W11, #1: Photo Vocab Story

Here are your words for Week 11.  Note: the quiz will be on Monday, May 4th.

oligarchy (n) | equilibrium (n) | to comprise (v) | chivalrous (adj) | latent (adj) | empirical (adj) | besieged (adj) | preponderance (n) | inimical (adj) | ruminant (adj) | to perpetuate (v) | collectivism (n) | subsidiary (adj or n) | to ossify (v) | fanaticism (n) | pretense (n) | denunciation (n) | forlorn (adj) | inveteracy (n) | circumstantial (adj)

You know the drill. Select a photo.  Tell a story. 

Use 10 of the words to do so!

Comments

[Student #1]

The Oligarchy(ruling family) of this land has lived in this castle from time out of mind. Once they commanded legions of chivalrous(honorable) knights, who beseiged(laid seige to, attacked) their enemies' fortresses aat their whim. Once this land was comprised(made of) of such warring kindoms, but now the castle stands forlorn(lonely, forgotten), its latent(sleeping, waiting) power passed away into time as the world moved on. The fanaticism(radical tendencies, enthusiasm) of their subjects long ago ousted these rulers. Now, under the pretence(falsehood, misleading front) of preserving it, it has been made into a gift shop. The ancient castle, once ossified(opposed to change), now seems transient, its mystery is gone. It seems that this shop is inimical(hostile,an enemy) to the majesty this building once contained.

***

Mr. Long's response: I have to admit I loved the gift shop surprise towards the end!

[Student #2]

Harry had been staying at this motel for a couple of weeks now. The motel was comprised* and consisted of 20 rooms and a small pool. Harry was driven to this forlorn* and lonely place by insanity. He claimed to be besieged* and surrounded by hostile forces. His crazy state of mind was not latent* and not easily seen but was certainly inimical* and harmful. His brain had become ossified* and hardened like bone. His mother tried to perpetuate* and save him from oblivion. But, to Harry his mother's opinion was only subsidiary* and secondary to his. His fanaticism* and conduct was becoming increasingly weirder. Harry was once a chivalrous and courageous man who was able to cope with his problems. However, on this particular Monday morning Harry woke up in a place other than his bed.

[Student #3]

The swans of destiny

There once was a kingdom with a high ruling oligarchy. Every ten years the rebel army would begin to bombard this kingdom with a series of attacks. But no matter what the rebels threw at the besieged kingdom it wouldn’t fall. But during the last siege of The Kingdom, the rebels almost broke through the kingdom’s defense. The rebels had help from the chivalrous hero Seymour. Seymour obtained his power from the swans if destiny. There are located somewhere in the dynasty of Motel 6. When he found them he touched them both at the same time. The swans have the ability to release the seal over humans. The swans Unleashed the latent power that that was stored in him. But instead of calling room service to help the swans Seymour used his powers and ossified both swans turning them into bone. Seymour learned this ability from the empirical army’s general. The general had no name he was just the general. The general was comprised of many abilities. His favorite ability was to perpetuate the deficiency of the human senses. But the Dictator of The Kingdom arranged a denunciation for the general so that he would have to leave. The general would soon join the rebellion. The rebellion soon became inveteracy. Occurring sooner and earlier than expected the kingdom was caught off guard repeatedly. The pretense of when the rebels would attack was completely wrong. And on the 1000000000 attempt the rebels overthrew The kingdom.

[Student #4]

What makes us so great? We've defied them, that's all, these nobles. It was they who are supposed to rule in this oligarchy possessed country, yet I do not remember swearing allegiance to them. What makes them better than us? Aren't they just men, like us? Yet, they treat us like slaves, mindless dogs sent here to do their bidding. Why?

It was this treatment of us, that spawned our hatred for them which caused us to rebel against their control. And it was that hatred that now causes us to refuse their comprising of land and title in attempt to appease the ravaging horde we've become, and continue to fight. But, what makes us better than the men we are fighting? My wife thinks I'm chivalrous for my actions, filled with honesty and courage she says I am, yet, I do not feel it and I may not believe it. Is it possible I can't feel it, for some reason? Are my emotions ossifying, becoming cold, hard and numb to feelings.

Their argument is that we are lesser, subsidiary things, yet who gave them their power and preponderance? We did. Does that not make us more powerful? Can we not take it back? I do not desire their power or land, not even do I desire title, for these are but false pretenses, used to appease. All I desire is to be treated as a fellow equal, as they treat each other. But to accomplish this, I realize, we must have a balance, an equilibrium of power. And yet, my heart sinks like the sun in the sky, giving way to the darkness and shadow of night, to know that the nobles would never consent without bloodshed.

Thirteen days ago we besieged the castle of Vayne, surrounding it with sharpened swords of liberty. It was the first cry of defiance and resistance to their claim of control. In that single act we let known our denunciation of the nobles, and the reality that we would not be ruled by them any longer. From that act a battle cry has erupted and has ceased to stop. But, why do I continue to follow and lend my voice to it?

A man once told me, an army is like a strong chain. What that meant, I never knew until now. A chain may be able to resist unimaginable strain to accomplish a task, yet it is only as strong as its weakest link. I have no desire to become that link and abandon my fellow brethren and the dream we fight to make reality. Because I do not, as well as my fellow soldiers, this chain shall not be broken, and we will use it to free ourselves from oppression under the nobles. We will use it to gain Freedom!

[Student #5]

Behind the walls of the castle we all felt safe. They seemed to create an equilibrium* between us and the outside world. We were without fear of preponderance*, there is no way we could become outnumbered and harmed. The walls may seem inimical* as if usually to obstruct or harm but the walls were to everyone's advantage, especially the oligarchy's* who had many enemies unable to besiege* or capture their control. Although we may seem a subsidiary* group, seeing as we are only swans. Under collectivism* we are seen as much more important than say squirrels, under the pretense* that we are actually useful and chivalrous* to the world, even if all we really do is swim around and look pretty and expensive. Without us the castle would look very forlorn* and dreary.

[Student #6]

She stares helplessly through the crack from within the closet door. The man’s threats had ossified her into a fearful still. Her bounded fingers shook nervously in their bandages. The man’s preponderance was tenfold compared to her. She was but a latent bruised child, in comparison to him. The motel she was in was being besieged by police and yet the man persisted on resisting. He was set on perpetuating his name within history as the forlorn man whose fanaticism went uncontrollable. However, all the tv channels were broadcasting the denunciation of the crazed lunatic who captured a subsidiary motel maid. Tears rolled down her cheeks, as she noticed blurry chivalrous officers in blue storm the room. She cried even harder as the man’s finger clamped down on the glossing velvet button, and the TNT lined vest on her body burst into a sun of fireworks.