"Great Bumble. Sleek Slicer." As the vented out words of Mary Oliver roll down the page the reader gets a feeling of heated hatred and bitterness. Although the poem "In the Pinewoods, Crows and Owls" can be interpreted in many ways I saw the poem as being about power. The crows in her poem represent the people and the owl represents the figure of power.
It is clear to a reader with this interpretation to see that the owl is in control. Oliver refers to the owl as the "Pine God" and the "Prince of dark days" obviously stating the owl's status as a more powerful creature. One way to see the crows as a representation of the people would be to closely examine the line, "Flying against shut doors". The crows have less power than the owl, and are being oppressed. The crows are being threatened with fear and they despise the owl in every way, much like the people of a country with a dictatorial ruler. Oliver's perspective on power and the feeling of oppression are accurately explained. for instance, a suppressed group of people have an uncontrollable hatred towards their dictator and they also may feel and longing to be like them in order to gain their acceptance. Actual nature is very similar to human nature, " you are their dream, their waking, their quarry, their demon". Oliver catches the simple truths of power and explains that just as the power structure in the natural habitat of the pinewoods in unalterable the power structure among people is mostly unalterable.
The structure of the poem is unique because there are no stanzas and rarely does Oliver choose to use periods. The poem reads more like a rant than a thought or reflection. The structure is what makes this poem so full of bitterness and anger.
Monday
Extended: Picnic, Lightning and American Primitive
I started my poem with the first line out of "Some Days" by Billy Collins
Some days I put the people in their places at the table,
their faces glowing,
laughing,
they are all eating and clanking their dishes with delight.
What makes the company of friends feel so warm?
The women's glimmering jewelry sends prisms on the walls,
their dry and pungent perfume soaks the air.
And the men, with their pressed and crisped jackets croak and grunt at conversation.
Each person seems to be tailored for the night,
locked in and completely in place.
Some days I put the people in their places at the table,
their faces glowing,
laughing,
they are all eating and clanking their dishes with delight.
What makes the company of friends feel so warm?
The women's glimmering jewelry sends prisms on the walls,
their dry and pungent perfume soaks the air.
And the men, with their pressed and crisped jackets croak and grunt at conversation.
Each person seems to be tailored for the night,
locked in and completely in place.
Extended: Persepolis
I made a poster about the ancient city of Persepolis that I will be bringing into class.
Tuesday
Waiting: A poem depicting the feelings of Mark Doty in Heaven's Coast
What time is it?
What else can I do?
Time never stops
for you,
these days keep on fading
they keep wasting away.
We could sit here together,
we could loose this today.
It's not what the doctors tell me,
it's the silence I won't take,
it's your hand held in mine,
it's the feeling you can't shake.
I stand here alone,
watching waves roll by,
it's like watching a clock hand,
it's like watching your eyes.
I have some decisions to make
and I know you do too.
Time will never stop,
it won't stop for you.
What else can I do?
Time never stops
for you,
these days keep on fading
they keep wasting away.
We could sit here together,
we could loose this today.
It's not what the doctors tell me,
it's the silence I won't take,
it's your hand held in mine,
it's the feeling you can't shake.
I stand here alone,
watching waves roll by,
it's like watching a clock hand,
it's like watching your eyes.
I have some decisions to make
and I know you do too.
Time will never stop,
it won't stop for you.
Sunday
Heaven's Coast: Reader Response
Mark Doty’s Heaven’s Coast is one of the most touching memoirs I have read so far this year. In the beginning I found it difficult to follow along with Doty’s style of writing because there was absolutely no organization to the book. He would start the setting in one place and jump to another without any reference to time. The book was mostly a collection of thoughts and memories and perhaps that is why it did not proceed in order. Mark Doty, who is primarily a writer of poetry, composed his memoir so that it reads like prose. It took me a least twenty pages into the book before I could follow along with Doty’s rhythmic story telling.
Heaven’s Coast is the first book I have read that involves a homosexual couple. Personally, I hold a liberal view when it comes to politics so the situations didn’t bother me one bit. However, I was surprised that Doty was able to erase my perceptions of gay couples and show to me that love is still love no matter who you are with. I cried many times while reading this book, mostly because I became attached to the characters and I became accustomed to Doty’s reflective writing. When Wally’s death is described by Doty I instantly found my self tearing up. I could connect with Doty because I work at a senior living community, and although the two situations are much different, I still have to deal with death each and every day. The way he describes his grieving process holds true to the way other people grieve. For example, when Wally died Doty immediately returned to an old apartment building where he and Wally used to live. He takes his time and tries to re-live all the memories that were associated with that place. When a resident passes away at the senior living community you will often see family members re-visiting the old apartment or the home of the person that passed away, just to reflect and come to terms with their death. Doty uses countless metaphors to describe the way he feels about life and death. After reading this book I learned so much about life and peace from the way Doty describes it that I feel as if I experienced everything Doty did as it was happening.
Not only did I learn so much about life and death I learned about the disease AIDS and the hardships that patients have to go through. I never imagined the lack of caring the doctors would have for patients with AIDS and the lack of information they have about the disease.
After reading this memoir I felt anger and pain in my heart towards the patients with AIDS that can only sit and wait for the disease to take apart their body. My heart goes out to the family and friends of people with AIDS because never have I realized the multiple lives affected by the disease. I am truly glad I read this book because it changed the way I look at life.
Heaven’s Coast is the first book I have read that involves a homosexual couple. Personally, I hold a liberal view when it comes to politics so the situations didn’t bother me one bit. However, I was surprised that Doty was able to erase my perceptions of gay couples and show to me that love is still love no matter who you are with. I cried many times while reading this book, mostly because I became attached to the characters and I became accustomed to Doty’s reflective writing. When Wally’s death is described by Doty I instantly found my self tearing up. I could connect with Doty because I work at a senior living community, and although the two situations are much different, I still have to deal with death each and every day. The way he describes his grieving process holds true to the way other people grieve. For example, when Wally died Doty immediately returned to an old apartment building where he and Wally used to live. He takes his time and tries to re-live all the memories that were associated with that place. When a resident passes away at the senior living community you will often see family members re-visiting the old apartment or the home of the person that passed away, just to reflect and come to terms with their death. Doty uses countless metaphors to describe the way he feels about life and death. After reading this book I learned so much about life and peace from the way Doty describes it that I feel as if I experienced everything Doty did as it was happening.
Not only did I learn so much about life and death I learned about the disease AIDS and the hardships that patients have to go through. I never imagined the lack of caring the doctors would have for patients with AIDS and the lack of information they have about the disease.
After reading this memoir I felt anger and pain in my heart towards the patients with AIDS that can only sit and wait for the disease to take apart their body. My heart goes out to the family and friends of people with AIDS because never have I realized the multiple lives affected by the disease. I am truly glad I read this book because it changed the way I look at life.
American Primitive and Picnic, Lightning: Reader Response
When reading American Primitive and Picnic, Lightning I couldn’t help but appreciate the different styles in which they were written. American Primitive by author Mary Oliver consists of shorter stanzas and choppy language while Picnic, Lightning, written by Billy Collins consists of elongated phrases that flow together. I felt myself becoming entranced with their poetry because of the vivid imagery used. Although I found both books to be concentrated on nature I found American Primitive to be concentrated slightly on sex and struggles in history. Out of the two I would have to say that I enjoyed Picnic, Lightning the most. I enjoyed the easily flowing stanzas that incorporated ideals of the east, (Buddha and Japanese culture). From the references of Buddha I can infer that Billy Collins appreciation of nature could have something to do with the Japanese culture. A few of my favorite poems from Picnic, Lightning are: What I Learned Today, Splitting Wood, Moon, and The Many Faces of Jazz. Moon reminds me of when I was a child because I used to stare out my window at night and watch the moon. I love the way Billy Collins describes the night, “dark roses wave against a stone wall,” he made me feel like I was actually in the dark with him looking at the moon and becoming a child again. The Many Faces of Jazz also led me to a vivid picture in my mind and the meaning of the expressions. “Where the fixed grin joins the menacing stare, especially suitable for long drum solos” (Collins 72). Collins describes the different faces that I felt mirrored the Jazz music itself, and it almost seemed like Collins wasn’t talking about faces at all but of the melodies. Although I enjoyed many of the poems in Picnic, Lightning and could pull some sort of meaning from them there were a few poems that I found to be hard to analyze. Victoria’s Secret and Taking Off Emily Dickenson’s Clothes are among the poems I had a hard time understanding. Besides being slightly sexual it almost seems as if Collins is poking fun at the models of the VS catalog and the ways of women in the 16th century. It was an interesting approach to getting at the message Collins wanted to readers to have, unfortunately I was unable to grasp that message. In the book American Primitive I enjoyed such poems as: In the Pinewoods, Crows and Owl, Tasting the Wild Grapes, and Honey at the Table. In the Pinewoods, Crows and Owl is a poem filled with hatred towards power and made me feel disgusted at the idea of prey. The owl and the crow are in a mind battle with each other in a fight for survival. Mary Oliver writes mostly about nature but sometimes I think she is referring so something more sexual. In the poem The Honey Tree, Oliver’s descriptions seem a little too heated to be talking about a tree, “I clamber like a bear to the nuzzling place, to the light salvaged by the thighs of bees racked up in the body of the tree,” (Oliver 81). The words she uses such as clamber and racked up seem as if the tree could represent something else perhaps even another person in my mind. Overall I enjoyed reading poetry although I haven’t read much of it before so it took a little getting used to.
Friday
The Loss of a Childhood: Analysis of Persepolis
Marji raises her hand and says with a stern glare, "With this first cigarette, I kissed childhood goodbye" (117). Although the reader would feel that Marji has already lost her childhood, Marjane Satrapi chose to place it in an ironic part of the book. We still feel a sense of sadness for the character Marji when she states her personal loss. What makes one loose their innocence? Can it be exposure to horrific events, a realization of the world around you, or can it be as simple as smoking a cigarette? One fact can be for certain however, Marji lost her innocence way before her first puff of the cigarette.
Marji tries to make sense of the revolution from the beginning. Being a ten-year-old girl, understanding the world around you does not come right away. She doesn't start becoming interested in the truth until after she couldn't make sense of things anymore, "Cadaver, cancer, death, murderer, laughter?" (32). Marji begins her first true loss of innocence with one realization, "I realized then that I didn't know anything. I read all the books that i could" (32). Marji exposes herself to the hardships of her history, country, and its people. "My favorite author was Ali Ashraf Darvishian... He told sad but true stories" (33). Marji beings to understand the laws of social classes in her country and becomes emotionally affected by it, "But is it her fault that she was born where she was born???" (37).
After Marji gains some insight on the struggles of her country she is educated even further on their government. Marji intently listens as her parents' Friend Moshen exposes Marji to the cruel punishments he faced in prison. "My parents were so shocked... that they forgot to spare me this experience..." (51). After Marji hears Moshen's story a small part of her innocence is lost from being exposed to such surreal events. "I never imagined that you could use that appliance for torture" (51), Marji says with a scared look on her face. The happy-go-lucky mentality of a child is no longer present in Marji. She has lost a part of her innocence by not knowing the horrors of the world.
As Marji continues to grow up she naturally beings to come to realizations about herself and her country. As she enters her last years of childhood and beings to make the transition into adolescence, she enters into a rebellious phase. With her courage to stand up to authority and speak what she believes in her last bit of childlike conformity escapes her, "You say that we don't have political prisoners any More...How dare you lie to us like that?" (144). Marji goes from being an uninformed child to an educated young adult with a thirst for justice.
Throughout the course of the Islamic revolution, Satrapi tells the story of her childhood. Although her childhood experiences are unlike my own i still find her experiences to be somewhat relate able. As you grow older and out of childhood, you remember the experiences that got you there; the milestones to adulthood. Satrapi's novel is a story about her loss of innocence and the absence of a normal childhood.
Marji tries to make sense of the revolution from the beginning. Being a ten-year-old girl, understanding the world around you does not come right away. She doesn't start becoming interested in the truth until after she couldn't make sense of things anymore, "Cadaver, cancer, death, murderer, laughter?" (32). Marji begins her first true loss of innocence with one realization, "I realized then that I didn't know anything. I read all the books that i could" (32). Marji exposes herself to the hardships of her history, country, and its people. "My favorite author was Ali Ashraf Darvishian... He told sad but true stories" (33). Marji beings to understand the laws of social classes in her country and becomes emotionally affected by it, "But is it her fault that she was born where she was born???" (37).
After Marji gains some insight on the struggles of her country she is educated even further on their government. Marji intently listens as her parents' Friend Moshen exposes Marji to the cruel punishments he faced in prison. "My parents were so shocked... that they forgot to spare me this experience..." (51). After Marji hears Moshen's story a small part of her innocence is lost from being exposed to such surreal events. "I never imagined that you could use that appliance for torture" (51), Marji says with a scared look on her face. The happy-go-lucky mentality of a child is no longer present in Marji. She has lost a part of her innocence by not knowing the horrors of the world.
As Marji continues to grow up she naturally beings to come to realizations about herself and her country. As she enters her last years of childhood and beings to make the transition into adolescence, she enters into a rebellious phase. With her courage to stand up to authority and speak what she believes in her last bit of childlike conformity escapes her, "You say that we don't have political prisoners any More...How dare you lie to us like that?" (144). Marji goes from being an uninformed child to an educated young adult with a thirst for justice.
Throughout the course of the Islamic revolution, Satrapi tells the story of her childhood. Although her childhood experiences are unlike my own i still find her experiences to be somewhat relate able. As you grow older and out of childhood, you remember the experiences that got you there; the milestones to adulthood. Satrapi's novel is a story about her loss of innocence and the absence of a normal childhood.
Monday
A Different World: A Reader Response to Persepolis
"With this first cigarette, I kissed childhood goodbye,"(117) Marji states as she raises the lit cigarette in her hand. Persepolis, written by Marjane Satrapi is the story of her unforgettable childhood, and the history of her country, Iran. Satrapi's memoir shows her family's struggles as well as the people in her country.
As a reader, I have an incredible cultural distance to the characters in Persepolis. I found this book difficult to read because I could not understand where the characters were coming from. I have been blessed with luck for growing up in a Democracy where peoples' ideas are used and embraced. I am not too familiar with the conflicts that have gone on between the Iraqis and the Iranians for many years. With that being said, it became more of a history lesson rather than a close cultural look at Marji's story.
In addition, this had been my first experience reading a graphic novel. I thought that the book was a quick read but I know it was because I didn't spend nearly enough time studying the pictures as I did the text. I have become so accustomed to reading and studying the text rather than pictures so it was difficult to do both. I ended up going back to the beginning of the book and taking a closer look at all of the pictures. I enjoyed Satrapi's use of black and white in her drawings. The sharp contrast added drama and intensity to her drawings.
Not only did I enjoy the pictures, I also enjoyed the characters. Marji captured the mentality of a ten-year-old with perfection. Through her early teenage years, Marji developed into a determined revolutionary, much like her mother. Marji's parents were strict, yet they demonstrated liberalism in the revolution. I felt that one scene in particular skewed my image of her parents. I did not understand why Marji's parents would chose to endanger their lives and their child's life by secretly making alcohol in their basement. To me, it seemed out of character and I'm not sure why Satrapi would include this particular incident. The characters introduced within the plot intrigued me. Anoosh was one of my favorite characters in the story. I became just as interested in his life as Marji did when he told her his life stories, and I was crushed to read that he had been executed.
The story of Persepolis offered an interesting perspective of the conflicts going on in Iran. It opened my eyes to many issues such as social class, religion, religion, and government influences. One would usually read about events like this in a history book written from the American perspective. The way that Marji told her story made me feel shocked and annoyed with myself. How did I not know that something like this happened? I didn't realize how lucky I am to have the life I have. "Don't forget who you are and where you come from,"(152) Marji's father tells her before she boards her plane. The story of Persepolis left me emotional in my seat and really opened my eyes to the hardships of different cultures.
As a reader, I have an incredible cultural distance to the characters in Persepolis. I found this book difficult to read because I could not understand where the characters were coming from. I have been blessed with luck for growing up in a Democracy where peoples' ideas are used and embraced. I am not too familiar with the conflicts that have gone on between the Iraqis and the Iranians for many years. With that being said, it became more of a history lesson rather than a close cultural look at Marji's story.
In addition, this had been my first experience reading a graphic novel. I thought that the book was a quick read but I know it was because I didn't spend nearly enough time studying the pictures as I did the text. I have become so accustomed to reading and studying the text rather than pictures so it was difficult to do both. I ended up going back to the beginning of the book and taking a closer look at all of the pictures. I enjoyed Satrapi's use of black and white in her drawings. The sharp contrast added drama and intensity to her drawings.
Not only did I enjoy the pictures, I also enjoyed the characters. Marji captured the mentality of a ten-year-old with perfection. Through her early teenage years, Marji developed into a determined revolutionary, much like her mother. Marji's parents were strict, yet they demonstrated liberalism in the revolution. I felt that one scene in particular skewed my image of her parents. I did not understand why Marji's parents would chose to endanger their lives and their child's life by secretly making alcohol in their basement. To me, it seemed out of character and I'm not sure why Satrapi would include this particular incident. The characters introduced within the plot intrigued me. Anoosh was one of my favorite characters in the story. I became just as interested in his life as Marji did when he told her his life stories, and I was crushed to read that he had been executed.
The story of Persepolis offered an interesting perspective of the conflicts going on in Iran. It opened my eyes to many issues such as social class, religion, religion, and government influences. One would usually read about events like this in a history book written from the American perspective. The way that Marji told her story made me feel shocked and annoyed with myself. How did I not know that something like this happened? I didn't realize how lucky I am to have the life I have. "Don't forget who you are and where you come from,"(152) Marji's father tells her before she boards her plane. The story of Persepolis left me emotional in my seat and really opened my eyes to the hardships of different cultures.
Sunday
Extended Journal
I made a collage of the characters in the book "Sula" that I will be presenting to the class.
Wednesday
The Selfless Acts of Eva Peace: Analysis Journal
“They found her on her stomach by the Forsythia bushes calling Hannah’s name and dragging her body though the sweet peas and clover…” (77). Toni Morison’s novel "Sula" is anything but straightforward. She has many parallels between love and motherhood. Morison creates characters in "Sula" for the reader to take a closer look at and decide what they really represent. Eva Peace is a character that Morison wants the reader to pay special attention to. From the surface Eva may seem like a horrible mother but she is a character that strongly represents a good mother and a selfless person.
Eva Peace is everything but selfish. She is constantly caring for many people other than herself, “…Who sat in a wagon on the third floor directing the lives of her children, friends, strays, and a constant stream of boarders” (30). Eva takes in many different people into her home from all ages. She embraces and feeds them like her own children. In that way Eva is the ultimate symbol of a good mother; she is a natural caregiver and one prime example of her generosity is when “She sent off for children she had seen from the balcony of her bedroom or whose circumstances she heard about from the gossipy old men…” (37). She takes in three boys and names them Dewey assuming the role of their mother. Eva’s generosity makes her house the lively spot in town and the center of attention in Morison’s novel.
Eva’s acts are selfless and she is willing to do anything for her children. When Eva ends Plum’s life it very difficult for the reader to understand. “She sat down and gathered Plum into her arms” (46). Eva seems to be comforting him in the beginning but a little later, “She rolled a bit of newspaper into a tight stick about six inches long, lit it and threw it onto the bed where the kerosene soaked Plum lay in snug delight” (47). Eva acted out of pure love for Plum and “saved” him. Plum was no happy man; he had many horrible problems of his own. After serving in WWI he came home a mess, obviously suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. “His hair had been neither cut nor combed in months, his clothes were pointless and he had no socks” (45). As we read more into the text we discover that Plum also had a serious addiction to drugs. What Eva did by killing Plum was to save him from a horrible life. She saved him from a life of suffering and turmoil due to a mental illness and drug addiction. Plum died in a quick and delirious state rather than a slow and painful life leading up to death. Eva’s courage and care for her son led her to make the ultimate decision of motherhood and end his pain.
Finally Eva shows how she is ultimately a good mother by sacrificing her own wants for the needs of her children. Eva was young and getting out of a tragic marriage, “The children needed her; she needed money, and needed to get on with her life” (32). Eva did everything she could to keep her children alive and fed, “Eva took a bucket over and Mrs. Jackson told her to come back and fill it up in the morning, because the evening milking had already been done” (32). Perhaps one of the most graphic portrayals of Eva’s selfless character is when baby Plum stops having bowl movements. Eva does what any good mother who has genuine love for her son would do, “deep in the darkness and freezing stench she squatted down, turned the baby over on her knees… she probed with her middle finger to loosen his bowels” (34). Eva is by far the best example of a loving mother in Sula.
Eva’s choices at times may seem irrational even cruel. It becomes hard for the reader to think of Eva as a good mother after she calmly ends Plum’s life but it is important to see through the incident and look at Eva’s reasons. She has a natural ability to nurture and take care of others. Morison wants us to see that she had nothing but concern for the lives of her children and others, “ …What you talkin’ ‘bout did I love you girl. I stayed alive for you…” (69) Eva exclaims to Hannah before she dies. The dedication and generosity that Eva shows in the book is a prime indication that she is a good mother.
Eva Peace is everything but selfish. She is constantly caring for many people other than herself, “…Who sat in a wagon on the third floor directing the lives of her children, friends, strays, and a constant stream of boarders” (30). Eva takes in many different people into her home from all ages. She embraces and feeds them like her own children. In that way Eva is the ultimate symbol of a good mother; she is a natural caregiver and one prime example of her generosity is when “She sent off for children she had seen from the balcony of her bedroom or whose circumstances she heard about from the gossipy old men…” (37). She takes in three boys and names them Dewey assuming the role of their mother. Eva’s generosity makes her house the lively spot in town and the center of attention in Morison’s novel.
Eva’s acts are selfless and she is willing to do anything for her children. When Eva ends Plum’s life it very difficult for the reader to understand. “She sat down and gathered Plum into her arms” (46). Eva seems to be comforting him in the beginning but a little later, “She rolled a bit of newspaper into a tight stick about six inches long, lit it and threw it onto the bed where the kerosene soaked Plum lay in snug delight” (47). Eva acted out of pure love for Plum and “saved” him. Plum was no happy man; he had many horrible problems of his own. After serving in WWI he came home a mess, obviously suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. “His hair had been neither cut nor combed in months, his clothes were pointless and he had no socks” (45). As we read more into the text we discover that Plum also had a serious addiction to drugs. What Eva did by killing Plum was to save him from a horrible life. She saved him from a life of suffering and turmoil due to a mental illness and drug addiction. Plum died in a quick and delirious state rather than a slow and painful life leading up to death. Eva’s courage and care for her son led her to make the ultimate decision of motherhood and end his pain.
Finally Eva shows how she is ultimately a good mother by sacrificing her own wants for the needs of her children. Eva was young and getting out of a tragic marriage, “The children needed her; she needed money, and needed to get on with her life” (32). Eva did everything she could to keep her children alive and fed, “Eva took a bucket over and Mrs. Jackson told her to come back and fill it up in the morning, because the evening milking had already been done” (32). Perhaps one of the most graphic portrayals of Eva’s selfless character is when baby Plum stops having bowl movements. Eva does what any good mother who has genuine love for her son would do, “deep in the darkness and freezing stench she squatted down, turned the baby over on her knees… she probed with her middle finger to loosen his bowels” (34). Eva is by far the best example of a loving mother in Sula.
Eva’s choices at times may seem irrational even cruel. It becomes hard for the reader to think of Eva as a good mother after she calmly ends Plum’s life but it is important to see through the incident and look at Eva’s reasons. She has a natural ability to nurture and take care of others. Morison wants us to see that she had nothing but concern for the lives of her children and others, “ …What you talkin’ ‘bout did I love you girl. I stayed alive for you…” (69) Eva exclaims to Hannah before she dies. The dedication and generosity that Eva shows in the book is a prime indication that she is a good mother.
Sunday
Reader Response: "Sula"
Discrimination, suppression, glory, and tradition are just a few words to describe the life high up in the Bottom. The characters and stories of the Bottom were truly intriguing to me. The book “Sula” written by Toni Morison has a great message to send.
I felt sympathy in the beginning for the character Shadrack that is unique throughout the story. The accounts of soldiers and their struggles always seem to strike a special place in my heart. After Shadrack returns home from the war he goes a bit crazy and develops something called National Suicide Day in the Bottom. Shadrack became the most difficult character to figure out as the book went on.
Besides a strange beginning, the middle of the book is even stranger. Nel and her mother are conservative and proper unlike Sula and her mother, which are liberal and passionate. I knew that the two little girls would naturally attract to each other because of their contrast in personalities. Nel and Sula are inseparable and it made me miss my own childhood. I don’t know how I feel about the Chicken Little scene in the book. It was a mix of sadness, anger, and shock. The way Nel and Sula reacted towards the event seemed as if they felt nothing had happened. Sula was crying but she was more afraid of Shadrack and didn’t seem to feel any sort of sadness. Nel didn’t show emotion about the event. It was barely spoken of between the two girls. I am hoping that in discussion we can talk more about this event and why it had such little impact on the girls.
One of the most powerful scenes in the book is when Sula’s mother Hannah burned herself in the fire. The scene was so shocking to me I could hardly keep reading without letting out a gasp. I am wondering what urged Hannah to do it and why she would kill herself right in the front lawn for everyone to see including her daughter Sula. When Eva jumped out of the window I thought for a moment that she would die too but she was somehow saved throughout the story for a purpose that I am trying to figure out. The sight of seeing your mother burn to death had to have affected Sula greatly. The psychological affects might be the reason why she insists on only caring about herself.
I’m not sure if the author wants to put emphasis on the problems in society (white vs. black) or the importance of friendship. I feel that she intended to stress friendship but could not leave out the problems the black community faces. It could be argued either way.
One section I was unable to understand in the book was the significance of the robins. “The plague” (89) the Bottom called it. I felt that the robins could represent the white community moving in to their own. Taking away their land and so much more. It shows how the community gave up in a way, “But they let it run it’s course, fulfill itself, and never invented ways to either alter it, to annihilate it or to prevent its happening again” (90).
In the end of the book Sula ultimately betrays her best friend Nel. I felt confused when the incident happened. I couldn’t understand why Sula would make such a decision. Eva is even more intriguing in the end. She was the grandmother of the town and she knew everyone. The way she speaks to Nel at the nursing home represents something more about Nel’s character. I am eager to discuss the book in class because I have so many questions about the characters and their actions.
I felt sympathy in the beginning for the character Shadrack that is unique throughout the story. The accounts of soldiers and their struggles always seem to strike a special place in my heart. After Shadrack returns home from the war he goes a bit crazy and develops something called National Suicide Day in the Bottom. Shadrack became the most difficult character to figure out as the book went on.
Besides a strange beginning, the middle of the book is even stranger. Nel and her mother are conservative and proper unlike Sula and her mother, which are liberal and passionate. I knew that the two little girls would naturally attract to each other because of their contrast in personalities. Nel and Sula are inseparable and it made me miss my own childhood. I don’t know how I feel about the Chicken Little scene in the book. It was a mix of sadness, anger, and shock. The way Nel and Sula reacted towards the event seemed as if they felt nothing had happened. Sula was crying but she was more afraid of Shadrack and didn’t seem to feel any sort of sadness. Nel didn’t show emotion about the event. It was barely spoken of between the two girls. I am hoping that in discussion we can talk more about this event and why it had such little impact on the girls.
One of the most powerful scenes in the book is when Sula’s mother Hannah burned herself in the fire. The scene was so shocking to me I could hardly keep reading without letting out a gasp. I am wondering what urged Hannah to do it and why she would kill herself right in the front lawn for everyone to see including her daughter Sula. When Eva jumped out of the window I thought for a moment that she would die too but she was somehow saved throughout the story for a purpose that I am trying to figure out. The sight of seeing your mother burn to death had to have affected Sula greatly. The psychological affects might be the reason why she insists on only caring about herself.
I’m not sure if the author wants to put emphasis on the problems in society (white vs. black) or the importance of friendship. I feel that she intended to stress friendship but could not leave out the problems the black community faces. It could be argued either way.
One section I was unable to understand in the book was the significance of the robins. “The plague” (89) the Bottom called it. I felt that the robins could represent the white community moving in to their own. Taking away their land and so much more. It shows how the community gave up in a way, “But they let it run it’s course, fulfill itself, and never invented ways to either alter it, to annihilate it or to prevent its happening again” (90).
In the end of the book Sula ultimately betrays her best friend Nel. I felt confused when the incident happened. I couldn’t understand why Sula would make such a decision. Eva is even more intriguing in the end. She was the grandmother of the town and she knew everyone. The way she speaks to Nel at the nursing home represents something more about Nel’s character. I am eager to discuss the book in class because I have so many questions about the characters and their actions.
Monday
Close Analysis: Cultural Differences
The world is forever changing around us, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Thomas King, Author of "Green Grass Running Water" shows how the world is changing for the worse. He shares his opinion on the American culture through his perceptions of religious stories, characters, and symbolism in the text. Thomas King wants the reader to absorb that Native American culture has grown fain in the midst of a Caucasian society.
In the beginning of the novel biblical references are made to show Christian domination of the land. Thomas King includes an alternative perspective of the story “Adam and Eve”. In Thomas King’s version First Woman falls into the Water World with Ahdamn and they live together in a garden. The character GOD comes into the story and begins to protest the actions of both Ahdamn and First Woman. The narrator says, “Wait a minute, says that GOD. That’s my garden. That’s my stuff” (43). Right away King shows that a domination of GOD is occurring by GOD claiming the garden as his own. Much like Caucasian society historically and today. The culture is possessive and dominating. The next story written is of “Noah’s Ark”. In this retelling Changing Woman falls onto Noah’s boat full of animals and poop. Noah becomes defensive when Changing Woman converses with the animals. Noah says, “ Why are you talking to animals? Says the little man. This is a Christian ship. Animals don’t talk. We got rules” (160). King shows that the dominant Christian religion is unable to negotiate and accept differences. Society believes their ideas are the right ideas and will outcast anyone who thinks differently. Noah shouts, “This is a Christian ship, he shouts. I am a Christian man. This is a Christian Journey. And if you can’t follow our rules, then you’re not wanted on the voyage” (163). According to Thomas King the domination of religion and ideas in the beginning is where the Indian culture began to loose it’s stance.
The characters in the novel are examples of Native Americans that loose a sense of their heritage and want to be apart of Caucasian culture. Charlie Looking Bear is a prime example. He represents the “figure of success”; he drives a Porsche, lives in a penthouse, and works at a law firm. Charlie becomes increasingly disconnected with the tribe and begins to think about himself as separate from the rest of them. Alberta says to Charlie, “ You know that the tribe isn’t going to make any money off the entire deal” (126). Charlie replies, “Then some of us should, don’t you think?” (126). His acting alone shows the increasing cultural distance even among existing Native Americans. Caucasian society has changed the characters in the novel to think more about themselves than others. Another character in the novel that sends a strong message is Charlie’s father Portland. Movies and television shows are something that Caucasian society has dominated. Portland had a burning desire to become a part of it. Charlie asks Portland, “If you could go anywhere in the world…where would you go?” (240). Portland responds clearly, “I’d like to go to Hollywood” (240). Portland’s obsession with becoming a part of Hollywood and the lifestyle led him to completely desert his family. He lost all pride in his own self and was even willing to change the way his nose looked for society’s liking. The characters in the novel "Green Grass Running Water" show how much Caucasian culture has an influence on them.
The dam, which is built on Parliament Lake, is symbolic to the way Caucasian society operates. Through religious ideas and cultural ideas Caucasian culture dominates other cultures. They built the dam on the reservation to develop and dominate the area and to impose their ideas about money and government. Sifton, a supporter of the dam says to Eli, “They don’t have personalities, and they don’t have politics. They store water, and they create electricity, that’s it” (120). Eli replies, “ So how come so many of them are built on Indian land?” (120). The dam represents how politics and Caucasian society still impose on the Indian’s culture. When the dam breaks the ideas of society flow onto the Native American land, destroying parts of their history and culture. What King is trying to say is that the more Caucasian culture begins to grow and take over the more likely Native American culture is likely to be washed away. The water washing over the reservation is the way King feels that American culture. It spills all over other cultures and sweeps them away with their power and domination. That is why King chooses to destroy the cabin in the end. He writes, “ It was a little over a month before the waters went down. The cabin was gone, the logs scattered along the course of the flood” (459). He wants to show that American culture is erasing Native American culture with their influences.
The views and practices of Caucasian culture have greatly affected Native American culture. As a writer Thomas King wanted to show readers the perspective of a Native American man caught in the midst of the 20th century. He wanted the reader to dig deep into his motives and find that the Native American culture is getting fainter and fainter. King sends a very powerful message, “This is a Christian world, you know. We only kill things that are useful or things we don’t like” (219). He feels that the domination of Caucasian culture is destroying a part of his own.
In the beginning of the novel biblical references are made to show Christian domination of the land. Thomas King includes an alternative perspective of the story “Adam and Eve”. In Thomas King’s version First Woman falls into the Water World with Ahdamn and they live together in a garden. The character GOD comes into the story and begins to protest the actions of both Ahdamn and First Woman. The narrator says, “Wait a minute, says that GOD. That’s my garden. That’s my stuff” (43). Right away King shows that a domination of GOD is occurring by GOD claiming the garden as his own. Much like Caucasian society historically and today. The culture is possessive and dominating. The next story written is of “Noah’s Ark”. In this retelling Changing Woman falls onto Noah’s boat full of animals and poop. Noah becomes defensive when Changing Woman converses with the animals. Noah says, “ Why are you talking to animals? Says the little man. This is a Christian ship. Animals don’t talk. We got rules” (160). King shows that the dominant Christian religion is unable to negotiate and accept differences. Society believes their ideas are the right ideas and will outcast anyone who thinks differently. Noah shouts, “This is a Christian ship, he shouts. I am a Christian man. This is a Christian Journey. And if you can’t follow our rules, then you’re not wanted on the voyage” (163). According to Thomas King the domination of religion and ideas in the beginning is where the Indian culture began to loose it’s stance.
The characters in the novel are examples of Native Americans that loose a sense of their heritage and want to be apart of Caucasian culture. Charlie Looking Bear is a prime example. He represents the “figure of success”; he drives a Porsche, lives in a penthouse, and works at a law firm. Charlie becomes increasingly disconnected with the tribe and begins to think about himself as separate from the rest of them. Alberta says to Charlie, “ You know that the tribe isn’t going to make any money off the entire deal” (126). Charlie replies, “Then some of us should, don’t you think?” (126). His acting alone shows the increasing cultural distance even among existing Native Americans. Caucasian society has changed the characters in the novel to think more about themselves than others. Another character in the novel that sends a strong message is Charlie’s father Portland. Movies and television shows are something that Caucasian society has dominated. Portland had a burning desire to become a part of it. Charlie asks Portland, “If you could go anywhere in the world…where would you go?” (240). Portland responds clearly, “I’d like to go to Hollywood” (240). Portland’s obsession with becoming a part of Hollywood and the lifestyle led him to completely desert his family. He lost all pride in his own self and was even willing to change the way his nose looked for society’s liking. The characters in the novel "Green Grass Running Water" show how much Caucasian culture has an influence on them.
The dam, which is built on Parliament Lake, is symbolic to the way Caucasian society operates. Through religious ideas and cultural ideas Caucasian culture dominates other cultures. They built the dam on the reservation to develop and dominate the area and to impose their ideas about money and government. Sifton, a supporter of the dam says to Eli, “They don’t have personalities, and they don’t have politics. They store water, and they create electricity, that’s it” (120). Eli replies, “ So how come so many of them are built on Indian land?” (120). The dam represents how politics and Caucasian society still impose on the Indian’s culture. When the dam breaks the ideas of society flow onto the Native American land, destroying parts of their history and culture. What King is trying to say is that the more Caucasian culture begins to grow and take over the more likely Native American culture is likely to be washed away. The water washing over the reservation is the way King feels that American culture. It spills all over other cultures and sweeps them away with their power and domination. That is why King chooses to destroy the cabin in the end. He writes, “ It was a little over a month before the waters went down. The cabin was gone, the logs scattered along the course of the flood” (459). He wants to show that American culture is erasing Native American culture with their influences.
The views and practices of Caucasian culture have greatly affected Native American culture. As a writer Thomas King wanted to show readers the perspective of a Native American man caught in the midst of the 20th century. He wanted the reader to dig deep into his motives and find that the Native American culture is getting fainter and fainter. King sends a very powerful message, “This is a Christian world, you know. We only kill things that are useful or things we don’t like” (219). He feels that the domination of Caucasian culture is destroying a part of his own.
Sunday
Reader Response: "Green Grass Running Water"
Reader Response: "Green Grass Running Water"
What in the world is happening right now? This question kept reoccurring to me on a regular basis. The novel "Green Grass Running Water" by Thomas King is incredibly unique and uses frequent symbolism and satire. King doesn't waste any time, he dives quickly into the plot by introducing numerous characters and concepts within the first section. King starts his novel with the statement, "So. In the beginning, there was nothing. Just the water" (1). The powerful line enticed my interest right away. He later went on to introduce the four Indian characters that would be essential in getting his message across throughout the remainder of the novel. The four Indians' names were ironic because they were not Indian names at all; they were distinct American names: Robinson Crusoe, Lone Ranger, Ishmael, and Hawkeye. One of the reasons why King chose to give the Indians American names is to show how many Native Americans lost their identities through American culture. The four Indians escaped from a hospital (which King neglects to tell why they were there in the first place) and began the mission of "fixing" the world. More characters are introduced as the novel moves along, some of which include Lionel, Norma, Alberta, Charlie, Babo, Dr. Hovaugh, Eli, Latisha, and many more. Each character has their struggle that they must overcome. The four Indians are present in some of the characters' stories but most of the times are telling the story of how the world began. They start to show up in the other characters' lives when Lionel and Norma spot them on the side of the road one evening. Ever so subtly the four Indians "fix" the lives of those who need it. It wasn't until the fourth section of the book when I realized how the Indians were "fixing" people and the pieces began to fall into place.
There are four parts to the novel, each of which introduces a different biblical story of creation. The "story" told by Coyote and the four other Indians is a collaboration of Native American ideals and the differences between the Christian perspective and that of Native American culture. I enjoyed the story of “Changing Woman" and "Noah" I found King's tone to be light yet serious at the same time. The way he told the story made me laugh and yet showed what fundamental differences there are between the Christian religion and Native American philosophy. Noah says to Changing Woman, “Why are you talking to animals? Says the little man. This is a Christian ship. Animals don't talk. We got rules" (160). It portrays the Christian religion as being strict and Native American philosophy to include animals. In addition, the story exposes the roles between males and females. Historically women have been given an inferior role; Noah degrades Changing Woman from the start. Noah immediately says, "Lemme see your breasts, says Noah. I like women with big breasts. I hope God remembered that" (160). Although I found this part to be comical, it blatantly shows King's opinion on the role of women in society and how sometimes they can be treated as objects rather than people. One powerful quote from the end of the Noah story is, “This is a Christian journey. And if you can't follow our Christian rules, then you're not wanted on the voyage" (163). King sends a very clear message that the Christian religion is dependent on rules and order.
Among the many characters in "Green Grass Running Water" I hold Eli to high esteem and enjoyed reading about his life the most. Eli was one of the characters who kept a level head throughout the book. I felt that his courageous battle with keeping his mother's home from being destroyed was noble and preserved the family's history. Although the majority of the characters succumbed to the influences that American society put on them, Eli never seemed to be swayed by the changing world around him. Eli is strong and King writes, “Eli had fought Duplessis from the beginning, producing a steady stream of injunctions that Dupessis countered" (127). I admire Eli for being stubborn and preserving his family's history, even if the dam may be financially benefiting for the tribe. It seems as if novel King's theme is having each character "fix" a part of their lives. One thing I never understood was why King chose to let Eli die in the end. Did he reach fulfillment in his life? What did Eli fix?
What is Thomas King trying to say? By the end of the novel the question seemed to be gaining importance. King includes many forms of symbolism that I had a hard time grasping. What is the significance of the three cars floating down the river? Why Latisha’s son is named Christian? Why did the Indians change the end of the Western? Why do the Indians steal the cars, and did they steal them? Why is there a puddle of water left behind every time a car disappears? Why does Coyote keep insisting that he made a mistake in the story? What is the significance of Bursum getting “The Map”?
Aside from the many questions I have about Thomas King’s intentions, I do know some things that seem to bother him. Politics are barely discussed in the novel however King makes it clear that even great political ideals can be skewed by society. Hawkeye and Coyote discuss democracies, “”In a democracy, everyone gets a turn, “says Coyote.” (365). Hawkeye replies, ""In a democracy, only people who can afford it get a turn”” (365). It is clear that King wants to show the importance that money has in our society. Another issue that King seems to be bothered by is family loyalty and heritage. He shows many of the characters “becoming white” and how it has a negative effect on the Indian tribe and family. King shows this when Norma says to Eli, ""You were born there before you went off and became white”” (122). She was referring to the home that Eli’s mother built and how Eli left the reservation for quite some time while Norma stayed with the family. There is a sort of bitterness to King’s writing and you can pick up on issues that he feels are important.
Coming from a family that has always practiced religion and has kept an open mind about many societal issues "Green Grass Running Water" did not offend me as much as I thought it would. I was expecting to be offended before I started reading based on what other people had told me, but I was surprised when Thomas King made me laugh about issues that others take very seriously. In many ways I have opened my mind up to new possibilities and how there is no right idea. I enjoyed Thomas King’s honest writing and strong messages.
What in the world is happening right now? This question kept reoccurring to me on a regular basis. The novel "Green Grass Running Water" by Thomas King is incredibly unique and uses frequent symbolism and satire. King doesn't waste any time, he dives quickly into the plot by introducing numerous characters and concepts within the first section. King starts his novel with the statement, "So. In the beginning, there was nothing. Just the water" (1). The powerful line enticed my interest right away. He later went on to introduce the four Indian characters that would be essential in getting his message across throughout the remainder of the novel. The four Indians' names were ironic because they were not Indian names at all; they were distinct American names: Robinson Crusoe, Lone Ranger, Ishmael, and Hawkeye. One of the reasons why King chose to give the Indians American names is to show how many Native Americans lost their identities through American culture. The four Indians escaped from a hospital (which King neglects to tell why they were there in the first place) and began the mission of "fixing" the world. More characters are introduced as the novel moves along, some of which include Lionel, Norma, Alberta, Charlie, Babo, Dr. Hovaugh, Eli, Latisha, and many more. Each character has their struggle that they must overcome. The four Indians are present in some of the characters' stories but most of the times are telling the story of how the world began. They start to show up in the other characters' lives when Lionel and Norma spot them on the side of the road one evening. Ever so subtly the four Indians "fix" the lives of those who need it. It wasn't until the fourth section of the book when I realized how the Indians were "fixing" people and the pieces began to fall into place.
There are four parts to the novel, each of which introduces a different biblical story of creation. The "story" told by Coyote and the four other Indians is a collaboration of Native American ideals and the differences between the Christian perspective and that of Native American culture. I enjoyed the story of “Changing Woman" and "Noah" I found King's tone to be light yet serious at the same time. The way he told the story made me laugh and yet showed what fundamental differences there are between the Christian religion and Native American philosophy. Noah says to Changing Woman, “Why are you talking to animals? Says the little man. This is a Christian ship. Animals don't talk. We got rules" (160). It portrays the Christian religion as being strict and Native American philosophy to include animals. In addition, the story exposes the roles between males and females. Historically women have been given an inferior role; Noah degrades Changing Woman from the start. Noah immediately says, "Lemme see your breasts, says Noah. I like women with big breasts. I hope God remembered that" (160). Although I found this part to be comical, it blatantly shows King's opinion on the role of women in society and how sometimes they can be treated as objects rather than people. One powerful quote from the end of the Noah story is, “This is a Christian journey. And if you can't follow our Christian rules, then you're not wanted on the voyage" (163). King sends a very clear message that the Christian religion is dependent on rules and order.
Among the many characters in "Green Grass Running Water" I hold Eli to high esteem and enjoyed reading about his life the most. Eli was one of the characters who kept a level head throughout the book. I felt that his courageous battle with keeping his mother's home from being destroyed was noble and preserved the family's history. Although the majority of the characters succumbed to the influences that American society put on them, Eli never seemed to be swayed by the changing world around him. Eli is strong and King writes, “Eli had fought Duplessis from the beginning, producing a steady stream of injunctions that Dupessis countered" (127). I admire Eli for being stubborn and preserving his family's history, even if the dam may be financially benefiting for the tribe. It seems as if novel King's theme is having each character "fix" a part of their lives. One thing I never understood was why King chose to let Eli die in the end. Did he reach fulfillment in his life? What did Eli fix?
What is Thomas King trying to say? By the end of the novel the question seemed to be gaining importance. King includes many forms of symbolism that I had a hard time grasping. What is the significance of the three cars floating down the river? Why Latisha’s son is named Christian? Why did the Indians change the end of the Western? Why do the Indians steal the cars, and did they steal them? Why is there a puddle of water left behind every time a car disappears? Why does Coyote keep insisting that he made a mistake in the story? What is the significance of Bursum getting “The Map”?
Aside from the many questions I have about Thomas King’s intentions, I do know some things that seem to bother him. Politics are barely discussed in the novel however King makes it clear that even great political ideals can be skewed by society. Hawkeye and Coyote discuss democracies, “”In a democracy, everyone gets a turn, “says Coyote.” (365). Hawkeye replies, ""In a democracy, only people who can afford it get a turn”” (365). It is clear that King wants to show the importance that money has in our society. Another issue that King seems to be bothered by is family loyalty and heritage. He shows many of the characters “becoming white” and how it has a negative effect on the Indian tribe and family. King shows this when Norma says to Eli, ""You were born there before you went off and became white”” (122). She was referring to the home that Eli’s mother built and how Eli left the reservation for quite some time while Norma stayed with the family. There is a sort of bitterness to King’s writing and you can pick up on issues that he feels are important.
Coming from a family that has always practiced religion and has kept an open mind about many societal issues "Green Grass Running Water" did not offend me as much as I thought it would. I was expecting to be offended before I started reading based on what other people had told me, but I was surprised when Thomas King made me laugh about issues that others take very seriously. In many ways I have opened my mind up to new possibilities and how there is no right idea. I enjoyed Thomas King’s honest writing and strong messages.
Thursday
Alternate Ending: "In the Field"
Kiowa blinks as shit from the field oozes into the cracks of his eyes. The shrapnel from the blast had just missed him but the force of the explosion had pushed him into the muck. Loosing breath and loosing consciousness Kiowa began to sink deeper into the shit field accepting what was to come next. Norman Bowker could hear to his left a deep dark sucking sound. The kind of noise that would give you chills down to your toes. Besides the rounds going off in the background Norman kept focusing on the sound. Off in the distance he could see a tip of a boot. Not just any boot but Kiowa’s boot. It was fight or flight and blasts kept exploding all around him. He could not stand up as he made his way over to Kiowa’s boot. He had to stay close to the ground, close to the shit and the smell. The smell seemed to drown him even more than the shit itself. With surrounding odor and that sucking sound fading away Norman grabbed Kiowa’s boot. One large pull and the boot came off with Kiowa’s body sinking further down by the minute. Norman this time engorged his arms in the stench and the sound and grabbed a hold of Kiowa’s leg with one swift movement Norman slid Kiowa out half way. It was as if the field was fighting back, this time the sucking sound became louder. Norman reached down again this time grabbing Kiowa’s waist. Mud flew everywhere as the sucking force snapped and broke Kiowa was free. He looked lifeless. Shit filled his nostrils and ears. Norman opened Kiowa’s mouth and began CPR. Within a few minutes Kiowa was coughing up the muck and so much more. No words were needed between the two. The rest of the night the two sat next to each other not speaking but both still alive. Norman Bowker had just won the Silver Star for valor.
Wednesday
"The Things They Carried"
Analysis Journal
“ It’s time to be blunt… a long time ago I walked through Quang Ngai Province as a foot soldier. Almost everything else is invented” (179). The art of storytelling has been around for thousands of years. Stories have shaped cultures, formed traditions, and offered comfort and intrigue to people around the world. Tim O’Brien’s book "The Things They Carried" is not about Vietnam but rather is about the reality and the fantasy of storytelling. O’Brien writes stories to rationalize traumatic events and to bring closure to difficult memories. He makes the reader understand and he writes so that people feel and experience situations they have never been through. In the end O’Brien’s way of storytelling reflects his natural ability to teach us about life through words of fiction.
The reason why O’Brien tells certain stories is to heal from his experiences. In the chapter “The Man I Killed” O’Brien witnessed a death. For a young foot soldier the event changed the way he looked at the world around him. He became traumatized and learned to deal with the war. O’Brien notes, “By telling stories you objectify your own experience. You separate it from yourself… you carry it forward by inventing incidents that did not in fact occur but nonetheless help to clarify and explain” (158). It has been proven in many studies that keeping a journal and writing on a regular basis can relieve stress and anxiety. For O’Brien writing is his way of relieving the stress of memories. It helped him deal with being a witness of death and feeling like he was to blame. O’Brien accentuates to the reader how important stories can be in the healing process. O’Brien writes, “ I can look at things I never looked at… I can be brave. I can make myself feel again” (180). This statement by O’Brien defines his reason for why writing stories can be so important to a healing mind.
O’Brien not only uses stories to heal but he writes to make the reader feel. He writes, “ The thing about a story is that you dream it as you tell it hoping that others might then dream along with you…” (230). O’Brien uses vivid imagery and powerful symbolism to turn a rare experience such as war into an experience everyone can relate to. He captures the sympathy and understanding of every reader. Without the story of Mary Anne or the Shit Field the reader might have not understood the power and meaning that is behind war, death, and love. O’Brien lets the reader know his intentions, “I want you to feel what I felt. I want you to know why story-truth is truer than happening-truth” (179).
In the big picture, stories can teach us. They can explain what blame feels like and how a person grieves. They teach us about living and about dying. O’Brien adds, “A true war story is never about war” (85) he explains that stories carry a much higher meaning, “It’s about love and memory. It’s about sorrow” (85). O’Brien uses storytelling to teach the reader about life by making them feel as if they are apart of the story and putting true meaning into certain events. For instance the story of the baby water buffalo “Wasn't a war story. It was a love story” (85). The story made all of us feel compassionate, angry, vulnerable and scared all at the same time, which can also be associated with a feeling or concept of love. The reason why O’Brien’s writing is so captivating is because he has the ability to relate his stories to the struggles and concepts we face in life.
Tim O’Brien’s book "The Things They Carried" shows the true art of storytelling and how it affects our lives. He has shown a beautiful example of how stories change our lives. They can heal you, make you believe, and teach you. O’Brien wisely says,
“ Stories are for joining the past and the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can’t remember how you got from where you were to where you are. Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story” (38).
Analysis Journal
“ It’s time to be blunt… a long time ago I walked through Quang Ngai Province as a foot soldier. Almost everything else is invented” (179). The art of storytelling has been around for thousands of years. Stories have shaped cultures, formed traditions, and offered comfort and intrigue to people around the world. Tim O’Brien’s book "The Things They Carried" is not about Vietnam but rather is about the reality and the fantasy of storytelling. O’Brien writes stories to rationalize traumatic events and to bring closure to difficult memories. He makes the reader understand and he writes so that people feel and experience situations they have never been through. In the end O’Brien’s way of storytelling reflects his natural ability to teach us about life through words of fiction.
The reason why O’Brien tells certain stories is to heal from his experiences. In the chapter “The Man I Killed” O’Brien witnessed a death. For a young foot soldier the event changed the way he looked at the world around him. He became traumatized and learned to deal with the war. O’Brien notes, “By telling stories you objectify your own experience. You separate it from yourself… you carry it forward by inventing incidents that did not in fact occur but nonetheless help to clarify and explain” (158). It has been proven in many studies that keeping a journal and writing on a regular basis can relieve stress and anxiety. For O’Brien writing is his way of relieving the stress of memories. It helped him deal with being a witness of death and feeling like he was to blame. O’Brien accentuates to the reader how important stories can be in the healing process. O’Brien writes, “ I can look at things I never looked at… I can be brave. I can make myself feel again” (180). This statement by O’Brien defines his reason for why writing stories can be so important to a healing mind.
O’Brien not only uses stories to heal but he writes to make the reader feel. He writes, “ The thing about a story is that you dream it as you tell it hoping that others might then dream along with you…” (230). O’Brien uses vivid imagery and powerful symbolism to turn a rare experience such as war into an experience everyone can relate to. He captures the sympathy and understanding of every reader. Without the story of Mary Anne or the Shit Field the reader might have not understood the power and meaning that is behind war, death, and love. O’Brien lets the reader know his intentions, “I want you to feel what I felt. I want you to know why story-truth is truer than happening-truth” (179).
In the big picture, stories can teach us. They can explain what blame feels like and how a person grieves. They teach us about living and about dying. O’Brien adds, “A true war story is never about war” (85) he explains that stories carry a much higher meaning, “It’s about love and memory. It’s about sorrow” (85). O’Brien uses storytelling to teach the reader about life by making them feel as if they are apart of the story and putting true meaning into certain events. For instance the story of the baby water buffalo “Wasn't a war story. It was a love story” (85). The story made all of us feel compassionate, angry, vulnerable and scared all at the same time, which can also be associated with a feeling or concept of love. The reason why O’Brien’s writing is so captivating is because he has the ability to relate his stories to the struggles and concepts we face in life.
Tim O’Brien’s book "The Things They Carried" shows the true art of storytelling and how it affects our lives. He has shown a beautiful example of how stories change our lives. They can heal you, make you believe, and teach you. O’Brien wisely says,
“ Stories are for joining the past and the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can’t remember how you got from where you were to where you are. Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story” (38).
Monday
Interpretation of "The Yellow Wallpaper"
The writing style of the writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman strikes me as one of the most heroic and honest writers of her time. She dared to explore the complications that are involved in marriage, gender roles, and psychological differences. Throughout the book the author describes herself as a "nervous" person and claimed that she is "a comparative burden" (pg. 14). Her immediate sensitivity to the way people felt about her and to the condition she had made me feel that there was something larger that was bothering her. She never seemed to be truly content and most of the time tried to justify her husband John for treating her as if she did not exist. I think the way that she took the blame and did not argue with John about her condition showed her feeling of inferiority. It became clear to me as I read more of the book that she was miserable inside. She was sad and lonely and cried often; she did not cry when John was around. She becomes obsessed with the pattern of the wallpaper in her room and I found it confusing at first. However, she clues the reader in to the challenges she faces by the way she describes the paper. She describes the paper as: dull, uncertain, outrageous, repellent, smouldering, unheard of- revolting contradictions, irritate, etc. By the way the author continues to talk about the wallpaper I concluded that the wallpaper represented how she felt about her marriage and her life. She was angry and disgusted and it consumed her every thought. "You can only see the paper in certain lights" (pg. 18). In this quote the author referred to her inferior role as a housewife. You can only see her side of the story in certain lights, perhaps a feminist view. She refer ed to a woman "stuck" inside the paper, and for the first time she began to reveal her feelings a little more. The woman is "stooping down and creeping about behind the pattern" (Pg. 22). She referred to herself when she spoke of the woman. The way she was stooping down represented how the author felt about herself as a woman. Stooping down in her marriage and being the one with the "condition". She tried several times to talk to her husband John about the problem but lost her courage. You can see her frustration in the way she spoke about the woman "shaking" the pattern wanting to get out.The ending of the book is one of the most compelling. The author entered into a panicked state and began to rip down the paper in large portions. She has reached her breaking point and decided that she can no longer allow herself to live in the subdued and lifeless position that she was in. She attempted to "free" the woman behind the paper but what she was really doing was trying to free herself. She began by locking herself in and ripping the wallpaper off in large strips and then became so angry she tried to move the bed which was nailed down. The scene is very powerful because all of her frustrations are being torn apart. The scene comes to an end when her husband John appears and "faints" because of all her activity. Strongly the author continued to finish her task and as she "crept over him" I felt as if she had reached a point of independence.
Sunday
Reader Response: "The Things They Carried"
The Things They Carried is a personal story about Tim O'Brien's experience in the Vietnam War. He combines many accounts of personal experiences into stories that can relate to each other. The title "The Things They Carried" has great significance to the book. What the soldiers carried reflects their fears, passions, and necessities. Throughout the novel Tim does not mention what he carried during the war but rather what his friends carried. From what they carried in the field I was able to relate and discover each of his friends' personalities without much more explanation.
One of the characters that I really learned to respect was Rat Kiley. He serves as the medic of the group and seems to be very well prepared. After Tim's bad experience with Jorgenson he recalls the moments when Rat Kiley would never let him down. Rat Kiley always kept his cool and seems to be a pretty dependable character. It was unfortunate that he could not handle the psychological effects of the war and eventually became insane. Another character that I have much respect for is Kiowa. Whenever there was a moral dilemma in the group Kiowa would show his strengths and offer advice and encouragement to the group. When Tim was new to the group and was ridiculed for not treating the dead a certain way Kiowa was there to offer him companionship and moral backup. A character that seem sketchy to me is Azar. Azar is a wild soldier with little concern for consequences. One thing that made me turned off by Azar's personality was when he took the prank with Tim too far. It is one thing to play a little revenge joke on someone but Azar seemed to almost enjoy torturing Jorgenson. Azar let go of all his moral sense and at one time even said, " Out here, at night, I almost feel like a kid again. The Vietnam experience. I mean, wow I love this shit" (212). Towards the end Azar actually began to enjoy war and was more concerned with the adrenaline rush than with human dignity.
The chapter where O'Brien explains how he killed a man really moved me. I could almost feel the regret with him. I thought that the chapter really looked into the author's experience with death and human nature instead of focusing on the other characters. You could tell that at the time of the killing O'Brien was young and inexperienced in the war. The way he just sat there explaining over and over the way the young man looked showed how shocked he was. He mentioned in the chapter the life the man might have had and in a way it showed how vulnerable O'Brien was feeling. Kiowa kept telling him that it was better off him not being the one dead and O'Brien realizes how fast life can be taken away from someone. I enjoyed the section on Mark Fossie and his girlfriend. The way Tim O'Brien explains the story shows how great of a story teller the author is. In many sections of his writing he includes clues as to how to tell a true war story from a fake one. The story of Mark Fossie and his girlfriend I believe was fake and that the reason O'Brien included it in his plot was to show what makes a good story from a bad one.
I found many themes by the end of this book. Among them are: blame, storytelling, love and war. The theme of blame is inserted into every moral story that is told. The blame is always being thrown around and everyone has different degrees of blame. After the death of Kiowa Norman Bowker took the majority of the blame. It ate him up inside and he could not bear the thought of his own failure. Jimmy Cross also blamed himself for Kiowa's death by declaring that he should have set up in a different area. The concept of blame is thrown around in this book and blame is what caused most of the men to go crazy and to not be able to handle the war. Another theme that I found most present in the book was the concept of storytelling. In many places Tim O'Brien gives the reader hints as to what makes a good story. He tells the reader that to some a story might have happened one way and to someone else it may have happened another way, he explains that stories are all based on perception. O'Brien also tells the reader that in order to make some stories interesting you have to "heat up the truth". To me this is a very thought provoking theme. What stories are real and which ones are made up? How much of the text is from Tim O'Briens first hand account and not passed on through a friend?
I enjoyed reading this book to the highest level. The stories although completely different related to each other in a larger way. The life lessons and eye openers that Tim O'Brien includes in his book was what got me hooked.
One of the characters that I really learned to respect was Rat Kiley. He serves as the medic of the group and seems to be very well prepared. After Tim's bad experience with Jorgenson he recalls the moments when Rat Kiley would never let him down. Rat Kiley always kept his cool and seems to be a pretty dependable character. It was unfortunate that he could not handle the psychological effects of the war and eventually became insane. Another character that I have much respect for is Kiowa. Whenever there was a moral dilemma in the group Kiowa would show his strengths and offer advice and encouragement to the group. When Tim was new to the group and was ridiculed for not treating the dead a certain way Kiowa was there to offer him companionship and moral backup. A character that seem sketchy to me is Azar. Azar is a wild soldier with little concern for consequences. One thing that made me turned off by Azar's personality was when he took the prank with Tim too far. It is one thing to play a little revenge joke on someone but Azar seemed to almost enjoy torturing Jorgenson. Azar let go of all his moral sense and at one time even said, " Out here, at night, I almost feel like a kid again. The Vietnam experience. I mean, wow I love this shit" (212). Towards the end Azar actually began to enjoy war and was more concerned with the adrenaline rush than with human dignity.
The chapter where O'Brien explains how he killed a man really moved me. I could almost feel the regret with him. I thought that the chapter really looked into the author's experience with death and human nature instead of focusing on the other characters. You could tell that at the time of the killing O'Brien was young and inexperienced in the war. The way he just sat there explaining over and over the way the young man looked showed how shocked he was. He mentioned in the chapter the life the man might have had and in a way it showed how vulnerable O'Brien was feeling. Kiowa kept telling him that it was better off him not being the one dead and O'Brien realizes how fast life can be taken away from someone. I enjoyed the section on Mark Fossie and his girlfriend. The way Tim O'Brien explains the story shows how great of a story teller the author is. In many sections of his writing he includes clues as to how to tell a true war story from a fake one. The story of Mark Fossie and his girlfriend I believe was fake and that the reason O'Brien included it in his plot was to show what makes a good story from a bad one.
I found many themes by the end of this book. Among them are: blame, storytelling, love and war. The theme of blame is inserted into every moral story that is told. The blame is always being thrown around and everyone has different degrees of blame. After the death of Kiowa Norman Bowker took the majority of the blame. It ate him up inside and he could not bear the thought of his own failure. Jimmy Cross also blamed himself for Kiowa's death by declaring that he should have set up in a different area. The concept of blame is thrown around in this book and blame is what caused most of the men to go crazy and to not be able to handle the war. Another theme that I found most present in the book was the concept of storytelling. In many places Tim O'Brien gives the reader hints as to what makes a good story. He tells the reader that to some a story might have happened one way and to someone else it may have happened another way, he explains that stories are all based on perception. O'Brien also tells the reader that in order to make some stories interesting you have to "heat up the truth". To me this is a very thought provoking theme. What stories are real and which ones are made up? How much of the text is from Tim O'Briens first hand account and not passed on through a friend?
I enjoyed reading this book to the highest level. The stories although completely different related to each other in a larger way. The life lessons and eye openers that Tim O'Brien includes in his book was what got me hooked.
Reader Response Revised: "The Yellow Wallpaper"
John suppresses the narrator's feeling of fulfillment in her life which leads to her mental breakdown. The narrator wants to be of help to John but he does not allow her to. She notes, " I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!" ( 14). She is deemed useless in the eyes of her husband and she considers herself a burden. The narrator observes "Jennie sees to everything now" (18). Her boredom eventually leads to her breakdown. Her boredom is what leads her to her increasing insanity and her obsession with the wallpaper. The narrator says, " I lie here on this great immovable bed. It is nailed down, I believe- and follow that pattern about by the hour" (19). The narrator is left alone so often that she allows herself to get lost in the wallpaper and amuses herself the only way she knows how. John's ignorance about his wife's abilities and needs directly connect to her mental breakdown.
Reader Response: "The Yellow Wallpaper"
John Supresses the narrator's right to feel fulfillment in her life. She is convinced that it is in her best interest to let other women take over her daily tasks of being a wife and a mother. John does not allow her to be helpful and in effect it causes her to mentally breakdown. "I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!" (14). The narrator is deemed a burden and useless in the eyes of her husband John. He has begun to replace her with other women in the house taht do her tasks. The narrator is left in the attic and eventually her boredom and frustrations cause her to hallucinate and begin her obsession with the wallpaper. Clearly the narrator is frustrated by her lack of duties. "Jennie sees to everything now" (18). Her obsessions and anger grow as John continues to ignore her. "I lie here on this great immovable bed. It is nailed down, I believe- and fllow that pattern about by the hour" (19). John's ignorance abouy his wife's abilities and needs are directly connected to her condition.
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