Character Development

     In the book, Bronx Masquerade, it talks about students in high school using poetry as a way to show the real them. In the end, poetry helps everyone not be afraid to act the way they are. One of the people I have seen changed the most throughout the book is Tyrone. Poetry has had the most effect on Tyrone.

     In the beginning of the book, Bronx Masquerade, Tyrone didn't think much of school. He also didn't think much of his classmates. In the book it states, "School ain't nothin' but a joke." Tyrone also didn't think that him and white people didn't have a lot in common.  In the middle of the book, Tyrone learns more about his fellow classmates but still doesn't have a lot of appreciation for people of different colors. The book states "Man, that little white girl be getting pretty deep." In the end of the book, Tyrone likes poetry more. He thinks that everyone has seen everyone else's true selves through it. The book states ". . .I feel like we connected." This is how Tyrone changes throughout the book.

     The elements of a story affect Tyrone in this book. The setting of this book affects Tyrone, because he used to worry more about dying than his future. The characters affect Tyrone, because he gets to be around more diverse people, even if he doesn't know it. The different conflicts of every person affect Tyrone because what he though was funny, wasn't to other people. The conflicts make Tyrone think more about others.

Spine Poem

The Lost Years of Merlin

Many Thousand Gone

Stowaway

Companions of the Night

Uncommon Faith

     The theme of this poem is life and death. Life and death is the theme of the poem because everything represent life. The message of this poem is life is hard and bumpy. Life isn't that easy and you have to make sacrifices. The Lost Years of Merlin mean all the years that a person couldn't remember throughout his or her life.

     The main point of this poem is about Merlin or anyone in general, who goes on a journey called life. It sort of shows the different hardships they went through. Companions of the Night sort of mean that they would travel through life, night and day. The companion being a star that would guide them through their journey. In real life the star would maybe be an adult or someone else who helps them through life, or guides them.

Found Poem

I didn't do too well.

I plan to have him stay for most of the summer.

"I'll be pleased to help you"

She smiled

I was aware I haven't done much yet.

I would like to rest.

The one from Dallas will be free.

I'd rather take time off.

I'll tell you that and other things you'll need to know.

     The theme of this poem is friendship. Friendship is the theme because the people in the poem once had a friendship and then it was breaking apart.The message of this poem is that friends are never forever, but we should cherish the moments we have with them. We will never know how a long a friendship will last. That is the theme and message of my found poem.

     The main point of this poem is that two friends are drifting away, and it is really hard for one of them but not as hard for the other one. The whole poem is explained by the person who mostly hurt by the friendship. In the beginning it explains how they thought their relationship would last past the summer.  In the end it explains how the poem is actually a diary of the person who is really hurt. They are telling their diary how they will tell it about their friend and other things. The rip on the side of the page represents their friendship and how it is torn apart. The person who is smiling at the other person is the one who helps the other person. That is the main point of my found poem.

"Where I'm From" Poem

I commented on Amelia's blog, Citlalli's blog, and Sophie's blog.

Bronx Perspectives:Take 1-02-15-16

     The "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes is about a class in high school filled with students that are different and similar to one another. Different and similar in ethnicities, likes, dislikes, hobbies, etcetera.  All of the students have some kind of story that show who they really are and how they act in front of the others. In Open Mike Fridays that is where they share poems that show the real them. Not the person that everyone else sees them as.

     The characters that I have decided to differentiate are Raul with Diondra and Gloria with Lupe. One similarity that Raul and Diondra have is they both like to make art. They enjoy to paint and express themselves through their art. The difference between them is that Raul is not afraid to show his art, on the other hand Diondra doesn't like to show her art. When Diondra does show her art she doesn't sign it. Diondra's dad does not approve of her because he feels that her height, six feet tall, was wasted on her.

     The difference between Gloria and Lupe is that Lupe believes that having a child young is the only way to have someone who will love her. Lupe does not know the sacrifices she is going to have to make in order to have a healthy living child. Gloria loves her baby boy, Angel, but regrets the actions she did. Her life now revolves around Angel and not herself. Gloria is trying to explain to Lupe that having a child so young isn't so easy, but Lupe doesn't understand.