If I could live anywhere...

            Lush green pastures, large stone barns, and rings filled with ESI footing are only a few of the things that describe the amazing place that I want to live. I want to be able to wake up in the morning and here the click clack of Olympic horses walking down the bridal path in grand prix village. I want to walk into my back yard and be able t exercise my horses in a beautiful covered ring. I want January to come, and be able to show for twelve weeks straight at WEF.

            I want to count the strides in the grand Prix’s, and determine whether the combinations are long our short. I want to watch the Nations Cup and cheer on the USA. I want to wacth McClain Ward soar over the water jumps on Antares F. I want to watch Reed Kessler bounce through the doubles and triples on Cylana, dominate the Grand Prix’s with Mika, clear an Olympic course in thirty seconds on Onisha, and better yet jump two meters in a six bar challenge with ligist. I want to watch Margie Engles ride Indigo with ease. I want to watch the perfection of Marcus Ehning. I want to watch the flawless relationship between Meredith Micheals-Beerbaum and Bella Donna. I want to ride. I want to compete. I want to watch the worlds best riders. I want to live in West Palm Beach.

Analytical Essay: Wide Awake

     The song Wide Awake by Katy Perry has many literary devices, and a deeper meaning. In order to find the deeper meaning, you must read in between the lines and apply the words to a real life situation.
     The song is about herself and how she feels. This is what is seems like until you actually analyze the lyrics. In the beginning, the song describes how she was not paying attention and was letting herself hopelessly fall in love. She was also just letting her heart be hurt. She is n paying attention, and cant understand how she read the "stars" or fate wrong. In the second verse, she realizes that not everything is how you see it. She was dreaming that things were not the way they were. The song goes on to explain how she recovers from falling in love. She says "yeah i am born again outta the lions den". She is trying to say that she is starting over and is a lot stronger this time. She also ends their story together.
     There are also many literary devices written into the song. This helps that lyrics develop a deeper meaning than just words. Literary devices allow for the words to connect to outside situations. One literary device is "gravity hurts". This is personification because gravity can not actually hurt. Another one is "crashing from the high". This is an oxymoron because the words crashing and high contradict each other. Another literary device is "the storys over now, the end". This is a synecdoche. The story stands for the whole life and time spent with this person that she fell madly in love with. One more literary device is "castles crumbling". This is an alliteration because the C repeats in the beginning of both words.
     The lyrics of the song are majorly affected when Katy Perry performs the song. This is because she wrote the song from a personal experience. Katy Perry puts a lot of emotion into the song when she sings it. This causes you to feel the pain that she feels in each set of lyrics. Each set of words develop a more powerful meaning when someone who has experienced it, puts all of their emotions into it.

French Revolution Diary Entry

My name Lauren, and I live in France during the time of the revolution. Everyone is rebelling against our king and it is scary. Since it is scary, I sit back and watch. Many people go outside and speak there minds. I later see them being beaten and taken to be imprisoned, and then a couple days later they face the guillotine. A crazy person named Robespierre took over as leader. I believe he is crazy. Every single person that has spoke against him or the rebellion, have been sent to the guillotine and beheaded. 

When I walk around the country, I must be careful of the people who I associate with. If I associate with the rich people, I could be accused of being against the rebellion and then beheaded. It I associate with the Protestants, them people will assume I am all for the rebellion and try to convince me to get involved. 

At this point, it is easier for me to just not talk to anyone, and stay to my self. I just witnessed the beheading of King Louis, and Marie Antoinette. I didn't think that they were corrupt rulers, I just feel that they used the money unwisely. If people would have told them to stop spending a lot of money on worthless parties instead of killing everyone! I am very scared, and hopefully I can survive through the revolution!

Is Odysseus an Epic Hero?

     Odysseus can be considered as an epic hero, or not an epic hero. He has some qualities that make him a hero. However, some of his qualities make him a person that is nit honorable, couragous, or intelligent. Those are three of the most important characteristics of an epic hero.
     One characteristic that Odysseus has is his courage. He is always willing to explore, and do tasks to help save the lives of his crew. One example of this is when Odysseus tries to save his men from the cyclopes cave. He risked his life by being the last man to ride a sheep out of he cave. He was alo courageous, and risked himself to stab the giant in the eye. Another example is when he goes to find his men in the goddesses island. Odysseus had recieved a warning about her from the messenger god. He was told that she practices witch craft, and turns people into pigs. But, Odysseus still voluntarily went in to save his men.
     But, in many times of the story Odysseus does some things that are far from honorable. An example of this is when he is in the cave as well. Odysseus and some of his men hide behind a rock when the giant is angry, this causes other three other people of hud crew to be eaten alive. Another exsmple is when they set sail from Circe's island for the second time. She warns Odysseus that there will be a large six headed creature in the water. She also tells him that it will want to eat one live human for each head. Odysseus takes this warning into consideration for himself, he does not tell his crew though. When they reached the site of the monster, Odysseus sends six of his men to the front of the ship. The monster pops out of the water and grabs the unexpecting men. She swims fast back to the cave and Odysseus and his men listen in horror as his fellow crew members are eaten alive. This was not a very honorable thing to do. Instead of going around he sent six of his men to be killed so it wouldnt take as long.
     Odysseus has some characteristics that differ. It is up to you to decide whether he is heroic.

Is Odysseus a Hero?

     Odysseus is portryed as a very strong and brave character. The actions that he does, and the desicions that he makes shows his true character. However, the choices also show some of Odysseus' personality flaws that could lead him and or others to death.
     Since Homer writes about Odysseus being a brave Trojan War hero, it makes him seem like the perfect character to be a hero. Many times when his crew and him landed on a random island, Odysseus had to rescue his men. For example, the land of the lotus eaters. Odysseus had to drag his crew members back to the ships. Without him coming back for them, they would have unknowingly stayed due to being drugged by the addictive lotus fruit.
     He is also a good hero becuase of the decisons he made on the island of the giants. Odysseus though of a logical plan to safely rescue all of his men out of the giants cave. He put himself at risk to save the lives of his crew members. Odysseus was the one who offered the giant wine, and proceeded to make him drunk to the point of sleeping. After, he held the large sharp pole in the fire until it was glowing red hot. Odysseus then used all of his force, and jabbed the stake into Polyphemus' only eye. He waited for the giant to role the boulder out of their way. He then tied his men to the bottom of the largest rams. When the giant opened the pens to let the sheep out his men where able to ride under them and escape unnoticed. Then Odysseus held onto the bottom of a ram, but his was stopped by the giant. He sat there and pet it, Odysseus was sure that he was dead. This shows that Odysseus is a very strong and brave character.
    But, Odysseus also has some characteristics that could be his hamartia or fatal flaw. One of them is him thinking that he is so strong and brave. He just ventures off in random places leaving himseld and his crew in danger. Odysseus is also very trusting towards people that he just met. For example, he immediatley ate the flower handed to him by the messenger god. He also quickly agreed to stay at the Goddesses house. Decisions like these can get him and his crew members killed.

Modern Day Heroes vs. Odysseus

            Modern day heroes and Odysseus face some of the same challenges, and some challenges that are completely different for each other. However, they all go through the same guided journey. Each hero is called and given a mission, and chances are the turn it down. Then after encouragement from a mentor, they accept the mission and become the brave hero of the story.

            One example is the idea of technology that modern heroes have to face. Odysseus did not have to face people such as Loki. He used advanced technology and extrapolated ideas to hurt the heroes. Things such as energy swords that help him transform into his fighting suit. However, the technology is also a help to some of the heroes. For example, Iron Man is able to walk right onto his platform and a whole bunch of machine robots undress him. At most, Odysseus had to deal with make believe gods that either made hius journey positive or negative. But, modern days heroes do not have to worry about that stuff.

            They don’t have to worry about their own fate resting in a god or goddesses hands. Odysseus always had to make sure that he didn’t do anything to make the gods and goddesses upset. If he did, he would have to suffer the consequences. For example, Zeus believed that Odysseus did not deserve to go home. Therefore, he is going to or will make Odysseus’ trip home horrible. Also, Poseidon was angered by Odysseus. He promptly tried to drown Odysseus in a river.

            Modern day heroes also fight to save the lives of other people, or the citizens of the town he defends. Odysseus was considered a hero because he was fighting at the Trojan War once. Modern day heroes fight their villain more than once.

            But, both heroes have to live with the decision that they make. Once they have excepted the mission, they can not back down and let people down. They also must deal with the guilt of some of the choices that they made. For example, Odysseus had to live with the guilt that he wanted to stay on Calypso’s island, and didn’t want to go back to Penelope in Ithaca. All heroes must continue with the journey that they have chosen.

The Odyssey from Penelopes point of view

     Penelope was married to one of the Trojan War heroes Odysseus. However, he was the only one that did not come back, and people did not know where he was. She has been home alone for ten years. Her only son Telemachus has been home with her. No one in Ithaca knows where he is, the best conclusion they can make is that he is dead. Penelope keeps trying to tell Telemachus that Odysseus is his father, but he never seems to believe her. Latley there have been many suitors around her house. They are telling her that Odysseus is dead, and that she needs to choose one of the to marry becuase Odysseus isnt coming home. However, Penelope is indecisive on whether to marry one of the suitors and believe that Odysseus is dead, or belive that he is actually alive.             
     What Penelope doesnt know is that Odysseus is still alive. He has been trapped on an island by Calypso for the past ten years. Now Odysseus is free, and is only focusing on returning to his wife and Ithaca. Also, Telemachus left his mother to go talk to Nestor. He belived that Nestor would tell him about his father, and whether or not he is dead or alive. When he talked to him, Nestor days that he doesnt know what happened, but he is pretty sure that he is dead.

My fairy tale

            I had run out of the house after my evil stepmothers outrageous comment. I was sitting in the living room watching T.V. when she stormed in and started yelling, “Why haven’t you done the dishes, cleaned the floor or picked up the living room?” I new that I had and told her, “I did do the dishes those are Sarah and Tina’s dishes! I cleaned the floor and made it spotless, and the living room is very clean!” The evil women turned around and shot me a look that burned holes in my face. She hollered, “WELL OBVIOUSLY IT ISNT NOT DONE WELL ENOUGH!” That’s when I ran out of the house.

I galloped as fast as I could to the forest. There was nothing my way except a few fallen trees that we jumped and some low hanging branches that kept slapping me in the face. All that was going through my mind was “I can not believe she really just said that to me”. I was to frustrated to even think about it right now it seemed like I could not make it to the forest fast enough. Once I reached the forest I slowed my horse down to walk. In the woods, I swore I kept hearing little voices telling me to go somewhere. I also swore that they were darting back and forth right in front of my face. Then, right at that moment the sky went black, and there was a large clap of thunder. Out of know where a wizard appeared. He started to talk to me but at first I was way to shocked to understand.

“Excuse me?” I muttered. He once again said, “I am here to lead you on a journey to a better life, you will meet some very helpful people on the way there, and you will also meet some very special people!” At first I thought this was a complete joke until I saw the seriousness on the wizards face. I managed to work out, “How exactly would I complete this journey?” “Just follow the fairy trail, it will lead you to magical places and to meet new people.” I except this quest, and the wizard vanished in what seemed like seconds. When I snapped back to reality, I went to check my self to see if this was really happening. As soon as I looked up, there was a trail of little pink and blue fairies leading me straight ahead.

I followed them for about 20 minutes. The first place it lead me was a little hut hidden behind some large oak trees. I dismounted and allowed my horse to eat some grass while I went inside. There was a little old women sitting over a glass ball. She told me that she would be able to predict any and all problems I would have in the future of this extravagant journey. But there only seems to be one. She looked at me and said, “I don’t see many problems except one thing. There is a little monster following you trying to make everything harder.” I took it for what it was worth she then dismissed me from her home and told me to be on my way.

 I mounted my horse and this time followed a green and purple set of fairies. They lead me to this beautiful field of flowers. I walked to the middle only to see this very handsome man standing in there. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. “ Hi, I’m Jessica.” I said. “I am James, its nice to meet you!”. I  cant lie, he had me hooked on the first words. I found myself falling head over heels in love with someone who I just met by following fairies. All of the sudden, a little monster comes hurdling towards me and punches me right in the face. “No one will find you worthy to be their wife with such an ugly bruise” the little monster hissed. I fell from my horse and hit the ground hard. James immediately ran to help me. “I think it might be a good idea for me to join you on the rest of your journey.” I nodded in agreement and he put me back on my horse and walked at a swift face next to me.

Soon I saw a new trail or fairies. These ones were orange and yellow. We were walking for a while when all of the sudden my horse spooked. She reared up, knocked me off and took of running. I then her a little voice hiss, “This journey will never be accomplished without a source of transportation. James caught me and asked me if I was okay. Physically yes, emotionally no! My horse that I absolutely adore had just took off running and is no where to be found. Despite the set back, I sucked it up and kept walking hand in hand with James. The fairies led us a large castle.

We walked up to the guard tower, where two very large men sat. We told them we were led here by the orange and yellow fairies. We were welcome into the castle very graciously. A man in a suit greeted us in the main room at spoke, “congratulations, you have found your way to a new and better life. Here there will be no more yelling, and no more chores that need to be done. I founded where I was supposed to be and immediately broke down into tears. The suited man quickly asked what was wrong. I told him, “My horse was spooked by a little monster and is no where to be found, and I would give anything to have her back right now.” The suited man had a thinking face on and said, “is the horse bay with a white blaze?” “YES!” I exclaimed. The suited man led me to the barn where Nikki was standing happy in a pasture enjoying some summer grass. “We found her running loose and caught her” he said. “Thank you so much” I said.

I was able to live a much happier life. I had James by my side and my horse in the barn behind the lovely castle I now call home. I don’t care about my stepmother or sisters. I am right where I am supposed to be.

Archetypes In Lord of the Rings

     An archetype is a universal symbol. They are the mojority of common elements seen in stories, movies, or television shows. Some examples would be a femme fatale, a trickster, a great mother, and a great father, and the dying god. There are also some stories that completely based off of archetypes. Some examples of those are large floods, virgin birth, the underworld, creation, a final apocalypse, and paradise. Since these things are archetypal, they show up in many different cultures.
     One common archetype is the child, and it is featured in the book The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien. The ring is considered this kind of archetype. Since the one ring gives you all the power, it gives you a new hope and promise for a new beginning.
     This archetype represents all the power of the world in the book. The ring could also give someone a new beginning. The book also has the shadow archetype in the book. The dark place of Mordor is considered a shadow. Also Frodo is considered a hero. He is the brave character that excepts the quest to Mordor. He is also joined by Mary and Pippin who would be considered his sidekicks.

Mythology in Ancient Greece

            Mythology has many different purposes. In ancient Greece, people looked at it completely different then we do now. People in ancient Greece saw mythology as a way to live. In today’s society we only see mythology as entertainment. In Greece, mythology was important everywhere you went. In present time, it is mainly seen only in schools.

            In ancient Greece, Mythology told the story of how their gods came to be. So, they believed that there was an underworld ruled by Hades, and that the seas were controlled by Poseidon. For example, if the seas were rough they believed that Poseidon was very angry and they would immediately try to please him.

            Today, mythology is now only a form of entertainment. Mythology’s biggest threat is technology. As people developed a writing language myths became pure entertainment. People were no longer orally telling stories, but writing them down. Most people were illiterate and could not read the stories. Also, people began to see where the universe and other things actually came from. People today have even separate myths from everyday life. People today see myths and history as two completely separate things. Mythology is no longer looked upon as a reliable history source.

            Also since the time of Ancient Greece the appearance of mythology has faded. Ancient people used to refer the happening of everything to a god or goddess of mythology. Therefore, it was appearing everywhere in their society. In present time, mythology is mainly only seen in a school or a learning environment. This is because people have scientific reasoning of why thing happen, and why things are how they are. So, we learn about it so we can see the ancient type of story telling, and how those different types of people saw the world and how it was created.

            Mythology has a completely different meaning during the time of Ancient Greece, then it does now in present time. People view it differently now, they the did back then. This is because of the advancement in technology. If scientists had never taken the initiative to start investigating why things happen, chances are we would still be believing the reason of ancient mythology. 

About me

My name is Lauren. I am 15. I have an older brother and a younger sister. I also have three dogs named Teddie, Tinker, and Jules. My favorite activity is horseback riding. I have been riding for seven and a half years. I have my own horse names Veronike. We show alot. We show in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa, Ocala, and West Palm Beach. I ride my horse six days a week. I also enjoy spending time with my friends from school, and the barn.