Class Discussion-Fantasy

In class today we were asked if we liked fantasy and why we liked it. Well I agree with the fact that it is an escape from reality. It gives us a bigger imagination and puts things we see everyday in a different perspective. For example, The Chronicles of Narnia, I loved the symbolism to Christian beliefs and the Bible. C.S. Lewis wrote it in a way that young readers can understand the story of Jesus Christ who Aslan symbolizes and how he sacrificed himself and is resurrected. Even though it is not meant to retell stories from the Bible, it shows the concept of Christianity with amazing details and imagery that stretch the imagination. I have always been known to have rather creative and eccentric thoughts when it comes to things that aren't real and fantasy, so as a child I loved reading about magic, enchantment, mystery and adventure. Fantasy is a world with no restrictions, or set rules, but a world with many possibilities that is so full of wonder. Growing up in a pesimistic household, sometimes you must create a better and positive world where anything possible and you can do anything you set your mind to.

After Class Discussion: Ever After and Renaissance

Until our class discussion I did not know the movie Ever After was actually put in the time period during the Renaissance. I love the fact that the only girl the prince saves is the Mona Lisa painting! I would have never thought of that while watching the movie, but it is true that every time the prince tries to save Danielle she either gets out herself or she ends up saving him. I never looked to Leonardo DaVinchi has the fairy godmother either, the way he uses his art as magic is brilliant. I like how the movie took some part of history and realism even though the dates and other events were off. I like the Renaissance time period because of the humanism views and idea that people can achieve anything. I also like the fact brought up in class that Danielle makes the point of "he's a thief because you made him a thief" and people are human beings and we should love all humans no matter what their status or rank might be. This idea makes me think about the way that I look at other people and if I treat and love everyone as I should.

In class movie: Ever After

It is funny that we are watching the movie Ever After, because when I was younger I would beg my babysitter to bring it over when she had to take care of us. It is a perfect movie of the Cinderella Story without the magic and fairies. The movie has a bit of the catskin version with Danielle taking risks and being brave while dressing as a woman of the upperclass and buying back the slave. She also is not afraid to stand up to the prince and tell him her ideas and thoughts about the life of a slave or her opinions of his actions. For example, when she tells him he let one slave go, but did he even think about setting the rest free. The movie also has a bit of the Cinderella version with the father dying at the beginning of the story and the evil stepmother and stepsisters. The movie also keeps the Cinderella aspect of having the beautiful dress and the glass slippers for the ball. Ever After is the perfect movie to tell the story of Cinderella, including most of the versions of the story.

Creative Writing: Summer Breeze

"Wow, Isn't it a beautiful day, Megan?" Summer Keys askd her best friend as they ran into the crystal, clearn beach water.
"It sure is and it's a perfect day for surfing!" Megan replied after diving into the ocean. Summer and Megan had been best friends since childhood and had always lived in the small town of Kawela Bay, Hawaii. Summer loved the beach and everything about it. She lived for the days when the sun was reflecting off the beautiful ocean and there was a slight breeze blowing the psalm trees back and forth. Life was going great for Summer until her parents recently divorced, leaving her mom without a job and little money to support Summer and her little brother Sky.
"Isn't your mom's birthday coming up Summer?" Megan asked while they were waiting to catch a wave.
"Yeah it is and I don't have any idea what to get her or any money to get her anything for that matter." Summer replied as an upsetting look crossed her face. Summer's father had always bought these luxorious, expersive gifts fpr her mother and she knew her mom would not be getting one of those this year.
"I am sure you can think of something to get your mom, you are both so much alike." Megan said as she started to paddle to catch the fierce wave coming their waay. Megan was right about that. Summer's mom, Julie, loved the beach, surfing and the lax atmosphere just as much as Summer did. Suddenly Summer had an idea! She didn't have to buy her mom anything, she could make her a gift! After she rode the wave in to shore, Summer dropped her board and ran along the beach picking up every shell and beach fragment she could find. Then she ran inside to get her snorkeling equipment and flippers. Summer swam around in the ocean breaking off pieces from the beautiful, coral reef and even collecting some seaweed as she finished.
"What are you doing with the shells and coral pieces, Summer?" Megan asked as they walked back in to Summer's house.
"I decided the best gift for my mom is a bracelet made out of the things she loves the most," Summer replied.
"Seaweed and broken sand dollars?" Megan asked with a confused looked on her face.
"No silly, the beach!" Summer replied as she dumped everything she had collected onto the floor. Summer started stringing the bracelet together and added shells, sand dollars and broken pieces of turquoise and red coral onto an old piece of string. Megan helped Summer braid and tire the seaweed together to make a basket for the bracelet. She included a birthday note and placed it into the bag as well.
Dear Mom,
Happy 40th Birthday! I hope you like the bracelet I made for you. I didn't have the money to buy you something nice and expensive. I tried to think about what you love the most and so everrything in the bracelet comes from the beach. i know we have gone through some hard times this year, but you have been strong for Sky and I and we couldn't ask for a better mom. I hope your birthday is as special as the person you are.
Your loving daughter,
Summer
The next day summer placed the gift in the kitchen and waited for her mom to comein from the market. Summer heard the car pull up in the gravel driveway and waited excitely for her mother to come in.
"Happy Birthday Mom!" Summer shouted as her mom opened the door. She handed her mom the seaweed basket and prayed that her mom liked the present.
"Oh, Summer!" Her mom exclaimed. "It's beautiful!" Julie pulled out the birthday letter and started to read it. Tears started rolling down her cheek.
"I didn't mean to make you sad mom." Summer said while she gave her mom a hug.
"No, honey these are tears of happiness. This gift came from your heart and there is no amount of monety or nice gift that can show love like this. On top of the beautiful, summer day this is the best birthday present ever." Julie said as they walked outside. She put on the bracelet and the two of them sat on the beach to watch the waves of the ocean and enjoy the amazing summer breeze.

Discussion Question on Ella Enchanted

The major change from the Cinderella stories to Ella Enchanted is that Ella is obiedient because of a curse. Even though Ella has the curse, she is strong-willed and tries to have a personality of her own. No matter how hard she tries, Ella does not have a mind of her own. Instead she is like a puppet, because she must obey every command and order she is told. Ella would not be a Cinderella character is she was not under the curse, because naturally Ella is rebellious. Unlike the other Cinderella's, Ella has an entertaining and magical personality. She is able to get along with all the different species of characters, and speak their languages and make the prince laugh. Ella also has more fight and determination in her than the other Cinderellas. No matter what happened and what obstacles she had to overcome, she always kept a positive mind in trying to break the curse.

Reading on Ella Enchanted

The fact that Ella must obey every order is depressing. I feel sorry for her character, especially because Ella is a brave, kind-hearted and optimistic girl. It does not seem fair that she is cursed, when her wicked stepsisters are not. This is a lot like life though and the saying that bad things happen to good people. Ella having a curse caused by magic and fairies makes the story more interesting. It is suspenseful not knowing what orders she will be given next and what she will have to do. Ella's character is funny and entertainging the way she is so creative and clumbsy. In my opinion, one lesson to learn fron this story is when your given or born with something different and difficult to live with you must cope with it and be optimistic. Ella does not give up because she has the curse, instead she is determined to figure out a way to break the curse. She keeps on trying and does not give up, even though she fails every day in her efforts on trying to break the curse. I also like the fact that the prince likes Ella for her kind and humerous personality and how she can be herself around him. It is refreshing to read stories where the prince does not fall for the girl because she is beautiful on the outside, but because she is beautiful on the inside.