Monday, May 23, 2011
Imagery in: A Good Man Is Hard To Find
Of the images in the short story, the one that stands out the most for me is Bailey’s shirt. It was yellow with bright blue birds and was occasionally compared to Bailey’s appearance. After the crash, Bailey was, “as yellow as the shirt” and later it was said that his eyes were, “as blue and intense as the parrots on his shirt”. The author used these images to get the shirt stuck in the readers’ minds so they would realize the irony of the situation – two pistol shots and Bobby Lee dragging the same yellow shirt out of the woods, then the mother and daughter were glad to into the woods to where they believe the rest of their family is. This was an example of dramatic irony that left the image of the shirt, and even the family walking into the woods, stuck in the readers’ minds.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Hurricane Film Analysis
1. One of the most significant motifs in the film The Hurricane is justice. Rubin Carter was wrongfully accused and jailed because of a prejudiced jury and police force; they disregarded moral principles, oaths and the justice system for their own hatred. The movie shows Rubin Carter’s struggle to find justice among this hatred, with the help of some outsiders willing to lend a hand. The group had to overcome many obstacles in order to find the justice that should have been served over 20 years earlier. This motif shows the fight against racism and the consequences of such discrimination. It also begs the question, was justice really served? I would argue that justice wasn’t entirely served since the criminals got away and two innocent men lost over 20 years of their lives. However, those responsible for wrongfully locking the two men should have been found and sentenced accordingly.
2. The first symbol I noticed was the typewriter; it represented Rubin’s connection to the outside world. He used it to write his book, which led to the eventual interaction between the Canadians. This interaction was carried out by the use of letters, which were also written on the typewriter. Another symbol that can be noted is the use of the boxing jacket. It was a symbol of power and self-control, as well as a link to Rubin’s past accomplishments. He became a different person when he was wearing it – he turned from talking to himself in his jail cell, to flashing back to the proud person he once was. This symbol is also metaphoric. The jacket he was wearing at the start in the boxing match was white, whereas the one in his jail cell was black. The white jacket shows the power and freedom of white people and the black jacket shows the discrimination against African Americans. Another symbol is clothing. Rubin refused to wear prison attire because that would be the same as saying he committed a crime; he would have rather rot in the basement jail cells than put on the prison clothes.
3. Like Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, Rubin Carter remained quite calm throughout the entire ordeal. He did not show the slightest bit of fear because he was confident that justice would prevail and that he would not go to jail for a crime he did not commit. He even remained calm throughout his time in jail, stating that he could only remain calm if he did not conform with the other inmates behavior and schedules that he was supposed to conform with. Similarly to Atticus who chose not to go with the ‘norm’ and instead chose to follow his own beliefs.
4. The most distinct parallel between To Kill A Mockingbird and The Hurricane is the topic of racism. As well, Rubin Carter and Tom Robinson were both wrongfully accused and were subjected to harsh racism and an unfair trial at the hand of white people. Although, both works show that not all white people are evil racists; TKM uses the Finch family to portray the good heartedness and courage of people who chose to stand up for what is right, and The Hurricane uses the Canadian’s to show that some people may help a stranger, simply because their cause is just. Either way, both works show the effects of racism and the courage of a few people who choose to fight it.
2. The first symbol I noticed was the typewriter; it represented Rubin’s connection to the outside world. He used it to write his book, which led to the eventual interaction between the Canadians. This interaction was carried out by the use of letters, which were also written on the typewriter. Another symbol that can be noted is the use of the boxing jacket. It was a symbol of power and self-control, as well as a link to Rubin’s past accomplishments. He became a different person when he was wearing it – he turned from talking to himself in his jail cell, to flashing back to the proud person he once was. This symbol is also metaphoric. The jacket he was wearing at the start in the boxing match was white, whereas the one in his jail cell was black. The white jacket shows the power and freedom of white people and the black jacket shows the discrimination against African Americans. Another symbol is clothing. Rubin refused to wear prison attire because that would be the same as saying he committed a crime; he would have rather rot in the basement jail cells than put on the prison clothes.
3. Like Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, Rubin Carter remained quite calm throughout the entire ordeal. He did not show the slightest bit of fear because he was confident that justice would prevail and that he would not go to jail for a crime he did not commit. He even remained calm throughout his time in jail, stating that he could only remain calm if he did not conform with the other inmates behavior and schedules that he was supposed to conform with. Similarly to Atticus who chose not to go with the ‘norm’ and instead chose to follow his own beliefs.
4. The most distinct parallel between To Kill A Mockingbird and The Hurricane is the topic of racism. As well, Rubin Carter and Tom Robinson were both wrongfully accused and were subjected to harsh racism and an unfair trial at the hand of white people. Although, both works show that not all white people are evil racists; TKM uses the Finch family to portray the good heartedness and courage of people who chose to stand up for what is right, and The Hurricane uses the Canadian’s to show that some people may help a stranger, simply because their cause is just. Either way, both works show the effects of racism and the courage of a few people who choose to fight it.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Two Paragraphs on Heart of Darkness
In the novella Heart of Darkness, the character Marlow does not sugarcoat the fact hat he despises lying; he states that, “I hate, detest, and can’t bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appalls me. There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies […]” (Conrad 38). Despite this distaste for lies, Marlow chose to deceive Kurtz’s fiancé when she asked about Kurtz’s final words. He told her that his last word was her name (Conrad 110), but they were actually, “The horror! The horror!” (Conrad 100). This information begs the question, why did Marlow set aside his beliefs and moral principles to please the emotionally distressed woman? I believe that his experience in Africa changed a lot about his views on the world and even changed what he knew about himself. He may have realized that no good would come from telling her the truth about Kurtz and his work in Africa, therefore supporting a greater good. He may have realized that, with all of the evil and darkness over seas, there was no point in bringing the gloom back home.
The true meaning of the title Heart of Darkness can be interpreted in many different ways. It might refer to a location: the center/heart of a dark place. It can also be understood as a reference to a person, an evil/dark person. Several instances in the text refer to both people and location as ‘dark’. On page 47, Marlow speaks of the land, its evil and “the profound darkness of its heart”. Marlow literally refers to Africa as the heart of darkness when he says, “we penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness” (Conrad 50), and says it is “the heart of an impenetrable darkness” on a few occasions. I believe that Africa holds the heart of darkness in the literal sense, but buried in the text is the hidden meaning that people are the roots of evil and their hearts are full of darkness. The way that people treat each other is appalling and the way in which their brutality knows no resolve. The sunken heads on stakes were a very prominent example of the atrocious acts committed. Irony was frequently used when the Company referred to the native people as “savages”. The acts of the Company outline the question, who are actually the savages?
The true meaning of the title Heart of Darkness can be interpreted in many different ways. It might refer to a location: the center/heart of a dark place. It can also be understood as a reference to a person, an evil/dark person. Several instances in the text refer to both people and location as ‘dark’. On page 47, Marlow speaks of the land, its evil and “the profound darkness of its heart”. Marlow literally refers to Africa as the heart of darkness when he says, “we penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness” (Conrad 50), and says it is “the heart of an impenetrable darkness” on a few occasions. I believe that Africa holds the heart of darkness in the literal sense, but buried in the text is the hidden meaning that people are the roots of evil and their hearts are full of darkness. The way that people treat each other is appalling and the way in which their brutality knows no resolve. The sunken heads on stakes were a very prominent example of the atrocious acts committed. Irony was frequently used when the Company referred to the native people as “savages”. The acts of the Company outline the question, who are actually the savages?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Heart of Darkness: Character Sketch - Marlow
• Thoughtful
• Observant
• Curious (primarily about Kurtz)
• Knowledgeable (he seems to reference historical events quite offen)
• Morally sound
• Determined (especially with the rivets to fix the boat)
I believe Marlow's most noticeable characteristics are his instincts. He describes his feelings about going into Africa as ominous because the man that used to have his job was murdered there. I believe this may be foreshadowing; that is to say something bad will most likely happen on his African adventure. After the incident with the shed burning down, Marlow overheard the brickmaker saying, “Take advantage of this unfortunate accident.” (Conrad 34). Although these words are out of context, Marlow believes there is something odd going on when the brickmaker approaches him later. He realizes the brickmaker must have read some confidential mail to know the information that he knew, but Marlow decides to play along with the brickmaker’s interrogations to find out what he’s really after. Marlow realized that something more important was going on, beyond the petty woes of the Company staff.
Marlow isn't like the other members of the Company. An example would be the level of racism. The Company's staff are quite racist whereas Marlow has no hatred toward people based on their skin colour. In fact, Marlow does not hate much, he says, “[…] I hate, detest, and can’t bear a lie.” (Conrad 38). This shows that he has some form of a moral compass, he goes on to say, “There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies – which is exactly what I hate in the world – what I want to forget.” (Conrad 38). Although, this distaste of lies does not stop Marlow from deceiving others, like the brickmaker; he wanted to squeeze some information out of the brickmaker about Kurtz and the only way to do that was to make the brickmker think that he had connections. Furthermore, when Marlow saw a starving black slave, he attempted to give the man some food, despite his colour. Other members of the Company would not be so caring.
• Observant
• Curious (primarily about Kurtz)
• Knowledgeable (he seems to reference historical events quite offen)
• Morally sound
• Determined (especially with the rivets to fix the boat)
I believe Marlow's most noticeable characteristics are his instincts. He describes his feelings about going into Africa as ominous because the man that used to have his job was murdered there. I believe this may be foreshadowing; that is to say something bad will most likely happen on his African adventure. After the incident with the shed burning down, Marlow overheard the brickmaker saying, “Take advantage of this unfortunate accident.” (Conrad 34). Although these words are out of context, Marlow believes there is something odd going on when the brickmaker approaches him later. He realizes the brickmaker must have read some confidential mail to know the information that he knew, but Marlow decides to play along with the brickmaker’s interrogations to find out what he’s really after. Marlow realized that something more important was going on, beyond the petty woes of the Company staff.
Marlow isn't like the other members of the Company. An example would be the level of racism. The Company's staff are quite racist whereas Marlow has no hatred toward people based on their skin colour. In fact, Marlow does not hate much, he says, “[…] I hate, detest, and can’t bear a lie.” (Conrad 38). This shows that he has some form of a moral compass, he goes on to say, “There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies – which is exactly what I hate in the world – what I want to forget.” (Conrad 38). Although, this distaste of lies does not stop Marlow from deceiving others, like the brickmaker; he wanted to squeeze some information out of the brickmaker about Kurtz and the only way to do that was to make the brickmker think that he had connections. Furthermore, when Marlow saw a starving black slave, he attempted to give the man some food, despite his colour. Other members of the Company would not be so caring.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Three Hamburger Paragraphs on The Taming of the Shrew
In the play The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, the character Katherine is typified as the shrew. Baptista tells Bianca’s suitors that she will not be married until Kate is married first, however, Kate is considered to be a “devil” by most of the men. Gremio and Hortensio set out to find Kate a husband so one of them can have Bianca and as a result, they find Petruchio. Petruchio says to Kate, “Thou must be married to no man but me, for I am born to tam you [Kate],” (47, 268). This establishes the meaning of the title; Petruchio is meant to tame Katherine. After the two get married, Petruchio states that Kate is his property, “I will be master of what is my own,” (65, 222). It is later revealed that Petruchio is starving Kate of food and sleep as a means of ‘taming’ her. If literature, especially Shakespearian literature, has taught us anything, it is there will be a twist/change before the play is through. This twist turned out to be a metamorphosis of Kate’s character. She turned from an uncivilized, ill-mannered and jealous woman into a polite, obedient lady. Katherine was, ultimately transmogrified.
Deceit is a major concept in The Taming of the Shrew. In the play, most characters aren’t being entirely truthful about who they are. To start, the Lord’s entire plan is to trick Christopher Sly into thinking that he is royalty when in reality, more or less, he is a low class drunk. This ploy is simply for the Lord’s cruel taste in entertainment. In the play within the play, we observe many of the characters adopting alter egos to achieve a goal that would be challenging without some trickery. Tranio becomes Lucentio, while Lucentio disguises himself as Camio, Hortensio becomes Litio, and the Merchant pretends to be Vincentio. These different disguises were used as a means of slipping through social class barriers. Tranio’s disguise allowed him to be more than a lowly servant, at least for a short while. Lucentio and Hortensio used their costumes as a way to visit Bianca. Though, all of the true identities were later exposed. On the wedding day, Petruchio says, “To me she’s married, not unto my clothes” (61, 111). This means that the clothes worn by a person does not define who they are. The person underneath will always be revealed for who they truly are.
In The Taming of the Shrew, the most prominent juxtaposition is between Katherine and Bianca. The two sisters are complete opposites of each other. Bianca is the perfect sister and the one everyone wants to marry, while Katherine is the mean and cruel sister who alienates everyone she speaks to. Act 2 Scene 1 outlines the jealousy and animosity that Kate feels toward Bianca. Katherine felt that Baptista favored Bianca, “[…] Now I see she is your treasure, she must have a husband. I must dance barefoot on her wedding day and, for your love for her, lead apes in hell” (36, 31-34). After Kate is made to marry Petruchio and he begins to ‘tame’ her, she is suddenly no longer mad at Bianca. I believe her only issue with Bianca was the fact that she didn’t want Bianca to be married before her. All of this anger went away with her marriage to Petruchio since she had developed new problems to worry about. It also may be inferred that Kate’s experience with marriage was not as glorious as she thought it would be.
Deceit is a major concept in The Taming of the Shrew. In the play, most characters aren’t being entirely truthful about who they are. To start, the Lord’s entire plan is to trick Christopher Sly into thinking that he is royalty when in reality, more or less, he is a low class drunk. This ploy is simply for the Lord’s cruel taste in entertainment. In the play within the play, we observe many of the characters adopting alter egos to achieve a goal that would be challenging without some trickery. Tranio becomes Lucentio, while Lucentio disguises himself as Camio, Hortensio becomes Litio, and the Merchant pretends to be Vincentio. These different disguises were used as a means of slipping through social class barriers. Tranio’s disguise allowed him to be more than a lowly servant, at least for a short while. Lucentio and Hortensio used their costumes as a way to visit Bianca. Though, all of the true identities were later exposed. On the wedding day, Petruchio says, “To me she’s married, not unto my clothes” (61, 111). This means that the clothes worn by a person does not define who they are. The person underneath will always be revealed for who they truly are.
In The Taming of the Shrew, the most prominent juxtaposition is between Katherine and Bianca. The two sisters are complete opposites of each other. Bianca is the perfect sister and the one everyone wants to marry, while Katherine is the mean and cruel sister who alienates everyone she speaks to. Act 2 Scene 1 outlines the jealousy and animosity that Kate feels toward Bianca. Katherine felt that Baptista favored Bianca, “[…] Now I see she is your treasure, she must have a husband. I must dance barefoot on her wedding day and, for your love for her, lead apes in hell” (36, 31-34). After Kate is made to marry Petruchio and he begins to ‘tame’ her, she is suddenly no longer mad at Bianca. I believe her only issue with Bianca was the fact that she didn’t want Bianca to be married before her. All of this anger went away with her marriage to Petruchio since she had developed new problems to worry about. It also may be inferred that Kate’s experience with marriage was not as glorious as she thought it would be.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
To Kill A Mockingbird Chapters 21-31: Summary of Important Points
The Trial:
• Tom Robinson was convicted because the town could not overcome its racist nature
• “Only children weep”, further establishing the element of innocence in the novel, and how exposure past childhood and opinions can blur the truth. Also adding to this was when Atticus told Jem, “If you had been on that jury, son, and eleven boys like you, Tom would be a free man”
• Led to Bob Ewell becoming more outcast (for white person) and furthermore, his increased hatred of Atticus that led to the attack
• The coloured people showed Atticus immense respect for his efforts
• The trial builds on the theme “courage, even when you think you have lost”
Characters:
• Bob Ewell threatened Atticus who brushed it off and continued to see the good in people rather than what they are capable of
• The Cunningham’s had a change of heart toward Atticus and Tom during the trial, they needed the most convincing to say “guilty”
• Tom Robinson got killed trying to escape, possibly because he had given up hope or as Atticus said “was tired of white men’s chances and preferred to take his own”
• Jem continues to mature, while keeping some innocence and developing a greater understanding of the situations at hand
• Arthur Radley exited his house to help Jem and Scout
• Scout develops a greater understanding of Boo and doesn’t fear him
Themes and Reoccurring Elements:
• Scout no longer fears Boo because she realizes there are other, scarier things to fear. This builds on the element of childhood and growing-up
• The mockingbird symbol was further developed, they were mentioned when Tom was convicted and after his death, which was said to be, “The senseless slaughter of a songbird”. It was also mentioned along the path where the kids got attacked. It was chirping on the path when they were headed toward the school, but on the way home when they got attacked there were no sounds
• Boo was a symbol of fear at the start of the book. As Scout grew-up, her understanding of Boo matured too, especially when she was at the window
• “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes” was a major theme throughout the book. At the end as Scout imagines herself as Boo recollecting past events for his perspective, she says “and Boo’s children needed him” (Lee, 374) showing that Boo cared for the kids like his own
• Tom Robinson was convicted because the town could not overcome its racist nature
• “Only children weep”, further establishing the element of innocence in the novel, and how exposure past childhood and opinions can blur the truth. Also adding to this was when Atticus told Jem, “If you had been on that jury, son, and eleven boys like you, Tom would be a free man”
• Led to Bob Ewell becoming more outcast (for white person) and furthermore, his increased hatred of Atticus that led to the attack
• The coloured people showed Atticus immense respect for his efforts
• The trial builds on the theme “courage, even when you think you have lost”
Characters:
• Bob Ewell threatened Atticus who brushed it off and continued to see the good in people rather than what they are capable of
• The Cunningham’s had a change of heart toward Atticus and Tom during the trial, they needed the most convincing to say “guilty”
• Tom Robinson got killed trying to escape, possibly because he had given up hope or as Atticus said “was tired of white men’s chances and preferred to take his own”
• Jem continues to mature, while keeping some innocence and developing a greater understanding of the situations at hand
• Arthur Radley exited his house to help Jem and Scout
• Scout develops a greater understanding of Boo and doesn’t fear him
Themes and Reoccurring Elements:
• Scout no longer fears Boo because she realizes there are other, scarier things to fear. This builds on the element of childhood and growing-up
• The mockingbird symbol was further developed, they were mentioned when Tom was convicted and after his death, which was said to be, “The senseless slaughter of a songbird”. It was also mentioned along the path where the kids got attacked. It was chirping on the path when they were headed toward the school, but on the way home when they got attacked there were no sounds
• Boo was a symbol of fear at the start of the book. As Scout grew-up, her understanding of Boo matured too, especially when she was at the window
• “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes” was a major theme throughout the book. At the end as Scout imagines herself as Boo recollecting past events for his perspective, she says “and Boo’s children needed him” (Lee, 374) showing that Boo cared for the kids like his own
Monday, February 28, 2011
Peer Blog Assessment
http://blogforenglish10.blogspot.com/2011/02/blog-post.html?showComment=1298912058605#c7341910504969417260
To Kill A Mockingbird: Poem
Jem's Fear of Mrs. Dubose
She sits outside her house,
Drool flowing down her blouse,
Watching and waiting,
Her dark eyes hating,
Making a snide comment and cruel remark,
Her voice finds me in the dark,
She is cancer attacking me until I succumb,
When I can no longer remain numb,
My anger flooding the air,
My heart, too dark to care,
Encasing me in a cage of my own hell,
Her words had put me under a spell,
She rests underneath my skin,
Letting loose the monster within,
Attacking all in sight,
My mind only filled with spite,
My consequences I would not meet,
But with my father I found defeat,
The consequence, though unexpected,
Was carried out for my crime to be corrected,
Entering her dungeon warily,
I was met with fear, temporarily,
Toward the dark corner where she laid,
It seemed I would go until I fade,
I brought life to Ivanhoe and Sir Walter Scout,
For what felt like years without a doubt,
Waiting for our savior to announce our release,
And realizing each day was only a small piece,
When at last my term concluded,
Full understanding still eluded,
Her true pain was brought to light,
To shine across a courageous fight
She sits outside her house,
Drool flowing down her blouse,
Watching and waiting,
Her dark eyes hating,
Making a snide comment and cruel remark,
Her voice finds me in the dark,
She is cancer attacking me until I succumb,
When I can no longer remain numb,
My anger flooding the air,
My heart, too dark to care,
Encasing me in a cage of my own hell,
Her words had put me under a spell,
She rests underneath my skin,
Letting loose the monster within,
Attacking all in sight,
My mind only filled with spite,
My consequences I would not meet,
But with my father I found defeat,
The consequence, though unexpected,
Was carried out for my crime to be corrected,
Entering her dungeon warily,
I was met with fear, temporarily,
Toward the dark corner where she laid,
It seemed I would go until I fade,
I brought life to Ivanhoe and Sir Walter Scout,
For what felt like years without a doubt,
Waiting for our savior to announce our release,
And realizing each day was only a small piece,
When at last my term concluded,
Full understanding still eluded,
Her true pain was brought to light,
To shine across a courageous fight
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
To Kill A Mockingbird Chapters 12-20: Visual Representation
The fork in the road represents choice. Every day we are faced with an array of choices: up or down, left or right, in or out, "to be or not to be" if you will. These choices shape who we are and who we will become. These characters are flooded with crucial choices: to go with the crowd or stand alone, fight or flight, and most importantly, to do what is right or what is easy.
We have observed some kinds of choices these characters are prepared to make, Atticus chose to do what was right when he was faced with Tom Robinson's case and Jem chose to fight (stay) rather than run when he was faced with the choice to stand with Atticus against the mob or go home to safety.
Two Hamburger Style Paragraphs About "To Kill A Mockingbird" Chapters 12-20
As the story progresses, we are seeing development of certain characters, such as Jem and Scout.
At the beginning of the novel, Jem and Scout were both naïve. They enjoyed playing games and did not fully understand the consequences of their actions. Now, in these past few chapters we can observe a growing gap between Jem and Scout. Jem is moving away from childhood into maturity, he is pushing away from Scout and what they were merely years before. We also can note a change in his diction; Jem tries to have insightful opinions, as opposed to his prior dialect. Jem’s growth has made him more aware of the situations at hand and may ultimately rob him of his innocence or improve his ability to correctly asses a situation and act accordingly, such as the incident with Dill when he decided to tell Atticus despite the “code”.
Scout does not exhibit the same mature development as Jem, she continues to be the naïve little girl who does not fully understand every situation. In chapter 15 when the mob is prepared to beat up Atticus, Scout starts up a casual conversation with one of the men, which inadvertently helps the situation, "Hey, Mr. Cunningham. How's your entailment gettin' along?" . This innocence may prove to help some of the town’s issues, since she has not been subjected to outside influences, like racism.
The advancement toward maturity may be essential in understanding certain occurrences present in Jem and Scout’s lives. At Calpurnia’s church, Jem and Scout do not fully understand the gap between black and white because they don’t see things in black and white, they prefer to see shades of grey. Although Jem is further along than Scout, there is still much to learn.
The two characters have come a long way since the beginning. Their innocence can both help and hinder their lives. It allows them to have an untarnished perspective, while also obstructs their understanding of the situations at hand.
Tom Robinson's trial is an eye opener for the outlook of the town. The result will come down to truth versus race.
The general views of the town are primarily racist. They display hatred toward people based on their skin colour and even a person’s association with coloured people. The town’s demeanor toward Atticus and his family changed significantly based on his choice to defend a black man in court. Also, the reaction of the court when Tom Robinson said that he pitied Mayella Ewell shows their attitudes toward the stature of black and white. After Tom said he pitied Mayella, it was stated that, "The witness realized his mistake...but the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson's answer."
In chapters 18 and 19 the trial began and it was revealed that most of the evidence presented by the Ewell’s was either circumstantial or witness based, while Atticus presented a strong case based on fact, such as Tom’s gimpy arm that would prevent him from hitting Mayella on her right side. Atticus presented a much stronger case for Tom than that of the Ewell’s, however, the result of the trial may come down to race despite evidence.
Another factor that may come into play is the fact that if the verdict reveals Tom as innocent, then it would mean the Ewell’s lied and Mr. Ewell beat his daughter. This would a black person was right and a white person was wrong, which is not something I believe the town is ready to believe.
I believe the jury will rule Tom Robinson is guilty, based on their bigoted opinions that white people are better than black people, even if Tom is clearly innocent.
At the beginning of the novel, Jem and Scout were both naïve. They enjoyed playing games and did not fully understand the consequences of their actions. Now, in these past few chapters we can observe a growing gap between Jem and Scout. Jem is moving away from childhood into maturity, he is pushing away from Scout and what they were merely years before. We also can note a change in his diction; Jem tries to have insightful opinions, as opposed to his prior dialect. Jem’s growth has made him more aware of the situations at hand and may ultimately rob him of his innocence or improve his ability to correctly asses a situation and act accordingly, such as the incident with Dill when he decided to tell Atticus despite the “code”.
Scout does not exhibit the same mature development as Jem, she continues to be the naïve little girl who does not fully understand every situation. In chapter 15 when the mob is prepared to beat up Atticus, Scout starts up a casual conversation with one of the men, which inadvertently helps the situation, "Hey, Mr. Cunningham. How's your entailment gettin' along?" . This innocence may prove to help some of the town’s issues, since she has not been subjected to outside influences, like racism.
The advancement toward maturity may be essential in understanding certain occurrences present in Jem and Scout’s lives. At Calpurnia’s church, Jem and Scout do not fully understand the gap between black and white because they don’t see things in black and white, they prefer to see shades of grey. Although Jem is further along than Scout, there is still much to learn.
The two characters have come a long way since the beginning. Their innocence can both help and hinder their lives. It allows them to have an untarnished perspective, while also obstructs their understanding of the situations at hand.
Tom Robinson's trial is an eye opener for the outlook of the town. The result will come down to truth versus race.
The general views of the town are primarily racist. They display hatred toward people based on their skin colour and even a person’s association with coloured people. The town’s demeanor toward Atticus and his family changed significantly based on his choice to defend a black man in court. Also, the reaction of the court when Tom Robinson said that he pitied Mayella Ewell shows their attitudes toward the stature of black and white. After Tom said he pitied Mayella, it was stated that, "The witness realized his mistake...but the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson's answer."
In chapters 18 and 19 the trial began and it was revealed that most of the evidence presented by the Ewell’s was either circumstantial or witness based, while Atticus presented a strong case based on fact, such as Tom’s gimpy arm that would prevent him from hitting Mayella on her right side. Atticus presented a much stronger case for Tom than that of the Ewell’s, however, the result of the trial may come down to race despite evidence.
Another factor that may come into play is the fact that if the verdict reveals Tom as innocent, then it would mean the Ewell’s lied and Mr. Ewell beat his daughter. This would a black person was right and a white person was wrong, which is not something I believe the town is ready to believe.
I believe the jury will rule Tom Robinson is guilty, based on their bigoted opinions that white people are better than black people, even if Tom is clearly innocent.
Monday, February 14, 2011
To Kill A Mockingbird Chapters 9-11: Visual Representation
This is a symbolic representation of courage. The eagle is flying away into clarity. Certain characters are rising above their fears to soar out of the darkness and into the light. This light can either be clarity away from racism or a goal you are pushing yourself toward that is not easily attained. Courage is not being able to go on with out fear, it's being able to go on despite your fear.
Two Hamburger Style Paragraphs About "To Kill A Mockingbird" Chapters 9-11
A major theme that has developed in the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” is courage even if you think you have already lost.
In chapter 9, Atticus reveals to Scout that he is defending an African American in a trial and does not expect to win. He states that if he did not defend Tom Robinson he would not be able to face his family. He chooses to defend a person who has already been deemed guilty due to his race. Atticus shows true courage while the people in the town’s people and his family have labeled him and proceed to make rude comments about him. To quote J.K. Rowling’s character Dumbledore in Harry Potter, “It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends”.
In chapter 11, Mrs. Dubose is revealed to be a brave person with real courage instead of just a bitter, drooling old lady. She was a morphine addict who refused to die a morphine addict, not matter how much pain she had to suffer through. She wanted to die free. On page 149, at the end of chapter 11, Atticus says “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through not matter what.” Atticus goes on to say that Mrs. Dubose was the bravest person he ever knew.
Another character that I expect to see a courageous act from is Boo Radley. He came out of the house with the risk of being seen during the fire, which was a sign of courage and I expect we will see another side of Boo later in the readings.
Courage has become a major theme in To Kill A Mockingbird and I expect to see this theme progress throughout the book and even become a lesson that Scout may need to exercise.
The mockingbird has become a symbol of innocence and good in the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird”.
In the novel it was said that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they do not harm anyone, all they do is sing for everyone to enjoy. The mockingbird is described as something divine and pure, something that is innocent in every act. This may be comparable to some characters in the book, whether symmetrical or parallel in contrast.
Tom Robinson, the African American that Atticus has agreed to defend in court may be comparable to the mockingbird in many aspects. After some research, I discovered that mockingbirds are called mockingbirds because they don’t have their own song and merely mimic other birds. This may be the case for Tom Robinson, we have not met Tom in the story but we have heard a lot about the idea of him. Like the mockingbirds, Tom does not have his own voice; he does not have his own song. This is simply due to his race.
Another character that can be compared to the mockingbird is Boo Radley. Boo, like Tom and the mockingbird, does not have his own voice/song. All that is known about Boo is the rumors that have been spread around the town. The town is singing a different song, I believe Boo’s “true song” is that he is harmless like the mockingbird.
The mockingbird can be used as a symbol of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley.
In chapter 9, Atticus reveals to Scout that he is defending an African American in a trial and does not expect to win. He states that if he did not defend Tom Robinson he would not be able to face his family. He chooses to defend a person who has already been deemed guilty due to his race. Atticus shows true courage while the people in the town’s people and his family have labeled him and proceed to make rude comments about him. To quote J.K. Rowling’s character Dumbledore in Harry Potter, “It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends”.
In chapter 11, Mrs. Dubose is revealed to be a brave person with real courage instead of just a bitter, drooling old lady. She was a morphine addict who refused to die a morphine addict, not matter how much pain she had to suffer through. She wanted to die free. On page 149, at the end of chapter 11, Atticus says “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through not matter what.” Atticus goes on to say that Mrs. Dubose was the bravest person he ever knew.
Another character that I expect to see a courageous act from is Boo Radley. He came out of the house with the risk of being seen during the fire, which was a sign of courage and I expect we will see another side of Boo later in the readings.
Courage has become a major theme in To Kill A Mockingbird and I expect to see this theme progress throughout the book and even become a lesson that Scout may need to exercise.
The mockingbird has become a symbol of innocence and good in the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird”.
In the novel it was said that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they do not harm anyone, all they do is sing for everyone to enjoy. The mockingbird is described as something divine and pure, something that is innocent in every act. This may be comparable to some characters in the book, whether symmetrical or parallel in contrast.
Tom Robinson, the African American that Atticus has agreed to defend in court may be comparable to the mockingbird in many aspects. After some research, I discovered that mockingbirds are called mockingbirds because they don’t have their own song and merely mimic other birds. This may be the case for Tom Robinson, we have not met Tom in the story but we have heard a lot about the idea of him. Like the mockingbirds, Tom does not have his own voice; he does not have his own song. This is simply due to his race.
Another character that can be compared to the mockingbird is Boo Radley. Boo, like Tom and the mockingbird, does not have his own voice/song. All that is known about Boo is the rumors that have been spread around the town. The town is singing a different song, I believe Boo’s “true song” is that he is harmless like the mockingbird.
The mockingbird can be used as a symbol of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
To Kill A Mockingbird Chapters 1-8: Visual Representation
I believe this picture is a metaphoric representation of Scout, Jem and Dill's curiosity with Boo Radley. The open widow represents a weak point, a point of vulnerability that serves as the entry point for all sorts of pests, such as insects, thieves or, in this case, curious children. The three kids are looking for their open window, an opening into discovering what is really happening with the Radley's. If they see a chance to find out what is really happening they will take it, though with a bit of protest from Scout most likely.
Two Hamburger Style Paragraphs About "To Kill A Mockingbird" Chapters 1-8
In the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”, I believe the character Arthur Radley, also known as Boo, is passive and curious, rather than the murderous squirrel eating fiend everyone in Maycomb seems to think he is.
In chapter 4, Scout begins to find mysterious items in the knot of one of the two oak trees outside Radley Place. I believe that these items were not placed in the knot as hiding spot as Scout and Jem come to believe, but were rather left there deliberately for the two to find. I also believe it was Boo Radley leaving these items behind. One of the items in the knot was a sculpture of Jem and Scout, which leads me to think that Boo Radley is as curious about the Finch’s as they are of him. It may also be presumed that, later on, Nathan Radley caught Boo putting the items in the knot of the tree, which would explain why he sealed the hole despite the fact that the tree was perfectly healthy.
In chapter 7, Jem reveals to Scout that, when he went back to Radley Place, his pants were neatly folded over the fence and the tear in them was mended, as if someone was expecting them. The only people who could have fixed the pants would be the Radley’s. I believe Boo straitened out and fixed the pants not Mr. Radley because Mr. Radley shot at the people that were in his yard and I don’t think he would suddenly decide to help out the people he had just shot at. Boo might have wanted to help out the Finch’s instead of seeing them get into trouble, which would show that he is not an evil person.
After the fire in chapter 8, it is revealed that someone had put a blanket over Scout while she and Jem were standing over by the Radley Place in the cold. Atticus revealed that it was most likely Boo Radley who gave her the blanket since Mr. Radley was helping by the fire and the kids were ato distracted to even turn around. This shows that Boo noticed Scout was cold and chose to help, which proves that he might not be so bad after all.
Arthur “Boo” Radley has chose to help the Finch’s in a few occasions and might have even had a little game with them, with the items in the tree. I believe that the Finch’s understanding and demeanor toward Arthur will change in the following chapters. This is one of those “don’t judge too quickly” moments since appearances can be deceiving.
The people in the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” express respectable and admirable qualities, even in situations beyond their control.
Many of the people in Maycomb seem to have good character, relating to heir morals and their personalities. Atticus is one of the major influences in Scout and Jem’s lives. He has tried to teach them that it was wrong to make fun of Boo Radley even if he couldn’t see them. So far, Atticus has tried to teach the two kids the difference between right and wrong. Calpurnia is also a major influence in their lives. She tried to teach Scout about how to treat your guests when Scout was giving Walter Cunningham a hard time.
It is also noticeable how the Maycomb people react to harsh situations. The Cunningham’s were described as “poor but proud”, even in the face of more financial distress, they will not take anything for free and find it imperative to pay those who have helped them. Also, Miss Maudie’s reaction after her house burnt down was quite unexpected. She saw the overall situation with a positive outlook rather than with grief.
Another noteworthy character is Boo Radley who, despite what everyone thought about him, he still managed to be OK. I imagine that Boo knew, at least expected that people made fun of him or had preconceived notions about him. He may have also expected what Scout and Jem thought about him, when they rolled the tire with Scout in it at his house and when Jem was dared to touch the house. Regardless of this, Boo helped the two out a few times.
Many of the characters in the novel have very respectable qualities, even if it doesn’t appear so. The way the characters react can often be surprising.
In chapter 4, Scout begins to find mysterious items in the knot of one of the two oak trees outside Radley Place. I believe that these items were not placed in the knot as hiding spot as Scout and Jem come to believe, but were rather left there deliberately for the two to find. I also believe it was Boo Radley leaving these items behind. One of the items in the knot was a sculpture of Jem and Scout, which leads me to think that Boo Radley is as curious about the Finch’s as they are of him. It may also be presumed that, later on, Nathan Radley caught Boo putting the items in the knot of the tree, which would explain why he sealed the hole despite the fact that the tree was perfectly healthy.
In chapter 7, Jem reveals to Scout that, when he went back to Radley Place, his pants were neatly folded over the fence and the tear in them was mended, as if someone was expecting them. The only people who could have fixed the pants would be the Radley’s. I believe Boo straitened out and fixed the pants not Mr. Radley because Mr. Radley shot at the people that were in his yard and I don’t think he would suddenly decide to help out the people he had just shot at. Boo might have wanted to help out the Finch’s instead of seeing them get into trouble, which would show that he is not an evil person.
After the fire in chapter 8, it is revealed that someone had put a blanket over Scout while she and Jem were standing over by the Radley Place in the cold. Atticus revealed that it was most likely Boo Radley who gave her the blanket since Mr. Radley was helping by the fire and the kids were ato distracted to even turn around. This shows that Boo noticed Scout was cold and chose to help, which proves that he might not be so bad after all.
Arthur “Boo” Radley has chose to help the Finch’s in a few occasions and might have even had a little game with them, with the items in the tree. I believe that the Finch’s understanding and demeanor toward Arthur will change in the following chapters. This is one of those “don’t judge too quickly” moments since appearances can be deceiving.
The people in the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” express respectable and admirable qualities, even in situations beyond their control.
Many of the people in Maycomb seem to have good character, relating to heir morals and their personalities. Atticus is one of the major influences in Scout and Jem’s lives. He has tried to teach them that it was wrong to make fun of Boo Radley even if he couldn’t see them. So far, Atticus has tried to teach the two kids the difference between right and wrong. Calpurnia is also a major influence in their lives. She tried to teach Scout about how to treat your guests when Scout was giving Walter Cunningham a hard time.
It is also noticeable how the Maycomb people react to harsh situations. The Cunningham’s were described as “poor but proud”, even in the face of more financial distress, they will not take anything for free and find it imperative to pay those who have helped them. Also, Miss Maudie’s reaction after her house burnt down was quite unexpected. She saw the overall situation with a positive outlook rather than with grief.
Another noteworthy character is Boo Radley who, despite what everyone thought about him, he still managed to be OK. I imagine that Boo knew, at least expected that people made fun of him or had preconceived notions about him. He may have also expected what Scout and Jem thought about him, when they rolled the tire with Scout in it at his house and when Jem was dared to touch the house. Regardless of this, Boo helped the two out a few times.
Many of the characters in the novel have very respectable qualities, even if it doesn’t appear so. The way the characters react can often be surprising.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The Loons: Visual Representation
I believe this picture is symbolic of the short story "The Loons". In the image, the reflection of the loon on the water is a totem of a loon. This represents the connection between the loons and the Metis and how similar their stories are in the case of Piquette Tonnerre.
Two Hamburger Style Paragraphs About "The Loons"
In the short story "The Loons", the author uses the loons as a symbol for the character Piquette Tonnerre.
As we know, loons are harmless and shy in the sense that if attempt to get near one, it will simply fly away. Similarly to the loons, Piquette was harmless and was clearly not a "people person". Piquette was seen at the cottage keeping primarily to herself and turning down any opportunities Vanessa presented that could have led to a social situation.
Both the loons and Piquette had a ray of hope in their lives for things to get better, only before it took a turn for the worst. The loons had somewhat adapted to their life near the civilization of the cottages around Diamond Lake where they could stay in their natural habitat. A few short years later the area was built-up and the loons were forced to flee. Piquette’s life seemed to be picking up after see announce that she would be married, however, this happiness was short lived. Piquette’s husband left and she, along with her children, perished. Both attempts at happiness failed.
Another parallel that can be draw between Piquette and the loons is their "fight or flight" response to difficult situations. Both chose to run (or fly) somewhere they could not be found after being forced away from their respective homes and having a new life style imposed upon them. After the loons were forced from their natural habitat, they left Diamond Lake to a place they could not be seen or heard from. Piquette had quite a depressing life topped off with harsh stereotypes and a different way of life being shoved in her face, Due to this, she chose to disappeared for a few years
“It seemed to me now that in some unconscious and totally unrecognized way, Piquette might have been the only one, after all, who had heard the crying of the loons.” Though Piquette had never actually heard the cry of the loons, she may have been the only one who had heard it because she was the only one who understood it. She had experience the same thing as the loons for her entire life, the similar response to change, being forced away from their home, their same basic behavior and instincts, and the rejection they receive from society.
The tone of the short story "The Loons" is predominantly sad due to the severity of Piquette's past, the distaste felt by others toward her and the lack of understanding that she receives from people, including Vanessa.
The author uses harsh language, like "half-breed", to covey the feelings of others toward Piquette and the Métis. This distaste only adds to pain felt by Piquette, though she keeps all of her feeling bottled up inside. Piquette’s gloomy past coupled with the latter makes the readers hope that she will be met with mercy, however, that is not the case.
Although Vanessa tries to understand Piquette, even be her friend, but she was not able to comprehend the situation until the very end. Diction was used in the story to show the certain differences between Piquette and Vanessa and how even the way they spoke, they could not relate.
As the audience, we could see how much Piquette wanted to fit in with society, especially when she was telling Vanessa that she was getting married. Piquette was in a rough place for the entire story, the way the author gave Piquette a bit of hope before going south and eventually dying added to the sadness of the story.
Piquette’s life was quite sad, and the tone of the story added to that sadness. The treatment and misunderstanding Piquette received from the outside world added to her hardships.
As we know, loons are harmless and shy in the sense that if attempt to get near one, it will simply fly away. Similarly to the loons, Piquette was harmless and was clearly not a "people person". Piquette was seen at the cottage keeping primarily to herself and turning down any opportunities Vanessa presented that could have led to a social situation.
Both the loons and Piquette had a ray of hope in their lives for things to get better, only before it took a turn for the worst. The loons had somewhat adapted to their life near the civilization of the cottages around Diamond Lake where they could stay in their natural habitat. A few short years later the area was built-up and the loons were forced to flee. Piquette’s life seemed to be picking up after see announce that she would be married, however, this happiness was short lived. Piquette’s husband left and she, along with her children, perished. Both attempts at happiness failed.
Another parallel that can be draw between Piquette and the loons is their "fight or flight" response to difficult situations. Both chose to run (or fly) somewhere they could not be found after being forced away from their respective homes and having a new life style imposed upon them. After the loons were forced from their natural habitat, they left Diamond Lake to a place they could not be seen or heard from. Piquette had quite a depressing life topped off with harsh stereotypes and a different way of life being shoved in her face, Due to this, she chose to disappeared for a few years
“It seemed to me now that in some unconscious and totally unrecognized way, Piquette might have been the only one, after all, who had heard the crying of the loons.” Though Piquette had never actually heard the cry of the loons, she may have been the only one who had heard it because she was the only one who understood it. She had experience the same thing as the loons for her entire life, the similar response to change, being forced away from their home, their same basic behavior and instincts, and the rejection they receive from society.
The tone of the short story "The Loons" is predominantly sad due to the severity of Piquette's past, the distaste felt by others toward her and the lack of understanding that she receives from people, including Vanessa.
The author uses harsh language, like "half-breed", to covey the feelings of others toward Piquette and the Métis. This distaste only adds to pain felt by Piquette, though she keeps all of her feeling bottled up inside. Piquette’s gloomy past coupled with the latter makes the readers hope that she will be met with mercy, however, that is not the case.
Although Vanessa tries to understand Piquette, even be her friend, but she was not able to comprehend the situation until the very end. Diction was used in the story to show the certain differences between Piquette and Vanessa and how even the way they spoke, they could not relate.
As the audience, we could see how much Piquette wanted to fit in with society, especially when she was telling Vanessa that she was getting married. Piquette was in a rough place for the entire story, the way the author gave Piquette a bit of hope before going south and eventually dying added to the sadness of the story.
Piquette’s life was quite sad, and the tone of the story added to that sadness. The treatment and misunderstanding Piquette received from the outside world added to her hardships.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
About Me
Here is a little bit of information about me! I am fan of Harry Potter and enjoy snowboarding, cross-country skiing and hiking. I would like to improve my baking skills so I can make a better soufflé than yesterday. I have a very strong interest in practicing medicine for my future career and am considering becoming a surgeon so most of my time is spent doing schoolwork to maintain good grades.
This year in English, I plan to organize my thoughts before I start writing and be more creative with all of my work.
This year in English, I plan to organize my thoughts before I start writing and be more creative with all of my work.
Monday, January 31, 2011
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