Some of the earliest footage of our family-videos includes me retelling The Cat in the Hat for my great grandfather. I couldn't read, but I had the entire book memorized, and I could retell it if I had the pictures to guide me.Every year at our extended family Christmas party, the kids put on a talent show for their parents. It's usually a musical event/piano recital. When I was ten however, my mom decided it would be a nice change to have me memorize The Night Before Christmas and tell the story while she held up the book and turned the pages.
When I was in seventh grade, I participated in the South Jordan Middle School story telling contest. It was an assignment for all seventh grade English classes. We had to memorize a short story, then stand up in class and retell it. The two kids with the highest score from each class could advance to the school "competition". I was very surprised when they told me that I would get to go on. Surprisingly, I ended up having a blast retelling the story to a kiva full of students, and I got to skip out of running the mile in gym that day.
I believe these things led to my love for memorizing random things. Newspaper articles, poems, notes from friends, whatever, if it's interesting, I might memorize it. I know it's weird, but I do this occasionally. For instance, I liked memorizing those stupid poems and chants for Mrs. Yates class just because they were fun to recite later. This week, I read a funny story and randomly decided to memorize it. That was fun, so then I remembered that I wanted to memorize the lyrics to The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and did so.
Now I need your help. I'm going crazy! I need something good to memorize. Any suggestions?
14 comments:
Again, a topic I feel strongly about and the subject of one of my college papers. I think memorization of rhetoric and literature is becoming a lost art.
Some of my favorite assignments in school were memorization. I can still remember most of the things I memorized: The Preamble, The Gettysburg Address, and various poems. I have a current project to brush up on 100 lines of Shakespeare I had to learn a few years ago. Unfortunately, my more recent efforts haven't been retained as easily as the grade school ones.
You, by the way, have an astounding memory. It's a wonder to behold.
That was my suggestion, by the way, the Gettysburg Address--if you don't already have that one in the repertoire.
Well, maybe you should stick with your namesake and memorize the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica. I know it might take a while, but you're a champ! You Can Do It!! (Tee hee!)
Hey chica, are you online right now? I left a message on your home phone, but I doubt you'll get it anytime soon. Give me a ring, eh?
Is it YOU?!!!
Did you memorize that November poem? and say it for role call? Cause I sure did. Ah.... good times in Yates class.
I love memorizing things. One of my favorites to recite is 'The Jabberwocky' (thanks goes to Melissa for teaching it to me). I have no idea how to spell that, but it is very fun.
I think you should memorize 'The Highwayman' and then recite it all dramatic, like Anne of Green Gables does. Have you seen that? Oh classic.
If you do, I will give you a standing ovation and bob my head--a la Gilbert Blythe.
Melissa-
That's interesting that this is two of your college papers I've hit on the head.
I haven't ever memorized the Gettysburg address, shame on me! I'll get on it after May 10.
Brooke-
Maybe I'll read one first, and then memorize it.
Did you mean to put "is it in you?" Of course it's in me! I've been ready for this my whole life!
Michelle-
I did learn that November poem. My line was "No locomotion". I think I saw Anne of Green Gables...once. A long time ago.
3 out of your 7 posts have been the subject of college papers(counting the homework assignment I gave you). That's over 40%. Pretty amazing, I'd say. I think the trend may be at it's peak, though. That is, unless you have upcoming installments involving hemophilia, Robert Burns, or Jungian archetypes.
The Gilbert Blythe thing is an old joke. My friend and I used to do the head bob whenever we attended an event that involved applauding. It's fun; I promise.
Perhaps I could go for 50% and write a post about a bastard, or "daugher of earth" or something along those lines.
Heh. Just kidding.
*hangs head in shame*
Memorizing The Highwayman would be simple if you listened to Loreena Mckennit's rendition of the poem put into song. Then we could have a recital and you would receive a standing ovation and an encore. If the dramatic side of Alfred Noyes doesn't suit, you could always recite his humerous 'Daddy Fell into the Pond'. I can envision you reciting this poem. It is a beautiful thing.
May 10th was Chem test day! Wahoo. Hmm, this is interesting to me. That's all.
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