For students, is it hard for us to understand when to use  language properly? No, I do not mean cursing, although it could fall under one category.. I'm talking about the way we articulate and pronounce words, our word choice, grammar, and tone! Would. you ever have the nerve to approach an elderly person and  yell to them, "YOOO MAN!" Or how about your friends?  What kind of looks would they give you if you were to say, " What a wonderful evening it has been, I mustn't wait any longer to enlighten you."  Where do your parents fall in place?  What about your  teachers?   The use of language around a certain crowd is very  important today in society. Respect is a big factor  that contributes the way you speak to faculty, elders, and certain family members. (Even though half the time they claim they want to be your friend, the other, half the parent).  How we present ourselves to  different scenes is an extremely useful tool that will assist you in your different journeys  with various social groups.  One has to understand situations will come where  formal English and understanding the rules for proper grammar will benefit you greatly. And the same  situations will occur with friends when the least worry in mind is if  "who" or "whom"  was used correctly correctly. while speaking  Now, I am not saying forget all about grammar and spelling rules, no.  There is a time and place to worry about how  we are portrayed  in the  minds of someone else . Quite frankly,  a school and/ or work environment  are the  areas where a person should be most conscientious about their "english.." After that,  we can determine for ourselves  if we want to  ask, "can someone please pass me the mashed potatoes," or simply,"some one  grab the tatters for me?" The choice is yours.

Within  ones expirence of different cultural readings, we are able to compare styles and beliefs of various cultures. After reading Cantos IV of Dante's Inferno, you are introduced to Cerberus, the three headed dog that is to watch over the gluttons in hell. The beast is described  as a massive hound that have a never ending hunger, and only feels more empty with every person he feeds on. In Greek mythology., Cerberus is  shown  as the guard to the gates of Hades. Making sure no one who enters,attempt  to leave. He is the  child of  a half human, half  serpent monster. The massive dog is very similarly described to Dante's   beast, except he has a snake-like tail, and his two extra heads were originally his pups, but over time the interpretation was thrown off.  Hercules travels to defeat the dog with no weapons but his own two hands. In modern day literature, the idea of Cerberus is borrowed by j.K Rowling in the first of the Harry Potter series as a watch dog to the Philosopher's stone in a hidden room. Only Fluffy does not feast on students usually, and only can be defeated with music.

SO WHAT?! Right? Well think of how amazing it is, that stories which are as old as the first stories of mythology have evolved  through the years and been borrowed for different uses.  All three  versions  can mark similarities  and differences, but  that's how we can  always  figure out the allusion   modern literature uses to connect with stories 3,000 years older. it's fascinating, really.  The connection one book we read in school has to Classic Greek mythology,  which connects  to many more books. We borrow stories that were once in a language we couldn't even imagine comprehending, and modernizing it for  new use.

     One might find them-self continuously reading the same sad book over and over again. Imagining their life had some  tragic event, or even  creating scenes in the minds of how  to handle a situation. if need be. We sit and read stories of heartbreak, death, and other tragic events constantly; it's almost all me read now a days. The news is even filled with story that  only leaves us feeling sorrowful. So what is it that causes us to  be drawn back to these stories endlessly,  why do we subject ourselves to feel  an emotion that is one of our least favorite?  In my research, I found a website that pinpointed this exact topic. Experts  came up with  scientific conclusions  to why our brain is more drawn to sadness then joy. It is believed that hearing a sad occurrence, or tragedy causes one to re-evaluate close relationships that you have with others subconsciously.  And in addition, helps the relationship grow stronger and healthier. This could be explain by stating from the analyzer's observation that "negative thoughts and events cause one to think more seriously about their life and others."
     So how does this come to par with  MR. Carty's AP English class now? Hm, well if we were to think back to every book we have read in school, we would be able to find at the least one tragedy that occurs in every book. "Of Mice and Men", Lenny is shot it the back of the head after accidentally murdering a women. Gatsby's mistress is horrifically hit by a car and killed, and later Jay Gatsby himself is found shot down. Julius Caesar's tragic, historical death is shown in Shakespeare's play, "Julius Caesar." The list could go on and on, but that's not what matters. The important factor to this is that every single one of has developed and grown off sadness. Even as children reading "Bridge to Terrabithia" and the poor girl falls and dies. We are accustomed to these stories, even made them appear in the cirriculum, where we don't even realize that every book we read has in one way or another a sorrowful part. This is probably on purpose too. I'm sure we are being tested to see how we feel each time after a book. Remorse, happiness, paranoid, etc. These books define  who we are by character .

Necromancy today

           " The Odyssey" discusses a type of dark magic called necromancy. This magic gives the dead allowance  to walk, talk, and act. In the "Odyssey", we see necromancy when Odysseus visits the Realm of the Dead. But is this dark magic only found in this ancient book? Of corse not!! The Dark Lord is most famous for conjuring the dead and building his army up of Death Eaters, in which they are called Inferi. Dumbledore explains to Potter that this is a certain kind of ancient magic, a kind only a certain wizard would care to try.
          SO WHAT?! Right, so this shows that J.K Rowling borrows this idea from the "Odyssey". As a Harry Potter lover, this bit of information is so interesting. Rowling studies many things while making her books, and instead of making up so insane magic, she turns to the "Odyssey" to see traditional dark magic. You can't go any more legit then turning to the "Odyssey" for help! "The Hobbit" also refers to necromancy. To see the influence this book has on literacy today is so interesting!!