Veronica

similies, metaphors, and analogies. They provide a great visual of what the author is trying to portray. The best metaphors are ones that show an abstract idea in a concrete way. I feel that by using similies and metaphors authors have a much easier time communicating their message. One of my favorite analogies is from //The Kite// Runner. The whole book is filled with great similies and metaphors, but one of my favorites is what Rahim Khan says to Baba in chapter 3, "Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors". I think it's a great thing for Rahim Khan to say to Baba to get him thinking about how he treats Amir. It's also a perfect visual that very nicely describes parenthood.
 * **My favorite poetic devices in literature are**...

from the novel //Break// by Hannah Moskowitz. "At the hospital, everyone thinks about dying. And I'd never been much for romanticizing death- especially not suicide. I'd always been a fan of staying alive. After all, you basically do all you can not to die. All the time. The search for immortality isn't just from storybooks. Everyday you do it. You buckle your seatbelt, you take your vitamins, look both ways before you cross the street. And you really think you're doing all you can. Bullshit. We can lift weights for ... hours and we're still going to die." This is one of my favorite characterizations because we get a direct point of view from the narrator himself. The novel is about the struggle of a teenager on a journey to become stronger, by breaking every bone in his body. From this quote we can see how Jonah's life has made him bitter towards the idea of death. It shows the change in his character, and fits perfectly into the rebellious tone of the novel.
 * **My favorite characterization in literature is**...

anything Dr. Seuss! Although it may be childish, I grew up with his stories, and looking back at them it's very easy to find inspiring quotes hidden in his books. Some of my most favorite ones are "A person's a person, no matter how small," from //Horton Hears a Who// and another that helped me realize the importance of being yourself, especially growing up with so much pressure to conform and be like everyone else is from //Happy Birthday to You! :// "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You". Although Dr. Seuss books may be considered a children's storybook, it is evident from quotes like these that Dr. Seuss not only wanted to appeal to a child's imagination, he also wanted to tap into the mind of an adult. He used his books to portray complex messages and teach some of his own life lessons. It may only take a few minutes to read one of his clever stories, but his message stays with you.
 * **My favorite quote in literature is**...

the conversation Pecola had with an unknown character in the final pages of //The Bluest Eye//. "Don't go. Don't leave me. Will you come back if I get them? //Get what?// The bluest eyes. Will you come back then? //Of course I will. I'm just going away for a little while.// You promise? //Sure. I'll be back. Right before your very eyes."// I really like this dialogue because it's very different from a typical conversation in most literature. There are no quotation marks, and there's no indication of she said, he said, which makes the conversation initially confusing, but more realistic. It seemed as though Pecola was talking to an imaginary friend of some sort, and the dialogue served to characterize her very well. It became very clear from the conversation that Pecola really wanted to be accepted, and she wanted to have friends. Toni Morrison's choice of writing the dialogue nicely emphasized Pecola's neediness.
 * **My favorite dialogue in literature is**...

the importance of enjoying life at the moment because you never know what might happen in the future. I really enjoy reading books in which the main character, or someone very close to the main character doesn't have long to live, and is faced with making difficult decisions. My favorite book of all time is //Breathless// by Lurlene McDaniel. It's a story about a state champion diver becoming very ill with cancer. Even though this may seem like a very sad topic, for some reason I like reading books that make me cry since I always end up looking back at my life and seeing that I have many reasons for joy; it's possible to have much more difficult struggles to deal with. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 * **My favorite theme in literature is**...

"I know that they too [my parents] will one day always wear smiles on their faces, thanks to the wrinkles that make happiness permanent." I love this line because even though it was written for an essay, it really expresses who I am as a person. I love always wearing a smile on my face, and find that joy is such a simple thing. I think that this line shows I'm different from most people; as we age we'd do anything to get rid of pesky wrinkles. However, I don't see things in that way. I think wrinkles like crow's feet and parenthesis show how much we've smiled and laughed throughout our lifetime, and they are something to be proud of. Since I enjoy being happy, I wouldn't mind wearing that permanent smile :).
 * **A favorite line of my own writing is...**

"Wrinkles. Like the creases of an old book, they tell a story. A story of joy, or tears; of love, or loneliness. Learn how to read them, and like a map they will lead you to the uncover the treasure of a life." I actually wrote this line in an essay for a college application in which I was explaining how wrinkles usually pass as unnoticed; they're accepted as a something that comes with age, end of story, but to me they show the life of a person, all just plainly written on their face. I think it's a great line because it connects wrinkles to books and maps and ends with life being a treasure. I thought it was a great way to perfectly explain what I was trying to say. Also, it includes my favorite poetic devices in general, similies and metaphors, so I just love the fact that I was able to come with a simple, yet powerful statement.
 * **My favorite poetic device of my own is...**

"She's like a dream. An alternate reality. Something your heart desires, but your brain says you can't have. She floats about the house doing chores and schooling children. On the weekends she sets them free, always staying home worried they will not return. Everyday she shows her love, which sometimes goes unnoticed. You don't realize that she's a dream, and as you wake from your innocent sleep, you forget. Sometimes she's a nightmare. A horrifying awakening. Something you hope to never experience, but comes to wake you anyway. She rages about the house yelling and reprimanding children. On the weekends she grounds them, holding them hostage under lock and key. Rarely she shows her disappointment, which never goes unnoticed. You know she can be a nightmare, so as you fall into an oblivious slumber, you're careful not to make her turn into a scare. Nightmares are rare, and dreams are what keep us going. Every night we dream, although we may not remember. Just like Mom. Everyday she's there to give a hug, a gentle kiss, and tell her children she loves them. But too often the children forget, and she floats away, like a dream, unnoticed." I absolutely love this characterization, because it uses similies and metaphors to show the relationship between a mom and her children. I wrote this keeping my mom in mind, since I feel that she is the perfect mom, but too often she isn't appreciated for it. Overall I just thought it was clever and well-written, especially taking into account the parallel structure.
 * **My favorite characterization of my own is...**

Poland during World War II. Some of my very favorite books are books about the Holocaust. I find them incredibly interesting, and I can connect with some things they talk about since Poland is my home country. I've visited several Holocaust museums and memorials in Israel and in Poland, and found that particular time in history had a great impact on me. Stories of survival in the concentration camps, like Elie Wiesel's //Night,// are incredible ordeals that I personally would find to be impossible to bear. I still remember the very first book I read about the Holocaust in fifth grade: //Number the Stars// by Lois Lowry. Ever since then, I've read several books on the topic: //The Diary of a Young Girl, Schindler's List,// and my personal favorite //If I Should Die Before I Wake// by Han Nolan. Books like these have inspired me and moved me to explore that time in history in greater detail.
 * **A setting I would write about is...**

a conflict a teenager is facing with society. Because those types of books are my favorite, I would like to try writing one myself. Any conflict would do, but I want to write about one that teenagers can connect to. For example, a teenager's struggle with alcoholism in their family, or a deadly disease, or even relationship struggles. Although this type of conflict may seem very dreary and depressing, I think it's important for teenagers to be able to look to books for comfort. If they are facing a similar struggle in their life, reading a book about it may help them see what they should, or shouldn't do. It's just something that I would be interested in reading, so I think there are many other teens out there that feel the same way.
 * **A conflict I would write about is...**

how past experiences influence who we become in the future. I love reading novels in which a character grows and finally learns to look back on the past not as a burden, but as a lesson to take with them in the future. It seems to me that a lot of novels deal with this type of theme since it's very universal, but that's exactly what makes it perfect, especially for young adults. We're still growing up, so learning about the importance of the past is something that I think will help us mature faster.
 * **A theme I would like to address is...**

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


 * My own work:**

**Dreamer** She's like a dream. An alternate reality. Something your heart desires, but your brain says you can't have. She floats about the house doing chores and schooling children. On the weekends she sets them free, always staying home worried they will not return. Every day she shows her love, which sometimes goes unnoticed. You don't realize that she's a dream, and as you wake from your innocent sleep, you forget. Sometimes she's a nightmare. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A horrifying awakening. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">Something you hope to never experience, but comes to wake you anyway. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">She rages about the house yelling and reprimanding children. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">On the weekends she grounds them, holding them hostage under lock and key. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">Rarely she shows her disappointment, which never goes unnoticed. You know she can be a nightmare, so as you fall into an oblivious slumber, you're careful not to make her turn into a scare. Nightmares are rare, and dreams are what keep us going. Every night we dream, although we may not remember. Just like Mom. Everyday she's there to give a hug, a gentle kiss, and tell her children she loves them. But too often the children forget, and she floats away, like a forgotten dream, unnoticed. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _   **Senioritis** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">Day One. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">The countdown begins. School, Practice, Homework, Sleep. There’s no time for messing around. Day Fifty-Five. College, College, College. Applications are due next Monday. Day Eighty-Six. School, Practice, Study. Finals are around the corner. Day One Hundred and Eight. SNOW! School is closed for two days. Day One Hundred and Forty-Four. Sleep, Friends, Movies, Fun. Spring Break means it’s time to relax. Day One Hundred and Seventy-Two. Why am I here…? Senior year in a flashback. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _   **Euphemisms** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">It seems that we're always on a journey,  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">Searching for a way to express our thoughts. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">But are we missing the point? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">We search, but we never look  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">We discover, but we never find   <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">When the words are right in front of our eyes. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">It's as simple as that. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _   **S.M.I.L.E.** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A smile. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A simple expression. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A universal language. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A sign of joy. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A sign of friendliness. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">It causes wrinkles,  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">But also creates more smiles. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A suppressed laugh. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A foolish grin. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A window to one's thoughts. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A caring gesture. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A symbol of compassion. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">Five simple letters,  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">Smile. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _   **Flight** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">You find joy in the simplest things. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">Amazed by what happiness brings. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A laugh, a tear,  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">A smile, a jeer,   <span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX85824644" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt;">Then you're flying, as if you have wings.