Willa Cather in her novel My Antonia offers her view of life during the pioneer time.
How would My Ántonia be different if it were told from Ántonia's perspective?
If the story was told from Antonia's perspective, I do not think that much would change much at all. The hardships and outcomes would be different, obviously, but the overall theme would be the same. Both Antonia and Jim become who the are because of the trials they had to overcome in their childhood (ie, Mr. Shimerda's death, moving in with grandparents, and long hard winters).
How effective is Cather, a woman, at narrating a story from the point of view of a man? Does Jim sound like a man writing, or does the narrative sound like a woman pretending to be a man?
I think that Willa Cather does an excellent job at narrating My Antonia. Jim sounds like a man writing, even if he does sound like a rather laid-back, carefree man.
Why do you think Jim changed the title from Antonia to My Antonia?
I think he changed the name of the title to show that Antonia was a key factor in his life. She helped him become the man he is, and vice versa. The title change showed how important their friendship was.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story. It has all the key factors that novels should have, friendships, hardships, and learning to grow up.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Effect of Setting
Author Willa Cather embedded literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, within her writing.
"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."
"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."
"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie. The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together. The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.
Chunk #1: Comment the effect of the setting on the characters within the novel.
The setting of this novel has a major effect of the characters, Antonia especially. After her fathers death, she becomes driven to prove herself, working hard on her family's new farm. She becomes tan, her hair becomes long and ragged, and she becomes bulkier because of the hard work she has become dedicated to.
Chunk #2: discuss the effect a setting on you, including imagery (lots of adjectives) and a simile or a metaphor as you describe the land.
The tree in my front yard symbolizes a refuge to me, especially during a rain shower. The canopy of leaves protects me and the swing underneath from rain drops above. In the background, gently playing, piano music plays. The rain loves music, and dances along to the beat as she falls. Sitting beside me, warm, a cup of steaming black coffee. In my hands, a book. A thick, juicy book, filled with excitement and adventure I haven't fathomed. This is my moment of bliss, under the tree, my book, the rain, and me.
"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."
"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."
"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie. The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together. The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.
Chunk #1: Comment the effect of the setting on the characters within the novel.
The setting of this novel has a major effect of the characters, Antonia especially. After her fathers death, she becomes driven to prove herself, working hard on her family's new farm. She becomes tan, her hair becomes long and ragged, and she becomes bulkier because of the hard work she has become dedicated to.
Chunk #2: discuss the effect a setting on you, including imagery (lots of adjectives) and a simile or a metaphor as you describe the land.
The tree in my front yard symbolizes a refuge to me, especially during a rain shower. The canopy of leaves protects me and the swing underneath from rain drops above. In the background, gently playing, piano music plays. The rain loves music, and dances along to the beat as she falls. Sitting beside me, warm, a cup of steaming black coffee. In my hands, a book. A thick, juicy book, filled with excitement and adventure I haven't fathomed. This is my moment of bliss, under the tree, my book, the rain, and me.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Argument: Year-round School
Assertion- School should be year round.
Evidence:
Many believe that having school year round would "keep kids in school for most of the calender year," ultimately causing more stress on students.
Though I see the logic in these beliefs, I insist that the amount of time spent on both schedules is the same, beign 190 days, and would help educate our nation's youth in the most effecient way.
My Paragraph:
School should be held year around. With year round schooling, the day spent in class stays the same as traditoinal school, there are just more breaks. These breaks would be frequent. There would be a scheduled breaks in between each nine weeks, sometimes even every three weeks. Also tradional breaks, such as Christmas Break, would be longer, lasting the entire month of December. The amount of breaks would "allow students to have time to rest their minds from learning material." This would make learning easier, and help students retain more knowledge, most of which we lose over the three month summer holiday. Year round schooling will help students adjust to the demanding schdules of college and work. Because most people do not take one three-month-long vacation, having numerous short breaks throughout the year would help students "adjust to the schedule and routine of college without a great amount of difficulty." This would also help teach students how to mangae time more resoponsibly, and aspire getting work done because of the break from the stress of learning for almost tweleve weeks straight. Many believe that having school year round would "keep kids in school for most of the calender year," ultimately causing more stress on students. Some parents would argue that this would hinder most students ability to learn and recall things that they've learend in the passed. Also, this could anger some parents because it would make scheduling and family vacation more diffiult, a selfish thing to think in comparison with education. Though I see the logic in these beliefs, I insist that the amount of time spent on both schedules is the same, beign 190 days, and would help educate our nation's youth in the most effecient way. The pros of this calender outweight, and prove silly, the cons, and I believe that a change in our current arrangements would benifit the students of this district greatly.
My Thinking:
In this paragraph, I used mainly deductive thinking. I started with a theroy- School would be less stressful in held year round- and formulated a hypothesis from this. From there, I started to gather my evidence and ended proving my point- that school would be much easier for students if we went all year.
Source: The Advantages of a Year-Round School Schedule
Evidence:
- With year round schooling, the day spent in class stays the same as traditoinal school, there are just more breaks.
- These breaks would be frequent. There would be a scheduled breaks in between each nine weeks, sometimes even every three weeks. Also tradional breaks, such as Christmas Break, would be longer, lasting the entire month of December.
- The amount of breaks would "allow students to have time to rest their minds from learning material." This would make learning easier, and help students retain more knowledge, most of which we lose over the three month summer holiday.
- Year round schooling will help students adjust to the demanding schdules of college and work.
- Because most people do not take one three-month-long vacation, having numerous short breaks throughout the year would help students "adjust to the schedule and routine of college without a great amount of difficulty."
- This would also help teach students how to mangae time more resoponsibly, and promote getting work done because of the break from the stress of learning for almost tweleve weeks straight.
Many believe that having school year round would "keep kids in school for most of the calender year," ultimately causing more stress on students.
- Some parents would argue that this would hinder most students ability to learn and recall things that they've learend in the passed.
- Also, this could anger some parents because it would make scheduling and family vacation more diffiult, a selfish thing to think in comparison with education.
Though I see the logic in these beliefs, I insist that the amount of time spent on both schedules is the same, beign 190 days, and would help educate our nation's youth in the most effecient way.
My Paragraph:
School should be held year around. With year round schooling, the day spent in class stays the same as traditoinal school, there are just more breaks. These breaks would be frequent. There would be a scheduled breaks in between each nine weeks, sometimes even every three weeks. Also tradional breaks, such as Christmas Break, would be longer, lasting the entire month of December. The amount of breaks would "allow students to have time to rest their minds from learning material." This would make learning easier, and help students retain more knowledge, most of which we lose over the three month summer holiday. Year round schooling will help students adjust to the demanding schdules of college and work. Because most people do not take one three-month-long vacation, having numerous short breaks throughout the year would help students "adjust to the schedule and routine of college without a great amount of difficulty." This would also help teach students how to mangae time more resoponsibly, and aspire getting work done because of the break from the stress of learning for almost tweleve weeks straight. Many believe that having school year round would "keep kids in school for most of the calender year," ultimately causing more stress on students. Some parents would argue that this would hinder most students ability to learn and recall things that they've learend in the passed. Also, this could anger some parents because it would make scheduling and family vacation more diffiult, a selfish thing to think in comparison with education. Though I see the logic in these beliefs, I insist that the amount of time spent on both schedules is the same, beign 190 days, and would help educate our nation's youth in the most effecient way. The pros of this calender outweight, and prove silly, the cons, and I believe that a change in our current arrangements would benifit the students of this district greatly.
My Thinking:
In this paragraph, I used mainly deductive thinking. I started with a theroy- School would be less stressful in held year round- and formulated a hypothesis from this. From there, I started to gather my evidence and ended proving my point- that school would be much easier for students if we went all year.
Source: The Advantages of a Year-Round School Schedule
Monday, November 14, 2011
Book Review: The Good Earth
Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth contains a wealth of detail about daily life in rural China at the end of the nineteenth century and in the first quarter of the twentieth century; it shows what people ate, what clothes they wore, how they worked, what gods they worshiped, and what their marriage and family customs were. The novel is written in a simple but elevated, almost Biblical style, which lends dignity to the characters and events.
The protagonist of The Good Earth is a young man named Wang Lung. He begins life as a poor farmer and marries O-lan, a slave owned by the Hwang family. Wang Lung maintains a fierce attachment to the land. However, he is also extremely ambitious and envies the material success of the wealthy Hwangs. He is increasingly drawn to the Hwangs’ decadent lifestyle, and in the end, his piety and love of the land is only partially successful in helping him maintain his good character and moral standing. I found Wang Lung annoying and dislikable because of the way that he treats his family.
The Good Earth covers a great deal of time -- about forty years -- in a quite unusual way. As long as things are going well, spans of years will pass by in a single sentence. Only when trouble strikes does the narrative shift into a more focused, plot-oriented approach. The effect echoes the life of a farmer. While the cycle of seasons occurs smoothly, the rhythm of life is also cyclical. However, when this cyclical rhythm is disrupted, by flood, famine, or human factors, life must work through problems in a more linear fashion. Wang Lung, as he ages, yearns for the peaceful connection to cyclical, seasonal life, but does not achieve this until the novel's end, as crises consistently interfere.
To put it simpily, I think that The Good Earth teaches us that it is the little things in life that we should appreciate, and to be happy with what fate hands us.
The protagonist of The Good Earth is a young man named Wang Lung. He begins life as a poor farmer and marries O-lan, a slave owned by the Hwang family. Wang Lung maintains a fierce attachment to the land. However, he is also extremely ambitious and envies the material success of the wealthy Hwangs. He is increasingly drawn to the Hwangs’ decadent lifestyle, and in the end, his piety and love of the land is only partially successful in helping him maintain his good character and moral standing. I found Wang Lung annoying and dislikable because of the way that he treats his family.
The Good Earth covers a great deal of time -- about forty years -- in a quite unusual way. As long as things are going well, spans of years will pass by in a single sentence. Only when trouble strikes does the narrative shift into a more focused, plot-oriented approach. The effect echoes the life of a farmer. While the cycle of seasons occurs smoothly, the rhythm of life is also cyclical. However, when this cyclical rhythm is disrupted, by flood, famine, or human factors, life must work through problems in a more linear fashion. Wang Lung, as he ages, yearns for the peaceful connection to cyclical, seasonal life, but does not achieve this until the novel's end, as crises consistently interfere.
To put it simpily, I think that The Good Earth teaches us that it is the little things in life that we should appreciate, and to be happy with what fate hands us.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Fight or Flight: "The Youth" vs. "...Forrest, Forrest Gump"
In intense situations, a person's instinct to run varies based upon said person's definition of self-preservation.
In the Red Badge of Courage, Henry Flemming, aka "the youth," is a rookie solider who only enlisted out of boredom of life on the family farm. His first year in the army is peculiarly uneventful, camping out at the same location, making no friends. He's left with only his thoughts and the canvas of his tent. He comes to realize that he was wrong, war is less glamorous than he fathomed it should be. He begins pondering what he might actually do if he is in a battle, whether or not he would stay put and fight, or break rank and run. His first experience with war comes too soon, but to his own relief, Henry stays and fights. His company ends winning the battle, the enemy retreating. He sleeps well that night because his "supreme trial had passed." The next day, however, to every one's amazement, they are raided again; this time by surprise. Henry tries to prepare himself, but with so little time, he becomes overwhelmed. He "ran like a blind man," fleeing from the enemy, or what here refereed to as the "dragon." As he's retreating, he starts to notice all the other regiment's preparing for battle, calling them 'Methodical idiots!' and 'Machine-like fools!' He runs because he doesn't want to die. In dangerous situations, Henry takes flight. He would rather run from life threatening problems to preserve his life, instead of staying and fighting for his life.
Forrest Gump, in my opinion, is a complete one-eighty from Henry Flemming. Forrest finds himself in the middle of the war in "Vee-at-nah-um," walking into a battle already rageing. After his unit tries to knock out the enemy, they lose hope and Lieutenant Dan calls for aircraft, telling his unit to run. Forrest doesn't understand at first because he wants to stay and fight. But he ends up running, not because he's afraid of dying, but because he was told to. ("Run, Forrest! Run!") He runs, something that he is naturally talented at, and finds himself alone. He stops as he realizes this, and then turns around and runs back into the battle because "Bubba's my best good friend. I couldn't just leave him there." But as he runs back into the Valley of Death, he finds people yelling "Help me, Forrest!" He carries them to safety, but all in a frantic panic because he couldn't find Bubba. Forrest, even though he was told to run, runs back and fights because he's "...gotta find Bubba!" In intense situations, Forrest is a fighter. He gets what he wants because he doesn't realize fear, unlike Flemming. Forrest's definition of self-preservation is almost nonexistent in this situation because of his determination to save Bubba.
The fight or flight reflex is present in everyone, one appearing without the other in all situations. It's different for different people, a perfectly fine example of this being the difference in Flemming's and Gump's reactions when under pressure in different situations.
In the Red Badge of Courage, Henry Flemming, aka "the youth," is a rookie solider who only enlisted out of boredom of life on the family farm. His first year in the army is peculiarly uneventful, camping out at the same location, making no friends. He's left with only his thoughts and the canvas of his tent. He comes to realize that he was wrong, war is less glamorous than he fathomed it should be. He begins pondering what he might actually do if he is in a battle, whether or not he would stay put and fight, or break rank and run. His first experience with war comes too soon, but to his own relief, Henry stays and fights. His company ends winning the battle, the enemy retreating. He sleeps well that night because his "supreme trial had passed." The next day, however, to every one's amazement, they are raided again; this time by surprise. Henry tries to prepare himself, but with so little time, he becomes overwhelmed. He "ran like a blind man," fleeing from the enemy, or what here refereed to as the "dragon." As he's retreating, he starts to notice all the other regiment's preparing for battle, calling them 'Methodical idiots!' and 'Machine-like fools!' He runs because he doesn't want to die. In dangerous situations, Henry takes flight. He would rather run from life threatening problems to preserve his life, instead of staying and fighting for his life.
Forrest Gump, in my opinion, is a complete one-eighty from Henry Flemming. Forrest finds himself in the middle of the war in "Vee-at-nah-um," walking into a battle already rageing. After his unit tries to knock out the enemy, they lose hope and Lieutenant Dan calls for aircraft, telling his unit to run. Forrest doesn't understand at first because he wants to stay and fight. But he ends up running, not because he's afraid of dying, but because he was told to. ("Run, Forrest! Run!") He runs, something that he is naturally talented at, and finds himself alone. He stops as he realizes this, and then turns around and runs back into the battle because "Bubba's my best good friend. I couldn't just leave him there." But as he runs back into the Valley of Death, he finds people yelling "Help me, Forrest!" He carries them to safety, but all in a frantic panic because he couldn't find Bubba. Forrest, even though he was told to run, runs back and fights because he's "...gotta find Bubba!" In intense situations, Forrest is a fighter. He gets what he wants because he doesn't realize fear, unlike Flemming. Forrest's definition of self-preservation is almost nonexistent in this situation because of his determination to save Bubba.
The fight or flight reflex is present in everyone, one appearing without the other in all situations. It's different for different people, a perfectly fine example of this being the difference in Flemming's and Gump's reactions when under pressure in different situations.
Monday, September 26, 2011
War Is...
War is a ram, butting heads with a threat.
War is mean, taking husbands from wives.
War is destructive, tearing down the facade of safety.
War is a gold digger, showing itself in the richest of hands.
War is cunning, planning and scheming for death.
War is ugly, deformed and raging for revenge.
War is territorial, erasing lines on the map.
War is hateful, spitting curse words at it's opponent.
War is rash, making mistakes and wasting time.
War is a sad thing, mourning its loss.
War is mean, taking husbands from wives.
War is destructive, tearing down the facade of safety.
War is a gold digger, showing itself in the richest of hands.
War is cunning, planning and scheming for death.
War is ugly, deformed and raging for revenge.
War is territorial, erasing lines on the map.
War is hateful, spitting curse words at it's opponent.
War is rash, making mistakes and wasting time.
War is a sad thing, mourning its loss.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Wounded Warrior Project
The WWP likes to say that their mission is "to honor and empower wounded warriors." WWP educates the public on the storiesof the veterans, provides aid for those injured soldiers, and promotes the acquaintances of the injured military officers. They provide programs to help the service members with fiances and accept donations.
I think that the Wounded Warrior Project is a good idea because most people don't hear about those wounded in service unless you know them. It helps raise awareness for something that we should be very conscious about, but we're surprisingly ill informed. It shows that many lives have been spared because of luck, or what some would call the grace of God.
I also find the WWP very eye-opening. It helps us as Americans see that our brothers and sisters are not just losing their lives, but flesh and bone for this country as well. But all we're concerned about it the cost of groceries and gas prices, and we aren't really concerned with our wounded neighbors who have more hardships than we do.
Along with these, the WWP also makes me very proud to live in a country where we are privileged to have people who want to sacrifice themselves just so we can have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It helps us see that we have people that we have neglected to give our appreciation to, even though they haven't asked for any.
The Wounded Warrior Project helps us recognize the sacrifices that these people have made for our sakes. The organization helps the younger generations, like myself, develop an understanding for the military world. It makes me happy to be an American because of these veterans, who have given their legs and arms for our welfare.
I think that the Wounded Warrior Project is a good idea because most people don't hear about those wounded in service unless you know them. It helps raise awareness for something that we should be very conscious about, but we're surprisingly ill informed. It shows that many lives have been spared because of luck, or what some would call the grace of God.
I also find the WWP very eye-opening. It helps us as Americans see that our brothers and sisters are not just losing their lives, but flesh and bone for this country as well. But all we're concerned about it the cost of groceries and gas prices, and we aren't really concerned with our wounded neighbors who have more hardships than we do.
Along with these, the WWP also makes me very proud to live in a country where we are privileged to have people who want to sacrifice themselves just so we can have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It helps us see that we have people that we have neglected to give our appreciation to, even though they haven't asked for any.
The Wounded Warrior Project helps us recognize the sacrifices that these people have made for our sakes. The organization helps the younger generations, like myself, develop an understanding for the military world. It makes me happy to be an American because of these veterans, who have given their legs and arms for our welfare.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Remembering 9/11
I was six years old. I had just started grade school. I was sitting in Mrs. Rogers' first grade class. I don't remember anything. Not the moment I found out, I remember no emotions. My first recollection of anything having to do with 9-11 was on ABC World News with Charles Gibson. My one and only memory of that day.
"Mommy, why are you guys watching this stuff? It's scary."
"It just happened, honey. This really just happened."
It was almost like I was asking if this was just a TV show. Like someone made this sadistic image up. People leaping off buildings and skyscrapers falling. People dying. Like there was a script and these were actors on the screen, not real people, and no one was getting hurt. This isn't happening in real life. Someone just made it look like it is.
I think my thoughts were right along the line with the rest of America's. 'Did this just happen?' 'This is scary.' 'Who would do this?' But everyone knew one thing for sure: It wasn't accident. No one just so happens to fly two passenger jet's into the same building, killing countless people. Not to mention the other two planes, one smashing home at the Pentagon and the other with its sight set on DC itself. Thank God for the passengers of that flight, otherwise we'd have been talking about rebuilding the Capitol building and elections for a new president.
Does anyone else see the images and watch the clips and silently think to themselves, 'How many people did I just watch die? How many little girls, who were sitting in their first grade class, will never see their daddy's again? How many will never meet their moms, their dads, their sisters?' The answer: countless. Because everybody knows someone who knows someone who was in that building on September 11, 2011. And we will never, ever, forget them.
"Mommy, why are you guys watching this stuff? It's scary."
"It just happened, honey. This really just happened."
It was almost like I was asking if this was just a TV show. Like someone made this sadistic image up. People leaping off buildings and skyscrapers falling. People dying. Like there was a script and these were actors on the screen, not real people, and no one was getting hurt. This isn't happening in real life. Someone just made it look like it is.
I think my thoughts were right along the line with the rest of America's. 'Did this just happen?' 'This is scary.' 'Who would do this?' But everyone knew one thing for sure: It wasn't accident. No one just so happens to fly two passenger jet's into the same building, killing countless people. Not to mention the other two planes, one smashing home at the Pentagon and the other with its sight set on DC itself. Thank God for the passengers of that flight, otherwise we'd have been talking about rebuilding the Capitol building and elections for a new president.
Does anyone else see the images and watch the clips and silently think to themselves, 'How many people did I just watch die? How many little girls, who were sitting in their first grade class, will never see their daddy's again? How many will never meet their moms, their dads, their sisters?' The answer: countless. Because everybody knows someone who knows someone who was in that building on September 11, 2011. And we will never, ever, forget them.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Book Review: The Alchemist
"My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky. "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse that the sufferig itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams."Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist invites you on the journey of a life time, full of wisdom, danger, love and lose. Not only does it spark your intrest, but your imagination as well. Begining in Renissance Spain, Coelho introduces our protagoinst, a shepard boy who dreams of traveling the world. He yearns to search for his hidden treasure and fulfill his Personal Legend, but little does Santiago know that his profit will be more than riches untold.
What makes Coelho's novel so unique is not his storyline, but his writing style as a whole. He's not quite kosher with names, only mentioning the main character's once, and tends to use nouns for everyone else. (i.e. 'the alchemist,' 'the Englishman,' 'the King,' and so on.) Also, the author's voice as he narrarates his work is quite different too, almost saint-like or thoughtful through the entire novel; uncomparibale to most authors, who's mood stays parallel with the character's.
Another contributor to this particualr novel is the lack of detail. Although it is not needed, charachter descriptions and the like are vauge, almost left out of the picture completly. This allows the us to imagine the scene, the height and shape of the characters, and the activity taking place around the dialouge. This allows us to create our own journey alongside Santiago.
I recommend this book to readers of all ages. The simplicity of the work makes it perfect for a bed time story. But at the same time, the complex thoughts and intuition makes it perfect for older and more advance audiences.
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