The poem "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden evoked quite a bit of sympathy from the reader. The son talked about his father with admiration. He described how ""Sundays too my father got up early" (781) describing that his father worked endlessly through the weekend. The way he writes this one short line shows his respect and gratefulness to his father for working even on Sundays.
The author managed to evoke sympathy for both the son and the father. During the line I mentioned earlier, I felt bad for the father. I felt sorry that he not only had to work so much, but that he could not stay with his son or family. Also Robert says "No one ever thanked him" (781). This line shows how his son truly does respect and appreciate what his father does, but his father simply does not get the praise. However, I also felt sorry for the son. He recalls "slowly I would rise and dress, fearing the chronic angers of that house" (781). This line made me turn from feeling sorry for the dad to being more on the son's side. Maybe the father is not as appreciated as I had previously thought because of his angry temper or way of raising his son.
The last line of the poem offered a bit of clarification but also raised more questions. It reads "what did I know of love's austere and lonely offices" (782). This line leads me to believe that, even though his father is mean or unloving, the son still respects him for what he does for himself and the family.
This poem shows a seemingly typical relationship between a father and a son in our society today.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The Joy of Cooking
In "The Joy of Cooking" by Elaine Magarrell there is a great deal of indirect characterizations. The speaker, who I assume is Elaine herself, describes the food she is preparing. However, the dishes are extremely odd- her sister's tongue and her brother's heart. Through these two body parts, we learn a lot about her brother and sister and how she feels towards them.
When Elaine tells us that she has prepared her sisters tongue, I think she is revealing to us how she feels about her sister. This shows she thinks her sister talks to much- and maybe that she wants her to stop all together. The fact that she cuts the tongue out of her sister could show that this is the one thing she would change about her sister- her amount of talking.
Towards her brother, I think Elaine shows more disgust and disappointment. She describes his heart, which she is preparing, as being "firm and rather dry" ( line 10) and says it "barely feeds two" (line 16). The way she describes it as being firm, dry, and small compared to the tongue of a cow shows that she thinks her brother is cold and unloving. Maybe it is that he doesn't love anyone or simply that he doesn't lover her.
The way the author managed to convey a characters feelings about her sibling by describing her cooking is very unusual.
When Elaine tells us that she has prepared her sisters tongue, I think she is revealing to us how she feels about her sister. This shows she thinks her sister talks to much- and maybe that she wants her to stop all together. The fact that she cuts the tongue out of her sister could show that this is the one thing she would change about her sister- her amount of talking.
Towards her brother, I think Elaine shows more disgust and disappointment. She describes his heart, which she is preparing, as being "firm and rather dry" ( line 10) and says it "barely feeds two" (line 16). The way she describes it as being firm, dry, and small compared to the tongue of a cow shows that she thinks her brother is cold and unloving. Maybe it is that he doesn't love anyone or simply that he doesn't lover her.
The way the author managed to convey a characters feelings about her sibling by describing her cooking is very unusual.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The Drunkard
I found "The Drunkard" written by Frank O'Connor to be very humorous. Worrying it was not supposed to be funny, I read the questions at the end of the story to see what direction they were going with the story. The first question, reading "what are the sources of humor in this story" assured me that the story was simply written for comedic value.
Answering that first question, I found many parts of the story funny. Mainly, I thought the boys thoughts while he was both sober and drunk were hilarious. After his first sip of the liquor, he says "It was a terrible disappointment. I was astonished that he could even drink such stuff. It looked as if he had never tried lemonade" (347). This sounds like such a little-boy thing to say. It must be like coffee, an acquired taste. The boy also says "I was not grand! Grand was the last thing I was" (348) in response to a man telling him he'll be "grand" soon. He then proceeds to say "I never met two men who knew less about the effects of drink" (349). I found these comments to be so funny because the boy, clearly having far less experience being intoxicated than the adults, thinks they have no idea what they are talking about since he clearly does not see himself feeling better in the near future. I love how the boy personifies innocence and naivete.
Because of the comedic story line, I enjoyed this story. However I would hope this never happens to my children!
Answering that first question, I found many parts of the story funny. Mainly, I thought the boys thoughts while he was both sober and drunk were hilarious. After his first sip of the liquor, he says "It was a terrible disappointment. I was astonished that he could even drink such stuff. It looked as if he had never tried lemonade" (347). This sounds like such a little-boy thing to say. It must be like coffee, an acquired taste. The boy also says "I was not grand! Grand was the last thing I was" (348) in response to a man telling him he'll be "grand" soon. He then proceeds to say "I never met two men who knew less about the effects of drink" (349). I found these comments to be so funny because the boy, clearly having far less experience being intoxicated than the adults, thinks they have no idea what they are talking about since he clearly does not see himself feeling better in the near future. I love how the boy personifies innocence and naivete.
Because of the comedic story line, I enjoyed this story. However I would hope this never happens to my children!
Once Upon A Time
In "Once Upon A Time" by Nadine Gordimer, the author tells a very gruesome "bedtime story." One thing I really liker about the story is that the author started out with a background of why she is writing a childrens' story. She tells this in the first person point of view. I liked this because it felt very personal, like the author and I know each other so well that she would begin by talking directly to me in the first person. I also like this because normally one does not know why the author chose to write a specific work. I think it is creative how she says "So I begin to tell myself a story, a bedtime story" (232). The fact that we know she is telling this story to herself because she sleeps makes it more interesting to read while keeping that in mind.
Aside from the gruesome ending of the story, I didn't like many of the details. I didn't like that the city in which the family lived was so caught up with protection from dangers. While we do need to be cautious, dangerous events and people are inevitable. Clearly going to such extreme measures will cause more harm than good.
Aside from the gruesome ending of the story, I didn't like many of the details. I didn't like that the city in which the family lived was so caught up with protection from dangers. While we do need to be cautious, dangerous events and people are inevitable. Clearly going to such extreme measures will cause more harm than good.
A Worn Path
"A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty is a story of a loving grandmother who will never stop caring for her grandson. It isn't clear to me whether her grandson is actually still alive or not, but the important part is the Phoenix is still alive and still remembers him always.
Welty uses many literary techniques to convey her message in "A worn Path." One that stood out to me is her use of imagery. She begins the story by telling the reader it is December. Even though the reader could probably infer that it is snowy and cold, she uses a great deal of imagery to really set the scene. ""IT was December- a bright frozen day in the early morning. Far out in the country there was an old Negro woman with her head tied in a red rag, coming along the path through the pinewoods" (223). From this sentence, the reader gets a good sense of the setting and the main character, Phoenix Jackson. The author can begin imagining the story even from the first sentence.
One aspect of this story I enjoyed is that the author is focused more on Phoenix's journey to the hospital rather than her time their. This shows how much she is willing to go through to help her grandson.
Welty uses many literary techniques to convey her message in "A worn Path." One that stood out to me is her use of imagery. She begins the story by telling the reader it is December. Even though the reader could probably infer that it is snowy and cold, she uses a great deal of imagery to really set the scene. ""IT was December- a bright frozen day in the early morning. Far out in the country there was an old Negro woman with her head tied in a red rag, coming along the path through the pinewoods" (223). From this sentence, the reader gets a good sense of the setting and the main character, Phoenix Jackson. The author can begin imagining the story even from the first sentence.
One aspect of this story I enjoyed is that the author is focused more on Phoenix's journey to the hospital rather than her time their. This shows how much she is willing to go through to help her grandson.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
A Raisin in the Sun
In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, almost all of the characters are searching for a better way of life. However, they are all very different in going about this.
Mama and Ruth seem very similar in their dreams. Not only do they want a better life for themselves, but they really care about the well-being of their families. They work to improve their ways of live with their families in mind. They are extremely unselfish in everything they do and never seem to think how their actions will benefit only themselves.
Walter and Beneatha, however, are just the opposite. While they, too, want a better way of living, they are much more selfish about it. Beneatha wants to become a doctor so that she will live a good life as an adult. She doesn't seem to care that it is her families money that will get her her education. She only has herself in mind, not her family. Walter, as well, seems to have this mind set. While he says "I want to hang some real pearls 'round my wife's neck" (529) I don't think he is always thinking of Ruth and Travis. Through indirect characterization throughout the play, I have come to the conclusion that Walter Lee is a very selfish character. He makes it seem as though he is thinking of his family, but he is really thinking of just himself. The fact that he took his families money to start his own business, and lost it, shows that if he really cared about his family he would have been a little more careful with his investments.
Mama and Ruth seem very similar in their dreams. Not only do they want a better life for themselves, but they really care about the well-being of their families. They work to improve their ways of live with their families in mind. They are extremely unselfish in everything they do and never seem to think how their actions will benefit only themselves.
Walter and Beneatha, however, are just the opposite. While they, too, want a better way of living, they are much more selfish about it. Beneatha wants to become a doctor so that she will live a good life as an adult. She doesn't seem to care that it is her families money that will get her her education. She only has herself in mind, not her family. Walter, as well, seems to have this mind set. While he says "I want to hang some real pearls 'round my wife's neck" (529) I don't think he is always thinking of Ruth and Travis. Through indirect characterization throughout the play, I have come to the conclusion that Walter Lee is a very selfish character. He makes it seem as though he is thinking of his family, but he is really thinking of just himself. The fact that he took his families money to start his own business, and lost it, shows that if he really cared about his family he would have been a little more careful with his investments.
A Raisin in the Sun
In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, there are three distinct groups of people- those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. Two characters who seems to make things happen are Mama and Beneatha. When having second thoughts on whether or not to move to their new home, Mama says, "Lord, ever since I was a little girl, I always remember people saying, 'Lena-Lena Eggleston, you aims too high all the time. You needs to slow down and see life a little more like it is. Just slow down some'" (525). I really like this quote because, even though the children saying this to her thought they were saying something negative, I feel it is a compliment. However cliche and annoying it is, we always remember the saying "Shoot for the moon, if you fail you'll land among the stars." I think this applies to Mama because she thinks it is a bad thing she aims too high in life. However, if we do not have ambitious goals we may never accomplish anything. We can not play life safely. This part of the story really shows how Mama makes things happen in life.
I think Walter Lee watches things happen in life. He seems to have ideas but never acts on them. He is "all talk and no action" I suppose you could say. Even though he has dreams and goals, he doesn't really try to pursue them, he just watches as life passes him by.
Ruth seems to fit in the wondering group. She doesn't really have an option, though. She is always wondering what Walter will do, or not do, next. She seems to always be in the background and let others control her life.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
A Raisin in the Sun
In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, many characters are searching for a better way of life. Mama is trying to make a better life for her entire family by buying a new house in a better part of town. Beneatha is trying to make a better life for herself by getting an education to become a doctor. One character trying to improve his life that stood out to me the most is Walter Lee. Walter is the husband to Ruth and that father to ten-tear-old Travis. When Walter is given $3,500 to do whatever he pleases with, he knows he must use it to give his family a better life. Walter tells Travis, "things are going to be very different with us in seven years, Travis... One day when you are seventeen I'll come home- home from my office downtown somewhere-" (502). Walter continues on, telling Travis how great their life is going to be. I respect Travis very much for stepping up and being the husband and father Ruth and Travis deserve. His determination to create a better life for himself and his family is extremely admirable.
A Raisin in the Sun
Throughout Act I of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, there is a great deal of indirect characterization. One character's personality that is revealed to the audience using this literary technique is that of Mama. At one point in the story, Mama's daughter, Beneatha, states that "there simply is no blasted God" (457). Mama's response, "Now- you say after me, in my mother's house there is still God" (457), shows that her faith is an extremely important part of her character. This small part in the story reveals to the audience that Mama is a religious woman and nothing can come between her and her faith.
Another instance where we, the reader, learn a great deal about Mama's character is when the prized check of $10,000 finally comes. The family is making a fuss over the money, not being able to contain their excitement. However, Mama says, "Now don't act silly,,, We ain't never been no people to act silly 'bout no money-" (471). I really like this quote from Mama and I think it truly captures a large aspect of her personality. Even though money is very tight for the youngers, Mama stays true to her character. She knows money is not the most important thing in the world, and even when running into such a large amount of money, she remains grounded.
In the first act of the play, the reader learns a great deal about Mama's true character.
Another instance where we, the reader, learn a great deal about Mama's character is when the prized check of $10,000 finally comes. The family is making a fuss over the money, not being able to contain their excitement. However, Mama says, "Now don't act silly,,, We ain't never been no people to act silly 'bout no money-" (471). I really like this quote from Mama and I think it truly captures a large aspect of her personality. Even though money is very tight for the youngers, Mama stays true to her character. She knows money is not the most important thing in the world, and even when running into such a large amount of money, she remains grounded.
In the first act of the play, the reader learns a great deal about Mama's true character.
A Raisin in the Sun
As I began to read A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, one literary technique stood out to me almost immediately, diction. Hansberry uses diction in this play to reveal to the audience the social class and the true character of each person in the story. The poorly constructed sentences with many errors reveal to the audience that this is an under-educated family. Had I not known from the introduction that it is set in Chicago, I would have assumed, based on their speech habits, that they are southern. Because the play is set in the 1950's and from small innuendos throughout the script, the reader knows this is a lower class african-american family. Mama says "something always told me I wasn't no rich white woman" (Hansberry, 451). This quote not only verifies her race, but it is one of many examples of the uneducated diction used in the play. The play illustrates the struggles many african-americans faced during the Civil Rights Movement. Many of these people, like the younger family, lived in poverty. This play seems interesting me because I am eager to find out what a family in this bad situation will do when they run into a large sum of money.
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