Post A
"We can publish that in the papers if you like," he said. Mr Handsome with his friend Miss Fatty. "
She laughed. "You're a real ladies' man . I knew it from the first time I saw you."
"Well someone has to look out for the ladies," he said (143)."
One difference in African culture and American culture is that in Africa, being fat is considered beautiful, and skinny women are shunned. While on a case to find out whether or not a woman's husband is cheating, Mma Ramotswe dresses up as a floozy and goes to this man's favorite bar, While she is there, men keep hitting on her, calling her fat and fatty. At first i was wierded out by this backward way of thinking, but it seems to be a nice alternative to girls thowing up or starving themselves to stay thin. What if we were all pressured into being fat? In that case, most Americans would already be well on their way to beatutiful.
Post B
"Mopani Worms?" asked Mma Ramotswe.
The woman turned round and looked at her.
"yes." She offered the bag to Mma Ramotswe, who helped herself to one of the dried tree worms and popped it into her mouth. It was a delicacy she simply could not resist (114)."
This is one of the most disgusting things I have ever read. The idea of eating a worm makes me want to hurl. But I suppose that each culture has their own foods that are considered disgusting to another place. Botswana... worms. France... snails. China... dogs. Iceland... fermented shark. America... trans fats?
Anyway to each his own, but I would never eat a worm.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Blogg No. Six!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Post A
"Now this was a bad snake, this one. There is was. Look at the head! Ow! and those evil eyes! Mma Ramotswe shuddered, and read; "the above picture is of an adult male black mamba, measureing 1.87 meters."(112)."
This is a cultural difference simply because there are different geographical features in Africa than in any where else in the world, which allows different animals to live there.THis setting creates many different obstacles for the characters to over come than the story could if it took place in America. There would never be such a poisonous snake in the US. in fact, there isn't many exotic animals at all.
POST B
"Mr. Maketoni took her mug and poured her more tea. he was silent now- not out of anger, or resentment- but becasue it had taken all his energy to make to make his declaration of love and had no more words for the time being (138)."
Dear Mma Ramotswe,
I am very sad that you turned down Mr. Maketoni's marriage. He is a genuinly nice person and would treat you in a nice manner. I know Note scorned you, and it is hard to fall in love after you heart has been broken, but Mr Maketoni seems to really have your best intrests at heart. I hoppe you reconsider.
"Now this was a bad snake, this one. There is was. Look at the head! Ow! and those evil eyes! Mma Ramotswe shuddered, and read; "the above picture is of an adult male black mamba, measureing 1.87 meters."(112)."
This is a cultural difference simply because there are different geographical features in Africa than in any where else in the world, which allows different animals to live there.THis setting creates many different obstacles for the characters to over come than the story could if it took place in America. There would never be such a poisonous snake in the US. in fact, there isn't many exotic animals at all.
POST B
"Mr. Maketoni took her mug and poured her more tea. he was silent now- not out of anger, or resentment- but becasue it had taken all his energy to make to make his declaration of love and had no more words for the time being (138)."
Dear Mma Ramotswe,
I am very sad that you turned down Mr. Maketoni's marriage. He is a genuinly nice person and would treat you in a nice manner. I know Note scorned you, and it is hard to fall in love after you heart has been broken, but Mr Maketoni seems to really have your best intrests at heart. I hoppe you reconsider.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Blog Number 5
Post AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
In Botswana, there is an obvious difference in that "witch doctors" terrorize the land. At Precious' detective agency, she receives a letter from a poor man whose son has disappeared. He does not have the money to pay her for a full investigation, however, he asks if she can ask around if anyone has seen his beloved son. She consults with her friend about the case, and he replies that the boy will never be found, and she should know that. That a witch doctor had taken him.
"Mr J.L.B Matekoni smiled. "Come on, now, Mma Ramotswe. You know as well as I do what goes on. We don't like to talk about it do we? It's the thing we Africans are most ashamed of. We know it happens but we pretend it doesn't. We know all right what happens to children who go missing. We know (90)."
Post BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
"Then, just past the Mochudi turnoff, the sun came up, rising over the wide plains that stretched away torwards the corse of the Limpopo. Suddenly it was there, smiling effortlessly free of the horizon to dispel the last wisps of morning mist (122)."
This is a gorgeous example of the imagry used in this novel. Alexander McCall Smith is a tremendously talented writer, and he definately deserves all the praise he gets for writing this series. This specific quote paints a beautiful picture of the lazy African weather, and makes me think of the Lion King in the very beginning when the Circle of Life begins to play and Simba is being presented to the worls as a new born lion cub.
In Botswana, there is an obvious difference in that "witch doctors" terrorize the land. At Precious' detective agency, she receives a letter from a poor man whose son has disappeared. He does not have the money to pay her for a full investigation, however, he asks if she can ask around if anyone has seen his beloved son. She consults with her friend about the case, and he replies that the boy will never be found, and she should know that. That a witch doctor had taken him.
"Mr J.L.B Matekoni smiled. "Come on, now, Mma Ramotswe. You know as well as I do what goes on. We don't like to talk about it do we? It's the thing we Africans are most ashamed of. We know it happens but we pretend it doesn't. We know all right what happens to children who go missing. We know (90)."
Post BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
"Then, just past the Mochudi turnoff, the sun came up, rising over the wide plains that stretched away torwards the corse of the Limpopo. Suddenly it was there, smiling effortlessly free of the horizon to dispel the last wisps of morning mist (122)."
This is a gorgeous example of the imagry used in this novel. Alexander McCall Smith is a tremendously talented writer, and he definately deserves all the praise he gets for writing this series. This specific quote paints a beautiful picture of the lazy African weather, and makes me think of the Lion King in the very beginning when the Circle of Life begins to play and Simba is being presented to the worls as a new born lion cub.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Blog NUmero Cuatro
Post A
The writing style of this book is very simplistic. There are not many difficult vocab words. It seems like someone is just telling you a story, or actually many stories that are connected through the common factor of Precious. This might reflect that stories and myths were passed down from generation to generation orally in Africa, and not written down. Also , because Botswana is not a developed country, they do not use as many different writing styles or as interesting of word choices.
Post B
Even though we do not get to know many of the characters in this novel, they are all very complex. Mma Ramotswe is hired to watch a girl to see where she goes after school, and if she has been sneeking out to see boys after her afther found a note to a boy named Jack. The girl keeps giving her the slip, so it takes Mma Ramotswe a while to find anything out about her whereabouts. Mma Ramotswe thinks she is cleverly following this girl, tailing her in her inconspicious van, reading a book while she is at the book store, asking the clerks about where the girls is going. But when she finds out the girl is goiong to a movie and decides to follow her there, she finds teh girl sitting alone. WHen Mma is getting situated, the girl comes over to her to confront her. They talk, and soon the girl admits that she is making up these boys to make her father worry, and that all she wants is a bit of freedom. Mma tells what she found out to the girls father, and convinces him to give his daughter a longer leash before she acutally begins to rebel. He agrees.
The next year, Mma runs into the girl when she is out on a walk. She is with a man and introduces him as her boyfriend, Jack.
The writing style of this book is very simplistic. There are not many difficult vocab words. It seems like someone is just telling you a story, or actually many stories that are connected through the common factor of Precious. This might reflect that stories and myths were passed down from generation to generation orally in Africa, and not written down. Also , because Botswana is not a developed country, they do not use as many different writing styles or as interesting of word choices.
Post B
Even though we do not get to know many of the characters in this novel, they are all very complex. Mma Ramotswe is hired to watch a girl to see where she goes after school, and if she has been sneeking out to see boys after her afther found a note to a boy named Jack. The girl keeps giving her the slip, so it takes Mma Ramotswe a while to find anything out about her whereabouts. Mma Ramotswe thinks she is cleverly following this girl, tailing her in her inconspicious van, reading a book while she is at the book store, asking the clerks about where the girls is going. But when she finds out the girl is goiong to a movie and decides to follow her there, she finds teh girl sitting alone. WHen Mma is getting situated, the girl comes over to her to confront her. They talk, and soon the girl admits that she is making up these boys to make her father worry, and that all she wants is a bit of freedom. Mma tells what she found out to the girls father, and convinces him to give his daughter a longer leash before she acutally begins to rebel. He agrees.
The next year, Mma runs into the girl when she is out on a walk. She is with a man and introduces him as her boyfriend, Jack.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Week 3 of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Post A
In Botswana, the role of gender plays a much more significant role than in the lives of those who live in the United States. In the US there is a supposed equality between males and females, even though not everything is truly fair for the opposing sexes. We would be considered an advanced nation along the lines of sexual equality. In Botswana however, there is a blatant difference in the importance of women compared to men. Women are given away by their fathers, as in like a marriage, and are expected to do all the chores and housework. An example of this is that Mme Ramotswe is given away by her father. "I will speak to your father about this.," said Note. ""I hope he is not an old fashioned man who will want a lot of cattle for you (53)." They are treated like property. The people of Botswana seen to be okay with this inequality. In fact, they think that that is just how life is supposed to be, and if women were treated as equals, it would be a bad thing.
Post B
Precious is a very decisive, confident woman, which are the qualities necessary for being a good detective. She gets an idea, a hunch, and sticks with it. An example of that is when she is assigned a missing person case. She finds out this missing man was a very religious man. When she talks to the church, she discovered that he was getting baptised in a river and was swept away, and didn't know how to swim. The church had not reported the incident because they were worried about issues with the law. She traveled down the river to look for him, but could not find the body. When she was searching, she brought her neighbor's dog with her for protection. She tied him by the car, and when she went down to the river, she heard him growl and bark. When she went to check on him, she saw a crocodile. She shot it, and began to wonder what it was doing in this part of Africa, there is not enough food to sustain a crocodile's appetite. She cut open it's stomach, and found a watch and other items that belong to a human in it. When presented to his wife, she identified them as his.
In Botswana, the role of gender plays a much more significant role than in the lives of those who live in the United States. In the US there is a supposed equality between males and females, even though not everything is truly fair for the opposing sexes. We would be considered an advanced nation along the lines of sexual equality. In Botswana however, there is a blatant difference in the importance of women compared to men. Women are given away by their fathers, as in like a marriage, and are expected to do all the chores and housework. An example of this is that Mme Ramotswe is given away by her father. "I will speak to your father about this.," said Note. ""I hope he is not an old fashioned man who will want a lot of cattle for you (53)." They are treated like property. The people of Botswana seen to be okay with this inequality. In fact, they think that that is just how life is supposed to be, and if women were treated as equals, it would be a bad thing.
Post B
Precious is a very decisive, confident woman, which are the qualities necessary for being a good detective. She gets an idea, a hunch, and sticks with it. An example of that is when she is assigned a missing person case. She finds out this missing man was a very religious man. When she talks to the church, she discovered that he was getting baptised in a river and was swept away, and didn't know how to swim. The church had not reported the incident because they were worried about issues with the law. She traveled down the river to look for him, but could not find the body. When she was searching, she brought her neighbor's dog with her for protection. She tied him by the car, and when she went down to the river, she heard him growl and bark. When she went to check on him, she saw a crocodile. She shot it, and began to wonder what it was doing in this part of Africa, there is not enough food to sustain a crocodile's appetite. She cut open it's stomach, and found a watch and other items that belong to a human in it. When presented to his wife, she identified them as his.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
My research topic is the conflict between China and Tibet.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/22/china.protests/index.html
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-sub-display?id=SMN0307H-0-5307&method=date&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y&keyno=0000004676&0000004676=Y&title=China%2C%20Foreign%20relations%2C%20Tibet&leadiss=Y&auth_checked=Y
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-olympics-torch.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=china+tibet&st=nyt&oref=slogin
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/22/china.protests/index.html
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-sub-display?id=SMN0307H-0-5307&method=date&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y&keyno=0000004676&0000004676=Y&title=China%2C%20Foreign%20relations%2C%20Tibet&leadiss=Y&auth_checked=Y
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-olympics-torch.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=china+tibet&st=nyt&oref=slogin
Monday, April 21, 2008
Week 2 of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Post A
There are several cultural difference shown in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency so far. One is the respect toward parents. She loves her father who has recently passed away, leaving her the money to start her own store.
Fathers play an important role in Botswanian culture. She speaks of pleasing her father many times and writes his life story down so it will not be forgotten now that he has died. Also, one of her cases is to solve the mystery of whether or not a character's dad is truly her dad. Her father had left her as a child and then this man came to her years later and told her he was her father and that he was sorry he had left her. Although he didn't have much proof of his actually being her real dad, the woman let him stay with her because it was what she was supposed to do. As it turns out, he was an impostor, which Precious found out by tricking him into admitting he was not really the girls dad by telling him his daughter was gravely injured and would need his blood to save her.
Post B
Dear Precious,
I am sorry for you. You are a respectable woman, and you try to always do the right thing. It's a shame that you got involved with the musician Note. He was such a bad man. What I don't understand is why he married you. He didn't seem to want a wife, to be tied down to one person. And he didn't have to be, he was a free man, who had a good career, who liked living on his own. So why did he have to come into your life? Why did he propose if he wanted to be with other women? And why did you stay with him while he beat you? I understand that women believe they can change men, make them better, and that their man isn't so bad. They also like men who are new to them, like Note was because he was an experienced, well-traveled, talented musician. When he left you, I was very glad that such an evil man was out of your life.
There are several cultural difference shown in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency so far. One is the respect toward parents. She loves her father who has recently passed away, leaving her the money to start her own store.
Fathers play an important role in Botswanian culture. She speaks of pleasing her father many times and writes his life story down so it will not be forgotten now that he has died. Also, one of her cases is to solve the mystery of whether or not a character's dad is truly her dad. Her father had left her as a child and then this man came to her years later and told her he was her father and that he was sorry he had left her. Although he didn't have much proof of his actually being her real dad, the woman let him stay with her because it was what she was supposed to do. As it turns out, he was an impostor, which Precious found out by tricking him into admitting he was not really the girls dad by telling him his daughter was gravely injured and would need his blood to save her.
Post B
Dear Precious,
I am sorry for you. You are a respectable woman, and you try to always do the right thing. It's a shame that you got involved with the musician Note. He was such a bad man. What I don't understand is why he married you. He didn't seem to want a wife, to be tied down to one person. And he didn't have to be, he was a free man, who had a good career, who liked living on his own. So why did he have to come into your life? Why did he propose if he wanted to be with other women? And why did you stay with him while he beat you? I understand that women believe they can change men, make them better, and that their man isn't so bad. They also like men who are new to them, like Note was because he was an experienced, well-traveled, talented musician. When he left you, I was very glad that such an evil man was out of your life.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Week 1 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Post A
My book is The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. It is about Precious Ramotswe. Precious has started her own private investigator business in Botswana. She is the only woman investigator in Botswana.
"She was a good detective, and a good woman. A good woman in a good country, one might say. She loved her country, Botswana, which is a place of peace, and she loved Africa, for all it's trials. I am not ashamed to be called an African patriot, said Mma Ramotswe. I love all the people whom God made, but I especially know how to love the people who live in this place. They are my people, my brothers and sisters. It is my duty to help them to solve the mysteries in their lives. That is what I am called to do (4)."
One cultural difference between Botswana and the United States is that the Botsawnians have a lot more pride in their culture and their country. Precious mentions several times this love of her country, it's soil, and it's people. That is much different than in the United States, where many people have no respect or pride for their own country. Perhaps this is because we do not share many common factors, such as race, religion, or customs. In Botswana, the people there are mostly black and can trace their family lineage back for generations, and all of them came from Botswana. They celebrate the same religion, and understand what is expected from them culturally.
Post B
Dear Mme Ramoswte,
you are a very kind woman. You treat every one of your clients with respect, and seem to actually care about their problems. I don't know if this is just the way of Botswana, that the people there have a greater respect toward others than in America, but I really respect the fact that you are so nice. Yet you still call other's out on their misdoings. You can see something bad occurring, and try to stop it, to help someone else. This happened when you were at Sunday school and your partner kept bringing out his "member" under the table. You told him what he was doing was wrong, and when he didn't stop, you told on him. You seem to have an innate sense of what is right or wrong, and this helps your skills as a detective.
My book is The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. It is about Precious Ramotswe. Precious has started her own private investigator business in Botswana. She is the only woman investigator in Botswana.
"She was a good detective, and a good woman. A good woman in a good country, one might say. She loved her country, Botswana, which is a place of peace, and she loved Africa, for all it's trials. I am not ashamed to be called an African patriot, said Mma Ramotswe. I love all the people whom God made, but I especially know how to love the people who live in this place. They are my people, my brothers and sisters. It is my duty to help them to solve the mysteries in their lives. That is what I am called to do (4)."
One cultural difference between Botswana and the United States is that the Botsawnians have a lot more pride in their culture and their country. Precious mentions several times this love of her country, it's soil, and it's people. That is much different than in the United States, where many people have no respect or pride for their own country. Perhaps this is because we do not share many common factors, such as race, religion, or customs. In Botswana, the people there are mostly black and can trace their family lineage back for generations, and all of them came from Botswana. They celebrate the same religion, and understand what is expected from them culturally.
Post B
Dear Mme Ramoswte,
you are a very kind woman. You treat every one of your clients with respect, and seem to actually care about their problems. I don't know if this is just the way of Botswana, that the people there have a greater respect toward others than in America, but I really respect the fact that you are so nice. Yet you still call other's out on their misdoings. You can see something bad occurring, and try to stop it, to help someone else. This happened when you were at Sunday school and your partner kept bringing out his "member" under the table. You told him what he was doing was wrong, and when he didn't stop, you told on him. You seem to have an innate sense of what is right or wrong, and this helps your skills as a detective.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Blog Numero Uno De The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
I chose this book bacause we have had this series sitting on a shelf in my house for six years now. My mom loves the series, has read every single one, and has always tried to get me to begin it. When I went camping three years ago with my dad, this book magically appeared in my pack along with the other books I had brought along. I purposely ignored this book as one of my rebellious acts against my mother. But when I saw it on the list of potential outside reading books, I decided to give it a try. I have come to appreaciate my mom's taste in literature, so hopefully the fact she loves these books so much means I will too.
I chose this book bacause we have had this series sitting on a shelf in my house for six years now. My mom loves the series, has read every single one, and has always tried to get me to begin it. When I went camping three years ago with my dad, this book magically appeared in my pack along with the other books I had brought along. I purposely ignored this book as one of my rebellious acts against my mother. But when I saw it on the list of potential outside reading books, I decided to give it a try. I have come to appreaciate my mom's taste in literature, so hopefully the fact she loves these books so much means I will too.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Out Stealing Horses week 7 post A
Wharfs (174):a structure built on the shore of or projecting into a harbor, stream, etc., so that vessels may be moored alongside to load or unload or to lie at rest
Quay (174): a landing place, esp. one of solid masonry, constructed along the edge of a body of water
“…Everything just moved slowly around me like the spokes of a huge wheel to which I was strapped (180).” This is an example of simile because the wolrd around him was not really spinning, and he was not really strapped to a wheel.
“I wanted to see the avalanche of logs hit the water (182).” This is an exapmle of a metaphor becuase there was not really an avalanche of logs, and he makes a direct comparison.
“The disappointment tastes like ash in my mouth (194).” This is an example of personification because disappointment has no taste.
Quay (174): a landing place, esp. one of solid masonry, constructed along the edge of a body of water
“…Everything just moved slowly around me like the spokes of a huge wheel to which I was strapped (180).” This is an example of simile because the wolrd around him was not really spinning, and he was not really strapped to a wheel.
“I wanted to see the avalanche of logs hit the water (182).” This is an exapmle of a metaphor becuase there was not really an avalanche of logs, and he makes a direct comparison.
“The disappointment tastes like ash in my mouth (194).” This is an example of personification because disappointment has no taste.
Out Stealing Horses week 6 post b
In this chapter, it is back to the present, and Lars is helping Trond with the timber they cut down. It is awkward between them, because neither expected to ever see the other again. It brings back the old pains they had as children, but it seems to help Lars to talk about what happened. This makes Trond uncomfortable, as he wasn't planning on revisiting these memories ever again.
Out Stealing Horses week 6 post A
Tetchy (169): irritable; touchy.
Musingly (166): absorbed in thought; meditative
“… and he has a rubber face, Lars, but there is nothing for me to laugh at (170).” This is a metaphor for Lars' face being made out of rubber.
“My mood takes me up and down, like in a lift, from attic to cellar in a couple of hours, (171)” This is an example of a simile becasue his moods are compared to an elevator.
"The sun is gone and the wind is rising (163)." This is an example of personification and maybe metaphor because the wind is not a living thing that can rise, and the sun is not literally gone, it's just not visable.
That is what I want, and I know I can do it, that I have it in me, the ability to be alone, and there is nothing to be afraid of (172).” This is an important quote because it shows how rattled Trond is in his old age and how he tries to comfort himself.
The theme of this novel is how the past never stays truly in the past, and things you try to forget come back to haunt you.
Musingly (166): absorbed in thought; meditative
“… and he has a rubber face, Lars, but there is nothing for me to laugh at (170).” This is a metaphor for Lars' face being made out of rubber.
“My mood takes me up and down, like in a lift, from attic to cellar in a couple of hours, (171)” This is an example of a simile becasue his moods are compared to an elevator.
"The sun is gone and the wind is rising (163)." This is an example of personification and maybe metaphor because the wind is not a living thing that can rise, and the sun is not literally gone, it's just not visable.
That is what I want, and I know I can do it, that I have it in me, the ability to be alone, and there is nothing to be afraid of (172).” This is an important quote because it shows how rattled Trond is in his old age and how he tries to comfort himself.
The theme of this novel is how the past never stays truly in the past, and things you try to forget come back to haunt you.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Out Stealing Horses week 5 post b
This chapter of Out Stealing Horses shows that Trond's father has not been truthful to Trond about many things. ONe of the things is that he and Jon's mother have been seeing eachother in secret, which is understandable that he would not tell Trond this, because if you are having an affair, you might not want to tell your son, but still. Also, Franz decides to tell Trond about his fathers involvemnet in World War II. He and Jon's mother and Trond's father work to aid the Allies, when Norway has been taken over by Germany. He aids a Jewish man by allowing him to stay in his barn, but the man is discovered, and while they are trying to smuggle him out, things go awry and the man gets shot, and Trond's father and Jon's mother are forced to flee to Sweden.
OUt Stealing Horses week 5 post a
Unassailable: (152) not open to attack or assault, as by military force or argument
Aplomb: (153) imperturbable self-possession, poise, or assurance.
“And she took hold of his jacket, and with a violent jerk hauled him like an unresisting sack out of the boat (160)." This is an example of simile becasue he is compared to a sack.
“On top of the slope behind them the motorcycle was chuntering away like an animal out of breath, and they pulled their machine guns from their shoulders, and my father shouted: Run like hell! (161)” This is also an example of imagery because the motorcycles are compared to an animal.
“A grey layer of cloud floats across the sky like a duvet (163).” This is also an example of imagry because the sky is compared to a duvet.
“‘why are you telling me these things when my father will not talk about them?” I said.
‘Because he asked me to,’ said Franz. ‘when the opportunity arose. And it did, now.’ (162)”
This is an important quote because it shows the strained relationship between Trond and his father.
The theme of this novel is that relationships are tricky.
Aplomb: (153) imperturbable self-possession, poise, or assurance.
“And she took hold of his jacket, and with a violent jerk hauled him like an unresisting sack out of the boat (160)." This is an example of simile becasue he is compared to a sack.
“On top of the slope behind them the motorcycle was chuntering away like an animal out of breath, and they pulled their machine guns from their shoulders, and my father shouted: Run like hell! (161)” This is also an example of imagery because the motorcycles are compared to an animal.
“A grey layer of cloud floats across the sky like a duvet (163).” This is also an example of imagry because the sky is compared to a duvet.
“‘why are you telling me these things when my father will not talk about them?” I said.
‘Because he asked me to,’ said Franz. ‘when the opportunity arose. And it did, now.’ (162)”
This is an important quote because it shows the strained relationship between Trond and his father.
The theme of this novel is that relationships are tricky.
out Stealing Horses week 4 post a
Vocabulary:
Flank (85): the side of anything, as of a building.
Fathom (87): to penetrate to the truth of; comprehend; understand
Literary Terms:
“The sun was baking, my father was laughing. I was like a man intoxicated (81).” This is an example of personification bec
ause the sun cannot bake and an example of simile because he compares himself to an intoxicated man using like.
“… there was the clinking of chains, and the sun was sparkling on the water, and the horse was dark and hot and sweating in large patches (84).”This is an example of imagery because of the sparkling sun, etc.
Quote:
“”Well you’re a man now’
‘Not quite,’ I said, for I knew that there were things going around me that I did not understand, and that the grown-ups did understand, but that I was close to being there.
‘No maybe not quite (93).’”
This quote is significant because it shows that he understands a lot about life by not understanding everything about life.
Theme:
A theme is to work hard because you will get satisfaction.
Flank (85): the side of anything, as of a building.
Fathom (87): to penetrate to the truth of; comprehend; understand
Literary Terms:
“The sun was baking, my father was laughing. I was like a man intoxicated (81).” This is an example of personification bec
ause the sun cannot bake and an example of simile because he compares himself to an intoxicated man using like.
“… there was the clinking of chains, and the sun was sparkling on the water, and the horse was dark and hot and sweating in large patches (84).”This is an example of imagery because of the sparkling sun, etc.
Quote:
“”Well you’re a man now’
‘Not quite,’ I said, for I knew that there were things going around me that I did not understand, and that the grown-ups did understand, but that I was close to being there.
‘No maybe not quite (93).’”
This quote is significant because it shows that he understands a lot about life by not understanding everything about life.
Theme:
A theme is to work hard because you will get satisfaction.
Out Stealing Horses week 4 post b
In chapter 7 of Out Stealing Horses, it is a flashback again. Jon has left his family because of the incident with him not locking his gun and it going off on his brother, killing him. Trond’s father has decided to cut down the forest around them, and the neighbors are all helping, including Jon’s parents. Trond and his father both have a small crush on Jon’s mother, which leads to tensions between Jon’s father and Trond’s father. They fight for power, with Jon’s father undermining the authority of Trond’s father, who is in charge. They keep cutting and cutting down the trees, each refusing to stop working. One day, Jon’s mother looks very sad, and out of it, because she is thinking about the loss of two of her sons. Trond stops to console her, which distracts Jon’s father and Trond’s father. Trond’s father lets go of his part of the log, which they were taking down from the pile or something, and Jon’s father falls and gets injured. The next day after Jon’s father has been taken to the hospital, Trond and his father go out in a rain storm and play in the water, which bonds them and allows them to forgive each other.
Out Stealing Horses week 3 post a
Vocabulary:
Percolator (78): a kind of coffeepot in which boiling water in a repeated process is forced up a hollow stem, filters down through ground coffee in a sievelike container, and returns to the pot below.
Flagstone (79): rock, as sandstone or shale, suitable for splitting into flagstones.
Literary Devices:
“It may all be all very well in Dickens, but when you read Dickens you’re reading a long ballad from a vanished world, where everything comes together in the end like an equation, where the balance of what was once disturbed must be restored so the gods can smile again (67).” This is an example of simile because he compares the outcome of the story to an equation.
“The chainsaw is a Jonsered. Not that I think Jonsered is the best brand, but they only use Jonsered here… So Jonsered rules here. And Volvo (69).” This is an example of personification because it is saying that a brand rules.
“They drive like the Greeks do and use the horn instead of braking. Only a few weeks ago, I had to drive into the ditch, the colossal brute thundered past me well into my lane (70).” This is an example of simile and metaphor because he compares the driving to the Greeks using like, and the truck to a colossal brute.
Quote:
“You can learn a lot from films if you have a good memory, watch how people do things and have done them always, but there is not much real work in modern films, there are only ideas. Thin ideas and something they call humour, everything has to be a laugh now. But I hate being entertained, I have no time for it (78).” This quote explains a lot about his personality, and shows that he is intelligent because he has never actually seen a person sharpen a saw, but remembers seeing it in e documentary he watched years ago.
Theme: A possible theme is that one should be self-sufficient, because you cannot always rely on others.
Percolator (78): a kind of coffeepot in which boiling water in a repeated process is forced up a hollow stem, filters down through ground coffee in a sievelike container, and returns to the pot below.
Flagstone (79): rock, as sandstone or shale, suitable for splitting into flagstones.
Literary Devices:
“It may all be all very well in Dickens, but when you read Dickens you’re reading a long ballad from a vanished world, where everything comes together in the end like an equation, where the balance of what was once disturbed must be restored so the gods can smile again (67).” This is an example of simile because he compares the outcome of the story to an equation.
“The chainsaw is a Jonsered. Not that I think Jonsered is the best brand, but they only use Jonsered here… So Jonsered rules here. And Volvo (69).” This is an example of personification because it is saying that a brand rules.
“They drive like the Greeks do and use the horn instead of braking. Only a few weeks ago, I had to drive into the ditch, the colossal brute thundered past me well into my lane (70).” This is an example of simile and metaphor because he compares the driving to the Greeks using like, and the truck to a colossal brute.
Quote:
“You can learn a lot from films if you have a good memory, watch how people do things and have done them always, but there is not much real work in modern films, there are only ideas. Thin ideas and something they call humour, everything has to be a laugh now. But I hate being entertained, I have no time for it (78).” This quote explains a lot about his personality, and shows that he is intelligent because he has never actually seen a person sharpen a saw, but remembers seeing it in e documentary he watched years ago.
Theme: A possible theme is that one should be self-sufficient, because you cannot always rely on others.
Out Stealing Horses week 3 post b
Out Stealing Horses has turned out to be a surprisingly melancholy book. It is the reflection of an old man on his life, and is written in a style that leaves a feeling of loneliness and makes me ache for this man. He has not yet revealed the cause for this sadness; but has revealed that it might have something to do with his father and childhood neighbor, Jon. His life lately has not been too bad, and he does not need much to satisfy his needs. He has recently purchased a house on top of a hill in the woods of Norway, a prime piece of property with a cabin that needs many repairs that are hard for an old man to complete. He does not know how to do many of these things on his own, but can think back to the time when he lived with his dad in a cabin in the summers of his childhood and remember what his father would do.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Post B Week 2 OUT CHASING HORSES
Out Chasing Horses has been a really sad book so far. First Jon and Trond go out chasing horses, which means they steal horses and ride them for a while. It's cool because they are like those cowboys on TV, one of them scares the horses, and the other hangs from a branch of a tree. When the horses run underneath him, he drops and lans on a horse. Unfortunately, it looked easier than it truly was and Trond gets hurts when he hits the horse, and then gets bucked off. That's not the sad part though. After Jon and Trond have done this, the go climb a tree. There is a tiny birds nest, which they look at for a while. Trond comments on how precious life is, and how lucky these birds will be when they have grown and are able to fly away and live thier lives. This affects Jon in a way Trond could not have anticipated, and Jon is hurt and crumbles the nest, and lets it drop from the tree. What Trond didn't know is that earlier that day, Jon had returned from his favourite pastime, hunting, and set his gun down on the table and left to bathe in the river. His younger brothers, who idolized him, went to the table and found the gun, and begun to play than they are hunting, just like thier older brother Jon. Not knowing the gun was not locked, Lars jokingly pulls the trigger, accidentally killing his brother.
Post A Week 2 OUT CHASING HORSES
Vocab:
Paddock (18):a small, usually enclosed field near a stable or barn for pasturing or exercising animals.
slowcoach (20):someone who moves slowly, slowpoke.
Lit. Devices:
"...,fishing in the river for trout, balancing on the shining yellow logs that sailed the current close long after the clearing of the river was done (17)." This is an example of imagery because of the shining yellow logs.
"... or we went to Jon's house in the other direction where I was treated as the crown prince (21)." This is an example of simile because the novel compares him using "as".
"Jon's face was a chalk-white mask with an open mouth, and from that mouth uttered sounds that made my blood run cold (33)." This is an example of a metaphor because it says that Jon's face is a chalk-white mask.
Quote:
"christ." I said. "It's wierd that something so little can come alive and just fly away." and maybe it was not well put and certainly less than the light airy feeling I felt inside me. But something happened at that momment I that I had no way understanding, for when I raised my eyes and looked up at Jon's face it was strained and totally white (33)." This quote is iomportant because it shows the immense change in Jon for no apparent reason. He then crushed the tiny birds egg he was holding, then the nest, making Lars feel terrible, helpless, and desprate. I don't know what the significance of this incident will be, but he makes it clear this is important.
Theme: The theme of this book is that people are unpredictable, and that they constantly change.
Paddock (18):a small, usually enclosed field near a stable or barn for pasturing or exercising animals.
slowcoach (20):someone who moves slowly, slowpoke.
Lit. Devices:
"...,fishing in the river for trout, balancing on the shining yellow logs that sailed the current close long after the clearing of the river was done (17)." This is an example of imagery because of the shining yellow logs.
"... or we went to Jon's house in the other direction where I was treated as the crown prince (21)." This is an example of simile because the novel compares him using "as".
"Jon's face was a chalk-white mask with an open mouth, and from that mouth uttered sounds that made my blood run cold (33)." This is an example of a metaphor because it says that Jon's face is a chalk-white mask.
Quote:
"christ." I said. "It's wierd that something so little can come alive and just fly away." and maybe it was not well put and certainly less than the light airy feeling I felt inside me. But something happened at that momment I that I had no way understanding, for when I raised my eyes and looked up at Jon's face it was strained and totally white (33)." This quote is iomportant because it shows the immense change in Jon for no apparent reason. He then crushed the tiny birds egg he was holding, then the nest, making Lars feel terrible, helpless, and desprate. I don't know what the significance of this incident will be, but he makes it clear this is important.
Theme: The theme of this book is that people are unpredictable, and that they constantly change.
Post B Week 1 OUT CHASING HORSES
Out Chasing Horses is about a man who lives in Norway and lives in the forest. He loves the Norweigian countryside and has waited his entire life to be able to retire to a cabin in the woods such as this one. One night, he is sleeping in his cold, dark cabin and is awoken by noises in the wood. He looks out the door and sees his nieghbor out hollering for his dog who had run away. He decides that is wasn't right for his nieghbor to be alone in the middle of the night, with only a flashlight as company, so he walks with this man until the dog bounds back into sight and they journey back home.
I can understand why this man would want to live in the peace and quiet of the Norweigian wilderness, because two summers ago I traveled there and loved it.
I can understand why this man would want to live in the peace and quiet of the Norweigian wilderness, because two summers ago I traveled there and loved it.
Post A Week 1 for OUT CHASING HORSES
Vocab:
Skint:having no money; penniless.
Breadth:The measure or dimension from side to side; width.
Literary Terms:
"There is a reddish light over the tree by the lake (5)."
"It is starting to blow. I can see the shape of the wind on the water (1)." THis is an example of personification because the wind cannot blow, and does not have shape.
"It was a disturbing should, and the man in front of me bit his lip and ran the fingers his left hand over his forehead with an uncertain movement before he went ( 14)." This is an example of imagery.
Theme: The theme of this book is being alone but still helping others.
Skint:having no money; penniless.
Breadth:The measure or dimension from side to side; width.
Literary Terms:
"There is a reddish light over the tree by the lake (5)."
"It is starting to blow. I can see the shape of the wind on the water (1)." THis is an example of personification because the wind cannot blow, and does not have shape.
"It was a disturbing should, and the man in front of me bit his lip and ran the fingers his left hand over his forehead with an uncertain movement before he went ( 14)." This is an example of imagery.
Theme: The theme of this book is being alone but still helping others.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The Suitors "Self Esteem"
In the epic poem prior to the Odyssey, Odysseus leaves to fight in the Trojan War. When he leaves, his wife Penelope and son Telemachus are left alone, and soon many suitors move in to Odysseus' palace to court Penelope. These suitors are pathetic, and wouldn’t have had the courage to disobey Odysseus and harass his wife if he was still in Messina.
Also when Telemachus confronts the suitors at a town meeting, they reply that Penelope had been messing with them, telling them they would have to wait until she had finished weaving her web until they could be with her. Penelope is obviously playing with them, screwing with their heads, and they do not have the courage to confront her about it until they are in a large group.
The song “Self Esteem”, by The Offspring, is about a guy who has no self-esteem. His girlfriend walks all over him and cheats on him, yet he cannot tell her how he feels.
"I wrote her off for the tenth time today
And practice all the things I would say
But she came over
I lost my nerve
I took her back and made her dessert
Now I know I’m being used
That’s okay man cause I like the abuse
I know she’s playing with me
That’s okay cause I got no self esteem"
This reminds me of the suitors because they spineless and would not dare to do this to Penelope if she had no one to guard her and they were not acting as a group.
Also when Telemachus confronts the suitors at a town meeting, they reply that Penelope had been messing with them, telling them they would have to wait until she had finished weaving her web until they could be with her. Penelope is obviously playing with them, screwing with their heads, and they do not have the courage to confront her about it until they are in a large group.
The song “Self Esteem”, by The Offspring, is about a guy who has no self-esteem. His girlfriend walks all over him and cheats on him, yet he cannot tell her how he feels.
"I wrote her off for the tenth time today
And practice all the things I would say
But she came over
I lost my nerve
I took her back and made her dessert
Now I know I’m being used
That’s okay man cause I like the abuse
I know she’s playing with me
That’s okay cause I got no self esteem"
This reminds me of the suitors because they spineless and would not dare to do this to Penelope if she had no one to guard her and they were not acting as a group.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Vocabulary:
(206) Dolefully: sorrowful; mournful; melancholy
(215)Lilting: A cheerful or lively manner of speaking, in which the pitch of the voice varies pleasantly
Literary Terms:
His voice was strangely harsh and resonent, like metal being crushed (212). This is an example of a similie used effectively to show the apparent coldness in this soldiers personality.
"At that very moment, a very large clock struck midday. Bonnet laughed, almost with pleasure. It was such a deep low, slightly cracked sound he imagined coming from the antique clock with the painted casing in some Dutch Old Master, along with the smell of fresh herring prepared by the housewife and the sounds from the street beyond the window with its tarnished panes of glass; in such paintings there was always a clock like this one hanging on the wall (215)." This quote is an example of symbolism to me, as the soldier Bonnet is imagining this specific scene vividly in his head, a scene that may have taken place in Germany. This clock symbolizes home and security to the German. This insight into the Germans thoughts allows the reader to think of the Germans as people, not just occupiers.
"The peaceful sky was tinged with pink and silver. Its innocent light played on the happy faces of the men as they marched past (218)." This is an example of personification, because peacefullness and innocence are human qualities.
Quote:
"Madeline opened the door without making a sound and slipped out into the deserted wet garden where tears seemed to drip from the trees. an hour later Lucile let Benoit in through the little green door that opened on to the Maie woods. The storm was over but an angry wind continued to rage (304)." This is after Benoit has killed a German Officer and must be hidden in Lucilles house. I think the final sentence is not only about the physical storm brewing outside, but also the conflict with the Germans intensifying greatly.
Theme:
The theme of Suite Francaise is fear, but with the fear comes fiercely strong hope for the future and loyalty to those one loves.
(206) Dolefully: sorrowful; mournful; melancholy
(215)Lilting: A cheerful or lively manner of speaking, in which the pitch of the voice varies pleasantly
Literary Terms:
His voice was strangely harsh and resonent, like metal being crushed (212). This is an example of a similie used effectively to show the apparent coldness in this soldiers personality.
"At that very moment, a very large clock struck midday. Bonnet laughed, almost with pleasure. It was such a deep low, slightly cracked sound he imagined coming from the antique clock with the painted casing in some Dutch Old Master, along with the smell of fresh herring prepared by the housewife and the sounds from the street beyond the window with its tarnished panes of glass; in such paintings there was always a clock like this one hanging on the wall (215)." This quote is an example of symbolism to me, as the soldier Bonnet is imagining this specific scene vividly in his head, a scene that may have taken place in Germany. This clock symbolizes home and security to the German. This insight into the Germans thoughts allows the reader to think of the Germans as people, not just occupiers.
"The peaceful sky was tinged with pink and silver. Its innocent light played on the happy faces of the men as they marched past (218)." This is an example of personification, because peacefullness and innocence are human qualities.
Quote:
"Madeline opened the door without making a sound and slipped out into the deserted wet garden where tears seemed to drip from the trees. an hour later Lucile let Benoit in through the little green door that opened on to the Maie woods. The storm was over but an angry wind continued to rage (304)." This is after Benoit has killed a German Officer and must be hidden in Lucilles house. I think the final sentence is not only about the physical storm brewing outside, but also the conflict with the Germans intensifying greatly.
Theme:
The theme of Suite Francaise is fear, but with the fear comes fiercely strong hope for the future and loyalty to those one loves.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Post B Week 8 Suite Francaise
So I have just finished Suite Francaise, and I would have to say that I loved the second part of this book! The first half was interesting, but it was depressing, the characters were condesending and full of resentments torward everyone and everything. They were forced to leave Paris, France, because of the defeat of France by the Germans in World War II. Why exactly there was a mass exodus, I do not quite understand, as the civillians are in just as much peril in the suburbs of France as they are in Paris, as they are still France. The second half of teh book was about the occupation of the French towns by German soldiers. The towns people were all in the comfort of thier homes, and the Germans were civil and in most cases, genuinely nice. Love blossoms betweem several civilian women and the soldiers. Though it was still about the war, the tension between the sides was subdued, and instead of being about the war as a whole, it showed the intrests of the people and how they were torn between loyalty to thier country and loyalty to themselves.
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