Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Post B Week 2 Suite Francaise
This novel seems to be about the elite upper-class looking down upon the lower class. Madame Pericand looks down upon her maids and other employees, Father Pericand looks down upon the orphan boys to the point that he hates them, and is also terrified of them. The writer Gabriel Corte does the same with his servants, leaving them with large responsibilities then becoming angry with them for not performing the tasks up to his high expectations.
Post A Week 2 Suite Francaise
Vocabulary:
Imperceptible(17):
very slight, gradual,
Bequeathed(19): To pass on to another.
Literary Terms:
But his smile was very sweet, slightly shy, with a kind of gentle reproach: “I love you,” it seemed to say. “Why don’t you love me?” (20) This seems to be imagery, as I can imagine a shy priest who rarely smiles but when he does he is a bit self-conscience.
The metallic shudder of falling iron shutters was the only sound to break the silence. (24)
This is an example of personification because of the shuddering of the shutters, and of imagery because of the word metallic and the ringing it leaves in your mind.
In the corridor, whispering shadows passed by.(25) This quote has imagery and personification. It has imagery because it shows how lonely and desolate Paris has become, and has personification with the whispering shadows part.
Quote:
“Their superficial obedience was terrifying…. They were the children of Satan, without even the spirituality to elevate themselves to a point where they desired divine light; they didn’t feel it; they didn’t want it; they didn’t miss it.” (22) This show how cold Father Pericand is towards the orphan boys. He doesn’t have enough heart to be in charge of them as he does not want the best for them.
Theme: A theme of this book is the elite class thinking they are better than the normal people.
Imperceptible(17):
very slight, gradual,
Bequeathed(19): To pass on to another.
Literary Terms:
But his smile was very sweet, slightly shy, with a kind of gentle reproach: “I love you,” it seemed to say. “Why don’t you love me?” (20) This seems to be imagery, as I can imagine a shy priest who rarely smiles but when he does he is a bit self-conscience.
The metallic shudder of falling iron shutters was the only sound to break the silence. (24)
This is an example of personification because of the shuddering of the shutters, and of imagery because of the word metallic and the ringing it leaves in your mind.
In the corridor, whispering shadows passed by.(25) This quote has imagery and personification. It has imagery because it shows how lonely and desolate Paris has become, and has personification with the whispering shadows part.
Quote:
“Their superficial obedience was terrifying…. They were the children of Satan, without even the spirituality to elevate themselves to a point where they desired divine light; they didn’t feel it; they didn’t want it; they didn’t miss it.” (22) This show how cold Father Pericand is towards the orphan boys. He doesn’t have enough heart to be in charge of them as he does not want the best for them.
Theme: A theme of this book is the elite class thinking they are better than the normal people.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Post B Week 1 Suite Francaise
Dear Madame Pericand,
You make me very angry. You are one of those people who take it upon themselves to point out how generous and kind they are to their inferiors. You allow your servants watch television with you and wonder why they don't find you to be the kindest person they have ever met. You grace others with your appearance and then wonder why they don't sing you praises of approval. I will give you the compliment of being persistent, however, because once you have an idea in your head, you never give it up, even if you later find out you were totally wrong.
Taylor
You make me very angry. You are one of those people who take it upon themselves to point out how generous and kind they are to their inferiors. You allow your servants watch television with you and wonder why they don't find you to be the kindest person they have ever met. You grace others with your appearance and then wonder why they don't sing you praises of approval. I will give you the compliment of being persistent, however, because once you have an idea in your head, you never give it up, even if you later find out you were totally wrong.
Taylor
Post A Week 1 Suite Francaise
VOCAB:
Invalid: (6)
A person who is too sick or weak to care for himself or herself
Venerable: (10)
Commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character
LITERARY TERMS:
"To them it began as a long breath, like air being forced into a deep sigh." (3) This is an example of a simile, because is it comparing a breath of air to a siren.
"Those still asleep dreamt of waves breaking over pebbles, a March storm whipping the woods, a herd of cows trampling the ground with their hooves, until finally sleep was shaken off and they struggled to open their eyes." (3) This is an example of imagery because the waves breaking appeals to my senses, and of personification because the waves breaking, and the storm whipping are examples of giving a non-living object human-like qualities.
"The sun came up, fiery red, in a cloudless sky." (4) This quote is imagery because the way the sky and the sun are described appeals to your sense of sight.
QUOTE:
"She took pride in her husband's position (she would have preferred a more domestic lifestyle, but following the example of our Dear Saviour, each of us has his cross to bear). She had come home between appointments to oversee her children's studies, the baby's bottles and the servants' work, but she didn't have time to take off her hat and coat." This is an example of Madame Pericand's uptight and condescending nature. She tries her hardest to be what she considers a good Catholic, saying that her not being a domestic is comparable to what happened to Jesus. Also, she is about keeping up appearances, always looking presentable to her demanding public.
THEME:
The theme of this novel seems to be masking fear in order to appear calm.
Invalid: (6)
A person who is too sick or weak to care for himself or herself
Venerable: (10)
Commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character
LITERARY TERMS:
"To them it began as a long breath, like air being forced into a deep sigh." (3) This is an example of a simile, because is it comparing a breath of air to a siren.
"Those still asleep dreamt of waves breaking over pebbles, a March storm whipping the woods, a herd of cows trampling the ground with their hooves, until finally sleep was shaken off and they struggled to open their eyes." (3) This is an example of imagery because the waves breaking appeals to my senses, and of personification because the waves breaking, and the storm whipping are examples of giving a non-living object human-like qualities.
"The sun came up, fiery red, in a cloudless sky." (4) This quote is imagery because the way the sky and the sun are described appeals to your sense of sight.
QUOTE:
"She took pride in her husband's position (she would have preferred a more domestic lifestyle, but following the example of our Dear Saviour, each of us has his cross to bear). She had come home between appointments to oversee her children's studies, the baby's bottles and the servants' work, but she didn't have time to take off her hat and coat." This is an example of Madame Pericand's uptight and condescending nature. She tries her hardest to be what she considers a good Catholic, saying that her not being a domestic is comparable to what happened to Jesus. Also, she is about keeping up appearances, always looking presentable to her demanding public.
THEME:
The theme of this novel seems to be masking fear in order to appear calm.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Post B Week 5
Dear Roald Dahl,
I really enjoyed reading this memoir. It was fasinating to read about the insirations for your books. The ways that adults treat you differed greatly. Your mother always loved and supported you, while all of your teachers beat you and treated you like dirt. You have quite an imagination, which comes through in your novels and in your memoir. I also found it fitting that you wrote a memoir solely on your childhood, because most of your fictional novels aer for children. Your point of view was interesting. You went from a childs point of view to the present time. I loved reading your memoi because you are one of my favorite writers.
Taylor
I really enjoyed reading this memoir. It was fasinating to read about the insirations for your books. The ways that adults treat you differed greatly. Your mother always loved and supported you, while all of your teachers beat you and treated you like dirt. You have quite an imagination, which comes through in your novels and in your memoir. I also found it fitting that you wrote a memoir solely on your childhood, because most of your fictional novels aer for children. Your point of view was interesting. You went from a childs point of view to the present time. I loved reading your memoi because you are one of my favorite writers.
Taylor
Post A Week 5
Vocabulary:
Supercilious;(169)
haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression.
Sombre:(171)
gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted
Appeals:
1. One appeal is when Roalds mother asks him if he wants to go to college. "no, thank youu," I said. "i want to go stright from school to work for a company that will send me to wonderful faraway places like Africa or China." (166) This shows how much Roald wants adventure.
2.Another appeal is after Roald gets beaten for no reason, he gives up his faith in God. "It was all of this, I think, that made me give begin to have doubts about religion and even about God. If this person, I kept telling myself, was one of God's chosen salesmen on earth, then there must be something very wrong about the whole business."(146)
3. The last appeal is humorous. When asked by his employer if he wants to go to Egypt, Roald responds. "It's.. it's.. it's, I stammered, it's too dusty sir." (172) This is funny because that is a very poor excuse to not go somewhere.
Quote:"But that is another story. It has nothing to do with childhood or school or Gobstoppers or dead mice or Beazers or summer holidays of Norway. it is a different tale altogether, and if it all goes well, i may have a shot at telling it one of these days." (176) This pretty much sums up the feeling of the mamoir.
Themes: The theme of this book is childhood.
Supercilious;(169)
haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression.
Sombre:(171)
gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted
Appeals:
1. One appeal is when Roalds mother asks him if he wants to go to college. "no, thank youu," I said. "i want to go stright from school to work for a company that will send me to wonderful faraway places like Africa or China." (166) This shows how much Roald wants adventure.
2.Another appeal is after Roald gets beaten for no reason, he gives up his faith in God. "It was all of this, I think, that made me give begin to have doubts about religion and even about God. If this person, I kept telling myself, was one of God's chosen salesmen on earth, then there must be something very wrong about the whole business."(146)
3. The last appeal is humorous. When asked by his employer if he wants to go to Egypt, Roald responds. "It's.. it's.. it's, I stammered, it's too dusty sir." (172) This is funny because that is a very poor excuse to not go somewhere.
Quote:"But that is another story. It has nothing to do with childhood or school or Gobstoppers or dead mice or Beazers or summer holidays of Norway. it is a different tale altogether, and if it all goes well, i may have a shot at telling it one of these days." (176) This pretty much sums up the feeling of the mamoir.
Themes: The theme of this book is childhood.
Monday, October 15, 2007
My lovely(ish) film review...
The film The 400 Blows was good. It was not a spectacular piece of art or a theatrical masterpiece. However, it kept me entertained or at least awake, and the mischievous actions of Antoine made me crack a smile. It was not a happy film, but at the finish I was in a good mood, and not because the film was over. Overall, this movie was satisfactory.
In the film The 400 Blows, the protagonist is Antoine. Antoine is a twelve-year-old in the 1930’s, living in Paris, France. He struggles to find acceptance at school and at home, so he lashes out and does rebellious things. He first gets caught with a dirty picture in class. Then, while he is being punished for having the picture, he writes on the wall. The teacher finds out and to punish Antoine, he must talk to his parents and have them pay for the damage to school property. He does not tell them, and instead of going back to school the next day and facing his teacher, he and his best friend skip school. While he is running around town, he spots his mom kissing a man that was not Antoine’s’ stepfather. She sees that he saw her. Both of them are busted, but neither can do anything about it, or they both will be caught. The next day when Antoine goes back to school, the teacher wants to know why Antoine was not in school. Antoine makes up a tale that his mother had died. This story backfires when one of the kids Antoine goes to school with tells his parents Antoine was not in school. When his parents arrive at school, Antoine is busted. After all of this happened, Antoine stole his fathers typewriter and got caught with it. In the end, Antoine is sent to a Juvenile Delinquent School and then escapes.
Jean-Pierre Léaud plays Antoine in the film. Jean-Pierre Léaud played the role of a bad French boy very effectively. He is very scrawny and that makes it all the more convincing that he is a poor suffering child. He also looks French and obviously speaks French as his first language, so he fits his description well. His costumes are very dirty and old looking. Claire Maurier plays Antoine’s mother. Her character is glamorous and flamboyant and she looks like both of those things. Her classic French features and 30’s style blonde curled hair make her perfect for the part. She pulls off the snobby, bratty, wannabe society girl flawlessly. Even though her family is poor, she has very nice clothes including furs. Guy Decomble plays the frustrated French teacher. He looks the part; his clothes are geeky, and he is old. However, the part is a bit overdone. He seems very unnatural, and a bit embarrassed to be in front of the camera. Overall the acting in this film was not perfect, but also not horrible.
There were different cinematic aspects in this film. The music was the same throughout, a melodic tune that changed slightly to correspond to the situation. The photography was not commercial, it was arty. It had odd camera angles, especially in Antoine’s house. Some shots were very long. The shot of the children watching the puppet show seemed candid, but went on forever. The shot of Antoine escaping was endless. He ran and ran, in a very peculiar manner, and if the shot would have been several minutes shorter, it would have gone with the flow of the film much more seamlessly. The end of the movie was terrible. It ended with Antoine at the ocean, which would have been cool if they would not have simply stopped the camera on Antoine’s face. They could have faded out into black or stopped the camera on the ocean, but because they ended it on a blurry image of his face, the ending seemed choppy.
The film The 400 Blows and the novel Black Boy by Richard Write are similar. They both have struggling/oppressed protagonists. Antoine and Richard both want to have freedom, but freedom is not socially acceptable for either. They both have a horrible family life, as Richard is oppressed and beaten and Antoine is ignored and then discarded. Their family considers them a burden to carry. They are different though. They escape from their terrible lives in different ways. Richard writes and Antoine watches films. Also Richards’ life is less sheltered than Antoine’s. He Deals with the threat of death daily, while Antoine’s parents refuse to beat him. Richard has good morals. He only steals when it is necessary, where as Antoine steals for the thrill of it.
I highly recommend this movie. I especially recommend it to those who are into old films. The plot was simple, the characters were very well portrayed and old fashioned. The costumes were true to the time period. Any one who is into films would look at this as a film that is highly important and well one. I think that the film would appeal to everyone to old sentimental folks to young mischievous children who need a role model.
In the film The 400 Blows, the protagonist is Antoine. Antoine is a twelve-year-old in the 1930’s, living in Paris, France. He struggles to find acceptance at school and at home, so he lashes out and does rebellious things. He first gets caught with a dirty picture in class. Then, while he is being punished for having the picture, he writes on the wall. The teacher finds out and to punish Antoine, he must talk to his parents and have them pay for the damage to school property. He does not tell them, and instead of going back to school the next day and facing his teacher, he and his best friend skip school. While he is running around town, he spots his mom kissing a man that was not Antoine’s’ stepfather. She sees that he saw her. Both of them are busted, but neither can do anything about it, or they both will be caught. The next day when Antoine goes back to school, the teacher wants to know why Antoine was not in school. Antoine makes up a tale that his mother had died. This story backfires when one of the kids Antoine goes to school with tells his parents Antoine was not in school. When his parents arrive at school, Antoine is busted. After all of this happened, Antoine stole his fathers typewriter and got caught with it. In the end, Antoine is sent to a Juvenile Delinquent School and then escapes.
Jean-Pierre Léaud plays Antoine in the film. Jean-Pierre Léaud played the role of a bad French boy very effectively. He is very scrawny and that makes it all the more convincing that he is a poor suffering child. He also looks French and obviously speaks French as his first language, so he fits his description well. His costumes are very dirty and old looking. Claire Maurier plays Antoine’s mother. Her character is glamorous and flamboyant and she looks like both of those things. Her classic French features and 30’s style blonde curled hair make her perfect for the part. She pulls off the snobby, bratty, wannabe society girl flawlessly. Even though her family is poor, she has very nice clothes including furs. Guy Decomble plays the frustrated French teacher. He looks the part; his clothes are geeky, and he is old. However, the part is a bit overdone. He seems very unnatural, and a bit embarrassed to be in front of the camera. Overall the acting in this film was not perfect, but also not horrible.
There were different cinematic aspects in this film. The music was the same throughout, a melodic tune that changed slightly to correspond to the situation. The photography was not commercial, it was arty. It had odd camera angles, especially in Antoine’s house. Some shots were very long. The shot of the children watching the puppet show seemed candid, but went on forever. The shot of Antoine escaping was endless. He ran and ran, in a very peculiar manner, and if the shot would have been several minutes shorter, it would have gone with the flow of the film much more seamlessly. The end of the movie was terrible. It ended with Antoine at the ocean, which would have been cool if they would not have simply stopped the camera on Antoine’s face. They could have faded out into black or stopped the camera on the ocean, but because they ended it on a blurry image of his face, the ending seemed choppy.
The film The 400 Blows and the novel Black Boy by Richard Write are similar. They both have struggling/oppressed protagonists. Antoine and Richard both want to have freedom, but freedom is not socially acceptable for either. They both have a horrible family life, as Richard is oppressed and beaten and Antoine is ignored and then discarded. Their family considers them a burden to carry. They are different though. They escape from their terrible lives in different ways. Richard writes and Antoine watches films. Also Richards’ life is less sheltered than Antoine’s. He Deals with the threat of death daily, while Antoine’s parents refuse to beat him. Richard has good morals. He only steals when it is necessary, where as Antoine steals for the thrill of it.
I highly recommend this movie. I especially recommend it to those who are into old films. The plot was simple, the characters were very well portrayed and old fashioned. The costumes were true to the time period. Any one who is into films would look at this as a film that is highly important and well one. I think that the film would appeal to everyone to old sentimental folks to young mischievous children who need a role model.
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