Romeo and Juliete.

Something that I found where Romeo and Juliet was referred to in modern culture Is a song by Dire Straits called Romeo and Juliet. The Killers also did a version of this song Although it was a remake I think it has more emotion and conveys the true meaning of the words that they sing better.

Here are the lyrics, I'll write my reaction to it afterwards and post a link to The Killers music video of it.

A love struck Romeo, sings the streets a serenade
Laying everybody low, with a love song that he made
He finds the street light, steps out of the shade
'n' says something like, "You and me babe, how about it?"

Juliet says, "Hey it's Romeo, you nearly gave me a heart attack"
He's underneath the window, she's singing, 'Hey la, my boyfriend's back
You shouldn't come around here, singing up at people like that'
Anyway, what you gonna do about it?

Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start,
And I bet, then you exploded in my heart,
And I forget, I forget, the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

Come up on different streets, they both were streets of shame,
Both dirty, both mean, yes, and the dream was just the same,
And I dreamed your dream for you, and now your dream is real
How can you look at me as if I was just another one of your deals?

You can fall for chains of silver, you can fall for chains of gold
You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
You promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin, yeah
Now you just say, "Oh Romeo, yeah, you know I used to have a scene with him"

Juliet, when we made love you used to cry
I said "I love you like the stars above, I'll love you till I die"
And there's a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

I can't do the talks, like they talk on the TV
And I can't do a love song, like the way it's meant to be
I can't do everything, but I'll do anything for you
I can't do anything 'cept be in love with you

And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
And all I do is keep the beat, 'n the band company
And all I do is kiss you, through the bars of a rhyme
Juliet, I'd do the stars with you, anytime

Juliet, when we made love you used to cry
I said "I love you like the stars above, I'll love you till I die"
And there's a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

And a love struck Romeo, sings the streets a serenade,
Laying everybody low, with a love song that he made
He finds a convenient street light, steps out of the shade
'n' says something like, "You and me babe, how about it?"

The song says how when people meet they always say they are meant for each other, and they are one anthers dream-partner. But in fact after a while it could turn out to be fake, all the promises are broken, And the relationship will fall apart. Also after the couple falls apart the people will feel bad and miss each other. The main message from this is to be true and not to jump into things so surely.

It relates to the play because the young couple jumps into things with such enthusiasm that something is bound to go wrong. They liked the way each other looked but got married barely after learning the others name.

Here's a like to the video by The Killers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87cLyBR1JTo

... and the one by Dire Straits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tim4VzHUUyQ

EC blog: English reflection....

After moving 9000 miles from my home in scotland, I went into middle-school thinking it was the easiest thing in the world. after finishing up the year and then staying behind to retake 8th grade... and then jumping up to ninth I decided to take honors english. I enjoy the class discussions and micro-analyzing peoples ever word. I love most of the books we read and if I don't love them I'll find someway of enjoying them. I learnt more in a month of taking this class that I did in a year at my last school. I've recommended this class to a fair amount of younger friends ( mostly 8th graders). I tell them that it isn't as hard as it seem if you just let yourself free and have fun.

All of the topic's we've gone over, through, or in-between since the beginning of the year have been a good learning experience. I never knew half of the words we now use commonly in our class and I most times one of the three new things I try to learn every day comes from my Honors English class. Also i can't wait to read Romeo and Juliet!

Thank you Mrs. Gilman

Skits... In Class

Here are some skits I would like to have done in class:

1- The scene in the begining, the first time that Pip goes to Miss Havishams house and she says that her heart is broken. Pips thouhgts are child like and interesting, i think it would be great to act it out.

2- When Jaggers first meets Pip and Joe in the bar and tell him of the great property he is going to come into, and asks joe if he wants anything out of it. This settig would be good because it is a prime foreshaddow for the plot of the book. It makes a firs impression of Jaggers and develops Joe's character as kind and loyal to Pip.

3- Another thing I would like to act out in class is where Drummle and Pip come across eachother while thay are waiting in the same place. They get into a quarrel and it all comes down to preciouse Estella. I think this would be a good addition to the other scenes to act out because it shows Drummle for who he really is and How torn Pip's heart is because of Estella.

More things that elude me.

Some thing in last weeks reading that i did not understand is when Pip is purchasing a partnership for Herbert with Wemmick in chapter 37: " "Well, you know Mr. Pip, I must tell you one thing. this is devilish good of you." " Say you'll help me to be good then," said I. "Ecod," replied Wemmick, shaking his head, " Thats not my trade." " Nor is this your trading-place," said I" ( 297)

I don't understand what they mean by 'trade' in this segment, and later in the book when the partnership is spoken of, It always nags at me in the back of my brain. I can't wrap my mind around it. What are they talking about and what does trade have to do with the partnership?

Anything will probably help, thanks and hope you didn't have the same problem.

I Don't Understand... Poor Molly

" "Master ," she again murmured. "Please!"

"Molly," said Mr. Jaggers, not looking at her, but obstinately looking at the opposite side of the room. "let them see both your wrists. Show them. Come!"

He took his hand from hers, and turned that wrist up on the table. She brought her other hand from behind her, and held the two out side by side. The last wrist was much disfigured-- deeply scarred across and across." (214)

I read this passage in the book and I wondered why in the world Molly's wrists would be gnarled up like that. It raises the questions of self harm or domestic abuse... I really didn't understand why Dickens put this in the story and ever since I read it I've been dying to find out what happened to Molly. She seems so quiet and sound, but something is going on behind that.

Any idea's anyone?

hold on Pip!

To me this picture symbolizes how as Pip goes on with his life in london after leaving home his connection with his childhood, and his old home in the marshes is unraveling and with seemingly eventually be severed. It is only barely remembered as he attempts to make a gentleman out of the blacksmith he grew up as. It also shows how even though he is leading a different life in the town that there is still a last remaining strand of the boy he was and all of the things that lead him to the point he is at.

The first stage

Pip is referring to his first day at miss Havishams house and how all that he did and saw there changed him as an individual. The day at miss Havishams house changed him. He then saw the difference between the rich and the common, but more importantly it made it mean something to him. He didn't wan to to be common and was nervous about how Estella would think of Joe as a commoner. He was bewitched by Estella, she was so unpleasant and yet so pretty to him, and he was haunted by Miss Havisham ""What do I touch?" "Your heart." " Broken!"" she has suffered her whole life and he is afraid of her. Pip becomes a more thoughtful person after this day. He lies to the adults when they ask him what they did because he didn't want them to not let him go again because of Estella. He becomes more self conscious, trying to match up to the rich people so that he might get Estella to like him who he already seems to think will end up with him.

When i was little i got lost in an airport. I was flying as a minor. A supervisor found me and saw the 'unaccompanied minor tag' around my neck and asked where i was going. I was totally lost, it turns out i wasn't even in the right terminal. The man who found me talked with me for the thirty minutes in took to get to the right terminal, he was french and his accent was thick but i could understand the jest of what he was saying. He talked to me about things like "I think i'm doing a good thing here"...

" And because I'm doing this thing for you, I need you to promise me something" he said to me. "Okay" i whispered.

"Make sure you always do the right thing. Every day. Every choice you make. Make sure it's the right one. The one right from your heart, like in France. We love everyone. Thats all i ask."

I agreed and he got me on the right plane with three minutes to spare. When i was on the plane I looked out the window, the man was helping this elderly lady with her luggage. It was life changing for me to see someone with a truly good-heart who would do things for no personal gain and only to the benefit of others. To this day i try to think back to what the French man said as often as possible. I do my best to do the right thing and make the right choice as much as it is apparent, and like the french i attempt to make it 'from the heart'.