Character Development in Bronx

     In the book, Bronx Masquerade, students at a highschool school get a chance to share poems that they've written every Friday.  As time progresses the characters become more open with their poetry, and it allows not only the reader but the other characters to get to know him/her more.  By listening to other people's poems, and writing their own poems, they start to change more throughout the book.  One of the students that has changed throughout the book is Diondra Jordan.

     In the beginning of the story, Diondra starts out as a very shy person that is self-conscious about showing off her artwork.  In the story it said, "I'm an artist, like Raul. This difference is I don't tell anybody. I refuse to give them new reasons to laugh at me.". This shows that she is self conscious about what she loves doing.  In the book she also said, "I've been drawing since I can't remember when. Not that anyone where knows that..." This shows that Diondra is shy about taking pride in her artwork, unlike Raul is. It also shows that she hasn't broken out of her shell, and has walls surrounding herself.

       As the story progresses, Diondra slowly started to show off her art and breaks out of her shell.  In the story she says, "He's part of the reasons I don't mind people looking at my drawings anymore." This shows that Raul (who she was talking about) has inspired her to not keep her talent a secret.  In the book she also said, "The drawing was good. The eyes did look right through you. Maybe I should try working on the rest of the face." This shows that after a while she has started gaining confidence is her art.  In Diondra's poem, High Dive, she states, "I take a deep breath, dip the tip of mu my brush into sky,  take one long leap and ... to be continued". This shows that she is becoming more open with her classmates, and is giving them a look into how she feels about her artwork. In her last chapter she had art school brochures and wanted to get a scholarship to an art school.  This shows that she has become more open and confident, especially with the idea of sharing her art to other people.

       Overall, Diondra has changed because she became more confident with herself and was less shy by the end of the story.  In the beginning of the story, she didn't like to show her work, and kept it a secret because she thought she would get made fun of. At the end of the story, she realized that her art was good, and stepped out of her comfort zone and started sharing her art.  She has changed because she overcame her shyness, and self consciousness.

       The elements of a story effect each other in many ways.  The setting influences how the characters act, talk, and think, and what conflicts they are going to have regarding the setting.   The plot influences what the setting is going to be, and what conflicts are going to make up the story. The conflict effects how the characters are going to act, and what setting the story iso going to be taking place in. The characters effect what the setting is going to be, and what the conflicts are going to be like.  Each one ties into another one, it's basically the term 'vice versa' over and over again. In conclusion, they're all connected somehow.

     
   

Spine Poem

Evaluate Poem First!

Poem - Dreamland - Salvaged Pages- Small Steps - Things not Seen - Hope was Here - Reached 

This poem's theme is dreams, and goals.  It is about dreams and goals because the poem is based on what a person went through for their dream/goal to become an accomplishment.

 The message hidden behind the picture/poem is that there is a way to make your dreams come true, you just have to go out, have perseverance, and motivation. 

The main point of the poem is that there are many steps and difficulties you have to go through to make your dream become a reality.

The way I visualized it was that there was a person who had always dreamed of their life goals and achievements.(Dreamland)  They would save money, memories, and anything that would help them in succeeding. (Salvaged Pages) In order to make their dream come true they gradually took small steps from when they were a child to an adult. (Small Steps).  Despite how motivated they were, other people saw no value to his/her dream and didn't understand. (Things not Seen)  However, that didn't let the person stop believing and hoping in their dreams/goals. (Hope was Here) Finally, after all that hard work they did, they reached their goal. (Reached)

Found Poem

Evaluate Poem First!

Poem - It's beautiful, big, empty, and dry.  The aroma will be warm inside. The outdoor sounds are sensitive and calm.

This poem's theme is Nature. This is the theme because the poem is marking the significance and beauty of nature. (I pictured a desert.)

The message is more hidden, and it's to pay attention more to the environment.

The main point of each word is to describe just how spectacular the desert is, even if there's not much too it.

Overall, this poem marks the acknowledgment of the beauty in nature. 

"Where I'm From" Poem

Bronx Perspectives Take One - 2/15/16

       Bronx Masquerade is a book about teenagers in high school who express their true feelings and experiences through poetry at their open mike fridays, during class.  Each and every student has a back story to them that they keep to themselves.  They all seem seem to have issues, yet they don't like openly discussing about them and tend to drop hints of these issues in their poetry.  Tyrone, which is the main character, always reflects on the person and their poems after they perform. 

       Each student in the book all have an issue.  Some of these issues being bigger than others.  However, they all have things in common, they just don't know it yet.  For example, Raul Ramirez and Diondra Jordan.  Raul is more of a outspoken confident person, which is the opposite of Diondra.  Despite their difference in personality, they both have art in common.  Raul paints, and Diondra draws.  Nevertheless, Raul likes to show his work and isn't afraid of it being judged, and Diondra keeps her drawing secretive because she is afraid of getting judged.  So in a way, they are both different but they both have a talent in art.

       Two other characters that are different is Lupe and Gloria.  What makes them different is their perspectives.  Gloria is a single teen mom, she has many struggles being a mother and student and it's hard for her to balance being both.  She, in a way, regrets her actions.  She wishes she can do things over again because after she had her kid life has been rough for her.  Lupe on the other hand, really wants a child.  She believes that having a baby young will make her happy, and it won't be a hassle to care for him/her alone.  They both believe differently on having children at a very young age, which makes them different.

       Overall, all of the characters in Bronx Masquerade are different in their own unique ways.  Some of them being more different than others, and some of them being more similar than they think.