1. Oskar was finally able to accept his father's death. The whole time he thought he was searching for a piece of his father and all along he didn't realize that a piece of his father was apart of him. With realizing that his father was always apart of him, he was able to finally express how he felt about his father's death and get some closure.
2. Thomas Schell discovered that he needed family and his family needed him. He talked about the reasons of why he stayed away and did not realize how it would effect everyone, especially his son. He lost a son and in essence, he gained one in return. Thomas discovered that he had a second chance to be a father, to be needed, and to love again.
3. Fast food is a big part of my life because I feed myself. There are times where I would like to stop eating fast food because i know it isn't the healthiest choice, but it's what I can afford./
4. After reading Fast Food Nation, fast food still has a big impact on my life. There are a lot of interesting facts especially how they incorporate synergy in their marketing. For example, the book explained how McDonald's locations have playgrounds that attract children customers that will ultimately bring their parents. It's kind of like the spiral effect, once you start it jus continues on a vicious cycle for generations. Even though this book sheds some light on the McDonald's operation, I won't be able to change my eating habits until I
Friday, February 27, 2009
...and Fast Food Nation
1. I believe that after Oskar's search with Mr. Black and his conversations with Abby and William Black, he realized how he has been as a son to his father and mother. He is a very loving son to his father and has been quite cold with his relationship with his mother. He reflected on these and felt guilty about doubting his mother's love for him which is why he tried to make it up to his mother by saying things like, "It's okay for you to fall in love again." He learned that he had to change and when his Stuff That Happened to Me was already full, he told himself that maybe he does not need to start a new volume.
2. Thomas Schell discovered what has become of Oskar. He followed Oskar as Oskar tried to search for the lock and to learn more about his father. This reminded Thomas of what his son did the same when he left; his son searched and tried to learn more about him as well. I think it was a sad discovery for Thomas Schell because in the novel he asked, "Why can't people say what they mean at the time?". It seems to him that people have to be lost so that others will look for them and try to show them how they care.
3. As a young child, I love going to fast food restaurants. To me, it means kiddie parties, collectible toys, and playgrounds. As a high school student, (back in the Philippines) fast foods played a different role for me. My friends and I bonded over fast food. My sisters, dad, and I usually eat at a fast food restaurant on weekends. When I moved to the U.S., I had to get a job, go to school, and pretty much manage my time. I had tons of duties and responsibilities. I never had the time to go out to eat. I just grab whatever's in the fridge. Since 2008, I have probably eaten fast food for only five times or so.
4. After reading Fast Food Nation, I learned that there is more to fast food than inexpensive meals with free collectibles available almost everywhere. The fast food industry is a product of synergy - that of Ray Kroc, Walt Disney, and the people who worked for and with them. The fast food industry is a picture of success but with this success is a number of problems. One of which is how this industry advertises and markets their products to children, most especially in schools. I am not really bothered by this fact because I believe that consumers contirbute to these problems but it cannot be denied that if these products, fast food and sodas, were not available and accessible to children, they wouldn't be tempted to buy.
2. Thomas Schell discovered what has become of Oskar. He followed Oskar as Oskar tried to search for the lock and to learn more about his father. This reminded Thomas of what his son did the same when he left; his son searched and tried to learn more about him as well. I think it was a sad discovery for Thomas Schell because in the novel he asked, "Why can't people say what they mean at the time?". It seems to him that people have to be lost so that others will look for them and try to show them how they care.
3. As a young child, I love going to fast food restaurants. To me, it means kiddie parties, collectible toys, and playgrounds. As a high school student, (back in the Philippines) fast foods played a different role for me. My friends and I bonded over fast food. My sisters, dad, and I usually eat at a fast food restaurant on weekends. When I moved to the U.S., I had to get a job, go to school, and pretty much manage my time. I had tons of duties and responsibilities. I never had the time to go out to eat. I just grab whatever's in the fridge. Since 2008, I have probably eaten fast food for only five times or so.
4. After reading Fast Food Nation, I learned that there is more to fast food than inexpensive meals with free collectibles available almost everywhere. The fast food industry is a product of synergy - that of Ray Kroc, Walt Disney, and the people who worked for and with them. The fast food industry is a picture of success but with this success is a number of problems. One of which is how this industry advertises and markets their products to children, most especially in schools. I am not really bothered by this fact because I believe that consumers contirbute to these problems but it cannot be denied that if these products, fast food and sodas, were not available and accessible to children, they wouldn't be tempted to buy.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
oops
I forgot to use the word synergy in my response to question four so this is my second attempt:
4) Now that I have read the introduction and first two chapters of Fast Food Nation I have a much different perspective on fast food effect on my life. Fast Food has shaped my daily environment, my education, and our government. Everywhere I go I am not far from a Fast Food restaurant of some sort. Throughout my education Fast Food chains have attempted to influence me in through advertising and selling me their products in my schools. Last but not least fast food has lobbied for changes in our laws and used their profits to make the marketplace much more suitable for their corporate agenda. Fast Food has left a mark so large that it can't be measured. Multinational companies like the Mcdonald's Corporation have synergistically combined efforts on several different fronts to make their products part of the everyday life of the average american. It is nearly everywhere and will continue to be for a long time to come.
4) Now that I have read the introduction and first two chapters of Fast Food Nation I have a much different perspective on fast food effect on my life. Fast Food has shaped my daily environment, my education, and our government. Everywhere I go I am not far from a Fast Food restaurant of some sort. Throughout my education Fast Food chains have attempted to influence me in through advertising and selling me their products in my schools. Last but not least fast food has lobbied for changes in our laws and used their profits to make the marketplace much more suitable for their corporate agenda. Fast Food has left a mark so large that it can't be measured. Multinational companies like the Mcdonald's Corporation have synergistically combined efforts on several different fronts to make their products part of the everyday life of the average american. It is nearly everywhere and will continue to be for a long time to come.
ELIC/FFN
1) Oskar's sense of self is enhanced because he eventually when he returns to Mr. Blacks apartment and sees how he was documented as "Oskar Schell: Son". I believe that when Oskar sees that his efforts were recognized by someone who he admired and respected that his spirits are lifted.
2) Thomas Schell discovers many things about the life that he left behind when he abandoned his wife and child. He finds out what kind of person his son was, what type of childhood he had, and the sacrifices his wife made to raise him in his absence. He also gets to experience life with his grandson Oskar first hand. He also learns about his grandsons love for his father.
3) Prior to reading the introduction and first chapters of Fast Food Nation I felt that Fast Foods Largest impact on me was in the people around me. Although I do not indulge in the products offered by fast food chains most Americans do on a very regular basis. This has lead to numerous amounts of health problems which undoubtedly have had an adverse affect on our society as a whole. Also another way that it effects our society on a large scale would be in the business world. Although I have never worked for a Fast Food chain or supplier it most certainly has a profound effect on our national economy.
4) Now that I have read the introduction and first two chapters of Fast Food Nation I have a much different perspective on fast food effect on my life. Fast Food has shaped my daily environment, my education, and our government. Everywhere I go I am not far from a Fast Food restaurant of some sort. Throughout my education Fast Food chains have attempted to influence me in through advertising and selling me their products in my schools. Last but not least fast food has lobbied for changes in our laws and used their profits to make the marketplace much more suitable for their corporate agenda. Fast Food has left a mark so large that it can't be measured. It is nearly everywhere and will continue to be for a long time to come.
2) Thomas Schell discovers many things about the life that he left behind when he abandoned his wife and child. He finds out what kind of person his son was, what type of childhood he had, and the sacrifices his wife made to raise him in his absence. He also gets to experience life with his grandson Oskar first hand. He also learns about his grandsons love for his father.
3) Prior to reading the introduction and first chapters of Fast Food Nation I felt that Fast Foods Largest impact on me was in the people around me. Although I do not indulge in the products offered by fast food chains most Americans do on a very regular basis. This has lead to numerous amounts of health problems which undoubtedly have had an adverse affect on our society as a whole. Also another way that it effects our society on a large scale would be in the business world. Although I have never worked for a Fast Food chain or supplier it most certainly has a profound effect on our national economy.
4) Now that I have read the introduction and first two chapters of Fast Food Nation I have a much different perspective on fast food effect on my life. Fast Food has shaped my daily environment, my education, and our government. Everywhere I go I am not far from a Fast Food restaurant of some sort. Throughout my education Fast Food chains have attempted to influence me in through advertising and selling me their products in my schools. Last but not least fast food has lobbied for changes in our laws and used their profits to make the marketplace much more suitable for their corporate agenda. Fast Food has left a mark so large that it can't be measured. It is nearly everywhere and will continue to be for a long time to come.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Home work
1) Petty Officer Third Class Nathan Brukenthal- Hero
General David Petraeus- role model
Alex Rodriguez- Lier
Barack Obama- leader
Michael Phelps- athlete
2)The picture of the door knob/lock was the strongest metaphor in my opinion. A lock is a barrier that separates people from things. Oskar and the other characters are separated from things that they want through barriers in life. In Oskar's case he is separated from his father by the natural barrier of death. The lock is symbolic of what keeps them apart.
A metaphor is a figure of speech where one word is used to represent something that it is not. For example Fifty Cent claims to have chosen this name because "its a metaphor for change". Fifty Cent uses a name that usually represents coined money(pocket change) to mean change in the sense of transformation or conversion.
General David Petraeus- role model
Alex Rodriguez- Lier
Barack Obama- leader
Michael Phelps- athlete
2)The picture of the door knob/lock was the strongest metaphor in my opinion. A lock is a barrier that separates people from things. Oskar and the other characters are separated from things that they want through barriers in life. In Oskar's case he is separated from his father by the natural barrier of death. The lock is symbolic of what keeps them apart.
A metaphor is a figure of speech where one word is used to represent something that it is not. For example Fifty Cent claims to have chosen this name because "its a metaphor for change". Fifty Cent uses a name that usually represents coined money(pocket change) to mean change in the sense of transformation or conversion.
Monday, February 23, 2009
1.
Hillary Clinton-war
President Barack Obama-hope
Arnold Schwarzenegger-goovenator
Judge Mark Ciaverella-corrupt
Sean Penn-Milk
Dr. Sanjay Gupta-news doctor
Al Gore-nobel prize
2.
The hand is a shadow of life long lost. When my eyes are closed the skinny bones begin to wrap with sinews and tendons. The hand comes to life and reaches out longing for the mind which once controlled it.
A metaphor is way for an author to bring life to a lifeless object. The author can personify the object and create and image for his reader that adjectives and adverbs cannot.
Hillary Clinton-war
President Barack Obama-hope
Arnold Schwarzenegger-goovenator
Judge Mark Ciaverella-corrupt
Sean Penn-Milk
Dr. Sanjay Gupta-news doctor
Al Gore-nobel prize
2.
The hand is a shadow of life long lost. When my eyes are closed the skinny bones begin to wrap with sinews and tendons. The hand comes to life and reaches out longing for the mind which once controlled it.
A metaphor is way for an author to bring life to a lifeless object. The author can personify the object and create and image for his reader that adjectives and adverbs cannot.
Metaphor blog
biographical index
Barack Obama- historic
Honsi Mubarak-President
Michael Dresser - annoyed "EZ"
Ray Lewis- Dallas
Martin O'Malley- Cuts
Melvin Mora- emotional
Metaphor
Metaphor: A metaphor is a comparison between two different objects. These objects are usually un-related but are represented by a way that somehow links them togather.
The picture that I found was a good metaphor was the picture of Oskar's cut "buckwiser" falling. I fouind this to be a metaphor for Oskar himself, and his search for self. It shows how there is a long way for him to go, and he will be able to "land on his feet" at the end. This shows that oskar feels that even though he is taking risks on his journey for the lock, he will be succesful when he finally lands on the ground.
Barack Obama- historic
Honsi Mubarak-President
Michael Dresser - annoyed "EZ"
Ray Lewis- Dallas
Martin O'Malley- Cuts
Melvin Mora- emotional
Metaphor
Metaphor: A metaphor is a comparison between two different objects. These objects are usually un-related but are represented by a way that somehow links them togather.
The picture that I found was a good metaphor was the picture of Oskar's cut "buckwiser" falling. I fouind this to be a metaphor for Oskar himself, and his search for self. It shows how there is a long way for him to go, and he will be able to "land on his feet" at the end. This shows that oskar feels that even though he is taking risks on his journey for the lock, he will be succesful when he finally lands on the ground.
Bio Index / Metaphor
Heath Ledger : Sacrifice
Hamid Karzai : War
Ingmar Guandique : Murder
Charla Nash : Unlucky
William Jackson : Spy
--
A metaphor is the application of one image or word to an idea that is not literally applicable. "She tripped over the memory like a shoe in the dark", for example, is a metaphor. The subject didn't actually trip over anything, but the imagery is similar and assists in illustrating the mood and context of the idea. The image of the roller coaster on p148 can be applied as a metaphor for Oskar's mood swings. In the text, he wonders if the steep hill of the coaster feels like falling, and though he doesn't come out and say so, it's clear he's thinking about the falling people on the tower, wondering if his father was one of them. This may explain why his very next thought is of his Dad's instructions in physics.
Hamid Karzai : War
Ingmar Guandique : Murder
Charla Nash : Unlucky
William Jackson : Spy
--
A metaphor is the application of one image or word to an idea that is not literally applicable. "She tripped over the memory like a shoe in the dark", for example, is a metaphor. The subject didn't actually trip over anything, but the imagery is similar and assists in illustrating the mood and context of the idea. The image of the roller coaster on p148 can be applied as a metaphor for Oskar's mood swings. In the text, he wonders if the steep hill of the coaster feels like falling, and though he doesn't come out and say so, it's clear he's thinking about the falling people on the tower, wondering if his father was one of them. This may explain why his very next thought is of his Dad's instructions in physics.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
February 22
Biographical Index:
Robert Caret: Education, Towson University President
Brandon Synder: Sports, Baseball
Penelope Cruz: Entertainment, Actress
Dr. Mojtaba Gashti: Health, Chief Vascular Surgeon @ Union Memorial
Eileen Ambrose: Business, Money
Allan H. Kittleman: Politics, Republican Senate
Barack Obama: Politics, President
Julia Roberts: Entertainment, Actress
A metaphor is a comparison between two unlike objects or events. The picture that I chose is of the man falling on page 205. This picture shows how Oskar's father died on 9/11 and I think that this picture also relates to how Oskar truly feels about his father's death. This picture compares the depth of Oskar's feelings to the distance of the man falling. The farther the man falls, the deeper Oskar's feelings grow towards the death of his father. Oskar has never really had a chance to talk about how he feels about his father's death until now and I find it quite odd that his own mother didn't bother to ask him about it sooner. All along Oskar is feeling neglect from his mother and a mixture of things from the death of his father, and he has not had the chance to properly cope with his feelings until now. The one thing I wonder about is what happens to Oskar when he hits rock bottom? We obviously know that the man falling in the picture dies when he reaches the ground, will the same thing be true for Oskar's attempts of having a normal childhood? Is he going to be admitted into a mental institution or is he going to grow up with obvious symptoms of a mental disorder that go unnoticed?
Robert Caret: Education, Towson University President
Brandon Synder: Sports, Baseball
Penelope Cruz: Entertainment, Actress
Dr. Mojtaba Gashti: Health, Chief Vascular Surgeon @ Union Memorial
Eileen Ambrose: Business, Money
Allan H. Kittleman: Politics, Republican Senate
Barack Obama: Politics, President
Julia Roberts: Entertainment, Actress
A metaphor is a comparison between two unlike objects or events. The picture that I chose is of the man falling on page 205. This picture shows how Oskar's father died on 9/11 and I think that this picture also relates to how Oskar truly feels about his father's death. This picture compares the depth of Oskar's feelings to the distance of the man falling. The farther the man falls, the deeper Oskar's feelings grow towards the death of his father. Oskar has never really had a chance to talk about how he feels about his father's death until now and I find it quite odd that his own mother didn't bother to ask him about it sooner. All along Oskar is feeling neglect from his mother and a mixture of things from the death of his father, and he has not had the chance to properly cope with his feelings until now. The one thing I wonder about is what happens to Oskar when he hits rock bottom? We obviously know that the man falling in the picture dies when he reaches the ground, will the same thing be true for Oskar's attempts of having a normal childhood? Is he going to be admitted into a mental institution or is he going to grow up with obvious symptoms of a mental disorder that go unnoticed?
2-22-09
Baltimore Sun (2-22-09)
Obama- Leader
Saddam Hussein- Dictator
Mike Whitmarsh- Olympian
Don Rodricks-Pessimist
Rick Kranitz- Baseball
Andres Alonso- Academian
Metaphor- a colorful image portrayed through a relationship with a generally unrelated object.
A metaphor that is commonly referred back to throughout the entire novel is that of "heavy boots." This phrase becomes such a static part of the story you tend not to notice it after the first section of reading however it is constantly brought back up. It refers to the "heavy" feeling one might obtain when an important or burdensome event occurs.
Obama- Leader
Saddam Hussein- Dictator
Mike Whitmarsh- Olympian
Don Rodricks-Pessimist
Rick Kranitz- Baseball
Andres Alonso- Academian
Metaphor- a colorful image portrayed through a relationship with a generally unrelated object.
A metaphor that is commonly referred back to throughout the entire novel is that of "heavy boots." This phrase becomes such a static part of the story you tend not to notice it after the first section of reading however it is constantly brought back up. It refers to the "heavy" feeling one might obtain when an important or burdensome event occurs.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close to 261
1. Biographical Index:
Julie Zingeser- phones
Tyler Perry- money
Tiger Woods- money
Nadya Suleman- children
R. Allen Stanford- money
2. The picture of the falling cat on page 191 is a person jumping from the World Trade Center on 9/11. Oskar talks about how cats can save themselves from terminal velocity, and that coupled with the reoccuring image of the jumper makes me believe that he admires that ability of the cats.
A metaphor is an indirect comparison of two things in order to describe something.
Julie Zingeser- phones
Tyler Perry- money
Tiger Woods- money
Nadya Suleman- children
R. Allen Stanford- money
2. The picture of the falling cat on page 191 is a person jumping from the World Trade Center on 9/11. Oskar talks about how cats can save themselves from terminal velocity, and that coupled with the reoccuring image of the jumper makes me believe that he admires that ability of the cats.
A metaphor is an indirect comparison of two things in order to describe something.
ELIC blog 2
1.
Ted Kennedy: Sick
Floyd Landis: Cheat
Christian Bale: Angry
Oprah Winfrey: Loud
Peer Portnar: Deceased
2. Metaphor- a description that uses, a statement about about an unrelated object, to describe another object with similar characteristics. On page 191, Oskar, has a picture of his cat, Buckminster, jumping through the air. To me this seems like a huge metaphor. I think Oskar feels like even though he is taking risks by doing a lot of the things he is doing, he will land on his feet. I also feel like the picture represents the way Oskar feels, free falling, trying to adjust for when he hits the ground. The picture is a great metaphor for how Oskar feels in his search for information about his father.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close pp 108-216
1) Biographical Index
Binyam Mohamed: Detainee
Charlie Crist: Governor
Anthony Casso: Mobster
Hiroko Takigasaki: Housewife
Meg Whitman: eBay
Charles McCreery: Scientist
David R. Holmes: Doctor
Kevin Broadus: Coach
Omar Hassan al-Bashir: Genocide
Jane Fonda: Actress
Elizabeth Royte: Author
Amy Winehouse: Singer
2) Metaphor: A figure of speech; using one thing to represent another, unrelated, thing.
There are pictures of doorknobs on pages 115, 134, and 212; each one is in a section of the text that has been written by Oskar's grandfather. I believe that these doorknobs represent the mistakes that Oskar's grandfather has made since the bombing of Dresden, especially those that are connected to family, and thus, in his mind, to his memories of Anna, who would have been Oskar's great-aunt. On page 211, Oskar's grandfather describes the aftermath of the first bombing of Dresden, and mentions that he “...grabbed the doorknob and it took the skin off my hand, I saw the muscles of my palm, red and pulsing, why did I grab it with my other hand?” I believe that thereafter, doorknobs came to represent mistakes that he had made, and in particular, mistakes that in retrospect made no logical sense.
Binyam Mohamed: Detainee
Charlie Crist: Governor
Anthony Casso: Mobster
Hiroko Takigasaki: Housewife
Meg Whitman: eBay
Charles McCreery: Scientist
David R. Holmes: Doctor
Kevin Broadus: Coach
Omar Hassan al-Bashir: Genocide
Jane Fonda: Actress
Elizabeth Royte: Author
Amy Winehouse: Singer
2) Metaphor: A figure of speech; using one thing to represent another, unrelated, thing.
There are pictures of doorknobs on pages 115, 134, and 212; each one is in a section of the text that has been written by Oskar's grandfather. I believe that these doorknobs represent the mistakes that Oskar's grandfather has made since the bombing of Dresden, especially those that are connected to family, and thus, in his mind, to his memories of Anna, who would have been Oskar's great-aunt. On page 211, Oskar's grandfather describes the aftermath of the first bombing of Dresden, and mentions that he “...grabbed the doorknob and it took the skin off my hand, I saw the muscles of my palm, red and pulsing, why did I grab it with my other hand?” I believe that thereafter, doorknobs came to represent mistakes that he had made, and in particular, mistakes that in retrospect made no logical sense.
Extremely Loud Responses up to 261
1.The Baltimore Sun 2.22.2009
Samuel Burrow Jr. - money
Greivis Vasquez - upset
Mark Jones- skiing
Fernand Leger- art
Robert Caret - growth
2. The image that spans from pg. 187 to 189 of the interview with the mother of a Hiroshima victim can be viewed as a powerful metaphor and example of the love from a parent Oskar covets so much. Perhaps this is the only way Oskar knows how to show his feelings about the topic, so he presents the interview to his class in this much more subtle fashion.
A metaphor is a comparision or analytic measure between two objects or concepts used to give a specific trait, characterize, personify, or distinguish a particular point or create a specific idea. Generally, the more vivid the metaphor, the more distinct and strong it is, although a simple metaphor can be just as effective in getting the point across.
Samuel Burrow Jr. - money
Greivis Vasquez - upset
Mark Jones- skiing
Fernand Leger- art
Robert Caret - growth
2. The image that spans from pg. 187 to 189 of the interview with the mother of a Hiroshima victim can be viewed as a powerful metaphor and example of the love from a parent Oskar covets so much. Perhaps this is the only way Oskar knows how to show his feelings about the topic, so he presents the interview to his class in this much more subtle fashion.
A metaphor is a comparision or analytic measure between two objects or concepts used to give a specific trait, characterize, personify, or distinguish a particular point or create a specific idea. Generally, the more vivid the metaphor, the more distinct and strong it is, although a simple metaphor can be just as effective in getting the point across.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2)
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX (from The Baltimore Sun 02.21.2009)
J. Max Bond, Jr: architect
Chris Brown: crime
Stefan Gegala: leather
Andrew Patrick Griffin: emanciated
Osama bin Laden: war
Lena Lee: saver
Martin O'Malley: money
Brian Roberts: baseball
Mary Rosemond: diary
Frank Roylance: weather
p. 253
The sky is a pot's lid, covering the boiling ingredients.
The lake is a bottomless pool of tears.
The buildings are weeds crowded on a piece of land, hungry for nutrients.
The city lights are millions of stars brightening the darkness.
Two spotlights are eyes looking up to the heavens, weak and confused.
The people are cells which are so small they cannot be seen but are very vital.
A metaphor is a figure of speech wherein objects (or any nouns) are compared based on their characteristics - like or unlike - but the use of the words "is like", "seems like", "may be compared to" etc. are not used. The objects are directly compared to each other.
J. Max Bond, Jr: architect
Chris Brown: crime
Stefan Gegala: leather
Andrew Patrick Griffin: emanciated
Osama bin Laden: war
Lena Lee: saver
Martin O'Malley: money
Brian Roberts: baseball
Mary Rosemond: diary
Frank Roylance: weather
p. 253
The sky is a pot's lid, covering the boiling ingredients.
The lake is a bottomless pool of tears.
The buildings are weeds crowded on a piece of land, hungry for nutrients.
The city lights are millions of stars brightening the darkness.
Two spotlights are eyes looking up to the heavens, weak and confused.
The people are cells which are so small they cannot be seen but are very vital.
A metaphor is a figure of speech wherein objects (or any nouns) are compared based on their characteristics - like or unlike - but the use of the words "is like", "seems like", "may be compared to" etc. are not used. The objects are directly compared to each other.
-261 reading
1. From: The Dundalk Eagle
a)Mike Herman- Bull.
b)Milton Holmes- Airman.
c)Raymond Notaro- 62.
d)James Bowling- Cancer.
e)Micquante Green- Basketball.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
February 17~ Advertising to children
Dr. Ameena Batada came to CCBC today and she talked about some of the effects of advertising on children. The thing that interested me the most was how the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is trying to get fast food restaurants to incorporate the amount of calories in the foods on the menus. She also mentioned how the fast food franchises tried to argue that it would confuse customers if they put the calorie amounts on the menus. Ironically, Subway has the calorie amounts displayed on their menus and there has not been a complaint or misunderstanding so far. Dr. Batada also mentioned that the CSPI is trying to get the healthier products of fast food places as a default meal. So for example, if you go to Mickey D’s and order a Happy Meal, but don’t specify if you want fries, they will ultimately give you the apple dippers. Also, the CSPI is trying to get the healthier products advertised more to children, so they can see the alternative to the popular items. Apparently, down in Disneyworld they advertise the healthier meal and in fine print they say, ‘fries and soda are available upon request.’ I believe over 70% of the families that ordered that meal did not substitute for fries and soda. So if we can make enough noise about this issue, we could potentially be on the right track of achieving some reform on advertising and obesity in America.
My final thought on the this issue is if we make the franchises display the calorie counts on their menus, then we some how need to get people informed on what calorie intake means. I can't help but to think about all those people who don't know how much calories they can assume in a day or why trans fat and saturated fat is so bad for you. Although these the steps that have been taken are leading us to a healthier nation, we may have to consider people's personal responsibilty. Is knowing how much calories your eating really going to get people to eat healthier? I do support the fact that people need to know calorie amounts just as much as they need to know the ingredients because we as a nation have that right to know; but I can't help but wonder if we are fighting another senseless battle. If people aren't informed about what is good and bad for them, then I feel that all this ruckus will be made for nothing.
My final thought on the this issue is if we make the franchises display the calorie counts on their menus, then we some how need to get people informed on what calorie intake means. I can't help but to think about all those people who don't know how much calories they can assume in a day or why trans fat and saturated fat is so bad for you. Although these the steps that have been taken are leading us to a healthier nation, we may have to consider people's personal responsibilty. Is knowing how much calories your eating really going to get people to eat healthier? I do support the fact that people need to know calorie amounts just as much as they need to know the ingredients because we as a nation have that right to know; but I can't help but wonder if we are fighting another senseless battle. If people aren't informed about what is good and bad for them, then I feel that all this ruckus will be made for nothing.
Monday, February 16, 2009
February 16
1. 1st person, Oskar Schell, I have to read the passage as if I'm in Oskar's shoes
2. A kid that is trying to find out what his father's key opens and he is trying to cope with his father's death
3. The image that stood out to me was the crying elephant on page 95. It adds the emotion of what both Oskar and Abby are feeling. Oskar is sad because his Dad died. I think Abby is sad because her marriage is falling apart.
2. A kid that is trying to find out what his father's key opens and he is trying to cope with his father's death
3. The image that stood out to me was the crying elephant on page 95. It adds the emotion of what both Oskar and Abby are feeling. Oskar is sad because his Dad died. I think Abby is sad because her marriage is falling apart.
Extremely Loud
The novel is told from three different points of view, all in first person. Oskar tells the story as it takes place and his grandmother and grandfather tell their stories that have taken place before he was born. I enjoy the change in perspective because the telling of the grandparents' stories makes Oskar's story more meaningful. The switch of perspectives is a bit distracting, but eventually I find that it becomes something that you look forward to as you read, and something that you are able to get used to.
Oskar Schell is an extremely gifted and eccentric nine year old who lost his father on September 11th. He almost seems an impossible character-one who is able to understand not only difficult intellectual concepts, but difficult emotional ones. He is searching New York City to find the lock which his key will open (a mysterious key he found in his father's closet in an envelope lableled "Black"). He ultimately believes that finding out the meaning of this key will help him to find out more about his father's death. I think he is also searching for a reason to hold on to his father's death-something he doesn't want to let go of-and searching in people for a reason why bad things happen to good people. He seems to have an obsession with everything in the world that makes people sad or hurt, and he carries that weight around.
I don't believe that a blank page is an image, but this is my absolute favorite part of the book where Foer uses an interesting method to illustrate the story. When Oskar's grandfather is telling us about how he begins to read his wife's life story he says he picks up the pages but "this is all I saw" and then we turn the pages only to see blank ones. I think the fact that we are expecting at least something, one word, one picture, one letter, but we see nothing is incrediblely moving. And then the grandfather wants to cry but he can't, he wants to be drowned in the room with "two thousand white pages." We can see the nothingness and emptiness the grandmother feels, even though she meant to write something, but couldn't see that she wasn't.
Oskar Schell is an extremely gifted and eccentric nine year old who lost his father on September 11th. He almost seems an impossible character-one who is able to understand not only difficult intellectual concepts, but difficult emotional ones. He is searching New York City to find the lock which his key will open (a mysterious key he found in his father's closet in an envelope lableled "Black"). He ultimately believes that finding out the meaning of this key will help him to find out more about his father's death. I think he is also searching for a reason to hold on to his father's death-something he doesn't want to let go of-and searching in people for a reason why bad things happen to good people. He seems to have an obsession with everything in the world that makes people sad or hurt, and he carries that weight around.
I don't believe that a blank page is an image, but this is my absolute favorite part of the book where Foer uses an interesting method to illustrate the story. When Oskar's grandfather is telling us about how he begins to read his wife's life story he says he picks up the pages but "this is all I saw" and then we turn the pages only to see blank ones. I think the fact that we are expecting at least something, one word, one picture, one letter, but we see nothing is incrediblely moving. And then the grandfather wants to cry but he can't, he wants to be drowned in the room with "two thousand white pages." We can see the nothingness and emptiness the grandmother feels, even though she meant to write something, but couldn't see that she wasn't.
1-107 blog
This series of short stories is told from the point of view of a few different people. One is Oskar Schell a young elementary school boy from New York City. One chapter is told from the point of view of his grandfather. Another chapter is told from his grandmother point of view. Each character is telling a story from a different perspective however they all seem to have a common theme. They are all looking for something that they believe can be found in other people. This affects my reading because it shows that although we are all different and may be going through a different problem we are sometimes looking for the same thing.
Oskar is an elementary school aged boy, who recently lost his father in the terrorist attacks on the world trade center. In reality Oskar is searching for a lock. He found a key in his house in an envelope labeled black. He plans to go all over New York (searching for people who’s last name is black) until he finds what the key opens. Metaphorically he seems to be searching for something to replace the empty void that has overwhelmingly taken over his life in his father’s absence. He also seems to be searching for some closure to his fathers life. He can’t understand why his father a person who he loved dearly died in such a violent and tragic death.
The image that adds the most to the narrative for me are the images of the people falling to their death while jumping out of the world trade center. Although you can’t see the free falling people very closely you can see that the photographs were spontaneously captured by a television camera. You can also see the force of the wind blowing through their clothes as they plummet to their death. For me it is a reminder of the situations extremity. I can’t imagine giving up on life to the point where I would jump out of a building. For somebody like Oskar Schell these images must conjure up many more feelings. To know that someone he loved that much had to suffer through that attack must be very difficult.
Oskar is an elementary school aged boy, who recently lost his father in the terrorist attacks on the world trade center. In reality Oskar is searching for a lock. He found a key in his house in an envelope labeled black. He plans to go all over New York (searching for people who’s last name is black) until he finds what the key opens. Metaphorically he seems to be searching for something to replace the empty void that has overwhelmingly taken over his life in his father’s absence. He also seems to be searching for some closure to his fathers life. He can’t understand why his father a person who he loved dearly died in such a violent and tragic death.
The image that adds the most to the narrative for me are the images of the people falling to their death while jumping out of the world trade center. Although you can’t see the free falling people very closely you can see that the photographs were spontaneously captured by a television camera. You can also see the force of the wind blowing through their clothes as they plummet to their death. For me it is a reminder of the situations extremity. I can’t imagine giving up on life to the point where I would jump out of a building. For somebody like Oskar Schell these images must conjure up many more feelings. To know that someone he loved that much had to suffer through that attack must be very difficult.
ELIC Pg. 1-107
1) The novel is in first person point of view from the perspective of Oscar Schell a little 9 year old boy who lost his father in the attacks of 9-11. Having this little boy be the "voice" of the story really bothers me. It's like his mind can't keep track of things and he jumps from one thing to another rather quickly. The side story of his grandmother and grandfather is a small reprieve from the chaos that is Oscar.
2) Oscar is looking for a lock that he can open with a key he believes his father left him before he died. They used to have kind of treasure hunts together and his father would create elaborate things for Oscar to work through and find. He's really looking for his father. He wants his father back and he's obsessed with it. He doesn't think his mother cares about his father anymore and he doesn't think she cares about him. It's really quite sad.
3)There is an image of fingerprints on page 65. There are images for each finger with the classic black ink. and then at the bottom there's another copy of the thumbs and the fingers but how they actually look on hands. I think this picture adds to narrative because Oscar mentions that his mother had him fingerprinted but now she doesn't even care when he leaves. I think it's a particularly sad moment in the book when he talks about getting closer to his Dad but further from his mother.
2) Oscar is looking for a lock that he can open with a key he believes his father left him before he died. They used to have kind of treasure hunts together and his father would create elaborate things for Oscar to work through and find. He's really looking for his father. He wants his father back and he's obsessed with it. He doesn't think his mother cares about his father anymore and he doesn't think she cares about him. It's really quite sad.
3)There is an image of fingerprints on page 65. There are images for each finger with the classic black ink. and then at the bottom there's another copy of the thumbs and the fingers but how they actually look on hands. I think this picture adds to narrative because Oscar mentions that his mother had him fingerprinted but now she doesn't even care when he leaves. I think it's a particularly sad moment in the book when he talks about getting closer to his Dad but further from his mother.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Extreamly loud ... responces
1) Extreamly Loud and Incredibly close is written in first person from the main chariters point of view Oskar, a nine year old. When storys are written in first person persective it helps me realate to the situations and since the main chariter is a nine year old it makes me feel even more sympathy to his situation.
2) Oskar Shell is a nine year-old boy who lost his father During the tragities of 9/11. Like other people who have such a horribal thing happen to them they tend to ask themselfs, "Why?" Oskar is doing just that. On his quest for comfort Oskar breaks the blue vace in his fathers closet he finds a key that opens some thing and he is serching for the thing the key opens. Unfortunatlly it is imposable to try every lock in New York.
3) I feel as though all images are important to show the cahos that consumes his mind. On page 53 Keys are just the picture. An infanate number of them and an infanate number of boxes.
3) I feel as though all images are important to show the cahos that consumes his mind. On page 53 Keys are just the picture. An infanate number of them and an infanate number of boxes.
Extremely loud blog- Muzamil
1) This week, we read the first 107 pages of “Extremely loud and incredibly close”. This story is told in the first person point of view. The person who’s point of view that the story is told from is actually Oskar, the main character in the story. However, there are also two chapters where the story is told from his grandparents’ perspective. These chapters seem to be their life story so I think that ill be continue on in parallel with the story Oskar is going through. The way that this affects the reading is that if I can never be sure whose perspective the story is being told from. It usually takes a couple of confusing paragraphs to find out that the perspective has switched from Oskar to someone else.
2) Oskar Schell is the main character in this novel. He is a nine year old boy and seem to incredibly smart. Oskar lives with his mom and his Grandmother who he is really close to lives across the street. Oskar’s father died recently from the 9/11 attacks. Oskar was incredibly close to his father and they shared many things in common. In the story, the thing that Oscar is looking for is any connection that he can find with his dad, the name black, and the odd looking key. For this, Oskar has created a plan to talk to and ask ever person that he can find whose last name is Black and get some kind of information about the key that he found in the envelope in the blue vase on the top self. However, metaphorically we can see that there is a lot more to Oskar’s search than the key and what it opens. In fact, I believe that Oskar is looking for some kind of connection to his dad. Some way of trying to get rid of the pain and loneliness that he gets without him. And some way to not miss him as much as he does. The whole search I think is a search for what Oskar is going to do without his dad.
3) There are many pictures in the novel, some of which connect to the story while others seem almost random. One picture that stood out most in my mind was on page 49. This is the page of people who have tested pens and different colored pens and markers. I was interesting to me how there was a connection made by the store manager about how most people write a color with the same colored pen. For example as we can see on the several displays that every color that is written is written in the color that is spells. Another interesting part about this picture and how is connects to the story was how Oskar found his Dads name written on almost all the displays but the manager could not find that he had bought anything from the store.
2) Oskar Schell is the main character in this novel. He is a nine year old boy and seem to incredibly smart. Oskar lives with his mom and his Grandmother who he is really close to lives across the street. Oskar’s father died recently from the 9/11 attacks. Oskar was incredibly close to his father and they shared many things in common. In the story, the thing that Oscar is looking for is any connection that he can find with his dad, the name black, and the odd looking key. For this, Oskar has created a plan to talk to and ask ever person that he can find whose last name is Black and get some kind of information about the key that he found in the envelope in the blue vase on the top self. However, metaphorically we can see that there is a lot more to Oskar’s search than the key and what it opens. In fact, I believe that Oskar is looking for some kind of connection to his dad. Some way of trying to get rid of the pain and loneliness that he gets without him. And some way to not miss him as much as he does. The whole search I think is a search for what Oskar is going to do without his dad.
3) There are many pictures in the novel, some of which connect to the story while others seem almost random. One picture that stood out most in my mind was on page 49. This is the page of people who have tested pens and different colored pens and markers. I was interesting to me how there was a connection made by the store manager about how most people write a color with the same colored pen. For example as we can see on the several displays that every color that is written is written in the color that is spells. Another interesting part about this picture and how is connects to the story was how Oskar found his Dads name written on almost all the displays but the manager could not find that he had bought anything from the store.
1-107 in EL & IC By Hesham
1. The point of view of this novel is first person. The perspective of this story is being told through Oskar Schell, the main narrator, telling this story through his intelligent (or weird) mind. But in the midst of things, the narration changes as well to both his grandmother and grandfather. This change, although creating some confusion, has fascinated me. It is an interesting way to tell the story making it more entertaining, but almost hard to follow in the beginning.
2. Oscar Schell, other than being the main narrator, is a very intelligent 9 year old boy. His way of thinking is what sets him aside from any average kid. His mind wonders things above his age. And surprisingly knows many weird facts. Even though his intelligence is high you have the feeling that he is still learning and always on the look out for new things; thus he loves to ask questions. He has the mind of an inventor, always pondering new methods for our everyday life routines. He has the most hilarious attitude I have ever felt through a fictional character. Throughout the story Oscar is trying to find clues pertaining to the mysterious key he found in his father’s closet. He is searching for whatever it is that the keys opens curious as to what it might lead to. But I think in reality he is trying to find closure after his father’s death. He is trying to get over the grief of his father’s death by trying to solve one more hunt.
3. One of the pictures that caught my attention and affected me the most was the board in the pen shop. It was an exciting moment for me in the story when he found his fathers name on almost every board, that the picture got stuck in my head. It was a great excitement for me to the see the name as it would have been for Oscar as well. I also liked it because I learned a new fact of how hard it is to write the name of a color that is not the color pen you are using. I even tried it out a bit. So that picture made me stop and try something new; now that what I call interacting with a novel.
2. Oscar Schell, other than being the main narrator, is a very intelligent 9 year old boy. His way of thinking is what sets him aside from any average kid. His mind wonders things above his age. And surprisingly knows many weird facts. Even though his intelligence is high you have the feeling that he is still learning and always on the look out for new things; thus he loves to ask questions. He has the mind of an inventor, always pondering new methods for our everyday life routines. He has the most hilarious attitude I have ever felt through a fictional character. Throughout the story Oscar is trying to find clues pertaining to the mysterious key he found in his father’s closet. He is searching for whatever it is that the keys opens curious as to what it might lead to. But I think in reality he is trying to find closure after his father’s death. He is trying to get over the grief of his father’s death by trying to solve one more hunt.
3. One of the pictures that caught my attention and affected me the most was the board in the pen shop. It was an exciting moment for me in the story when he found his fathers name on almost every board, that the picture got stuck in my head. It was a great excitement for me to the see the name as it would have been for Oscar as well. I also liked it because I learned a new fact of how hard it is to write the name of a color that is not the color pen you are using. I even tried it out a bit. So that picture made me stop and try something new; now that what I call interacting with a novel.
1.)The point of view for the novel is that of first person. It is told through a young boy‘s, Oskar Schell, narrative. During some sections of the novel Oskar is replaced as the speaker replaced by either of his grandparents. At some points this was confusing to me as I felt the author jumped into each point of view very quickly and sometimes without explanation.
2. Who is Oskar Schell? What is he looking for (both in reality and metaphorically)?
Oskar Schell is a young boy who just recently in the past few years lost his father to the September 11 attacks. He lives with his mother and his grandmother lives next door to them. His grandmother is his best friend so to speak and Oscar is a very personable individual. Oscar is a vegan and in a way is seen as one of the times, very progressive in nature. He commonly starts deep and very often logical conversations or arguments with anyone he comes across. He is looking for answers. He wants to know more about his father and misses him greatly. He is constantly searching for a way to end the “treasure hunt” and put himself at peace but it seems such a futile and grand task.
3. Choose one of the images from the novel and explain what it adds to the narrative. Describe the image in some detail.
The image that most sticks out throughout the selected reading is that of the notepad from the art shop. How coincidental is it for Oscar to wander into a shop he feels as if his father would never have been in? The pad is colored in each of the colors of the rainbow yet contains names and starting points for stories. The pad is another step in Oscar’s quest and it allows him to feel closer to the truth he is so desperately seeking.
2. Who is Oskar Schell? What is he looking for (both in reality and metaphorically)?
Oskar Schell is a young boy who just recently in the past few years lost his father to the September 11 attacks. He lives with his mother and his grandmother lives next door to them. His grandmother is his best friend so to speak and Oscar is a very personable individual. Oscar is a vegan and in a way is seen as one of the times, very progressive in nature. He commonly starts deep and very often logical conversations or arguments with anyone he comes across. He is looking for answers. He wants to know more about his father and misses him greatly. He is constantly searching for a way to end the “treasure hunt” and put himself at peace but it seems such a futile and grand task.
3. Choose one of the images from the novel and explain what it adds to the narrative. Describe the image in some detail.
The image that most sticks out throughout the selected reading is that of the notepad from the art shop. How coincidental is it for Oscar to wander into a shop he feels as if his father would never have been in? The pad is colored in each of the colors of the rainbow yet contains names and starting points for stories. The pad is another step in Oscar’s quest and it allows him to feel closer to the truth he is so desperately seeking.
Extremely Loud, p1 - p107
We began reading "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" this week. The story is told from at least three alternating first person perspectives, though the primary voice is that of nine year old Oskar Schell, a boy who has lost his father in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11.
Because the book shifts between Oskar and his paternal grandparents to tell it's story, there is a rather jarring shift in tone and semantics when the narrator changes, in part because of the age difference between Oskar and his grandparents, and also because of their circumstances (his grandfather appears to be mute) and the as yet vagueness of their stories relative to Oskar's. Reading between each narrative at the moment feels like reading two different stories, connected only by the relation between the characters, though there is a sense that the themes of the grandparent's letters will become more relavent to Oskar's search for understanding.
Oskar literally looks for the lock that fits a key his father (maybe) left behind for him before he died, though he is truly searching for a clear and understandable reason why his father is gone.
The book employs pictures to heighten the story-- they appear almost randomly, and seem in some instances to be completely unrelated to the text, though there are patterns (multiples of items, keys, locks, and a repeating image of "The Falling Man"). The images serve as a sort of visual snapshot of Oskar's subconscious. These are the things seen and catalogued, even unknowingly, by the over-stimulated mind of this nine year old boy.
The picture of "The Falling Man", which is shown on page 59, and then close up on page 62 is a very famous photograph taken on September 11th of an unknown man who jumped from the roof of the Trade Center building to escape the fires that were consuming it. If these images ARE Oskar's thoughts, or representations of them, then it is not altogether surprising that he should keep thinking of this unknown man, not only because of his direct and obvious tie to Oskar's father's death, but because as so much is unknown and unfinished to Oskar regarding the death of his father, so too is the identity of this man.
The image itself is stark in it's simplicity- it is divided vertically, the left half a darkly textured wall, save for the middle of the frame, where the lighter teeth of the tower break the textured skin of the surrounding building. The right side of the frame is entirely empty of everything except the man, his body twisted and angled as he falls. The image is more powerful in what it lacks than in what it shows-- the elements have been reduced and halved until there are only three left. The building, what it was and what it stood for, the man, his tragic and untimely death, and the empty expanse that will soon swallow the entirety of the frame.
Because the book shifts between Oskar and his paternal grandparents to tell it's story, there is a rather jarring shift in tone and semantics when the narrator changes, in part because of the age difference between Oskar and his grandparents, and also because of their circumstances (his grandfather appears to be mute) and the as yet vagueness of their stories relative to Oskar's. Reading between each narrative at the moment feels like reading two different stories, connected only by the relation between the characters, though there is a sense that the themes of the grandparent's letters will become more relavent to Oskar's search for understanding.
Oskar literally looks for the lock that fits a key his father (maybe) left behind for him before he died, though he is truly searching for a clear and understandable reason why his father is gone.
The book employs pictures to heighten the story-- they appear almost randomly, and seem in some instances to be completely unrelated to the text, though there are patterns (multiples of items, keys, locks, and a repeating image of "The Falling Man"). The images serve as a sort of visual snapshot of Oskar's subconscious. These are the things seen and catalogued, even unknowingly, by the over-stimulated mind of this nine year old boy.
The picture of "The Falling Man", which is shown on page 59, and then close up on page 62 is a very famous photograph taken on September 11th of an unknown man who jumped from the roof of the Trade Center building to escape the fires that were consuming it. If these images ARE Oskar's thoughts, or representations of them, then it is not altogether surprising that he should keep thinking of this unknown man, not only because of his direct and obvious tie to Oskar's father's death, but because as so much is unknown and unfinished to Oskar regarding the death of his father, so too is the identity of this man.
The image itself is stark in it's simplicity- it is divided vertically, the left half a darkly textured wall, save for the middle of the frame, where the lighter teeth of the tower break the textured skin of the surrounding building. The right side of the frame is entirely empty of everything except the man, his body twisted and angled as he falls. The image is more powerful in what it lacks than in what it shows-- the elements have been reduced and halved until there are only three left. The building, what it was and what it stood for, the man, his tragic and untimely death, and the empty expanse that will soon swallow the entirety of the frame.
Extremely Loud... Blog 1
The novel is a first person narrative, told by nine year old Oskar Schnell. He is the child of a newly widowed mother. His father, who he cared for deeply and looked up to in everything, died in the attacks on the World Trade Center. The fact that a nine year old is telling the bulk of the story, except two excerpts where his grandparents speak, made the book a little bit of a tougher sell for me. I do feel genuinely sad for Oskar, because he has obviously gone through something horrible and been scarred by it. But, at the same time, the mannerisms of a socially awkward 9 year old don't really come off as endearing to me.
As I said before, Oskar Schnell is a nine year old boy who's father died on 9/11. About a year after his fathers death Oskar finds a key in his dad's room and feels the nees to find out what it is to and what it will unlock. So Oskar goes on a quest to find the lock that the key will fit into. Oskar is not only looking for a lock though, he is looking for some form of closure for his relationship with his father.
I found the picture of keys on page 53 to be especially interesting. The picture shows a wall with racks and racks of uncut keys. To me this adds a lot to the story. It shows the vastness the of the challenge that Oskar wants to take on. To me the fact that all the keys are uncut illustrates the ideas of possibilities and possibly second chances. Through out the first 107 pages it seems that not only is there a a theme involving keys but also the copying of keys. This picture while maybe the most mundane of the pictures, to me provided a deeper insight into Oskars feelings.
1. The point of view of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, thus far, is first person. It's told from Oskar's perspective, and his grandmother also has a part explaining some of her life. I think it changes how the story would be told from Oskar's mother's perspective or Stan the doorman's. Stories are changed quickly based on who is telling them. We get inside Oskar's head, so everything has his spin on it.
2. Oskar Schell is a boy who had a really close relationship with his father. His father, though, died in 9-11 unexpectedly, obviously. Oskar is looking for a piece of his father he wasn't ready to let go of. He didn't want the relationship to end, but he has to find a way for it to. He is also, more physically, searching for the lock that fits a key he found in his father's closet. He thinks it will help with him getting closer with, and having closure with his father.
3. The image on page 95 captured my attention most. The detail of the elephants rough, deeply-wrinkled skin and "tear" was a good visual to go with the conversation on the fact that elephant's don't cry, only humans do. When Oskar says it was Photoshopped, it made me go back and look really closely at the picture to decide if Oskar is full of untrue useless stuff, or if he's right. I don't know if he is or not, but it made me look twice.
pg 1-107 response chris zink
1. The point of view for the novel is first person from the perspective of Oskar and his Grandmother. This confused me at first because he transitioned to first person from a different character without any warning. I was surprised when suddenly Osker's thinking sounded very different but I was intrigued once i realized it wasn't Oskar and i think that was one of the more exciting parts about reading this particular exerpt from the book.
2. Oskar Schell is a young boy growing up in New York city coping with the loss of his father in the 9/11 tragedy. At this point in the book Oskar is looking for the lock that fits the key he found while rummaging through his father's old things. He's found the key in an envelope marked "Black" and he's proceeded to try and locate every person named "Black" so he can question them about the key. Underneath the facade of this escapade however i believe Oskar is simply looking for closure for his pain. I think by going on this scavenger hunt he feels closer to the father he lost. This is his way of coping with and remembering pain he can't let go.
3. I really liked the image of the elephant because when he described to the lady the studies done with elephant memory it was very interesting to me. I found the idea that elephants can remember long lost herd members to be quite intriguing and when i saw the photo it helped me visualize it much better. I also liked the photo of the lady facing the other way because he never directly said what pose he took a picture of when she covered her face but rather that he simply took a picture of a different pose. The photo helped fill in that blank in the story. The story would be less complete without that photo.
2. Oskar Schell is a young boy growing up in New York city coping with the loss of his father in the 9/11 tragedy. At this point in the book Oskar is looking for the lock that fits the key he found while rummaging through his father's old things. He's found the key in an envelope marked "Black" and he's proceeded to try and locate every person named "Black" so he can question them about the key. Underneath the facade of this escapade however i believe Oskar is simply looking for closure for his pain. I think by going on this scavenger hunt he feels closer to the father he lost. This is his way of coping with and remembering pain he can't let go.
3. I really liked the image of the elephant because when he described to the lady the studies done with elephant memory it was very interesting to me. I found the idea that elephants can remember long lost herd members to be quite intriguing and when i saw the photo it helped me visualize it much better. I also liked the photo of the lady facing the other way because he never directly said what pose he took a picture of when she covered her face but rather that he simply took a picture of a different pose. The photo helped fill in that blank in the story. The story would be less complete without that photo.
1-107 Extremely Loud Responses
1. The point of view of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is first person. The story is told mostly through Oskar, who also happens to be the central character of the novel. However, the point of view occasionally shifted to his grandparent's which can make the story incredibly puzzling if you were not paying attention when the story shifted. The book itself reminds me a bit of Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut and Tuesday's with Morry combined. Oskar has the ability to become "unstuck" in time, with the storyline shifting almost aimlessly from point to point in his short life by like Billy Pilgrim in SL5 and the narrorators may change as well.
2. Oskar Schell is a nine-year old kid who is the smartest person his age ever. His emotions and reactions to events are more realistic for a nine-year old. It seems his super ego is highly developed for a person his age too. In reality he is trying to find a match to the key he discovered during his final quest from his father. Further from the surface he seems to be looking for a certain closure, and he is noticing the giant void that was left in his heart after his father died.
3. I chose to concentrate on the image on pg. 53. It is a photo of a giant wall of keys, much like the one Oskar describes at Frazer's locksmith. The keys not only represent the challenge of finding the right lock for Oskar's key, but also represent how while Oskar is on the quest for the lock he is also on the quest to be loved like he was by his father, and all the keys symbolize the almost endless varieties of relationships, and how it is hard to find the lock(the void left by Oskar's dad dying) to match each unique key, which is why Oskar is finding it difficult to let other people into his life.
2. Oskar Schell is a nine-year old kid who is the smartest person his age ever. His emotions and reactions to events are more realistic for a nine-year old. It seems his super ego is highly developed for a person his age too. In reality he is trying to find a match to the key he discovered during his final quest from his father. Further from the surface he seems to be looking for a certain closure, and he is noticing the giant void that was left in his heart after his father died.
3. I chose to concentrate on the image on pg. 53. It is a photo of a giant wall of keys, much like the one Oskar describes at Frazer's locksmith. The keys not only represent the challenge of finding the right lock for Oskar's key, but also represent how while Oskar is on the quest for the lock he is also on the quest to be loved like he was by his father, and all the keys symbolize the almost endless varieties of relationships, and how it is hard to find the lock(the void left by Oskar's dad dying) to match each unique key, which is why Oskar is finding it difficult to let other people into his life.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close pp 1 - 107
This section of the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer introduces Oskar Schell, a child whose father has just died, and the rest of his family. It details how they are coping with their loss. It also has two sections, separate from the main narrative, wherein his grandfather and grandmother each speak of their past; these sections are presumably directed at Oskar. Finally, Oskar's quest to find the lock that fits a key that was in an envelope marked “Black” is detailed.
1) The novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is told from a first person point of view. There are three narrators so far: Oskar Schell, his grandmother, and his grandfather. The choice of first person p.o.v. allows the reader to better connect with the characters and their quests, problems, and emotions. I found the switch between narrators to be confusing at first, but the contrast between the younger voice of Oskar and those of his grandparents creates an interesting juxtaposition, and overall adds dimension to the narration.
2) Oskar Schell is a young boy, between the ages of 7 and 12, who lives in New York City with his mother and grandmother; his father has recently died. He is presented as being extremely intellectual, quirky, and occasionally geeky. He is one of the main narrators in the novel.
In reality, Oskar is searching for the lock that will fit a key that he found hidden in his father's closet; the key was in an envelope marked “Black.” He comes to the conclusion that “Black” is a name, and decides to interview every Black in New York City in an attempt to find a connection to the lock, the key, and his father. Contrary to common sense, he chooses to search alphabetically, instead of geographically.
Metaphorically, Oskar is searching for a connection to his dead father. The lock and the key can be seen as clues in an ongoing round of Reconnaissance Expedition, a game Oskar and his father used to play; it is possible that Oskar subconsciously believes that if he solves the puzzle, his father will come back, and his life will be returned to what it was before the attacks on 9/11.
3) On page 98 of the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a picture of a woman facing away from the viewer. Her hair is dark, possibly brown or black, and pulled into a ponytail; if loose, it would fall slightly past her shoulders. She is wearing dangly earrings, oval in shape, that reach halfway down the length of her neck. Her shirt has a darker band of color around the neck seam and down the shoulder seams, with the rest being of a lighter fabric with a random, splotchy pattern in a slightly darker color throughout. Her posture and positioning are closed, rejecting the possibility of intimacy or comfort.
Presumably, the picture is the one that Oskar takes of Abby Black, one of the numerous Blacks that he interviews in an attempt to find the lock that fits a key that he found hidden in his father's closet. In addition to providing a visual image of one of the characters spoken of in the text, this image conveys an additional force to the personality attributed to her, especially her inability to be photographed. It heightens the sense of pain and loss that is presented in the text, and emphasizes her connection to Oskar, in that she allowed him to photograph her, the fact that she is facing away notwithstanding. Finally, it reinforces the compassion that Oskar shows in not attempting to reposition her for a frontal shot, instead respecting her need to hide her face, and possibly pain, from the camera.
1) The novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is told from a first person point of view. There are three narrators so far: Oskar Schell, his grandmother, and his grandfather. The choice of first person p.o.v. allows the reader to better connect with the characters and their quests, problems, and emotions. I found the switch between narrators to be confusing at first, but the contrast between the younger voice of Oskar and those of his grandparents creates an interesting juxtaposition, and overall adds dimension to the narration.
2) Oskar Schell is a young boy, between the ages of 7 and 12, who lives in New York City with his mother and grandmother; his father has recently died. He is presented as being extremely intellectual, quirky, and occasionally geeky. He is one of the main narrators in the novel.
In reality, Oskar is searching for the lock that will fit a key that he found hidden in his father's closet; the key was in an envelope marked “Black.” He comes to the conclusion that “Black” is a name, and decides to interview every Black in New York City in an attempt to find a connection to the lock, the key, and his father. Contrary to common sense, he chooses to search alphabetically, instead of geographically.
Metaphorically, Oskar is searching for a connection to his dead father. The lock and the key can be seen as clues in an ongoing round of Reconnaissance Expedition, a game Oskar and his father used to play; it is possible that Oskar subconsciously believes that if he solves the puzzle, his father will come back, and his life will be returned to what it was before the attacks on 9/11.
3) On page 98 of the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a picture of a woman facing away from the viewer. Her hair is dark, possibly brown or black, and pulled into a ponytail; if loose, it would fall slightly past her shoulders. She is wearing dangly earrings, oval in shape, that reach halfway down the length of her neck. Her shirt has a darker band of color around the neck seam and down the shoulder seams, with the rest being of a lighter fabric with a random, splotchy pattern in a slightly darker color throughout. Her posture and positioning are closed, rejecting the possibility of intimacy or comfort.
Presumably, the picture is the one that Oskar takes of Abby Black, one of the numerous Blacks that he interviews in an attempt to find the lock that fits a key that he found hidden in his father's closet. In addition to providing a visual image of one of the characters spoken of in the text, this image conveys an additional force to the personality attributed to her, especially her inability to be photographed. It heightens the sense of pain and loss that is presented in the text, and emphasizes her connection to Oskar, in that she allowed him to photograph her, the fact that she is facing away notwithstanding. Finally, it reinforces the compassion that Oskar shows in not attempting to reposition her for a frontal shot, instead respecting her need to hide her face, and possibly pain, from the camera.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
1. For the most part, the novel was written from a first person's point of view; that of Oskar Schell. Pages 16-34, however, were also written from a first person's point of view but it appears as a letter from Oskar's grandfather and pages 75-85 are letters for Oskar. Basically, the novel was told in a young boy's perspective who is very smart, yet very innocent.
Most of the novels and/or short stories I have read are from a first person's point of view. For me, it is effective because whatever Oskar has in mind, including the lies he tell other people, I understand. I also feel that I know why he does the stuff he does. I feel that I am in his shoes; searching all over New York City as to where tha key fits because of the use of "I" and "me". It makes me feel excited and adventurous as he is.
2. Oskar Schell is a 9-year old boy whose father died in the 9/11 tragedy. Reading the novel, I came up with this image of him: An imaginative, creative, adventurous, ambitious, and curious young boy. He really loves his family, most especially his grandmother who basically raised him and his father who molded him into who he is now. He and his father used to play mind games, treasure hunts, and all sorts of activities which include looking for clues and solving puzzles. He enjoyed such stuff thus making him feel obliged to search all over New York City as to where the key he found among his father's things fits. At the same time, I think he is unconsciously searching for a part of himself that is missing; a part of him that was burried (NOT literally!) with his father.
3. Page 95 - It is a part of the photo that Oskar saw in Ms. Black's refrigerator, an enlarged photo of an elephant's left eye which seem innocent and at the same time shocked by something in front of it. The tear makes an implication that the elephant is sad. It fascinated me, the fact that (according to Oskar) only human can cry tears. Anyway, the picture magnified the facts about elephants: a) They have much, much stronger memories than other mammals, b) They cannot cry tears, and c) They gather the bones of their dead. I think, however, the reason why the author included this picture is not to fascinate the readers about "elephant facts" but to make the readers think how living creatures all have feelings, beliefs, and thoughts and how some animals could be as smart or even smarter than human beings.
Most of the novels and/or short stories I have read are from a first person's point of view. For me, it is effective because whatever Oskar has in mind, including the lies he tell other people, I understand. I also feel that I know why he does the stuff he does. I feel that I am in his shoes; searching all over New York City as to where tha key fits because of the use of "I" and "me". It makes me feel excited and adventurous as he is.
2. Oskar Schell is a 9-year old boy whose father died in the 9/11 tragedy. Reading the novel, I came up with this image of him: An imaginative, creative, adventurous, ambitious, and curious young boy. He really loves his family, most especially his grandmother who basically raised him and his father who molded him into who he is now. He and his father used to play mind games, treasure hunts, and all sorts of activities which include looking for clues and solving puzzles. He enjoyed such stuff thus making him feel obliged to search all over New York City as to where the key he found among his father's things fits. At the same time, I think he is unconsciously searching for a part of himself that is missing; a part of him that was burried (NOT literally!) with his father.
3. Page 95 - It is a part of the photo that Oskar saw in Ms. Black's refrigerator, an enlarged photo of an elephant's left eye which seem innocent and at the same time shocked by something in front of it. The tear makes an implication that the elephant is sad. It fascinated me, the fact that (according to Oskar) only human can cry tears. Anyway, the picture magnified the facts about elephants: a) They have much, much stronger memories than other mammals, b) They cannot cry tears, and c) They gather the bones of their dead. I think, however, the reason why the author included this picture is not to fascinate the readers about "elephant facts" but to make the readers think how living creatures all have feelings, beliefs, and thoughts and how some animals could be as smart or even smarter than human beings.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
1. The novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is written in the first person perspective from the point of view of the main character, Oskar Schell. This connects you more with Oskar while he goes about on his quest. Also, it would be much less interesting to read were it told in a different way, because a lot of the most interesting things are Oskar's thoughts, not so much his actions.
2. Oskar Schell is a 9 year old boy who lives in New York with his mother. His father died on 9/11, which took place two years prior to the novel. While looking through some of his father's old things, he accidentally breaks a vase, which has a key inside of it. He makes it his quest to find what this mysterious key unlocks. In a way, he is searching desperately for a piece of his father, who he misses greatly.
3. One of the images in the novel is the last page of marker tests that has Oskar's father's name written on it. It is written in red in neat handwriting among all the other names and colors that other people left. This image adds a sort of surprise to the narrative because you aren't really expecting anything different to be on that page of marker tests after the first couple. If you were to skip over the pages as if they meant nothing, you would have to turn back in confusion and look again at the page, as the page starts off with talking about the name.
2. Oskar Schell is a 9 year old boy who lives in New York with his mother. His father died on 9/11, which took place two years prior to the novel. While looking through some of his father's old things, he accidentally breaks a vase, which has a key inside of it. He makes it his quest to find what this mysterious key unlocks. In a way, he is searching desperately for a piece of his father, who he misses greatly.
3. One of the images in the novel is the last page of marker tests that has Oskar's father's name written on it. It is written in red in neat handwriting among all the other names and colors that other people left. This image adds a sort of surprise to the narrative because you aren't really expecting anything different to be on that page of marker tests after the first couple. If you were to skip over the pages as if they meant nothing, you would have to turn back in confusion and look again at the page, as the page starts off with talking about the name.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Greasy Lake Response
The passage of "Greasy Lake" that I found the most vivid was the last paragraph on page 558 that continued onto page 559. The one about "the Fox." I think this passage is vivid because it describes the girl and what he was thinking about right before he jumps with his buddies to rape her. I think it's interesting how they show it as an unthinking moment that could have had a terribly negative outcome.
The main character is the narrator. It's in his perspective and he tells the story. He wants a night out with his buddies up at Greasy Lake. He was looking for a night of fun and adventure over the summer break. He gets into a fight, almost kills someone, almost rapes someone, his mother's car annihilated and finds a dead body. He went looking for fun and got devastation.
My favorite object in "The Things They Carried" was the M&M's that the Medic, Rat Kiley carried for "especially bad wounds. I like it because it's something that isn't normally found on a medic. It's a comfort food when he can't do anything else for the wounded. I think it shows compassion.
The main character is the narrator. It's in his perspective and he tells the story. He wants a night out with his buddies up at Greasy Lake. He was looking for a night of fun and adventure over the summer break. He gets into a fight, almost kills someone, almost rapes someone, his mother's car annihilated and finds a dead body. He went looking for fun and got devastation.
My favorite object in "The Things They Carried" was the M&M's that the Medic, Rat Kiley carried for "especially bad wounds. I like it because it's something that isn't normally found on a medic. It's a comfort food when he can't do anything else for the wounded. I think it shows compassion.
"The Things They Carried"
I think the most vivid passage in O'Brien's essay "The Things They Carried" is the passage on page 21 where he talks about the intangibles that the soldiers carry; grief, terror, love, longing, and the "fear of blushing." O'Brien says, "It was what had brought them to the war in the first place, nothing positive, no dreams of glory or honor, just to avoid the blush of dishonor. They died so as not to die of embarrassment. They crawled into tunnels and walked point and advanced under fire." He ends the passage with, "So easy, really. To go limp and tumble to the ground and let the muscles unwind and not speak and not budge until your buddies picked you up and lifted you into the chopper that would roar and dip its nose and carry you off to the world." I love this passage because it evokes so much sympathy from the reader, and, at least for me, makes me generate all of these images in my head of the men trudging along, wanting so much to just give up, but not letting themselves because of the fear of guilt and shame and dishonor. For the soldiers, the "cause" had evolved into a pure fear of embarrassment.
The main character in the essay is First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, who wants more than anything for his unrequited love of a girl named Martha to be returned. He wanted the letters she wrote to him to be love letters, rather than friendly and seemingly trivial. He wanted to be able to think back on the times they were together and be able to interpret all of her words and gestures as romantic and caring, rather than friendly and sometimes awkward. One of Cross' men, Ted Lavender dies and Cross blames himself for the death, believing his obsession with Martha caused him to lose focus. After Lavender dies Cross burns all of Martha's letters. He still loves her, but I think now he hates himself for loving her, even though he can't help it.
My favorite object from the story is the thumb that Mitchell Sanders gives to Norman Bowker. Sanders finds a dead Vietnamese boy and decides to cut off the thumb, joking that there's a "moral." The scene is pretty disgusting, but I think that we don't have such a reaction because we think about it in terms of the scenery. The soldiers, at this point, have only experienced death and destruction and hatred and loss and longing all the time for however long they've been at war, and so we accept their sometimes barbaric behavior because we think that they aren't neccessarily themselves. Tim O'Brien even eludes to the fact that they're not really in the world, when he says that the chopper would carry your off to the world. They're sort of in their own personal hells, and we can't begin to judge anything that they do because we have no idea what it's like to be where they are.
The main character in the essay is First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, who wants more than anything for his unrequited love of a girl named Martha to be returned. He wanted the letters she wrote to him to be love letters, rather than friendly and seemingly trivial. He wanted to be able to think back on the times they were together and be able to interpret all of her words and gestures as romantic and caring, rather than friendly and sometimes awkward. One of Cross' men, Ted Lavender dies and Cross blames himself for the death, believing his obsession with Martha caused him to lose focus. After Lavender dies Cross burns all of Martha's letters. He still loves her, but I think now he hates himself for loving her, even though he can't help it.
My favorite object from the story is the thumb that Mitchell Sanders gives to Norman Bowker. Sanders finds a dead Vietnamese boy and decides to cut off the thumb, joking that there's a "moral." The scene is pretty disgusting, but I think that we don't have such a reaction because we think about it in terms of the scenery. The soldiers, at this point, have only experienced death and destruction and hatred and loss and longing all the time for however long they've been at war, and so we accept their sometimes barbaric behavior because we think that they aren't neccessarily themselves. Tim O'Brien even eludes to the fact that they're not really in the world, when he says that the chopper would carry your off to the world. They're sort of in their own personal hells, and we can't begin to judge anything that they do because we have no idea what it's like to be where they are.
The Things They Carried Responses by Bryan C
For me, In The Things They Carried the passage about what the men carried as superstitious 'good luck' charms (on page 13) envokes the most vivid scene for the readers' imagination.This passage goes into great detail about Norman Booker who" otherwise a very gentle person, carried a thumb that had been presented to him as a gift". The passage gives you every minute detail about how this thumb came into his possesion. Perhaps the most vivid line of all, O'Brien writes "Smiling,he kicked the boy's head, watched the flies scatter, and said, It's like with that old TV show-- Paladin. Have gun, will Travel".
The central character in The Things They Carried was First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross. Throughout the chapter, the author fixates on Lt. Cross' quest for love with a college girl named Martha and his blind obsession with her. Ultimately, he does not get Martha. Instead, Cross ends up blaming himself for getting one of his druggie soldiers, Lavender, who is killed because of what Cross believes was a tactical error.
An object that stands out to me in The Things They Carried is Ted Lavenders head, which is more or less blasted off his shoulders by an enemy sniper. O'Brien writes about Lavender's dead head, no pun intended, "He lay with his mouth open. The teeth were broken. Ther was a swollen black bruise under is left eye. The cheekbone was gone".
The central character in The Things They Carried was First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross. Throughout the chapter, the author fixates on Lt. Cross' quest for love with a college girl named Martha and his blind obsession with her. Ultimately, he does not get Martha. Instead, Cross ends up blaming himself for getting one of his druggie soldiers, Lavender, who is killed because of what Cross believes was a tactical error.
An object that stands out to me in The Things They Carried is Ted Lavenders head, which is more or less blasted off his shoulders by an enemy sniper. O'Brien writes about Lavender's dead head, no pun intended, "He lay with his mouth open. The teeth were broken. Ther was a swollen black bruise under is left eye. The cheekbone was gone".
The Things They Carried
The short story “The Things They Carried” has many vivid passages, but my favorite is this:
“What they carried was partly a function of rank, partly of field specialty.
As a first lieutenant and platoon leader, Jimmy Cross carried a compass, maps, code books, binoculars, and .45-caliber pistol that weighed 2.9 pounds fully loaded. He carried a strobe light and the responsibility for the lives of his men...
As a medic, Rat Kiley carried a canvas satchel filled with morphine and plasma and malaria tablets and surgical tape and comic books and all the things a medic must carry, including M&M's for especially bad wounds, for a total weight of nearly 20 pounds.”
This passage serves to show the soldiers as people, individuals, who have found various ways to cope with the burden of the sometimes terrible things that their country requires of them. It emphasizes the fact that not only do their carry the things with physical weight, they also carry hopes, dreams, fears, responsibilities, and regrets. It is a very vivid passage.
The main character in “The Things They Carried” is First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross. His primary want through most of the piece is to return to New Jersey, and a girl named Martha, whom he believes himself to be in love with. When one of the soldiers under his command, Ted Lavender, dies, Jimmy blames himself for the loss, believing it to be caused by his daydreaming. He therefore resolves to “comport himself as an officer,” and to stop thinking about returning to New Jersey and Martha.
My favorite object from “The Things They Carried” is the copy of the New Testament carried by Kiowa. The contrast between the environment (Vietnam), Kiowa's Native American heritage, and the anglicized New Testament makes for a very interesting dichotomy.
“What they carried was partly a function of rank, partly of field specialty.
As a first lieutenant and platoon leader, Jimmy Cross carried a compass, maps, code books, binoculars, and .45-caliber pistol that weighed 2.9 pounds fully loaded. He carried a strobe light and the responsibility for the lives of his men...
As a medic, Rat Kiley carried a canvas satchel filled with morphine and plasma and malaria tablets and surgical tape and comic books and all the things a medic must carry, including M&M's for especially bad wounds, for a total weight of nearly 20 pounds.”
This passage serves to show the soldiers as people, individuals, who have found various ways to cope with the burden of the sometimes terrible things that their country requires of them. It emphasizes the fact that not only do their carry the things with physical weight, they also carry hopes, dreams, fears, responsibilities, and regrets. It is a very vivid passage.
The main character in “The Things They Carried” is First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross. His primary want through most of the piece is to return to New Jersey, and a girl named Martha, whom he believes himself to be in love with. When one of the soldiers under his command, Ted Lavender, dies, Jimmy blames himself for the loss, believing it to be caused by his daydreaming. He therefore resolves to “comport himself as an officer,” and to stop thinking about returning to New Jersey and Martha.
My favorite object from “The Things They Carried” is the copy of the New Testament carried by Kiowa. The contrast between the environment (Vietnam), Kiowa's Native American heritage, and the anglicized New Testament makes for a very interesting dichotomy.
"Powder" Vivid Passage By Hesham M.
My father grunted in a thoughtful way andsaid, “Don’t ever try this yourself.”
“I won’t.”
“That’s what you say now, but somedayyou’ll get your license and then you’ll think youcan do anything. Only you won’t be able to do this.You need, I don’t know—a certain instinct.”
“Maybe I have it.”
“You don’t. You have your strong points,but not this. I only mention it because I don’twant you to get the idea this is something justanybody can do. I’m a great driver. That’s not avirtue, okay? It’s just a fact, and one you should beaware of. Of course you have to give the old heapsome credit, too. There aren’t many cars I’d try this with. Listen!”
In this passage, the father strikes me as a caring character. In the Beginning of the story we find out that he is a risk taker. He decided on one more run even though they could have been late for the Christmas Eve dinner. And we see it again when he decided to risk the drive to go home. Yet this aggressive risk taker has a soft side to him that cares about the wellbeing of his son. In this passage he warns his son from repeating the same action which showed me a constant concern for his son, and demonstrated one of the main characteristics (in my opinion) of a good father. This passage also reminds of my risk taker older brother. We have had interesting adventures together, but at the end he would always warn me of repeating what he does.
The Central character is the Narrator when he was a kid. He starts out not trusting his father. He was worried that they would miss the Christmas Eve dinner that he was fantasizing about. And he had the right to be worried when they closed down the road. Yet the father decided to drive anyways which created even more problems due to his planning ahead trait. He was tense and worried, but he overcame this setback by being able to trust his father. He finally was able to “stop moping…(and) enjoy myself.”
My favorite item in TTTC would be Kiowa’s illustrated New Testament. I liked it because it would probably be the same thing I would carry. If I was ever in a situation of war, I would definitely be carrying my religious book. It would put me at ease feeling that I would have god by my side, protecting me.
Greasy Lake-Feb8
The narrator of “Greasy Lake” is undisclosed however the two associate characters are known as Jeff and Digby. The boys are seemingly privileged but have rebellious tendencies. I would assume the tendencies are related to the general society’s standard at the time for those of this age. Other than making themselves appear hard and rough, the boys are looking for an adventure, a story to prove just how “bad” they really are. They are out to prove themselves.
The most vivid passage for me in this selection is located in the introductory statements of the passage. It appears as the author is describing the background/environment of the story.
“Through the center of town, up the strip, past the housing developments and shopping malls, street lights giving way to think streaming illumination of the headlights, trees crowding the asphalt in a black unbroken wall… fetid and murky, the mud banks glittering with broken glass and strewn with beer cans and charred remains of bonfires. There was a single ravaged island a hundred yards from shore, so stripped of vegetation it looked as if the air force has strafed it.”
This passage is the most vivid for me as it allows me to view the setting in my mind. I am able to imagine the murky waters surrounding a common teen hang out, beer bottles littering the ground. The adjectives used and the word choice really allows the reader to be transported to the greasy lake.
I think the most important “object” and my favorite, in “The Things They Carried”, would be “the land”. Following war the land generally reverts to how it was used before, a place used for growing crops and raising families. Wars are always fought over terrain that has more than one purpose. It is not just a battlefield. After the war and a battlefield is no longer needed, the land is one again just land. The soldiers involved in Vietnam will most likely never be able to erase the happenings of their service. These men will always remember the beautiful scenery at which they had to be prepared for a face and rifle to appear behind at any moment. Mentioning the land as one of the things the men carried allows the reader to link both beauty and danger and through this link I found the “land” and story very relevant to today.
The most vivid passage for me in this selection is located in the introductory statements of the passage. It appears as the author is describing the background/environment of the story.
“Through the center of town, up the strip, past the housing developments and shopping malls, street lights giving way to think streaming illumination of the headlights, trees crowding the asphalt in a black unbroken wall… fetid and murky, the mud banks glittering with broken glass and strewn with beer cans and charred remains of bonfires. There was a single ravaged island a hundred yards from shore, so stripped of vegetation it looked as if the air force has strafed it.”
This passage is the most vivid for me as it allows me to view the setting in my mind. I am able to imagine the murky waters surrounding a common teen hang out, beer bottles littering the ground. The adjectives used and the word choice really allows the reader to be transported to the greasy lake.
I think the most important “object” and my favorite, in “The Things They Carried”, would be “the land”. Following war the land generally reverts to how it was used before, a place used for growing crops and raising families. Wars are always fought over terrain that has more than one purpose. It is not just a battlefield. After the war and a battlefield is no longer needed, the land is one again just land. The soldiers involved in Vietnam will most likely never be able to erase the happenings of their service. These men will always remember the beautiful scenery at which they had to be prepared for a face and rifle to appear behind at any moment. Mentioning the land as one of the things the men carried allows the reader to link both beauty and danger and through this link I found the “land” and story very relevant to today.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Greasy Lake
The un-named narrator is the central character of this story about three "dangerous" boys looking for fun one boring summer night. Instead, the boys interrupt a stranger and his girlfriend, thinking that the car belonged to a friend of theirs. The narrator ends up on the run, finding himself in a bunch of trouble instead of at a party. When he runs into a dead body in the lake, he knows he is in trouble:
"The water lapped at my waist as I looked out over the moon-burnished ripples, the mats of algae that clung to the surface like scabs. Digby and Jeff had vanished. I paused. Listened. The girl was quieter now, screams tapering to sobs, but there were male voices, angry, excited, and the high-pitched ticking of the second car's engine. I waded deeper, stealthy, hunted, the ooze sucking at my sneakers. As I was about to take the plunge- at the very instant I dropped my shoulder for the first slashing stroke- I blundered into something. Something unspeakable, obscene, something soft, wet, moss-grown. A patch of weed? A log? When I reached out to touch it, it gave like a rubber duck, it gave like flesh."
This part of the story was one of the most vivid passages, the appearance of the corpse interrupting the earlier tension of his fleeing. It makes everything stop suddenly, and the writing guides you along with the creeping realization of the sinister nature of the object in the water.
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My favorite object in "The Things They Carried" was Lt. Cross' pictures of Martha. They represented his connection to the world outside of the war. When he burns the pictures later in the story to get his mind off of home, it is a turning point in his character. He becomes more militaristic and takes his job more seriously without the distractions of "real life." I liked the pictures because they held this much importance. The story lists many things that the soldiers carried, but Lt. Cross' Martha-related items are the only things with such a significant weight.
"The water lapped at my waist as I looked out over the moon-burnished ripples, the mats of algae that clung to the surface like scabs. Digby and Jeff had vanished. I paused. Listened. The girl was quieter now, screams tapering to sobs, but there were male voices, angry, excited, and the high-pitched ticking of the second car's engine. I waded deeper, stealthy, hunted, the ooze sucking at my sneakers. As I was about to take the plunge- at the very instant I dropped my shoulder for the first slashing stroke- I blundered into something. Something unspeakable, obscene, something soft, wet, moss-grown. A patch of weed? A log? When I reached out to touch it, it gave like a rubber duck, it gave like flesh."
This part of the story was one of the most vivid passages, the appearance of the corpse interrupting the earlier tension of his fleeing. It makes everything stop suddenly, and the writing guides you along with the creeping realization of the sinister nature of the object in the water.
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My favorite object in "The Things They Carried" was Lt. Cross' pictures of Martha. They represented his connection to the world outside of the war. When he burns the pictures later in the story to get his mind off of home, it is a turning point in his character. He becomes more militaristic and takes his job more seriously without the distractions of "real life." I liked the pictures because they held this much importance. The story lists many things that the soldiers carried, but Lt. Cross' Martha-related items are the only things with such a significant weight.
The Things They Carried
We read "The Things They Carried", a war story set in Vietnam. The protagonist, Lieutenant Cross, is a man stuck between two worlds-- the rice paddies and deadly jungles of Vietnam, which he must 'hump' without respite, and the world of 'back home' an idea that becomes more and more alien and dangerous to him as the story progresses.
Cross wants what every man in his unit, in his war, wants- he wants to be home. He 'dreams of freedom birds', he wants to survive, to leave this awful place and return to the woman (or rather, the idea of this woman) that he left behind. Cross is instead forced to face the realization that whatever meaning he attached to this woman was invented, that 'home' didn't exist here in the place he inhabited, and that nothing that happens in this world necessarily carries a meaning (or "moral").
Quite a few of the passages are vivid- among the most vivid are the sections and descriptions of Ted Lavender's untimely death, because we often dramatize the actual instant of death, attempting to project ourselves into it, even unconsciously, in order to prepare ourselves for its eventuality. If the act itself is so... banal, it is shocking and surreal, too difficult to parse or categorize, too fleeting to accept as so final a passage. Right alongside the passages involving Lavender are the ones relating to the stone Cross carries in his mouth-- it is rife with symbolism, both sexual (the hard stone in his mouth, perhaps as a substitute for the nipple of the woman he longs for), and as the ultimate unpalatable and impossibly 'bitter pill' of war and mortality. He shuffles the thing in his mouth, tossing and sucking it, but never accepting, never swallowing this fated stone. Instead, it sits squat, out of place (literally, because it comes from 'back home', and metaphorically as a token of fate and death), and salty in his mouth. Finally, the dreamlike images of freedom birds, so out of place within the context of the surrounding language, both in expression and imagery (choice of syntax, almost 'dreamspeak', loose, flowing sentences versus the blunted and clipped wording of the waking life).
It is perhaps fitting that Cross grows to hate Martha-- his survival and sanity is dependent on his strict adherence to the rules of his engagement, as well as his need to offset the guilt he feels over his role in Lavenders death. As a soldier 'humping' the country of Vietnam, always unclear of his mission and even who the enemy is, any enemy, even one so familiar, can serve to crystallize and focus his will when it is needed most.
Cross wants what every man in his unit, in his war, wants- he wants to be home. He 'dreams of freedom birds', he wants to survive, to leave this awful place and return to the woman (or rather, the idea of this woman) that he left behind. Cross is instead forced to face the realization that whatever meaning he attached to this woman was invented, that 'home' didn't exist here in the place he inhabited, and that nothing that happens in this world necessarily carries a meaning (or "moral").
Quite a few of the passages are vivid- among the most vivid are the sections and descriptions of Ted Lavender's untimely death, because we often dramatize the actual instant of death, attempting to project ourselves into it, even unconsciously, in order to prepare ourselves for its eventuality. If the act itself is so... banal, it is shocking and surreal, too difficult to parse or categorize, too fleeting to accept as so final a passage. Right alongside the passages involving Lavender are the ones relating to the stone Cross carries in his mouth-- it is rife with symbolism, both sexual (the hard stone in his mouth, perhaps as a substitute for the nipple of the woman he longs for), and as the ultimate unpalatable and impossibly 'bitter pill' of war and mortality. He shuffles the thing in his mouth, tossing and sucking it, but never accepting, never swallowing this fated stone. Instead, it sits squat, out of place (literally, because it comes from 'back home', and metaphorically as a token of fate and death), and salty in his mouth. Finally, the dreamlike images of freedom birds, so out of place within the context of the surrounding language, both in expression and imagery (choice of syntax, almost 'dreamspeak', loose, flowing sentences versus the blunted and clipped wording of the waking life).
It is perhaps fitting that Cross grows to hate Martha-- his survival and sanity is dependent on his strict adherence to the rules of his engagement, as well as his need to offset the guilt he feels over his role in Lavenders death. As a soldier 'humping' the country of Vietnam, always unclear of his mission and even who the enemy is, any enemy, even one so familiar, can serve to crystallize and focus his will when it is needed most.
Powder/Things They Carried
1. "We returned our skis and my father put the chains on the Austin-Healy while I swayed from foot to foot, clapping my mittens and wishing I were home. I could see everything. The green tablecloth, the plates with the holly pattern, the red candles waiting to be lit."
After reading "Powder", the preceding selection was the one passage that, to me, seemed the most vivid. It seemed full of life to me. There were plenty of selections that were just as, if not more, descriptive than that one. But, after reading this not only could I identify with his emotional state but, it evoked memories that I have of Christmas dinners with my own family. Through his description I could see the room in my mind. It was easily, to me, the most vivd passage in the story.
2. In Powder, the main character is the narrator. He is the son of separated couple. An over-bearing mother and a free-wheeling, easy going dad. His story takes place in between his home and a ski lodge he visited with his dad. Although he obviously wants to just get home, it seems as though there is more he wants out of the relationship he has with his father. In some circumstances it seems as though he resents his father for his lack of responsibility. He talks about how his dad bought a car that was too expensive for him, how he stayed too long at the ski resort and how he kept him out late at a night club. I think the narrator wants his father to be more responsible so he could see his parents get back together. And although he does get home, his parents do not get back together. But, at the end it seems as though he feels that he will always have that trip through the "powder" with his dad.
3. My favorite item in TTTC was Rat Kiley's collection of comic books. To me it was sad. I am a huge comic book fan, and many of my friends in high school were too. It showed the youth of these soldiers that died for what seemed like no reason at all. It made the story a little more real to me. My dad and my sister have been to India on several occasions, they have told me how when they go they usually take magazines, not just books. They take things that are obviously American to give them a connection to back. So they don't feel entirely lost in a world so foreign to them. Seeing that this man took with him, comic books, to war allowed me to share a greater sense of connection an understanding with that character.
Powder / Things They Carried
“down the first long stretch I watched the road behind us, to see if the trooper was on our trial. The barricade vanished. Then there was nothing but snow: snow on the road, snow kicking up from the chains, snow on the trees, snow in the sky; and on our trail in the snow. I faced around and had a shock. The lie of the road behind us was marked with our own tracks, but there were no tracks ahead of us. My father was breaking virgin snow between a line of tall trees. He was humming ‘Stars Fell on Alabama.’ I felt the snow brush along the floor boards underneath my feet. To keep my hands from shaking I clamped them between my knees.” For me the description of the snow fall was stood out the most. It seemed as if the snow was falling in overwhelming amounts. Everything was covered in snow; the road they drove on, the trees they passed, the skies they traveled under. I felt like I was traveling in the car with the boy and his father. Also the way the snow seemed to dominate over the two characters almost seemed symbolic.
My favorite object from the things they carried would probably have to be Lt. Cross’s letters. While I was deployed letters were very important to me. When I didn’t get any new mail, I would re-read old ones. I would imagine what the writers were doing. When I re-read my letters I would let my imagination take over and I was no longer where I was. It was a temporary escape. Some things change over time. We are no longer fighting an enemy in the jungles of Vietnam, many service personnel are now reading e-mails. However, around the world solders, sailors, airmen, and marines are still connected by the written word. I think that this will be a life line for many generations to come.
My favorite object from the things they carried would probably have to be Lt. Cross’s letters. While I was deployed letters were very important to me. When I didn’t get any new mail, I would re-read old ones. I would imagine what the writers were doing. When I re-read my letters I would let my imagination take over and I was no longer where I was. It was a temporary escape. Some things change over time. We are no longer fighting an enemy in the jungles of Vietnam, many service personnel are now reading e-mails. However, around the world solders, sailors, airmen, and marines are still connected by the written word. I think that this will be a life line for many generations to come.
Passage from Powder
In my opinion, the most vivid passage in this short story would have to be in the third paragraph; “I could see everything. The green tablecloth, the plates with the holly pattern, the red candles waiting to be lit.” The reason I chose this as the most vivid passage is that it tells us about what this little boy is imagining. Even though he is not home, he can imagine how the house must be set up for Christmas time. This also puts an image into your mind about not only how his would look, but it made me think how my house is set up during different occasions and celebrations. Though we don’t celebrate Christmas, I could still imagine how our own table is set up for special days, or not everything is neatly in its place, how even my room is sometimes neat and tidy. So I believe that this passage not only tells us about the story but also helps us to think about our own personal life.
The main character in this story would have to be the little boy. This story is an autobiography of Tobias Wolff, so that would be who the main character is. The story revolves around this little boy and what his feelings are about what is going on. His father is taking him out for skiing, and as it says in the story “he was indifferent to my fretting.” This shows that this little boy really wanted to get home for Christmas; thinking ahead he knew that since there is so much snow, it would not be good for them to continue their “several last runs.” The whole story is in the point of view of the child and how he feels and reacts to everything that is going on. From being scared about the trooper following the, to assuring himself that his dad is a good driver, we can see that the story is from the child’s point of view.
In “Things they carried” my favorite object would have to be “They carried the land itself-Vietnam, the place, the soil, -- a powdery orange-red dust that covered their boots and fatigues and faces. They carried the sky. The whole atmosphere…” To me, this felt like something different than everything else that was listed in the story. Carrying the land, the sky and the gravity seemed to me like a metaphor for the burden that these soldiers had to carry throughout their journey. It made everything else that they carried light, and having this burden and responsibility seemed to be like the biggest thing that they had to carry.
The main character in this story would have to be the little boy. This story is an autobiography of Tobias Wolff, so that would be who the main character is. The story revolves around this little boy and what his feelings are about what is going on. His father is taking him out for skiing, and as it says in the story “he was indifferent to my fretting.” This shows that this little boy really wanted to get home for Christmas; thinking ahead he knew that since there is so much snow, it would not be good for them to continue their “several last runs.” The whole story is in the point of view of the child and how he feels and reacts to everything that is going on. From being scared about the trooper following the, to assuring himself that his dad is a good driver, we can see that the story is from the child’s point of view.
In “Things they carried” my favorite object would have to be “They carried the land itself-Vietnam, the place, the soil, -- a powdery orange-red dust that covered their boots and fatigues and faces. They carried the sky. The whole atmosphere…” To me, this felt like something different than everything else that was listed in the story. Carrying the land, the sky and the gravity seemed to me like a metaphor for the burden that these soldiers had to carry throughout their journey. It made everything else that they carried light, and having this burden and responsibility seemed to be like the biggest thing that they had to carry.
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Things They Carried
I think the most vivid passage of the narrative is "They shared a weight of memory. They took up what others could no longer bear. Often, they carried each other, the wounded or weak". These lines say alot about the characters in the narrative and about men in battle in general. Reading beyond the lines, a number of scenes painted themselves before me. These sentences talks about these men in battle with heaviness and burden in their hearts. It shows how they need each other in order to survive; they hold on to each other and they rely on each other. Sometimes, they just need each other to assure themselves that they'll be safe and that they'll live. But at the back of their minds, they know that anything can happen to them. Basically, this passage shows that men in battle are not as brave and as strong as how many people see them because their lives are at sake.
Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is the central character in the narrative. He is the leader of the group of men in a war in Vietnam. In the war, he and his men carried a number of things, both abstract and concrete. Cross carried with him letters, photos, a pebble, and memories of Martha, a girl from New Jersey whom he loved. All these he carried with a doubt of her feelings for him. The recurrent mention of Martha in the narrative shows how Cross has been in loved with her and how intense his feelings for her was but he was not sure if she loves him back just as much. Because of this, he is kind of holding his feelings back. It is quite uncertain that he wants to be with Martha for the rest of his life. At the end of the day, he decided to let go of his feelings for her, blaming himself for Ted Lavender's death and thinking that it is distracting him from properly leading his men.
"They carried all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried." It may seem negative but my favorite thing they carried is what this sentence talks about. These men in battle carry everything they can -- things used to kill, things used to remind them of the people they love, things used to protect themselves, things to make them feel complete -- but with all these is fear. Fear that the things they carried, they might not be able to control. Fear that the things they carried could be more powerful than themselves. Men in battle are usually depicted as strong, brave men. The men in the narrative carry fear and there is totally nothing wrong with it. It just shows how real they are, how they are just like ordinary people, how they become scared when holding on to their lives is not assured. Ironically, I think this makes them brave.
Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is the central character in the narrative. He is the leader of the group of men in a war in Vietnam. In the war, he and his men carried a number of things, both abstract and concrete. Cross carried with him letters, photos, a pebble, and memories of Martha, a girl from New Jersey whom he loved. All these he carried with a doubt of her feelings for him. The recurrent mention of Martha in the narrative shows how Cross has been in loved with her and how intense his feelings for her was but he was not sure if she loves him back just as much. Because of this, he is kind of holding his feelings back. It is quite uncertain that he wants to be with Martha for the rest of his life. At the end of the day, he decided to let go of his feelings for her, blaming himself for Ted Lavender's death and thinking that it is distracting him from properly leading his men.
"They carried all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried." It may seem negative but my favorite thing they carried is what this sentence talks about. These men in battle carry everything they can -- things used to kill, things used to remind them of the people they love, things used to protect themselves, things to make them feel complete -- but with all these is fear. Fear that the things they carried, they might not be able to control. Fear that the things they carried could be more powerful than themselves. Men in battle are usually depicted as strong, brave men. The men in the narrative carry fear and there is totally nothing wrong with it. It just shows how real they are, how they are just like ordinary people, how they become scared when holding on to their lives is not assured. Ironically, I think this makes them brave.
Vivid Passage from Powder
Of all the descriptions in Powder, "Impossible to describe" evoked the most from my view. When a writer describes something in full detail, a clear and direct picture is given to the reader. However, when they leave it open-ended, my imagination gets to take off and make up whatever I want it to make up.
Also though, I related to the sentence when the writer said "I felt the snow brush along the floorboards under my feet." Usually descriptions in stories are to create an image. Personally, I could see the snow scraping the bottom of the car, but I could also feel it grinding under my feet.
The main character was the writer, Tobias Wolff. He wants to get home for Christmas dinner with his family, but his father isn't worried about him making it, rather him having fun at the slopes. In the end, I'd like to think that they make it home in time, but the story doesn't tell, so I guess that's another part left up to the imagination.
My favorite object from "The Things The Carried" was the thumb. It wasn't my favorite in the sense that I wish I could carry it with me on a daily basis... that's just weird. It was my favorite in that it showed that the soldiers didn't have much to hold close or relate to, and even the thumb of a dead boy gave one of the soldiers hope and comfort and meaning.
the vivid passage from The Things They Carried
The author, Tim O'Bryan, tends to have a lot of vivid passages in this piece of writing. Yet, the one that stuck out the most to me was when he was describing Vietnam itself, saying that the men shared every thing and wore Vietnam on their sleeves and they could not get rid of it.
Jimmy cross was the central character of this story. He was infatuated with Martha and couldn't keep her off his mind during one such instance his commander Ted Lavender was shot "boom, boom, down like concrete." This unfortunate event Caused Jimmy to realize that there are more important things then worrying himself with a woman who doesn't even love him back. So he burned the photos of her and became strength for the boys. Its amazing how one thing can change your entire outlook on things.
Out of all the things that they carried their longing to go home and see their loved ones struck me the most. I know how it feels to be some where against your will and the feeling of home is at your finger tips. I just relate to that feeling.
Jimmy cross was the central character of this story. He was infatuated with Martha and couldn't keep her off his mind during one such instance his commander Ted Lavender was shot "boom, boom, down like concrete." This unfortunate event Caused Jimmy to realize that there are more important things then worrying himself with a woman who doesn't even love him back. So he burned the photos of her and became strength for the boys. Its amazing how one thing can change your entire outlook on things.
Out of all the things that they carried their longing to go home and see their loved ones struck me the most. I know how it feels to be some where against your will and the feeling of home is at your finger tips. I just relate to that feeling.
Vivid passage from "The Things They Carried" by Chris Zink
"They carried the common secret of cowardice barely restrained, the instinct to run or freeze or hide, and in many respects this was the heaviest burden of all, for it could never be put down, it required perfect balance and perfect posture"
This piece evoked great emotion in me when I read it because I think everyone can understand fear and the author clearly defines fear in this passage.
The central character in this piece was Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, a young man who leads a team of soldiers traveling through vietnam, and he wanted nothing more than to be back home, away from the war, with "Martha", a girl he longed to be with before leaving. In the end, his daydreaming for the girl causes him to lose focus on his responsibilities as squad leader which costs the life of a fellow soldier. The lieutenant blames himself for the loss and burns the photos he has of Martha as a symbol to himself that he will never let his daydreaming come at such a high price again.
My favorite object carried by the soldiers was the emotional baggage. That may sound strange but I thought the author did a really good job of describing the intense emotions that soldiers face on a regular basis. The author painted a very clear picture of the range of emotions they endure from love to fear to poise and dignity.
This piece evoked great emotion in me when I read it because I think everyone can understand fear and the author clearly defines fear in this passage.
The central character in this piece was Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, a young man who leads a team of soldiers traveling through vietnam, and he wanted nothing more than to be back home, away from the war, with "Martha", a girl he longed to be with before leaving. In the end, his daydreaming for the girl causes him to lose focus on his responsibilities as squad leader which costs the life of a fellow soldier. The lieutenant blames himself for the loss and burns the photos he has of Martha as a symbol to himself that he will never let his daydreaming come at such a high price again.
My favorite object carried by the soldiers was the emotional baggage. That may sound strange but I thought the author did a really good job of describing the intense emotions that soldiers face on a regular basis. The author painted a very clear picture of the range of emotions they endure from love to fear to poise and dignity.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Greasy Lake 2/5/09
The most vivid passage for me would have to be the fight scene. I felt like I was an innocent bystander watching the whole thing from start to finish. I thought that the narrator killed the bad character at first until he came to and started cursing again. The central character in the whole thing would have to be the narrator. He described who he hung out with and what kind of people they were. I felt that the narrator wanted to be a rebel or a 'bad guy' as he described his friends to be, because he mainly talked about the things Jeff and Digby did and it seemed like he followed along. To me, he didn't seem like a bad guy; he seemed more like a guy trying to be bad. The narrator ended up getting a second chance even though he received a chipped tooth in the process. I feel like he could have gotten into a whole lot of trouble if he was caught and luckily for him and his friends, they were able to go home.
My favorite object in 'The Things They Carried' would have to be Martha's photos because it was the only object in the story that was not violent. I don't like the idea of people fighting in wars. I know that the army/navy/etc. is designed to protect our country, but when the lives of our loved ones are fighting for a ridiculous cause, I feel that there should be other methods implemented to protect them from fighting senseless battles. I can sort of relate to Martha's photos because when my brother was in Iraq, I use to send him photos of me all the time and we wrote letters to each other as much as we could. Although he's not in Iraq any more, I have not seen him (physically) in four years because now, he lives in Ohio. This object definitely struck a cord with me more than all the others.
My favorite object in 'The Things They Carried' would have to be Martha's photos because it was the only object in the story that was not violent. I don't like the idea of people fighting in wars. I know that the army/navy/etc. is designed to protect our country, but when the lives of our loved ones are fighting for a ridiculous cause, I feel that there should be other methods implemented to protect them from fighting senseless battles. I can sort of relate to Martha's photos because when my brother was in Iraq, I use to send him photos of me all the time and we wrote letters to each other as much as we could. Although he's not in Iraq any more, I have not seen him (physically) in four years because now, he lives in Ohio. This object definitely struck a cord with me more than all the others.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Chris Zink's Story of a Hat
Christopher A. Zink
ENGL 102 Honors- MW 1:25PM
Prof. Carr Kizzier
February 4th, 2009
Story of a Hat
About two years ago my grandfather received a hat for his birthday. It was a hand-woven hat from Ireland and it looked expensive. My aunt (his daughter) bought it for him unaware that he already owned a plethora of hats just like it. I asked him if I could have the hat and he was happy to relinquish it.
My grandfather has been my mother and my father since my actual parents lost custody. Though this hat was not intended to be my gift I treated it as if it was. It helped me remember the sacrifices my grandfather made for the sake of my future and I treasured it.
As with all good things, the hat was lost shortly thereafter. I was quite upset when this happened and my girlfriend gave me a new one just like it for Christmas. Now the hat represents the love my grandfather once gave me and love I receive each day from my girlfriend.
ENGL 102 Honors- MW 1:25PM
Prof. Carr Kizzier
February 4th, 2009
Story of a Hat
About two years ago my grandfather received a hat for his birthday. It was a hand-woven hat from Ireland and it looked expensive. My aunt (his daughter) bought it for him unaware that he already owned a plethora of hats just like it. I asked him if I could have the hat and he was happy to relinquish it.
My grandfather has been my mother and my father since my actual parents lost custody. Though this hat was not intended to be my gift I treated it as if it was. It helped me remember the sacrifices my grandfather made for the sake of my future and I treasured it.
As with all good things, the hat was lost shortly thereafter. I was quite upset when this happened and my girlfriend gave me a new one just like it for Christmas. Now the hat represents the love my grandfather once gave me and love I receive each day from my girlfriend.
Big Dog
I traveled 3000 miles away from home to explore new places, find a new home, and see what Baltimore had to offer. As I explored the area the magic and mystery of my childhood memories faded away and I began to feel lost and alone without my Big Dog. She had been maliciously hidden from my suitcases and moving boxes. Her white and gray body hidden away at the back of my father’s closet where her once vibrant red bow, now a crumpled mess, became muted by the darkness. I often thought of all the comforting my beloved stuffed sheep dog had provided for me throughout my adolescence. It was a shame I wouldn’t share the first six months of Baltimore, of my transition between a girl to a young woman, with my Big Dog.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Looking out the window
Looking out the window I find that my mind tends to wander, thinking of all the places I have seen and all the events I have gone to and dream of more. I remember when I had no scars no broken parts; I was complete. But now, I feel as though half of me is missing, broken in two, wanting to be whole again. Alone, I cannot fix it, only pray to have some one understand and help.
Looking out the window I see her leave, drive off and think of where she’s going, to the mall, to the movies, or to the lake with him. Again I wish I could be whole. But here I am at the cold window ledge wishing I were there.
This is my life, the life of a locket, a locket that only had a moments glory before I wore out and broke my other half.
Looking out the window I see her leave, drive off and think of where she’s going, to the mall, to the movies, or to the lake with him. Again I wish I could be whole. But here I am at the cold window ledge wishing I were there.
This is my life, the life of a locket, a locket that only had a moments glory before I wore out and broke my other half.
Adam's Object?
I would have to say my most precious item would be my head. I'm sure it often goes overlooked. It's honestly the only thing that I can lose, that I know I'll be able to find, nothing like my car keys. I can physically reach up and make sure it is still attached to my shoulders. I see the world as somewhat of a big mental game, and by this I don't mean HASBRO's "Game of Life." I am the challenger and have access to tools many others around the world do not. Being able to appreciate what I'm allowed, have earned, and what others have done is hugely important to me. There is nothing more important than others and there really is only one way to see it(with your eyes, which are coincidentally in your head).
Muzamil Jawed--My Computer
Ever since I was young, one object has played an important part in my life. Back when I was a young child, this object helped me learn my ABC’s and my 123’s. With educational games and small programs to help with school, the computer is something that I have used for as long as I can remember. Later on in my life, when playing was the only thing that came to mind my computer stood by my side with numerous games and CD’s to keep me entertained when I was unable to find anything to do. Then as I progress through school, I found that the computer was more that just a form of entertainment; it was more a tool to make my whole life easier. Any time I needed to do a project for school or to find out what something meant, I was able to do so with ease due to the help of my computer. Even today I use my computer everyday to keep up with what is happening around the world and what is going on in my friends’ lives that I don’t get to see everyday.
Even though the computer has caused many problems throughout the years like viruses or a crash, I have always managed to find a way to fix it. This also gives me an opportunity to learn new things on the computer so that if the same problem was ever to some up again I would know how to handle it appropriately. Recently, I have found that the computer and the web make this world a very small place. Since I still have a few good friends and family members scattered around the world, it would be impossible to talk to them without the computer. But now we are able to chat and find out what is happening half way across the world with the click of the mouse. My computer has been used for so many things in my life that I would never be able to count – from entertainment to education, the easier route to take is to turn on the computer.
Even though the computer has caused many problems throughout the years like viruses or a crash, I have always managed to find a way to fix it. This also gives me an opportunity to learn new things on the computer so that if the same problem was ever to some up again I would know how to handle it appropriately. Recently, I have found that the computer and the web make this world a very small place. Since I still have a few good friends and family members scattered around the world, it would be impossible to talk to them without the computer. But now we are able to chat and find out what is happening half way across the world with the click of the mouse. My computer has been used for so many things in my life that I would never be able to count – from entertainment to education, the easier route to take is to turn on the computer.
Object / David Porter
Each and every item I could think to describe felt transitory to me suddenly. My computer, my car, my desk, the room I sat in; all of them conditional and fleeting. Had my life slowly receded from me, I wondered, backing away on tip toes from the lumbering and confused mess I'd somehow become? As it crept away, did it pick up the trinkets collected in life and brush the smell of me away? Or was I the one slowly distancing and disassociating myself, waiting for some other, owner-less shoe to drop? Have I changed so much recently that the things I'd used and cared for, or at least grudgingly up kept become so foreign to me? Either way, I couldn't think of a single item in my possession that I actually felt I owned or knew. Each felt borrowed, someone else's something-or-others, items I live beside or around or behind, rather than with or in control of. It didn't help that I couldn't read what I was writing, my words spilling across the screen in an alien smear-- shortstop? shoes flop? What was it I'd said? It's somewhere behind me now, with all of those things, all of those things I keep but don't own, not yet, not until or unless I somehow recognize them again.
I wish I had my glasses, though. That much I can tell you.
I wish I had my glasses, though. That much I can tell you.
Jess's Object Story
The 14-inch screen of my computer seems tiny compared to the huge screen of my old laptop, but the change from 13 pounds to 4.5 pounds more than makes up for the small size. Every time I use it, I am reminded of the hard work at the daycare where I worked that was required to make the money that I used to buy the computer, which was my first major purchase ever. It is a constant reminder of the benefits of working hard, and resisting the temptation to immediately spend the money that I have earned.
An Epic Skateboard
In the summer of 1997 I was anxious. My first skateboard was on its way! I called up Charm City skate shop every day. Finally it arrived. It was eight inches wide and thirty-two inches long and it had come all the way from Toy Machine Skateboards in California. On the bottom there was portrait of a robot that was bright orange. The background was lightly colored red; light enough that you could still see the wood grain. My new skateboard was going to be put on a brand new pair of Independent trucks. I had seen a few pictures of Ed Templeton in Thrasher. He was always skating bright orange spitfire wheels. Ed was a professional skateboarder, a painter, a photographer, and he owned Toy Machine skateboards. Ed was so cool, and If Ed skated bright orange wheels I had to have a set too. So I completed my skateboard with a set of bright orange sixty-two millimeter Spitfire Scorchers. With this new skateboard in hand, no curb was safe. I bombed ever hill, grinded every parking block, and ollied every set of steps I could. The world was mine.
Internet Addiction
The keys on the keyboard are in some sorry shape, the letters worn off of them from constant use. WASD is completely gone, a sign of my over-indulgence in computer gaming. My computer is my life, my connection to the outside world. It's both a blessing and a curse; it allows me to find so much information and entertainment that I would not have access to otherwise, but it also has pretty much made me a complete shut-in. I only leave my house to go to class. That's not to say that I don't talk to people, though. I have plenty of friends that I talk to online.
Some people consider online friends to not be "real" friends, and refer to offline interactions as "real life." I say, why? What makes the computer any different from any other form of communication? When you talk to someone on the phone, when you send them a letter or a text message, you cannot see them then either. You are not next to them. Why does the computer get treated as something less? There is a person on the other end just the same as any other form of communication. I suppose it's just a pet peeve of mine when I'm sort of looked down on for spending so much time socializing only on the internet.
So, this computer...it's everything to me. I constantly wish that there was more to my life than just this. But it won't let me change. I'm stuck in my ways.
Some people consider online friends to not be "real" friends, and refer to offline interactions as "real life." I say, why? What makes the computer any different from any other form of communication? When you talk to someone on the phone, when you send them a letter or a text message, you cannot see them then either. You are not next to them. Why does the computer get treated as something less? There is a person on the other end just the same as any other form of communication. I suppose it's just a pet peeve of mine when I'm sort of looked down on for spending so much time socializing only on the internet.
So, this computer...it's everything to me. I constantly wish that there was more to my life than just this. But it won't let me change. I'm stuck in my ways.
Rick Jr.
I'm pretty sure Rick Jr. was bought at Walgreens. Danny gave him to me once with a huge bag of candy. He's a small rubber chicken that I keep on the dashboard of my car. Mostly he just lays there looking lifeless...I think his eyes are permanently closed...but when you pick him up his head flings itself back and forth and he says "hi" to people. He's really squishy, too, and you can fit him in most pockets. Sometimes I bring him into places with me and he just sits there in his pocket and listens. I was thinking about getting him a toupee because he's pretty bald, but it'd have to be extremely small. I could use some pieces of hair I shaved from Danny's head that I saved in a ziploc bag a few months ago or I could use feathers. Anyway-Rick Jr. means a lot to me because Danny got him, and because he doesn't mean anything to anybody else.
My Lifeline ~J.Pearson
I am a very simplistic individual and I try to do things in a simple fashion. I never really cared about designer clothing or fancy cars, having what I needed did just fine. The one thing that keeps me going is my car and I never really understood how the life of my car effected the life of me. Before I had my car I walked everywhere,to the store, to sub shops, and occasionally to my boyfriend's house. Other than that, there was a huge limit on the places that were possible for me to travel on foot. I thought I was happy until the day I received my Provisional License. I remember that day because my provisionals became my newly found resource to explore my walking limitations. Now I could do the majority of shopping and sight-seeing all on my very own. Now, with a brand new card in my wallet, of course I had to show off to anyone who cared. I drove around to various places where I knew my family and friends would be and I would whip my wheels like a pro. I loved my car and the freedom that it gave me, but surely enough it all came to an end. My newly found gift became more of a curse than anything else.
All of a sudden I had all these bills that came out of no where. I had to pay my cell phone bill, car insurance, and gas expenses; and that was just the basics. Then all of a sudden, I had to pay for a new battery, an oil change, a master cylinder, brake pads, and something about a clogged ventilation system. On top of all that, my daily walks around town were cut down to a bear minimum and i put on a few pounds because of it. So because I was not as healthy as I once was, I started to get sick all the time and I ended up missing days from school. In addition to getting sick, my car broke down a few times and my hours at work were cut back. Having a car was nice at first, but after all of the expenses and riding around, I began to really hate my car. Unfortunately, I could not quit driving because somehow I became responsible for getting my siblings from A to B. Fortunately, I stuck with it and realized that driving is a privilege for me and I should except the fact that I have a vehicle that I am solely responsible for. My car has prepared me for the basics of becoming an adult and my car became yet another milestone in my life. So the question remains, how is my car my lifeline? And my answer is this: life is one constant struggle, there are going to be bills to pay, unexpected expenses, and many responsibilities along the way. Interestingly enough, having a car gave me a brief glimpse at the future and what I would be accountable for. In short, I love my car and I am grateful for the life lessons I learned along the way.
All of a sudden I had all these bills that came out of no where. I had to pay my cell phone bill, car insurance, and gas expenses; and that was just the basics. Then all of a sudden, I had to pay for a new battery, an oil change, a master cylinder, brake pads, and something about a clogged ventilation system. On top of all that, my daily walks around town were cut down to a bear minimum and i put on a few pounds because of it. So because I was not as healthy as I once was, I started to get sick all the time and I ended up missing days from school. In addition to getting sick, my car broke down a few times and my hours at work were cut back. Having a car was nice at first, but after all of the expenses and riding around, I began to really hate my car. Unfortunately, I could not quit driving because somehow I became responsible for getting my siblings from A to B. Fortunately, I stuck with it and realized that driving is a privilege for me and I should except the fact that I have a vehicle that I am solely responsible for. My car has prepared me for the basics of becoming an adult and my car became yet another milestone in my life. So the question remains, how is my car my lifeline? And my answer is this: life is one constant struggle, there are going to be bills to pay, unexpected expenses, and many responsibilities along the way. Interestingly enough, having a car gave me a brief glimpse at the future and what I would be accountable for. In short, I love my car and I am grateful for the life lessons I learned along the way.
The Story of Bryan's Whip
My car came into my possesion through a form of inheritance. My father bought a new car so he gave me his old one, a Nissan Maxima. The car was far from new when I got it, unlike my driving experience, with a odometer amassing 97,000 miles. However, the car was in good condition then and remains in respectable condition today.
Before I got my own car back in the early driving days of highschool, I was left scrapping for a set of wheels anytime I wanted to do my own thing. So I borrowed cars, from my parents, grandparents, and every blue moon a friends car, which was always under sketchy circumstances with the rents. These cars were normally used without caution and any respect to anyone else on the road or myself. Many times I was just downright reckless, but I liked the thrill of beating stop-lights, holding sharp turns and curves, or just gunning it down a straight-away. I had many close calls, but luckily escaped them all with nothing more then a couple of scratches and broken mirrors.
I guess my poor decision making was fueled by imaturity, but once I got my own car my bad habits changed. I do not know if it was the scary moments, or the fact that I realized I wanted the car to last, or maybe I just respect society more as I try to grow away from my at times reckless highschool years.
Before I got my own car back in the early driving days of highschool, I was left scrapping for a set of wheels anytime I wanted to do my own thing. So I borrowed cars, from my parents, grandparents, and every blue moon a friends car, which was always under sketchy circumstances with the rents. These cars were normally used without caution and any respect to anyone else on the road or myself. Many times I was just downright reckless, but I liked the thrill of beating stop-lights, holding sharp turns and curves, or just gunning it down a straight-away. I had many close calls, but luckily escaped them all with nothing more then a couple of scratches and broken mirrors.
I guess my poor decision making was fueled by imaturity, but once I got my own car my bad habits changed. I do not know if it was the scary moments, or the fact that I realized I wanted the car to last, or maybe I just respect society more as I try to grow away from my at times reckless highschool years.
My IPod Touch
One of my most cherished items is my IPod Touch. It is the single most fascination electronic device that I have ever used. Not only does it play music, but it also plays videos, allows you to surf the web, and has a built in apps which include E-mail, calendar, IM, games, and everything you could imagine. All these features in the convince of a simple finger tap due to touch screen capability.
The First day I suggested to my parents of using MY money to buy the IPod, I was faced with two angry and stubborn headed parents. They gave me numerous reasons as to why it is not a good item to buy. First on the list was the hefty price of $300, they wanted me to save my money and not waste it on what they called a “toy”. Second thing was how I would use it for a couple of month and then put it to the side to find something more interesting, so it was, as stated by them, “like throwing away money”. I fought hard and long for my iPod that they just gave up on me and let me do what I wanted. It felt good being able to buy something with my hard earned money. And with everyday I proved to my parents that this iPod was really a well thought out investment. I have used it everyday, helped me through my long walks to work, exercise and just plain boredom. To me it is more than just an iPod; it has become a necessity for my everyday life.
P.s. Not intended as an advertisement for Apple products.
The First day I suggested to my parents of using MY money to buy the IPod, I was faced with two angry and stubborn headed parents. They gave me numerous reasons as to why it is not a good item to buy. First on the list was the hefty price of $300, they wanted me to save my money and not waste it on what they called a “toy”. Second thing was how I would use it for a couple of month and then put it to the side to find something more interesting, so it was, as stated by them, “like throwing away money”. I fought hard and long for my iPod that they just gave up on me and let me do what I wanted. It felt good being able to buy something with my hard earned money. And with everyday I proved to my parents that this iPod was really a well thought out investment. I have used it everyday, helped me through my long walks to work, exercise and just plain boredom. To me it is more than just an iPod; it has become a necessity for my everyday life.
P.s. Not intended as an advertisement for Apple products.
Hesham's Blurp (again)
Hi I am Hesham Mohamed, I am an Egyptian American immigrant. I came here in December of 2001. It was hard for me to start communicating right away in English but as time went by I got better, and my accent wasn't as notable. I have to admit I am not a big reader but the last Book I read was The Woman Who Swallowed a Toothbrush: And Other Weird Medical Case Histories, it was a very interesting book as it opened my eyes to many weird thing in the world of science and confirmed my decision to stay away from medicine majors. Last thing I wrote (literarly) was jotting down a catering order at my job, (essay-wise) my 101 compare/contrast essay. My last full lenght book I read was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I have yet to attend an event on campus. I spend about an hour and fourty five minutes in my car in a typical school plus work day. And finally I wish that by taking this course, that I improve my writing skills and gain a passion for reading english literature.
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