12th GradeMemories and MetaphorTwelfth grade was the final round of a match. This year I enlisted in the United States Navy under a corpsman contract, but I am trying really hard to get my contract changed to a Special Warfare contract. It is my greatest desire to be a United States Navy EOD Technician. Going to MEPS was one of the worst experiences ever from the time I spoke with a recruiter to present day. It was sixteen hours of paperwork and medical poking and prodding. In order to get a Special Warfare contract you have to do PSTs which give the recruiters physical scores and when you reach a certain score set they will put you in for a chance to receive a contract. A PST starts with a four hundred and fifty meter swim, sidestroke. Next is two minutes of push ups, followed by two minutes of sit ups, then two minutes of pull ups. After that is a timed mile and a half run. My first PST knocked me out cold. I struggled through the swim trying to get one point ahead, finishing in twelve minutes and twenty five seconds, five seconds short of failing. I then did forty six push ups, sixty six sit ups, and eleven pull ups. After the pull ups I vomited and the referee called it, they would not let me run. Now a PST is cake for me, I finish the swim in nine minutes and forty eight seconds, do seventy five push ups, eighty two sit ups, eleven pull ups, and finish the run in ten minutes forty seconds. My first DEP meeting I was placed in the DEP leadership and given the title of Starboard Watch Leader. I am at the very bottom of the DEP leadership but I often do the jobs of the Athletic Petty Officer and the Recruit Chief Petty Officer.
This year has been full of interesting stories. I scored with "Beowulf" which was exciting and made me want to keep reading sentence after sentence. Another novel that I have rocked this year is The Count of Monte Cristo which is something that I will read again. I enjoyed it so much that every time we read in class I caught myself reading far, far ahead. I traded blows with the play Othello which had it's moments, both good and bad. This year renewed my interest in reading. This year I learned how to really look into a text and pull information from it. I created a resume highlighting my record. I also created a college essay that was meant to prepare me to apply for college, it kicked me in the face. I also wrote a literary analysis on the most interesting story ever, "Beowulf". My teacher this year is hilarious and she gets stuff done. A lot of my friends and peers are stuck working on papers and projects the days before it is due, while we are always ahead of the game. IntroductionThe original assignment was to explain and give examples of why Beowulf is an epic hero. This writing is a character analysis. To create this writing I filled out a pre-write outline with examples from the book and then transferred the outline into an essay. I chose this particular piece because it shows how I have grown as a writer and shows that my use of diction has greatly improved.
"Beowulf" Analysis“But fate let me find its heart with my sword, hack myself free” (289-290). The Prince of the Geats retells the killing of the sea beast. Beowulf is an epic hero because he uses his superhuman might to defeat monsters while remaining honorable. The mighty warriors power is undeniable.
Beowulf has super human strength. As the might athlete retells his race with Brecca, he states that, “No man swims in the sea as I can, no strength is a match for mine” (266-267). The hero swam for days through storms and rough seas. After Hrothgar left, Beowulf faced Grendel, the hero, “stops the monsters flight, fastens those claws in his fists till they crack, clutches Grendel closer” (441-444). The mighty warrior renders the shadow of deaths only weapons, useless. While the fierce fighter fights the monster creams and cannot escape, “the arms of him who of all the men on Earth was the strongest” (470-472). Grendel is in his arms and is helpless to defend against the mighty Beowulf. Beowulf has done things that no one thought possible, demonstrating super human strength. Beowulf defeats monsters. While racing Brecca, he was attacked by a sea monster and he, “fought that beast's last battle, left it floating lifeless in the sea” (290-291). He cut the monsters heart out, leaving it afloat, dead. After he kills the first beast, more swarm around him leading to more death, “Nine was the number of sea-huge monsters I killed” _307-308). The mighty warrior slays nine monsters in one night. After the Danes retire for the night, Beowulf confronts Grendel whose, “hatred rose higher, but his power had gone. He twisted in pain and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke” (495-499). The Prince of the Geats rips the shepherd of evils arm off. Beowulfs might has allowed him to vanquish many hellish beasts. Beowulf is supremely ethical. As he hears of the Danes plight he decides to, “sail across the sea to Hrothgar, now when help was needed” (115-116). He goes to Denmark to help Hrothgar and gain more glory. After arriving at Denmark, Beowulf tells the Danes that he has, “heard, too, that the monsters scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapon and fears none” (166). His enemy uses no weaponry, so he doesn't either. After his speech, a Dane comes forward and says he lost to Brecca, but Beowulf says he, “had chosen to remain close to his sides” (276). He stays near his friend for five days, instead of leaving him behind. The mighty princes honor is greater than anyone elses. The hero's ethics ensure his glory, no Dane or Geat will ever forget his weaponless battle. He is an epic hero that has superhuman strength, is able to defeat monsters, and is supremely ethical. Even when facing an enemy who is without ethics or morals, he fights fairly, “He needs no weapons and fears none. Now will I” (168-169). ReflectionApplicationThis assignment was similar to other assignments in past English courses because it was a literary analysis and involved taking specific excerpts out of the novel or short story to back up my views. I do not see any connections within this piece because it is specifically based on “Beowulf”. I could easily adapt the rubric I used for this assignment for another literary analysis. This process would be useful if I ever had to write another literary analysis again.
AnalysisThe procedures I used to finish this assignment were very effective. There are a few patterns I used in this papers process, I followed an outline, I collected as many quotes as possible before writing the body paragraphs, and I finished each step two days before it was due. The approach I used seemed tedious at first but as I progressed through the assignment it became clear that it was rather time saving and it was the easiest route.
EvaluationWe are learning different reasons why Beowulf is classified as an epic hero and it is important. I did an effective job of communicating the reasoning and proof behind the idea that Beowulf is an epic hero. In this assignment I think my biggest strength was using different titles and descriptions when talking about a specific character. As a learner, I am progressing in the use of diction, description, and evidence.
CreationI could improve upon my writing with my strengths by never using the same title or name twice. I could use a thesaurus to find synonyms and use them to create different titles. To improve the learning environment my peers could finish their assigned work when it's due, and they could attend more class sessions. I don't think I could adapt a literary analysis to make a difference in my life.
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