We Grow Accustomed to the Dark by Valeria Vázquez

We Grow Accustomed to the Dark by Emily Dickinson

•       Task 1: The poem expresses the idea that life is uncertain and filled with darkness. Do you agree or disagree? In an essay of 150 to 170 words, explain your opinion. Support your ideas with details from the text as well as your own experiences.

This poem expresses the idea that life is uncertain and filled with darkness. It also talks about the decisions that we have to take sometimes; at the school, at the work, with our friends, family, etc.

I think that this poem has a good use of metaphores because it show us that it doesn´t matter where we are or when. We can addapt to any situation that life presents us because this is what help us to learn of our mistakes.

Some situations are harder than other ones but it doesn´t matter if there’s a lot of darkness in our lifes. We can pass through all our problems.

I loved the idea of Emily Dickinson because I get stressed very easily but this poem gives me a little bit of hope and makes me look for the good side of the things.

 

Song of the Open Road by Manzanero Silva

Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman

•       Task 1: Choose a favorite line or group of lines from the poem. In an essay of at least 120 words, explain why these lines appeal to you. Discuss how they relate to your life as well as to the rest of the poem.

“The earth, that is sufficient,

I do not want the constellations any nearer,

I know they are very well where they are,

I know they suffice for those who belong to them.”

I choose this little paragraph because I think it fits with my actual life. I mean, I’m happy with the things I have right now, and I know that I don’t need something else. And even if someone takes my things or friends away, I know I’ll be okay. Like it says: The earth is sufficient.

This means a lot for me, because I never thought that I would find such a peace in having nothing, I guess that when you have nothing left to lose, it gives you a lot of strength, then in a future, you won’t be afraid of losing anything.

I think you have to lose a lot to start appreciating what you have in the present, not when it has gone.

American Literature & History: The Civil War Era by Valeria Vázquez

American Literature & History: The Civil War Era 

•       Task 2: Make a mind map of Central Idea 3: A Poetic Revolution, including all the subtitles.

American Literature and History: The Civil War Era by Manzanero Silva

American Literature and History: The Civil War Era.

•       Task 1: Read the complete extract of American Literature & History: The Civil War Era 1850 - 1880 and make a concept map about the Civil War Era, don’t include in the concept map the last part of the text: Central Idea 3: A Poetic Revolution

Liberty Tree by Manzanero Silva

Liberty Tree by Thomas Paine

     Task 2: Read the Declaration of Independence. How does this poem reflect the political ideas of the time? Write a response of 150 to 180 in which you analyze the poem within its historical context.

    

   The poem expresses the ideas of a political system based on the absolutism. with kings and queens People working only for the king. And receiving a bare salary. They were poor, with a lot of members in their family, so they had to work more than eighteen hours. Many children had no education, and they were taught just to work for the king, as their parents.

   They all were as tamed as a dog but they knew they deserved another kind of treat, that's why this entire people needed someone to start moving against the king. And that people were the thinkers.

   Thinkers were in a higher social and political status than the ordinary people, so we could say they had a voice in society. I think many thinkers reunite an start proposing many ideas were they could gain power and help the workers and their poor families. And because of that same lack of education, people would follow the thinkers.

Liberty Tree by Valeria Vázquez

Liberty Tree by Thomas Paine

•        Task 1: Write a summary of 150 to 18o words of the poem explaining the main idea of each stanza and analyzing the use of figurative language.

The first stanza of this poem talks about the arrival of the “Goddess of Freedom”. It explains that he brought his promise of  love and a plant he called “Liberty Tree”.

The second stanza talks about how the tree grew. And it explains that the fame of his fruit drew other nations around.

The third stanza tell us that he fought in honor of the Liberty Tree.

And finally, the last stanza talks about how the nation protect and defend “The Liberty Tree” and they wanted to cheer because they had protected the tree succesfully.

I liked this poem because it shows us that we have to fight for the things we liked and protect them. 

The Declaration of Independence by Manzanero Silva

The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson.

·         Task 2: Do some research into King George III and British colonial activity around the world in the 1700's. Imagine you are King George III receiving this Declaration at the time it was written.  Write an answer of 150 to 170 words, to Thomas Jefferson and the representatives of the thirteen colonies, citing lines from the Declaration to support your reactions and reasoning in your response.

Dear Jefferson:

I gave you my greetings Jefferson. It is admirable to read complains and had the courage to send it to me. Of course I want to help you all, it's a big pleasure. With the first point i want to help is: "plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the livesof our people" I can sand you my men to help cleaning he sea and reconstruct your towns.

Then, the second point : "I refuse his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good." Have you ever heard about a revolution? You can make the people rise and demand the rights everyone deserves.

At the third point: "for imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury" Then if you have decided to do a revolution, maybe you should write a new constitution, one that includes everyone rights. It is good, people would select you as their new leader.

The Declaration of Independence by Manzanero Silva

The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson

·         Task 1:  Write and explain in bullets (at least 5) the most important ideas or statements in The Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of independence:

•    For imposing Taxes on us without consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury. (Rising taxes and taking their rights away).

•    He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Concent of our legislatures. (Keeping the armies unjustifiably at times of peace).

•    For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments. (Taking away the most important laws and changing government).

•    He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. (Pollute the world and affecting the people).

•   He has calles together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. (Annoy people with the presence of legislative bodies with the purpose of imposing their ideas). 

Of Plymouth Plantation by Manzanero Silva

Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford

•       Task 1: Imagine that you are one of the colonists. Write a letter from 100 to 120 words, describing your life in Plymouth. In your letter, explain whether you believe your religious freedom was worth the sacrifice or not. 

This life is kind of difficult, since we arrived to this land,  we had to live on plants, maybe someday it will be necessary learn how to hunt animals. It is sad knowing a lot of my partners are not going to make it, specially because its very cold on winter. But we are here to each other.

All this may sound hard, sad and difficult, it is. But we live free, everyone respects everyone. We help each other to survive. I know, this trip was hard. I left behind some dear partners, and important people there in England, despite all this , the sacrifice was worth. We all feel free. Sometimes we miss that, but then we remember all  we have now.

The American Revolution by Valeria Vázquez Jiménez

* Task 1: Make a mind map involving the next topics: The American Revolution, Central Idea 3: The Road to Independence (A “Natural Aristocracy”, Political Right, Women’s Lives.

American Literature & History: Early America by Manzanero Silva

American Literature & History: Early America

•         Task 1: Make a mind map involving the next topics: The Native Americans, European Contact, Religious Belief, The Slave Trade, Central Idea 1: The Sacred Earth and the Power of Storytelling (The Cycle of Life, Owning the Land and A Legacy of Stories) Central Idea 2: Life in the New World (A Collision of Cultures, Puritan Style and Surviving Slavery)