1. Araby is a short story about a boy who wants to go to supposedly “splendid bazaar" to get a gift for Mangan's sister, the girl who he wants her to like him the same way he likes her.
2. Leveled Questions
Level One
Where did the tenant of the house, the priest, die ?
Level Two
The narrator never really says exactly why he wants to go to Araby. Why do you think he wanted to go so badly?
Level Three
Describe a time in which you really wanted to go somewhere, but you had to wait for a long period of time for your parents to get home, whether it was to get money or whatever the situation was. How did you feel?
3. Observation
Even though I was confused by the ending of this short story, I was able to get a sense of theme. I believe the theme of this story is to act more than you observe. I think the narrator found himself doing much observation. I think the author talked more about what he saw and what appeared to him, other than interacting with others more in the story. Good things come out when you interact more. Like he was able to go to Araby after expressing so much why he wanted to go.
When I read the part about him having to wait for his uncle to get home so he could have money to go to the bazaar, it made me think of the many times that I have wanted to go somewhere but I had to wait until my mom got home to get money for her. This was of course before I was allowed to take money out of my account. I remember being so frustrated because I was not able to just leave when I wanted to, but yet, I had to wait for like my mom to get off work before I could get the money.
I thought this story was kind of weird, well the ending anyway. I do not quite understand how the last two paragraphs come into the story. I intend to get a better understanding when the class discusses this short story in class.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
A Good Man is Hard to Find
1. A Good Man is Hard to Find is a short story about a family who goes on a trip, but has an accident and are killed by some men who stopped to ‘help’ them with their car.
2. Leveled Questions
Level One
What is the name of the grandmother’s son?
Level Two
Surprisingly, the grandmother did not react panicky or scared when she found out the man was ‘The Misfit’. Why do you think she did not act like this?
Level Three
Regretful seems to be a common characteristic among the characters in the short story. Talk about a time in which you regretting something and then some tragedy came out as the ending result.
3. Observation;
The theme of this short story is that there may be fatal consequences of being a self- centered person and trying to make people they way to want them to be. I believe the grandmother was much of a self-centered individual and she tried to make The Misfit a better man than he really was. The grandmother wanted to find out all the good things of The Misfit and allow him to understand he was a good man and because of this, her and her family ended up dead. The Misfit was not this man that she talked him up to be because him and his men ended up killing the family.
The common pattern in this short story was many of the characters having the characteristic of regret. This included the grandmother, Bailey, the kids' mother, and The Misfit. The grandmother regretted (or should have regretted) not telling the family that the house was really in Tennessee. Bailey, the grandmother’s son regretted bringing his mother with them on the trip, while the childrens' mother wishes she could change her childrens' behavior. Lastly, The Misfit regrets not being able to remember his past.
I thought this story was pretty interesting. Once I started reading it, I did not put it down because I was so curious to find out what was going to happen next. I found it pretty ironic that they ran into The Misfit after they just talked about him before the left for the trip and even when they stopped at Red Sammy’s Famous Barbecue. Red Sammy told them a good man is hard to find and it obviously did not stick with the grandmother because she was trying to get all the good stuff out of The Misfit and have it outweigh all his negative capabilities.
2. Leveled Questions
Level One
What is the name of the grandmother’s son?
Level Two
Surprisingly, the grandmother did not react panicky or scared when she found out the man was ‘The Misfit’. Why do you think she did not act like this?
Level Three
Regretful seems to be a common characteristic among the characters in the short story. Talk about a time in which you regretting something and then some tragedy came out as the ending result.
3. Observation;
The theme of this short story is that there may be fatal consequences of being a self- centered person and trying to make people they way to want them to be. I believe the grandmother was much of a self-centered individual and she tried to make The Misfit a better man than he really was. The grandmother wanted to find out all the good things of The Misfit and allow him to understand he was a good man and because of this, her and her family ended up dead. The Misfit was not this man that she talked him up to be because him and his men ended up killing the family.
The common pattern in this short story was many of the characters having the characteristic of regret. This included the grandmother, Bailey, the kids' mother, and The Misfit. The grandmother regretted (or should have regretted) not telling the family that the house was really in Tennessee. Bailey, the grandmother’s son regretted bringing his mother with them on the trip, while the childrens' mother wishes she could change her childrens' behavior. Lastly, The Misfit regrets not being able to remember his past.
I thought this story was pretty interesting. Once I started reading it, I did not put it down because I was so curious to find out what was going to happen next. I found it pretty ironic that they ran into The Misfit after they just talked about him before the left for the trip and even when they stopped at Red Sammy’s Famous Barbecue. Red Sammy told them a good man is hard to find and it obviously did not stick with the grandmother because she was trying to get all the good stuff out of The Misfit and have it outweigh all his negative capabilities.
Monday, September 1, 2008
"there must be more money! there must be more money!"
1. The Rocking-Horse Winner is a short story about a boy name Paul and his understanding that his parents are ‘unlucky’ and he has the urge to help his family by placing bets on horse races and making money.
2. Leveled Questions
Level One
What was the phrase that was always ‘whispered’ in the house?
Level Two
“Although they lived in style, they felt always an anxiety in the house. There was never enough money” (Lawrence, 37). Why was there never enough money in the house?
Level Three
“‘It’s what causes you to have money. If you’re lucky you have money. That’s why it’s better to be born lucky than rich. If you’re rich, you may lose your money. But if you’re lucky, you will always get more money’” (Lawrence, 38). Do you agree or disagree with this quote? Explain.
3. Observation
The theme of this short story is that money does not satisfy everything. There were still even the whispers in the home after Paul made the money from the horse bets and gave it to his mom. The whispers were because there was no money in the house and it was thought that Paul’s money would quiet the house and make these bets go away, but it did not work like that. Thus, money did not satisfy the problem.
My observation for this short story is going to be reflecting on the theme. I do entirely agree with the fact that money does not solve all kind of problems and satisfy everything and everyone. Paul’s mom still yearned for money after she was given the 5,000 pounds from Paul, which shows that this money did not fix her needs. It is obvious that money could help a starving family and allows a homeless person to eat and put clothes on their backs, however, money does not guarantee happiness. Money makes this world go around, but it obviously does not ensure for people to be happy.
I know of someone who is filthy rich, but is not a happy person. He has his own family who lives together, but he is still not happy. He also has many degrees and has lead what is known to be a ‘successful’ (legal) life, but there still is no happiness in this person. This shows you that he can have all this money and not even have to work for the rest of his life. All this money still does not entitle him to be the even slightly happy camper at all. This is just a real life example that happiness does not just come with being rich like a drink comes with a m
2. Leveled Questions
Level One
What was the phrase that was always ‘whispered’ in the house?
Level Two
“Although they lived in style, they felt always an anxiety in the house. There was never enough money” (Lawrence, 37). Why was there never enough money in the house?
Level Three
“‘It’s what causes you to have money. If you’re lucky you have money. That’s why it’s better to be born lucky than rich. If you’re rich, you may lose your money. But if you’re lucky, you will always get more money’” (Lawrence, 38). Do you agree or disagree with this quote? Explain.
3. Observation
The theme of this short story is that money does not satisfy everything. There were still even the whispers in the home after Paul made the money from the horse bets and gave it to his mom. The whispers were because there was no money in the house and it was thought that Paul’s money would quiet the house and make these bets go away, but it did not work like that. Thus, money did not satisfy the problem.
My observation for this short story is going to be reflecting on the theme. I do entirely agree with the fact that money does not solve all kind of problems and satisfy everything and everyone. Paul’s mom still yearned for money after she was given the 5,000 pounds from Paul, which shows that this money did not fix her needs. It is obvious that money could help a starving family and allows a homeless person to eat and put clothes on their backs, however, money does not guarantee happiness. Money makes this world go around, but it obviously does not ensure for people to be happy.
I know of someone who is filthy rich, but is not a happy person. He has his own family who lives together, but he is still not happy. He also has many degrees and has lead what is known to be a ‘successful’ (legal) life, but there still is no happiness in this person. This shows you that he can have all this money and not even have to work for the rest of his life. All this money still does not entitle him to be the even slightly happy camper at all. This is just a real life example that happiness does not just come with being rich like a drink comes with a m
Thursday, August 28, 2008
" lost brother " ; [ pr ] .
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
joe`s realization .
At the end of the novel, Joe finally realizes something so important. He realizes that he is apart of the future and that he could affect the future soldiers. These soldiers could be affected because they are actually seeing what could possibly happen to them at war. They would come to notice that they could end up like Joe, dead, or crippled. Therefore, it is somewhat a good thing that allowing Joe to go outside the hospital is against regulations. Not only does the hospital not want to let him out, but the government and military do not want to either because they do not want people to NOT fight for their country.
Being that the government has their opinion of not wanting Joe to leave the hospital, Joe has an opinion of the government. Joe is pointing the gun at people like the government, the people who want all these soldiers to go fight. He does not understand how these fighters are being told they are fighting for democracy, but at the same time everyone is fighting and killing each other. He does not like the fact that these people, like the government, are sending these soldiers over to fight and aren't even fighting themselves. The ones that are declaring and starting the wars are not even the ones that actually fight in the wars.
Being that the government has their opinion of not wanting Joe to leave the hospital, Joe has an opinion of the government. Joe is pointing the gun at people like the government, the people who want all these soldiers to go fight. He does not understand how these fighters are being told they are fighting for democracy, but at the same time everyone is fighting and killing each other. He does not like the fact that these people, like the government, are sending these soldiers over to fight and aren't even fighting themselves. The ones that are declaring and starting the wars are not even the ones that actually fight in the wars.
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