JOURNAL ENTRY 7-13

Miriam L. Velez Toledo

                                                                                        Journal Entry #7 Humor                                                                          

The essence of humor is surprise, and getting a laugh from the reader. As I read these two chapters I noticed that the author used various techniques to create humor through the characters behavior or comments.

In chapter 13, Ron talks about Hermione’s hats. “They might not count as clothes.” They didn’t look anything like hats to me, more likely woolly bladders.” Ron is actually making fun at Hermione, and she does not speak to him all morning.

The vision that we get from the following statement “Ernie might be pompous on occasions like these, but Harry was in a mood to deeply appreciate a vote of confidence from somebody who was not wearing radishes in their ears.” The author has use an idea to create a humorous situation to clarify Harry’s feelings.

In chapter 14, I believe that Rowling has used verbal irony, when Harry said “well”, he said trying to sound as though he found the whole thing a joke,” if you want to –er – what is it? (He checked Percy’s letter) “Oh, yeah-server ties with me, I swear I won’t get violent.” The author creates a humorous mood of a situation between both characters.

The use of humor in chapter twelve and fourteen creates humor through an unexpected use of words, events or combination of ideas. I laughed a lot when the characters were described in such a funny way “He looked up and saw the taker’s skeletal gray cat, Mrs. Norris, slinking past him”. I believe that the author has used humor in such a wonderful way that it keeps the attention away from the real conflict or dilemma.

In these two chapters the author made humor of an unexpected possible. It was awesome.   

                                                                     Journal Entry # 8

Readers Response

                                                                  What did you Noticed?

In chapter 15/16, Harry keeps having problems controlling his tempered. He is against Dolores Umbridge teaching theory. Hermione suggests that the students can form their own study group for Defense against the Dark Arts. Actually what I can understand is that the students once more are against figures of authority.  Even though Harry is skeptical Hermione manages to convince him by mentioning all of his accomplishments, and Harry agrees to consider her proposal. As I read this chapter one of the things that came to my mind is that every group has a leader, and every group has a member who manipulates others. In this case we see a Hermione who knows how to control and manage to convince others into what she wants to accomplish.

Eventhough the students do not believe Harry’s story about Valdemort, they have decided to joint the study group for Defense against the Dark Arts. This proves that students are still capable to work together when they believe that the cause is worth it.  This is one of the things that I actually observe in today’s young adults, they are still capable of rallying around each other, when they want to achieve something.

In the other hand in chapter 16, we still see that Harry is still uncomfortable with the idea of being the center of attention. This is not a surprise, because he has always been unhappy being the object of contention amongst wizards, but he still agrees to become the group leader. Harry knows that it is necessary to share with his friends his knowledge in order to win the war against Valdemort. 

Journal Entry # 9

Readers Response

 I can not believe that someone can be so selfish and evil. This lady Mrs.Umbridge is getting into my nerves. Now she has come with the idea of

forbidding all students organization, including Guidditch teams from meeting again until they receive her approval. I believe that this lady is always interfering

 with all the things that Harry has always loved of Hogwarts School.

          Mrs. Umbridge has taking away all the things that Hogwarts represents to all students, Hagrid , Quidditch, and the opportunity to communicate with Sirius.

Harry has become a totally different character. The tempered and irritated young adult is now consume in sadness, and doubts about his feeling towards Hogwarts.

          Eventhough Harry is going through a lot of moods in these chapters one of the places where he finds happiness is with the D.A. team , the name that the D.A. has selected for their team ( Dumbledore’s Army). This is what keeps Harry happy. He is proud and happy teaching this group, especially when Sirius encourage them to keep meeting.

         Further on in chapter 19 , the first Quidditch season has begun and the two teams Gryffindor and Slytherin . The Slytherine are mocking Ron. The Slytherine are always embarrassing and humiliating the newest members. I can also see this in our school. Young adults are always making fun at each other , and even at teachers.  One of the things that I’ve learned that no matter what you say students will always do what they want. They are always fighting and going against authorities.

                     At last the Gryrffindor  team in the other hand does not pay attention to the Slytherine team and wins the competition demonstrating their bravery and courage. I really believe that the author has brought and a very eloquent way the idea that our children have the ability to grow and become more aware of all the things they could do as a team.

                     As I read each of the chapters I can see Harry’s spiritual and human development. He has become more aware of his needs. He is really going through what we call a child development process. I just can wait to read the next two chapters.

JOURNAL ENTRY#10

READERS RESPONSE

After reading chapter nineteen, I am convinced that Umbridge theory is relativism, because she is applying a system of moral values that is not absolute, but is relative to oneself. Umbridge claims she’s doing what’s best for Hogwart, but we know that she has evil intensions.

Chapter nineteen begins with the first Quidditch match. One of the things I observed is that Ron is going through one of the feelings that not only young adults, but also elders feel when we are competing against another group. Just as Ron, we have often encounter nervousness.  Ron was going through a lot of pressure we can see this by the images presented in the following lines, “Ron’s ears glowed red and his hands shook so badly that he was likely to drop what ever he was holding at the time too.” The Slytherin were mocking and intimidating Ron, who was embarrassed and was unable to achieve the goals.

This situation as we know was certainly caused by the Slytherin, but Malfoy insults Harry and George and they land in McGonagall’s office. She gives Harry and George a week of detention.  Umbridge who is a selfish and arrogant character that keeps causing many problems insist that she has the authority to expulse Harry and George from the Quidditch lessons, and she takes away their brooms. I believe that we have people that in our society make use of their authority to humiliate people by abusing of the power that us people have granted them with. We see this in our political system and we live this experience in our own jobs. People see authority as an opportunity for manipulating, and mistreating people. This has always happen throughout all history periods. This is why people rebel against one another looking for equal rights, and the end of tyrant governments. I believe that the author is criticizing social behaviors.

In the other hand in chapter 20 , Hagrid  has returned from his trip into the mountains to convince the giants to support Dumbledore, but he fails to enlist them. Harry , Hermione and Ron are in the need to tell Hagrid about  Umbridge behavior. Hermione is determining to prepare Hagrid’s lesson, because she will not allow Umbridge to take Hagrid away. Once more we see that adolescents rally one another when it is necessary, when they believe in the cause they will fight back even if it has consequences. Hermione says “ I’ll plan his lesson for him if I have to.” “ I don’t care if she throws out Trelawney but she’s not taking Hagrid.”

In these two chapters we can see that adults are keeping away information from Harry and his friends. Hermione tells Hagrid about Umbridge intensions, and Hagrid appears unconcerned.  Let’s see what happens in the next two chapters.

JOURNAL ENTY #13

What situation can you relate to life in your classroom?

We can use chapters 25-26 to introduce solutions to real problems such topics can be loyalty, respect, and leadership. These are topics that will help us teacher instruct our students about rights and responsibilities that we all have as a citizen. Young adults need to understand, appreciate, and valued principles of their own and other’s well being in the school, the community and the whole world.

We can bring to the classroom the topic what makes a relationship healthy? We can touch different points with our students such as:

A)                             The importance of communication and sharing with their classmates. We can have peers express why it is so important to talk and listen to one another.

B)                             The importance of trust and respect and how important these two terms are for a healthy relationship. We can share with our students why we should learn to respect and trust people in our life.

C)                            How do we know that a relationship is good? What does a good relationship have? How should we feel in a good relationship?

D)                            We can also ask students why our school has rules to follow.

E)                             Why should we respect our school rules?

F)                             We can ask students how can we compare and contrast Harry’s school regulation with ours.

G)                            Do we have something in common with Harry’s friend relationship? Why or why not?

When we relate these two chapters to our classroom, we are allowing our students to relate literacy to their personal and interpersonal life. There are many other things we can relate to our classroom such as communication. We can talk about many ways we receive information such as magazines, newspaper, and how important it is to be inform of social problems around our community. That even communication can be destructive or misunderstood. It depends from the source integrity. We can talk about our newspapers, and the daily issues discussed.