Thursday, March 22, 2012

Reading Blog, Mythology

I read part 4 in the book entitled "Mythology". This chapter in the book is called The adventures of Odysseus. In this chapter there is a man named Odysseus. He was involved in the Trojan War fighting for the Greeks. This causes a series of troubles for Odysseus. The struggles he is faced with also keep him from getting back to his home land Ithaca, where he has a wife and a baby boy waiting for him. He was blown off course because of his hubris (or pride). He said that it was him that caused his side to win the war, and that man did not need the god's help. This caused the water god (Poseidon) to become very angry. In his frustration he punishes Odysseus with 10 years of wondering the earth. Odysseus and his crew soon find out that the god was serious. They begin to see the hardships that Poseidon had been talking about. Meanwhile Athena who is now in Olympus starts to feel affectionate for Odysseus. She asks the other gods to help watch over Odysseus, and do anything that they can to make his journey shorter. Odysseus and his crew members experienced many things during their journey. For example, the ran into the lotus-eaters. These people where men who had a very narcotic flower which gave the men a high feeling. A few of the men try the flower and do not want to go back but Odysseus has to drag them back on the ship and set sail.
I noticed that the author used Cause and Effect organization. He lists the things that causes Odysseus to have a terrible journey.
I really enjoyed this story. It was entertaining and also it was very thrilling. The way the People in those ages talked and even fought. I know that even though it was a myth while reading it I felt as though it was real. The story is just amazing.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Meeting the "Stapletons"

I have now read the chapter Called “Stapleton’s of Merripet House” of the Sherlock Holmes book: “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. In this chapter Watson and Sir Henry discuss the advantages of the great Baskerville hall. Watson being who he was starts to mention the crying he heard the night before. Sir Henry also agrees with Watson, he said that he had heard sobbing, but Sir Henry said that he thought that it was just a dream. Barrymore the butler starts to get flustered when they start talking about the crying and sobbing. He told them that it was not him and it was not his wife. Watson figures out that it was actually Barrymore’s wife hat was crying because he saw that her eyes were red and they were very swollen. In all of the confusion he starts to wish that Holmes was with him.
               Just as Watson and Sir Henry are walking and are just taking a stroll, a man who is carrying a butterfly net, starts to call Watson by his name. He shows casual manners to Watson and also to Sir Henry.  After they meet Mr. Stapleton he starts to run after a butterfly. Then Watson starts to talk to the dark, slender beauty Mrs. Stapleton. The two are not actually married but they are actually brother and sister, well that is what Mr. Stapleton said.
               I was very shocked at how Mr. Stapleton knew Watson’s name. After that I found it very strange how he just left them standing there. This whole chapter was very mysterious. The whole theme over the chapter was deceiving. Many people lied to each other but in later parts of the chapter.