"Because of that stupid old thing at the end there? asked the boy. "Why does she come here at all- who wants her?" (186)
For this blog, I will be answering the sixth question on the handout about the short story "Miss Brill" by Katherine Mansfield. I think that the climax of the story is when the nicely dressed couple make fun of the old lady and say the above quote. This is the climax because it is really the height of the action. This is the scene that motivates Miss Brill to change things in her life. The resolution to the climax is when Miss Brill puts away the fur. The fur originally was her source of comfort, but she ends up putting it on the shelf. This also represents Miss Brill putting her old self on the shelf and moving on with the times. The putting away of the fur is resolving the point of contention between Miss Brill and the younger generation.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Short Stories: Theme: 3
"No, missy, he not dead, he just the same." (229)
For this blog I will be sharing my initial thoughts on the sixth question that follows the story, "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty. The sixth question states that when a reader asked the author if the grandson was alive, she replied, "Phoenix is alive." This made me think that Phoenix, the old lady, is mad and suffering from multiple personality disorder. I thought that the boy was really just an alter ego of the old lady. This is supported by text when Phoenix briefly forgets what she is doing. When this happens, she has become the boy and doesn't remember going on a journey. I made this connection because if they were two different people, then the author wasn't answering the question being asked. Mr. Costello told our group today that this in fact was not the case and that the grandson's presence was not relevant. The message of the story is one of great love. Whether the boy is alive or not does not affect the love that the grandma is showing for her grandson. I get where he is coming from, but our blogs are supposed to be initial reactions, so that is what I shared.
For this blog I will be sharing my initial thoughts on the sixth question that follows the story, "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty. The sixth question states that when a reader asked the author if the grandson was alive, she replied, "Phoenix is alive." This made me think that Phoenix, the old lady, is mad and suffering from multiple personality disorder. I thought that the boy was really just an alter ego of the old lady. This is supported by text when Phoenix briefly forgets what she is doing. When this happens, she has become the boy and doesn't remember going on a journey. I made this connection because if they were two different people, then the author wasn't answering the question being asked. Mr. Costello told our group today that this in fact was not the case and that the grandson's presence was not relevant. The message of the story is one of great love. Whether the boy is alive or not does not affect the love that the grandma is showing for her grandson. I get where he is coming from, but our blogs are supposed to be initial reactions, so that is what I shared.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Short Stories: Theme: 2
"No! No! No! It was impossible. Her hands clutched the iron in frenzy." (222)
For this blog, I will be answering the sixth question that follows "Eveline" by James Joyce. I think that Eveline's refusal to board the ship is only partly due to her judgement and will. I think it is more indecisiveness and uncertainty that prevents her from boarding the ship. She begins to think about everything she would be leaving behind and begins to get cold feet about the future because she has been in the same place doing the same thing for so long. I don't think she is choosing not to go, I think she is choosing to give herself more time to think about everything. She doesn't have the will power to say no to Frank, so this is her way of showing her feelings and opinions about the situation. She doesn't want to pass up this opportunity to get out, but she doesn't necessarily want Frank to be her ticket out of this life she is leaving. Eveline has not decided not to go with Frank, but she hasn't chosen to stay either.
For this blog, I will be answering the sixth question that follows "Eveline" by James Joyce. I think that Eveline's refusal to board the ship is only partly due to her judgement and will. I think it is more indecisiveness and uncertainty that prevents her from boarding the ship. She begins to think about everything she would be leaving behind and begins to get cold feet about the future because she has been in the same place doing the same thing for so long. I don't think she is choosing not to go, I think she is choosing to give herself more time to think about everything. She doesn't have the will power to say no to Frank, so this is her way of showing her feelings and opinions about the situation. She doesn't want to pass up this opportunity to get out, but she doesn't necessarily want Frank to be her ticket out of this life she is leaving. Eveline has not decided not to go with Frank, but she hasn't chosen to stay either.
Short Stories: Theme: 1
"The little boy was fascinated by the device and used it as a walkie-talkie in cops and robbers play with his small friends." (233)
The story "Once upon a Time" by Nadne Gordimer contains foreshadowing. I did not notice the foreshadowing the first time reading it, but I noticed it when I was rereading the story in class because I had already read them and could not blog from my desk. This foreshadowing of the horrific ending and fate of the little boy is foreshadowed pretty much every time the parents get a new security system. The quote above is one instance where readers are introduced to the curiousity and interest of the little boy that ultimately leads to his demise. The wise witch is the one who warned the family about the dangers of intruders, but it was her gift to the boy that caused him to pretend "to be the Prince who braves the terrible thicket of thorns." Their is also irony in the fact that the speaker is telling herself a bedtime story because she cannot sleep because an intruder-like noise woke her up. The speaker seems to be reassuring herself that even taking precautions against intruders cannot always save you. Being too paranoid and too extreme in protective measures can also be bad.
The story "Once upon a Time" by Nadne Gordimer contains foreshadowing. I did not notice the foreshadowing the first time reading it, but I noticed it when I was rereading the story in class because I had already read them and could not blog from my desk. This foreshadowing of the horrific ending and fate of the little boy is foreshadowed pretty much every time the parents get a new security system. The quote above is one instance where readers are introduced to the curiousity and interest of the little boy that ultimately leads to his demise. The wise witch is the one who warned the family about the dangers of intruders, but it was her gift to the boy that caused him to pretend "to be the Prince who braves the terrible thicket of thorns." Their is also irony in the fact that the speaker is telling herself a bedtime story because she cannot sleep because an intruder-like noise woke her up. The speaker seems to be reassuring herself that even taking precautions against intruders cannot always save you. Being too paranoid and too extreme in protective measures can also be bad.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Short Stories: Characterization: 4
"Eh!-He's asleep, ain't he?" "With kings and counselors," mumured I.
This is the fate of Bartleby in "Bartleby the Scrivener." I am answering question number three on the worksheet. I think that the physical description of Bartleby hints at this fate throughout the stoy. Bartleby is described as ghostlike, pale, passive, and poor. This description along with Bartleby's constant presence in the office gives me the impression that Bartleby is like a ghost. He is living in the background of the workers' lives. This implies his fate because the physical description also resembles a corpse. The corpselike description hints that he will die and be just as pale, cold, and poor. I think that the author hints at Bartleby's fate because he wants the readers to know what is coming to an extent and let them draw their own conclusions about how, when, where, and why.
This is the fate of Bartleby in "Bartleby the Scrivener." I am answering question number three on the worksheet. I think that the physical description of Bartleby hints at this fate throughout the stoy. Bartleby is described as ghostlike, pale, passive, and poor. This description along with Bartleby's constant presence in the office gives me the impression that Bartleby is like a ghost. He is living in the background of the workers' lives. This implies his fate because the physical description also resembles a corpse. The corpselike description hints that he will die and be just as pale, cold, and poor. I think that the author hints at Bartleby's fate because he wants the readers to know what is coming to an extent and let them draw their own conclusions about how, when, where, and why.
Short Stories: Characterization: 3
"Poor fellow! thought I, he means no mischief; it is plain he intends no insolence; his aspect sufficiently evinces that his eccentricities are involuntary." (652)
For this blog, I will formally be answering question number eleven that goes with "Bartleby the Scrivener." The lawyer's attitude toward Bartleby changes a few times during the story. At first, the lawyer sees Bartleby as a valuable asset in his business because he is a quiet copier and very good at it. He works longer than anyone else. Soon, Bartleby begins prefering not to do anything. At this point, the lawyer begins to be taken aback and annoyed at his not doing anything. This only lasts a short while until the lawyer becomes curious and intrigued. He wants to know more about Bartleby and his past. He does a little snooping and discovers some things about Bartleby. He begins to understand more about what Bartleby is doing in the office. He needs a place to stay, so he lives in the office. The lawyer still remains perturbed by Bartleby's constant presence and lack of doing anything, so he forces himself to move on. However, he becomes sympathetic toward Bartleby and offers to allow him to stay with him in his home. This shows that Bartleby is growing on him, but the lawyer can only do so much to help someone who doesn't want help.
For this blog, I will formally be answering question number eleven that goes with "Bartleby the Scrivener." The lawyer's attitude toward Bartleby changes a few times during the story. At first, the lawyer sees Bartleby as a valuable asset in his business because he is a quiet copier and very good at it. He works longer than anyone else. Soon, Bartleby begins prefering not to do anything. At this point, the lawyer begins to be taken aback and annoyed at his not doing anything. This only lasts a short while until the lawyer becomes curious and intrigued. He wants to know more about Bartleby and his past. He does a little snooping and discovers some things about Bartleby. He begins to understand more about what Bartleby is doing in the office. He needs a place to stay, so he lives in the office. The lawyer still remains perturbed by Bartleby's constant presence and lack of doing anything, so he forces himself to move on. However, he becomes sympathetic toward Bartleby and offers to allow him to stay with him in his home. This shows that Bartleby is growing on him, but the lawyer can only do so much to help someone who doesn't want help.
Short Stories: Characterization: 2
"I'm going to have to stop," Frank said. "I can't feel my fingers." Up ahead they saw some lights off the road. It was a tavern. (196)
In this blog, I will formally be answering the fourth question that follows "Hunters in the Snow." I think the purpose of Tub and Frank stopping at the tavern is to show that the men are all self-centered. They don't really think about each other. Also, there is a change in alliances. Frank leaves the trusted side of Kenny and opens up to Tub. Tub also opens up to Frank. This shows how easily they move on with their lives. They forget about Kenny and are only worried with their own problems, which right now are a little less urgent than bleeding and freezing to death in the back of a truck. Another purpose for the stop is for readers to gain insight into the characters and learn why they act the way they do when they are opening up to each other. Also at the tavern, they leave the directions behind. This shows that they were not very focused and dedicated to getting Kenny to the hospital for help. It is almost as if they thought he was asking for it and didn't care if he got better.
In this blog, I will formally be answering the fourth question that follows "Hunters in the Snow." I think the purpose of Tub and Frank stopping at the tavern is to show that the men are all self-centered. They don't really think about each other. Also, there is a change in alliances. Frank leaves the trusted side of Kenny and opens up to Tub. Tub also opens up to Frank. This shows how easily they move on with their lives. They forget about Kenny and are only worried with their own problems, which right now are a little less urgent than bleeding and freezing to death in the back of a truck. Another purpose for the stop is for readers to gain insight into the characters and learn why they act the way they do when they are opening up to each other. Also at the tavern, they leave the directions behind. This shows that they were not very focused and dedicated to getting Kenny to the hospital for help. It is almost as if they thought he was asking for it and didn't care if he got better.
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