VOCAB
Coquettish (186): to coquet: a woman who flirts lightheartedly with men to win their admiration and affection; flirt.
Begrudge (191): to envy or resent the pleasure or good fortune of (someone)
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1.) “[…] a yellow sundress with a sweetheart neckline, like something a teenage girl from the fifties might have worn to a dance” (179). This is a simile because it uses “like” to compare two things.
2.) “But when she coughed she sounded as sick as she felt” (182). This is a simile because it uses “as” to compare how sick she feels to how sick she sounds.
3.) “‘You’re a tall drink of water, aren’t you’” (186). This is a metaphor because it doesn’t use “like” or “as”, but still compares him to a tall drink of water.
QUOTE
“It was almost impossible to imagine her mother walking through it, into this house where she lived as an adult, where she herself was a mother” (pg 178). Leigh thought this as she awaited her mother, who was coming to her house, and seeing her for the first time since she had left Leigh all alone. When Leigh thought this, I think she was probably excited to see her mom as most people would be, but I think she also felt resentment towards her mother. Her mother left her, and now is finally coming back not until Leigh is a mother. Her mother seems very selfish.
THEME
I think a theme in so far is regret. Leigh regrets not seeing her mother before she died, her mother probably regretted leaving her child, and Leigh seems to regret the fact she got so mad at her mom when she came back for the first time in about 20 years.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The Rest of Her Life, Week 6-Post B
The Rest of Her Life is a really good book. I have been hooked ever since I began reading, and have found it to get more and more interesting. This book is almost like a soap opera to some degree. At some points it is confusing though, like when it jumps back and forth to Leigh’s past and present. This week I read mostly about her past, but her past is not far behind the present. Leigh described Kara as a baby, and told the story of when Leigh’s mother came back for the first and only time. After meeting her mother’s new fiancé, Wayne, and talked with her mother, Leigh seemed to become irritated with her mother. “The diamond was enormous, twice the size of Leigh’s. Things started to make more sense” (182). As I learned earlier in the book, Leigh’s mother had never had much money and this was the answer. After Leigh got very mad with her mom and told her off, I think she was disappointed in herself, but also felt confident in that she really let her mom know how she felt she was treated when she was younger. “Later, When she was calmer, when she could reflect on the day more clearly, Leigh would remember that in her final speech to her mother, she had said the word go several times” ( pg 191). I think Leigh in some sense wanted her mother to feel what Leigh felt when her mother left her as a child. I agree with Leigh’s point even though it was a little harsh. Leigh’s mom should have not come back like nothing happened; she should have at least apologized.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Rest of Her Life, Week 5-Post A
VOCAB
Placid: pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed.
Unnerve: to deprive of courage, strength, determination, or confidence; upset
FIGURATIVE LANUGAGE
1.) “Understanding moving through her like a wave of nausea” (146). This is a simile because it uses “like” to describe something by comparing it to something else.
2.) “Leigh held her hands up in surrender.” (144). This is a metaphor because it is describing how she put her hands up to how you surrender, without using “like” or “as”.
3.) “You sound like a frog” (176). This is a simile because it uses “like” to describe her voice by comparing it to a frog.
QUOTE
“She understood that the authority in her voice was linked to her sense of justice-she had suffered enough, and she would suffer no more. She was needy and awkward and eager to please, but in the end, when it mattered, she was committed to self preservation.” (160). I think this quote shows how much Leigh looked up to her sister. Leigh wants to be like her sister in how hard she worked, but also wanted to overcome her own problems, and succeed in life like no one else in her family has.
THEME
In this section it was mostly about Leigh’s past. I think a theme is hard work. Leigh really emphasizes her mother’s lack of hard work, but also shows her own and her sister, Pam’s hard work. Leigh, once her mother left, never gave up. She was always working hard, whether it was studying, waiting on tables, working at the “Dairy Maid”, or just cleaning and working around the house.
Placid: pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed.
Unnerve: to deprive of courage, strength, determination, or confidence; upset
FIGURATIVE LANUGAGE
1.) “Understanding moving through her like a wave of nausea” (146). This is a simile because it uses “like” to describe something by comparing it to something else.
2.) “Leigh held her hands up in surrender.” (144). This is a metaphor because it is describing how she put her hands up to how you surrender, without using “like” or “as”.
3.) “You sound like a frog” (176). This is a simile because it uses “like” to describe her voice by comparing it to a frog.
QUOTE
“She understood that the authority in her voice was linked to her sense of justice-she had suffered enough, and she would suffer no more. She was needy and awkward and eager to please, but in the end, when it mattered, she was committed to self preservation.” (160). I think this quote shows how much Leigh looked up to her sister. Leigh wants to be like her sister in how hard she worked, but also wanted to overcome her own problems, and succeed in life like no one else in her family has.
THEME
In this section it was mostly about Leigh’s past. I think a theme is hard work. Leigh really emphasizes her mother’s lack of hard work, but also shows her own and her sister, Pam’s hard work. Leigh, once her mother left, never gave up. She was always working hard, whether it was studying, waiting on tables, working at the “Dairy Maid”, or just cleaning and working around the house.
The Rest of Her Life, Week 5-Post B
When I first picked up the book, I was not one bit interested. After reading more than half the book, I have really come to like it. I think it keeps it interesting when the author switches from Leigh’s past to present. The part I read this week, was on Leigh’s past, and described her life after her mother left her all alone. If I was Leigh, I would have had no idea what to do and I would have been a wreck.
When Leigh got a job as a nanny, she was very happy “But for the first time in her life, she was surprised by her good fortune. The Aubrey-Golds were nice to her.” (pg 162) I think this truly shows what a horrible life Leigh has had. To be so happy, and think that to have nice bosses is good luck, then you must have had lots of bad things and bad luck happen to you. I think Leigh deserved to have kind bosses. Leigh always seemed to work hard, even if she though it might not get her to the place she wants to be. I think because Leigh had such a horrible mother, she never learned much from her, and never learned to really socialize. Though I already knew she was married, I was still excited for her when she found some that actually paid attention to her. I think Leigh has deserved the great family she has now, but has not one bit deserved what has happened to her daughter. I think that the reason Leigh is trying to connect to Kara and make sure she is happy, is so Kara can feel her mother is there for her, and unlike Leigh’s mother was.
When Leigh got a job as a nanny, she was very happy “But for the first time in her life, she was surprised by her good fortune. The Aubrey-Golds were nice to her.” (pg 162) I think this truly shows what a horrible life Leigh has had. To be so happy, and think that to have nice bosses is good luck, then you must have had lots of bad things and bad luck happen to you. I think Leigh deserved to have kind bosses. Leigh always seemed to work hard, even if she though it might not get her to the place she wants to be. I think because Leigh had such a horrible mother, she never learned much from her, and never learned to really socialize. Though I already knew she was married, I was still excited for her when she found some that actually paid attention to her. I think Leigh has deserved the great family she has now, but has not one bit deserved what has happened to her daughter. I think that the reason Leigh is trying to connect to Kara and make sure she is happy, is so Kara can feel her mother is there for her, and unlike Leigh’s mother was.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The Rest of Her Life, Week 4-Post B
When I finished this section of the book I had mixed feelings. After learning about the funeral and how Bethany’s mom was not very friendly to Leigh, I was sad for Bethany’s mom, but also felt bad for Leigh, because she was just trying to be kind. I don’t think Kara should have stayed home form the funeral. I think Kara should have shown that she was sorry and even though Kara has been hurt too, Bethany‘s mother has had more suffering. When Bethany’s mother ran out of the funeral and asked for the slide show to be turned off, I thought it was ok; she has the right to be sad, but I do not think it was ok at all when she gave Leigh a bad look. The death was not Leigh’s fault. I think the car crash was entirely an accident and Leigh is hurting too. Lastly I am glad that Leigh wrote a note to Bethany’s mother saying how sorry she was. I would do the same if I was her.
“‘I’m on your side,’ she whispered. ‘And I can be helpful, okay? You’ve got to start answering your phone’”(140). This quote was the last sentence of the last chapter I read and it really caught my attention. Since the accident, Leigh hasn’t been answering her phone which has been ringing off the hook, mostly from Eva, the person who said this. Eva always has gossip, and I wonder if Eva knows something about Bethany’s mother or about something that could help Leigh and Kara in the trial. Though she may be helpful, sometimes her ideas seem immoral, and maybe this will bring a problem for Leigh. She obviously doesn’t want her daughter to go to jail, but also doesn’t want to hurt Bethany’s mother. I am anxious to read the next chapter and see what Eva has to say.
“‘I’m on your side,’ she whispered. ‘And I can be helpful, okay? You’ve got to start answering your phone’”(140). This quote was the last sentence of the last chapter I read and it really caught my attention. Since the accident, Leigh hasn’t been answering her phone which has been ringing off the hook, mostly from Eva, the person who said this. Eva always has gossip, and I wonder if Eva knows something about Bethany’s mother or about something that could help Leigh and Kara in the trial. Though she may be helpful, sometimes her ideas seem immoral, and maybe this will bring a problem for Leigh. She obviously doesn’t want her daughter to go to jail, but also doesn’t want to hurt Bethany’s mother. I am anxious to read the next chapter and see what Eva has to say.
The Rest of Her Life, Week 4-Post A
VOCAB
Ornate (118): Elaborately, heavily, and often excessively ornamented.
Vehemently (131): Characterized by forcefulness of expression or intensity of emotion or conviction; fervid
FIGURATIVE LANUAGE
1.) “Evening sunlight bathed the pews” (pg. 119). This is personification, because it gives human qualities to the sun; the sun can’t bathe.
2.)”She liked the way he smelled in the morning, a little musty, like the house” (pg. 129). This is a simile because it uses “like” to compare his smell to the smell of the house.
3.) “She’ll be the walking dead” (pg 117). This is a metaphor because it describes how Bethany’s mother will be at the funeral by comparing her, without using the word “like” or “as”.
QUOTE
“Unfortunately, as long as irresponsible parents allow their teenage children to tool around town in enormous vehicles before they learn to drive properly, we can expect more the same” (pg. 127). This is a quote from a letter to the editor in a local newspaper. Though Leigh didn’t talk about it much, she is probably very upset by the comment. Leigh is not a bad parent and Kara seems to be a good kid, and from what I can see, the whole thing was a mistake. This person has never met either Leigh or Kara before, and is just making assumptions.
THEME
I think an emerging theme is separation. The family is separating, never talking to each other which is probably bad during this tough time. During a hard tome, a family should be consoling each other. Also Kara and Leigh are separating themselves from the community and their friends.
Ornate (118): Elaborately, heavily, and often excessively ornamented.
Vehemently (131): Characterized by forcefulness of expression or intensity of emotion or conviction; fervid
FIGURATIVE LANUAGE
1.) “Evening sunlight bathed the pews” (pg. 119). This is personification, because it gives human qualities to the sun; the sun can’t bathe.
2.)”She liked the way he smelled in the morning, a little musty, like the house” (pg. 129). This is a simile because it uses “like” to compare his smell to the smell of the house.
3.) “She’ll be the walking dead” (pg 117). This is a metaphor because it describes how Bethany’s mother will be at the funeral by comparing her, without using the word “like” or “as”.
QUOTE
“Unfortunately, as long as irresponsible parents allow their teenage children to tool around town in enormous vehicles before they learn to drive properly, we can expect more the same” (pg. 127). This is a quote from a letter to the editor in a local newspaper. Though Leigh didn’t talk about it much, she is probably very upset by the comment. Leigh is not a bad parent and Kara seems to be a good kid, and from what I can see, the whole thing was a mistake. This person has never met either Leigh or Kara before, and is just making assumptions.
THEME
I think an emerging theme is separation. The family is separating, never talking to each other which is probably bad during this tough time. During a hard tome, a family should be consoling each other. Also Kara and Leigh are separating themselves from the community and their friends.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
On the Waterfront Film Review
Annabel
Mrs. Burgess
Enriched English 10
27 November 2007
On the Waterfront Film Review
The film, On the Waterfront is the story of a man, Terry Malloy, who worked for the mob that was controlling the docks of New York. After Terry indirectly took part in killing the innocent brother of Edie Doyle, he began to question his loyalty to and respect of the mob. Terry also began to question the way the waterfront workers were being treated. In the end, Terry followed his instinct and defeated mob leader, Johnny Friendly. Overall I thought the story was very good. The film was always suspenseful, and you were never bored when watching. The film was very effective in making you think about what was right and what was wrong. You understood the ethical dilemma Terry faced, and why anyone like him would feel that way.
The literary aspects such as symbols, theme and setting helped you to further understand the film. The setting of the movie took place in several locations in New York like bars, alleys, Terry’s rooftop, a church, and most importantly the waterfront. On the waterfront you saw the poor conditions, which showed really how badly the workers were being treated. The shack the mob members occupy demonstrated how private and secretive the mob was and how little work they actually did especially when compared to the longshoremen. While the workers labored long hours for little pay, the mob members just lounged around, profiting off the work of others, and becoming more and more powerful. One symbol in the film was when Father Barry and Timothy Dugan are riding up on the crane after Dugan died. As the mob watches them, they seem like a Christ figure as they move up to the sky. This could be symbolizing the guilt people felt after killing an innocent man (Dugan is like Jesus here) and could suggest that Dugan died for a higher purpose. Also, this scene reminds the viewer of Jesus’ resurrection. In the resurrection, although Jesus died, what he died for still lived on. Similarly, even though Dugan is dead, the fight against the mob continues, giving Dugan’s death meaning to those left behind. Lastly, the theme in the story was to do what you believe is right even if it means you break the rules in your community. When Terry chose to help the waterfront workers and Edie instead of keeping his loyalty to the mob, he demonstrates this. This theme is also evident when Charley lets Terry go, even though Charley knows he will be disliked, and maybe even killed. While a movie is like a book in having literary aspects, it is different in that it has dramatic aspects.
The dramatic aspects in the film really aided to the success of On the Waterfront. One aspect, the actors, helped you to understand the story better from each of their views, and portrayed how they saw the problem at hand. Terry, being the protagonist, had the greatest impact on the viewer. Marlon Brando, the actor chosen for Terry’s part did an outstanding job. Brando depicted Terry as an unintelligent, oblivious, once seemingly emotionless man, until the end of the film. Brando’s great performance shows us how over the story Terry developed into a more compassionate and intelligent person, becoming less self centered and more aware of the world and people around him and how they are affected by the evil actions of the mob. Especially when he meets Edie, Terry realizes how he had fallen into the mob’s trap, and became emotionless to the pain and suffering of others. Edie Doyle, played by Eva Marie Saint, was another great casting choice. Being the only female, Saint’s performance needed to stand out, and it did. Saint expressed Edie’s trait of determination and independence to emphasize how different Edie was than any other women of the time. Lastly, Father Barry, played by Karl Malden was the conscience of the movie, caring only about doing the right thing and not the worldly consequences of doing so. Malden’s warm smile and intense stare turns the priest into the personification of morality that helped the entire story develop. Without his great acting, Father Barry would not seem as determined and persuasive to the viewers, and would not show how passionately Farther Barry wanted to end the problems on the waterfront.
One other dramatic aspect is costume and makeup. Even in black and white, the ragged clothing and dirty and torn up men are emphasized and striking. In contrast, there is the rich mob. The mob characters throughout the movie were dressed in sharp suits and nice clothing, which they could buy with the money they “earned” from not doing anything, taking advantage of the real workers. The differing costumes underline the unfairness of the mob’s rule and the need for change.
The last important aspects of film are cinematic aspects, including distance and angle of shots, camera movement, and sound. Camera angles were used frequently in the film to show power. At the beginning of the movie, just before Joey Doyle is pushed off, there was a low angle to show the power in the mob members on the rooftop. At the end, the power switched, and there was a high angle, where Terry was looking down at Johnny Friendly after he lost his power when the waterfront workers united. Also in the end, the camera movement was significant. The camera moved around in circles as Terry walked injured into the gate. This gave you a feeling of looking through his eyes. Lastly the music in the movie was very relevant to the mood. For example, when Charley was being driven into a garage to be killed, the music was suspenseful and made you anxious to see what would happen. Without each and every one of these aspects, viewers would not feel the same when watching the movie. These effects made the movie more interesting and without them it would lack excitement.
On many levels, On the Waterfront, and All My Sons, by Arthur Miller are very similar in theme, but different in the outcome. First, Joe Keller and Terry Malloy were faced with ethical dilemmas surrounding choices: to be loyal to yourself or to your community, to do what is easiest and best for you, or what is right. Terry and Joe each stood by and let an innocent man die, even though each could have stopped it. But Terry’s sense of right and wrong and of responsibility to others grew after he realized the consequences of not caring or doing anything to save Doyle. He became more and more aware of others and became more compassionate, while Joe seemed to stay the same the entire book, stuck in his selfishness. Terry and Joe however, ultimately make different choices. In the end Joe was selfish, and would not admit to the police that he sent out the faulty cylinder heads. Terry on the other hand made the selfless choice, as he helped the waterfront workers rather than making sure he would have money and a place in the mob.
I would recommend everyone to see On the Waterfront. I know now why it is considered a classic. The moral and ethical choices faced by the characters reminded me that pain sometimes goes along with doing the right thing, but it is still worth it. The constant camera angle changes kept reminding me that even though there are different points of view, right and wrong are always the same. The well developed characters made me anxiously care about what might happen to them. Though some parts seemed cheesy, in the end the film really made you think about what you would do if you were in Terry’s place. Overall the film was really good and I would watch it again.
Mrs. Burgess
Enriched English 10
27 November 2007
On the Waterfront Film Review
The film, On the Waterfront is the story of a man, Terry Malloy, who worked for the mob that was controlling the docks of New York. After Terry indirectly took part in killing the innocent brother of Edie Doyle, he began to question his loyalty to and respect of the mob. Terry also began to question the way the waterfront workers were being treated. In the end, Terry followed his instinct and defeated mob leader, Johnny Friendly. Overall I thought the story was very good. The film was always suspenseful, and you were never bored when watching. The film was very effective in making you think about what was right and what was wrong. You understood the ethical dilemma Terry faced, and why anyone like him would feel that way.
The literary aspects such as symbols, theme and setting helped you to further understand the film. The setting of the movie took place in several locations in New York like bars, alleys, Terry’s rooftop, a church, and most importantly the waterfront. On the waterfront you saw the poor conditions, which showed really how badly the workers were being treated. The shack the mob members occupy demonstrated how private and secretive the mob was and how little work they actually did especially when compared to the longshoremen. While the workers labored long hours for little pay, the mob members just lounged around, profiting off the work of others, and becoming more and more powerful. One symbol in the film was when Father Barry and Timothy Dugan are riding up on the crane after Dugan died. As the mob watches them, they seem like a Christ figure as they move up to the sky. This could be symbolizing the guilt people felt after killing an innocent man (Dugan is like Jesus here) and could suggest that Dugan died for a higher purpose. Also, this scene reminds the viewer of Jesus’ resurrection. In the resurrection, although Jesus died, what he died for still lived on. Similarly, even though Dugan is dead, the fight against the mob continues, giving Dugan’s death meaning to those left behind. Lastly, the theme in the story was to do what you believe is right even if it means you break the rules in your community. When Terry chose to help the waterfront workers and Edie instead of keeping his loyalty to the mob, he demonstrates this. This theme is also evident when Charley lets Terry go, even though Charley knows he will be disliked, and maybe even killed. While a movie is like a book in having literary aspects, it is different in that it has dramatic aspects.
The dramatic aspects in the film really aided to the success of On the Waterfront. One aspect, the actors, helped you to understand the story better from each of their views, and portrayed how they saw the problem at hand. Terry, being the protagonist, had the greatest impact on the viewer. Marlon Brando, the actor chosen for Terry’s part did an outstanding job. Brando depicted Terry as an unintelligent, oblivious, once seemingly emotionless man, until the end of the film. Brando’s great performance shows us how over the story Terry developed into a more compassionate and intelligent person, becoming less self centered and more aware of the world and people around him and how they are affected by the evil actions of the mob. Especially when he meets Edie, Terry realizes how he had fallen into the mob’s trap, and became emotionless to the pain and suffering of others. Edie Doyle, played by Eva Marie Saint, was another great casting choice. Being the only female, Saint’s performance needed to stand out, and it did. Saint expressed Edie’s trait of determination and independence to emphasize how different Edie was than any other women of the time. Lastly, Father Barry, played by Karl Malden was the conscience of the movie, caring only about doing the right thing and not the worldly consequences of doing so. Malden’s warm smile and intense stare turns the priest into the personification of morality that helped the entire story develop. Without his great acting, Father Barry would not seem as determined and persuasive to the viewers, and would not show how passionately Farther Barry wanted to end the problems on the waterfront.
One other dramatic aspect is costume and makeup. Even in black and white, the ragged clothing and dirty and torn up men are emphasized and striking. In contrast, there is the rich mob. The mob characters throughout the movie were dressed in sharp suits and nice clothing, which they could buy with the money they “earned” from not doing anything, taking advantage of the real workers. The differing costumes underline the unfairness of the mob’s rule and the need for change.
The last important aspects of film are cinematic aspects, including distance and angle of shots, camera movement, and sound. Camera angles were used frequently in the film to show power. At the beginning of the movie, just before Joey Doyle is pushed off, there was a low angle to show the power in the mob members on the rooftop. At the end, the power switched, and there was a high angle, where Terry was looking down at Johnny Friendly after he lost his power when the waterfront workers united. Also in the end, the camera movement was significant. The camera moved around in circles as Terry walked injured into the gate. This gave you a feeling of looking through his eyes. Lastly the music in the movie was very relevant to the mood. For example, when Charley was being driven into a garage to be killed, the music was suspenseful and made you anxious to see what would happen. Without each and every one of these aspects, viewers would not feel the same when watching the movie. These effects made the movie more interesting and without them it would lack excitement.
On many levels, On the Waterfront, and All My Sons, by Arthur Miller are very similar in theme, but different in the outcome. First, Joe Keller and Terry Malloy were faced with ethical dilemmas surrounding choices: to be loyal to yourself or to your community, to do what is easiest and best for you, or what is right. Terry and Joe each stood by and let an innocent man die, even though each could have stopped it. But Terry’s sense of right and wrong and of responsibility to others grew after he realized the consequences of not caring or doing anything to save Doyle. He became more and more aware of others and became more compassionate, while Joe seemed to stay the same the entire book, stuck in his selfishness. Terry and Joe however, ultimately make different choices. In the end Joe was selfish, and would not admit to the police that he sent out the faulty cylinder heads. Terry on the other hand made the selfless choice, as he helped the waterfront workers rather than making sure he would have money and a place in the mob.
I would recommend everyone to see On the Waterfront. I know now why it is considered a classic. The moral and ethical choices faced by the characters reminded me that pain sometimes goes along with doing the right thing, but it is still worth it. The constant camera angle changes kept reminding me that even though there are different points of view, right and wrong are always the same. The well developed characters made me anxiously care about what might happen to them. Though some parts seemed cheesy, in the end the film really made you think about what you would do if you were in Terry’s place. Overall the film was really good and I would watch it again.
The Rest of Her Life, Week 3-Post B
After reading this section of the book, I have begun to understand better what the characters are going through. Each and every character, Justin, Kara, Gary, and especially Leigh are going through very tough times, but are dealing with it different ways, and reacting to it differently.
The book, The Rest of Her Life is narrated by Leigh, Kara’s mother, so I mostly understand what Leigh is going through rather than Kara who it actually happened too. I think this is an interesting way to write a book, because you see that not just the one person it happened to is affected by an incident, but the whole family, and even the whole community is. Leigh seems very sensitive to both Bethany Cleese’s mother, who she barely knows, and to her daughter Kara. I think this really shows that Leigh is not selfish. Most mothers might only worry about what has happened to their loved one, while Leigh also worries about what her daughter has done. I also think her mother might believe Kara was driving recklessly and it seems as if she has never had that much trust in her. For example, when she is talking to Eva, “Leigh nodded, through really, it wasn’t as if Kara’s graduation was some long held dream. Leigh had written ‘I’m so proud of you!’ on the card she bought to give Kara with earrings, and just writing those words had felt a little fake.” (pg. 87). Even though Leigh thinks this, it also seems she is still trying to connect with and console Kara. If I was Leigh I would have trust in Kara. It seems that Kara truly is sorry for what she did and she wants to fix it.
Lastly I am happy that from what the lawyer said, the punishment for what Kara did is not anything major. This is good for Kara and the entire family, especially Leigh. I am anxious to see how the trial plays out, and how Bethany Cleese’s mother will act towards Kara and the family. I predict she will be sad, but not mad at all.
The book, The Rest of Her Life is narrated by Leigh, Kara’s mother, so I mostly understand what Leigh is going through rather than Kara who it actually happened too. I think this is an interesting way to write a book, because you see that not just the one person it happened to is affected by an incident, but the whole family, and even the whole community is. Leigh seems very sensitive to both Bethany Cleese’s mother, who she barely knows, and to her daughter Kara. I think this really shows that Leigh is not selfish. Most mothers might only worry about what has happened to their loved one, while Leigh also worries about what her daughter has done. I also think her mother might believe Kara was driving recklessly and it seems as if she has never had that much trust in her. For example, when she is talking to Eva, “Leigh nodded, through really, it wasn’t as if Kara’s graduation was some long held dream. Leigh had written ‘I’m so proud of you!’ on the card she bought to give Kara with earrings, and just writing those words had felt a little fake.” (pg. 87). Even though Leigh thinks this, it also seems she is still trying to connect with and console Kara. If I was Leigh I would have trust in Kara. It seems that Kara truly is sorry for what she did and she wants to fix it.
Lastly I am happy that from what the lawyer said, the punishment for what Kara did is not anything major. This is good for Kara and the entire family, especially Leigh. I am anxious to see how the trial plays out, and how Bethany Cleese’s mother will act towards Kara and the family. I predict she will be sad, but not mad at all.
Monday, November 26, 2007
The Rest of Her Life, Week 3-Post A
VOCAB
Fluky (85): obtained by chance rather than skill
Unperturbed (109): calm and serene
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1.) “[…] balls escaped from the preformed bricks, blowing onto her car like hail” (pg 90). This is a simile because it describes the balls by comparing it to hail and using “like”.
2.) “It was quite another, Leigh understood now, to look across your table and see that same microphone, waiting, absolutely silent […]” pg 88). This is personification because it uses a human action (waiting) to describe the microphone. A microphone can not wait, it is an inanimate object.
3.) “[…] she had done so many times that it seemed there should be a hollow there, like and indentation on a pillow” (pg 102). This is a simile because it uses “like” to compare the indent in a pillow to how Leigh imagines Justin’s chest should be because she had put her head against his chest so many times.
QUOTE
“‘Kara made it up.’ If he saw the surprise on his mother’s face, he didn’t show it. He shrugged and got out of the car. “She knows I hate school, how it is for me. So she made that up and told me to try it’” (pg 106). I think this quote is really interesting. So far in the book, you haven’t seen much of the brother and sister relationship. Leigh seems to be very surprised when Justin told her this, so his and Kara’s relationship mustn’t seem very good, but maybe she really cares for him and is afraid to show it. I think that Justin will end up helping her through her tough time.
THEME
While everything falls apart around them, some try to keep their family together, while others slowly let go. This theme is emerging in everyone in the family. The father, Gary seems to care only about the case and trial and little about his daughter who is depressed and possibly soon to be in jail. He is not supporting her at all. On the other hand, Leigh is trying to connect more with Justin and Kara to make sure her family does not suffer from this one bad event.
Fluky (85): obtained by chance rather than skill
Unperturbed (109): calm and serene
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1.) “[…] balls escaped from the preformed bricks, blowing onto her car like hail” (pg 90). This is a simile because it describes the balls by comparing it to hail and using “like”.
2.) “It was quite another, Leigh understood now, to look across your table and see that same microphone, waiting, absolutely silent […]” pg 88). This is personification because it uses a human action (waiting) to describe the microphone. A microphone can not wait, it is an inanimate object.
3.) “[…] she had done so many times that it seemed there should be a hollow there, like and indentation on a pillow” (pg 102). This is a simile because it uses “like” to compare the indent in a pillow to how Leigh imagines Justin’s chest should be because she had put her head against his chest so many times.
QUOTE
“‘Kara made it up.’ If he saw the surprise on his mother’s face, he didn’t show it. He shrugged and got out of the car. “She knows I hate school, how it is for me. So she made that up and told me to try it’” (pg 106). I think this quote is really interesting. So far in the book, you haven’t seen much of the brother and sister relationship. Leigh seems to be very surprised when Justin told her this, so his and Kara’s relationship mustn’t seem very good, but maybe she really cares for him and is afraid to show it. I think that Justin will end up helping her through her tough time.
THEME
While everything falls apart around them, some try to keep their family together, while others slowly let go. This theme is emerging in everyone in the family. The father, Gary seems to care only about the case and trial and little about his daughter who is depressed and possibly soon to be in jail. He is not supporting her at all. On the other hand, Leigh is trying to connect more with Justin and Kara to make sure her family does not suffer from this one bad event.
Monday, November 19, 2007
The Rest of Her Life, Week 2- Post A
The Rest of Her Life , by Laura Moriarty
VOCAB
Suitor (pg 66): a man courting a woman.
Vigilant (pg 55): staying watchful and alert to danger or trouble.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1.) “Her hands were red and rough and wrinkled like an old women’s” (pg. 71). This is a simile because it compares Leigh’s hands to an old women’s hands, and uses “like”.
2.) “[…] and the remains of the stew bulged out like the entrails of a dead animal.” (pg. 72). This is a simile because it compares using “like”.
3.) “[…] the wind already pressing against her like a sail.”(pg. 60). This is a simile because it compares using “like”.
QUOTE
“‘Well.’ She clicked her tongue and smiled. ‘It’s a lot more than anybody ever gave me.’”(pg. 75). When Leigh is talking to her mother, her mother says she is moving to California with out Leigh. Her mother couldn’t care less about Leigh, and probably is just not being a good mother to Leigh, because no one ever was for her. Though I’m sure she had a tough, childhood, that doesn’t mean you can abandon your own child. If anything, I would do better for my child that my parents did for me.
THEME
I think theme in the chapters I read this time, was independence. With her mother never there, and her sister out on her own, Leigh had to fend for herself. Though it is good to learn to be independent, Leigh was so independent, it seemed she had no mother at all.
VOCAB
Suitor (pg 66): a man courting a woman.
Vigilant (pg 55): staying watchful and alert to danger or trouble.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1.) “Her hands were red and rough and wrinkled like an old women’s” (pg. 71). This is a simile because it compares Leigh’s hands to an old women’s hands, and uses “like”.
2.) “[…] and the remains of the stew bulged out like the entrails of a dead animal.” (pg. 72). This is a simile because it compares using “like”.
3.) “[…] the wind already pressing against her like a sail.”(pg. 60). This is a simile because it compares using “like”.
QUOTE
“‘Well.’ She clicked her tongue and smiled. ‘It’s a lot more than anybody ever gave me.’”(pg. 75). When Leigh is talking to her mother, her mother says she is moving to California with out Leigh. Her mother couldn’t care less about Leigh, and probably is just not being a good mother to Leigh, because no one ever was for her. Though I’m sure she had a tough, childhood, that doesn’t mean you can abandon your own child. If anything, I would do better for my child that my parents did for me.
THEME
I think theme in the chapters I read this time, was independence. With her mother never there, and her sister out on her own, Leigh had to fend for herself. Though it is good to learn to be independent, Leigh was so independent, it seemed she had no mother at all.
The Rest of Her Life, Week 2-Post B
The section I read this week was mostly on Leigh’s life as a child and teenager. When she was young, Leigh’s mom wasn’t mean to Leigh, and her sister Pam, but failed to pay attention to them. This affected both of them later in life. Pam, just as her mother predicted, got pregnant. Pam was always off with boys, and her mother couldn’t care less. Leigh, unlike Pam, I think was positively affected. I believe that the reason Leigh wants to connect with Kara in this tough time and always is a result of Leigh’s, mother’s lack of concern. I think that Leigh wants to never hurt her children, like her mother did to her.
When I was reading about her mom telling Leigh she was moving to California without her, I felt really bad Leigh and I don’t know how I would react in that situation either. When Leigh’s Mom said, “‘you’ve got a job now. Even when school starts, you can do it part-time. And you can stay with Pam, I bet’” (pg. 74), I was surprised and mad at her. Leigh’s mom wasn’t even sure she would be able to stay with her sister. What if Leigh couldn’t stay with Pam? Where would she live? Also I am sure that Leigh’s mom knows that a fast food restaurant’s pay probably isn’t enough for a living. I totally disagree with Leigh’s mother’s morals. Even though she is a single mother, and she has gone through a lot, I think it is no excuse to abandon your teenage daughter when she needs you most.
When I was reading about her mom telling Leigh she was moving to California without her, I felt really bad Leigh and I don’t know how I would react in that situation either. When Leigh’s Mom said, “‘you’ve got a job now. Even when school starts, you can do it part-time. And you can stay with Pam, I bet’” (pg. 74), I was surprised and mad at her. Leigh’s mom wasn’t even sure she would be able to stay with her sister. What if Leigh couldn’t stay with Pam? Where would she live? Also I am sure that Leigh’s mom knows that a fast food restaurant’s pay probably isn’t enough for a living. I totally disagree with Leigh’s mother’s morals. Even though she is a single mother, and she has gone through a lot, I think it is no excuse to abandon your teenage daughter when she needs you most.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The Rest of Her Life-Week 1, Post B
Dear Leigh,
First off, I would like to let you know how sorry I am for what has happened, and hope you and you’re family will get through this tough time in your life. Though I can not directly relate to you, because I am not a mother, but I can probably relate to your daughter.
When I was reading I really liked that you sent the letter to the nineteen-year-old boy in jail. Though he did kill someone, I would feel bad for him too and I would want to let him know that not everyone was on the mother’s side. I can especially relate to him and your daughter when it came to the accidents. Not that I had one, but I am just learning to drive and make many mistakes. Luckily, they are not accidents, and I hope I never have to deal with that. Even though your daughter wants nothing to do with you now, I think she will soon want some one to talk to, you just have to let her know you are there for her.
After you wrote the letter to Bethany Cleese, the mother of the girl Kara killed, I thought it was very kind, and a good thing to do. I disagreed when Gary told you not to send it. Though it may have made the trial more complicated, it would be the right thing to do. When he said “‘Stop it, Leigh. Stop it. We’ve got to be practical. Just sitting here feeling bad won’t do anyone any good.’”(pg.45), I was extremely mad at him. I understand that it isn’t good to mope and be depressed forever, but it hasn’t even been a day. You have the right to be sad after what has happened.
I wish you the best of luck with the trials, your daughter, and just dealing with daily life after this incident.
Sincerely Annabel
First off, I would like to let you know how sorry I am for what has happened, and hope you and you’re family will get through this tough time in your life. Though I can not directly relate to you, because I am not a mother, but I can probably relate to your daughter.
When I was reading I really liked that you sent the letter to the nineteen-year-old boy in jail. Though he did kill someone, I would feel bad for him too and I would want to let him know that not everyone was on the mother’s side. I can especially relate to him and your daughter when it came to the accidents. Not that I had one, but I am just learning to drive and make many mistakes. Luckily, they are not accidents, and I hope I never have to deal with that. Even though your daughter wants nothing to do with you now, I think she will soon want some one to talk to, you just have to let her know you are there for her.
After you wrote the letter to Bethany Cleese, the mother of the girl Kara killed, I thought it was very kind, and a good thing to do. I disagreed when Gary told you not to send it. Though it may have made the trial more complicated, it would be the right thing to do. When he said “‘Stop it, Leigh. Stop it. We’ve got to be practical. Just sitting here feeling bad won’t do anyone any good.’”(pg.45), I was extremely mad at him. I understand that it isn’t good to mope and be depressed forever, but it hasn’t even been a day. You have the right to be sad after what has happened.
I wish you the best of luck with the trials, your daughter, and just dealing with daily life after this incident.
Sincerely Annabel
The Rest of Her Life- Week 1, Post A
Vocab
Mennonite (pg. 50): a member of an evangelical Protestant sect, originating in Europe in the 16th century, that opposes infant baptism, practices baptism of believers only, restricts marriage to members of the denomination, opposes war and bearing arms, and is noted for simplicity of living and plain dress.
Indignation (pg. 45): strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base; righteous anger.
Figurative Language
1.) “She’d simply held out her hand, as if Leigh were a waitress with a tray at a wedding.”(pg 53). This is a simile because it uses the word “as”, and because it is describing her by comparing her to something she’s not.
2.) “From the start, Kara had been at the center of that whirl of children, a magnetic nucleus impossible to see from the outside” (pg. 25). This is a metaphor because it describes Kara by comparing her to something else with out using “as” or “like”.
3.) “She looked like a dying bird, Leigh thought” (pg 4). This is a simile because it uses the word “like” to compare Kara to something else.
Quote
When Leigh was pregnant with Justin, Kara’s brother, she read in the news about a boy who killed a mother in a car accident when he crossed the center in a no –passing zone. After reading this, “She cried not just for the dead woman and the motherless baby, but or the nineteen-year-old, who, Leigh assumed, would be shackled to guilt or the rest of his life” (pg. 45). This quote is significant to the book, because it was probably the main reason or the title, “The Rest of Her Life”. This also shows you how badly she must feel for Kara. If she was so depressed when it happened to a complete stranger, I can’t imagine how bad she will feel for Kara. I predict this is foreshadowing to how much Leigh will fall apart and how much she will want to help her daughter.
Theme
I think an emerging theme is coping with your feelings. So far everyone in the book has dealt with their emotions differently. Kara has pulled back and been depressed, Leigh has showed her emotions, and written letters to those she feel was hurt, Justin, hasn’t even mentioned it, and lastly Gary, has not said much, except about the trials.
Mennonite (pg. 50): a member of an evangelical Protestant sect, originating in Europe in the 16th century, that opposes infant baptism, practices baptism of believers only, restricts marriage to members of the denomination, opposes war and bearing arms, and is noted for simplicity of living and plain dress.
Indignation (pg. 45): strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base; righteous anger.
Figurative Language
1.) “She’d simply held out her hand, as if Leigh were a waitress with a tray at a wedding.”(pg 53). This is a simile because it uses the word “as”, and because it is describing her by comparing her to something she’s not.
2.) “From the start, Kara had been at the center of that whirl of children, a magnetic nucleus impossible to see from the outside” (pg. 25). This is a metaphor because it describes Kara by comparing her to something else with out using “as” or “like”.
3.) “She looked like a dying bird, Leigh thought” (pg 4). This is a simile because it uses the word “like” to compare Kara to something else.
Quote
When Leigh was pregnant with Justin, Kara’s brother, she read in the news about a boy who killed a mother in a car accident when he crossed the center in a no –passing zone. After reading this, “She cried not just for the dead woman and the motherless baby, but or the nineteen-year-old, who, Leigh assumed, would be shackled to guilt or the rest of his life” (pg. 45). This quote is significant to the book, because it was probably the main reason or the title, “The Rest of Her Life”. This also shows you how badly she must feel for Kara. If she was so depressed when it happened to a complete stranger, I can’t imagine how bad she will feel for Kara. I predict this is foreshadowing to how much Leigh will fall apart and how much she will want to help her daughter.
Theme
I think an emerging theme is coping with your feelings. So far everyone in the book has dealt with their emotions differently. Kara has pulled back and been depressed, Leigh has showed her emotions, and written letters to those she feel was hurt, Justin, hasn’t even mentioned it, and lastly Gary, has not said much, except about the trials.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Outside Reading-Week 5, Post B
The Glass Castle By Jeannette Walls
This week I finished the book. Overall I was happy with the ending because Jeannette had seemed to find her place and was happy for the first time, which was what she was striving for since she was a child. Most of this section was about Lori and Jeannette either in New York or working towards getting there. As Lori moved, Jeannette followed then Brian, next Maureen, and finally the parents. I think that Jeannette was disappointed they came, because New York was her dream and chance to get away from her old life. Though she attempts to ignore her parents, I think she feels she needs to take care of them when they become homeless. When they do, she ends up helping them and tells her mom “‘You can’t just live like this,’’ I said. ‘Why not?’ Mom said ‘Being homeless is an adventure.”’(pg 255). I also believe that Jeannette’s mom wants help because she is always coming over, but won’t admit it, and tries to hide her feelings.
Eventually Jeannette marries a man named John who has gone through similar things that Jeannette has. I think that her first husband, Erick was too ‘normal’ for Jeannette. Maybe she felt she couldn’t relate to him, and that she was just forgetting about her entire past. Since Jeannette did not have Lori living with her no longer, she probably felt she couldn’t talk about all the bad things in her life, until she met John.
I would recommend this book to anyone. This book makes you really amazed that all theses events could happen to one person and just how hard they worked to get out of it.
This week I finished the book. Overall I was happy with the ending because Jeannette had seemed to find her place and was happy for the first time, which was what she was striving for since she was a child. Most of this section was about Lori and Jeannette either in New York or working towards getting there. As Lori moved, Jeannette followed then Brian, next Maureen, and finally the parents. I think that Jeannette was disappointed they came, because New York was her dream and chance to get away from her old life. Though she attempts to ignore her parents, I think she feels she needs to take care of them when they become homeless. When they do, she ends up helping them and tells her mom “‘You can’t just live like this,’’ I said. ‘Why not?’ Mom said ‘Being homeless is an adventure.”’(pg 255). I also believe that Jeannette’s mom wants help because she is always coming over, but won’t admit it, and tries to hide her feelings.
Eventually Jeannette marries a man named John who has gone through similar things that Jeannette has. I think that her first husband, Erick was too ‘normal’ for Jeannette. Maybe she felt she couldn’t relate to him, and that she was just forgetting about her entire past. Since Jeannette did not have Lori living with her no longer, she probably felt she couldn’t talk about all the bad things in her life, until she met John.
I would recommend this book to anyone. This book makes you really amazed that all theses events could happen to one person and just how hard they worked to get out of it.
Outside Reading-Week 5, Post A
Vocab
Chipper (287): a machine that grinds up logs, tree trunks, discarded Christmas trees, etc., into wood chips.
Spires (245): A structure or formation, such as a steeple, that tapers to a point at the top.
Appeals
1.) “Mom and dad survived the winter, but every time I saw them, they looked a little worse for the wear”(pg 260). This is an emotional appeal because when you read it, you think about the difference between what surviving means to them and what it means to you. Surviving each day was a lot harder for them that it is for most normal people. Also the ‘but’ shows that even though they are surviving, they are having a harder and harder time.
2.) “‘But you always loved your old man, didn’t you?’ ‘I did, Dad,’ I said ‘And you loved me.’” (pg2 279). This is an emotional appeal because Jeannette is sad her dad is dying, and reminds herself that her dad always loved her even if he wasn’t always doing the best things for her. It is especially sad because she has not always realized this, and has not always been as nice to him ad as she maybe should have.
3.) “He’d been sober longer than any time since the Phoenix detox.”(pg 262). This emotional appeal makes you feel really happy for Jeannette because she can enjoy her dad now, and happy for her dad because he is sober. It is also a logical appeal, because it is a fact.
Quote
“She held up her Glass. ‘Life with your father was never boring.’”(pg 288). This quote is on the last page of the book and is when Jeannette’s mom is making a toast to Jeannette’s dad, who is dead. I think this shows that even though got them into a lot of trouble and wasn’t always home, but he was always there for them. He always loved them, and tried to take care of them, even if they we obscure ways. Though the toast can be taken as a joke, I believe it is also very true.
Theme
I think that an overall theme of the book has been to not take things for granted even though they may seem bad or unimportant; you might miss it in the future. This is true of the way Jeannette feels about her father, her family life, and her home.
Chipper (287): a machine that grinds up logs, tree trunks, discarded Christmas trees, etc., into wood chips.
Spires (245): A structure or formation, such as a steeple, that tapers to a point at the top.
Appeals
1.) “Mom and dad survived the winter, but every time I saw them, they looked a little worse for the wear”(pg 260). This is an emotional appeal because when you read it, you think about the difference between what surviving means to them and what it means to you. Surviving each day was a lot harder for them that it is for most normal people. Also the ‘but’ shows that even though they are surviving, they are having a harder and harder time.
2.) “‘But you always loved your old man, didn’t you?’ ‘I did, Dad,’ I said ‘And you loved me.’” (pg2 279). This is an emotional appeal because Jeannette is sad her dad is dying, and reminds herself that her dad always loved her even if he wasn’t always doing the best things for her. It is especially sad because she has not always realized this, and has not always been as nice to him ad as she maybe should have.
3.) “He’d been sober longer than any time since the Phoenix detox.”(pg 262). This emotional appeal makes you feel really happy for Jeannette because she can enjoy her dad now, and happy for her dad because he is sober. It is also a logical appeal, because it is a fact.
Quote
“She held up her Glass. ‘Life with your father was never boring.’”(pg 288). This quote is on the last page of the book and is when Jeannette’s mom is making a toast to Jeannette’s dad, who is dead. I think this shows that even though got them into a lot of trouble and wasn’t always home, but he was always there for them. He always loved them, and tried to take care of them, even if they we obscure ways. Though the toast can be taken as a joke, I believe it is also very true.
Theme
I think that an overall theme of the book has been to not take things for granted even though they may seem bad or unimportant; you might miss it in the future. This is true of the way Jeannette feels about her father, her family life, and her home.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Outside Reading- Week 4, Post B
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The section of the book I read this week was really good. I mostly read about the family’s life in Welch and their continuous hardships. In this section Jeannette becomes more independent, especially when her mother goes to renew her degree and is gone for months in the summer. Because her dad is gone most of the time, she is left as head of the household.
I was especially interested about when the child welfare man came. If I was her I would tell him the truth and want him to help me. I think Jeannette was just too scared about what would happen to her siblings. Throughout her childhood Jeannette has always relied on her siblings and is very close to them, I don’t know what she would do without them. Also I think she feels she needs to protect them, like she says “At times I felt like I was failing Maureen, like I wasn’t keeping the promise I’d made to her when I held her on the way home from the hospital after she’d been born.”(pg 206). Another reason I think that she told the child welfare man to go away was because she was scared of what her parents would do to her.
Though I felt bad for Jeannette because so much bad was happening to her, I was also very excited because Jeannette started writing on the newspaper, which I think gave her more confidence and made her at least a little happier as her life basically fell apart. This also is foreshadowing to her writing career and how good she became at writing with little education, “Miss Bivens told me that as far she could remember, I was the only seventh-grader who’d ever worked for the Wave.” (pg 203).
I think that this book is really good and I am looking forward to what will happen next.
The section of the book I read this week was really good. I mostly read about the family’s life in Welch and their continuous hardships. In this section Jeannette becomes more independent, especially when her mother goes to renew her degree and is gone for months in the summer. Because her dad is gone most of the time, she is left as head of the household.
I was especially interested about when the child welfare man came. If I was her I would tell him the truth and want him to help me. I think Jeannette was just too scared about what would happen to her siblings. Throughout her childhood Jeannette has always relied on her siblings and is very close to them, I don’t know what she would do without them. Also I think she feels she needs to protect them, like she says “At times I felt like I was failing Maureen, like I wasn’t keeping the promise I’d made to her when I held her on the way home from the hospital after she’d been born.”(pg 206). Another reason I think that she told the child welfare man to go away was because she was scared of what her parents would do to her.
Though I felt bad for Jeannette because so much bad was happening to her, I was also very excited because Jeannette started writing on the newspaper, which I think gave her more confidence and made her at least a little happier as her life basically fell apart. This also is foreshadowing to her writing career and how good she became at writing with little education, “Miss Bivens told me that as far she could remember, I was the only seventh-grader who’d ever worked for the Wave.” (pg 203).
I think that this book is really good and I am looking forward to what will happen next.
Outside Reading-Week 4, Post A
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Vocab
Berth (204): The distance maintained between a vessel and the shore, another vessel, or any object.
Pokeweed (172): A tall herb, Phytolacca americana, of North America, having juicy purple berries and a purple root used in medicine, and young edible shoots resembling asparagus.
Appeals
1. “The flames had scorched her thighs” (179). This is an emotional appeal because “scorched” is a loaded word. It makes you feel Lori’s pain and know just how horrible the burns were. It doesn’t just say burned, it says scorched emphasizing that it was probably a third degree burn.
2. “So even though she had a steady job, we were pretty much living like we had before.” (198) This is an emotional appeal because you feel anger towards the mom as she wonder what she could possibly be spending money on while her kids are nearly freezing and starving to death.
3. “I had never hated anyone more than I hated the child welfare man” (194). This is an emotional appeal because it really makes you think about why Jeannette would hate someone so much after they just wanted to help her. It shows how much she loves her parents, no matter how much they have hurt her. Hate is such a strong word; you think she would hate her parents, and all the people who have assaulted or hurt her.
Quote
“‘A caryatid wouldn’t be strong enough for Dad’
‘What’s that?’
‘Pillars shaped like women,’ Lori said. ‘The ones holding up those Greek temples with their heads. I was looking at picture of some the other day, thinking, Those women have the second toughest job in the world.’” (pg 208)
When I read this quote, I really liked it. It made me think about if that was the second toughest job, what is the first? I think this is Lori’s way of describing how tough her mom’s job is. I think that this is saying that her mom has the first hardest job, which is taking care of dad, the town alcoholic, while trying to keep a job and take care of her kids. Though I do agree that this would be an extremely hard job, and I may not be able to do it, I think that she is doing a horrible job. I believe that she is barely even trying. Lastly even though she is doing a bad job at this, her kids still love her and believe in her which is important too.
Theme
I think that a theme in the book is to take pride in what you have, and not be discouraged by what you don’t. Jeannette is not brought down by her shabby house, and even tries to fix it by cleaning and painting. Also Jeannette and Brian stand up to the kids bullying them about how wrecked up their house is.
Vocab
Berth (204): The distance maintained between a vessel and the shore, another vessel, or any object.
Pokeweed (172): A tall herb, Phytolacca americana, of North America, having juicy purple berries and a purple root used in medicine, and young edible shoots resembling asparagus.
Appeals
1. “The flames had scorched her thighs” (179). This is an emotional appeal because “scorched” is a loaded word. It makes you feel Lori’s pain and know just how horrible the burns were. It doesn’t just say burned, it says scorched emphasizing that it was probably a third degree burn.
2. “So even though she had a steady job, we were pretty much living like we had before.” (198) This is an emotional appeal because you feel anger towards the mom as she wonder what she could possibly be spending money on while her kids are nearly freezing and starving to death.
3. “I had never hated anyone more than I hated the child welfare man” (194). This is an emotional appeal because it really makes you think about why Jeannette would hate someone so much after they just wanted to help her. It shows how much she loves her parents, no matter how much they have hurt her. Hate is such a strong word; you think she would hate her parents, and all the people who have assaulted or hurt her.
Quote
“‘A caryatid wouldn’t be strong enough for Dad’
‘What’s that?’
‘Pillars shaped like women,’ Lori said. ‘The ones holding up those Greek temples with their heads. I was looking at picture of some the other day, thinking, Those women have the second toughest job in the world.’” (pg 208)
When I read this quote, I really liked it. It made me think about if that was the second toughest job, what is the first? I think this is Lori’s way of describing how tough her mom’s job is. I think that this is saying that her mom has the first hardest job, which is taking care of dad, the town alcoholic, while trying to keep a job and take care of her kids. Though I do agree that this would be an extremely hard job, and I may not be able to do it, I think that she is doing a horrible job. I believe that she is barely even trying. Lastly even though she is doing a bad job at this, her kids still love her and believe in her which is important too.
Theme
I think that a theme in the book is to take pride in what you have, and not be discouraged by what you don’t. Jeannette is not brought down by her shabby house, and even tries to fix it by cleaning and painting. Also Jeannette and Brian stand up to the kids bullying them about how wrecked up their house is.
Monday, October 15, 2007
400 Blows Film Review
Annabel
Mrs. Burgess
Enriched English 10
15 October 2007
Francois Truffaut’s The 400 Blows told the story of a young boy growing up in hardship. But this memoir was more about mental and emotional struggles than physical challenges. Overall, I thought the film was good. It gave a descriptive perspective through someone else’s eyes on how the protagonist, Antoine, was feeling. This memoir was effective in portraying all of Antoine’s emotions, whether misery, or a sense of adventure. Literary aspects, dramatic aspects, and cinematic aspects were used throughout the film to direct the viewer’s understanding of the film, the characters, and how they were feeling.
Mrs. Burgess
Enriched English 10
15 October 2007
The 400 Blows Movie Review
Francois Truffaut’s The 400 Blows told the story of a young boy growing up in hardship. But this memoir was more about mental and emotional struggles than physical challenges. Overall, I thought the film was good. It gave a descriptive perspective through someone else’s eyes on how the protagonist, Antoine, was feeling. This memoir was effective in portraying all of Antoine’s emotions, whether misery, or a sense of adventure. Literary aspects, dramatic aspects, and cinematic aspects were used throughout the film to direct the viewer’s understanding of the film, the characters, and how they were feeling.
In the film, literary aspects such as plot, setting, characters, and thought provoking themes helped develop the film. The plot began with a young, adventurous boy, Antoine living in the city of Paris with his unappreciative mother and a strict step father. After being passed on from family to family, Antoine began to not recognize his parents’ and teachers’ authority over him. As Antoine got into trouble, he ran away several times and this eventually led up to him being sent to an observation center from which he also fled. The film ended abruptly as he reached the ocean. As the plot unfolded, the characters began to also. Settings were consistent throughout the film, including the apartment, school, and the observatory. The settings reflected the mood of the characters. For example, when Antoine rushed into the ocean, there was a sense of freedom and happiness, because Antoine earlier in the movie had wished he could go to the ocean. Lastly, there were a lot of themes in the film. One theme was that friends can bring a lot of joy and good things to you, but also can bring many bad things, too. This is shown when Rene gave Antoine wine, which Antoine liked, but eventually it could hurt him. This is also true when Rene helps him steal the typewriter, with the hope that they can sell it for getting money. But when they can’t sell the typewriter, they bring it back, and are caught for stealing it. Antoine is sent to an observation center for his crime, but Rene is not, even though it was partly Rene’s fault. These literary aspects are elements films like this one share with novels, while dramatic aspects are shared with live drama such as plays. This movie used dramatic aspects as effectively as it used literary aspects.
Some important dramatic aspects of the film included the specific actors, the costumes and the make-up. For costumes Antoine and his step-father seemed to have old ragged clothes, while Antoine’s mother seemed to have expensive nice clothing. I think this represents that she feels she is superior to them and that she only cares about herself. Three of the important actors in the film were Antoine, played by Jean-Pierre Leaud, the Mother, Gilberte Doinel, played by Claire Maurier, and the step-father, Julian Doinel, played by Albert Remy. I thought that the actor chosen for Antoine was right because he played the part well by portraying a shy, but mischievous young boy. Antoine’s shyness was demonstrated by the actor because he never made direct contact with the camera until the end. The actor actually seemed camera shy. Also, Antoine showed little facial emotion, though he had several reasons to be sad, happy or mad. While this could be a flaw in the acting ability of the actor, it might also be strength, as it showed Antoine’s introverted personality. Second, the mother was a very uncaring, mean person, but unexpectedly “changes” in the middle of the film. The actor did a good job of conveying that she is attempting to be nice to Antoine, but also was not genuine about it. Lastly, the step father was portrayed as a wavering character that seemed to be strict about the rules of the household, but also was willing to give into Antoine and his mother’s pleas, even if it was against the rules. The film used these dramatic aspects to show the inner thinking of the characters in a way that was similar to what you would expect from a live play. But the cinematic aspects, which apply only in film, really worked.
Throughout the film, the photography, duration of the shots, and sound were similar. The photography consisted of long shots, with one angle, rarely switching. This looked natural, because when people look at the world around them, they do it that way. When the camera did switch, it switched between people talking, which I thought was appropriate because it helped the viewer be focused on that person. However, it would also have been interesting to see how the listening character was reacting to the speaker. Also, the focus was on Antoine, with most of the shots being on him. This helps identify him as the protagonist, and tells the viewer this is his story. A very important scene involving photography was the one where all the boys were running from the group. This was a bird’s eye view shot and was important because it showed you all the action, and told you that the boys were reacting in the same way at that moment. In this scene is music, basically the same music played throughout the film. In the story, the music seemed to show freedom and happiness, which the boys obviously are as they ran off.
Running away is one way to deal with problems, and Antoine dealt with his problems by running off, forgetting about all his worries. In the book Black Boy, the author and main character Richard Wright also ran away from his problems by quitting his job, which is similar to what Antoine did. Also, both of the boys resulted to stealing: Richard stole money and food, while Antoine stole his dad’s typewriter and book. Comparing the two, it seems like Richard had better reasons for stealing than Antoine, because Richard stole to survive, while Antoine had a home to return to, he just chose not to. However, unlike Antoine, Richard didn’t always run away, he also fought and showed his feelings. Richard was more open and showed his feelings like when he fought the boys at school when they made fun of his hat. He stood up to other kids and told them off when he felt he needed to. In contrast, Antoine tried to avoid the confrontation by running away or ignoring issues, like when he never talked to his parents.
Overall I would recommend this film. I was interested in the action and plots and now realize that the use of the different elements of film like literary aspects, dramatic aspects, and cinematic aspects helped to develop the story and its characters and kept me interested. The different elements were effective in convincing me that this was realistic, and it was weird to think that this actually happened to someone; that this was truly how Antoine responded to all these negative things that happened to him. Many people may not like this movie because it was black and white, and an old film. But I thought that it was cool to see how they filmed back then, and how even without the use of color the meanings and story could be told by using the different aspects and elements of film.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Outside Reading- Week 3, Post B
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
A lot has happened in the chapters I read this week. I still really liking the book, and I am always surprised at what happened, but at the same time suspecting it all along, because her life is so screwed up. Jeannette is always making an attempt at making their life better, but it never really works. Jeannette tells us “After Dad collapsed, I would try to pick up the place, but Mom always made me stop. She’d been reading books on how to cope with an alcoholic […]” (pg 112). Like it says, her mom is also trying to help, but her help just gets them in deeper trouble. For example she wants to steal dresses for Maureen, Jeannette’s sister. Though this may be to better Maureen, it teaches her children a bad lesson, and they get caught, which causes them to have to pay more money, making them have less for food.
After all else fails the family decides to go to Welch, the small town where Jeannette’s parents live. Jeannette expects a warm, cozy house and nice, loving grandparents, but she gets the exact opposite. While her home life is bad enough, Jeannette has a horrible tome at school. There, kids bully her, and she is put in a class for people with learning disabilities and speech impediments because the teachers couldn’t understand her accent. Finally after suffering through harsh school days, a black girl befriends Jeannette, which Erma, Jeannette’s grandma, disapproves of. This part of the memoir kind of mad me think of Black Boy because it shows a maybe more recent, white persons perspective on those ideas.
Overall I really look forward to reading more and seeing how they end up, especially if they leave her grandparent’s house. I think that Jeannette’s mom will kick her dad out because of his drinking problem, which continues to waste their money. Though it may be better at first, I think they will still struggle.
A lot has happened in the chapters I read this week. I still really liking the book, and I am always surprised at what happened, but at the same time suspecting it all along, because her life is so screwed up. Jeannette is always making an attempt at making their life better, but it never really works. Jeannette tells us “After Dad collapsed, I would try to pick up the place, but Mom always made me stop. She’d been reading books on how to cope with an alcoholic […]” (pg 112). Like it says, her mom is also trying to help, but her help just gets them in deeper trouble. For example she wants to steal dresses for Maureen, Jeannette’s sister. Though this may be to better Maureen, it teaches her children a bad lesson, and they get caught, which causes them to have to pay more money, making them have less for food.
After all else fails the family decides to go to Welch, the small town where Jeannette’s parents live. Jeannette expects a warm, cozy house and nice, loving grandparents, but she gets the exact opposite. While her home life is bad enough, Jeannette has a horrible tome at school. There, kids bully her, and she is put in a class for people with learning disabilities and speech impediments because the teachers couldn’t understand her accent. Finally after suffering through harsh school days, a black girl befriends Jeannette, which Erma, Jeannette’s grandma, disapproves of. This part of the memoir kind of mad me think of Black Boy because it shows a maybe more recent, white persons perspective on those ideas.
Overall I really look forward to reading more and seeing how they end up, especially if they leave her grandparent’s house. I think that Jeannette’s mom will kick her dad out because of his drinking problem, which continues to waste their money. Though it may be better at first, I think they will still struggle.
Outside Reading - Week 3, Post A
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Vocab
Hedonsim (105): ethics, the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good in life. Some hedonists, such as the Epicureans, have insisted that pleasure of the entire mind, not just pleasure of the senses, is this highest good.
Mongrel (141): An animal or a plant resulting from various interbreedings, especially a dog of mixed or undetermined breed.
Appeals
1.) “‘It’s almost eighty miles,’ Lori said. ‘That’s right,’ Dad said. If we covered three miles an hour for eight hours a day, we could make it in three days.”(pg 120) This is both a logical and emotional appeal. It is logical because it shows the exact math of how long it will take them to get home. It is a fact. It is an emotional appeal because you agonize with Lori knowing how hard it will be.
2.) “Once the fire was out and the sodden burned down tree lay smoldering on the floor we all just stood there.”(pg 115) I think this is an emotional appeal because it makes you wonder how the family will react, what the dad will say/do and it really makes you feel bad for them as you imagine what it would be like to have that happen to you on Christmas. You even feel worse for them than you would for yourself because this was their first real Christmas.
3.) “Erma pulled a bottle of whiskey from the pocket of her housedress, and Dad looked happy for the first time since we’d left Phoenix.”(pg131) This is an emotional appeal because it makes you think about the word “happy” in the sentence. This shows that everyone is happy from different things, and obviously, Jeannette’s dad feels happy only when he’s drinking. It makes you feel bad for Jeannette as she notices that not even she can make her dad happy.
Quote
“I knew Dad wasn’t talking about buying me some extravagant present, like a pony or a dollhouse. He was asking what he could do, now that I was almost grown up, to make my last years as a kid everything I hoped they’d be. There was only one thing I truly wanted, something that I knew would change all our lives, but I was afraid to ask for it. Just thinking about saying the words out loud made me nervous […] ‘Do you think you could maybe stop drinking?’”(pg 116) This quote is important because it really shows how much of a burden Jeannette’s dad’s drinking really is. It also shows how Jeannette cares for herself and her family. She would rather make her family’s life better, than get a cool toy. It is clear that her dad needs to change.
Theme
I think that accepting new people and ideas has been a theme so far in the book. Jeannette must, and does accept her unkind and inhospitable grandparents, her new home, and the new kids that terrorize her at school. On the other hand, one girl Dinitia begins to accept Jeannette even thought her friends don’t.
Vocab
Hedonsim (105): ethics, the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good in life. Some hedonists, such as the Epicureans, have insisted that pleasure of the entire mind, not just pleasure of the senses, is this highest good.
Mongrel (141): An animal or a plant resulting from various interbreedings, especially a dog of mixed or undetermined breed.
Appeals
1.) “‘It’s almost eighty miles,’ Lori said. ‘That’s right,’ Dad said. If we covered three miles an hour for eight hours a day, we could make it in three days.”(pg 120) This is both a logical and emotional appeal. It is logical because it shows the exact math of how long it will take them to get home. It is a fact. It is an emotional appeal because you agonize with Lori knowing how hard it will be.
2.) “Once the fire was out and the sodden burned down tree lay smoldering on the floor we all just stood there.”(pg 115) I think this is an emotional appeal because it makes you wonder how the family will react, what the dad will say/do and it really makes you feel bad for them as you imagine what it would be like to have that happen to you on Christmas. You even feel worse for them than you would for yourself because this was their first real Christmas.
3.) “Erma pulled a bottle of whiskey from the pocket of her housedress, and Dad looked happy for the first time since we’d left Phoenix.”(pg131) This is an emotional appeal because it makes you think about the word “happy” in the sentence. This shows that everyone is happy from different things, and obviously, Jeannette’s dad feels happy only when he’s drinking. It makes you feel bad for Jeannette as she notices that not even she can make her dad happy.
Quote
“I knew Dad wasn’t talking about buying me some extravagant present, like a pony or a dollhouse. He was asking what he could do, now that I was almost grown up, to make my last years as a kid everything I hoped they’d be. There was only one thing I truly wanted, something that I knew would change all our lives, but I was afraid to ask for it. Just thinking about saying the words out loud made me nervous […] ‘Do you think you could maybe stop drinking?’”(pg 116) This quote is important because it really shows how much of a burden Jeannette’s dad’s drinking really is. It also shows how Jeannette cares for herself and her family. She would rather make her family’s life better, than get a cool toy. It is clear that her dad needs to change.
Theme
I think that accepting new people and ideas has been a theme so far in the book. Jeannette must, and does accept her unkind and inhospitable grandparents, her new home, and the new kids that terrorize her at school. On the other hand, one girl Dinitia begins to accept Jeannette even thought her friends don’t.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Outside Reading-Week 2, Post B
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Dear Jeannette,
I love your book The Glass Castle. I have really gotten into it and really felt connected to you. Your book is so descriptive; it makes me feel as if I am sitting in the corner watching everything happen to you.
I could not imagine living your life. Though you may have had a few high points like when you lived in Phoenix, the most of your life do far seemed pretty miserable. I think your parents were to blame. Your mother spent all her money buying art supplies instead of food, and all her time painting instead of taking care of you. Your father was always off drinking and gambling wasting your money. I think that their carelessness made you more independent. They began to depend more on you than you depended on them. You had to help your mom, a grown women keep her job “Miss Beatty threatened to fire mom, so Lori, Brian and I started helping Mom with her school work”(pg 74). I think that is ridiculous.
A lot of the events in your life seem to be repetitive; you or your parents get in some sort of trouble, and then you leave. Some places you go seemed to be better than before and others worse. It seemed as though you really loved your parents and were naïve of what harm they are truly doing to you and your siblings. I think that a lot of these horrible events have made you stronger, but have also slowly weakened you physicall(no food) and mentally(what is right and what is wrong). I hope that in the next parts of the book you life begins to improve.
-AQA
Dear Jeannette,
I love your book The Glass Castle. I have really gotten into it and really felt connected to you. Your book is so descriptive; it makes me feel as if I am sitting in the corner watching everything happen to you.
I could not imagine living your life. Though you may have had a few high points like when you lived in Phoenix, the most of your life do far seemed pretty miserable. I think your parents were to blame. Your mother spent all her money buying art supplies instead of food, and all her time painting instead of taking care of you. Your father was always off drinking and gambling wasting your money. I think that their carelessness made you more independent. They began to depend more on you than you depended on them. You had to help your mom, a grown women keep her job “Miss Beatty threatened to fire mom, so Lori, Brian and I started helping Mom with her school work”(pg 74). I think that is ridiculous.
A lot of the events in your life seem to be repetitive; you or your parents get in some sort of trouble, and then you leave. Some places you go seemed to be better than before and others worse. It seemed as though you really loved your parents and were naïve of what harm they are truly doing to you and your siblings. I think that a lot of these horrible events have made you stronger, but have also slowly weakened you physicall(no food) and mentally(what is right and what is wrong). I hope that in the next parts of the book you life begins to improve.
-AQA
Monday, October 1, 2007
Outside Reading- Week 2, Post A
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Vocab
Oleander [bush] (94): A poisonous Eurasian evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) having fragrant white, rose, or purple flowers, whorled leaves, and long follicles containing numerous comose seeds. Also called rosebay.
Obsidian: Acid or granitic glass formed by the rapid cooling of lava without crystallization; usually dark, but transparent in thin pieces
Appeals
1.)“‘Dad lost his job.’ […] ‘I guess we can eat less,’ I said. ‘We have before,’ Lori said.”(pg. 67). This is an emotional appeal because it shows how much they are used to having to suffer from their parents’ mistakes. It shows Jeannette and Lori’s pain. I think that “before” is a loaded word in this sentence because is describes that they have starved themselves before for their family’s sake. It makes you think about how it would be to be starving for not once, but many times before.
2.)Hunger (69) Jeannette talks with her mom about how she was hungry and there was nothing left in the fridge, but margarine, and so she ate it. She will do anything to lessen her hunger. Jeannette trys to make a point not only to he careless mother, but to us as readers “Raising my voice, I added, ‘I was hungry.’” (pg. 69). This is an emotional appeal.
3.)“Then Mom’s feet appeared in the window, followed by the rest of her body. She was dangling from the second floor […] ‘Help!’ Mom screamed. ‘He’s trying to kill me!’”(pg.71). This is an emotional appeal because it engages the reader, and makes them wonder and worry about what will happen.
Quote
“Were you acting up?” I asked Lori when I heard about the whipping
“No,” Lori said
“Then why would mom paddle you?”
“She had to punish someone, and she didn’t want to upset the other kids,” Lori said” (pg 75)
I think this quote shows how Lori and Jeannette’s mom cares more about how others think of than how well her kids are being treated. I think that the mother is very insensitive and couldn’t care less about her children. All she spends time doing is her art. She is clueless about where her children are during the day and if they are hungry or not. If Lori is in pain it didn’t matter as long as she was pleasing others (she was trying to please the principal by proving she could punish someone).
Theme
I think that a theme so far is uncertainty. Jeannette, and the rest of the family is always uncertain about where they will live, if they will have enough food, and if their lives will continue on as they are or if they will soon change. Also the children in the family are uncertain about how they will be treated, if their parents will have jobs, and if they will go to school. Uncertainty has lead to their good life with lots of food and new things, but has also lead to a miserable life of always running from something, and always hungry.
Vocab
Oleander [bush] (94): A poisonous Eurasian evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) having fragrant white, rose, or purple flowers, whorled leaves, and long follicles containing numerous comose seeds. Also called rosebay.
Obsidian: Acid or granitic glass formed by the rapid cooling of lava without crystallization; usually dark, but transparent in thin pieces
Appeals
1.)“‘Dad lost his job.’ […] ‘I guess we can eat less,’ I said. ‘We have before,’ Lori said.”(pg. 67). This is an emotional appeal because it shows how much they are used to having to suffer from their parents’ mistakes. It shows Jeannette and Lori’s pain. I think that “before” is a loaded word in this sentence because is describes that they have starved themselves before for their family’s sake. It makes you think about how it would be to be starving for not once, but many times before.
2.)Hunger (69) Jeannette talks with her mom about how she was hungry and there was nothing left in the fridge, but margarine, and so she ate it. She will do anything to lessen her hunger. Jeannette trys to make a point not only to he careless mother, but to us as readers “Raising my voice, I added, ‘I was hungry.’” (pg. 69). This is an emotional appeal.
3.)“Then Mom’s feet appeared in the window, followed by the rest of her body. She was dangling from the second floor […] ‘Help!’ Mom screamed. ‘He’s trying to kill me!’”(pg.71). This is an emotional appeal because it engages the reader, and makes them wonder and worry about what will happen.
Quote
“Were you acting up?” I asked Lori when I heard about the whipping
“No,” Lori said
“Then why would mom paddle you?”
“She had to punish someone, and she didn’t want to upset the other kids,” Lori said” (pg 75)
I think this quote shows how Lori and Jeannette’s mom cares more about how others think of than how well her kids are being treated. I think that the mother is very insensitive and couldn’t care less about her children. All she spends time doing is her art. She is clueless about where her children are during the day and if they are hungry or not. If Lori is in pain it didn’t matter as long as she was pleasing others (she was trying to please the principal by proving she could punish someone).
Theme
I think that a theme so far is uncertainty. Jeannette, and the rest of the family is always uncertain about where they will live, if they will have enough food, and if their lives will continue on as they are or if they will soon change. Also the children in the family are uncertain about how they will be treated, if their parents will have jobs, and if they will go to school. Uncertainty has lead to their good life with lots of food and new things, but has also lead to a miserable life of always running from something, and always hungry.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Outside Reading- Week 1, Post A
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Vocab
Gypsum (39): A widespread colorless, white, or yellowish mineral, CaSO4·2H2O, used in the manufacture of plaster of Paris, various plaster products, and fertilizers.
Electrolysis [treatment] (5): Removing superfluous or unwanted hair by passing an electric current through the hair root.
Appeals
1. “We counted eleven places we had lived, then we lost track. We couldn’t remember the names of some of the towns or what the houses we had lived in looked like. Mostly, I remembered the inside of cars.” (pg. 29). Jeannette talks with her sister about how they have always been moving. This is an emotional appeal because it makes you think about how you would feel if you never had a true home. She truly couldn’t remember how her houses looked like because all she ever did was sit in the car. She describes this so that we really get a feel of how it was to live like that, and we know it’s true.
2. “The nurses brought me delicious meals 3 times a day[…]”(pg11). In the story she uses the words “3 times a day”, and “delicious” to describe the food and how they treated her at the hospital. This is an emotional appeal. Most people really do not like hospital food, and to describe it as delicious would probably mean she wasn’t fed very well. Also to be very happy and surprised that she got them 3 times a day is very strange. Obviously, her parents aren’t taking very good care of her.
3. “Two months after we moved to Bythe, when Mom said she was twelve months pregnant, she at last gave birth” (pg. 46). This is a logical appeal because Jeanette is stating the fact that after they moved there, her mother had a baby.
Quote
“A few days after mom and dad brought me home, I cooked myself some hot dogs. I was hungry, mom was at work on a painting, and no one else was there to fix them for me.” (pg 15). I think this quote is significant because it shows how little her parents do for her. Making hot dogs by herself was the reason she got burned in the first place. Why would you want to risk you child’s life again. I think this also foreshadows that Jeannette will be alone and doing things for herself for most of her life.
Theme
I think a theme so far is to enjoy everything you have, even if you have no material belongings. Jeanette loves her father and her siblings. She also loves the star that her dad “gave” her for Christmas. It is not something she can hold in her hands, but something she can hold in her heart.
Vocab
Gypsum (39): A widespread colorless, white, or yellowish mineral, CaSO4·2H2O, used in the manufacture of plaster of Paris, various plaster products, and fertilizers.
Electrolysis [treatment] (5): Removing superfluous or unwanted hair by passing an electric current through the hair root.
Appeals
1. “We counted eleven places we had lived, then we lost track. We couldn’t remember the names of some of the towns or what the houses we had lived in looked like. Mostly, I remembered the inside of cars.” (pg. 29). Jeannette talks with her sister about how they have always been moving. This is an emotional appeal because it makes you think about how you would feel if you never had a true home. She truly couldn’t remember how her houses looked like because all she ever did was sit in the car. She describes this so that we really get a feel of how it was to live like that, and we know it’s true.
2. “The nurses brought me delicious meals 3 times a day[…]”(pg11). In the story she uses the words “3 times a day”, and “delicious” to describe the food and how they treated her at the hospital. This is an emotional appeal. Most people really do not like hospital food, and to describe it as delicious would probably mean she wasn’t fed very well. Also to be very happy and surprised that she got them 3 times a day is very strange. Obviously, her parents aren’t taking very good care of her.
3. “Two months after we moved to Bythe, when Mom said she was twelve months pregnant, she at last gave birth” (pg. 46). This is a logical appeal because Jeanette is stating the fact that after they moved there, her mother had a baby.
Quote
“A few days after mom and dad brought me home, I cooked myself some hot dogs. I was hungry, mom was at work on a painting, and no one else was there to fix them for me.” (pg 15). I think this quote is significant because it shows how little her parents do for her. Making hot dogs by herself was the reason she got burned in the first place. Why would you want to risk you child’s life again. I think this also foreshadows that Jeannette will be alone and doing things for herself for most of her life.
Theme
I think a theme so far is to enjoy everything you have, even if you have no material belongings. Jeanette loves her father and her siblings. She also loves the star that her dad “gave” her for Christmas. It is not something she can hold in her hands, but something she can hold in her heart.
Outside Reading -Week 1, Post B
It has been really hard to put the book down. I really like how the chapters are short, two to five pages. This makes me want to learn more about the event and makes me want to read the next chapter.
So far my book has been very good. In the beginning it foreshadows to the end of the book, and talks about Jeanette’s mother and father who are homeless and without the ability to by food for themselves. This does not surprise me after reading more, as the whole family is basically homeless, or constantly moving around, sometimes not in a house at all. I could not believe what I was reading at some parts of the book. The things that happen to Jeanette are outrageous, like when she is set on fire while making lunch for herself when she was three. Her parents seem to really love her, especially her dad, but they don’t necessarily care about her or what happens to her. They don’t care about their physical safety and well being. For example Jeanette is talking about her mom and says “She taught us that you could wash yourself up pretty clean with just a cup of water. She said it was good for you to drink unpurified water, even ditch water, as long as animals were drinking from it.”(pg. 21). I think that the mom has showed a lot of distaste towards her kids and her husband, and may leave them.
I am looking forward to reading more. I think that the book will become more depressing than it already is, but will still be good. Right now I feel really bad for Jeanette. I can not relate at all to her story, and I can’t imagine what it would be like to live like that. I think Jeanette is Lucky to have siblings that can support her, and that is who I would depend on and go to if I was in her situation.
So far my book has been very good. In the beginning it foreshadows to the end of the book, and talks about Jeanette’s mother and father who are homeless and without the ability to by food for themselves. This does not surprise me after reading more, as the whole family is basically homeless, or constantly moving around, sometimes not in a house at all. I could not believe what I was reading at some parts of the book. The things that happen to Jeanette are outrageous, like when she is set on fire while making lunch for herself when she was three. Her parents seem to really love her, especially her dad, but they don’t necessarily care about her or what happens to her. They don’t care about their physical safety and well being. For example Jeanette is talking about her mom and says “She taught us that you could wash yourself up pretty clean with just a cup of water. She said it was good for you to drink unpurified water, even ditch water, as long as animals were drinking from it.”(pg. 21). I think that the mom has showed a lot of distaste towards her kids and her husband, and may leave them.
I am looking forward to reading more. I think that the book will become more depressing than it already is, but will still be good. Right now I feel really bad for Jeanette. I can not relate at all to her story, and I can’t imagine what it would be like to live like that. I think Jeanette is Lucky to have siblings that can support her, and that is who I would depend on and go to if I was in her situation.
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