"But in her new home, in a distant unknown country, it would not be like that" (219, per 8)
When Evaline thought about where she would be going, it seemed far greater than where she is currently. The idea of getting out from under her abusive past seemed so tempting. However, it is much harder to accept change once confronted with it, then in theory. When the moment came to get on the boat, she thought back through all of the few good memories in her life.This is were the opening paragraph fits into the theme. In tough situations, we tend to latch on to, a obsess over the smallest memories. These memories will mostly be misrepresented, and not helpful in making the right decision. In this story, her happy memory of playing in the yard, overshadowed, the better life she could be having. The theme of this story is that when making major decisions, small things can lead us to the wrong decision, when there is far more evidence supporting a better decision.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Once Upon A Time- Tone
"In a house, in a suburb, in a city, there were a man and his wife who loved each other very much and were living happily ever after" (232, per. 9)
This story is told in the traditional style of a fairy tale, starting with the happily ever after. The family was loving, but the directness of the tone make it anything but a happy tail of a family. From the beginning of the story, it is directly stated that there was an abounding of love exerting from the family. If this was in fact a typical fairly tail, this love would build through out the fairy tale. In this story the opposite happens. Because of the direct tone, every detail is told to the reader, not introduced and then explained. By this, the reader knows that this story, unlike it's beginning, will not be a happy ending. The danger of the boy is first, foretold when the parents are more worried about shopping for their next safety improvement, they neglected the immediate safety of their son and let him walk away from them. In this neighborhood full of robbers and hooligans, why did they not watch their son more closely, instead of letting him walk away into the danger of the neighborhood. This proves that if you are too occupied with finding the perfect life, your life will slip away. Bad things will always happen, obsessing over thi\em might make them worse.
This story is told in the traditional style of a fairy tale, starting with the happily ever after. The family was loving, but the directness of the tone make it anything but a happy tail of a family. From the beginning of the story, it is directly stated that there was an abounding of love exerting from the family. If this was in fact a typical fairly tail, this love would build through out the fairy tale. In this story the opposite happens. Because of the direct tone, every detail is told to the reader, not introduced and then explained. By this, the reader knows that this story, unlike it's beginning, will not be a happy ending. The danger of the boy is first, foretold when the parents are more worried about shopping for their next safety improvement, they neglected the immediate safety of their son and let him walk away from them. In this neighborhood full of robbers and hooligans, why did they not watch their son more closely, instead of letting him walk away into the danger of the neighborhood. This proves that if you are too occupied with finding the perfect life, your life will slip away. Bad things will always happen, obsessing over thi\em might make them worse.
A Worn Path- Is the Grandma really dead?
"But she was slowly bending forward by that time, further and further down, the lids stretched over her eyes" (227, per. 50)
One could assume that the grand mother is dead because of the dream like diction of the story. From the time that she meets the farmer, the details becomes paced out. For example, the farmer says that she had a too far to go to town, from the place of their meeting. However, after this meeting, it seems that she is immediately there. This seems like she just appears in town, with out a further struggle. Perhaps, this is where she died and she is bound to finish her task and get medicine for her grandchild. Maybe the farmer actually did shoot her, and that is why she felt so different after her encounter. As far as proof that she was in fact alive through out that story, the only proof would be that their are people that talk to her and see her.
One could assume that the grand mother is dead because of the dream like diction of the story. From the time that she meets the farmer, the details becomes paced out. For example, the farmer says that she had a too far to go to town, from the place of their meeting. However, after this meeting, it seems that she is immediately there. This seems like she just appears in town, with out a further struggle. Perhaps, this is where she died and she is bound to finish her task and get medicine for her grandchild. Maybe the farmer actually did shoot her, and that is why she felt so different after her encounter. As far as proof that she was in fact alive through out that story, the only proof would be that their are people that talk to her and see her.
Miss Brill- Caracterization through the eyes of Miss Brill- Indirect
"Never mind, there was too much crowd to watch" (182, par. 5)
Miss Brill considered herself companions among the people around her, but she never actually talked to them. She only viewed these people from the the little time she saw them and generalized what they were like, with out knowing them at all. Others "stopped to talk, to greet", but Mill Brill was always alone, while in the middle of other people's lives. She viewed the old couple, stereotypically as boring and unworthier of her time, with out further knowledge into their lives. Ironically, she was older, and pretty boring herself. She had no one in her life but her fur that she often talks to. She likes the life that she has, but the way she critiques other suggests that she might just be critiquing her self. An example of this is when she calls the woman with yellow hair "shabby". She should realize that she should change the shabbiness in her own life, not writing other characters off.
Miss Brill considered herself companions among the people around her, but she never actually talked to them. She only viewed these people from the the little time she saw them and generalized what they were like, with out knowing them at all. Others "stopped to talk, to greet", but Mill Brill was always alone, while in the middle of other people's lives. She viewed the old couple, stereotypically as boring and unworthier of her time, with out further knowledge into their lives. Ironically, she was older, and pretty boring herself. She had no one in her life but her fur that she often talks to. She likes the life that she has, but the way she critiques other suggests that she might just be critiquing her self. An example of this is when she calls the woman with yellow hair "shabby". She should realize that she should change the shabbiness in her own life, not writing other characters off.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Bartleby the Scrivener- Flat Character
"'I would prefere not to dine today'" (672)
Even though Bartleby is the main character, he does not change much through out the story, unlike the usual story line. The only thing that changes is that at the beginning of his appearance in the story, all he does is copy document after document and nothing else. At the end, he doesn't even do that. Even in prison, he does not venture far from his familiar phrase, "I would prefer not to". After all of this, it perplexes me why Bartleby does not want to be in prison. Obviously, not many people would like this situation. However, the narrator's office is almost like a prison anyway, so why did the change effect him so. He was basically alone in that office night and day anyway, a prison cell is not much different. Also, as opposed to the office, there are people like the chief who will help him, so really he does not need to do those tasks that he is opposed to. Still, he does not change his ways, still reserved but adamant that he doesn't want to do anything.
Even though Bartleby is the main character, he does not change much through out the story, unlike the usual story line. The only thing that changes is that at the beginning of his appearance in the story, all he does is copy document after document and nothing else. At the end, he doesn't even do that. Even in prison, he does not venture far from his familiar phrase, "I would prefer not to". After all of this, it perplexes me why Bartleby does not want to be in prison. Obviously, not many people would like this situation. However, the narrator's office is almost like a prison anyway, so why did the change effect him so. He was basically alone in that office night and day anyway, a prison cell is not much different. Also, as opposed to the office, there are people like the chief who will help him, so really he does not need to do those tasks that he is opposed to. Still, he does not change his ways, still reserved but adamant that he doesn't want to do anything.
Hunters in the Snow- Stock Character
"'but the lying. Having a double life like a spy or a hit man. This sounds strange but I feel sorry for those guys, I really do. I know what they go through.'" (200)
Tub is just like any other fat man stereotypically displayed with the media, because he runs slow and gets left behind. He stashes food, and gets ridiculed by his only friand, which he has to hang around because nobody else likes him. This seems childish, but it is could explain why he is not liked by anyone in the group. Then he has very low self esteem which is classic, but many time the overweight character is funny. He he turns into his situation into a joke so as to avoid his feelings of being fat. Tub avoids talking about his feelings, at first, but he certainly, does not joke about it. He actually does the opposite. He hides in shame, eating obscene amounts of food while he pretends to be on a diet.
Tub is just like any other fat man stereotypically displayed with the media, because he runs slow and gets left behind. He stashes food, and gets ridiculed by his only friand, which he has to hang around because nobody else likes him. This seems childish, but it is could explain why he is not liked by anyone in the group. Then he has very low self esteem which is classic, but many time the overweight character is funny. He he turns into his situation into a joke so as to avoid his feelings of being fat. Tub avoids talking about his feelings, at first, but he certainly, does not joke about it. He actually does the opposite. He hides in shame, eating obscene amounts of food while he pretends to be on a diet.
Hunters in the Snow- Sympathetic Character
"'You fat moron,' Frank said. 'You aren't good for anything'"
Of course Tub would be the most sympathetic character in this short story because he is constantly getting picked on by his best friends. Nobody really sticks up for him. Despite ridiculeing him through out the story, Frank and Kenny leave him alone in the woods because he can not keep up. In the first half of the book, it is difficult to see why the group is together at all, because none of them seem to like one another. Tub just seems to be taking the worst of it. And later knowledge of his clear self-image issues only adds to the sympathy felt toward him. His name also helps this because, along with meaning that he is over weight, usually when I hear "tub tub" it is about a little kid who has not lost his baby weight. This definitely applies to Tub, because many of those little kids are ridiculed by their friends.
Of course Tub would be the most sympathetic character in this short story because he is constantly getting picked on by his best friends. Nobody really sticks up for him. Despite ridiculeing him through out the story, Frank and Kenny leave him alone in the woods because he can not keep up. In the first half of the book, it is difficult to see why the group is together at all, because none of them seem to like one another. Tub just seems to be taking the worst of it. And later knowledge of his clear self-image issues only adds to the sympathy felt toward him. His name also helps this because, along with meaning that he is over weight, usually when I hear "tub tub" it is about a little kid who has not lost his baby weight. This definitely applies to Tub, because many of those little kids are ridiculed by their friends.
Every Day Uses- "Made it"?
"those TV shows where the child who has 'made it' is confronted, as a surprise, by her own mother"
When Dee is first described by her mother, she is characterized as this strong personality, who is determined to make it in the world. She seemed like the the class president who was destined to take the world in the palm of her hand. For instance, when she made her own green suite, I thought she would go into the world of business to raise through the ranks, with hard work. However, when she appears in person, she doas not come strong and self-sufficient. She is there with a man who most probably suports her. She is wearing a bright orange dress, fashioned after a culture that is not told. This is possibly the furthest from a strong business woman. She is still strong, but it's as if she did not live up to her potential, or mama exaggerated her daughters character traits, as is mother often do. Maybe Dee is strong in the face of the family that she bullied her whole life, but when she went out in the world, she found that others were meek as her family.
When Dee is first described by her mother, she is characterized as this strong personality, who is determined to make it in the world. She seemed like the the class president who was destined to take the world in the palm of her hand. For instance, when she made her own green suite, I thought she would go into the world of business to raise through the ranks, with hard work. However, when she appears in person, she doas not come strong and self-sufficient. She is there with a man who most probably suports her. She is wearing a bright orange dress, fashioned after a culture that is not told. This is possibly the furthest from a strong business woman. She is still strong, but it's as if she did not live up to her potential, or mama exaggerated her daughters character traits, as is mother often do. Maybe Dee is strong in the face of the family that she bullied her whole life, but when she went out in the world, she found that others were meek as her family.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
How I Met My Husband- Antagonist
"'Filthy'" "'Filthy little rags'" (180)
Alice Kelling could easily be labeled as the antagonist because she gets so very angry at eddie for what happend. However, she is just as much as a victim as eddie. Chris left her first. I think that she had every right to be marginally angry. She just let her emotions get the best of her in that moment. Eddie probably would have done something very similar if the situations were switched, and eddie had not been waiting so long for his letter. This time period gave her a chance to distance herself from the situation. Had she figured out that he was just using him in the same way that Alice Kelling found out, she definitely would not have been as calm. So, though Alice Kelling seems to be against Eddie but really, they are on the same side.
Alice Kelling could easily be labeled as the antagonist because she gets so very angry at eddie for what happend. However, she is just as much as a victim as eddie. Chris left her first. I think that she had every right to be marginally angry. She just let her emotions get the best of her in that moment. Eddie probably would have done something very similar if the situations were switched, and eddie had not been waiting so long for his letter. This time period gave her a chance to distance herself from the situation. Had she figured out that he was just using him in the same way that Alice Kelling found out, she definitely would not have been as calm. So, though Alice Kelling seems to be against Eddie but really, they are on the same side.
How I Met my Husband- Suspence
"'I'm going to write you a letter. I am going to tell you where I am and maybe you can come visit me.'" (145)
From the title, suspense is built because the reader knows the basic structure of the story from the start. The reader will now constantly be on the look out for prospective husbands. And, whenever a man comes into the story, that question immediately arrises, and adds suspense. Is this the father. Even after she meets Chris, I still looked for other matches. This was mostly based on the TV show, because Ted goes through so many potential mothers, with no luck several seasons in. But, even though this thought was running through my head as I was reading the story, I had no idea it would be the mail man, because I was to busy feeling sorry for eddie that she was never going to get he letter. So, all of this pent up suspense, just kind off abruptly stopped in just a few short sentences.
From the title, suspense is built because the reader knows the basic structure of the story from the start. The reader will now constantly be on the look out for prospective husbands. And, whenever a man comes into the story, that question immediately arrises, and adds suspense. Is this the father. Even after she meets Chris, I still looked for other matches. This was mostly based on the TV show, because Ted goes through so many potential mothers, with no luck several seasons in. But, even though this thought was running through my head as I was reading the story, I had no idea it would be the mail man, because I was to busy feeling sorry for eddie that she was never going to get he letter. So, all of this pent up suspense, just kind off abruptly stopped in just a few short sentences.
A Rose for Emily- Characterize
"Miss Emily a slender figure in white..." "...small, fat woman in black..." "...she had grown fat with her hair turning gray."
Through out this story, the reader can easily be confused about the time frame of the story, but one of the ways the writer cues the reader in, is through Miss Emily's Appearance. Obviously, she is described as young or old, skinny or plump, and light or dark. To me, the this was the best clue, light or dark. In the happier time of Emily's life she is picture as white and young. When her father was still alive, the town pictured her as the perfect daughter, a virgin that was too precious for any man in town. Then when her father died, she wore black to the funeral, and bever seemed to return to her white younger self. This is when the story startes to get eerie, when the town gossips about her killing herself, and Homer went missing. Then, finally in she starts turning gray and decrepit as the body rots, and she lives with her crime. And when in the last stages of her life, she turns fully gray. So, she was white and pure, then she got corrupted by losing her love, and she loses all feeling, good or bad, in the end.
Through out this story, the reader can easily be confused about the time frame of the story, but one of the ways the writer cues the reader in, is through Miss Emily's Appearance. Obviously, she is described as young or old, skinny or plump, and light or dark. To me, the this was the best clue, light or dark. In the happier time of Emily's life she is picture as white and young. When her father was still alive, the town pictured her as the perfect daughter, a virgin that was too precious for any man in town. Then when her father died, she wore black to the funeral, and bever seemed to return to her white younger self. This is when the story startes to get eerie, when the town gossips about her killing herself, and Homer went missing. Then, finally in she starts turning gray and decrepit as the body rots, and she lives with her crime. And when in the last stages of her life, she turns fully gray. So, she was white and pure, then she got corrupted by losing her love, and she loses all feeling, good or bad, in the end.
Interpreter of Maladies- Central Conflict
"The signs he recognized from his own marriage were there- the bickering, the indifference the protracted silence."(80)
I think that the central conflict of this story is Mr. Kapasi's internal struggles with his life, and this just so happend to play out simultaneously while the Das family was visiting. So, while the Das family plays an important role in the story, it is more about Mr. Kapasi's thoughts and feelings. These feelings, are about his inadequate marriage, schooling, and job. He feels as though he has failed in all three of these areas. His marriage is loveless, he quit school, and settled for an average job. Mrs. Das made him feel special. She made him feel needed in a way that his wife or his boss never did. She believed that he had the unique ability to help her out with a problem, that she did not confide in anyone else. So, this spurred slight infatuation, in the end, Mrs. Das did not value his opinion, and his life was not changed. The Das family left, and he went home with nothing but the short memory of feeling special.
I think that the central conflict of this story is Mr. Kapasi's internal struggles with his life, and this just so happend to play out simultaneously while the Das family was visiting. So, while the Das family plays an important role in the story, it is more about Mr. Kapasi's thoughts and feelings. These feelings, are about his inadequate marriage, schooling, and job. He feels as though he has failed in all three of these areas. His marriage is loveless, he quit school, and settled for an average job. Mrs. Das made him feel special. She made him feel needed in a way that his wife or his boss never did. She believed that he had the unique ability to help her out with a problem, that she did not confide in anyone else. So, this spurred slight infatuation, in the end, Mrs. Das did not value his opinion, and his life was not changed. The Das family left, and he went home with nothing but the short memory of feeling special.
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