situations. In both The Allegory of the cave by Plato and No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre the main characters are forced to endure unthinkably bad circumstances. The difference is that the slaves in the cave didn't welcome change like the prisoners in hell would have. Although both were suffering only the ones in hell had ever experienced happiness.

 

                                   If one of the slaves in the Allegory were to experience change it would probably scare them. Their world is one of consistency. The smallest change will effect their entire idea of the world they live in. If they were able to turn their heads just an inch more they could see and experience so much more of the world. The tragedy of the Allegory is that you can't leave the cave until you're enlightened, but how can you be enlightened after experiencing so little of the world?

 

                                   On the other hand, if the people in hell were offered a chance to see more than just the room they were trapped in they would want the opportunity to see something more. The world we live in is one where people constantly want more. They are concerned with always having new things in their lives. Never sticking to one thing long enough to get sick of it. This is the world Estelle, Garcin, and Inez come from. It takes no time at all for them to come to the realization that hell is being in the same place with the same awful people for all of eternity.

                                    In conclusion, the definition of change is to make something different. How could a prisoner want to make something different if they have never know different? The people in hell know different so they want change. Sometimes we have to create our own change. It's too late for those in hell, but the slaves have the opportunity if they are willing to except it. To except change is to except enlightenment.

 

       

 

 



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