"But when she put the lid on she thought she heard something crying." (page 186)
6. Locate the climax of the story, how is it resolved?
The climax of the story occurs when Miss Brill is at the park and she over hears the boy saying that she is basically worthless. The boy says "because of that stupid old thing at the end there." and also, "why does she come here at all- who wants her?". At this point, Miss Brill is completely crushed. Throughout the story, she is constantly watching people and longing to talk to people. She is different, but she longs to be included. Miss Brill puts on her ermine and expects that people will notice her and talk to her. Once she hears the boy say that she is a "stupid old thing" and asks "who wants her?" she has given up trying. The resolution to the climax is Miss Brill giving up on trying to connect with the community.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Once Upon a Time
"And it was true that from that day on the cat slept in the little boy's bed and kept to the garden, never risking a try at breaching security." (page 236)
3. To what extent does the story explore the motives for the behavior of the wife and husband, the husband's mother, the servants, and the people who surround the suburb and the house? what motives can you infer for these people? What ironies do they display in their actions.
Throughout the story, the motives of the characters were not real emphasized, or I didn't notice them at least. In this story, there are so many dangers in the world that the family lives entirely in fear. The parents and everyone in the neighborhood build walls and fences around their homes out of fear. The increased security does not add anything to the neighborhood but just makes them all live in fear of what may happen. However, in adding safety measures, they create more problems. They still had fear despite the safety measures taken. Also, bad things happen despite their precautions towards their environment in which they live. In this mere fact, there is irony. Because they lived in fear, they created a danger to their child.
3. To what extent does the story explore the motives for the behavior of the wife and husband, the husband's mother, the servants, and the people who surround the suburb and the house? what motives can you infer for these people? What ironies do they display in their actions.
Throughout the story, the motives of the characters were not real emphasized, or I didn't notice them at least. In this story, there are so many dangers in the world that the family lives entirely in fear. The parents and everyone in the neighborhood build walls and fences around their homes out of fear. The increased security does not add anything to the neighborhood but just makes them all live in fear of what may happen. However, in adding safety measures, they create more problems. They still had fear despite the safety measures taken. Also, bad things happen despite their precautions towards their environment in which they live. In this mere fact, there is irony. Because they lived in fear, they created a danger to their child.
A Worn Path
"She lifted her free hand, gave a little nod, turned around, and walked out of the doctor's office. Then her slow step began on the stairs, going down." (page 270)
Phoenix's character does helps to develop the theme of the story. The gradual development of Pheonix shows how she is able to over come her obstacles and move forward in her life. Phoenix shows that one's attitude towards the burdens in life develops one's character. Phoenix did not choose to focus on the fact that she did not have money, but she simply used it to move forward. Phoenix never saw a problem with the obstacles she had to overcome. Phoenix strongly desires to get medicine for her grandson and she does not let anyone stand in her way. Unfortunate things like the thorn bush, barbed-wire fence, the armed man, and rude nurses are not important and she passes them with a simple look. This is another example of not letting obstacles stand in her way. She continually tries despite the fact that she is losing her memory. Throughout the entire story, no matter what the obstacle, Phoenix does not let it come between anything.
3. Discuss the way the characterization of Phoenix contributes to the theme.
Phoenix's character does helps to develop the theme of the story. The gradual development of Pheonix shows how she is able to over come her obstacles and move forward in her life. Phoenix shows that one's attitude towards the burdens in life develops one's character. Phoenix did not choose to focus on the fact that she did not have money, but she simply used it to move forward. Phoenix never saw a problem with the obstacles she had to overcome. Phoenix strongly desires to get medicine for her grandson and she does not let anyone stand in her way. Unfortunate things like the thorn bush, barbed-wire fence, the armed man, and rude nurses are not important and she passes them with a simple look. This is another example of not letting obstacles stand in her way. She continually tries despite the fact that she is losing her memory. Throughout the entire story, no matter what the obstacle, Phoenix does not let it come between anything.
Eveline
"No! No! No! It was impossible. Her hands clutched the iron in frenzy. Amid the seas she sent a cry of anguish!" (page 222)
6. To what extent is Eveline's refusal to board the ship based on her judgement and will? Has she decided not to go?
The most important part of this question is whether or not Eveline has decided to go. Personally, I do not think that she decided to not go. When one makes a decision, they generally think about it beforehand and spend time determining what decision to make. However, Eveline does not do this. Throughout the entire short story she describes how her life in Dublin is "hard work" and she was not respected by individuals in the community. When describing running away to Buenos Aires with Frank, she speaks of how she would be happy. The new life in Buenos Aires would be different and new, and Eveline seems to like this. However, at the end, she clutches the iron bars and does not board the ship. The fact that Eveline chooses not to board the ship is merely an instinctual reaction. She seems to become afraid and her gut instinct was telling her not go to Buenos Aires.
6. To what extent is Eveline's refusal to board the ship based on her judgement and will? Has she decided not to go?
The most important part of this question is whether or not Eveline has decided to go. Personally, I do not think that she decided to not go. When one makes a decision, they generally think about it beforehand and spend time determining what decision to make. However, Eveline does not do this. Throughout the entire short story she describes how her life in Dublin is "hard work" and she was not respected by individuals in the community. When describing running away to Buenos Aires with Frank, she speaks of how she would be happy. The new life in Buenos Aires would be different and new, and Eveline seems to like this. However, at the end, she clutches the iron bars and does not board the ship. The fact that Eveline chooses not to board the ship is merely an instinctual reaction. She seems to become afraid and her gut instinct was telling her not go to Buenos Aires.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Bartleby
" 'No: at present I would prefer not to make any change at all.' " page 671
In class today, someone brought up the point that the story of Bartleby was really difficult to read and follow through because Bartleby's character was so boring. And although Bartleby is so blah, he is the real motivation behind everything that happens in the story. All of the employees in the office revolve around Bartleby. The conversations revolve around the fact that Bartleby isn't doing something. The actions and thoughts of the characters also revolve around Bartleby. So, even though he doesn't really do anything because he simply "prefers not to", he is the real driving force behind the entire story and the characterization of the characters in the story. So, as annoying as it is, Bartleby's lack of action produces a story.
In class today, someone brought up the point that the story of Bartleby was really difficult to read and follow through because Bartleby's character was so boring. And although Bartleby is so blah, he is the real motivation behind everything that happens in the story. All of the employees in the office revolve around Bartleby. The conversations revolve around the fact that Bartleby isn't doing something. The actions and thoughts of the characters also revolve around Bartleby. So, even though he doesn't really do anything because he simply "prefers not to", he is the real driving force behind the entire story and the characterization of the characters in the story. So, as annoying as it is, Bartleby's lack of action produces a story.
Bartleby
"I would prefer not to." (page 653)
This annoying phrase is repeated throughout the entire story. Everytime he was asked to do something, he gave the same response. I still don't understand why he said this over and over. It was really difficult to read this book and relate to his character or any character because of how annoying Bartleby's character was. I wish that I understood his reasoning behind the way he reacted to things so that I could sympathize for his character a little. The narrator sympathized for Bartleby at the end of the chapter because he has a sense of peace when Bartleby dies. I feel like Bartleby partially would "prefer not to" do things because of people specifically asking him to do that. He didn't want to conform to what other people had been asking or telling him to do, so he just "preferred not to". Maybe, Bartleby just wanted to be an individual so much so that he did everything that he could in his power to do so. However, it didn't really turn out very well for him.
This annoying phrase is repeated throughout the entire story. Everytime he was asked to do something, he gave the same response. I still don't understand why he said this over and over. It was really difficult to read this book and relate to his character or any character because of how annoying Bartleby's character was. I wish that I understood his reasoning behind the way he reacted to things so that I could sympathize for his character a little. The narrator sympathized for Bartleby at the end of the chapter because he has a sense of peace when Bartleby dies. I feel like Bartleby partially would "prefer not to" do things because of people specifically asking him to do that. He didn't want to conform to what other people had been asking or telling him to do, so he just "preferred not to". Maybe, Bartleby just wanted to be an individual so much so that he did everything that he could in his power to do so. However, it didn't really turn out very well for him.
Hunters in the Snow
"Frank roused himself. 'Kenny,' he said. He bent down and put his gloved hand on Kenny's brow. 'You shot him,' he said to Tub.
'He made me,' Tub said.
'No no no,' Kenny said." (page 193)
Throughout the story, Kenny, Tub, and Frank continually showed their stupidity. From the very beginning of the story, the three men are doing something not very intelligent. While Kenny is bleeding to death in the back of their truck, Tub and Frank leave him there as if he is nothing but an animal they shot on their hunting escapade. They only care about the face that they are cold, not that Kenny is bleeding to death. I think that Tub and Frank are just really negative, mean people. Also, the fact that Frank is in love with a 15 year old girl makes them even weirder and more not-likable. Seriously, like these men have absolutely nothing going for them, so I guess it doesn't really matter that they have no common sense or morals what so ever. Honestly, the stupidity of these characters in the book just made me mad and not like any of the characters in this story.
Throughout the story, Kenny, Tub, and Frank continually showed their stupidity. From the very beginning of the story, the three men are doing something not very intelligent. While Kenny is bleeding to death in the back of their truck, Tub and Frank leave him there as if he is nothing but an animal they shot on their hunting escapade. They only care about the face that they are cold, not that Kenny is bleeding to death. I think that Tub and Frank are just really negative, mean people. Also, the fact that Frank is in love with a 15 year old girl makes them even weirder and more not-likable. Seriously, like these men have absolutely nothing going for them, so I guess it doesn't really matter that they have no common sense or morals what so ever. Honestly, the stupidity of these characters in the book just made me mad and not like any of the characters in this story.
Everyday Use
"Maggie will be nervous until her sister goes: she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scares down her arms and legs, eyeing her sister with a mixture of envy and awe. She thinks her sister has held life always i the pal m of one hand, that "no" is a word the world never learned to say to her." (page 173)
Throughout the entire story I realized how different all of the characters in this short story were from each other. I feel that the differences in characters was important to the theme. Dee was the self- centered one who always cared about how she looked. Dee was also the only one in her family that was really educated. I still am confused as to how she became educated though. But, despite all of the great things that went her way, she took everything for granted. Thus, people saw her as very selfish and mean, so they didn't really like her. Maggie was my favorite one in this story. Maggie was very shy. Even though Maggie wasn't very intelligent, she really tried to do her best in all aspects of her life. Because of Maggie's lack of success, she never felt good enough. Beings sister's with Dee made her feel even worse about herself. Mama was very observant. She knew everything about Maggie and Dee and she was very loving towards them. Mama was also very old-fashioned, compared to Dee who was very worldly, and consumed solely on that premise. All of these character traits help to shape the story and the themes in the story.
Throughout the entire story I realized how different all of the characters in this short story were from each other. I feel that the differences in characters was important to the theme. Dee was the self- centered one who always cared about how she looked. Dee was also the only one in her family that was really educated. I still am confused as to how she became educated though. But, despite all of the great things that went her way, she took everything for granted. Thus, people saw her as very selfish and mean, so they didn't really like her. Maggie was my favorite one in this story. Maggie was very shy. Even though Maggie wasn't very intelligent, she really tried to do her best in all aspects of her life. Because of Maggie's lack of success, she never felt good enough. Beings sister's with Dee made her feel even worse about herself. Mama was very observant. She knew everything about Maggie and Dee and she was very loving towards them. Mama was also very old-fashioned, compared to Dee who was very worldly, and consumed solely on that premise. All of these character traits help to shape the story and the themes in the story.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A Rose for Emily
"One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair."
This story creeped me out. The mysterious tone of the story was definitely added by the reader's continuous questioning and unknowing attitude throughout the course of the story. I don't really understand the end of the story. The beginning of the story starts off with Emily always being gossiped about and considered "poor Emily" because of her father and the life she lives. Yet, at the end of the story she has killed her husband and sleeps with his dead body? I don't understand that at all. I also did not get why everyone attended her funeral if she is a murderer. I also think it is interesting that the beginning of the story starts the reader off with a semi-normal attitude toward Emily, but at the end, the reader is very shocked and creeped out by Emily.
This story creeped me out. The mysterious tone of the story was definitely added by the reader's continuous questioning and unknowing attitude throughout the course of the story. I don't really understand the end of the story. The beginning of the story starts off with Emily always being gossiped about and considered "poor Emily" because of her father and the life she lives. Yet, at the end of the story she has killed her husband and sleeps with his dead body? I don't understand that at all. I also did not get why everyone attended her funeral if she is a murderer. I also think it is interesting that the beginning of the story starts the reader off with a semi-normal attitude toward Emily, but at the end, the reader is very shocked and creeped out by Emily.
Interpreter of Maladies
"No one but Mr. Kapasi noticed. He watched as it rose, carried higher and higher by the breeze, into the trees where the monkeys now sat, solemnly observing the scene below."
I didn't really understand where this story was going at first. However, over time I began to understand the conflict in the story. Mr. Kapasi was very lonely. He had become used to his wife's coldness towards him. Because of his loneliness in his job and in his relationship he begins to wonder about a life with Mrs. Das. He planned out the relationship they would have and obsesses over little details about what could be and when her letter would come. At the end, his fairy tale of being with Mrs. Das disappears, just like the address. Also, the suspense and curiosity of what would happen with Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi the entire time kept the story interesting. The misunderstanding in Mrs. Das' understanding of what kind of interpreter Mr. Kapasi is lead to Mrs. Das assuming that Mr. Kapasi has everything figured out. Mrs. Das looks for Mr. Kapasi to have the answers to her problems, but this is not the case at all. In the end, nothing works out and Mr. Kapasi is still just as lonely as he began.
I didn't really understand where this story was going at first. However, over time I began to understand the conflict in the story. Mr. Kapasi was very lonely. He had become used to his wife's coldness towards him. Because of his loneliness in his job and in his relationship he begins to wonder about a life with Mrs. Das. He planned out the relationship they would have and obsesses over little details about what could be and when her letter would come. At the end, his fairy tale of being with Mrs. Das disappears, just like the address. Also, the suspense and curiosity of what would happen with Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi the entire time kept the story interesting. The misunderstanding in Mrs. Das' understanding of what kind of interpreter Mr. Kapasi is lead to Mrs. Das assuming that Mr. Kapasi has everything figured out. Mrs. Das looks for Mr. Kapasi to have the answers to her problems, but this is not the case at all. In the end, nothing works out and Mr. Kapasi is still just as lonely as he began.
How I Met My Husband
1. Describe the plot structure in the story. How is the arrangement of the plot elements effective? At Which points were your expectations as a reader overturned?
"So I said yes, and I went out with him for two years and he asked me to marry him, and we were engaged a year more while I got my things together, and then we did marry."
The plot structure of "How I Met My Husband" is very consistent until the end. The story plot consists of Edie continually telling of her life as a hired girl, telling details of important events that lead up to her meeting her husband. The chronological order of the events makes it easy to follow and imagine vividly what occurred. However, towards the end, and especially the last paragraph, we find out that the reader does not marry Chris, but the mailman instead. It was at this point at the end when my expectations as a reader were overturned. I feel like the author purposely made the entire plot seem as if Edie would marry Chris, seeing as he was the only main male in the story. Yet, if she did not care for or like Chris, she would have never come across the mailman. The author purposely sets up the story to make the reader assume that Edie will marry Chris, but as we all find out, this does not happen.
"So I said yes, and I went out with him for two years and he asked me to marry him, and we were engaged a year more while I got my things together, and then we did marry."
The plot structure of "How I Met My Husband" is very consistent until the end. The story plot consists of Edie continually telling of her life as a hired girl, telling details of important events that lead up to her meeting her husband. The chronological order of the events makes it easy to follow and imagine vividly what occurred. However, towards the end, and especially the last paragraph, we find out that the reader does not marry Chris, but the mailman instead. It was at this point at the end when my expectations as a reader were overturned. I feel like the author purposely made the entire plot seem as if Edie would marry Chris, seeing as he was the only main male in the story. Yet, if she did not care for or like Chris, she would have never come across the mailman. The author purposely sets up the story to make the reader assume that Edie will marry Chris, but as we all find out, this does not happen.
A Rose for Emily
1. How is the issue of chronology related to the larger thematic design of the story?
"When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral: the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no one save an old manservant--a combined gardener and cook--had seen in at least ten years."
In order to create suspense for the reader, Faulkner changed the normal chronological order of the story. The reader is continually questioning and curious as to what will happen next based on the chronological order of the story. The already eerie mood of the story is further added to by this suspenseful order. The climax is at the very end of the story. A story written in the regular order would not have created so much suspense and curiosity in the last part and most specifically the last paragraph of the story. The reader is able to put themselves in the same situation as the people in Jefferson and find out the surprise at the same time as everyone else. This simple fact also adds to the thematic design of suspense and curiosity in the story. Without a reverse chronological order in the story, the mood would be completely different.
"When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral: the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no one save an old manservant--a combined gardener and cook--had seen in at least ten years."
In order to create suspense for the reader, Faulkner changed the normal chronological order of the story. The reader is continually questioning and curious as to what will happen next based on the chronological order of the story. The already eerie mood of the story is further added to by this suspenseful order. The climax is at the very end of the story. A story written in the regular order would not have created so much suspense and curiosity in the last part and most specifically the last paragraph of the story. The reader is able to put themselves in the same situation as the people in Jefferson and find out the surprise at the same time as everyone else. This simple fact also adds to the thematic design of suspense and curiosity in the story. Without a reverse chronological order in the story, the mood would be completely different.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)