When I read the title of this poem, it brought back a memory. I remember being in some store (it was either K-Mart or Walmart) and my mom and I lost my little brother. However, in a way it was like he lost us because he walked away from me and my mom. I can recall him being very upset and in tears, being that he was so young and he could not find us. I do not exactly think this actually poem could relate to my brother being lost in the store. This poem is more about one tree talking about his brother who was cut down.
The younger brother that is talking (the living tree) is basically saying he wants to please their mother and be like his brother by living as long as he did. He also wants to do things like live with the clouds and with the ones he loves. I still cannot understand how this tree loves someone else or something else.
This poem was definitely not one of my favorites. I thought this poem was a bit hard to understand at first, being that these brothers are trees and one is talking about his brother, being that he was cut down (or in other words, had passed away). I first of all know that trees cannot talk and then the trees being brothers is another thing that is hard to believe. Thus, I found this poem kind of ‘weird’ and I wonder what Moss’s other poems are about or if more personifications are being given to other objects.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
i stand here ironing .
I Stand Here Ironing by Tillie Olsen
1. I Stand Here Ironing is a short story about a young mother talking about the affection and attention that she wishes she would have gave her children, mainly her daughter Emily because she has trouble fitting in society and understanding who she is.
2. Leveled Questions
Level One
Emily wrote to her mom every other day while she was at the convalescent home. What was it she would get if she wrote her letter nicely, although she never got one?
Level Two
What led up to Emily going to the convalescent home? What was the main plan for Emily and her mother while Emily was gone?
Level Three
“The old man living in the back once said in his gentle way: ‘You should smile at Emily more when you look at her.’” Why do you think affection is so significant even at such young age?
3. Observation; Just doing some observing.
The theme for this short story is that it is not easy to share the total amount of affection that you have not shared in the past for your loved once. At times it is too easy to get ahead of yourself while leaving the ones you care about behind. In the end, your lack of love and care hurts not only them but also you in the long run.
I found this short story to be rather sad. I felt sorry for the young mother just as much as I felt sorry for the children, especially Emily. I believe the young mother did not understand the complete sense of motherhood and what things she could do for her family that did not cost. Emily was a child who did not understand too much about herself. She did not understand why she did not have the same hair and skin tone as everyone else. It was hard for Emily to fit into society being that she was cared for or taught as much by her mother like the other children.
I actually liked this short story. I felt like the author made me clear of how the mother felt and what was going on with Emily. I was able to build an amount of sympathy for the mother, who wishes that she could turn back in time and start over. I believe the young mother is apart of the every day examples of not only young mothers, but many mothers in general. I think it starts off with the generations and hopefully Emily could someday share some affection with her children [but I would understand if she did not because she did not have it from her own mother].
1. I Stand Here Ironing is a short story about a young mother talking about the affection and attention that she wishes she would have gave her children, mainly her daughter Emily because she has trouble fitting in society and understanding who she is.
2. Leveled Questions
Level One
Emily wrote to her mom every other day while she was at the convalescent home. What was it she would get if she wrote her letter nicely, although she never got one?
Level Two
What led up to Emily going to the convalescent home? What was the main plan for Emily and her mother while Emily was gone?
Level Three
“The old man living in the back once said in his gentle way: ‘You should smile at Emily more when you look at her.’” Why do you think affection is so significant even at such young age?
3. Observation; Just doing some observing.
The theme for this short story is that it is not easy to share the total amount of affection that you have not shared in the past for your loved once. At times it is too easy to get ahead of yourself while leaving the ones you care about behind. In the end, your lack of love and care hurts not only them but also you in the long run.
I found this short story to be rather sad. I felt sorry for the young mother just as much as I felt sorry for the children, especially Emily. I believe the young mother did not understand the complete sense of motherhood and what things she could do for her family that did not cost. Emily was a child who did not understand too much about herself. She did not understand why she did not have the same hair and skin tone as everyone else. It was hard for Emily to fit into society being that she was cared for or taught as much by her mother like the other children.
I actually liked this short story. I felt like the author made me clear of how the mother felt and what was going on with Emily. I was able to build an amount of sympathy for the mother, who wishes that she could turn back in time and start over. I believe the young mother is apart of the every day examples of not only young mothers, but many mothers in general. I think it starts off with the generations and hopefully Emily could someday share some affection with her children [but I would understand if she did not because she did not have it from her own mother].
Monday, August 25, 2008
the lesson .
Short Story Assignment
The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara
1. The Lesson is a short story about a girl name Sylvia and her experience on a ‘field trip’ with her class to a toy store.
2. Leveled Questions
Level One
Where does the class go for the ‘field trip’?
Level Two
How is Mercedes much ‘different’ than the other students on the trip? Describe a time where you were you were either in Mercedes position or the other students.
Level Three
Which of the characters in the story do you think is somewhat similar to you? Explain why you chose this character.
3. Observation; Just doing some observing [Definitely jumping around with different subjects].
I strongly believe that Bambara’s The Lesson was interesting. Her use of slang and cuss words made me think about and do many things. Because of there not being any sort of editing with the characters’ words and their personalities, I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. The kids’ attitudes towards Miss Moore kept me thinking about what type of parents or households they may have.
Another thought about the story and its language made me realize how mature our class is thought to be. I know for a fact (coming from a large public high school) that if we were going to read a story like that in class, there would be a permission slip sent home to be signed by your parents, informing them of what we were going to be reading. I told my mom about the reading and showed her the various swear words used and being so used to permission slips, she was surprised we were reading it.
In a way, I felt sorry for Mercedes in the story. I do not think that she understood the certain situations her classmates were in and how she was more ‘spoiled’ than everyone in her class. I am not sure if I would label her in the upper class because I do not know they specific economic status of each student. However, I do not think that she fit in with the class. She talked about how her daddy would get her this expensive item at the toy store and at times it seemed like she was trying to show off what she had or what she could get.
The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara
1. The Lesson is a short story about a girl name Sylvia and her experience on a ‘field trip’ with her class to a toy store.
2. Leveled Questions
Level One
Where does the class go for the ‘field trip’?
Level Two
How is Mercedes much ‘different’ than the other students on the trip? Describe a time where you were you were either in Mercedes position or the other students.
Level Three
Which of the characters in the story do you think is somewhat similar to you? Explain why you chose this character.
3. Observation; Just doing some observing [Definitely jumping around with different subjects].
I strongly believe that Bambara’s The Lesson was interesting. Her use of slang and cuss words made me think about and do many things. Because of there not being any sort of editing with the characters’ words and their personalities, I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. The kids’ attitudes towards Miss Moore kept me thinking about what type of parents or households they may have.
Another thought about the story and its language made me realize how mature our class is thought to be. I know for a fact (coming from a large public high school) that if we were going to read a story like that in class, there would be a permission slip sent home to be signed by your parents, informing them of what we were going to be reading. I told my mom about the reading and showed her the various swear words used and being so used to permission slips, she was surprised we were reading it.
In a way, I felt sorry for Mercedes in the story. I do not think that she understood the certain situations her classmates were in and how she was more ‘spoiled’ than everyone in her class. I am not sure if I would label her in the upper class because I do not know they specific economic status of each student. However, I do not think that she fit in with the class. She talked about how her daddy would get her this expensive item at the toy store and at times it seemed like she was trying to show off what she had or what she could get.
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