The Hundred Year War

Danielle

CHOW ch 60
There once was a king in 1338 named Edward III, he owned England. One day King Edward wanted France as his own (he was related to the king of France) so he made war with France. This war lasted over a hundred years and on the last year it seemed a girl brought them luck. Now that girl (Joan) who had visions of fighting with France so she went to the prince and asked if she could lead and he said yes. The English captured her and accused her of being a witch and burned her at the stake.

The Vegetable Garden

By Hannah
Transcribed by Gloria

There once was a girl named Hannah she was busy in her kitchen digging through her fridge. She found some seeds and said “Hmm… Nah, what good are seeds?” Then she tossed them out her kitchen window.

Three weeks later, she saw vegetables and fruits growing on her front lawn. And she said “My my! Did the seeds do that?” She found zucchini, strawberries, grapefruit, cantaloupe, corn, peas, green beans, cauliflower, and broccoli. So she had a feast and decided to grow more and more and more fruits and veggies.
The End

Marie Antoinette: The Play

By Christina
The assignment: To research a topic related to the French Revolution then write a paper that demonstrates an understanding of the topic without directly quoting any of the research.

Marie Antoinette: The Play

Cast of Characters:

Marie Antoinette, main character (Displayed in Scenes I, II, III, V, VI)

Wolfgang Mozart, friend, (Displayed in Scene I)

Maria Theresa, mother and Empress of Austria, (Displayed in Scene I)

Carolina, sister, (Displayed in Scene I)

Louis XVI, husband and King of France, (Displayed in Scenes II, III, IV)

Servant 1, (Displayed in Scenes II, III)

Servant 2, (Displayed in Scene II)

Peasant woman 1 (Displayed in scene III)

Guard 1, (Displayed in Scenes IV, V)

Guard 2, (Displayed in Scenes IV, V)

Guard 3, (Displayed in Scenes IV, V)

Part I

June 5, 1762

Scene: Austria, Hofburg Palace. The wide courtyard shows two children, 7 year old Marie Antoinette and Wolfgang Mozart. In the background sits Carolina and Marie Theresa, watching the two play tag.

Marie Antoinette: (Dodges Wolfgang’s outstretched hand) Missed!

Wolfgang Mozart: Not this time! (Lunges to the side and taps Marie’s shoulder.) Tag!

Marie Antoinette: (Runs after Wolfgang.) Hey!

(Wolfgang trips and falls, and Marie runs to his side.)

Marie Antoinette: Are you okay? (Helps him to his feet.)

Wolfgang Mozart: I believe so. (Looks at Marie and nods.) You are good. I will marry you someday. (Smiles. Marie blushes, and Maria Theresa overhears their conversation.)

Maria Theresa: (To herself) Ah, no, if all goes well it will not be you, Wolfgang, that my Marie will marry, but the future King of France. (Carolina overhears her and looks at the two children, then turns to Maria Theresa with a puzzled look.)

Carolina: Mother, what do you mean by Maria will marry the ‘future King of France’?

Maria Theresa: (Sighing.) I guess I have to explain it all. Although the war is over, Austria still has to find a way to keep enemies from invading Austria. Also, I need a stronger alliance with King Louis XV. In order to secure that, I have attempted to arrange Marie to marry King Louis’s grandson. That way, Marie can one day be Queen of France, and Austria will also have French soldiers to protect the country. (Carolina nods.)

Carolina: The rule of Queen Marie Antoinette of France draws near!

(Blackout)

Part II

March 2, 1775

Scene: The Palace, France, the courtyard. In the gardens, 20-year-old Marie Antoinette is skipping through the grass, her blond hair flying. Louis XVI is leaning on a wall with rosebushes rising up it, fingering one of the many locks he makes.

Marie Antoinette: It seems as though I have fallen into a dream, where I can do whatever I wish and have all the pleasures and desires of my heart. Truly I am the luckiest woman alive!

Louis XVI: (To himself) Yes, and you are like the dancer and I the farm boy, content but wishing for such dancing skill. (He sighs and sets the lock on the ground. Servant 1 and Servant 2 run up.)

Servant 1: Your highness, these letters have just arrived. (Indicates to Servant 2, who has a large amount of letters in his arms.)

Louis XVI: Very well, let me see them. (Servant 2 drops the envelopes at his feet and Louis kneels down to pick one up. He opens it.) Hmm… the peasants are demanding lower taxes and more money for their work… the usual… here is something new! The peasants say they have no bread. Maybe I should ask Marie. You can go. (He waves his hand at Servant 1 and Servant 2, and Servant 2 exits, but Servant 1 stays in the background. Louis walks over to Marie Antoinette, who stops skipping.) My dear Marie, we happen to be in a situation. The peasants say that they have no bread.

Marie Antoinette: (Laughs) Then let them eat cake! (Twirls away and begins to skip gaily again.)

Louis XVI: (Shakes head.) My wife has lost her mind. (Servant 1 approaches.)

Servant 1: So you just noticed.

Louis XVI: Yes. But what can I do to stop her? I suppose all I can do is nothing. Oh well. I will tell them what my wife said. (He and servant 1 exit.)

Marie Antoinette: The peasants are perfectly happy. They have no idea what trouble and worry it is to be a queen!

(Blackout)

Part III

Scene: A small room, highly decorated. In a corner on a wooden chair Louis XVI writes something with a quill on a piece of paper, occasionally dipping the quill into a glass bottle of ink. Servant 1 barges in and Louis XVI looks up.

Servant 1: SIR! SIR! The peasants are attacking! They are demanding bread!

Louis XVI: What? After all I have done, keeping them safe from enemies? This is an outrage! Where are the guards?

Servant 1: They all are either dead or unconscious or taken prisoner by the mob. Right now they are breaking down Queen Marie’s door!

Louis XVI: Then she should be here soon. A secret tunnel that leads here is inside her room. (A flap in the wall opens, and Marie Antoinette appears.)

Marie Antoinette: I don’t understand! They want bread, but they refuse to eat cake! Who could refuse to eat cake?

Louis XVI: My dear, they have no cake either.

Marie Antoinette: No cake? Maybe they should eat sugar cookies, then.

Louis XVI: They don’t have any food. And a hungry, angry mob is one of the worst mobs. (The door suddenly breaks down and a huge group of women rush in, wearing rags and holding knifes, pitchforks, and other dangerous farm tools.

Peasant woman 1: Queen Marie Antoinette, King Louis XVI, you are coming with us!

Louis XVI: Guards! Guards! (At this point the mob hides Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette from sight and all race off the setting.)

(Blackout)

Part IV

Scene: A road crawling with peasants. On a large platform in the center are Guard 1 and Guard 2, each standing on each side of the guillotine, and as a wooden wagon approaches, the crowd parts to show Guard 3 and Louis XVI in it. Louis has his hands tied behind his back and wears a plain white shirt and brown pants. The crowd jeers at him as he passes. One person even throws a tomato. Guard 2 has a drum.

Guard 1: Here is the traitor you have been waiting for, King Louis XVI! (The crowd cheers, and Louis XVI steps onto the platform.)

Louis XVI: I die innocent of all the crimes of which I have been charged. (At this angry shouting rises up from the crowd) I pardon those who have brought about my death, and I pray that the blood you are about to shed may never be required of France… (At this point Guard one signals with his hand at Guard 2, and Louis’s last words are lost in the beat of the drum. As Louis is put into the guillotine, then (Blackout), and then a great cheer up.)

Guard 3: Ex-King Louis XVI is dead! Long live the republic!

Part V

Scene: The road is crawling with shouting peasants. The platform, the guillotine, Guard 1 and Guard 2 are standing beside it, and nearly everything the same. The wagon comes with Guard 3 and Marie Antoinette, whose hands are tied and wears a plain white dress. Five tomatoes are thrown, and Marie Antoinette steps onto the platform. The crowd jeers loudly.

Guard 1: I present to you: Marie Antoinette, soon to be the late Queen of France! (At this the mob laughs and Marie Antoinette opens her mouth to say something, but Guard 3 interrupts.)

Guard 3: The lady would like to present a no doubt well-rehearsed story about how she is innocent and doesn’t deserve to die, like her husband. I wonder if she remembers how well that got him out! (The mob laughs, and Marie Antoinette closes her mouth and hangs her head. The drum beats and Marie is walked over to the guillotine, where there is a (Blackout) in the darkness a loud cheer rises up.)

Guard 3: Ex-Queen, Marie Antoinette, is dead! Long live the republic!

Mob: Long live the republic!

Part VI

Scene: Death, an empty darkness except for in the center, where a faint light shines onto the ghost of Marie Antoinette, who is all white and speaks to the audience.

Marie Antoinette: That was the story of how I foolishly did what pleased me, and it eventually cost me my life. I didn’t bother knowing that each expensive party I had would make at least one family go hungry. I didn’t notice I was starving people to death when I bought a fancy diamond necklace, or a golden bracelet, or even when I set banquets for foreign soldiers. My life of pleasure eventually secured an early death. I hope that you do not make the mistake I did. I wish you a happy and safe life.

(Blackout)

The End

(All Characters come to the stage and bow, then leave.)

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette

Mulvihill, Margaret, The French Revolution, Gloucester Press, 1989, New York

Gilbert, Adrian, The French Revolution, Thomson Learning, 1995, New York

Foster, Joanna, George Washington’s World, Beautiful Feet Books, 1997, New York

John 2:1-11

by Hannah

Jesus was at a wedding with his disciples and his mother.

The wine ran out and Jesus said to the servants, "fill the jugs with water." So they did.

When they poured it out, it was not water at all. It was wine.

We can learn from this that Jesus can do all things.

In Search Of Honor - a book review

by Gloria

In Search of Honor is a book about a man who is involved in the start of the French Revolution. He's really angry at the king because his father broke the law and got killed for it. It's really a bit stupid, his outlook. But by the end of the book, he realizes his errors and finds peace in God.

I enjoyed this book a little bit. It wasn't completely engaging, and at the beginning it was downright boring. It ended well, though, and it was worth my time. I'd give this book a 5/10

Metaphors

By Gloria

I have three sisters. In a way, they are my three closest friends. So when I recieved an assignment to put three metaphors to three of my friends, I chose my sisters, because I know them best of all.

First, my sister Hannah, who is seven years old. First, she has the temperament and attitude of an an angel, but, only if that Angel is from Maximum Ride. If you haven't read the Maximum Ride series, there is a character named Angel that seems to be Hannah's clone. Angel is a very sweet girl, but also a bit used to getting what she wants, and finding ways to get what she wants. Second, she has the cuteness of a newborn kitty. Newborn kitties are really cute and I love cats! Third, Hannah has the personality of a dolphin. She's has a very playful personality.

My second sister is Christina, who is 11 years old. First, Christina has the energy of a Jack Russel Terrier. She bounces off walls, and is really hyper. Second, she has the hand of Jane Cahill. This is from the series, The 39 Clues. In this series, Jane Cahill is the ancestor of every famous artist since 1501: Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and anybody else that you can think of. Third, she has the laziness of our cat, Joy. Joy is a lazy cat, but I still love her. Still, just like Christina, Joy only works when she has to, and if it was up to her, she'd spend all day laying around.

I would say that I have saved the best for last, but I'm not supposed to be partial with my siblings. Just pretend that last sentence doesn't exist, if it offends you. The last one, is my sister Danielle, age 10. First off, she has the face of an angel. In my opinion, she's the prettiest of us girls. Second, she has my brain and personality. She always seems to do exactly what I would have done at her age. Third, she has the sneakiness of a fox, or, a Lucian. Another 39 clues reference! 

These are the metaphors for my sisters, my closest friends, I hope that you like this, and that Christina an Hannah won't try to get mad at me.

Perspectives

by GCG

In The Arrow Over The Door, there are two boys narrating who come from very different backgrounds and together make an interesting narrative. Stands Straight is an Indian boy whose family was told the protestant faith by a French priest. But, he still is superstitious. Samuel, is the oldest of two boys in a Quaker family. Even though his entire family is pro-peace, he still wonders. Can prayer and peace stop a gun? These boys may be very different, but they have a couple similarities.

For clarification, I will provide three examples of both their similarities and differences. First, both Samuel and Stands Straight are scared of the impending war and what it's effect will have on their families, friends and communities. But, at the same time, the involvement their families have in the war are very different. Samuel's family is not going to take part in the war, but Samuel wants to fight away the British. Stands Straight's family wants to fight, but Stands Straight doesn't want to take part in the “white man's war”.

That leads me to my second point on how they're alike: Both boys are questioning whether or not their families are making the right decision. Of course, the way they want to act goes against the way they were raised. Samuel was raised pro-peace, and Stands Straight is raised in a, not necessarily bloodthirsty, but, slightly cruel, 'killing is easy' home (stereotypical Indian style).

But, even though they were raised in drastically different settings, their morals are very similar, like the qualms of killing, a big world wariness and the basic desire to protect their family. But however similar their morals are, some of their beliefs are different. Stands Straight is superstitious, seeing 'spirits' and other stereotypical Indian beliefs. But Samuel's beliefs sound a lot like those at my church: go where the Holy Spirit leads and trust God, added to the traditional Quaker belief of peace.

Hopefully, I have explained to you that two individuals can be so alike and so different at the same time. God made us all different. If you want to know more, see The Arrow Over The Door by Joseph Bruchac.