Character Study (III)

The fifteen minute drive seemed to take hours due to Hannah’s impatience and she was relived to step out of the cab. Her relief turned into confusion the moment she saw her friends standing with three unusually large men. Puzzled but still excited Hannah grabbed her bags and hurried over to the group with a skip in her step. When she got closer she got a better view of the three mysterious men surrounding her friends. The one closest too her was by far the biggest , weighing close to about three hundred pounds. His intimidating features did not change in the slightest even when she smiled at him. The man to his right was covered in tattoos from head to toe sporting dark sunglasses and a black bandana. The least intimidating of the men was a bit smaller wearing a cross necklace around his neck and a nervous look across his face. As soon as she reached the group, Taylor pulled her aside and explained that her mom had hired three body guards to “take care of them” while in Italy. With a smug smile on her face Hannah replied, “If they can keep up.”

Character Study (II)

Hannah let her mind wander on the way to the airport as she put her ear buds in and listened to the new Drake album. Her thoughts ran wild and seemed to drowned out the disgruntled rapping. She shifted trying to get comfortable in the back of the cab but nothing seemed to work, she just couldn’t settle down. She was nervous, but the good kind of nervous, the one with butterflies in your stomach and optimistic anxiety pulsing through your veins. It would be a trip of many firsts. The first time she would be out of the country. The first time she would be away from her family for longer than a week. The first time she would be on her own. However, with Hannah alone never meant completely alone. She comforted herself with the fact that her four best friends were all waiting at the airport with identical tickets to Venice, Italy.

Character Study (II)

Hannah let her mind wander on the way to the airport as she put her ear buds in and listened to the new Drake album. Her thoughts ran wild and seemed to drowned out the disgruntled rapping. She shifted trying to get comfortable in the back of the cab but nothing seemed to work, she just couldn’t settle down. She was nervous, but the good kind of nervous, the one with butterflies in your stomach and optimistic anxiety pulsing through your veins. It would be a trip of many firsts. The first time she would be out of the country. The first time she would be away from her family for longer than a week. The first time she would be on her own. However, with Hannah alone never meant completely alone. She comforted herself with the fact that her four best friends were all waiting at the airport with identical tickets to Venice, Italy.

Canterbury Tales (I)

The first thing that struck me with Canterbury Tales is the irony of each of the characters. Each character had something about them that was a little off or unexpected. Examples of these include the materialistic nun and the sinning priest. I was a little confused at why everyone’s nature seemed so contradictory until we went over it in class. I now see that the purpose of highlighting these flaws was to show that the upper society job holders had the same flaws as commoners. I predict that Chaucer will go much more in depth about each character and their “story”. The character I want to hear more about the most is the clerk because he is kind of on the “inside” when it comes to higher social classes.

Character Study (I)

True to her last minute nature, Hannah scrambles to pack all of her belongings while the Taxi cab waits outside. One honk, two honks, three honks later Hannah finally pokes her head out the window yelling for the second time, “I’ll only be one more minute!” Shaking from a combination of anxiety and excitement she reaches into her closet grasping at anything that would aid her on the journey she is about to embark on. Struggling under the weight of the clothes, travel guides, and books she is holding, Hannah throws everything into the two bags strewn on her bed. With two suitcases stuffed to the brim, she takes on last look around, lets out a deep breath and heads towards the door. The nostalgia only lasts a moment as she enters the taxi cab and heads of towards the international airport.

Netvibes

I found netvibes to be a little daunting at first just because there seemed to be so many options and buttons. However, after taking a closer look I saw that it had some helpful features. I liked the fact that this program put all of the different things you would check on the internet into one "homebase". I feel like this center of resources would aid in making your time more efficent which is something I need to work on. Although I am not much of a tech person, I think I will give netvibes a shot and see what results follow!

Vocabulary #6

obsequious- adj. obedient, dutiful.
Carol’s obsequious nature made her the ideal student.

beatitude- n. extreme blessedness; exhaled happiness.
Her beatitude lighted up the room.

bete noire- n. a person or thing that one particularly dislikes or dreads.
Washing my car is my bete noire.

bode- v. to be an omen of; to announce beforehand; predict.
The stormy weather boded the day to come.

dank- adj. unpleasantly moist or humid; damp and often chilly.
My family never travels into our dank basement.

ecumenical- adj. general, universal.
The bible is a ecumenical symbol of religion.

fervid- adj. heated in spirit, enthusiasm.
The preacher had a redundancy to get fervid during his sermons.

fetid- adj. having an offensive odor, stinking.
The fetid fruit stunk up the whole house.

gargantuan- adj. gigantic, enormous, colossal.
Running a marathon is a gargantuan task.

heyday- n. the prime stage of great vigor and success.
The boxer was in his heyday during the last round.

incubus- n. a nightmare.
She awoke from the incubus in a panic.

infrastructure-n. the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization.
The infrastructure of the building was weak which concerned the managers.

inveigle- v. to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk orinducements (usually followed by into)
The woman inveigled the man to buy her a new porche.


kudos- n. honor, glory, acclaim.
He gave her kudos when she scored higher than him on the test.

lagniappe- n. a gratitiuty or tip.
Lily gave the waiter a generous lagniappe.

prolix- adj. extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious length; long and wordy.
The prolix speech left the class bored and sleepy.

protege- n. a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someoneinterested in his or her career or welfare.
The artist’s protégé was eager to learn.

prototype- n. the original or model, on which something is based or formed.
The products first prototype was very promising.

sycophant- n. a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.
He called his classmate a sycophant, he was always giving him compliments in hope of receiving answers.


tautology- n. needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness,
Tautology in speeches makes them longer and more wordy.

truckle- v. to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely (usually followed by to ).
He truckled into submission after he saw the gun.

accolade: (noun) praise or approval; a ceremonial embrace or greeting.
She had received many accolades during her ten year acting career.

acerbity: (noun) sourness or bitterness of taste; harshness or severity of manner or expression.
Regina George was known for her acerbity in Mean Girls.

attrition: (noun) the process of wearing down by friction or gradual impairment.
Attrition of joints is common in senior citizens.

bromide: (noun) a trite or commonplace remark; a tiresome or boring person; a sedative.
He couldn’t help but feel like the bromide of the group, everyone else seemed more interesting.


chauvinist: (adj.) extravagantly patriotic; blindly devoted to a cause; or (noun) a person like that.
Carl’s chauvinist passion for gay rights was remarkable.

chronic: (adj.) continuing over a long period of time or recurring often.
Chronic disease is a hard thing to come to terms with when you are diagnosed.

expound: (verb) to explain in detail.

The story took an hour to tell because Layla insisted on expounding on every detail.

factionalism: (noun) party strife and intrigue.
The factionalism around my family dinner table is notable.

immaculate: (adj.) spotless; without blemish or fault.
Grounds keepers keep the White House immaculately landscaped.

imprecation: (noun) a curse; the act of cursing.
Josh was scolded for the imprecations that came out when he stubbed his toe.

ineluctable: (adj.) not able to be avoided, changed, or overcome.
After struggling for many years, Maria finally labeled her addiction ineluctable.

mercurial: (adj.) characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes of mood; fickle or inconstant.
The director’s mercurial personality caused tension on the set.

palliate: (verb) to make less serious or severe by glossing over; to relieve without actually curing, mitigate.
The couple was notorious for palliating their issues but not ever solving the deeper troubles.

protocol: (noun) customs and regulations dealing with official behavior and etiquette; a type of international agreement; an official account or record.
Airport security protocol irritates some people because it is so extensive.

resplendent: (adj.) shining or gleaming brilliantly; splendid or magnificent.
Her resplendent smile left all the boys dazzled.

stigmatize: (verb) to brand or mark as in some way discreditable, disgraceful, or ignominious.
Many political views and labels have been stigmatized.

sub rosa: (adv.) in secret; confidentially; privately.
The CIA needs members who are able to work sub rosa.


vainglory: (noun) excessive pride in and boastfulness about one's own accomplishments or qualities; a vain show or display.
Ussain Bolt’s vainglory was a turn off for many fans.

vestige: (noun) a trace or visible evidence of something that once existed but is now lost or vanished.
The strewn glass and wood served as vestige of the houses that had been knocked out my the hurricane.

volition: (noun) the power to choose, will, or decide; the act of choosing, willing, or deciding.
Many kids value their eighteenth birthday because they gain so much volition.

What a Character

A fictional character that made a big impression on me is Daisy from The Great Gatsby. Daisy left a lasting impact on me partly because she was different from any other fictional character I had read about before. With Daisy you never knew which direction she was headed or how she was truly feeling. At first glance she seemed to wear her heart on her sleeve, however closer inspection showed she had several hidden thoughts and feelings. Daisy changed her mind daily and often times went back on forth on whether she wanted Gatsby or if he was just another phase in her life. Daisy was one of the most selfish characters I had ever seen however she managed to maintain an innocent, childlike persona throughout the novel. I would label Daisy’s characterization as indirect because her actions are what gave the most insight to her personality.

Declaration of Learning Independence

I feel like I have so many different ideas and thoughts running through my head it is difficult to exactly pinpoint what I want to learn, what I want to achieve. Idealistically I’d have a taste of everything and get to experience everything. Although I know this is a little overly ambitious I don’t want to squash these aspirations just yet. I want to gain the credibility and security of a strong education now so later on I will be able to go off on tangents by traveling and exploring whatever I want. I’m not really sure yet how my big question is going to fit into my course blog just yet but I’m sure it’ll get incorporated in some way. After all, love and loneliness are present almost everywhere you look. As for goals, my main one right now is to go to a four year university. I know this is not very specific but honestly right now I don’t know where I want to go. As long as I’m happy there and learning a lot I will be satisfied wherever I go. I’m excited for this year and all I’m going to learn and even more excited for the life that I have ahead of me.

Vocab #5

obsequious- adj. obedient, dutiful.

Carol’s obsequious nature made her the ideal student.

beatitude- n. extreme blessedness; exhaled happiness.

Her beatitude lighted up the room.

bete noire- n. a person or thing that one particularly dislikes or dreads.

Washing my car is my bete noire.

bode- v. to be an omen of; to announce beforehand; predict.

The stormy weather boded the day to come.

dank- adj. unpleasantly moist or humid; damp and often chilly.

My family never travels into our dank basement.

ecumenical- adj. general, universal.

The bible is a ecumenical symbol of religion.

fervid- adj. heated in spirit, enthusiasm.

The preacher had a redundancy to get fervid during his sermons.

fetid- adj. having an offensive odor, stinking.

The fetid fruit stunk up the whole house.

gargantuan- adj. gigantic, enormous, colossal.

Running a marathon is a gargantuan task.

heyday- n. the prime stage of great vigor and success.

The boxer was in his heyday during the last round.

incubus- n. a nightmare.
She awoke from the incubus in a panic.

infrastructure-n. the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization.
The infrastructure of the building was weak which concerned the managers.

inveigle- v. to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk orinducements (usually followed by into)

The woman inveigled the man to buy her a new porche.


kudos- n. honor, glory, acclaim.

He gave her kudos when she scored higher than him on the test.

lagniappe- n. a gratitiuty or tip.
Lily gave the waiter a generous lagniappe.

prolix- adj. extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious length; long and wordy.
The prolix speech left the class bored and sleepy.

protege- n. a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someoneinterested in his or her career or welfare.
The artist’s protégé was eager to learn.

prototype- n. the original or model, on which something is based or formed.
The products first prototype was very promising.

sycophant- n. a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.

He called his classmate a sycophant, he was always giving him compliments in hope of receiving answers.


tautology- n. needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness,

Tautology in speeches makes them longer and more wordy.

truckle- v. to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely (usually followed by to ).


He truckled into submission after he saw the gun.

Lit Analysis #1 - The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Plot
The novel starts out in Paris with the main character Jake Barnes going about his everyday life. He is an American journalist who spends most of his days writing, drinking and relaxing. In the exposition, there are many references to Jake’s time spent in the military during World War 1. Through many subtle hints we learn that Jake is sterile due to a war wound. During the exposition we are also introduced to Jake’s friend Cohn who expresses his desire to leave Paris and travel. The story picks up when Jake takes his date to a dance club and runs into Lady Brett Ashley, a women who we learn he has had a long history with. Brett and Jake talk and the club and kiss goodnight later. The introduction of Brett is the inciting incident of the story because she remains one of Jake’s primary concerns throughout. Jake, Cohn, and Bill, another one of Jake’s friends, plan to go to Spain for the bullfights with Brett and her fiancé Mike. Bill and Jake travel first and stop awhile to fish. Later on, Cohn and the couple show up. Brett expresses concern to Jake that the trip might be a little uncomfortable because she had messed around with Cohn a couple of weeks before. While in Spain, Mike harasses Cohn several and accuses him of following Brett around like a lost puppy. The group spends many days drinking and watching the bullfighters slay the bulls. While watching the bullfights, Brett falls for one of the fighters named Romero. After Cohn, had been pushed to his boiling points with harsh comments he attacks both Mike and Jake then goes on to find Brett. He then walks in on Brett and Romero and beats Romero almost into unconsciousness. The next day Romero is able to recover but Cohn immediately leaves Spain. Romero continues to successfully compete and at the end of the fiesta he and Brett run away together to Madrid. Later on Jake receives a telegram from Brett saying that she’s in trouble. Upon arrival Brett tells Jake she has split with Romero because he is so young and she doesn’t want to ruin his career. Brett then reveals she will be going back to Mike. They catch a cab and while driving both lament the fact that they aren’t dating.

Theme

The theme of The Sun Also Rises is one of disillusionment. None of the characters seem to have drive or ambition, they seem to be expressing signs of what was called the “lost generation” during that time period. All characters seem to lack purpose and are just wandering, or floating through life. The ambivalence and carelessness of their attitudes and actions is showcased many times throughout the novel. It is as though, they are trying to fill their lives with meaning but fail repeatedly.

Tone

The tone of this book would be detached, cynical and ultimately empty. Although the story is told in first person, it lacks a personal element. Feelings are often times drowned out by the din of partying or drunk with the seemingly endless stream of alcohol. The result is events being portrayed with little to no emotion although at times things get very heated and exciting. The relationship between theme in tone in this book is crucial because they play off each other. The disillusioned theme goes hand in hand with the detached, almost hopeless way the story is told.

Passages that exemplify the tone are:

“you can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.” - Jake Barnes

　
“Oh Jake," Brett said, "We could have had such a damned good time together."
Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly, pressing Brett against me.
Yes," I said. "Isn't it pretty to think so?”

“I can't stand it to think my life is going so fast and I'm not really living it.”- Brett

“Don't you ever get the feeling that all your life is going by and you're not taking advantage of it? Do you realize you've lived nearly half the time you have to live already?” - Cohn

“This is a hell of dull talk...How about some of that champagne?” -Brett

Literary Elements
Imagery: Detailed imagery is used in explaining how the bullfights work and what the colorful fiesta looked like.

"In the Basque country the land all looks very rich and green and the houses and villages look well-off and clean. Every village had a pelota court and on some of them kids were playing in the hot sun,"(Hemingway 97).

Euphemisms: Vague euphemisms are used in the beginning of the story to explain Jake’s war injury and why he cannot have sex with Brett( which is one of the reasons she does not want to settle down with him)

Simile: Various similes were used throughout the novel as well often times through dialogue but also in Jake’s thought process.

" He looked a great deal as his compatriot must have looked when he saw the promised land,"(Hemingway 29).

Hyperbole: Hyperboles, similar to similes were often time sprinkled throughout the characters dialogue. Brett was especially notorious for hyperboles because she was one of the most dramatic characters in the novel.

"It's enough to make a man join the Klan,"(Hemingway 93).

Metaphor: Because they were all writers, metaphors in the character’s everyday language was common.

“You're not a moron, You're only a case of arrested development,"(Hemingway 51).

　
Symbolism: I found symbolism in the bullfights the group attended. I felt that the frustration of the bulls symbolized the frustration of the characters. The bulls were looking for an escape, however they only ended up exhausting themselves running around the ring. Similarly Jake and the rest of his friends are looking for an escape from reality through distractions like drinking and vacations.

Allusion: Allusions to World War 1 can be found sprinkled throughout the novel especially by Jake since he served in his younger days.

"I got hurt in the war," I said.

"Oh, that dirty war."

We would probably have gone on and discussed the war and agreed that it was in reality a calamity for civilization, and perhaps would have been better avoided. I was bored enough. Just then from the other room someone called: "Barnes! I say Barnes! Jacob Barnes!"

Dialogue: The dialogue between characters is essential because it is our only way of seeing how the other characters besides Jake are thinking and feeling throughout the novel.

Indirect characterization: Indirect characterization is used a great deal throughout this novel. For example, we begin to see Brett as a very selfish, very careless woman although Jake never directly says these characteristics aloud.

Diction: The authors simple word choice and short, choppy sentence structure aid in creating a distant, detached tone for the work.

All of the Above

I got 24 out of 46 correct on the AP exam. I have to admit initially these results were a little discouraging. However, I realized that I need to put these numbers into perspective. AP tests are meant to challenge you and you only need like a 60% to pass with a 3. I feel like this number is reachable and I can get there over the course of this year. By taking a closer look at the questions I passed I saw that I had the most trouble with the poetry passages which is unfortunate since there were many. I also saw that I was at a disadvantage on the questions that contained specific vocabulary pertaining to things like stanzas and rhyme schemes.

Vocab #4

accolade: (noun) praise or approval; a ceremonial embrace or greeting.
She had received many accolades during her ten year acting career.

acerbity: (noun) sourness or bitterness of taste; harshness or severity of manner or expression.
Regina George was known for her acerbity in Mean Girls.

attrition: (noun) the process of wearing down by friction or gradual impairment.
Attrition of joints is common in senior citizens.

bromide: (noun) a trite or commonplace remark; a tiresome or boring person; a sedative.
He couldn’t help but feel like the bromide of the group, everyone else seemed more interesting.


chauvinist: (adj.) extravagantly patriotic; blindly devoted to a cause; or (noun) a person like that.
Carl’s chauvinist passion for gay rights was remarkable.

chronic: (adj.) continuing over a long period of time or recurring often.
Chronic disease is a hard thing to come to terms with when you are diagnosed.

expound: (verb) to explain in detail.

The story took an hour to tell because Layla insisted on expounding on every detail.

factionalism: (noun) party strife and intrigue.
The factionalism around my family dinner table is notable.

immaculate: (adj.) spotless; without blemish or fault.
Grounds keepers keep the White House immaculately landscaped.

imprecation: (noun) a curse; the act of cursing.
Josh was scolded for the imprecations that came out when he stubbed his toe.

ineluctable: (adj.) not able to be avoided, changed, or overcome.
After struggling for many years, Maria finally labeled her addiction ineluctable.

mercurial: (adj.) characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes of mood; fickle or inconstant.
The director’s mercurial personality caused tension on the set.

palliate: (verb) to make less serious or severe by glossing over; to relieve without actually curing, mitigate.
The couple was notorious for palliating their issues but not ever solving the deeper troubles.

protocol: (noun) customs and regulations dealing with official behavior and etiquette; a type of international agreement; an official account or record.
Airport security protocol irritates some people because it is so extensive.

resplendent: (adj.) shining or gleaming brilliantly; splendid or magnificent.
Her resplendent smile left all the boys dazzled.

stigmatize: (verb) to brand or mark as in some way discreditable, disgraceful, or ignominious.
Many political views and labels have been stigmatized.

sub rosa: (adv.) in secret; confidentially; privately.
The CIA needs members who are able to work sub rosa.


vainglory: (noun) excessive pride in and boastfulness about one's own accomplishments or qualities; a vain show or display.
Ussain Bolt’s vainglory was a turn off for many fans.

vestige: (noun) a trace or visible evidence of something that once existed but is now lost or vanished.
The strewn glass and wood served as vestige of the houses that had been knocked out my the hurricane.

volition: (noun) the power to choose, will, or decide; the act of choosing, willing, or deciding.
Many kids value their eighteenth birthday because they gain so much volition.

Beowulf Essay

Heroes are as essential to society today as they were hundreds of years ago. Regardless of the culture and time period, heroes always seem to find a place in everything from literature to music. Although heroes may be sine qua non in our world their characteristics, purpose and personalities differ according to the time period and place their stories were born . Beowulf embodies the ideal hero in the Danish middle ages through his courageous acts backed by allusions and unwavering pride revealed by indirect characterization, while Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games reflects modern values in her fight for justice.

At first glance, these two saviors seem to be as different as night and day but a closer look reveals undeniable similarities. Both Katniss and Beowulf serve as motivation for their respective societies. Both the Danish in Beowulf and the struggling families in the Districts of The Hunger Games are looking for something to believe in. In Beowulf, citizens line the water waiting for their hero to come up successful from the Grendel’s mother’s cave. Their faith in Beowulf is rewarded when he soon emerges carting the beast’s head. When Katniss is competing in the hunger games, people watching begin rooting for her because they know she stands for something more. They look at Katniss as an inspiration, a sign that rebellion is possible. Katniss even develops her own signal that catches on throughout the Districts and is used by various communities to show their support. With both heroes, epitomizing hope in their societies it is evident that inspiring faith in your people is a trait in heroes that has withstanded the test of time. Katniss and Beowulf are also similar in that they do not rely on weapons and technology as much as they rely on their own strength and wit. Many allusions to the bible are sprinkled throughout Beowulf and offer an explanation and connection between God and Beowulf’s incredible strength. In the fight between Grendel’s mother and Beowulf, Beowulf ultimately uses his brute strength to kill the monster after his weapon failed him. Similarly, in dire times Katniss’s quick wit, not weaponry saved her from her demise.

Though similar in some aspects, heroes from today and years ago show disparities elsewhere. Because literature is a product of its environment and society we are able to infer many things about values during a stories respective time period. Indirect characterization reveals not only Beowulf’s heroic triumphs but also his immense pride. His confidence is almost tangible it is so strong throughout his adventures. Beowulf does not doubt his abilities at any time throughout the epic poem. This is perhaps best shown when he attempts to fight a dragon terrorizing the village when he is an old man. Despite his old age, Beowulf feels that he is perfectly capable and able to defeat the threatening creature. Although today we would label Beowulf as arrogant and even cocky, Beowulf’s confidence was not seen as a flaw at all but actually a normality that was embodied by most heroes during the time period. Katniss is also very confident in her abilities however it often times results in her downfall rather than success. Katniss’s arrogance and stubbornness holds her back from making essential connections and relationships that would aid her later during the games. Because her cocky attitude comes off as a fault, we see that heroes today are held to a different standard than in ancient times (again a reflection of our society as a whole).

The connotation of hero differs from time period to time period and culture to culture because a hero reflects the values and beliefs of said society. Certain constants can be seen throughout time like inspiring hope and possessing cunning qualities as showcased by Katniss and Beowulf. However, the comparison of these heroes also reveals differences in opinions of opposing cultures.

Will Study for Food

After high school I plan on going to a four year university right away. I have a variety of different schools I want to apply too and they all have varying prices. Most of the UC's I want to go to are roughly around $33,000. However the private school's have a much higher price tag around $50,000. I hope to get scholarship money to help pay for my tuition and also my room and board. Without scholarships I would be forced to take out many loans and start digging a hole of debt. Today at college bootcamp, we learned about the Elks scholarship and the Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, both of which I plan on applying too.

Vocab #3

Apostate: a person who forsakes their religion

He was deemed an apostate after he partied on a Sunday and went against Mormon ways.
Effusive: pouring, overflowing

She effusively reacted to the movie, crying for hours even after it was finished.
Impasse: position where there is no escape

They were at an impasse in their argument, neither person would budge.
Euphoria: state of intense happiness and self confidence

She said Buddhism helped her reach a state of pure euphoria.
Lugubrious: mournful, dismal, gloomy

The lugubrious house gave Lisa the chills.
Bravado: pretentious display of courage

The players victory dance could be described as cheap bravado.
Consensus: conclusion, agreement

After a three hour meeting, the group finally reached a consensus.

Dichotomy: division into two parts

Our country is based on the dichotomy of Church and State.
Constrict: to draw or press in

She felt constricted by her parent’s endless list of rules.
Gothic: noting or pertaining to a style of architecture, originating in France in the middle of the 12th century and existing in the western half of Europe through the middle of the 16th century, characterized by the use of the pointed arch and the ribbed vault, by the use of fine woodwork and stonework, by a progressive lightening of structure, and by the use of such features as flying buttresses, ornamental gables, crockets, and foils.

The aspiring architect studied many Gothic structures in France.

Punctilio: fine point or detail of a ceremony

She presented a beautiful ceremony, no punctilio was overlooked.
Metamorphosis: a complete change

Laura experienced a sort of metamorphosis while away at boarding school.
Raconteur: a person who is skilled in relaying stories effectively

The raconteur of the village told countless myths and legends.
sine qua non: something essential

Patience is sine qua non when dealing with children.
Quixotic: impulsive

Her quixotic behavior resulted in many consequences.
Vendetta: private feud

It seemed as though they had a vendetta that began years ago.
non sequitur: illogical conclusion

Her argument was non sequitur, her points did not seems to relate.
Mystique: framework of doctrines

The book The Feminine Mystique did wonders for women’s rights.
Quagmire: dilemma

She was in sort of a quagmire when two boys asked her to prom.
Parlous: dangerous

The parlous snake should be avoided at all times.

Why this book?

I chose the Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. I chose this book because I already had it at my house and after reading the first couple pages I found it promising. So far I love it ! To me it feels like a combination of The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye.