1. The opening sentence implies that people are equal, meaning that no one is better than anyone else. The people that were stronger and smarter had handicaps on them to make them equal. The 211th, 212th, and the 213th Amendments made equality happen. Capitalism and American democracy do not exist anymore. The Soviet-style totalitarianism was the form of government that was used, meaning the government had control over the people and everyone was equal. The elimination of advantages, difference, and competition suggest that the government did not want to be over thrown. To make sure that they would not get over thrown, they created handicaps for the citizens who were prettier, smarter, and stronger, so that they could control them and make them forget their thoughts.
2. These changes are not impossible under American capitalism, because some one or a group of people can become so greedy, that they want to control of everything and everyone. The human tendency that people will go along with something, even if they believe it is right or wrong. With that said there is also the tendency of some people to speak out and stand up for what they believe in. In away, these tendencies are the end result of middle class greed, envy, and pettiness, because the middle class wants to be equal, because for the most part it seems that people who are in the middle class, have a very hard time trying to rise above it. Therefore, the middle class wants the upper class to come to their level. The experience from the late twentieth century suggest that it felt like, rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer. The popularity of shows like Oprah's and Rosie O'Donnell's, hints at that the rich can help the less fortunate, for example Oprah gives her audience members gifts. These figures maybe considered role models, because they try to help people and solve their problems. The center stage of these shows is people's problems and issues that they might have. Barbie dolls being redesigned to look like "real" people, shows that in reality most people do not have a perfect body and looks, and some people believe that Barbie dolls represent what girls are supposed to look like when they get older. The trend of grade inflation shows that over the years we have become more advanced and that we are expected to know more. For example, when I was younger I did not learn my ABC's until I got to kinder garden, now I hear that kids are expected to know their ABC's before they get to kinder garden, also they have to know how to spell and do math. Also some elementary schools have even started to teach their children a secondary language. The practices of youth sports such as giving equal playing time regardless of ability, not keeping score, and that every team gets a trophy, shows that people believe that children are being hurt by competition and that every kid on the team should be created equal. This is a bad idea because, I believe the child will be hurt even more, because it does not teach the child to strive and be the best they can be.
3. The function of the agents is to keep everything in order and to make sure that the smarter and stronger people are wearing their handicaps. The people who are handicapped are considered to be the threats to society that these agents fight. If a person does not wear his or her handicap, the agents believe that he or she will try to over throw the government. These handicaps make the meaning of life pointless; there is no freedom of thought or choice. Also these handicaps were drastic measures to make people equal. People that were pretty had to wear ugly mask, people that were strong had to wear heavy metal, and people that were smart had to wear a radio in their ear that would make a sharp noise every twenty seconds, so they would forget what they were thinking.
4. Vonnegut is parodying the fact that America believes that people should be equal, and that people are becoming less competitive, because they believe it is wrong to tell a child they can not play in a game, because they are not as good as the other children on the team. Also, that people believe it is wrong to represent beauty as being and looking like a supermodel. The conceptions of equality that motivate such policies and trends, is that people want to believe that they are just as good at sports as anyone else, that they are just as pretty, and that they are just as smart.
5. There would be equality in commercial life by the concept of an agreement of trade, meaning someone will give someone else something whether it is money or something else, for something they need or want. The equality is the fact that people will agree with each other on what they will be paid or what they will trade. Yes, the capitalist social forms, do some what create inequalities at least of income and wealth, because I believe if you are extremely good at something verses some one who is mediocre, then I believe you should be paid more. Yes, it points to an irresolvable tension because, it shows that not everyone wants to live that way and that the government has to force the way of life upon them.
6. That it is unfair or unequal that the citizens have to live a certain way, but the government can do what they want.
7. Hazel had an average intelligence, and George's intelligence was very high. They can not remember things because, Hazel could only think of things for a little bit, and George had a handicap earpiece that would go off every twenty seconds, so he would forget about what he was thinking. Vonnegut might be parodying, the fact that when people get older they loose their memory. The story warns against two things. The first one being that equality does not really work because, people like to be different and have their own opinion. The second one being that if you stand up for something and against what some people believe, you might suffer consequences, for example Harrison Bergeron got killed because, he went against the government's rules and tried to over throw it and become the new leader. The handicap radio makes George forget what he was thinking. This relates to the mass media because, they do not always give all the details of a story and instead, they say things that they want people to here.
8. Harrison Bergeron is a threat to society because, the government believes he was plotting to over throw them and he managed to escape from prison. He is only fourteen years old. He wore earphones, instead of a radio because, he was a genius, he wore thick glasses, that made him blind and gave him headaches, and he wore three hundred pounds of metal because, he was so strong.
9. The significance of the real Harrison appearing on TV is to show that they were not lying and that he wants everyone to know that he did escape and that he wants to over throw the government. He repeats that he is the Emperor, because the people would forget because, they either had short term memory or they were handicapped with a radio in their ear, to make them forget. Yes, Vonnegut is suggesting a return to feudalism, in a sense that people would not be able to move up in society, meaning that the class you were born into is the class you would stay in for all your life. Yes, it is similar because, in both cases the characters believe that they have won and have accomplished what they were trying to do, but they did not accomplish anything because, they are both killed for standing up for what they believe in.
10. Harrison is trying to over throw the government. Yes, because they are both standing up for something they believe is right. In "A & P," Sammy believes that the three girls were not inappropriately dressed, and stood up for them. In "Harrison Bergeron," Harrison believes that everyone should not be equal; therefore he tried to stand up to the government and got killed. The young believes that things should change and the old like the way things are and believe it should stay the same. It relates to the fact that the economy is in trouble. The suggestion concerning ownership of means of production is that everything should be equal, and that no one can make anymore money than anyone else.
11. The significance of Harrison's statement is that he believes there should be a kingdom, in which he is the king and the musicians are the barons, dukes, and earls below him. He values the fact that he should have peers to help him decide what to do and also to help control his country. Beauty and aesthetics play the role in Harrison's rebellion by showing that he believes that things should be beautiful and that beauty should not be shunned upon.
12. The meaning behind Harrison's and the ballerina's flight-like dance and kissing, is that on the ground they are equal and not different from each other, and in the air they are showing that they are different and not equal. This statement means that they stayed in the air which denies the law of gravity, which means that things were going to change.
13. The meaning shows that even though you may stand up for what you believe in and that everything will be okay, there will always be someone to take you back to reality. Diana Moon Glamper's name may suggest that she is the goddess of the moon in Greek mythology. The ethos conjured by the mythological association of the Greek goddess Diana and the Moon, shows that she believes that men and women should not be together and they should not have romantic relationships. Ms. Glampers is similar to Lengel because, they both believe that sexuality and public display of affection should not be displayed in public.
14. Hazel Bergeron forgets what she is crying about because, she has short term memory loss. Hazel and Mrs. Gradgrind are similar. Mrs. Grandgrind can not explain herself to her husband and Hazel can not explain why she is crying. The meaning of the last words of the Bergerons, is to show that Hazel could tell that George had a very strong noise in his ear, meaning that something big must have happened to have caused the noise.
15. Vonnegut's story is striking, because everyone is supposed to be equal, when in reality the Handicapper General, has the power to do what she wants when she wants to. The appropriate limits in the story to ensure equality, is that everyone is brought down to a standard, instead of being brought up, this is because, the government wants people to be stupid and forget things, so they can not be over thrown.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Assignment for Thursday 9/24
From reading the short story, "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oats the main character seems to be Connie, but after reading the true story of what happen, it seems that the main character is actually Arnold Friend. Charles Schmid is the real Arnold Friend. The short story describes Arnold as having black shaggy hair and that he was older than the rest of the kids. the true story shows that Charles was an older guy, age twenty three and had black hair, which represents the relationship between him and Arnold. In the true story it states that Charles had decided one day, to see if he could get away with murder. Charles in fact, did rape and murder three girls, two of which were sisters. The story shows how Arnold/Charles would pick out a girl he liked to be his victim. It also shows that Arnold has an accomplice to the murders, which is his friend Ellie, in real life his name was John Saunders. Through Connie, the story creates an example of what might have happened and also incite to what the victim's thoughts were and what they might have went through. Therefore, the short story uses the character of Connie to show how Charles would lure the girls into going with him.
The character Arnold Friend is Charles Schmid in real life. Charles was a murderer in Tuscon, Arizona, who murdered three girls. Arnold Friend is an appropriate name for Charles. Charles was confident and he would act friendly to his victims that were perhaps insecure with themselves. He would appeal to them because he would make them feel good about themselves. Arnold was not wearing nice clothes; instead he wore scuffed boots, blue jeans, and a dirty shirt, which showed that he did not have a lot of money. His car is significant by showing who the real Arnold Friend was. It was an old jalopy, which also meant that he did not have a lot of money. The true Arnold, Charles was actually adopted, he did not work, and he would rely on his adopted mother to give him money. Another significance of the car is the numbers written on the fender, "33, 19, 17." These numbers translate to Judges thirty third book, chapter nineteen, verse seventeen. The verse translated is the title of the short story, "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?" In one of the non fictional works about the true story, it states that the parents were to blame, because they did not pay attention to what their kids were doing and where they were going. Also, the title might show that Arnold does not want Connie to tell her parents where she was going and where she had been. The last significant thing about the car was the smashed fender that had "done by a crazy women driver," written on it which shows that Arnold does not have respect for women. Arnold's language is significant, because at first he talks friendly and nice to Connie. But, towards the end of the conversation before Connie leaves with him, his true voice shines through. He starts being aggressive in his words, which shows that Arnold is not as nice and friendly as he puts out to be; instead he is mean and controlling. This shows that Charles manipulated girls into thinking he was a nice guy, and convinced them into going with him, so he could rape and murder them.
Arnold takes Connie to a grassy field in his car. Arnold takes advantage of Connie and rapes her. He takes her back and tells her not to tell anyone where she has been or who she has been with. Connie does however tell her sister what happened to her, and then the story ends. But, I believe that Connie's story is very similar to the victim Gretchen Fritz. Gretchen Fritz had a relationship with Charles. But, she was very jealous of him, therefore their relationship ended. Gretchen also had a sister named Wendy, who was also murdered. And when they left to go to a drive in one night, they never came back. I believe that since Connie told her sister, June what happened to her that they became closer to one another. Therefore, a possible continuation to the story maybe that Connie and June started to hang out more often, and Arnold became worried that they would tell their parents what happened to Connie. So, Arnold decided to murder them one night while they were out together. Now that he had murdered them, his secret would be safe and no one would ever find out.
The setting of the story "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oats, is in a small town. Connie's neighborhood is rural and the houses are far apart. Her house is old and she has a long dirt drive way. Also, part of the story is taken place in a small town, at a movie theater and a local drive in diner where all the older kids hang out. This setting functions in the story, because usually in small towns everybody knows everybody and they know everything about everyone. This shows that Arnold Friend may be an outsider, because no one knows who he is, but since everybody knows everybody, it was easy for him to get information about Connie. Also, the setting shows that people believe, small towns are safe and that the crime rate is low, but really things do happen, but the victims are too scared to tell anyone. For example, Connie did not tell her parents that she was raped. This crime could happen anywhere at anytime. Oats chose the setting of a small town, to express that Arnold Friend was not a familiar face. Also, since it was a small town, Connie did not want to tell her mother because, she knew that everyone would find out about her.
word count 1,018
The character Arnold Friend is Charles Schmid in real life. Charles was a murderer in Tuscon, Arizona, who murdered three girls. Arnold Friend is an appropriate name for Charles. Charles was confident and he would act friendly to his victims that were perhaps insecure with themselves. He would appeal to them because he would make them feel good about themselves. Arnold was not wearing nice clothes; instead he wore scuffed boots, blue jeans, and a dirty shirt, which showed that he did not have a lot of money. His car is significant by showing who the real Arnold Friend was. It was an old jalopy, which also meant that he did not have a lot of money. The true Arnold, Charles was actually adopted, he did not work, and he would rely on his adopted mother to give him money. Another significance of the car is the numbers written on the fender, "33, 19, 17." These numbers translate to Judges thirty third book, chapter nineteen, verse seventeen. The verse translated is the title of the short story, "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?" In one of the non fictional works about the true story, it states that the parents were to blame, because they did not pay attention to what their kids were doing and where they were going. Also, the title might show that Arnold does not want Connie to tell her parents where she was going and where she had been. The last significant thing about the car was the smashed fender that had "done by a crazy women driver," written on it which shows that Arnold does not have respect for women. Arnold's language is significant, because at first he talks friendly and nice to Connie. But, towards the end of the conversation before Connie leaves with him, his true voice shines through. He starts being aggressive in his words, which shows that Arnold is not as nice and friendly as he puts out to be; instead he is mean and controlling. This shows that Charles manipulated girls into thinking he was a nice guy, and convinced them into going with him, so he could rape and murder them.
Arnold takes Connie to a grassy field in his car. Arnold takes advantage of Connie and rapes her. He takes her back and tells her not to tell anyone where she has been or who she has been with. Connie does however tell her sister what happened to her, and then the story ends. But, I believe that Connie's story is very similar to the victim Gretchen Fritz. Gretchen Fritz had a relationship with Charles. But, she was very jealous of him, therefore their relationship ended. Gretchen also had a sister named Wendy, who was also murdered. And when they left to go to a drive in one night, they never came back. I believe that since Connie told her sister, June what happened to her that they became closer to one another. Therefore, a possible continuation to the story maybe that Connie and June started to hang out more often, and Arnold became worried that they would tell their parents what happened to Connie. So, Arnold decided to murder them one night while they were out together. Now that he had murdered them, his secret would be safe and no one would ever find out.
The setting of the story "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oats, is in a small town. Connie's neighborhood is rural and the houses are far apart. Her house is old and she has a long dirt drive way. Also, part of the story is taken place in a small town, at a movie theater and a local drive in diner where all the older kids hang out. This setting functions in the story, because usually in small towns everybody knows everybody and they know everything about everyone. This shows that Arnold Friend may be an outsider, because no one knows who he is, but since everybody knows everybody, it was easy for him to get information about Connie. Also, the setting shows that people believe, small towns are safe and that the crime rate is low, but really things do happen, but the victims are too scared to tell anyone. For example, Connie did not tell her parents that she was raped. This crime could happen anywhere at anytime. Oats chose the setting of a small town, to express that Arnold Friend was not a familiar face. Also, since it was a small town, Connie did not want to tell her mother because, she knew that everyone would find out about her.
word count 1,018
Monday, September 21, 2009
How Different Stories Work Together
The different literary works and the actual non fiction stories of what really happened in the murders of the three girls in Tuscon, Arizona, all intertwine with each other. The non fiction stories, "Murder in the Desert," "Crime: Secrets in the Sand," and "Arizona: Growing Up in Tuscon," tell about the murders, and also explain the different details within the fictional works. They are fictional stories, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been," by Joyce Carol Oats and the movie "Small Talk," were the most connected to the story of what happened. Bob Dylan's song "It's All Over Now Baby Blue," basically explains the situation of being raped, which is what happened to the girls who were murdered. Also, the Utube video "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?" was basically a very short story of what happened in the fictional stories, but the ending is very different which makes it not as creditable.
Arnold Friend, is the character of Charles Schmid, who is the real murder in the non fictional stories. The non fictional works, explain Charles in the same way as the fictional stories do. Charles is an older guy with black hair, who decides to murder a girl, to see if he can get away with it. The fictional and non fictional stories are the same by explaining that Charles had a friend with him, whose real name is John Saunders, and he is nineteen years old. But, unlike the fictional stories, the non fictional stories explain that Charles had a girlfriend named Mary French who was nineteen years old, and who was an accomplice to the murders. Another similarity that we can possibly make between the fictional stories, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been," by Joyce Carol Oats and the movie, "Small Talk," and the non fictional stories, is Connie, in real life her name was Gretchen Fritz and she was seventeen years old. The fictional works explain that Arnold Friend had his eye on Connie and that Connie did go with him and that he brought her back home, and she told her sister what happened. In the non fictional work, "Murder in the Dessert," it explains that Charles likes a girl named Gretchen Fritz and she as well had a sister. But, unlike the fictional works, she and Charles have a relationship, but then it ends. Also, he ends up murdering Gretchen and her sister Wendy one night, when they were supposed to go to a drive in. Therefore, this information to an extent might be the situation that is perhaps explained in the fictional stories. Although it is important to see how the fictional and non fictional works, are similar and different, it is also important to see how the author gives the readers a key point or code to explain the true story.
The key point in the fictional stories "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been," and "Smooth Talk," is that Arnold lets Connie know a secret code on the side of his car which is 33, 19, 17. In the fictional stories it does not explain what this code might mean. After reading the non fictional stories of what happened, it almost seems as if the author of the fictional stories was giving the readers a code. In the fictional stories, it describes Arnold as being a lot older than Connie. Therefore, thirty three might have stood for Arnold's age in the story, even though the real man Charles was twenty three years old. In the fictional stories Connie is fifteen years old. But, as stated earlier, Connie's story is somewhat related to the real victim named Gretchen Fritz. Gretchen was seventeen years old, which might have stood for the number seventeen on the side of the car. The last number nineteen stood for his friend Ellie's age, which in real life his name was John Saunders. Also, the number nineteen could have stood for his accomplice, who was not mentioned in the fictional stories, but her name was Mary French, and she was nineteen years old. Therefore, from reading the non fictional stories, the readers can interpret the code to be ages.
Through these examples, readers can see how the true story has stayed the same, or has changed in the fictional works. The description of Arnold Friend, or Charles Schmid, did not change within the fictional stories. They are also the same because they explain that Charles had a friend with him. But, unlike the fictional stories, Charles also had his girlfriend with him, Mary French; this however, shows how the story was changed. Another similarity, the readers might connect between the non fictional and the fictional stories is the story of Connie and how it is similar to the real story of Gretchen Fritz. Also, the code "33, 19, 17," in the fictional stories, even though Charles's real age is different, tells us the ages of the accomplices to the murders and the victims. In conclusion, these facts show how important it is, when reading a story that the reader must also look at the true story, if there is one, to see the similarities, changes and also codes or key points that the author may give.
Word Count 884
Arnold Friend, is the character of Charles Schmid, who is the real murder in the non fictional stories. The non fictional works, explain Charles in the same way as the fictional stories do. Charles is an older guy with black hair, who decides to murder a girl, to see if he can get away with it. The fictional and non fictional stories are the same by explaining that Charles had a friend with him, whose real name is John Saunders, and he is nineteen years old. But, unlike the fictional stories, the non fictional stories explain that Charles had a girlfriend named Mary French who was nineteen years old, and who was an accomplice to the murders. Another similarity that we can possibly make between the fictional stories, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been," by Joyce Carol Oats and the movie, "Small Talk," and the non fictional stories, is Connie, in real life her name was Gretchen Fritz and she was seventeen years old. The fictional works explain that Arnold Friend had his eye on Connie and that Connie did go with him and that he brought her back home, and she told her sister what happened. In the non fictional work, "Murder in the Dessert," it explains that Charles likes a girl named Gretchen Fritz and she as well had a sister. But, unlike the fictional works, she and Charles have a relationship, but then it ends. Also, he ends up murdering Gretchen and her sister Wendy one night, when they were supposed to go to a drive in. Therefore, this information to an extent might be the situation that is perhaps explained in the fictional stories. Although it is important to see how the fictional and non fictional works, are similar and different, it is also important to see how the author gives the readers a key point or code to explain the true story.
The key point in the fictional stories "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been," and "Smooth Talk," is that Arnold lets Connie know a secret code on the side of his car which is 33, 19, 17. In the fictional stories it does not explain what this code might mean. After reading the non fictional stories of what happened, it almost seems as if the author of the fictional stories was giving the readers a code. In the fictional stories, it describes Arnold as being a lot older than Connie. Therefore, thirty three might have stood for Arnold's age in the story, even though the real man Charles was twenty three years old. In the fictional stories Connie is fifteen years old. But, as stated earlier, Connie's story is somewhat related to the real victim named Gretchen Fritz. Gretchen was seventeen years old, which might have stood for the number seventeen on the side of the car. The last number nineteen stood for his friend Ellie's age, which in real life his name was John Saunders. Also, the number nineteen could have stood for his accomplice, who was not mentioned in the fictional stories, but her name was Mary French, and she was nineteen years old. Therefore, from reading the non fictional stories, the readers can interpret the code to be ages.
Through these examples, readers can see how the true story has stayed the same, or has changed in the fictional works. The description of Arnold Friend, or Charles Schmid, did not change within the fictional stories. They are also the same because they explain that Charles had a friend with him. But, unlike the fictional stories, Charles also had his girlfriend with him, Mary French; this however, shows how the story was changed. Another similarity, the readers might connect between the non fictional and the fictional stories is the story of Connie and how it is similar to the real story of Gretchen Fritz. Also, the code "33, 19, 17," in the fictional stories, even though Charles's real age is different, tells us the ages of the accomplices to the murders and the victims. In conclusion, these facts show how important it is, when reading a story that the reader must also look at the true story, if there is one, to see the similarities, changes and also codes or key points that the author may give.
Word Count 884
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Choices Will Stay With You
The stories, "A & P" by John Updike, "Rites of Passage" by Sharon Olds, and "The One Girl at the Boy's Party" by Sharon Olds, all show different challenges and situations that young people will become faced with. The choices that the young people make within these stories, shows what kind of person he or she will be in the future and if he or she will become sheep like, meaning following the norm. The stories are all based on different stages in a young person's life. "Rites of Passage," is based on the child stage, ages six and seven, "The One Girl at the Boy's Party," is based on the puberty or maturing stage, most likely teenage years, and "A & P," is based on the young adult stage, late teenage years or early twenties. The outcome of these young people's choices is important to thier future and growing up.
In the story "A & P," the main character, Sammy is a young adult, faced with the challenge to stand up and defend the three girls in bathing suits. Sammy believes that Lengel was embarrassing the three girls, and instead of keeping his mouth shut, he decides to quit his job in thier defence. Sammy realizes that he quit his job for nothing, because the girls were not outside and the customers were still shopping and checking out as if nothing had ever happened. Aslo, Sammy has now embarrassed his parents and he will be known as quitter in his small town. But, Sammy showed that he was not a sheep, because he stood up for what he believed at the time was the right thing to do. Unlike Sammy, the son in "Rights of Passage," does however change the way people think and ressolves the issue. In "Rites of Passage," the lady's son's situation arises at his birthday party. His friends were arguing who could beat up whom, and were not paying any attention to the fact that it was her son's birthday. The lady's son decides to stop the arguing and fighting. He makes the boys all agree, by announcing that they could all beat up two year olds. Now that the boys all agreed, they could focus on playing and celebrating her son's birthday. This shows that he will become a different knid of man, and will not be a sheep, meaning a follower; instead he will be a leader. Although, "A & P" and "Rites of Passage," show examples of not being sheep like, by standing up to somebody, there are however, other ways of not being sheep like. This example is in the poem, "The One Girl at the Boy's Party." The daughter is at an all boys pool party, therefore she is considered not to be a sheep, because she is the only there, of the opposite sex. This poem, deals with the situation of loosing virginity or at least the temptation of it. At the beginning of the poem, the author describes the girl as though she is a prime number, meaning that she is innocent and pure. The boys surround her and watch her, as though she is a piece of meat for them to eat. The parent describes the daughter as being overwhelmed by the boys. The daughter is doing math problems in her head throughout the poem, which leads to the fact that she may not be a prime number anymore. The parent comes to the realization that the daughter is coming of age, and that she is faced with the challenge of whather to be pure or not. Also, this relates to being a sheep, will she stay a virgin and not be a sheep, or will she loose her virginity and become a sheep, like everybody else? The author leaves the reader with the impression that the daughter is tempted to not be a virgin anymore. Therefore, the mainpoints in these stories are similar, even though the main points are expressed in different situations.
In "A & P," Sammy was a sheep, and then he decides that he does not want to be a sheep anymore and quits his job. In "Rites of Passage," the son shows that he will not ne a sheep, and instead he will lead. In "The One Girl at the Boy's Party," the author shows that the daughter was not a sheep, but she will soon become one, by loosing her virginity. The first main point of these stories, is to show that some people are followers, some people can change things and become leaders, and others will stand up for what they believe in, it does not matter if they are right or wrong. The other main point of these stories is to show that the decisions these young people make will stay with them in the future.
word count 809
In the story "A & P," the main character, Sammy is a young adult, faced with the challenge to stand up and defend the three girls in bathing suits. Sammy believes that Lengel was embarrassing the three girls, and instead of keeping his mouth shut, he decides to quit his job in thier defence. Sammy realizes that he quit his job for nothing, because the girls were not outside and the customers were still shopping and checking out as if nothing had ever happened. Aslo, Sammy has now embarrassed his parents and he will be known as quitter in his small town. But, Sammy showed that he was not a sheep, because he stood up for what he believed at the time was the right thing to do. Unlike Sammy, the son in "Rights of Passage," does however change the way people think and ressolves the issue. In "Rites of Passage," the lady's son's situation arises at his birthday party. His friends were arguing who could beat up whom, and were not paying any attention to the fact that it was her son's birthday. The lady's son decides to stop the arguing and fighting. He makes the boys all agree, by announcing that they could all beat up two year olds. Now that the boys all agreed, they could focus on playing and celebrating her son's birthday. This shows that he will become a different knid of man, and will not be a sheep, meaning a follower; instead he will be a leader. Although, "A & P" and "Rites of Passage," show examples of not being sheep like, by standing up to somebody, there are however, other ways of not being sheep like. This example is in the poem, "The One Girl at the Boy's Party." The daughter is at an all boys pool party, therefore she is considered not to be a sheep, because she is the only there, of the opposite sex. This poem, deals with the situation of loosing virginity or at least the temptation of it. At the beginning of the poem, the author describes the girl as though she is a prime number, meaning that she is innocent and pure. The boys surround her and watch her, as though she is a piece of meat for them to eat. The parent describes the daughter as being overwhelmed by the boys. The daughter is doing math problems in her head throughout the poem, which leads to the fact that she may not be a prime number anymore. The parent comes to the realization that the daughter is coming of age, and that she is faced with the challenge of whather to be pure or not. Also, this relates to being a sheep, will she stay a virgin and not be a sheep, or will she loose her virginity and become a sheep, like everybody else? The author leaves the reader with the impression that the daughter is tempted to not be a virgin anymore. Therefore, the mainpoints in these stories are similar, even though the main points are expressed in different situations.
In "A & P," Sammy was a sheep, and then he decides that he does not want to be a sheep anymore and quits his job. In "Rites of Passage," the son shows that he will not ne a sheep, and instead he will lead. In "The One Girl at the Boy's Party," the author shows that the daughter was not a sheep, but she will soon become one, by loosing her virginity. The first main point of these stories, is to show that some people are followers, some people can change things and become leaders, and others will stand up for what they believe in, it does not matter if they are right or wrong. The other main point of these stories is to show that the decisions these young people make will stay with them in the future.
word count 809
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Interview with John Updike and how it Did or Did Not Change My View
The interview with John Updike, showed Updike's opinions and visions about the characters and about the message in his story "A & P." The interviewer asked many general questions that many people would have about Updike and his story. Updike's answers too many of the questions made me think a little bit different about the main message within the story. Updike also, explains that the characters in the story developed their own names. For example, Sammy is an ordinary name for a young boy. For the conflict of the story, Updike chose to use the situation of public nakedness in a public setting, like the supermarket "A & P." Updike explains, in the interview, that his vision is shown through the character of Sammy in the story. This is an interesting fact because when the interviewer asked Updike, "If he had ever worked in a supermarket," he replied, "no." Through my own personal experience as a cashier, I believe that he described the customers dead on; therefore, this fact caught my attention. In the interview, I realized a lot of things that I did not realize before, like the fact that "Queenie" is from a higher social class. Updike, states that he is representing the differences between the social classes. For example, Sammy is a blue collar worker trying to catch the attention of a pretty, rich girl, known as Queenie. Updike, shows that Sammy is a hero because he gave up his good name for the three girls. Since Sammy quit his job, means that now he will be known as a quitter in the small town and that his behavior is "unsheep like," which means that he is not like everyone else and he stands up for what he believes in. Since, Sammy stood up for what he believes in, he becomes the girls' hero, but the girls would never know what he did because they left. This fact from Updike shows me that my first interpretation that Sammy was a hero for nothing is still true. Therefore, Updike's interview showed me facts about the story that I did not realize before, but Updike's and my own interpretation of the main point at the end of the story, was the same.
The poem "Rites of Passage," by Sharon Olds, is common with John Updike's story, "A & P," because they are both descriptive of the characters in their stories. The stories are not common because in "A & P," nothing changes after Sammy quits his job, but in "Rites of Passage," things do change. In the poem, "Rites of Passage," the little boys are all fighting and arguing about who can beat up whom. Then to resolve the issue, the lady's son stands up and states that they can all beat up two year olds, which makes the group all agree, and start playing and focusing on the fact that it was her son's birthday party. The poem, "The One Girl at the Boy's Party," by Sharon Olds and John Updike's story, "A & P," are common because both are very descriptive in their stories. But unlike Updike, Olds uses mathematical terms to describe. Both authors' main characters are described as going through puberty. In "A & P" Sammy, is lusting over the beautiful girl named Queenie, and in "The One Girl at the Boy's Party," the lady's daughter is over whelmed by all of the boys around her, as well as the boys viewing her as the only female at the party to look at.
Word count 588
The poem "Rites of Passage," by Sharon Olds, is common with John Updike's story, "A & P," because they are both descriptive of the characters in their stories. The stories are not common because in "A & P," nothing changes after Sammy quits his job, but in "Rites of Passage," things do change. In the poem, "Rites of Passage," the little boys are all fighting and arguing about who can beat up whom. Then to resolve the issue, the lady's son stands up and states that they can all beat up two year olds, which makes the group all agree, and start playing and focusing on the fact that it was her son's birthday party. The poem, "The One Girl at the Boy's Party," by Sharon Olds and John Updike's story, "A & P," are common because both are very descriptive in their stories. But unlike Updike, Olds uses mathematical terms to describe. Both authors' main characters are described as going through puberty. In "A & P" Sammy, is lusting over the beautiful girl named Queenie, and in "The One Girl at the Boy's Party," the lady's daughter is over whelmed by all of the boys around her, as well as the boys viewing her as the only female at the party to look at.
Word count 588
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
What is a Hero?
The term "hero," is used by many people to describe someone, whom he or she believes has done a heroic deed. Everyone is different, therefore, there are many different opinions and viewpoints, as to what people believe a hero is. Therefore, the question arises, what is a hero and what qualities does a person need to be considered a hero? A general definition for the term, hero, is someone who helps without expecting anything in return, no matter what the consequences are, or how dangerous the situation may be. In extreme cases, a hero is someone who puts another person's life before his or her own. When people think of heroes, he or she may envision them as strong men or women that can do anything and that they will stop at nothing to do what is right. Heroes can be anybody of any shape, size, gender, age, and race, also heroic deeds can range from small to large. For example, heroes and heroic deeds can range from a child who found a lost dog and returned it to it's owner, to a trained lifeguard who saved a drowning victims life by giving them CPR. These examples show that there are many heroic deeds that many people can do.
A good example of a hero would be a firefighter. Firefighters always put their life on the line to save other people, for example, the September eleventh attacks, on the World Trade Center. Many firefighters lost his or her life that day, because it was his or her job to help evacuate as many people as he or she could before the buildings collapsed, and for that we consider them to be heroes. Another, more specific and personal example of a heroic firefighter would be my boyfriend's cousin, Billy. Billy had only been a Memphis firefighter for a few months, when his station got the call that a high rise in downtown Memphis had caught on fire. Billy, and three other Memphis firemen, went into the burning building. Billy had lost his partner and was by his self when he got the call that he needed to get out of the building, because the fire was to big. He told them that he was not going to leave his partner and that he was going to find him. The building collapsed and both Billy and his partner died. Billy is considered to be a hero because, he risked his life to try and save his partner's life. The definition of a hero and what Billy tried to do matches perfectly, he put his life on the line to try and save another person.
In the story "A&P," by John Updike, the main character Sammy, tries to be a hero for the three girls in swimsuits. He tries to be the girls' hero, by standing up to Lengel and telling him he should not embarrass them. Then when the girls are told to leave, Sammy tells Lengel that he quits, but the story also, mentions that he hoped that they would stop walking and notice that he was standing up for them. This shows, he was only quitting his job to impress the girls and to get them to notice him. In the end, Sammy quit his job for nothing, because the girls were not in the parking lot when he went outside. Also when he looked through the window, he realized that quitting did not even affect the store, and that the customers were still shopping and checking out their groceries, as if nothing had ever happened. Sammy and what he did, does not match the definition of a hero. Sammy is not considered to be a hero because, he stood up for the girls and quit his job, just to get the girls attention, also his supposed act of heroism did not affect anyone or anything.
A good example of a hero would be a firefighter. Firefighters always put their life on the line to save other people, for example, the September eleventh attacks, on the World Trade Center. Many firefighters lost his or her life that day, because it was his or her job to help evacuate as many people as he or she could before the buildings collapsed, and for that we consider them to be heroes. Another, more specific and personal example of a heroic firefighter would be my boyfriend's cousin, Billy. Billy had only been a Memphis firefighter for a few months, when his station got the call that a high rise in downtown Memphis had caught on fire. Billy, and three other Memphis firemen, went into the burning building. Billy had lost his partner and was by his self when he got the call that he needed to get out of the building, because the fire was to big. He told them that he was not going to leave his partner and that he was going to find him. The building collapsed and both Billy and his partner died. Billy is considered to be a hero because, he risked his life to try and save his partner's life. The definition of a hero and what Billy tried to do matches perfectly, he put his life on the line to try and save another person.
In the story "A&P," by John Updike, the main character Sammy, tries to be a hero for the three girls in swimsuits. He tries to be the girls' hero, by standing up to Lengel and telling him he should not embarrass them. Then when the girls are told to leave, Sammy tells Lengel that he quits, but the story also, mentions that he hoped that they would stop walking and notice that he was standing up for them. This shows, he was only quitting his job to impress the girls and to get them to notice him. In the end, Sammy quit his job for nothing, because the girls were not in the parking lot when he went outside. Also when he looked through the window, he realized that quitting did not even affect the store, and that the customers were still shopping and checking out their groceries, as if nothing had ever happened. Sammy and what he did, does not match the definition of a hero. Sammy is not considered to be a hero because, he stood up for the girls and quit his job, just to get the girls attention, also his supposed act of heroism did not affect anyone or anything.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Assignment for Tuesday
Questions p. 6
1. The North Wind and the Sun are both competitive. The North Wind is forceful and aggressive and the Sun's personality is persuasive.
2. The North Wind's method was ineffective because he force cold wind onto the human which caused the human to wrap his cloak around him even tighter.
3. The Sun was successful because he persuaded the human by using heat to warm him up which made him take off his cloak. The Sun used persuasion instead unlike the North Wind who used force in his attempt.
4. The person's purpose in the dispute is to show the truth, that persuasion is better than force.
5. Persuasion is better than force- The North Wind's method did not work because he tried to force the human to take off his cloak. The Sun's method worked because he persuaded the human into believing that taking off his cloak was the right thing to do because the Sun made him warm.
Questions p. 8
1. The part of the story that is the exposition is when Chuang Tzu tells the two assistants about the sacred tortoise being locked up in the prince's ancestral shrine. Chuang Tzu uses three sentences to set up the dramatic situation.
2. He changes the subject and mentions the sacred tortoise to show that he does not want to be locked up and told what to do, instead he would rather be free and on his own. He does not answer the question directly and immediately to make the assistance realize and to prove his reason why he does not want to assist the prince. Chuang Tzu's purpose to asking the officials the question to which he already knows the answer, is to make them agree with him with out them realizing it.
3. The story tells us about the protagonist personality of Chuang Tzu, that he lives by his own rules and does not want to be held captive by assisting the king, instead he wants to be free.
Questions p. 19
1. The details about the supermarket are particularly true to live, also there is always the leader of the click, which is also true to real life. The close attention to details contributes to the story by painting a picture and a vision for us. Also by describing the girls and how they dressed shows u7s why Lengel wanted them to leave the store.
2. Sammy is the main character of the story. He is the narrator and the story is told from his point of view. I believe he is less of a hero because he just wanted the girls to notice him, a real hero would not have cared if they had noticed. The details of him and his thoughts were more portrayed in the story, than the doctor in "Godfather Death."
3. The first two paragraphs were the exposition of the story. It explains Sammy's job and describes the three girls in bathing suits. The carefully detailed portrait of the "Queenie," shows that she is the leader and the other two girls look up to her and do whatever she tells them to do.
4. At the beginning of the story when he is describing them, it is if he is making fun of them. Then as the story goes along and the girls asked the meat man where something was, he stated that he felt sorry for the girls. By the end of the story he wanted to stand up for them and be their hero.
5. Between the check-outs and the Special bins is where the conflict becomes apparent. The crisis happens when Lengel tells the girls that they are not at the beach and that they need to leave. The climax happens when Sammy says he quits because Lengel embarrassed the girls.
6. Sammy quits his job because he says that Lengel embarrassed the girls and also he feels like he has to go through with it.
7. Sammy shows a gesture of sympathy for the girls when they asked the meat man, McMahon, where something was, and after they left he was sizing up their joints, which made Sammy feel sorry for the girls because they could not help it.
8. The conclusion of the story is that he quits his job for nothing. When Sammy acknowledges, "how hard the world was going to be...hereafter," means that you can not always give up or quit on something just because you do not like it, because nothing good will come of it.
9. The comment about how dynamite could go off in the "A&P" store and nobody would realize it, they would just keep shopping. This shows that no one pays attention to anyone else, they are just paying attention to getting all of their groceries.
1. The North Wind and the Sun are both competitive. The North Wind is forceful and aggressive and the Sun's personality is persuasive.
2. The North Wind's method was ineffective because he force cold wind onto the human which caused the human to wrap his cloak around him even tighter.
3. The Sun was successful because he persuaded the human by using heat to warm him up which made him take off his cloak. The Sun used persuasion instead unlike the North Wind who used force in his attempt.
4. The person's purpose in the dispute is to show the truth, that persuasion is better than force.
5. Persuasion is better than force- The North Wind's method did not work because he tried to force the human to take off his cloak. The Sun's method worked because he persuaded the human into believing that taking off his cloak was the right thing to do because the Sun made him warm.
Questions p. 8
1. The part of the story that is the exposition is when Chuang Tzu tells the two assistants about the sacred tortoise being locked up in the prince's ancestral shrine. Chuang Tzu uses three sentences to set up the dramatic situation.
2. He changes the subject and mentions the sacred tortoise to show that he does not want to be locked up and told what to do, instead he would rather be free and on his own. He does not answer the question directly and immediately to make the assistance realize and to prove his reason why he does not want to assist the prince. Chuang Tzu's purpose to asking the officials the question to which he already knows the answer, is to make them agree with him with out them realizing it.
3. The story tells us about the protagonist personality of Chuang Tzu, that he lives by his own rules and does not want to be held captive by assisting the king, instead he wants to be free.
Questions p. 19
1. The details about the supermarket are particularly true to live, also there is always the leader of the click, which is also true to real life. The close attention to details contributes to the story by painting a picture and a vision for us. Also by describing the girls and how they dressed shows u7s why Lengel wanted them to leave the store.
2. Sammy is the main character of the story. He is the narrator and the story is told from his point of view. I believe he is less of a hero because he just wanted the girls to notice him, a real hero would not have cared if they had noticed. The details of him and his thoughts were more portrayed in the story, than the doctor in "Godfather Death."
3. The first two paragraphs were the exposition of the story. It explains Sammy's job and describes the three girls in bathing suits. The carefully detailed portrait of the "Queenie," shows that she is the leader and the other two girls look up to her and do whatever she tells them to do.
4. At the beginning of the story when he is describing them, it is if he is making fun of them. Then as the story goes along and the girls asked the meat man where something was, he stated that he felt sorry for the girls. By the end of the story he wanted to stand up for them and be their hero.
5. Between the check-outs and the Special bins is where the conflict becomes apparent. The crisis happens when Lengel tells the girls that they are not at the beach and that they need to leave. The climax happens when Sammy says he quits because Lengel embarrassed the girls.
6. Sammy quits his job because he says that Lengel embarrassed the girls and also he feels like he has to go through with it.
7. Sammy shows a gesture of sympathy for the girls when they asked the meat man, McMahon, where something was, and after they left he was sizing up their joints, which made Sammy feel sorry for the girls because they could not help it.
8. The conclusion of the story is that he quits his job for nothing. When Sammy acknowledges, "how hard the world was going to be...hereafter," means that you can not always give up or quit on something just because you do not like it, because nothing good will come of it.
9. The comment about how dynamite could go off in the "A&P" store and nobody would realize it, they would just keep shopping. This shows that no one pays attention to anyone else, they are just paying attention to getting all of their groceries.
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