Here's a little short story for your enjoyment

Death By Scrabble
or
Tile M For Murder

It's a hot day and I hate my wife. 
     
We're playing Scrabble. That's how bad it is. I'm 42 years old, it's a blistering hot Sunday afternoon and all I can think of to do with my life is to play Scrabble. 
     
I should be out, doing exercise, spending money, meeting people. I don't think I've spoken to anyone except my wife since Thursday morning. On Thursday morning I spoke to the milkman. 
     
My letters are crap. 
     
I play, appropriately, BEGIN. With the N on the little pink star. Twenty-two points. 
     
I watch my wife's smug expression as she rearranges her letters. Clack, clack, clack. I hate her. If she wasn't around, I'd be doing something interesting right now. I'd be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I'd be starring in the latest Hollywood blockbuster. I'd be sailing the Vendee Globe on a 60-foot clipper called the New Horizons - I don't know, but I'd be doing something. 
     
She plays JINXED, with the J on a double-letter score. 30 points. She's beating me already. Maybe I should kill her. 
     
If only I had a D, then I could play MURDER. That would be a sign. That would be permission. 
     
I start chewing on my U. It's a bad habit, I know. All the letters are frayed. I play WARMER for 22 points, mainly so I can keep chewing on my U. 
     
As I'm picking new letters from the bag, I find myself thinking - the letters will tell me what to do. If they spell out KILL, or STAB, or her name, or anything, I'll do it right now. I'll finish her off. 
     
My rack spells MIHZPA. Plus the U in my mouth. Damn. 
     
The heat of the sun is pushing at me through the window. I can hear buzzing insects outside. I hope they're not bees. My cousin Harold swallowed a bee when he was nine, his throat swelled up and he died. I hope that if they are bees, they fly into my wife's throat. 
     
She plays SWEATIER, using all her letters. 24 points plus a 50 point bonus. If it wasn't too hot to move I would strangle her right now. 
     
I am getting sweatier. It needs to rain, to clear the air. As soon as that thought crosses my mind, I find a good word. HUMID on a double-word score, using the D of JINXED. The U makes a little splash of saliva when I put it down. Another 22 points. I hope she has lousy letters. 

< 2 >

She tells me she has lousy letters. For some reason, I hate her more. 
     
She plays FAN, with the F on a double-letter, and gets up to fill the kettle and turn on the air conditioning. 
     
It's the hottest day for ten years and my wife is turning on the kettle. This is why I hate my wife. I play ZAPS, with the Z doubled, and she gets a static shock off the air conditioning unit. I find this remarkably satisfying. 
     
She sits back down with a heavy sigh and starts fiddling with her letters again. Clack clack. Clack clack. I feel a terrible rage build up inside me. Some inner poison slowly spreading through my limbs, and when it gets to my fingertips I am going to jump out of my chair, spilling the Scrabble tiles over the floor, and I am going to start hitting her again and again and again. 
     
The rage gets to my fingertips and passes. My heart is beating. I'm sweating. I think my face actually twitches. Then I sigh, deeply, and sit back into my chair. The kettle starts whistling. As the whistle builds it makes me feel hotter. 
     
She plays READY on a double-word for 18 points, then goes to pour herself a cup of tea. No I do not want one. 
     
I steal a blank tile from the letter bag when she's not looking, and throw back a V from my rack. She gives me a suspicious look. She sits back down with her cup of tea, making a cup-ring on the table, as I play an 8-letter word: CHEATING, using the A of READY. 64 points, including the 50-point bonus, which means I'm beating her now. 
     
She asks me if I cheated. 
     
I really, really hate her. 
     
She plays IGNORE on the triple-word for 21 points. The score is 153 to her, 155 to me. 
     
The steam rising from her cup of tea makes me feel hotter. I try to make murderous words with the letters on my rack, but the best I can do is SLEEP. 
     
My wife sleeps all the time. She slept through an argument our next-door neighbours had that resulted in a broken door, a smashed TV and a Teletubby Lala doll with all the stuffing coming out. And then she bitched at me for being moody the next day from lack of sleep. 

< 3 >

If only there was some way for me to get rid of her. 
     
I spot a chance to use all my letters. EXPLODES, using the X of JINXED. 72 points. That'll show her. 
     
As I put the last letter down, there is a deafening bang and the air conditioning unit fails. 
     
My heart is racing, but not from the shock of the bang. I don't believe it - but it can't be a coincidence. The letters made it happen. I played the word EXPLODES, and it happened - the air conditioning unit exploded. And before, I played the word CHEATING when I cheated. And ZAP when my wife got the electric shock. The words are coming true. The letters are choosing their future. The whole game is - JINXED. 
     
My wife plays SIGN, with the N on a triple-letter, for 10 points. 
     
I have to test this. 
     
I have to play something and see if it happens. Something unlikely, to prove that the letters are making it happen. My rack is ABQYFWE. That doesn't leave me with a lot of options. I start frantically chewing on the B. 
     
I play FLY, using the L of EXPLODES. I sit back in my chair and close my eyes, waiting for the sensation of rising up from my chair. Waiting to fly. 
     
Stupid. I open my eyes, and there's a fly. An insect, buzzing around above the Scrabble board, surfing the thermals from the tepid cup of tea. That proves nothing. The fly could have been there anyway. 
     
I need to play something unambiguous. Something that cannot be misinterpreted. Something absolute and final. Something terminal. Something murderous. 
     
My wife plays CAUTION, using a blank tile for the N. 18 points. 
     
My rack is AQWEUK, plus the B in my mouth. I am awed by the power of the letters, and frustrated that I cannot wield it. Maybe I should cheat again, and pick out the letters I need to spell SLASH or SLAY. 
     
Then it hits me. The perfect word. A powerful, dangerous, terrible word. 
     
I play QUAKE for 19 points. 
     
I wonder if the strength of the quake will be proportionate to how many points it scored. I can feel the trembling energy of potential in my veins. I am commanding fate. I am manipulating destiny. 
     
My wife plays DEATH for 34 points, just as the room starts to shake. 

I gasp with surprise and vindication - and the B that I was chewing on gets lodged in my throat. I try to cough. My face goes red, then blue. My throat swells. I draw blood clawing at my neck. The earthquake builds to a climax. 
     
I fall to the floor. My wife just sits there, watching. 

LRJ #1

The 15th century play Everyman, is centered around the common religious theme of inevitable judgement and how no earthy possessions can influence whether you end up in heaven or hell. Throughout the play, Everyman visits each of his mortal companions and comes to find that even though they were each valuable to him. They will play no audience in his audience with God. The only worldly  His various companions symbolize the sinful things man can allow himself to become tempted with.

The author uses the wise character Good-Deeds to teach Everyman an important lesson. "All earthly things is but vanity/ Beauty, Strength, and Discretion do man forsake,/ Foolish friends and kinsman that fair spake/ all fleeth save Good-Deeds and, that am I" (14). This shows the reader the most important theme of the story, the only things you can hold on to for judgement are your Good-Deeds.

Everyman's inner angel also attempts to aid him in his trial before God. "Come, excellent elect spouse to jesu/ Here above thou shalt go/ Because of thy singular virtue."(15). The angel reinforced the theme that Good-Deeds are the only things that are important in the eyes of God.

The important message of Everyman was that none of one's earthly possessions will help him on Judgement day, save one's Good Deeds. This theme was reinforced by Everyman's Friends throughout the play.       

Inferno Commentary

"A Monstrous clap of thunder broke apart 

the swoon that stuffed my head; like one awakened 

by violent hands, I leaped up with a start

And having risen; rested and renewed, 

I studied out the landmarks of the gloom 

to find my bearings the as best I could

And I found I stood on the very brink of the valley 

called the Dolorous Abyss, the desolate chasm

where rolls the thunder of Hell's eternal cry,

so depthless-deep and nebulous and dim

that stare as i might into its frightful pit

it gave me back no feature and no bottom.

Death-pale the poet spoke: "Now let us go

into the blind world waiting here below us.

I will lead the way and you shall follow."

And I, sick with alarm at his new pallor

cried out, "How can i go this way when you

who are my strength in doubt turn pale with terror?"

Chad Summers

Ms. Peifer

10 IB

1/9/2009

This passage is important because it shows Virgil, Dante's guide and hero, in fear of the path they are going to take. Dante is appalled at this and exclaims,"How can I go thin way when you who are my strength in doubt turn pale with terror?"(Alighieri 17-18). This quote means how can he continue on the journey when his guide and leader is just as scared as him. This passage shows a new characteristic in Virgil and uses literary devices that are key to the passage and book itself.

One literary device that is used frequently in this quote and the entire book is Imagery. Imagery is a key element in this story because its easy to use to make a mental picture and describe the journey that Dante and Virgil are on. It was used when Dante was starting to wake. " A monstrous clap of thunder broke apart, the swoon that stuffed my head."(Alighieri 1-2).

Another literary device used in this book is alliteration. Alliteration add a lyrical rhyme to the sentence and help key comparisons or descriptive words pop out and grab your attention. One way it is used in this quote is, "and having risen; renewed"(Alighieri 4). It adds an element to the reading that jumps out at you and helps to be more descriptive.

This passage is necessary because it introduces more elements to the book. In this passage we see Virgil for the first time cower or is scared for their future,"Death pale, the poet spoke"(Alighieri 13). This is also the first time we see Dante talk to Virgil with anger. This passage was key to the development of the story and introduced elements that were not yet seen.    

Beowulf LRJ #3

One key value in beowulf is that the strong never need any assistance. The quote, "Yet the prince of the rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague." (Heaney 2345) expresses his feelings about being helped by others  and how he wold greatly prefer working alone. Another value is the massive bravery and pride of beowulf. He likes to take any challenge that presents itself and boost himself up by saying it will still be no match for the powerful beowulf.

In the last section we exhibit a much more toned down older beowulf. he is not the young warrior anymore that we saw in the previous chapters. "But I shall be meeting molten venom/ in the fire he breathes so I go forth/ in mail-shirt and shield" (2524) this quote show Beowulf's weakness due to his age.

Beowulf died a very honorable death. he was protecting the people from harm as he nce did as the young and powerful beowulf. We can know he died by the quote, "so well endowed on the day I die" (2798). Beowulf died in peace knowing that he had slain the flying beast and kept his people safe from any further harm from it.

Beowulf LRJ #1

In Beowulf, Hrothgar does many things to show his love to his people. He builds a great mead hall "So he turned his mind to hall building"(Heaney 67-68). When his people are attacked by Grendel he feels helpless and is upset that he couldn't protect his people. These actions display a value that the king must always protect and provide for his people under any circumstance.

Alliteration was a prominent literary device in beowulf. "Blundering back with the butchered corpses"(125) was one example of alliteration. This describes Grendel running with the men he had killed and mangled back to his  lair.

Kennings were also used in beowulf. a kenning would be A figurative, usually compound expression used in place of a name or noun. An example of a kenning would be, "He set the sun and moon to be earth's lamplight "(Heaney 94-95). The kenning would be earth's lamplight

Beowulf Commentary

"Then as dawn brightened and the day broke Grendel's powers of destruction were plain: their wassail was over, they wept to heaven and mourned under morning. Their mighty prince, the storied leader, sat stricken and helpless, humiliated by the loss of his guard, bewildered and stunned, staring aghast an the demon's trail, in deep distress. He was numb with grief, but got no respite for one night later merciless Grendel struck again with more gruesome murders. Malignant by nature, he never showed remorse. It was easy then to meet with a man shifting himself to a safer distance to bed in the bothies, for who could be blind to the evidence of his eyes, the obviousness of that hall-watcher's hate? Whoever escaped kept a weather-eye open and moved away"(Heaney 126-143)

These twenty lines of Beowulf are significant because it shows the reader a new side to the king Hrothgar. Until this point Hrothgar had been described as a "mighty prince"(Heaney 129), but now that Grendel has attacked his people he is bewildered and doesn't know what to do. This passage offers a new perspective on Hrothgar and how characters sometimes show their emotions.

In this passage there are several different literary devices used. Alliteration is used in line 129 "Mourned under Mourning", and in line 133,"the demon's trail, in deep distress." He uses alliteration to get a main idea or a important point across. Such as in line 129, the main idea is that he's mourning the loss of his guard. Also in line 133 the main idea is that he is stressed and troubled about the situation with Grendel and how he need to resolve it.

Another literary device is the authors choice of words or diction. He uses very uncommon and formal words in his writing. Words such as brothies, malignant, bewildered, and aghast. By using these words he can express his ideas even more and get them clearly across. In lines 132 and 133 ("bewildered and stunned, staring aghast an the demon's trail, in deep distress") you really envision Hrothgar's feelings because of the clear and specific language.

These lines give Hrothgar a new personality trait that change our outlook on Hrothgar. This is one of only two times in the story of Beowulf that Hrothgar or anyone is seen this vulnerable. It is also very rare to see a hero or main character act in such a way that shows weakness in older english stories. These lines were very unique and seemingly out of place for this story and the type of main character that they described.  

Beowulf LRJ #2

 There were several values displayed in the story of beowulf. One of the values were being a great protecter of the people and a great fighter. Hrothgar was always concerned about the safety and well-being of his people. An example was when Grendel made his first attack on the danes. "their mighty prince, the storied leader, sat down stricken and helpless, humiliated by the loss of his guard"(Heaney 129). This quote shows how he would like to protect his people and do the best for them. Another value shown by the anglo-saxons was not showing emotions of grief. When beowulf was talking to Hrothgar he says,"Bear up and be the man I expect you to be"(Heaney 1395). 

This was when hrothgar was grieving and beowulf was saying to be a man and avenge your loved ones.

Unrealistic aspics in the story was when Beowulf was fighting Grendel's mother for a while he was fighting her underwater. "without more ado, he dived into the heaving depths of the lake."(Heaney 1494) he is fight her in the water until he killed he killed her which was unrealistic because you can't breathe underwater.

One of my favorite quotes was "bear up and be the man I expect you to bear"(Heaney 1395). Beowulf is basically telling Hrothgar to grow a pair. It adds a value to the story on how men were not supposed to grieve for friends or family but avenge them.