Thursday, May 10, 2012
Journal #20
In the last passage of the book Nick is telling how he can't even be around the Gatsby house on days when the parties were. He still can remember sitting at his house listening to the parties and going to them. The parties are over is kinda saying how Gatsby's life is over and how the summer is over and all the things happened in summer are over. All the things over the summer like him and Jordan and Tom and Myrtle and Gatsby and Daisy are all done. The Dutch sailors first saw the green light that they knew held so many things in store for them once they reach the island. When Gatsby looked at the green light it was like him seeing the possibilities that he could have with Daisy. Whenever Gatsby saw the light he was thinking of him and Daisy together and all the things they could experience together.
Journal # 19
Name:
Journal 19 - Characterization in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby
Write a description for each of the following characters based on his/her first appearance in Chapter 1. Your description should include:
-the character’s physical appearance;
-the character’s actions/words;
-an adjective that best describes the character based on his/her initial
appearance
Nick Carraway Adjective ___average____
Nick Carraway is your average man who is just trying to get by. He is the one who everyone comes to and trusts with their problems or secrets. He usually keeps to himself and doesn’t really relay any personal information other than in the beginning. Nick is basically getting an inside look of Tom, Daisy’s, personal lives without having too much to do with it.
Tom Buchanan Adjective ______egotistical______
Tom is all about himself and knows he is rich and awesome. He was a football star in a great college. He brought down all of his polo horses down the east coast to flaunt his wealth. Throughout the story he is shown as a man who just goes around with women and making himself look good.
Daisy Buchanan Adjective _____fake____
Daisy seems fake when you first meet her with her sing songy voice and laughing at everything. She only wants a rich, powerful man to marry so she settled on Tom. Not as loud, but she flaunted her money also with the clothes she wore and the snobby attitude she had.
Jordan Baker Adjective _____calm, cool, collected_____
Jordan seemed reserved and too herself. She didn’t really talk much and just stayed on the coach observing everyone else. She was athletic and a golf star, but was known to cheat in her games. She was small and skinny.
Jay Gatsby Adjective ______sad/disturbed____
When we first met Gatsby, he was standing looking at the green light. He was tall and good looking. He stared at the green light but at the time Nick did not know why. Throughout the book, Gatsby tries and tries to get Daisy back but to no avail. In the end, he lost his life.
Journal #21
Journal 21 - Some Like It Hot and The Great Gatsby Comparison/Contrast
Although Some Like It Hot is a comedy and The Great Gatsby is a tragedy, both works use popular culture to portray life in 1920s America. Focusing on the following elements (characterization, conflict, and theme), discuss how the two works are similar and different and what each is saying about American life.
Joe and Gatsby are very similar. To win over Sugar who is ‘Daisy’, Joe pretends he has money and pretends to be who she wants. To know what she wants, Joe pretended to be Josephine and found out certain qualities that Sugar wanted in a guy like glasses and a millionaire. Both Gatsby and Joe pretended to be other people to please the girl they wanted. Jerry is Nick in the movie. He is the secondary supportive friend. At first they are competing for her, but after things play out he supports Joe in his endeavor to get Sugar. Osgood is similar to Tom. He is rich and goes around chasing women. They both played polo and went to Ivy League schools. Tom is the villain though in Gatsby while Osgood is just a harmless man. Spats is like Wolfsheim. Spats has a speakeasy similar to how Wolfsheim got his money. In Some Like It Hot, the good guys end up living and the bad guys die, but in Gatsby the good guy (Gatsby) is the one who died. Both stories center on love and marriage. There are secret romances in both. Another theme is deception. The characters are trying to hide something whether it’s an affair or a relationship. These two works are saying that the society was a lot about having fun and drinking in the speakeasies. They didn’t really think much of officials and the police. They just broke the rules.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Journal #18
Journal 18 -“In Another Country”
1. What is the significance of the story’s title?
The story title represents their status. They are no longer who they were, but are trying to get back to it. The people are trying to adapt to their new life because of their injuries which had set them apart from everyone else. The injuries bond them together. The narrator is also actually in another country
2. Which character do you think best represents the “Hemingway hero”? Why?
The major represents the “Hemingway hero”. He is the one who suffered the most and went through it. The major, even though he lost his hand and his wife died, he still fought through it until the end. His injury was the most because he happened to be the best fencer in the world, so it wasn’t just a small hand injury. He handles his suffering with grass and dignity.
3. What can you infer about the photographs the doctor hangs up? What is the significance of the major’s reaction?
The photographs were pictures of people that have been healed with machines. The pictures weren’t actually cured by the machines, but to get the hopes up of the people that possibly they could be healed. The major does not accept what the doctor is trying to tell them. He is very skeptical and just stares off. He is accepting that he won’t return to normal. The major is looking away thinking about his wife and his loss.
1. What is the significance of the story’s title?
The story title represents their status. They are no longer who they were, but are trying to get back to it. The people are trying to adapt to their new life because of their injuries which had set them apart from everyone else. The injuries bond them together. The narrator is also actually in another country
2. Which character do you think best represents the “Hemingway hero”? Why?
The major represents the “Hemingway hero”. He is the one who suffered the most and went through it. The major, even though he lost his hand and his wife died, he still fought through it until the end. His injury was the most because he happened to be the best fencer in the world, so it wasn’t just a small hand injury. He handles his suffering with grass and dignity.
3. What can you infer about the photographs the doctor hangs up? What is the significance of the major’s reaction?
The photographs were pictures of people that have been healed with machines. The pictures weren’t actually cured by the machines, but to get the hopes up of the people that possibly they could be healed. The major does not accept what the doctor is trying to tell them. He is very skeptical and just stares off. He is accepting that he won’t return to normal. The major is looking away thinking about his wife and his loss.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Journal #17
1. What is the significance of the poem’s epigraph? How does it relate to Prufrock?
The epigraph is a stream of consciousness. It is telling people that it is not publicized, but rather his own thoughts. This relates to Prufrock because since he is not bold and outspoken the epigraphy allows you to enter into his mind and private thoughts. With the epigraph, it sets the tone that Prufrock’s poem is private and not for the public. He is full of self-doubt and would never have revealed this about himself.
2. Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?
What is it,Do I dare, Disturb the universe, So how should I presume, And how should I begin, Shall I part my hair behind, Do I dare to eat a peach
Some of these questions are repeated more then once. This creates uncertainty and anxiety. He doesn’t really know what he wants with his life or what he is going to do. Prufrock is lost with his life and where he wants it to go. He questions everything because he is so unsure of what he should do and what people will think of him.
3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?
His main flaw is his self- consciousness. He is very uncomfortable with himself and knows that he is the ‘background character’. Every little thing and decisions that seem unimportant are a big deal to him because he is not comfortbale in the world. He is afraid and not bold enough to go out and find love or meaning in the world.
4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?
He has a love for women, but he is too afraid to pursue love. Women will come and go, but he doesn’t have any relationships with them. Prufrock wants love but he cannot get it. Its very ironic to call it a love song because it is all about how he is not connected to someone. He is too scared too go after anyone and get into a relationship.
The epigraph is a stream of consciousness. It is telling people that it is not publicized, but rather his own thoughts. This relates to Prufrock because since he is not bold and outspoken the epigraphy allows you to enter into his mind and private thoughts. With the epigraph, it sets the tone that Prufrock’s poem is private and not for the public. He is full of self-doubt and would never have revealed this about himself.
2. Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?
What is it,Do I dare, Disturb the universe, So how should I presume, And how should I begin, Shall I part my hair behind, Do I dare to eat a peach
Some of these questions are repeated more then once. This creates uncertainty and anxiety. He doesn’t really know what he wants with his life or what he is going to do. Prufrock is lost with his life and where he wants it to go. He questions everything because he is so unsure of what he should do and what people will think of him.
3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?
His main flaw is his self- consciousness. He is very uncomfortable with himself and knows that he is the ‘background character’. Every little thing and decisions that seem unimportant are a big deal to him because he is not comfortbale in the world. He is afraid and not bold enough to go out and find love or meaning in the world.
4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?
He has a love for women, but he is too afraid to pursue love. Women will come and go, but he doesn’t have any relationships with them. Prufrock wants love but he cannot get it. Its very ironic to call it a love song because it is all about how he is not connected to someone. He is too scared too go after anyone and get into a relationship.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Journal #15
Journal 15 – William Dean Howell’s “Editha”
1. Write a sentence that summarizes the story’s overall message, and provide three direct quotes from the story that best illustrate this message
If someone is living a life like Editha, it can be very dangerous because you are not living in reality.
“To take the part that her whole soul willed him to take, for the completion of her ideal of him.”
“It isn’t this war alone; though this seems peculiarily wanton and needless; but it’s every war—so stupid; it makes me sick. Why shouldn’t this thing have been settled reasonably?”
“He told me he had asked you to come if he got killed. You didn’t expect that, I suppose, when you sent him.”
2. What tactics does Editha use to make George believe as she does about the war?
She starts telling him that it is a ‘holy war’ and that it is his duty to fight in it. She basically makes him choose to fight or leave. George starts to worry when he gets a letter and the engagement ring enclosed. She pressured him to go to the war and tells him he would be honored and remembered.
3. Is there ever a time in which Editha truly understands what she has done? Does she ever experience an epiphany?
No, I don’t think she understands what she has done. George’s mom tells her what she has done, but it really doesn’t sink in for her. She has an ephiphany when the lady said ‘vulger’. When she has her epiphany however it isn’t for the better, but rather going back to her old way of thinking.
1. Write a sentence that summarizes the story’s overall message, and provide three direct quotes from the story that best illustrate this message
If someone is living a life like Editha, it can be very dangerous because you are not living in reality.
“To take the part that her whole soul willed him to take, for the completion of her ideal of him.”
“It isn’t this war alone; though this seems peculiarily wanton and needless; but it’s every war—so stupid; it makes me sick. Why shouldn’t this thing have been settled reasonably?”
“He told me he had asked you to come if he got killed. You didn’t expect that, I suppose, when you sent him.”
2. What tactics does Editha use to make George believe as she does about the war?
She starts telling him that it is a ‘holy war’ and that it is his duty to fight in it. She basically makes him choose to fight or leave. George starts to worry when he gets a letter and the engagement ring enclosed. She pressured him to go to the war and tells him he would be honored and remembered.
3. Is there ever a time in which Editha truly understands what she has done? Does she ever experience an epiphany?
No, I don’t think she understands what she has done. George’s mom tells her what she has done, but it really doesn’t sink in for her. She has an ephiphany when the lady said ‘vulger’. When she has her epiphany however it isn’t for the better, but rather going back to her old way of thinking.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Journal #16
Journal 16 – Crane’s “The Blue Hotel” and London’s “To Build A Fire”
Read the following quote and discuss how it applies to the main characters in both stories. In the course of this discussion, address how each of the characters is both similar and different:
“Determinisim governs everything … The writer must study the inherited traits of individual characterand the social condition of the time. Together, these elements determine the course of any action, the outcome of any life. Free will or self-determination is mostly an illusion, although chance is granteed a role in human affairs. Still, even the effects of chance are obliterated in the inevitable course determined by the interaction of inherited character traits and the social environment.“
In the Blue Hotel, the Swede inhertited certain traits that ended up in his death. He was already told the Wild West was a bad place so he was already scared when he first got there. Mr. Scully also gave him alcohol which added even more to his downfall. When the Swede got drunk he became belligerent and made the other guests annoyed and angry. Every character played a role in his death by chance. Mr.Scully gave him alcohol which changed his personality, Johnny cheated, The Cowboy egged on the fight and said he wanted to kill the Swede, and Mr.Blanc saw Johnny cheat but didn’t say anything. The weather also caused all of these men to be at the hotel at the same time and also bring the stranger to the hotel who eventually killed the Swede.
In To Build a Fire, the man alos inherited certain traits that started his downfall. He did not listen to advice given to him by people who knew the area and he mistakenly built a fire under the tree. Because he was a newcomer and did not know the area very well his doom was pretty much from the start of his journey. If he had listened to the advice given he would have travelled successfully to his boys. However, he was stubborn and thought he didn’t need one and could face the cold by himself but this proved to challenging for him and eventually ended his life.
Read the following quote and discuss how it applies to the main characters in both stories. In the course of this discussion, address how each of the characters is both similar and different:
“Determinisim governs everything … The writer must study the inherited traits of individual characterand the social condition of the time. Together, these elements determine the course of any action, the outcome of any life. Free will or self-determination is mostly an illusion, although chance is granteed a role in human affairs. Still, even the effects of chance are obliterated in the inevitable course determined by the interaction of inherited character traits and the social environment.“
In the Blue Hotel, the Swede inhertited certain traits that ended up in his death. He was already told the Wild West was a bad place so he was already scared when he first got there. Mr. Scully also gave him alcohol which added even more to his downfall. When the Swede got drunk he became belligerent and made the other guests annoyed and angry. Every character played a role in his death by chance. Mr.Scully gave him alcohol which changed his personality, Johnny cheated, The Cowboy egged on the fight and said he wanted to kill the Swede, and Mr.Blanc saw Johnny cheat but didn’t say anything. The weather also caused all of these men to be at the hotel at the same time and also bring the stranger to the hotel who eventually killed the Swede.
In To Build a Fire, the man alos inherited certain traits that started his downfall. He did not listen to advice given to him by people who knew the area and he mistakenly built a fire under the tree. Because he was a newcomer and did not know the area very well his doom was pretty much from the start of his journey. If he had listened to the advice given he would have travelled successfully to his boys. However, he was stubborn and thought he didn’t need one and could face the cold by himself but this proved to challenging for him and eventually ended his life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)