1. What does this story signify?
Mansfield's The Garden Party explains the meaning of life to different people. It begins with her and her family whose biggest concern is getting the marquee set up and having everything ready for the dinner party. The story then switches to another family down the road. This family has just lost a father and husband. Their biggest concern is just getting through a loss.
2. How does it signify?
Through the story the main character, Laura, seems to be confused on how to deal with certain situations. In the beginning, she can barely speak to the working men because of how nervous she is. After meeting them she is astounded at how kind they are. She brings this up to different members of the family throughout the story. When the garden party is about to begin, Laura finds out that a man just down the road has died. She is hit so hard by sadness she immediately decides the party cannot go on. Of course there cannot be a party when the family down the road is mourning for a lost loved one. She then again has her mind changed after talking with her mother and then seeing how beautiful she looks in the hat she plans to wear. Laura has now gone from material things being of most importance to true feelings and then back to materialism. Towards the end of the story she must go back and visit the family down the road to take them a meal. While there, she seems a man asleep. She says to herself that this man isn't worried about where a marquee will go, how the flowers will look, and what hat he will wear, in fact she apologizes for even wearing a hat. Laura sees how content this man is and realizes that all the things she has been worried about all day will never bring her happiness. Even after her very successful dinner party, she cannot stop bringing up how marvelous her visit to neighbors house was, the house with no marquee, flowers, hats, or dozens of people.
I was a little off from what the last student stated. I saw the difference in the rich family and poor family, but didn't catch on the the flight aspect until she introduced it. In future "cases," I think I need to look closer at the words used to describe actions. This seems to be the way the last student came up with her main idea and details to support it.
Comparing Laura to Persephone brings a completely new depth to the story, even deeper than the 3rd writer's response. Just as the author has repeated over and over, that means that this work is not an original, it reflects another earlier work. Also, instead of simply social classes being revealed, life and death are now in the picture and seem to reflect Persephone's story almost exactly, but with the work of the writer it is nearly hidden.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Assigment VI
One Story
An archetype is the original patter or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or are based. Fairytales tend to all follow the same outline. There's always a lady who has had a rough life searching for something more, love, a man searching for his true love, and some sort of enemy whose purpose is to keep this love from falling into place. A familiar example of this is Cinderella. Cinderella is the lady who has been a maid all of her life. The man, Prince Charming, has a ball arranged in order for him to meet new women. The enemy, or in this case enemies, are Cinderella's evil step sisters and step mother who are constantly keeping her locked up and out of Prince Charming's search for his lost love.
...And Rarely Just an Illness
I Am Legend shows a characters death in a novel that represents much more than a loss. In I Am Legend, Robert Neville is the last survivor of a disease that swept through the city of Los Angeles. He and his dog, Sam, live together as he works on finding a cure. The infected survivors, or vampires, still live in this area, but can only come out at night due to the sunlight. When Sam gets bitten by a vampire, it is clear to Robert that she will soon become one too. He sits with her on her last night to give her a shot that will put her to sleep. Sam represented sanity in Robert. She was his only other non-infected companion, and his only friend. After her death, Robert loses it. He begins acting crazy like the vampires and even attempts to kill himself. And even after he finds two other survivors, he never fully connects with them but keeps to himself, as if he now fears anything he gets close to will be taken away too soon. This death reflects a few of the principles. First, its origin is mysterious. If the death had a known cause and cure, then Robert's sense of losing himself would be completely taken from the death scene. Second, the death proved to be more than just a lose of one characters life, but of another characters whole sense of being.
An archetype is the original patter or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or are based. Fairytales tend to all follow the same outline. There's always a lady who has had a rough life searching for something more, love, a man searching for his true love, and some sort of enemy whose purpose is to keep this love from falling into place. A familiar example of this is Cinderella. Cinderella is the lady who has been a maid all of her life. The man, Prince Charming, has a ball arranged in order for him to meet new women. The enemy, or in this case enemies, are Cinderella's evil step sisters and step mother who are constantly keeping her locked up and out of Prince Charming's search for his lost love.
...And Rarely Just an Illness
I Am Legend shows a characters death in a novel that represents much more than a loss. In I Am Legend, Robert Neville is the last survivor of a disease that swept through the city of Los Angeles. He and his dog, Sam, live together as he works on finding a cure. The infected survivors, or vampires, still live in this area, but can only come out at night due to the sunlight. When Sam gets bitten by a vampire, it is clear to Robert that she will soon become one too. He sits with her on her last night to give her a shot that will put her to sleep. Sam represented sanity in Robert. She was his only other non-infected companion, and his only friend. After her death, Robert loses it. He begins acting crazy like the vampires and even attempts to kill himself. And even after he finds two other survivors, he never fully connects with them but keeps to himself, as if he now fears anything he gets close to will be taken away too soon. This death reflects a few of the principles. First, its origin is mysterious. If the death had a known cause and cure, then Robert's sense of losing himself would be completely taken from the death scene. Second, the death proved to be more than just a lose of one characters life, but of another characters whole sense of being.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Book List
1. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (1915), 76 pages. This book was suggested to me by my brother. Knowing I'm not a big reader, he said, "It's really short you can finish it within a week." Of course that fact appealed to me, but also the storyline behind the book. I've struggled in reaching the deeper meanings of books, and while reading a summary of this book, the deeper meaning was given. Although this may spoil the search for the deeper meaning for some, it will definitely be a good book to start off the year by helping me get back into the routine of deeper reading.
2. Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott (1884), 78 pages. This book was suggested to me by my dad. Like me, reading is not his first choice. Also, like me, math and science are his strong subjects. He explained to me that Flatland is a book about different dimensional worlds. The geometry aspect immediately appealed to me. After reading reviews I was also interested in the controversial ideas of politics and the view of women, the military, the upper class in the 1800s and how these ideas can be connected and turned into a story through a sort of mathematics.
3. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951), 288 pages. I hear this book discussed so often I feel like it's a book that any well-read person has read. I looked up a summary on Amazon and was completely captivated by the storyline. The reviewer explained that this book, in short, is about a boy who is trying to preserve innocence in his society. I love children and the imagination and ambition and fearlessness that radiates from them constantly. I envy those traits in fact. Although this book is lengthier than the previous books I chose, I feel I can handle a variety of lengths of books. Also, from the reviews this book is apparently not the easiest read, but I think attempting to read a "hard" book of one of my interest is better than jumping into a deep read whose storyline is not interesting to me at all.
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813), 416 pages. This is another famous novel I've always heard about but never read. I really enjoy love stories and too often read much too low of difficulty love stories, so I thought Pride and Prejudice would be somewhat of a love story to help introduce me to a more difficult, substantial read. Pride and Prejudice is also a longer and bit more challenging read that I am used to, but will be a good start.
5. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003), 400 pages. This book was suggested to me by my sister. She knows about my love for the typical teenage girl books, mostly by Sarah Dessen, and challenged me to read a book that would expand my knowledge of the world, but also see how closely related other countries are to ours. I read a few reviews and found myself interested to see what the two main characters go through and the difference in their opposite lives. The Kite Runner was also described as easy to follow and not too tedious which will be a good break from some higher level reads I have considered reading.
6. 1984 by George Orwell (1948), 368 pages. This book was suggested to me by Ms. Huff. I am very interested in utopia/dystopia novels. Also, I really enjoyed another novel written by Orwell, Animal Farm. I enjoy the extreme descriptions of how people viewed our society to be because of rapid advances in technology and education and in some ways, how accurate they are. I look forward to reading another dystopian novel and comparing it with the previous book by Orwell that I've read and also other novels of the same genre I've read.
7. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (1719), 290 pages. This book was suggested to me by my dad, however after reading the first few pages showed to be a very challenging read with the diction. If in fact I become very ambitious at some point this year and decide to really challenge myself, I would love to read this novel in order to be inspired and challenged to truly follow my dreams, not the dreams others have chosen for me.
8. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1880-first novel where part I and part II were the same book), 464 pages. This book was suggested to me by my aunts. They said they remembered reading this book over and over when they were younger and loved especially when my grandmom would read it to them. Not only am I interested in the story, I am also excited to be able to discuss it with them while reading it and once I am finished. Although this book is longer than previous ones I have chosen, the short times it takes me to read smaller books will allow longer time to read the lengthier ones.
9. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (1987), 160 pages. This novel is another that I'm just familar with the title. After reading a few reviews though, I am very interested. I am a huge fan of broadway, and the storyline seemed to be one I could get hooked to instantly. Some of the reviews given were by junior high students, so the reading level should be an easier one, but hopefully the big idea of the story will be much more in depth.
10. Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl (1959), 168 pages. This book was suggested to me by my brother. We were discussing my areas of interests in reading and I mentioned that I was very interested in the Holocaust. He immediately suggested and encouraged me to read this book because of the different outlook this man had on the concetration camps at that time. He was a Jewish doctor, a man who had everything, yet still saw hope even in the concentration camp. I look forward to reading this book and learning even more about the Holocaust.
2. Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott (1884), 78 pages. This book was suggested to me by my dad. Like me, reading is not his first choice. Also, like me, math and science are his strong subjects. He explained to me that Flatland is a book about different dimensional worlds. The geometry aspect immediately appealed to me. After reading reviews I was also interested in the controversial ideas of politics and the view of women, the military, the upper class in the 1800s and how these ideas can be connected and turned into a story through a sort of mathematics.
3. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951), 288 pages. I hear this book discussed so often I feel like it's a book that any well-read person has read. I looked up a summary on Amazon and was completely captivated by the storyline. The reviewer explained that this book, in short, is about a boy who is trying to preserve innocence in his society. I love children and the imagination and ambition and fearlessness that radiates from them constantly. I envy those traits in fact. Although this book is lengthier than the previous books I chose, I feel I can handle a variety of lengths of books. Also, from the reviews this book is apparently not the easiest read, but I think attempting to read a "hard" book of one of my interest is better than jumping into a deep read whose storyline is not interesting to me at all.
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813), 416 pages. This is another famous novel I've always heard about but never read. I really enjoy love stories and too often read much too low of difficulty love stories, so I thought Pride and Prejudice would be somewhat of a love story to help introduce me to a more difficult, substantial read. Pride and Prejudice is also a longer and bit more challenging read that I am used to, but will be a good start.
5. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003), 400 pages. This book was suggested to me by my sister. She knows about my love for the typical teenage girl books, mostly by Sarah Dessen, and challenged me to read a book that would expand my knowledge of the world, but also see how closely related other countries are to ours. I read a few reviews and found myself interested to see what the two main characters go through and the difference in their opposite lives. The Kite Runner was also described as easy to follow and not too tedious which will be a good break from some higher level reads I have considered reading.
6. 1984 by George Orwell (1948), 368 pages. This book was suggested to me by Ms. Huff. I am very interested in utopia/dystopia novels. Also, I really enjoyed another novel written by Orwell, Animal Farm. I enjoy the extreme descriptions of how people viewed our society to be because of rapid advances in technology and education and in some ways, how accurate they are. I look forward to reading another dystopian novel and comparing it with the previous book by Orwell that I've read and also other novels of the same genre I've read.
7. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (1719), 290 pages. This book was suggested to me by my dad, however after reading the first few pages showed to be a very challenging read with the diction. If in fact I become very ambitious at some point this year and decide to really challenge myself, I would love to read this novel in order to be inspired and challenged to truly follow my dreams, not the dreams others have chosen for me.
8. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1880-first novel where part I and part II were the same book), 464 pages. This book was suggested to me by my aunts. They said they remembered reading this book over and over when they were younger and loved especially when my grandmom would read it to them. Not only am I interested in the story, I am also excited to be able to discuss it with them while reading it and once I am finished. Although this book is longer than previous ones I have chosen, the short times it takes me to read smaller books will allow longer time to read the lengthier ones.
9. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (1987), 160 pages. This novel is another that I'm just familar with the title. After reading a few reviews though, I am very interested. I am a huge fan of broadway, and the storyline seemed to be one I could get hooked to instantly. Some of the reviews given were by junior high students, so the reading level should be an easier one, but hopefully the big idea of the story will be much more in depth.
10. Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl (1959), 168 pages. This book was suggested to me by my brother. We were discussing my areas of interests in reading and I mentioned that I was very interested in the Holocaust. He immediately suggested and encouraged me to read this book because of the different outlook this man had on the concetration camps at that time. He was a Jewish doctor, a man who had everything, yet still saw hope even in the concentration camp. I look forward to reading this book and learning even more about the Holocaust.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Assignment V
Sex scenes are often used in order to insinuate that couples do engage in that activity. However, a scene described in To Kill A Mockingbird is used for the exact opposite assumption.
Tom Robinson has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Being of a different race in these tough times, he is immediately decided guilty by the town. During the trial, Tom, Mayella, and each witness gives their side of the story. Tom explains that he was just helping Mayella like he had many times before. Mayella starts by saying Tom came in to help her, but ended up taking advantage of her. Mr. Ewell then says that while working outside, he heard his daughter scream. He quickly ran inside to find his daughter being "taken advantage of" by Tom. Although the description in the book goes a bit more in detail, no specific details of the actual rape are spoken of, however, specific details of what Tom was doing to help Mayella are mentioned; also, details of previous times he had given Mayella a hand in fixing something.
From these scenes, character traits are quickly developed. At this point in the novel, the reader finally realizes that Tom, in fact, did not rape Mayella. Tom is an honest, kind man who was truly trying to be help to a white woman he thought deserved help. Mayella proves to be a fearful daughter, willing to lie in a trial simply to satisfy her father. And Mr. Ewell proves to be a terribly racist man in need of money or simply attention from the public, but most apparent, a liar. Also, respect is quickly gained for Atticus from the reader by realizing he is a wealthy, well-known white man who is defending a poor black man simply because he believes in justice and fair punishment.
Although sex scenes are usually vague in order to avoid awkward and inappropriate descriptions, the avoided description in the trial of To Kill A Mockingbird was to point out previously unclear characteristics of the certain characters.
Tom Robinson has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Being of a different race in these tough times, he is immediately decided guilty by the town. During the trial, Tom, Mayella, and each witness gives their side of the story. Tom explains that he was just helping Mayella like he had many times before. Mayella starts by saying Tom came in to help her, but ended up taking advantage of her. Mr. Ewell then says that while working outside, he heard his daughter scream. He quickly ran inside to find his daughter being "taken advantage of" by Tom. Although the description in the book goes a bit more in detail, no specific details of the actual rape are spoken of, however, specific details of what Tom was doing to help Mayella are mentioned; also, details of previous times he had given Mayella a hand in fixing something.
From these scenes, character traits are quickly developed. At this point in the novel, the reader finally realizes that Tom, in fact, did not rape Mayella. Tom is an honest, kind man who was truly trying to be help to a white woman he thought deserved help. Mayella proves to be a fearful daughter, willing to lie in a trial simply to satisfy her father. And Mr. Ewell proves to be a terribly racist man in need of money or simply attention from the public, but most apparent, a liar. Also, respect is quickly gained for Atticus from the reader by realizing he is a wealthy, well-known white man who is defending a poor black man simply because he believes in justice and fair punishment.
Although sex scenes are usually vague in order to avoid awkward and inappropriate descriptions, the avoided description in the trial of To Kill A Mockingbird was to point out previously unclear characteristics of the certain characters.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Assignment IV
In Aldous Huxley's novel, Brave New World, flight symbolizes freedom. Bernard Marx lives in a wanna-be Utopian society where every person has now say in how their life is going to be used. As the novel begins, it is obvious Bernard is different from the typical member of this society. He often questions why no one has a say in their life and what gave the government the authority to decide this for it's people. He also becomes attracted to a women, only one woman, which is looked down upon. In fact, he gets very offended when hearing two guys throw around descriptions of their sexual experiences with her, a common conversation topic. Bernard asks The Director, the leader of this society, if he can visit The Reservation. The Reservation is a very different society outside of this "perfect" one. Bernard flies to The Reservation, but does not fly just to get there. This flight smbolizes Bernard's freedom from the "perfect" society he lives in to a normal society, to us, but uncontrolled society to him. Once he is to The Reservation he is allowed to break free of the status quo he must up hold in his old society and is allowed to question the values, if there are any, of that society. He is also free to decide whether to stay in The Reservation forever or return back to The Director's society.
Assignment III
Foster explains that weather in a work of literature, "is never just weather." It always symbolizes a major theme of the novel. One novel where choice of weather is a device used for symbolism is The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Narnia is under the control of the White Witch which symbolizes Satan. With the help of four children, Narnia is soon to be back under the control of it's true leader, Aslan, who symbolizes Christ. When Edmund first enters Narnia, it is covered in snow and ice, and is also currently under the control of the White Witch. Snow clearly symbolizes the absence of life. Those who have not given their lives to Christ and accept His forgiveness are believed to go to Hell for the rest of eternity. Although Hell is thought to be the opposite of snow and cold, they both symbolize similar attributes. When winter begins arriving, leaves fall off of trees and flowers stop growing. Only a small portion of nature can survive in these conditions. In fact, some mammals completely separate themselves from these conditions by hibernating all winter. The life of nature withers away until the arrival of spring and summer. When Aslan once again gains control, the snow melts away and an image of nature in the spring and the summer becomes apparent. Those who go to Heaven are believed to have eternal life. Just like those souls, the nature of spring and summer reflect abundance of life and the variety of living beings that can survive.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Assignment II
Now, where have I seen her before?
Intertextuality is the whole network of relations that makes a text. Simply, the relationship between texts.
Utopia and dystopia works of literature immediately came to mind when thinking of examples to compare. Two famous works, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Anthem by Ayn Rand, show similarities in characters and how the characters are treated in each story.
In Brave New World, a caste system somewhat is developed before each human is even born. In the "Central London Hatching and Conditioning Center," embryos are maintained in certain conditions depending on their classification: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, or Epsilon. Alpha's being the highest class of thinkers and leaders, and each of the succeeding not getting as much nutrition in order to assure less mental and physical attributes. The lowest class, Epsilon, are even given a type of shot in order to injure part of their brain, so they can be used strictly for labor without any disagreement. Once born and given a place in society, no person can change that decision.
In Anthem, a system is also used in order to place it's members into society. From birth until the age of fifteen, each child lives together and goes to school together. No families are allowed to develop and no love or affection is shown to anyone. At the age of fifteen each child goes to a ceremony where The Council announces to him and the public which title he will go by and which job he will perform every day. At the top are the Home of the Scholars who together develop new technology together for the society and at the bottom are the Street Sweepers, those who simply clean the streets each day. Equality 7-2521, the main character, had always been treated poorly by teachers due to his intelligence and abstract thinking and also because of a physical flaw this society might say, great height. On the "big day," Equality has high hopes of becoming part of the Home of the Scholars, but is soon disappointed by his assignment of Street Sweeper. Since no one has a voice to change their duty, Equality continues in quiet about his astounding discovery.
In both Brave New World and Anthem, classes are assigned to each person in society and this class can never be changed. Also, these classes are based on physical and mental traits that are either caused by the "leaders" or assessed by the "leaders."
When in Doubt, It's from Shakespeare...
The play West Side Story reflects Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet almost to a tee. Romeo and Juliet begins in the city of Verona. Two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, reside here, but are sworn enemies. Likewise in West Side Story, the Sharks and the Jets are two rival gangs living in the same city. Romeo and Juliet's love is exactly like Maria and Tony's love, forbidden. In both plays, the lovers meet at a dance and immediately know they relationship will have to be secret. The Sharks and the Jets, and the Montagues and the Capulets all find out about each relationship and strongly discourage it. Both Tony and Romeo commit a murder of Juliet and Maria's side of the enemies, but this doesn't stop either love. Many other details in the plot of both plays are exactly alike but the themes are also very similar too. The strength of love is portrayed in both. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo kills a member of the Capulets, Juliet's family. In West Side Story, Tony kills Maria's brother. After both of these shocking events, the love between the two couples doesn't change at all and their future plans to be together, even though it's forbidden, remain the same. Also, unreasonable violence leads no closer to peace and separation, but closer to even more violence. Using the examples of both deaths again, if Romeo and Juliet, and Tony and Maria had been sociably acceptable couples in the beginning, the deaths of the person in each work would have never occurred.
Intertextuality is the whole network of relations that makes a text. Simply, the relationship between texts.
Utopia and dystopia works of literature immediately came to mind when thinking of examples to compare. Two famous works, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Anthem by Ayn Rand, show similarities in characters and how the characters are treated in each story.
In Brave New World, a caste system somewhat is developed before each human is even born. In the "Central London Hatching and Conditioning Center," embryos are maintained in certain conditions depending on their classification: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, or Epsilon. Alpha's being the highest class of thinkers and leaders, and each of the succeeding not getting as much nutrition in order to assure less mental and physical attributes. The lowest class, Epsilon, are even given a type of shot in order to injure part of their brain, so they can be used strictly for labor without any disagreement. Once born and given a place in society, no person can change that decision.
In Anthem, a system is also used in order to place it's members into society. From birth until the age of fifteen, each child lives together and goes to school together. No families are allowed to develop and no love or affection is shown to anyone. At the age of fifteen each child goes to a ceremony where The Council announces to him and the public which title he will go by and which job he will perform every day. At the top are the Home of the Scholars who together develop new technology together for the society and at the bottom are the Street Sweepers, those who simply clean the streets each day. Equality 7-2521, the main character, had always been treated poorly by teachers due to his intelligence and abstract thinking and also because of a physical flaw this society might say, great height. On the "big day," Equality has high hopes of becoming part of the Home of the Scholars, but is soon disappointed by his assignment of Street Sweeper. Since no one has a voice to change their duty, Equality continues in quiet about his astounding discovery.
In both Brave New World and Anthem, classes are assigned to each person in society and this class can never be changed. Also, these classes are based on physical and mental traits that are either caused by the "leaders" or assessed by the "leaders."
When in Doubt, It's from Shakespeare...
The play West Side Story reflects Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet almost to a tee. Romeo and Juliet begins in the city of Verona. Two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, reside here, but are sworn enemies. Likewise in West Side Story, the Sharks and the Jets are two rival gangs living in the same city. Romeo and Juliet's love is exactly like Maria and Tony's love, forbidden. In both plays, the lovers meet at a dance and immediately know they relationship will have to be secret. The Sharks and the Jets, and the Montagues and the Capulets all find out about each relationship and strongly discourage it. Both Tony and Romeo commit a murder of Juliet and Maria's side of the enemies, but this doesn't stop either love. Many other details in the plot of both plays are exactly alike but the themes are also very similar too. The strength of love is portrayed in both. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo kills a member of the Capulets, Juliet's family. In West Side Story, Tony kills Maria's brother. After both of these shocking events, the love between the two couples doesn't change at all and their future plans to be together, even though it's forbidden, remain the same. Also, unreasonable violence leads no closer to peace and separation, but closer to even more violence. Using the examples of both deaths again, if Romeo and Juliet, and Tony and Maria had been sociably acceptable couples in the beginning, the deaths of the person in each work would have never occurred.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Assignment I
One of my favorite novels, Of Mice and Men, presented a clear quest of two characters striving towards one goal in the beginning, but reaching another in the end.
1. Our quester: two men, Lennie and George, who have been best friends since they were small children. Lennie is a large, mentally disabled man who relies on George, a small, sharp man, to get through each day.
2. A place to go: George and Lennie are dropped off by a bus many miles from where they are to start work on a plantation. They must first make it through camping together one night in order to make it to their destination where…
3. A stated reason to go there: George has a dream of owning his own land and starting a farm where he and Lennie can live together without having a boss.
4. Challenges and trials: Lennie is mentally disabled which holds back George from already fulfilling his dream. Lennie doesn’t understand or know how to control his own strength. George has to continuously cover for Lennie in order for the two to keep their job and keep earning money. Also, Curly’s wife, a much too flirtatious women, causes the biggest challenge of all, George’s decision of how to truly save Lennie from an awful, life-threatening mistake. Wealth presents reoccurring trials throughout the book because in society, the strong, or rich, always defeat the weak, the poor. Reaching the “American Dream” is also an impossible dream to reach that is George’s main goal.
5. The real reason to go: George has always been just as attached to Lennie as Lennie was dependent on him. Throughout the quest, George discovers more and more that Lennie is not capable of living the perfect life style George has set up for him in his imagination. Also, George realizes that no one is capable of living that perfect lifestyle, not even himself. Through continuous struggles to earn enough money for the all-important acre of land, George learns that hard and constant work can never buy true happiness and also learns what it is to be a true friend to Lennie, knowing exactly what is best for him.
1. Our quester: two men, Lennie and George, who have been best friends since they were small children. Lennie is a large, mentally disabled man who relies on George, a small, sharp man, to get through each day.
2. A place to go: George and Lennie are dropped off by a bus many miles from where they are to start work on a plantation. They must first make it through camping together one night in order to make it to their destination where…
3. A stated reason to go there: George has a dream of owning his own land and starting a farm where he and Lennie can live together without having a boss.
4. Challenges and trials: Lennie is mentally disabled which holds back George from already fulfilling his dream. Lennie doesn’t understand or know how to control his own strength. George has to continuously cover for Lennie in order for the two to keep their job and keep earning money. Also, Curly’s wife, a much too flirtatious women, causes the biggest challenge of all, George’s decision of how to truly save Lennie from an awful, life-threatening mistake. Wealth presents reoccurring trials throughout the book because in society, the strong, or rich, always defeat the weak, the poor. Reaching the “American Dream” is also an impossible dream to reach that is George’s main goal.
5. The real reason to go: George has always been just as attached to Lennie as Lennie was dependent on him. Throughout the quest, George discovers more and more that Lennie is not capable of living the perfect life style George has set up for him in his imagination. Also, George realizes that no one is capable of living that perfect lifestyle, not even himself. Through continuous struggles to earn enough money for the all-important acre of land, George learns that hard and constant work can never buy true happiness and also learns what it is to be a true friend to Lennie, knowing exactly what is best for him.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Toulmin Model Arguement
Kati Haycock expresses her opinion to the looming question of, "How to raise the status of teachers?" She explains that schools and administrations need to improve teacher training. I agree. Teachers must be better prepared for their position in order to become more respected by our society and in order for more upcoming employees to pursue the field of education. Many teachers today obtain their lessons directly from the textbook, along with the homework worksheets and assignments. This causes their lessons to be repetitive, not interesting to the students, and not beneficial to the teacher. If teachers were required to be better educated in their field, they would have a wider variety of unique information to share with their students to keep them interested in class. Also, requiring teachers to be better educated would benefit them in other aspects of life. In my own school, it is obvious that the teachers who have earned their masters degree are more prepared for teaching and helping their students be successful than those who have just earned the minimum requirements. These teachers don't necessarily make their subject "fun" and easy, but the students seem to enjoy it because they feel like they are actually learning something instead of wasting their time on information they may forget. Although it may be true that many other steps will be required in order for teachers to earn respect from our society, teachers being required to be better educated than they are now would be a major step.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Great Gatsby
Fitzgerald's reflective and hopeless tones portray his idea that Americans continue to push against the current of life and nature, thinking they are bettering the world, but in turn hurting it by destroying its origins.
Fitzgerald uses optimistic diction to describe the old, natural world while he describes the modern times with pessimism. Before the moon brings light to the old times, the narrator sees the current world as "shadowy" and dark with "hardly any lights." As the "inessential houses" of the modern America become hidden, "a fresh, green breast" is seen, the "greatest of all human dreams." Fitzgerald is bringing to light his opinion that all of the new advances that made the 20s the "Roaring Twenties" have destroyed it rather than helped with the building up of the country. He sees the old, traditional world as a very beautiful work and shows that he cannot see this special world until the characteristics of the modern world are gone, or "melt[ed] away."
Fitzgerald wraps up his point with important syntax in the last two paragraphs of the passage. He uses ellipses and dashes which in writing serve as a break in thought or in the case of ellipses, repetition or a never ending thought. Being sucked into the idea he is disagreeing with, Fitzgerald begins describing how "we" will "run faster, stretch out our arms farther," continue doing things we are convinced will help and benefit our country. However, with his very last sentence, Fitzgerald reminds the reader that no matter how much Americans may keep doing in an attempt to help the country, they will continue to be pushed back and held in place without success, just like the boats that continue to go against the current, but make it nowhere.
By using effective diction and syntax, Fitzgerald very clearly expresses his opinion that Americans will continue trying to add to their country in an attempt to benefit and make it better, much like a sailor pushing against the current and convincing himself that he is making process because of his art work, but in the end, staying idle and in one place.
Fitzgerald uses optimistic diction to describe the old, natural world while he describes the modern times with pessimism. Before the moon brings light to the old times, the narrator sees the current world as "shadowy" and dark with "hardly any lights." As the "inessential houses" of the modern America become hidden, "a fresh, green breast" is seen, the "greatest of all human dreams." Fitzgerald is bringing to light his opinion that all of the new advances that made the 20s the "Roaring Twenties" have destroyed it rather than helped with the building up of the country. He sees the old, traditional world as a very beautiful work and shows that he cannot see this special world until the characteristics of the modern world are gone, or "melt[ed] away."
Fitzgerald wraps up his point with important syntax in the last two paragraphs of the passage. He uses ellipses and dashes which in writing serve as a break in thought or in the case of ellipses, repetition or a never ending thought. Being sucked into the idea he is disagreeing with, Fitzgerald begins describing how "we" will "run faster, stretch out our arms farther," continue doing things we are convinced will help and benefit our country. However, with his very last sentence, Fitzgerald reminds the reader that no matter how much Americans may keep doing in an attempt to help the country, they will continue to be pushed back and held in place without success, just like the boats that continue to go against the current, but make it nowhere.
By using effective diction and syntax, Fitzgerald very clearly expresses his opinion that Americans will continue trying to add to their country in an attempt to benefit and make it better, much like a sailor pushing against the current and convincing himself that he is making process because of his art work, but in the end, staying idle and in one place.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
3rd Quarter Reading
I read 3 books, the equilvalent of 6 books.
- The Pact by Jodi Picoult-416 pages
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury-148 pages (classic)
- The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult-385 pages
I really enjoyed reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury because it challenged me more than the other books I read this nine weeks. Guy Montag, the main character, is a fireman. Not the kind of fireman we have today, but a fireman that starts fires in order to keeps books out of the possession of regular people. When one lady is so attached to her books she chooses to burn with them, Montag becomes interested in why these books are so important. He begins secretly collecting and reading books but eventually gets caught by the head fireman. Now, Montag must choose between living in the dark like everyone else or rebelling in order to find out what's being hidden. Fahrenheit 451 used imagery very often to describe different events in the book and also different words that forced me to stretch my vocabulary. Also, the storyline centered around censorship, a characteristic of some Utopias.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Consumerism Quote
A strange species we are. We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much, and I would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, sick.
-John Steinbeck (1902-1968), Letter in The Washington Post, 28 Jan 60
John Steinbeck makes a great point by pointing a finger directly at the American society. Americans are truly blessed and have so much more than they could ever need. However, the percentage of Americans who claim to be "happy" is declining or remaining the same even though our citizens have more possessions than anyone in the past. Steinbeck proposes that in order to destroy a nation, he would give it too much and in turn, the nation would be so thirsty for more they would do anything to obtain it. Many Americans completely ignore the third world counties that are barely surviving, and continue on with their everyday lives of spending on non-necessary possessions. Maybe Americans need these possessions to be taken from them by someone else but themselves in order to see their reliance and dependence on wealth and how great the consequences they face will be.
-John Steinbeck (1902-1968), Letter in The Washington Post, 28 Jan 60
John Steinbeck makes a great point by pointing a finger directly at the American society. Americans are truly blessed and have so much more than they could ever need. However, the percentage of Americans who claim to be "happy" is declining or remaining the same even though our citizens have more possessions than anyone in the past. Steinbeck proposes that in order to destroy a nation, he would give it too much and in turn, the nation would be so thirsty for more they would do anything to obtain it. Many Americans completely ignore the third world counties that are barely surviving, and continue on with their everyday lives of spending on non-necessary possessions. Maybe Americans need these possessions to be taken from them by someone else but themselves in order to see their reliance and dependence on wealth and how great the consequences they face will be.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
McDonald's commercial
Since it would be harder to convince adults to buy fast food, many McDonald's commercials are aimed towards children. The Happy Meal is so irresistible because of the cute, convenient box, the variety choice, and the new toy. In this specific commercial, two girls are having fun eating their Happy Meals together when they hear the sound of a mermaid. They reach in to find their toy, a mermaid. One technique in this commercial is the voice of a child talking instead of an adult. Now, when a younger child is watching it, it's more like a friend talking to them which they're more likely to be able to connect to than an adult authority. Also, the end of the commercial shows the two girls with mermaid tails at the end of their meal. Now, not only can you play with your toy, but you can also look like your toy. McDonald's uses several clever tricks to convince children that McDonald's Happy Meals will be the most rewarding and fun meals.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
A Healthier America
Dieting has become a large part of American life due to obesity levels and the demanding "perfect" image our culture continuously pushes on our citizens. Meredith Melnick wrote a recent article called Weight Watchers' New Point: Zero For Most Fruits and Veggies. In this article, she compares the new point system by Weight Watchers, the PointPlus system, to the old point system, Weight Watchers Points. In the old system, the more calories a food had, the more points it was, the worse it was for you. In the new system, the overall nutritional value of the food is taken into account: the amount of protein, carbs, fat, and fiber. The main reason for this is to show dieters that "a 100-calorie bag of cookies isn't as healthful as a 100-calorie apple."
Many dieting commercials advertise diets that allow you to eat good food, but still lose weight. When did the American mind change that "good" food cannot also be healthy food? I found myself in major agreement with the new point system presented by Weight Watchers' because now, Americans will learn how to not only lose weight, but also learn and make a habit out of eating a healthy diet. I think too many Americans who are dieting dread the process of it because they believe they are not allowed to eat tasteful food. This may also be the cause of the growing problem of obesity in our culture.
I believe if Americans, dieting or not dieting, will use this point system to create their regular eating habit, they will learn that healthy food can also be tasty foods. This will help cause the obesity and even unhealthy levels Americans are on now to decrease.
http://healthland.time.com/2010/11/30/weight-watchers-new-points-zero-for-most-fruits-and-veggies/
Many dieting commercials advertise diets that allow you to eat good food, but still lose weight. When did the American mind change that "good" food cannot also be healthy food? I found myself in major agreement with the new point system presented by Weight Watchers' because now, Americans will learn how to not only lose weight, but also learn and make a habit out of eating a healthy diet. I think too many Americans who are dieting dread the process of it because they believe they are not allowed to eat tasteful food. This may also be the cause of the growing problem of obesity in our culture.
I believe if Americans, dieting or not dieting, will use this point system to create their regular eating habit, they will learn that healthy food can also be tasty foods. This will help cause the obesity and even unhealthy levels Americans are on now to decrease.
http://healthland.time.com/2010/11/30/weight-watchers-new-points-zero-for-most-fruits-and-veggies/
Monday, November 29, 2010
12 Sentence Story
It began at Ms. Peggy's, a house many memories would come from, a house that would become my second home, a house that will forever be a part of my childhood. The house was of no significance; the events tell it all. The regular children Ms. Peggy babysat were there, along with the newer ones, Colten and Chandler. We hid anywhere and everywhere for hide-and-seek: behind the storage building, in the house, or across the street. Me and Colten waited and waited to be found. Suddenly. I didn't know what to do or what to say or what was happening. We had been found, but we still were not it. My hand Colten was now holding. Had my heart ever beaten so fast? We screamed and ran and jumped and finally made it to the safety of the game with our hands still together. The memory that will stay with me forever, a childish happiness I will never forget--the day I held hands with my biggest childhood crush.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
What has your mask become?
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult is about a high school shooting. In the beginning, it starts with the day of the shooting--the before, the during, and the after events. As the story progresses, it goes back in time to these same students in kindergarten and elementary school. One very profound quote during this section of the book was, "If you spent your life concentrating on what everyone else thought of you, would you forget who you really were? What if the face you showed the world turned out to be a mask...with nothing beneath it?"
Peter, the future murderer, was extremely excited about his first day of kindergarten. He was fully prepared long before the bus arrived at his house. However, as soon as he stepped on the bus, his excited mindset changed to terror. He was constantly bullied for the rest of his school years. During this time, Peter's main focus became defending and avoiding his true self in order to avoid the rough contact he came into with other schoolmates. In reality, just as the quote says, his mask did not hide anything beneath it-- Peter's mask became his true identity.
Peter, the future murderer, was extremely excited about his first day of kindergarten. He was fully prepared long before the bus arrived at his house. However, as soon as he stepped on the bus, his excited mindset changed to terror. He was constantly bullied for the rest of his school years. During this time, Peter's main focus became defending and avoiding his true self in order to avoid the rough contact he came into with other schoolmates. In reality, just as the quote says, his mask did not hide anything beneath it-- Peter's mask became his true identity.
In our society, I think people have become extremely obsessed with what others think of them. There are numerous types of surgeries done to change the outward appearance of people, however, the mindset, or inward appearance, must first be changed. For example, a person trying to decide whether to change a certain feature on their face first mentally decides the reason they want this feature changed. Is it to better their health or to draw more attention to themselves? If they decide it is to draw more attention, they have then already decided one of the most important things to them-- being attractive to others. What started out as an outward changed has now turned into an inside or outside change to the person.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Future Reads
Planned books to read during the 2nd nine weeks:
- Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult was suggested to me by a girl in class who encouraged everyone in the class to read it. This book seems to be about a school shooting with the shooter and other people involved points of view. I am interested to see the twist at the end that I've heard about.
- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson was suggested to me by my English teacher. I am interested in reading it because she said it causes you to think deep and challenges you to really understand what you're reading. I am looking for a more challenging read for this nine weeks.
- The Shack by William P. Young was suggested to me by multiple people. I've heard it a very deep book about the different ways a man encounters God. I have read a few religious books in the past, so I look forward to starting another.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
2nd Quarter Annotated Reading List
Picoult, Jodi. Nineteen Minutes. New York: Atria, 2007. Print.
Jodi Picoult presents a whole new outlook on a school shooting. In Sterling High, the main goal is popularity. Grades, sports, and friendships are good, but popularity is key. When a boy who has been bullied since he first stepped on the bus on his first day of Kindergarten becomes fed up with the way others act towards him, every student and family from Sterling High will be changed forever. A devestating event leads to built relationships, startling truths, and completely changed lives.
The realness Picoult accomplishes throughout the story contributes to the empact of the emotions on the reader. Although this book is fiction, the strong emotion felt throughout the book seems as if it all really happened. By doing this, Picoult helps the reader feel every ounce of emotion she felt while writing the book and the emotion of the characters involved in the story.
Young, WM. Paul. The Shack. Newbury Park, CA: Windblown Media, 2007. Print.
Young tells the story of Mackenzie Allen Philip's life after a terrifying death of a daughter. Mack is struggling with letting his daughter, Missy, go after her abduction and recieves a letter from God. This letter tells him to go to the shack where it happened. Knowing the letter couldn't possibly be from the God, Mack dreadfully goes expecting some kind of set up. When he arrives, Mack is in complete awe of his surroundings. The experiences he goes through at his weekend at the shack gives him a new outlook on the murder of his young daughter. His relationship with God will forever be changed.
Young's descriptions with the encounters and conversations Mack has with God brought up new and unthought of reasons for pain in this world. His characters that represent the three parts of the trinity also gives readers an imaginitive view of God in three persons.
Rand, Ayn. Anthem. New York: Dutton, 1995. Print.
Ayn Rand presents a future Utopian society where jobs are chosen for you, everyone dresses the same, and no individualism is to be allowed. When Equality 7-2521, a useless Street Sweeper, dares the branch out and discover something new, he is immediately shunned. Now, the rest of Equality 7-2521 is on a mission to escape and become a part of a different, possibly chaotic world. The darkness Rand uses in the story is very effective by helping portray the dark, simplistic society these people live in. With no exciting events happening outside Equality's rebellion, chaos seems to be more pleasing to the reader than a strict, completely controlled society.
Ludy, Leslie. Set-Apart Femininity. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House, 2008. Print.
Leslie Ludy tackles many uncomfortable ideas for a present teenage girl in the current American society. She challenges young ladies to radically change their lives in ways that seem almost impossible. Ludy explains that by these changes, a stronger, healthier, and more beneficial spiritual realtionship will begin to grow and form. Ludy also explains the different in being a Set-Apart christian and being a christian. The Set-Apart life consists of taking stands against the smallest actions that may cause sin, even if they sometimes seem ridiculous. Ludy's unreasonable challenges really cause the reader to rethink what they believe it means to be a true christian and live a fruitful life.
Jodi Picoult presents a whole new outlook on a school shooting. In Sterling High, the main goal is popularity. Grades, sports, and friendships are good, but popularity is key. When a boy who has been bullied since he first stepped on the bus on his first day of Kindergarten becomes fed up with the way others act towards him, every student and family from Sterling High will be changed forever. A devestating event leads to built relationships, startling truths, and completely changed lives.
The realness Picoult accomplishes throughout the story contributes to the empact of the emotions on the reader. Although this book is fiction, the strong emotion felt throughout the book seems as if it all really happened. By doing this, Picoult helps the reader feel every ounce of emotion she felt while writing the book and the emotion of the characters involved in the story.
Young, WM. Paul. The Shack. Newbury Park, CA: Windblown Media, 2007. Print.
Young tells the story of Mackenzie Allen Philip's life after a terrifying death of a daughter. Mack is struggling with letting his daughter, Missy, go after her abduction and recieves a letter from God. This letter tells him to go to the shack where it happened. Knowing the letter couldn't possibly be from the God, Mack dreadfully goes expecting some kind of set up. When he arrives, Mack is in complete awe of his surroundings. The experiences he goes through at his weekend at the shack gives him a new outlook on the murder of his young daughter. His relationship with God will forever be changed.
Young's descriptions with the encounters and conversations Mack has with God brought up new and unthought of reasons for pain in this world. His characters that represent the three parts of the trinity also gives readers an imaginitive view of God in three persons.
Rand, Ayn. Anthem. New York: Dutton, 1995. Print.
Ayn Rand presents a future Utopian society where jobs are chosen for you, everyone dresses the same, and no individualism is to be allowed. When Equality 7-2521, a useless Street Sweeper, dares the branch out and discover something new, he is immediately shunned. Now, the rest of Equality 7-2521 is on a mission to escape and become a part of a different, possibly chaotic world. The darkness Rand uses in the story is very effective by helping portray the dark, simplistic society these people live in. With no exciting events happening outside Equality's rebellion, chaos seems to be more pleasing to the reader than a strict, completely controlled society.
Ludy, Leslie. Set-Apart Femininity. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House, 2008. Print.
Leslie Ludy tackles many uncomfortable ideas for a present teenage girl in the current American society. She challenges young ladies to radically change their lives in ways that seem almost impossible. Ludy explains that by these changes, a stronger, healthier, and more beneficial spiritual realtionship will begin to grow and form. Ludy also explains the different in being a Set-Apart christian and being a christian. The Set-Apart life consists of taking stands against the smallest actions that may cause sin, even if they sometimes seem ridiculous. Ludy's unreasonable challenges really cause the reader to rethink what they believe it means to be a true christian and live a fruitful life.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Reading Reflection
Being introduced to the new reading guidelines this year burdened me. Although I don't necessarily hate reading, I feared getting my 150 minutes in every week. I'm sad to say I have not established a consistent reading pattern, yet. I say yet because I promise I'm still working on it. I have a habit of just reading whenever I have freetime or craming the night before if I'm suppose to have a certain number of pages, or in this case minutes, due. To improve this habit, I'm going to try reading from 8:30-9 every night. I work until 7 and my family usually eats dinner as soon as I get home, so the first amount of free time I have outside of school will be close to 8:30.
I have only read two books this nine weeks. The Hunger Games was not a very deep read, but Brave New World deepened my thinking to a new level. I am now reading The Things They Carried which I believe will be a happy-medium between the two extremes of book types. Inking my thinking seems to be more challenging when reading books like The Hunger Games because most of the story is on the surface. More complex books such as Brave New World have plenty of inking material that I think is great to be able to look back on to try to find the meaning of the story. By inking, I am forced to look deeper into the material I'm reading and pay closer attention.
Next quarter, I need to finish more books. I also need to try to establish the set reading habit of reading 30 minutes a night. I also plan on finishing The Things They Carried, and possibly reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, the second book to The Hunger Games series, and The Shack.
I have only read two books this nine weeks. The Hunger Games was not a very deep read, but Brave New World deepened my thinking to a new level. I am now reading The Things They Carried which I believe will be a happy-medium between the two extremes of book types. Inking my thinking seems to be more challenging when reading books like The Hunger Games because most of the story is on the surface. More complex books such as Brave New World have plenty of inking material that I think is great to be able to look back on to try to find the meaning of the story. By inking, I am forced to look deeper into the material I'm reading and pay closer attention.
Next quarter, I need to finish more books. I also need to try to establish the set reading habit of reading 30 minutes a night. I also plan on finishing The Things They Carried, and possibly reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, the second book to The Hunger Games series, and The Shack.
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