How To Read Literature Like A Professor: Chapters 25-27

Chapter 25: Don't Read With Your Eyes

In the Black Cat, by Edgar Allen Poe, the author, William Shakespeare, tells the story about a man who originally loves animals, and then the man kills his wife and attempts to kill his cat. The man drinks alcohol a lot. Modern society would assume that the reason the man is so crazy is because of the alcohol. Yet, somebody who read the story before this century would assume that the reason he behaved this way was because he lost a part of his soul. He basically turned evil, and they would feel that he could not do anything about it. Also, there would be conflicting views about abusing the wife. Also, a person from before this century would look at the gallows as terrifying, yet a person from today would not be terrified by them.

Chapter 26: Is He Serious? And Other Ironies?

In the book Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag is a fireman with the responsibility of burning books. It is ironic because he ends up actually trying to save books in the end of the story. Throughout the course of the book, he changes his entire views. The title of the book is even ironic because paper takes to flame at 451 degrees.

How To Read Literature Like A Professor: Chapters 22-24

Chapter 22: He's Blind For A Reason, You Know
Chapter 23: It's Never Just Heart Disease
Chapter 24: ...And Rarely Just Illness

In the book, A Walk To Remember, Jamie is sick and she is dying from leukemia. This is an important time in her life when she is sick, and as young as she is. She is in high school, and she really has not had the opportunity to live and experience life. Yet, before she dies she is blessed with the opportunity to fall in love. Landon Carter, who is known as a local trouble maker, yet actually is a wonderful person, begins to hang out with Jamie. He eventually falls head over heels in love with her, and it is because of her that he changes into a better person. The two fall in love, and yet Landon never leaves her side even when she gets really bad off. So, it is such a heart wrenching part in the story when Jamie dies because Landon really truly loved her. He married her, and they didn't get to live a small amount of time together. Her illness is important because it allows the author to develop the plot. The theme is also evolved throughout the use of her illness. True love conquers all, figuratively speaking. Although she doesn't get better, the two, despite all odds, make it together, and get married.

In the Twilight Saga, Edward is transformed from a human being into a vampire. He slowly and painfully died of influenza. Carlisle aids in saving Edward from dying by biting him, so that he can transform into a vampire. This transformation is important because the disease is symbolic of Edwards transformation. He died but he was reborn. Edward struggles with being a vampire. He feels as if he has no soul, and is a monster. He suffers on all levels humanly and as a vampire, and it just goes to show that no matter what you are you will always experience some level of pain.

How To Read Literature Like A Professor: Chapters 20 and 21

Chapter 20: ...So Does Season

In this poem the author depict the negative aspects of nature in a meaningful yet unusual way. The author does not describe the beauty of Autumn, as do most authors of Autumn poems. The author writes unusually by writing about how autumn brings with it death, cold, and sadness. Yet, the author also writes meaningful even by doing so. The author is still able to communicate with the audience.

Chapter 21: Marked For Greatness

Harry's scar was given to him when he was just a a baby. His parents were attacked by the evil Lord Voldemort. Sadly they were brutally murdered by him. Yet the love of Harry's mother saved him, and when the evil Lord tried to kill Harry, the only harm that was inflicted upon him was the scar. So behind his scar lies the meaning that true love is a powerful tool in life and really does conquer all. Harry has no recollection of his parents, so that scar is his only reminder. Yet, it's also a curse. Harry no longer has his parents, and they are what he longs for so much, and he can never have them. So, it is a constant reminder of not only the love his mother had for him, so much that she would die to protect him, but also the worst day of his life. The day that his parents were taken from his forever. The scar is like a beacon of light and hope for Harry though, it leads him and guides him through life.

How To Read Literature Like A Professor: Chapters 16-19

Chapter 16: It's All About Sex
Chapter 17: ...Except Sex

In the movie American Beauty Lester's obsession with Angela, a teenager. Lester is an adult male who is fascinated by Angela, and could care less about his wife Carolyn. Every time that Angela is over he stares at her, as if some force is holding his eyes on her. He is obsessed. He wishes to have sexual relations with her, yet he knows that he cannot bluntly state this because she is a minor and he could go to jail. Yet, Angela and Jane, Lester's daughter, argue because Jane does not want Angela to have sex with her father. This desperate desire for sexual relations with Angela allows the reader to develop ideas and feelings about Lester. The audience becomes overwhelmed with hatred because he is a despicable pervert.

Chapter 18: If She Comes Up, It's Baptism

In the novel Farenheit 451, Guy Montag is an average citizen who does not question the authority of those over him. He follows the laws, and lives a simple life. One day he walks home with a girl by the name of Clarisse. The journey home is not a sunny one though, it is pouring the rain the entire way to their home. The rain acts as a baptism. Cleansing and changing the entire way that Montag looks at the world. Clarrisse asks him several though pondering questions, and then leaves him to walk home in the rain by himself. Her final question that she leaves him with causes him to realize that his whole life is not what he thought it to be. Thus causing him to make drastic changes in his life. He began breaking laws, and he even quit his job at the fire department. He reads books, and wants to instill in future generations the importance of books, even if that means he has to do it in secret.

Chapter 19: Geography Matters...

The geography in the novel Pride and Prejudice would cause Foster to classify it under geography. The story takes place between 1796 and 1813. The story takes place in England, and the geography of the land depicts several things about the story. The geography sets the foundation for the entire story. The time period in which the story takes place and the location of the action develops the plot of the novel. It is culturally important. The geography is also a symbol of simplicity of Elizabeth Bennett's appearance, yet her natural beauty. She is simply stunning just like the nature in Europe. The geography is also a symbol of the struggle for the love and relationships in England. Although some of the towns are not far away others are. This is symbollic of the obstacles that the loves must overcome to be together.

How To Read Literature Like A Professor: Chapters 10-15

Chapter 10: It's More Than Just Rain Or Snow

The importance of weather in stories is extreme. Like E-X-T-R-E-M-E. (I hope you enjoyed that Katie- I figured it might make you laugh. Then again who knows.) The weather sets the mood of a story or scene. Rain and thunderstorms can set an eerie, scary, and even dreary atmosphere. Sending chills up readers and viewers spines, and causing the hairs on their arms and necks to raise. Whereas sunshine can set a feeling of happiness, timelessness, joy,etc. Weather plays a key role in how the reader or viewer feels.Weather can also be symbolic. Rain can represent purification and transformations. Wind can be symbolic of peace and transformation. Weather really plays a key role in mood and also in symbolizing pivotal moments in characters lives.

Chapter 11: More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence

There are two kinds of violence in literature. They are specific injury that authors cause characters to inflict upon themselves or others, and the narrative violence that causes characters harm in general. An example of specific injury that causes harm would be like in Looking For Alaska when Alaska dies, it was basically Pudge's fault. He could have chose to stand up to Alaska, and refused to have let her leave until she was sober, yet he chose to let her drive away hammered. Therefore when she died in the car accident all of the hurt and pain that he felt, as well as all of his friend, it was his fault. An example of narrative violence would be like Jamie lying on her deathbed from A Walk To Remember. There is not actually a guilty party in narrative violence. The effects of each on the reader vary. The first makes the reader emotionally connect to the characters whether they sympathize with them, or despise their very existence. The effects of the second one are that the audience looks for somebody to blame because as a society today we still do that. We always look for somebody to blame rather than simply accepting responsibility.

Chapter 12: Is That A Symbol?

In the short story Popular Mechanics the couples baby is a symbol of societies lack of concern for the treatment and suffering that children go through, when parents fight and argue. People constantly want to take sides, and say who is in the right, and who feels bad for who. Yet nobody acknowledges the troubles that the children have to go through. Think about it. How is a child not supposed to feel broken? Children love both of their parents, and it's a scary thing to think that they are going to separate when the adults behave civilly. Now just imagine two people screaming at each other. Then imagine being a kid right in the middle of it all. You can't take sides, so what do you do? What can you do? Pretty much nothing. Yet, if the parents were really good parents at all they would step aside from their pity arguments, and take their childrens feelings into consideration because isn't that the important thing, their children? They should atleast have one thing in common, the love for their children? Yet, no... This is exactly what happens in this short story. The couple refuses to act civilized, and behave like adults. They insist on putting their baby right in the middle, LITERALLY, of all of their problems. So what happens to the poor baby. The baby gets broken in half, once again LITERALLY. This is a perfect symbol of how broken homes break children.

 Chapter 13: It's All Political

Take into consideration the short story The Lottery. Ok. There is a little town. The town comes together and is having what appears to be a social gathering. Well then each male from the town walks up, and draws a strip of paper from this old box. Why? Oh just wait. Well after every male has a paper, they open them up simultaneously. All of them are blank with the exception of one. This one has a dot, so this mans family must go in front of everybody onto the stage. Then each member of his family receives a paper. Again all of them are blank with the exception of one. What is on that one? A DOT!!!! Who would have ever guessed? So what happens to the one with the dot. Well they are brutally stoned by every person and child in the town. Even the kids throw stones. So how does this relate politically. Think about it. Instead of town members you have politicians. Each politician can have a civilized conversation with the other politicians. So they are talking. Well then it comes time to call their meeting to order. This is it the defenses come up. The moment the politicians get the opportunity to  attack they do. Shooting down others ideas, and criticizing them to every person they can. Putting them down, so that they can get more votes or appeal.

Chapter 14: Yes, She's A Christ Figure, Too

Alice is a christ figure too. Alice who? Alice. Who's Alice? The Alice. Who is the Alice? What other Alice fell down a rabbit hole, and was shrunk and then enlarged, and had slay an over sized type dragon creature. Oh. Ok. That Alice. Yes, Alice from Alice In Wonderland. Wait a minute how is she a christ figure. Well think about it. She is wounded not long after making it to Wonderland in the arm by a creature of the Red Queen. She is in complete agony because she struggles with the decision to do what everybody deems proper, and to marry a man, or to do what she wants, and be independent. Does she please herself or those she loves? She is self sacrificing. Really? Yes. She is willing to face the red queen, and go to her castle, and save her friends. She had to walk most of the places she went. Other than a few when she went to her destination by dog or other creature. She spent time alone in an unknown land under a hat. She was tempted. She could have easily taken the red queens side, and perhaps she never would have had to fight the magical creature. She was in the company of the white queens followers. These followers served her side in all of her adventures. She was able to forgive. She decided to live her life for herself in hopes of bettering the world.

Chapter 15: Flights of Fancy

In the short story, The Lame Shall Enter First, Sheppard has a son named Norton. Norton has lost a lot at such a young age. His mother died, and his father lacks all interest in his son. He has no siblings or family to take an interest in him. He is a deprived childhood. He has been deprived of love, and of a childhood. His father takes in this troubled boy by the name of Rufus. Sheppard adores Rufus. Rufus emotionally tortures both Sheppard and Norton. Eventually Norton takes a rope and loops it around his neck. Then he jumps from the attic, as if leaping towards the stars, which is where he believes his mother to be. Why does he do this? Rufus told him that his mother was in the stars, and that if he done that he could reach her. So he believes that he will see his mother again. This is pretty symbolic. The flight to his mother is symbolic of Nortons new found freedom. He has escaped the emotional abuse his father has inflicted upon him, and now he is free. He has escaped the turmoils of the world, so that he can be reunited with the only person he feels has ever loved him, his mother.

How To Read Literature Like A Professor: Chapters 6-9

Chapter 6: When In Doubt, It's From Shakespeare

The world renowned movie Titanic reflects upon the classic love story Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Each story revolves around a forbidden love story and the sacrifices the lovers must endure to be with one another, and it is eventually their love that brings them to their demise. This is a revolving theme in both stories. The largest difference in the stories is that in Romeo and Juliet, Juliet kills herself because she cannot bear to live without her beloved Romeo, she does not realize that her lover is still alive. Yet, the deed is done, and she has taken her life, so when Romeo awakens to her dead body, he in return takes his life. The two could not bear to live without the other. In The Titanic, the two lovers escaped the ship, only for the male lover, Jack, to be frozen to death by the ocean. Rose, the female lover, escaped, and eventually found love again, only to die out at sea, when she was back at the site of where the Titanic went down. Although both sets of lovers died, there was a plot twist at the end of The Titanic. Yet, the theme of forbidden love is consistent with Romeo and Juliet. 

Chapter 7: ...Or The Bible

In the movie series, The Chronicles of Narnia, the lion known as Asland, is a christ-like figure because he is a protector of the creatures in Narnia. He comes when the characters need his help, and he delivers them from times of peril, much like Jesus does for people.

The Lion King is a reference to the story of Moses in the Bible. Simba acts as Moses because he was a prince and then was accused of killing his father. Just as Moses killed a slave owner. Both characters flee to an new land, and grow older and more mature. Eventually, they both return to heir homeland, so that they can free their people. Moses frees his his people from the Pharaoh, and Simba frees his people from Scar.

The Lion King also serves as a reference to the story of the Good Samaritan because after Simba fled his home, he was alone, and would have died had it not been for Timon and Pumba. They took him in, and helped to nurture =him back to health.

Chapter 8: Hanseldee and Greteldum

The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks, is a reference to the fairy tale of Cinderella. In The Notebook, Noah and Allie are lovers, and Allie is a high class girl whose family has money, and expects her to marry a wealthy man, and to receive and education. Noah is a hardworking boy whose family has never had much, and he falls in love with Allie. In Cinderella, the Prince falls in love with Cinderella, and she is no more than a common girl who works around her house. Just as Noah is seen as unfit to court Allie, and Cinderella is seen as unfit to marry the Prince. Yet, true love also comes out on top in the end. The Prince sends a man out with the lost glass slipper, and he comes to Cindrellas house. The glass slipper gets broken, oh no. What will they ever do? Cinderella will never get to marry the Prince now, but wait! She has the other glass slipper. The day is saved. She will get to marry the love of her life now. Well, Allie and Noah fall in love. Allie has to go away at the end of the summer. Noah promises to write her everyday. After waiting for several years and never receiving a letter, Allie finally meets a man her parents approve of. Everything is happy go lucky, until one day Allie reads about Noah in the paper. So, she goes to see him. Obviously they both love each other still. They spend a few wonderful days together, and then Allie's mom comes to see her. She doesn't approve. Just as nobody approved of Cinderella. Well now Allie finds out that her mother hid the letters that Noah had sent her. Then, she finally gets to read all the letters she longed for. So now Allie has to face the decision to stay with her fiance or to go back to Noah, the love of her life. So, she does. All is happy go lucky, and it parallels to the story line of Cinderella, true love concurs all.

Chapter 9: It' Greek to Me

Happy, loved, strong
She lived and breathed without a care in the world
Then the day came when she realized she was wrong
Where had the love gone
She was alone
Empty and broken
She had to rebuild her life
She found happiness again
Then followed love
Finally she felt strong
But at what a cost
There were pieces of her that she lost
And now she wonders if she will ever find them
So she enters her quest
To find who she is destined to be

How To Read Literature Like A Professor: Chapters 1-5

Chapter 1:

1. A Quester
2. A Place To Go
3. A Stated Reason To Go There
4. Challenges And Trials
5. A Real Reason To Go There

Shrek: (The First Movie)
Shrek is the quester. He is on a quest to get his swamp back, and to be ridded of the fairy tale creatures that were dumped on his land. he has to face several trials in the process. he has to deal with an annoying donkey, as well as fight with the King's men. Then, he has to go on another quest for the King, so that the King will remove the fairy tale creatures. While on the King's quest, Shrek must fight a dragon, and deal with an overbearing princess. The real reason for him to be sent on his quest to free his swamp and to rescue the princess, so that he could get the swamp back is so that he can realize that it is ok to let people in and to let people love you, as well as to love other people. Shrek also learns that no matter how ugly you may appear on the outside, somebody will love you if you let them.

Chapter 2:

In The Lame Shall Enter First at the very beginning of the story the father and son are having breakfast. The father is utterly repulsed by his son, as he feels that he is entitled, and does not deserve anything that he has. He wishes that his son was smarter, and that he would try to make his life mean something. Yet, after arguing with his son he makes his son sick, and the little boy pukes everywhere in the kitchen. As a result, the sharing of a sacred meal between a father and son is ruined, and this allows the reader to realize that something bad will occur later in the story.

Chapter 3:

There is literal vampirism, sexual vampirism, and symbolic vampirism. In Buffy The Vampire Slayer the main character Buffy, the slayer, and Angel, the vampire, have a forbidden love interest. In one scene the two literally make forbidden love to each other. He robs Buffy of her innocence, and left his mark on her.

Chapter 5:

Intertexuality is simply being able to relate literary works to one another.

Examples:
The Titanic love story can relate to Romeo and Juliet.
The Perks of Being A Wallflower relates to Looking For Alaska.
A Walk To Remember can relate to The Notebook.

No Country For Old Men

No County for Old Men

Updated Nov 03, 2013

No Country for Old Men

Themes

1.  Fate

2. Tradition

3. Chance

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Meaning of the Work as a Whole

The meaning of the work as a whole is that each generation must adapt the traditions of previous generations to meet the modern situations they are face with, and that often times in doing so they fail the previous generation, and sometimes themselves, too.

The meaning of the work as a whole is also fate leads us to situations in life, and it is by chance that we make the best decision.

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3 Important Quotations

***Type out each quote and in 3-5 sentences explain how/why that quote is significant to the overall meaning.

KATIE I AM BEING LAZY!!!!!! I REFUSE TO TYPE OUT QUOTES!!!!!!!!!! I AM GOING TO PARAPHRASE, AND YOU JUST UNDERSTAND!!!!!

When Sugar was at the gas station, and he was talking about the coin and how it made it there it was symbolic of the meaning of the work as a whole because it relates to the overall theme of chance.

The second dream was important because it was symbolic the meaning and importance of traditions.

When Llewelyn told his wife that if she did not shut her mouth he was going to take her in the back and screw her. I don’t think this contributed to the meaning of the work as a whole, but I found it priceless.

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Character Analysis

·         Sheriff Bell- He feels like he failed. He is the protagonist who is seeking justice for himself, and he is seeking to save Llewelyn. He strikes me as the type of person who struggles with failure.

·         Llewelyn Moss- He strikes me as a lighthearted guy who does not take life too seriously. He is foolish and careless though, which is stupid.

·         Anton Chigurh- He is crazy. He feels obligated to do things for whatever twisted reason. He is a man of his word.

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How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Choose 3 Chapters and Connect those chapters to the movie. Go into specific detail as to how each chapter connects to a part of the movie. 

The Quest chapter because the Sheriff is on a quest.

The violence chapter because there are lots of murder.

Symbol chapter because there are lots of symbols in this movie. 

J.K. Rowling Speech Part Two

1) Failure

Let's see I have many failures. There is no avoiding it because I am a human being, and we all have failed at some point in our lives, unless you have not lived. There are a few failures that have defined me as a person, and caused me to truly try to turn my life around or at least make changes that would improve myself as a person. The two most distinct failures in my life are failing my grandmother, and failing my mom. When my grandmother was on her deathbed, she asked of me one thing, to take care of my mother. She was my mothers mother in law, yet she loved her so much more, so that often times I believed she loved my mother more than her own children, but I am sure this is not the case. Regardless, my grandmother held a very close and personal relationship with my mother. My mother never had a good relationship with her mom, even to this very day things are still rocky, however, they are better than they used to be. SO, my mom was basically a lost dog in high weeds, and my grandmother took her in, and nurtured her, and helped her. My mom truly loved that woman, we all did. There was just something about her that you couldn't help but love her. When she was in a room, it was like all the attention was on her, and you couldn't stop watching her when she talked. She was this drop dead gorgeous person, even on her death bed she was beautiful. She not only was gorgeous on the outside, but inwardly she was beautiful. To get back on topic, my grandmother had one request that I take care of my mother. My mom has always been one to hide her emotions, and the older I get is the harder it is for her to hide, and the harder it is for me to ignore it. Naturally as I age and mature I notice more, and this proves itself true everyday, as I watch my mom. I am a very observant person, and I notice the little things, that most people ignore. I noticed some major changes in my mom in the few months before my grandma died. She began to lose weight from stress and not eating, and she always looked so tired. Physically and mentally she was exhausted. After the death of my grandma my mom completely shut down. My step-dad blamed my mom for the death of his mother, which was completely cruel because she couldn't control her death. My mom stopped eating and drinking. She didn't come out of her room, and she would not leave the house for anything. She was depressed. She was stuck in the labyrinth, and it was by the grace of God that she escaped. Literally there were days that I was afraid I was going to lose my mom. It was a scary thought. I had to call my two aunts, and they had to come and talk to my mom. They were my grandmas two daughters, and they remind me very much of her. My mom reminds me very much of her, too. They came down, and they had to talk to her. One of them looked at my mom and told her straight to her face that my grandma would hate her for being so depressed, and that she knew it. The other said that my mom knew better than anyone that she should be celebrating my grandmas life rather than mourning her death. That's what turned it around for my mom, yet even to this day she struggles with all these situations life throws at her. She has the worst health, and has been sick for a while, and it worries me to death, yet she refuses to go the doctor. She eats, but very rarely. She forgets to eat, and she works like a dog. She is the tiniest rack of bones. The wind could blow her away with one puff. She has injured her arm, and there are days when she cannot move it. Its not broken, at least I don't believe it is, but I know she has damaged something in her arm. My mom looks years older than what she is, and I feel like such a failure because the one thing my grandma asked of me I could not do. I could not take care of my mom. I know it is not my fault, yet that does not make the guilt go away. The other failure that has shaped my life is failing my mom. She has always told me not to worry about her, and she made me promise that I would make something out of my life because she believed I was the only child she had who could and would. She told me I deserved a better life than what she ever could have gave me, and she apologized for it. My mom does not understand how much she means to me. So I struggle everyday to try and succeed for my mom, and still take care of her at the same time. Either way I feel like no matter what I am going to fail one of the two, my mom or my grandmother. I cannot go to college and take care of my mom at the same time. Although I have failed both of them to extents I try everyday to still please both of them, and also to make the best of my life. I have had to change my entire perspective on things, and even on myself. I used to struggle with failure, and still do to some degree today. I have learned that it is a part of life, and that it is alright to fail. I have changed my entire outlook on life, and I have learned to make the best of each day. I have also learned not to make promises that I cannot keep, and also to try my best at everything that I do. It is hard to explain the impacts that these event have had on my life. I can see them because I can see how I have changed. It was while writing this that I realized I am not a static character, I am definitely a dynamic character. It's amazing how while at the same time you learn so much about yourself, you also realize how little you know about yourself.

J.K. Rowling Speech Part 1

J.K. Rowling's Commencement speech undergoes several shifts in tone. One of those shifts occurs towards the beginning of the speech. She starts off nervous, and she willingly admits that she is nervous to the audience. Yet as the speech progresses, she takes on a more serious attitude as she begins to truly begin her speech. She progresses from talking about her life, to relating it the overall topics of her speech, failure and imagination. As she shifts from the changes of her life, and begins to tell the audience about the benefits of failure she becomes sincere, undergoing yet another change in tone. This shift is important because it allows the author to relate to the audience because she connects on an emotional level with them. Then, as her speech draws nearer to the end she develops more of a passionate tone. Although she was passionate throughout the entire commencement address, she was particularly passionate at the end, as she tried to emphasize the importance of failure and imagination. It was an important tone because if you are not passionate about what you believe in, then why would anybody else be.

Quixotic: extravagantly chivalrous, impractical

Paradoxical: self-contradictory

Totalitarian: of or pertaining to a centralized government that does not tolerate parties of differing opinion and that exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life

J.K. Rowling Speech

How have your failures defined you?

What is the rock-bottom of your life?

What is the foundation on which you have built your life?

Do you let those who have authority over you make the decisions over your life, or do you make your own decisions?

What is the importance of imagination in your life?


"There is an expirary date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you."

Eventually you have to realize that blaming everybody else for your problems isn't helping you at all. You may not like your parents decision, but you can't change it. You can however chose not to make the same mistakes that they did. Learn from those mistakes, and make the best of your life. Accept responsibility for your actions, and know that when you mess up apologize, and try not to make the same mistake. Do your best to live the life that you want to live.

"I was striking an uneasy balance between the ambition I had for myself, and what those closest to me expected of me."

AMEN!!!!! My whole life I have always had high expectations for myself, and so have those closest to me. I am my hardest critic, yet, my parents can be too. It is not so much my mom that is so overbearing, rather my step-dad. I know his intentions are good, yet, he goes too far. He doesn't agree with my career choice of being a veterinarian, but he wants me to be a doctor. I REFUSE!!!! I want to please him, but it is my life, and I will do what I want to do.

"What I feared most for myself at your age was not poverty, but failure."

I know I am not twenty-one, but still I hate the thoughts of failing anybody. It means the world to me to please people, and I honestly hate the thoughts of disappointing anybody. My whole life, I have been this way. I have always tried to please those closest to me.  Failure is a scary thought, but it is a part of life.

1st Nine Weeks Reflection

What have you learned about English/Literature over the past 9 weeks?

I have completely became a more developed writer. I used to struggle with my analyzing skills. Now I can analyze both characters and books. I feel more confident in my understanding  of books and short stories. With the use of How To Read Literature Like A Professor, it has became easier to break down the littlest of details in a work. I also am able to find the meaning of the work as a whole.   

What have you learned about your classmates?

I have learned so much about my classmates. They are people too, and although they haven't been through all of the same experiences as me, I know that they have had their fair share of trials in life too. I relate to some of their struggles, and I empathize with them. I realize that I am not the only person with struggles, but we are each strong because we have chosen not to let our struggles overcome us. 

What have you learned about life?

I have learned so much more about life. I already knew that it was full of crap, but I also know now that it is not all bad. Although bad things happen to good people, I realize now that good things happen to them too. The experiences that we go through in life make us who we are, and they mold us into the person that we are. We chose to let those moments define us, whether it is in a positive manner or negative. Most of all, I have learned that I can go through anything in life as long as I have my friends there by my side.

Did you enjoy the novel unit (Perks of Being a Wallflower and Looking for Alaska)? Would you recommend I use those two novels next year? What assignments changes would you make (if any)?

I LOVED THESE BOOKS!!!!!!! Katie if you don't use these books, I will haunt you!! You think I am kidding, but I am dead serious. I loved these books. They relate to our lives, and to each of us in so many ways. I loved the way that you had Perks then Looking For Alaska. I honestly have no complaint about the assignments. I wouldn't change anything. 

What should I change for next year's class?

When it comes to next year, just know we will all be praying for you. I fear you will need it. Those kids are a work out. Your class is so amazing, and it is honestly one of my favorites. I don't know that I would change anything. I think you will probably have to because they are a different class, but I have no idea what you would have to change. 

What area of the AP Exam do you feel that you need to work on the most?

Honestly, I need help in every single area of the AP Exam.

Any Novel Essay Examination 6 out of 11 paragraphs

3. Select what you consider to be the most important quotation in the novel and prove your opinion by relating it to the novel as a whole.

"The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive." This is true because ultimately Pudge and the Colonel must realize that they forgive Alaska for leaving them, and that she forgives them for letting her go. Throughout the entire book, the question being asked is how do you escape the labyrinth, and what is the labyrinth? The labyrinth is suffering, and the only way to escape the labyrinth is to forgive. People are going to duffer for as long as they live, it is part of living. The only way to end this suffering is to forgive. Forgive those that have wronged you, and forgive yourself. If you can do that, then you can life the burden off of your chest, and be at peace with yourself.

5. Select whom you consider to be the most important character in the novel and prove your opinion by relating him/her to the novel as a whole.

The most important character in the novel, Looking For Alaska, is Alaska Young. The lives of the other characters revolves around her. Primarily in the last half of the book, the after section, Pudge and the Colonel both become consumed with discovering the reason behind her tragic demise. The entire story focuses on Alaska at every point in the story, Pudge acts like he is a love sick puppy dog because he falls in love with the poor girl, and he doesn't really even know her. The overall meaning of the book is what is the point of life, and how do you get out of the labyrinth. Alaska asks herself this as well as other characters. She seeks to know the way to escape life, and she develops the meaning of the work as a whole.

8. Relate some aspect, character, event, chapter, quotation, in the novel to something of importance in your own life.

Pudge's final paper that he turns into Mr. Hyde relate,s in multiple aspects, to my own life. I find that at many times in my life, I have asked myself how to escape the labyrinth. In reality I learned that you cannot escape it, but you can embrace it. In his final paper, Pudge talks about how we as people are greater than the sum of our parts. It has taken me a long time to learn this lesson, however simple it may seem. My life has not always been easy, and you would think after multiple suicide attempts, I would understand that there is a reason that I am to be on this Earth, yet I still wanted to escape. It was not long after the death of my dad that I realized that I was tired of being angry and bitter. It is exhausting, and I learned that you have to forgive. So, just as Pudge forgives Alaska, and she forgives him, I forgive my dad. I forgive him for all the wrongs he committed towards me, and I know that he forgives me for not being there when I should have. I knew that he was dying, but I had been bitter for all those years, and I let my pride get in the way of seeing my dad before he died. It would have been the first and only time I would have saw him, yet I refused to go. Looking back now I wish that I would have went, and so I relate to Alaska in the aspect of blaming myself for my dads death, just as she blamed herself for the death of her mother. I know now that it is not my fault, but I still struggle with the fact daily. Ultimately, I came to forgive him, and I can only hope that he forgave me. It was through his death, that I learned that I am amazing. I realized that just as Pudge says teenagers are indestructible. We have to be. Look at all the bullshit we go through. Adults can't do it. They did not have to go through half of the crap that we go through. It is these experiences, that make us great. This is how I relate this final paper to my life.

13. Relate some aspect, character, event, chapter, or quotation in the novel to another discipline-psychology, sociology, philosophy, art, etc.

Alaska is a young adolescent girl, who has straight  up been to hell and back. Ever since the loss of her mother she has struggled. She done exactly what Pudge said, she collapsed within herself. She did not psychologically develop like psychologists would say a normal child would. Also, Alaska is struggling with herself, and needs psychological help. She could be viewed as depressed in a since, although she does not show signs of depression at all times.

14. Relate some aspect, character, event, chapter, or quotation, in the novel to another novel you have read.

Pudge relates in many aspects to Charlie from, The Perks of Being A Wallflower. Charlie, just like Pudge was seeking for A Great Perhaps. Sam and Charlie lead him to his great perhaps, just as Alaska leads Pudge to his. Both characters behave alike, until they meet influential people. They are both shy,yet incredibly smart. Neither of them had a girlfriend before, yet in the book they get their first girlfriend. Ultimately that just want to fit in, and be loved. Both of the characters behave similarly, and they behave alike too.

15. Relate some aspect, character, event, chapter, or quotation in the novel to a movie you have seen.

This book relates to the movie A Walk To Remember. Suffering and forgiveness plays a key role in both of these. Pudge, the Colonel, and Alaska must all learn to forgive just as Landon must learn to forgive. Both Landon and Alaska are both angry and have been through a great deal of suffering. Just as Landon must learn to forgive the people that he been angry at, Pudge and the Colonel must also forgive Alaska. The aspects of suffering and forgiveness are both noticeable in both stories.

Lyrical analysis of two songs from the mixtape

1. Daydream By: Smashing Pumpkins
Charlie is able to connect with this song because at times he feels that he himself is going crazy. The song relates to how he feels in life. The lyrics describe how he feels about his life, so when he hears the song he relates to it because that is how he feels regarding his life. The reader gets a better idea of who Charlie is because they begin to understand how he feels about himself.

2. Dusk By: Genesis
Charlie connects with this song because although bad things have happened to him, he has found new reasons to keep living. He has new friends that truly care about him, and so now his willpower is restored. The reader understands that Charlie was in a bad place, and then with a lot of help, somebody or a group of people (Sam and Patrick), were able to help him work through it. So, the reader realizes that these new relationships are important to Charlie.

Meaning of The Perks of Being A Wallflower

The overall meaning of The Perks of Being A Wallflower, is that relationships make us into who we are. The movie does a phenomenal job of emphasizing the meaning.

Response to Letter

October 31, 1991

Dear Charlie,
     It's okay Charlie. You can write to me as you please. I promise you that I don't mind. I am so proud of you, I know that participating is not easy, however, I also know that you can do it. Charlie, did you know that when I read, I also do the same thing as you. I become so caught up in the story, and I begin to believe that I am the characters in the book. It is like I can see everything going on inside my head. So, it is okay for you to think that because you aren't the only person who does that. Charlie don't complicate your letters. I want you to know that you can write to me about anything, but you don't have to figure out anything. Your letters can be wrote just to be an outlet for you. In those letters you can tell me whatever you feel, and you do not have to worry about learning something in every single one of them.
     I have read the book Peter Pan, and that is about the same thing that I got out of it too. Yet, as I got older the book began to mean a little more to me, and I realized the meaning was so much deeper than I ever realized, but that is just me. Maybe the same thing will happen for you, but if not that is okay, too. Perhaps you are write, maybe Bill is giving you peculiar books, but at least they are good books.
     I am glad to hear that you are being a social butterfly. I think that it is very important, and I do not blame you for saying you probably won't come back for a homecoming football game. They are nice, but I won't return for them either. I am glad to hear that you were honest with yourself Charlie. It is important to be honest with ourselves because sometimes we are the only people we have in the world. People will walk in and out of your life, but it is important that you know that you will always be in your life. Just remember who you are, and what you stand for. ALWAYS be honest with yourself because trying to run away from your problems because that will never help Charlie. Sooner or later you will have to face that problem, but by then the problem is worse, and you still have to deal with it. Remember that Charlie.
     Charlie I believe that you have a wonderful sense of humor. I am so glad that you met Sam and Patrick. I wish I knew them because they sound like wonderful people.
     Have you ever told your parents about the party that happened at your house, I mean what you saw.Charlie, do you know what rape is? It is forcing yourself on somebody. That girl was raped Charlie. If she said no, and that boy forced himself on her, then he raped her. Charlie, I hope you are alright. It wasn't right of your sister to call you a pervert. I despise that word.
     You need a way for letting out your anger Charlie. I feel like the responsible thing to tell you, is that you should take up a hobby.I do not take you as a sports type of person, but maybe you could find something that you enjoy. Yet, I also am so proud of you for slashing his tires. He is a complete and total scumbag. Yet, Charlie you should still be very careful as to not be too violent.
     Charlie, perhaps you should not go to these parties with Sam and Patrick. They are good people do not get me wrong, however, drugs are not good Charlie. They are bad for you, and it is dangerous to mess with them. You can get hooked on them Charlie.
     I think that you did the right thing by leaving Patrick and Brad to talk. They have some things they need to work out. Since Patrick asked you to keep things secret, I think you should respect that, and not tell anybody. I won't say anything Charlie I promise.
     Regardless of the drugs, your new friends sound spectacular. That is the perfect name for you, wallflower. I am glad that the dance went well. Do you love Sam Charlie? She sounds exceptional.

Sincerely,
Your Friend

Song for a person

If I was to give one song to a person, I honestly don't know that I could do it. I couldn't pick just one person, so I narrowed it down to two. The two people I picked where my little brother and my biological father.

For my little brother I was unable to decide on one song, so I picked my two favorites. 

The first song is My Wish by Rascal Flatts. I picked this song because I love my little brother more than anybody in this world. He has been and always will be my best friend. He's a special needs child, but he is the sweetest kid, and I want him to have the world. I have so many wishes for him because he deserves the world. 

The second song I picked for him was You've Got A Friend In Me by Randy Newman. The reason I picked this song was because my little brother comes home nine days out of ten crying because he has had a bad day. I just want him to know that no matter what happens in life I will ALWAYS be his friend. 

The other person I would give a song to was my biological dad. He was never a part of my life, and for the biggest majority of my life I was very angry with him. I had a lot of resentment and bitterness towards him. So I did have a hard time choosing who to give a song to. This is wh I picked both people. I was able to decide on one song to give my biological father.

If I was to give him a song I would share with him I'm Not Who I Was by Brandon Heath. After his passing, I went through some serious changes. Personal changes mainly, but it was like a reality check for me in a way. I just changed as far as my values went. I was tired of being bitter. My real dad never knew me, but it was partially because of him that I am who I am today. This song describes how I feel towards him. I wish he could see me now. I wish he could know that I forgive him. When he was dying he tried to call me, but I was stubborn. I was hurt with him, and I let my feelings misguide my decisions. I just would give anything for him

 to know that I forgive him.

Perks of Being A Wallflower

Part one:

The ending for the story is appropriate given the plot of the book. Charlie obviously struggles both internally and externally with multiple conflicts. He is mentally ill, and so for the book to end, as if nothing bad ever happened to the poor kid, then the ending would have been inappropriate. The reader knows that he is struggling through life, and can infer that something had happened to him in his life. So, when the reader learns that he was sexually abused, the reader can infer that the abuse is what has caused him to be mentally ill. The ending of the boo, although it is sad, is appropriate.

Part two:

“I would die for you. But I won't live for you.” 

The overall meaning of the story is that relationships cause us to develop into who we are. This quote relates to the meaning of the story because people may love each other enough to risk their own life for them, yet they must love the person enough to let them live their own life. Everybody ,use participate in life, and then share their life with the people around them that they love.

“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.” 

This quote relates to the meaning of the story because the relationships in Charlie's life have developed him into who he is, and he has had to learn how to deal with change and loss. It is not an easy task, but he has had to learn how to live his life, after the change in his relationship with some people. Charlie can't stop his life because he lost a lived one, or a friend went away to college, therefore he learns to live without these people with him all of the time. 

“There's nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons.” 

This quotes relates to the meaning because Charlie was a quiet kid, until he met Patrick and Sam. They are crucial to the development of Charlie. It is kind of like they are his foundation; they keep him stable and give him something to stand on. With their help he blossoms into this new child. His personality flourishes when he becomes friends with them. He has these great times when he is with them, and he just develops into this entirely different character than who he was in the beginning if the story.

Mixed Tape

1. Second Chance By: Shinedown
     After going through all the drama and struggles of growing up, sometimes I believe that getting away from the problems that I must face will make it not easier, but better for me. I know their will be problems wherever I go, but I also feel as if separating myself from unnecessary drama  is a good decision. Also, I deal with a lot of crap from my parents, and so getting away from them would be nice. They hold me back, and put me down.

2. Roar By: Katy Perry
     I picked this song because although people put me down, and try to make my life harder, I will not back down. I refuse to go down without a fight. I know who I am, and what I stand for, and I will not let somebody else control me. I am tired of being the quiet child, who never stands up for herself, and I won't be that person anymore.

3. Bruises By: Train Featuring Ashley Monroe
     Everybody has faced some sort of problem or challenge at one point in their life. You cannot live, and not face a problem. I feel like these difficulties are what makes us who we are. They make us unique, and mold us into who we are. These "bruises" are what makes us empathize with others.

4. Demons By: Imagine Dragon
     I picked this song because every human being has struggles that they face everyday. I know personally that their are decisions that I have made that I truly regret, but I can't undo them, so I have to live with them everyday. Most days it isn't easy to face them, they haunt me, and the decisions that I make now. They haunt me too because no matter what I do, I can't forget them, and neither can others. They are thrown in my face, as if I don't feel bad enough, others have to make me feel worse.

5. Let It Go By: Tim McGraw
     I love this song because I feel like everybody can relate to it. No matter what demons haunt you, if you let it go, then you can move on with your life. It is not always easy, but it is important for people to not let their problems hold them back.

6. Titanium By: David Guetta
     This song describes basically everybody. People have to be strong to survive. The hardships that people endure make them stronger. This song describes that.

7. Numb By: Linkin Park
     This song speaks to me because in an attempt to please others around me, I lost sight of myself. I felt as if I was just there, and it was as if nothing mattered to me anymore. I was who everybody else wanted me to be. So, I had to do some soul searching to find myself. Now I live my life for me, and I am who I am.

8. Easy By: Rascal Flatts
     I love this song. It is so true. It is easy to go out and live life, and make people think you are happy. Anybody can put a smile on their face, but just because their is a smile on their face does not mean they are truly happy. It is not easy to make people think you are happy. The easy part is going out, and doing activities. Being happy in itself is not happy.

9. Oath By: Cher Lloyd
     This is one of my all time favorite songs. Anybody who really knows me knows that I love my friends and family with everything in me. I truly live and genuinely care about those that are close to me. If I say I have your back, then I have your back. So, I feel like this song just relates to me because that is the type of friend that I try to be to all of my friends.

10. Second Chance By: Shinedown
     After going through all the drama and struggles of growing up, sometimes I believe that getting away from the problems that I must face will make it not easier, but better for me. I know their will be problems wherever I go, but I also feel as if separating myself from unnecessary drama  is a good decision. Also, I deal with a lot of crap from my parents, and so getting away from them would be nice. They hold me back, and put me down.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Discussion Question:

To be a wallflower means that you can blend in and adapt to any situation. Yet, you are also your own person, and you are unique in your own way.

Characterization:

1.       The protagonist in the story is Charlie because everything revolves around him. The letters are sent by him, and they are about him, so he is the protagonist.  He is a quiet kid, and he is awkward, and very vulnerable. He tries to blend in, so that he won’t be noticed. Until he meets Sam and Patrick, he doesn’t hang out with anybody. They help to bring him out of his shell.

2.       Charlie is a round character because as the reader reads about him, they come to know of his life. Charlie’s family are all flat characters. Sam and Patrick are both round characters.

3.       Charlie has good parents who do try to take care of him. Yet, they still have their flaws. Charlie’s father does not show affection, except for on rare occasions.  His mother attempts to show love, yet she still lacks concern for her son. It almost as if the parents don’t take interest in their son’s life.

Point Of View:

                The point of view for this story is third person limited because although the story primarily revolves around Charlie, the story does not directly use I, me, or other possessive words. It revolves around all of the characters, but it does not tell all of their stories. It is telling Charlie’s story, but at the same time we do not know every detail of every characters life. By using this method the author is able to keep the readers interest. It is effective in conveying details about the characters without giving away too much information.

Plot:

                There is a conflict between Charlie and society. He struggles to fit in. There is also a conflict between Charlie and himself. He fights with himself to not goes into the empty space, and to not think about Sam in more than just a friend way. There is also a conflict between society and the beliefs of children. Patrick is gay and wants to be with Brad, yet they cannot be together because of Brad’s dad.

The exposition draws the reader, and attracts their interests, so that the reader will want to keep reading.

How to Read Literature Like A Professor:

                There are communion scenes in this story. Also, the weather chapter is used in this story. Violence is used because Charlie fought with another boy. Symbolism is used.  It’s all about sex. Except Sex.  Don’t Read with Your Eyes.

Quotes:

                Everybody goes through problems, and some peoples may be worse then others. Yet, life is not going to be easy for anybody, and we can’t let our struggles hold us back from living our life.

                This means that if we think we deserve trash, then we will stay with somebody who treats us like trash. Yet, if we think we deserve monetary objects, then we will seek somebody to give us the things we seek. We as people seek a companion who will gives us the things out heart desires.

                This quote means exactly what it says. The person is happy, yet at the same time, they are sad. Their life still lacks something important, and while they have things that make them happy, they lack something to really complete them. This could be a person or an emotion.  Some things in their life make them happy, yet overall their life is dismal. 

Reflection on this Class

Throughout the past four weeks, I have come to enjoy the class. I have read many interesting stories. I feel as if my writing skills have developed.

I have learned many new writing skills, as well many new English terms. These terms help me to analyze stories.

If I had to pick a favorite short story, it would probably be The Sorrowful Woman.

If I had to pick my least favorite I would pick A Rose For Emily. I enjoyed the story the first time I read it. This made what seemed like the fiftieth time that I had read it.

I don't know what to say to do to improve the class. It is a great class, and I learn new things everyday. The times writings are really helpful. Everything is helpful.

Points of View

First Person: The author participates as a character. Word choice of I, me or other personal and possessive words indicate that the author is using first person. The reader must be cautious because the point of view can be one sided and biased.


Third Person Omniscient: The reader knows all things about the characters such as: what they are thinking, how they are feeling, what is going on in their life, etc.


Third Person Limited: The reader only knows the details of the characters that are provided.


Third Person Objective: The author has a point in writing. The author writes about something that is happening, and the reader can not infer anything else.


Third Person Collective: The author writes the work from the perspective of a group or community. The author does not participate as a character.

Popular Mechanics: Different Point of View

Screaming. That was all I had heard for days, and I was getting tired of it. All they have done for the past month is yell at each other, and I have no idea why. She looks at him, outraged because of something he has done. Yet, he looks at her with a look of disappointment, as if she could not possibly understand. What has happened? They act like they don’t love each other anymore. Yet, they both still love me, and they laugh and smile when they hold me. Well…

Mommy cries, and her tears soak my blanket when she holds me. I want to make her feel better, but I don’t know what is wrong. After, they fight she will come to my crib, and pick me up. Then, she rocks me and sings me lullabies. I love it when mommy sings to me, but sometimes she holds me really tight. It hurts; I know she doesn't mean to hurt me, but she does.

Daddy doesn't really hold me that much. Actually, he doesn’t have much to do with me at all. I know he loves me, but sometimes he does a bad job of showing it. Lately, he has been staying gone a lot. He goes to work early of the morning, and he returns home late at night. He looks tired all the time. I guess I would be too if I had to work as much as he does. As soon as he comes home, the yelling begins again. Sometimes, he gets mad and throws things around. Most of the time, this is what makes me wake up. Once, he threw one of mommy’s pictures, and it hit my crib. I woke up right away. I didn’t mean to cry, but I was scared. Mommy came to me instantly, and she sung me a song. I went back to sleep, and I did not wake up again until the morning.

Then the day came. It was cold outside, and the trees had no leafs, and the snow was melting into slush. Mommy had been keeping the house warmer, and on the rare occasions we had to go down the road, she would put warm clothes on me. I don’t like this time of year, when the snow falls. It is too cold, and I don’t like it when it is cold.

I was in my bassinet, listening to music, and playing with a toy. That is when it happened. Mommy went down the hall, and into the room.

She said, “I’m glad you’re leaving! I’m glad you’re leaving! Do you hear?”

As far as I know, daddy never said anything. I can hear really good, and I never heard him talk, so I do not think he spoke to her.

Then mommy said something I never would have imagined. She called daddy a curse word. I don’t think I have ever heard mommy curse before.

Just after she cursed, she came back through the house, and into the kitchen. She sat something down, but I was not sure what it was. It looked like a picture. A picture of what?

                After she sat it down, she came to me, and picked me up. She walked into the kitchen again. I was hoping she was going to make me a bottle, but daddy came in, and she focused her attention on him.

“I want the baby,” daddy said.

Mommy said, “You’re crazy.”

                Daddy told her that he would have somebody come for my things, but I did not want to go anywhere. I want to stay home. I like my home, and my crib and toys. I started crying. I was afraid that they were going to get rid of me. Had I done something wrong? Mommy began to rock me back and forth, and like always, she sung me a song.

                Just as she shifted her attention to me, he moved towards her. Mommy moved faster than ever, as she stepped away from him. That did not stop him. He grabbed hold of me. He was hurting me. Why was he hurting me? Why wouldn't he let me go? I was screaming now, as pain raced through my body.

                Mommy tried to make him let me go, but he was too strong. He took me from mommy, and I was scared. Mommy grabbed my arm, trying to get daddy to let me go. He refused to let me go. So, mommy pulled, and daddy pulled back.

                Then I saw it. The thing that mommy had sat down on the table. It was a picture…a picture of me. That was the last thing I saw. 

Self Analysis

I am a typical girl on the outside, if you consider being four foot eleven inches tall, typical for a seventeen year old girl. I am not exceptionally beautiful, or smart, and I do not stand out in any way what so ever. I seek to blend in. By doing so, I do not attract any attention, and can hide from the world. Regardless of how normal I look on the outside, I am far from it when you look into my soul. Pain has tainted my heart, and tears streak my face daily. I faces problems, and have to deal with more than I would ever wish on any human being Yet, I know that things could always be worse. Just when I feels like giving up, I finds the strength to go on. I know that I am strong, and I refuse to give up, and let others take control of my life. In the past two years not much has changed. I look the same, and generally thing the same. I am more mature than I used to be, but I still have some maturing to do. Yet, I have changed. I no longer let people run over me like I used to, well most people. I also no longer am as spineless as I used to be. I am slowly finding the courage to stand up for myself. I always try to be the best that I can be, and I do my best to help everybody that I can. I care about people, and love my friends and family with all of my heart. Yet, at the same time i can hold a grudge for as long as I want.  In all honesty, I have not changed very much in the past two years, and as much I regret to say this, I am a static character.

Character Analysis: A Rose For Emily

William Faulkner truly outdid himself when characterizing Emily Grierson. Through the use of direct and indirect characterization he was able to vividly describe the woman, and to make her seem as if she is a real person that readers know. At certain points in the story, Emily is described to be ugly, fat, old, and unsociable. The author however goes beyond physical appearances when he writes about this character. By using indirect characterization the reader can infer that the woman is crazy and lonely. Miss Emily, as she is known in the story, is a round character because she is so well developed. While reading the story, the character develops over time, and readers learn more about the character throughout the story. Although Miss Emily is a round character, she is also a static character. She does not change throughout the story. From the beginning the audience is able to tell that she is lonely, and throughout the story she remains lonely. She always keeps the same mindset that she should not pay taxes, and she never lets people into her home. After the death of her father, Miss Emily had nothing left. Her father, who deprived her of love and marriage, was the only thing she had left, and she cling to him. She loved him with everything in her, and when he died, she lost it. She did not want to give up the body. Also, the reader can infer that she is crazy due to occasions in the story when Miss Emily buys arsenic, and keeps her fathers dead body. When she buys arsenic, the reader questions her purpose for the poison. At the end of the book, when the body of Homer Barron was discovered, the reader truly thinks this woman is a psychopath. Yet, when the grey hair is discovered on the pillow beside of the body, there is no doubt that this woman has lost all sanity. She faces many conflicts in life. One of them is with herself. She struggles to be happy, and to live her life. She has no reason to be happy. Yet, she also struggle with society. Society wants her to pay taxes, meanwhile, she retains the same mindset that she should not have to because she was told she would never have to pay taxes. Overall, Emily Grierson is a round and static character that is described by using both indirect and direct characterization.

Character Analysis: Literary Terms

Indirect Characterization: This is when the author describes a character by using context clues, and without directly stating physical or emotional appearances.

Direct Characterization: This is when the author plainly states how a character looks or thinks. They may go into great detail about a characters physical appearance or personality directly.

Round Characters: Round characters are very detailed, and the readers is often given the most information about them.

Flat Characters: Flat characters are generally very dull because they stay the same throughout the entire story. They are what they are, and that’s all there is to it.

Stock Characters: Stock characters are stereotypical characters. They are your average stereotype.

Static Characters: Static characters are like the heart rate line on machines in the hospital. Once the line goes flat a person is dead. Static characters are like they line, they are flat. There is nothing to them.

Dynamic Characters: Dynamic characters are diverse. They can be very spontaneous, and the reader never really knows what they are going to do next. 

Plot and Structure: Literary Terms

Exposition: The beginning of a story, usually where the author introduces characters, as well as provides readers with details to make them familiar with the story. Rising Action: The rising action comes after the exposition, and is the part of a story where characters develop along with the story. Readers begin to develop an emotional attachment to the story, and even with the characters. The rising action builds up to the climax. Climax: The turning point of a story. It comes after the rising action, and is a point of intensity in the story. Actually, it is usually the most intense part of a story. It really gets the readers adrenaline pumping. The part of a story where the reader can not put the story down. Falling Action: After the climax, this part of the story more or less wraps things up. Everything pretty well settles down, and generally goes back to normal or as close to normal as possible. The story begins to end. The falling action provides details for the ending of the story. Resolution: The ending of the story. Issues and conflicts are resolved by this point, and the story ends. Conflict: Usually introduced during the rising action, the conflict is the problem or problems of a story. There are various types of conflict such as: man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. nature, etc. Protagonist: Commonly thought of as the “good” guy, the protagonist is basically the character who is trying to help others. However, the protagonist can and most likely will have faults. These faults may make him/her less appealing to readers, but they can still be the protagonist. Antagonist: The ‘bad’ guy of the story. Sometimes this person is troubled, and just causes problems. The antagonist makes peoples life harder. Flashback: A moment when the author takes the audience back in time to a point of interest in a characters life. In Media Res: This is when the author begins a story in the middle of the story. Consequently, the author must go back and do some explaining in a way, so that they story will make sense, but sometimes very little explanation is needed.

Plot and Structure: The Lame Shall Enter First

     From the very beginning of the story, the author makes it a habit to make noticed eyes and seeing; therefore, creating a theme of blindness in the first part of the story. Also, a deeper meaning is meant when referring to seeing rather than just to see ones surroundings, but also to have insight into subjects and matters. Sheppard the protagonist faces a conflict with himself. He wants to be more than he himself as one man can ever be. He tries to be like Jesus Christ, and save those who do not want to be saved. Rufus Johnson the antagonist is the victim of his choice. Sheppard believes that he can save Johnson, and give him the life he never had, and he feels Johnson was entitled to. Yet, in trying to compensate for the negative influences on the child’s life, Sheppard neglects his own son. Thus creating yet another conflict, man vs. man. Norton, Sheppard’s ten year old son, is grieving the loss of his mother. Sheppard, tells his son that he should move on, yet it is ironic that Sheppard himself has yet to move on. Also, in the main beginning of the story, while eating their breakfast, Norton becomes sick, and regurgitates his meal. This foreshadows that something bad is going to happen. Throughout the journey that Sheppard, Norton, and Rufus embark on, many things go wrong. Sheppard buys a telescope hoping that Rufus will take an interest in space, yet the boy never does. This however creates yet another conflict for Sheppard. Norton questions where his mother is because Rufus mentions that he is possessed by the devil, and will go to hell if he does not change his ways. Norton now wishes to know where his mother is. He wishes so strongly to believe that she went to Heaven, however, she was an atheist just like Sheppard, and is therefore rotting in hell. As a result of Rufus’s lack of interest in the telescope, Sheppard buys him a microscope, with the mentality that if he can get him interested in the small stuff first, then he will come around to being interested in space. This is selfish of Sheppard because this entire time he neglects his son, and it is ironic because Sheppard views himself as selfless, and he is actually the most selfish character in this story. It is also ironic that in an attempt to help Rufus, who was neglected, he manages to neglect and abuse his own son. It is also tragic that he loves Rufus more than his own son. As the story draws to an end, Rufus is taken away, and as he is taken by the police, Sheppard begins to think of Norton, wondering where he is. So, he runs to the attic, to find him hanging by a rope. As he embarked on his flight to see his mother. While not actually meaning a literal flight, Norton killed himself, so that he could escape his problems, and join his mother. Overall, the author created a theme of blindness, and it is ironic because Sheppard is perhaps the most “blind” character of them all. He fails to see the pain his son is going through.

Plot and Structure: An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge

     Centered around the murder of a Mr. Peyton Fahrquhar, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge intrigues readers by vividly telling the story of how an innocent man’s life is brought to an abrupt halt. Ambrose Bierce, the author, describes in detail the scenario at hand from the beginning of the story. Through the use of symbolism throughout the plot the author is able to convey deeper meanings than what is read in the general context. For example, Owl Creek Bridge represents far more than just a normal bridge, rather representing a separation between the North and the South, but also the line between life and death. Also, when Bierce wrote of the ticking watch, it was symbolic of time, and how it was running out. Through the use of symbolism the author is able to emotionally attach the reader to the character, and ultimately build up to the most intense part of the story. The author takes the reader on a thrill unlike any other, as readers are drawn to the text; while reading about the struggles Mr. Fahrquhar goes through to save himself. Vivid details are used to create a picture in the readers head, almost as if they were seeing and experiencing every minute detail for themselves. As the journey to make it out of the water draws to an end, the climax is ending as well. Finally, the man has made it out of the water, and is heading to towards the woods. They appear as a safe haven, keeping the character separated from his kidnappers. Imagery plays a key role throughout the entire story, but is essential in establishing the connection with the readers. Finally, as the story draws to an end, Mr. Fahrquhar reaches his home to his life and family. Only to die in the arms of the woman he loved. To the disappointment of the reader, the poor lad never made it home. Rather he hung from Owl Creek Bridge. The entire reason for his death was simply because he wished to be something bigger and “better” than he was.