Quarter 3 Reflection

     This past quarter I have felt that I have improved significantly since the beginning of the year by my thinking and strategies skills. Since the beginning of the year I was taught in this class the TIQA format which has not only helped me in this class but all my other classes and while wrighting in general because every paragraph should have a topic sentence, the introduction of a quote then the quote (if needed), after the quote comes analyzing the quote. After the A it begins again with the T being a transition sentence. All through my elementary and middle school experience I was taught a paragraph was 5-6 sentences long. Once I came to this class I was taught a paragraph ended when the topic was finished and the next one started. 

     This quarter out of the books Iv'e read my favorite was Night by Elie Wiesel. It was my favorite because it not only was my favorite subject we have learned about (The Holocaust) but it made me wonder and question a lot of things that never crossed my mind and just seemed normal. For example it made me question God's reasoning on why he does things. Even though I was taught everything happens for a reason I now question what those reasoning are. I also question people ways and how they can be cruel to each other and there hatred for each other when we're all humans. Why should they be put down because of what they look like. I find Elie's story sad and also confused on why wasn't sad when he's father passes or why he blamed his father for not avoiding getting hit.  I find The Holocaust very interesting because of the reasonings Hilter gave to genosi the Jews, Gipsys, and people who argued and didn't agree with Hilter. 

     This quarter I my biggest accomplishment is turining my work on time. At the begging of the year I struggled with it a little but now I have improved on using my time wisely and getting myself back on task. I think the most challenging thing in quarter three was struggling with using my time wisely. I would zone out but I managed to get back on task by not giving up and preserving. 

   

Night Blog

In the book Night the main character and author, Elie Wiesel changes throughout the book. Elie changes on the inside and outside and as a person all together, because of his one year experience in 5 different concentration camps during the Holocaust in WWII. The first concentration camp Elie went to was Birkenau, then Auschwitz, after Buna, next Gleiwitz, finally Buchenwald where American soldiers freed everyone who was held prisoner including Elie.  At the beginning of the book Wiesel states, “During the day I studied the Talmud, and at night I ran to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple. One day I asked my father to find me a master to guide me in studies of the Cabala.” (Pg. 1) This quote is showing how at the beginning of the book Elie is very pious, and is seeking a mentor to help better understand the Talmud (similar to a bible for people who are Jewish). Elie also studies the Cabala (ancient Jewish tradition) during the day and at night weeps over the ruins of the synagogue Temple (similar to a church for Jewish people to worship their beliefs). Elie was twelve and instead of being out playing with other kids his age he spent his time studying the Talmud and weeping over something he values and truly believes and has faith in, without anyone asking him to. He even seeks a master to get a better understanding and learn more from it all. Elie has faith in God and doesn't question his reasoning for why things happen.


   At the end of the book Elie loses faith in God. While Elie is in a concentration camp he says, “‘Blessed the Name of the Eternal!’ Why, but why should I bless Him? In every fiber I rebelled. Because He had thousands of children burned in His pits? Because He kept six crematories working night and day, on Sunday and feast day? Because in His great might he created Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buna, and so many factories of death? How could I say to Him: ‘blessed art Thou, Eternal, Master of the Universe, Who chose us among races to be torched day and night, to see our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, end up in the crematory? Praised be Thy Holy Name, Thou Who hast chosen us to be butchered on Thine altar?” (P. 64). This quote is showing Elie's lose of faith in God. Elie no longer has faith because he doesn't accept God's silence anymore. Elie is mad at God for not doing anything to stop the torture and deaths that were happening in the concentration camps. Since Elie has been in several concentration camps where he has been beaten, starved, seen innocent lives being taken and death all around. Elie doesn't have faith because God hasn't been there for Elie when he was he truly needed Him.

  Elie also changes by, his father son bond he has with his father. At the beginning of the book when they are taken to the first concentration camp and were being told what line to go into Elie says, “The baton pointed to the left. I took half a step forward. I first wanted to see where they would send my father. Were he have gone to the right, I would have run after him” (P. 32).  This quote is showing how much Elie cares for his father because even though he didn't know which line lead to death he would still go to be with his father. He would risk getting in trouble by the guards and going to the line that lead to the crematory to not be separated with his father. At the end of the book when Elie wakes and sees another sick person on what once was his father bed meaning his father had passed Elie says, “I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep. But I was out of tears. And deep inside me, if I could have searched the recesses of feeble conscience, I might have found something like: Free at last!” (P. 112) This quote is showing that deep down Elie was glad his father wasn't there to be a burden to him. Elie had to care for him and give pieces of his food that he could have eaten. Elie had weight lifted off his shoulder to not have to care for his father and only focus on caring for himself.

Butterfly Project

"Homesick"

I've lived in the ghetto here for more than a year,
In Terezin, in the black town now, And when I remember my old house so dear,
I can love it more than I did, somehow.

Ah, home, home,
Why did they tear me away?
Here the weak die as easy as a ferather
And when they die, they die forever.

I'd like to go back home again,
It makes me think of sweet spring flowers.
Before, when I used to live at home,
It seemed so dear and fair.

I remember now those golden days . . .
But maybe I'll be going there soon again.

People walk along the street,
You see at once on each you meet
That there's ghetto here,
A place of evil and of fear.
There's little to eat and much to want,
Where bit by bit, it's horror to live.
But no one must give up!
The world turns and times change.

Yet we all hope the time will come
When we'll go home again.
Now I know how dear it is
And often I remember it.

                                 ~ Anonymous

I commented on Angel's Blog, Dena's Blog, Jaqlyn's Blog, Jorge's Blog , and Jason's Blog.