Nonfiction or Fiction Response (Due Monday, September 14)
Choose ONE of the following to respond to (either A or B):
(A) Reflecting on your summer reading, IF one of the books you read is fiction, begin your blog response (two developed paragraphs) by introducing the title of the book and its author. Then choose TWO of the questions listed below to respond to. Use two direct quotes from the novel to support your answers.
What is the role of point of view in this book?
What is the organization of the work (chronological, flashback, multiple points of view, etc.)?
What is the setting, and how does it impact the meaning of the story?
What are some of the conflicts (both internal and external)?
What is the main theme of the story?
(B) Reflecting on your summer reading, IF one of the books you read is nonfiction, begin your blog response (two developed paragraphs) by introducing the title of the book and its author. Then choose TWO of the questions below to respond to. Use two direct quotes from the novel to support your answers.
Is the book an autobiography, biography, memoir?
What is the role of point of view in this book?
What is the impact of pace (as influenced by description, dialogue, etc.) on the reader?
What is the impact of diction (word choice) on quality of work and intended audience?
What is the impact of syntax (sentence structure) on quality of work and intended audience?
What is the tone of the book?
Brett Rogers
ReplyDeleteI chose to read Black Boy for one of my summer readings. Written by Richard Wright, the book details his growing up in a Jim Crow era South. Eventually scraping together enough money to make it to Chicago, he fights black prejudice and racism with writing, struggling to feed himself and his sick mother while he wrote.
Black Boy is an autobiography. The tremendous upheaval that my words had caused made me know that there lay back of them much more than I could figure out, and I resolved that in the future I would learn the meaning of why they had beat and denounced me. This quote clearly shows the first person point of view and also gives an insight to the struggles of growing up in a highly religious home, full of relatives who did not appreciate his less than ordinary thoughts and imagination.
Point of view is used throughout the entirety of the book to create sympathy with Wright's plight. The first person view gives the reader front-line imagery of what it was like to grow up where you were treated less than human, and had to do anything to survive. ""You just stay right where you are," she said in a deadly tone. "I'm going to teach you this night to stand up and fight for yourself." "Take this money, this note, and this stick," she said..." This quote talks about when Wright had been trying to go and get groceries, and every time he tried a gang of boys would beat him up and take his money. His mother locked him outside the house and told him to get the groceries and not return until he had them.
(A)
ReplyDeleteI chose to read "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker for one of my summer books. Celie, the protagonist of the book, is a poor, uneducated 14 year old girl who lives in rural Georgia. Growing up in an environment where it was "okay" for her father and husband to sexually abuse her was one of many obstacles Celie faced.
The Color Purple is a historical fiction novel. With the book taking place in rural Georgia, it really depicts the racism and stereotyping that was present in the South during that time. Celie is the main narrator of the story, but later in the novel it shifts narratives back and forth through letters written by both Celie and her sister. “All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my brothers. I had to fight my cousins and my uncles. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men. But I never thought I'd have to fight in my own house. She let out her breath. I loves Harpo, she say. God knows I do. But I'll kill him dead before I let him beat me.” This quote not only exhibits the first person point of view that is expressed a lot in the novel, but it also presents the tone of the book. The tone is very tense, she has a lot of anger and resentment in her life. A major internal conflict in the novel is Celie's relationship with God. “But it ain't easy, trying to do without God even if you know he ain't there, trying to do without him is a strain” There are times where she feels God isn't by her side, therefor she feels she can't go on in life. The power of voice, female relationships, and shifts in gender roles are prominent themes throughout the novel. The Color Purple is a true representation of a young, African American girl who overcomes the odds.
I read The Color Purple too and really enjoyed it. I really didn't like how she had to grow up in such a racist community and how she did have to think that what happened to her was okay. I really like that first quote you have in there. That really does show the tone of the story and how tense it is! It really explains how tough her life was and how much she had to go through just because she was that race. I agree with you when you say this book is a great representation of a young, African American girl. I really like your blog, it really explains the book well and I think this blog could get someone else to want to read it!
DeleteRebekah Halley
ReplyDeleteThe Woman Warrior: A memoir of a girlhood among ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston is a nonfiction memoir of her life as a Chinese-American. The Woman Warrior is filled with history and culture. Kingston travels back and forth between China and San Francisco between stories, memories, myths, and recent accounts. She floats through time and space developing a cultural knowledge for the reader to understand. Her childhood is filled with ancient Chinese legends and her mother's fables and experiences. Brought up with two different worlds Kingston struggles with the dilemma of having to choose a side. She realizes that she is trapped between the world of her ancestors and the new land she is in now. She struggles to fit in however, if she chooses to be Chinese she will never have a normal life in America but if she chooses to be American she will have betrayed her family. "Chinese-Americans, when you try to understand what things In you are Chinese, how do you separate what is peculiar to childhood, to poverty, insanities, one family, your mother who marked your growing with stories, from what is Chinese? What is Chinese tradition and what is the movies?" (Kingston 78)
Throughout this book Kingston sets an honest and heartfelt tone. She shares with the world her real life stories and experiences. She is open about her feelings and beliefs. From her early childhood, through her teen years, and later as an adult secrets, stories, and everything she has ever known is spilled onto the pages. From the inspiring stories of Fa Mu lan to the depth of China's ghosts she shows every side of herself sharing openly all intimate details. She shares family secrets and news forbidden in China like the story of her aunt such continues to be a burden on her even at an old age. The truth in her words is inspiring. "My aunt haunts me - her ghost drawn to me because now, after fifty years of neglect, I alone devote pages of paper to her". (Kingston 13) Sincere, genuine, and vulnerable she makes her claim. Leaving behind a captivating story.
Erin Boehme
ReplyDelete(B)
The book I chose was, Out of the Dark by Helen Keler. It is her autobiography, that tells her story about wht growing up both deaf and blind was like and how she dealt with it. However she doesn't focus the whole book on herself, she also tells us about wht society was like back then.
She writes the majority of her book in first person, but some parts are from an outside narrarator. Most of the time when she writes in first person it is about a feeling or emotion, for example, " Once I rejoiced when i heard of a new invention for the comfort of man." Even though not all of her experiences are good, she includes them in her writing so you get a veiw to both te good and bad sides. At certain points she gives you tips too. I couldn't remember where to find it but "I have written about prevention of unnessicary blindness.", proves that statement true.
ReplyDeleteRachel Rohlwing
The book I read was Red Ribbon on a White Horse, it was written by Anzia Yezierska, a Jewish young adult who separated from her parents as a teen in order to become a famous writer. It is a biography that is written in first point of view and takes place in the 1920’s. The pace of this book is very fast and is influenced by lots of description, dialogue between the characters, and imagery. She describes every detail down to the scents of her surroundings and what they reminded her of “The steaming platter of gefullte fish, the smell of fresh-baked hallah, Sabbath white bread. Mother blessing the candles uttering in the Sabbath.”(Yezierska 49).
Her word choice shows that the audience is middle class people who know the struggle of being poor but would like to know what it is like in Hollywood. She gives the audience a raw point of view from someone who has never experienced the luxuries or the go big or go home way of life in Hollywood “In one of those limousines which I had always condemned as a criminal luxury.” (Yezierska 37)Her sentences are well formed and show that she is intelligent although lost and confused throughout the book. The tone of this book is not angry or sad or happy, it is a mixture of curiosity, confusement, and ambitious.
ReplyDeleteRachel Rohlwing
The book I read was Red Ribbon on a White Horse, it was written by Anzia Yezierska, a Jewish young adult who separated from her parents as a teen in order to become a famous writer. It is a biography that is written in first point of view and takes place in the 1920’s. The pace of this book is very fast and is influenced by lots of description, dialogue between the characters, and imagery. She describes every detail down to the scents of her surroundings and what they reminded her of “The steaming platter of gefullte fish, the smell of fresh-baked hallah, Sabbath white bread. Mother blessing the candles uttering in the Sabbath.”(Yezierska 49).
Her word choice shows that the audience is middle class people who know the struggle of being poor but would like to know what it is like in Hollywood. She gives the audience a raw point of view from someone who has never experienced the luxuries or the go big or go home way of life in Hollywood “In one of those limousines which I had always condemned as a criminal luxury.” (Yezierska 37)Her sentences are well formed and show that she is intelligent although lost and confused throughout the book. The tone of this book is not angry or sad or happy, it is a mixture of curiosity, confusement, and ambitious.
Maddie Mougalian
ReplyDeleteOne book that I decided to read for my summer reading selection is Letter to My Daughter. This book was written by Maya Angelou. The book is dedicated to the daughter that she never had. Angelou writes a collection of stories to her daughter. These stories could be used as life lessons for the reader as well.
Maya Angelou's Letter to My Daughter book is a mainly a memoir. She is reflecting on previous events that happened in her own life. She then writes them as a letter to the daughter she never had. She uses her stories to be as a guidebook and to teach lessons to the reader as well. Angelous says "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them" (Angelou xii). She basically says that you may not be able to control everything that happens to you in your life, but you can choose how you have an attitude toward it. Angelou also writes, "Be certain that you do not die without having done something wonderful for humanity" (Angelou xii). She is saying that she would want her daughter to be someone who does great things for humanity in her lifetime. She writes her book in the first person point of view. It makes this book even more powerful becuase then the reader knows that they are actual events that could and have happened. It describes ways that Maya Angelou went through different events in her life.
I also read a Maya Angelou novel over the summer and found it to be filled with interesting stories and knowledge. She has gone through many experiences and has developed some good advice over the years. I enjoyed reading your analysis and perspective on the way she writes. I also agree that her statement towards her "daughter" to make the most out of life and to do something for humanity before death is very powerful.
DeleteSkylar Beavers
ReplyDeleteThe first book I read was Billions And Billions by Carl Sagan. The book is written in first person from Sagan's point of view as he takes us through the creation of the universe all the way until it's death. The narration pulls you in by your own curiosity, the subjects explained can seem confusing and immense at times but the narration feels very personal. Carl Sagan writes in a way that feels as if you two are walking through a grand hall filled with grand displays and he explains each and every one to you carefully, spending more time on subjects that you may have a twisted face about. “I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But as much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking.” The feeling of being talked to and the story being personal makes you feel everything he says is within your grasp, even if at some points you don't always believe it.
The tone of the book is very inquisitive with a genuine nature. There are a lot of confusing subjects but the narration combined with the overall tone makes everything feel very personal. “Perhaps, in retrospect, there would be little motivation even for malevolent extraterrestrials to attack the Earth; perhaps, after a preliminary survey, they might decide it is more expedient just to be patient for a little while and wait for us to self-destruct.” Other authors may just dump information onto a page, but Carl Sagan shows you excitedly the discoveries and guides you to a new world where he won't leave you on your own.
One of the books I chose to read this summer was The Color Purple, written by Alice Walker. The protagonist of the story, Celie is a poor 14 year old who has to go through many obstacles any young girl should never have to go through. The tone throughout the story is tense and sad. Tense because of all the conflicts Celie comes across, and sad because of what she had to go through at such a young age.
ReplyDeleteThe color purple is a fiction book which takes place in the historical southern times. This book really highlights the racism which took place back then. One of the biggest struggles Celie had to go through throughout this book was trying to get the man who sexually abused her out of her head. That man was her father and she was raised in the environment to think that's okay. "Well, us talk and talk about God, but I’m still adrift. Trying to chase that old white man out of my head. I been so busy thinking bout him I never truly notice nothing God make. Not a blade of corn (how it do that?) not the color purple (where it come from?)". This quote also brings up the point of Celie's relationship with God. There's several times during the story when she truly believes she by herself. She doesn't believe that God is still by her side. In the beginning of the story, for about the fist half, she writes her letters to God. For the rest of the book she started writing to her sister and other people she wanted to communicate with. For the most part the story was written in first person. When Celie writes to her sister, she writes back so there's a few letters that are from her. "Us sleep like sisters, me and Shug." This quote represents the first person point of view of the story.
I also read The Color Purple. I agree that the relationship Celie has with God is to be noted. The struggle she has with her faith highlights her acknowledgment of her socioeconomic status. I thought her original struggle with her faith is rooted in the sexual abuse she faced as a child and she continues to question God in her later endeavors.
DeleteDavid Stults
ReplyDeleteI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was one of my selected readings from the summer that I am choosing to reflect on. The book is an autobiography written by Maya Angelou. In this narrative, Angelou recounts her life growing up in a small southern town. She uses her life stories to spread knowledge of what life was like being a black girl growing up in the mid 1900's, in the south. "A light shade had been pulled down between the Black community and all things white, but one could see through it enough to develop a fear-admiration-contempt for the white “things”—white folks’ cars and white glistening houses and their children and their women. But above all, their wealth that allowed them to waste was the most enviable" (Angelou 49). Although it is an autobiography, Angelou writes with the intention to help educate her readers on what black people in the south faced during the mid 1900's.
Angelou writes the story as an adult recounting her childhood. From her childs point of view, Angelou makes her readers see the story from the naive and innocent eyes of a child. This strategy gives her narrative more emotion because the events that she experienced are not pleasent and even more unpleasent when you think about it coming from the eyes of a child. " He was a stranger, and if he chose to leave us with a stranger, it was all one piece" (Angelou 59). Angelou is talking about her mother and father in this quote which is sad to think that they are refered to as strangers.
ReplyDeleteEmma Way
Robert Kennedy and His Times by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. is a biography about the life of Robert Kennedy and the challenges he faced as a political figure. The impact of the political diction made the piece challenging, however enforced the importance of Robert Kennedy’s presence in politics at this time. Schlesinger presents Robert Kennedy as a hardworking politician by including quotes from comrades such as “Patrick Lucey, the state chairman, told him he should decide whether to be manager or campaigner. "But he insisted on doing both and did both quite well. It was amazing to me how he could find the amount of energy that he was able to put into the thing" (Schlesinger 195.) The tone of this book is serious as it includes very serious events in history such as affairs with Cuba, the threat of weapons of mass destruction, and the penetration of communism into American government. Schlesinger quotes one of Kennedy’s speeches regarding violence with Cuba “Violence, Kennedy said in Cleveland ‘goes on and on...why?” What has violence ever accomplished. What has it ever created? No martyr’s cause has ever been stilled by his assassin’s bullet.”
Amy Norton
ReplyDeleteOne of the books that I read this summer was 1984 by George Orwell. The point of view for 1984 is what makes the story what it is, had the book not been in first person point of view it would have totally changed the way the story developed. Throughout the book the narrator struggles with thoughts of rebellion and trusted a member of the “Party,” which is the name that the government is given, who believes to be a rebel as well. “Winston had never been able to feel sure… whether O’Brien was a friend or an enemy” (Orwell 25). Had the book been in third person instead, the reader would have known the fate of the narrator, Winston, throughout the whole novel.
The main theme of 1984 is the dangers of a totalitarian government. The government known as both the “Party” as well as “Big Brother” is a government that watches their people day in and day out. “The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it; moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard” (Orwell 3). Eventually in a totalitarian government the government begins to control even the language that the citizens speak in order to control their thoughts as well, to maintain full control of their people.
Tiffany Cummings
ReplyDeleteOne of the books I chose to read this summer was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings which is an autobiography by Maya Angelou. This is a story of Maya growing up as a young black girl in a small Southern town living with her grandmother and having to endure abandonment and many other obstacles. She uses her life stories to educate others on the injustices that took place during her childhood because of her race. “It was awful to be Negro and have no control over my life. It was brutal to be young and already trained to sit quietly and listen to charges brought against my color with no chance of defense. We should all be dead” (Angelou 180).
Maya is telling her story as an adult but telling it from her point view as a child. By using this method she is portraying herself with childlike innocence which makes the story so much more eye opening and devastating. “He held me so softly that I wished he wouldn't ever let me go. I felt at home. From the way he was holding me I knew He'd never let me go or let anything bad ever happen to me. This was probably my real father and we had found each other a last” (Angelou 73). This quote shows that Maya’s point of view through a child's eyes portrays that she hadn’t realized she was being sexually abused at the time. Instead she saw it as an act of fatherly love because she was a naive child with abandonment issues.
Riley Beronja
ReplyDeleteI chose to read Animal Farm, by George Orwell. The novel has multiple conflicts but one of the biggest is the external conflict between the pigs and the other farm animals. The animals become fed up with how the humans are running the farm so they overthrow it and the pigs take over. However, the pigs turn out to be no better than the humans. They create a list of rules that they refuse to follow, they treat the other animals poorly, and they even begin to walk on two feet instead of four. The other animals quickly realize that they have made a mistake in putting them in charge. "The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership." The pigs see themselves as superior to the other animals even though they do not work, creating tension between both sides of the farm.
This ties in with one the main theme: Power corrupts. The pigs were friends with the other animals at the beginning of the novel and the animals were all on their side. However, once they rise to power, they become power hungry and ruthless. They become obsessed with power and they use it to coerce the other animals into doing their work. "This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half." The animals had no choice but to work while the pigs sat and dictated.
Jessie Beilby
ReplyDeleteOne of my summer readings was The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday, a memoir. Momaday traces back his ancestral roots to the Kiowa Tribe. With his grandmother's death he decides to return to her home, where the kiowa tribes spirit is very strong. His returning is to get as close as possible to his ancestral roots. The memoir describes his experiences throughout his life. "I came to know that country, not in the way a traveler knows the landmarks he sees in the distance, but more truly and intimately, in every season from a thousand points of view" (Momaday 67). By speaking of his experiences it gives you a look into what he took time to do that many others will never get a chance to see.
Momadays diction shows the true maturity in his writing as well as his spiritual side. His writing is majorly influenced by Native Americans history and art. “When the wild herds were destroyed, so too was the will of the Kiowa people; there was nothing to sustain them in spirit." ( Momaday 3). In this memoir Momaday relates to the landscapes, legends and the people that created the Kiowa culture in which is so important to him. The word choice shows the level of sophistication that is used and leaves you with a want for more information. writing is majorly influenced by Native Americans history and art. The diction used is intended for a curious and mature audience.
Reid Williams response B
ReplyDeletei read the book i know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou and it is an autobiography. the book is all about the life of Maya, growing up in the south. she and her brother Bailey live with her grandmother because her parents are divorced. her grandmother is a shop owner and a well respected community member despite her a being a back woman in the south in the 1930's. in her childhood she moves in with her mother in saint louis and her boyfriend Mr. freeman. Mr freeman molests Maya and then later rapes her. After she is raped mr freeman is beaten to death presumably by mayas protective uncles. She then takes a vow of silence and does not speak for months"Now, this ain't gonna hurt you much. You liked it before, didn't you? I didn't want to admit that I had in fact liked his holding me or that I had like his smell or the hard heart-beating, so I said nothing." (Angelou 78)
The tone of the book is dark with light undertones but at times it seems light with dark undertones, both could be argued favorably. throughout the book Maya realizes that blacks are treated horribly and that it is not ok, that white folks aren’t treated that way. she also experience joy, playing with her brother as she grows up, living with her grandmother and her mother. the book is written like a fiction novel even though its an autobiography, this gives angelou the ability to draw much more emotion out of the reader because its in 1st person and not a narrative style. Maya especially loves reading, it is her one true escape. As quickly as I understood that I had not reached my home, I sneaked away to Robin Hood's forest and the caves of Alley Oop where all reality was unreal and even that changed every day." (Angelou 111)
Stephanie Rauhoff
ReplyDeleteOne of the books I chose to read for the summer was 1984 by George Orwell. The role point of view of this book is third person limited. Orwell follows the everyday, post-war communist life of Winston, a 39 year-old, oppressed man. In his heart, he has always resented the people in power, mostly referred to as "the party" or "Big Brother". However it is only just as the book begins that he starts expressing his hatred. The reader can obviously see the strong dislike for his government as he rebels in even the smallest way, writing in a journal-something illegal for this setting. As he tells about his day, he finds himself slip into a rebellious chant. "DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER," (18, Orwell) was written over and over again, enough to fill half a page.
The main theme of the story is the dangers of totalitarianism. This theme is often present in Orwell's novels, as Animal Farm had a similar theme. In almost every room there is a sign that reads "Big Brother is Watching You," (first seen on 2, Orwell), along with cameras to watch every move and microphones to hear every word the characters in the novel say. When Winston challenges the party's powers in the smallest ways, such as writing in a journal and slacking in their mandatory morning exercises, he is caught, perceived to be a threat, and punished in the cruelest way. These actions were seen in smaller form in some communist countries at around the same years Orwell wrote this novel. He was obviously concerned for the well-being of the people living in these countries and concerned with the state of the world.
I also chose to read 1984 over the summer and I totally agree that Orwell was yet again warning the reader about the dangers of totalitarianism. Throughout the book you see the narrator, Winston, struggling with ideas of rebellion and he is ultimately punished very harshly. The way the book ends makes it obvious that Orwell believes that a similar fate could come to those in the communist countries around him at the time. Both Animal Farm and 1984 definitely show that Orwell was concerned about how things were going for the world at the time and into the future had communism continued.
DeleteOver the summer I also chose to read 1984. I like the way you tied the themes from this novel in with the themes of Orwell's other novels, such as Animal Farm. I agree that the purpose of this novel was to warn about the dangers of totalitarianism and government involvement. I think that Orwell's writing style also adds emphasis to his warning. He uses blunt sentences to get his point across and detailed imagery to create a picture to accompany his words of warning.
DeleteSamantha Ergang
ReplyDelete(A)
One of the books I chose for my summer reading was Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. This book was written in third person omniscient point of view. The narrator helps us to gain insight on everything that is happening to and around Wilbur and Charlotte. Since the narrator is omniscient, they can tell us what the character is thinking (for example: if Wilbur is feeling lonely the reader will know about it). This work is also organized through chronological order and uses a lot of details (ex: everything Wilbur eats) and sensory (what does it look/feel/smell like?). “In the hard-packed dirt of the midway, after the glaring lights are out and the people have gone home to bed, you will find a veritable treasure of popcorn fragments, frozen custard dribblings, candied apples abandoned by tired children, sugar fluff crystals, salted almonds, popsicles, partially gnawed ice cream cones, and the wooden sticks of lollipops”(White 123). This quote demonstrates the amount of sensory which White uses in his writing and throughout this book.
Charlotte’s Web takes place in the barn on the Zuckerman farm around the mid 1900’s. It is here that Wilbur faces several conflicts both internal and external. Wilbur’s internal conflicts include his fear of violence and death. Wilbur’s fear of death begins when he is told he will be slaughtered before Christmas. He is confronted with the stark difference between violent death and natural death. External conflicts consist mostly of the possibility of being killed, both when he was young and the runt of the litter as well as when he gets to the farm and does not yet have Charlotte’s web to protect him. The main theme of Charlotte’s Web is the meaning of friendship, Wilbur once says “Why did you do all of this for me?’ he asked, ‘I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.’’You have been my friend,’ replied Charlotte. ‘That in itself is a tremendous thing”(White 164). Charlotte sacrificed herself and put Wilbur’s needs before her own in order for him to survive.
Alexa Belanger
ReplyDeleteOne of the three books I read was The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood. I think that one of the main themes in this book is appreciate the little things in life. Offred had a normal life, just like everyone else. She had a family and a house but that all changed once the Gilead took over. She was separated from her family, this is something that she never thought would happen. She never really appreciated having that ideal normal lifestyle with a loving family and a place to live, until it was gone. When she realizes how her life is changed and may never be the same again she thrives to have her family back with her. She explains that even a single argument with her husband would make her feel much better. “I’d like to have Luke here, in this bedroom while I’m getting dressed, so I could fight with him. Absurd, but that’s what I want. An argument, about who should put the dishes in the dishwasher, whose turn it is to sort the laundry, clean the toilets; something daily and unimportant in the big scheme of things” (Atwood 200).
Offred goes through many internal and external conflicts throughout the novel. Internally she is being torn apart. She is between heartbroken and trying to accept the fact she she may never have the chance of seeing her family again. She has a false hope stirring inside of her that keeps her from completely accepting that her family may end up being the good memories of the past. “Every night when I go to bed I think, In the morning I will wake up in my own house and things will be back the way they were. It hasn’t happened this morning, either” (Atwood 199). She also deals with external conflict because of her rule breaking scandals. One of the main scandals she performed was spending excess amounts of time with the Commander. She also gets into trouble with the Commander’s wife for going to Jezebel’s. Also she takes a big risk when she runs away from the Commander’s house.
Madison Elwell
ReplyDeleteThe nonfiction book that I chose for my summer reading was, The Autobiography of Malcom X. Written in first person, The Autobiography of Malcom X is about a human rights activist. This book mainly focuses on Malcom's actions and thoughts at each point in his life. However, in each chapter he does include some opinions based on his current perspective late in his life. The memoir starts with his mother being pregnant with him. "When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me later, a party of hooded Klu Klux Klan riders galloped up to our home in Omaha, Nebraska, one night. Surrounding our house brandishing their shotguns and rifles, they shouted for my father to come out." (Haley 1) Haley's impact of pace shows the struggles black families went through, in the mid 1900's. I felt like the tone changed from matter-of-fact to anger throughout the book. "For the white man to ask the black man if he hates him is just like the rapist asking the raped, or the wolf asking the sheep, ‘Do you hate me?’ The white man is in no moral position to accuse anyone else of hate! Why, when all of my ancestors are snake-bitten, and I’m snake-bitten, and I warn my children to avoid snakes, what does that snake sound like accusing me of hate-teaching? ” (Haley 245)
Skylar Beavers
DeleteOver the summer I also chose to read The Autobiography of Malcolm X and totally agree with there being a tone change in the book. It seems the earlier in his life the more factual some parts are but at certain spots there is more anger and resentment present. This doesn't necessarily come as a surprise when you learn more about who he was and how he handled issues but it is still a complete change of tone, which can be surprising to a reader. Maybe X saw it as the further we got into his life story the less tolerance he had for ignorance, which directly reflects his actual life.
Maria Rochow
ReplyDelete1984 is a novel by George Orwell, this novel is narrated through the eyes of Winston Smith. He is a member of the lower ranking outer party. He lives in a society in which the government controls everything and everyone. As the book begins he dislikes the government, which is a crime of its self. This is a major battle internally and externally for Winston. He knows that one day he will eventually get caught. He tries to make himself act normally. "If you want to keep a secret you must also hide it from yourself"(Orwell 283). As the book carries on Winston starts doing rebellious things like joining the Brotherhood, the underground opposition. However he does get caught. Another internal conflict happens when Winston must decide wheather he is going to let pain be inflicted on himself and saved someone he loved, or inflict pain on the other person to save himself. Winston chooses to save himself.
The main theme of this novel is power. The government has total control in the dystopioan society. The government retains power through survaillence and propaganda. Survaillence comes in many forms in order to monitor the citizens and to make sure that there is no thought or gesture of rebellion. One of therse forms is telescreens and they are installed in all most every foot of the society. They monitor every sound and movement a person makes, they help maintain power for the government. "You had to live- did live, from habit that became instinct- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every moment scrutinized" (Orwell 31). Propaganda is all most on every wall, it helps manipulate the public, which raises the government power. It reminds them that Big Brother is always watching and the posters always support the govenment. The government, that Winston Smith lives in, has fine tuned servaillence and propaganda to form and maintain a powerful government, and power is the main theme of 1984.