Blog 17: Further Ideas for Research
If I was to have to write a research paper for this class, there would be many different areas that I would be able to touch on. Would include topics ranging from the role of women in the books that we have read, to the different styles in which the books are written to capture the reader. Other topics such as the different ways in which the books are classified, and what aspects of the book allows you as a reader to group them into that category is also interesting. I decided that one of the most interesting aspects of all the books we read this semester was the precisely the difference of each book in how it portrays the story to the reader.
The first groups of books were classified as high fantasy, and included books such as The Hobbit and Redwall. These two books told a story about animals and their journey. They were classified as high fantasy and it takes place in another world. This other world can be classified as being parallel to our universe. The second group of books we read were classified as Real vs. Secondary World. These books included The Phoenix and the Carpet, The Magician’s Nephew, and The Goblet of Fire. Each one of these books included both the real world, the world in which we live in now, and the secondary world, a world in which the characters of the story are able to travel to. These two genres of books are similar to each other in that they include that secondary, or parallel world, but the second group does now have the aspect of high fantasy.
The next set of books we delved into in class were dystopia. These books included Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, The Giver, Among the Hidden, The City of Ember. What makes these books a dystopia is the aspect of an alternate reality in a controlled society, where everything must be perfect. Finally, the last groups of books that we are just finishing up now are the grotesque/dark fantasy books. These included James and the Giant Peach, The bad Beginning, and Coraline. All of these books have the idea of horror and death riding on the dark fantasy aspect, and things being out of place, or odd and disturbing in the grotesque aspect.
All in all, I thought the different ways in which each story was written, and how it could be classified into a larger gene because of the characters, or world in which they inhabited would be a great idea for further research.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Blog 16: Rhetorical Reflection, Notable Moment, Analysis-Coraline
Blog 16: Rhetorical Reflection, Notable Moment, Analysis-Coraline
Rhetorical Reflection: Coraline
Coraline, the last book of the semester is one that I have neither read, nor heard of. It is described as being the “book that tells a fascinating and disturbing story that frightened me nearly to death” by Lemony Snicket. This book, by Neil Gaiman, was a New York Times best seller, and it has also been made into a movie. From reading the back cover, the story line is about a girl who discovers a house that is almost exactly like her own and she must find a way to return to her own life and escape the family who wants to make her their own. Although dark gloomy books are not my favorite, I look forward to reading this book over thanksgiving break, and seeing how the story unfolds.
Notable Moment: Coraline
After finishing Coraline, I have to admit that it is not one of my favorite books. The plot line was very creepy and I don’t think that I would choose to read this book on my own. With that said, there were plenty of moments that caught my interest. Whether it was the two ladies Miss. Forcible or Miss. Spink, or Mr. Bobo the characters were very interesting and had their own stories about themselves. A notable moment that I enjoyed was closer to the beginning of the book in chapter four. This marked the beginning of Coraline’s journey in the other house with the other mother, and other father. Also, the animals can talk here and this is where Coraline meets the cat. After much discussion Coraline tries to be nice to the cat and asks its name.
“The cat yawned slowly, carefully, revealing a mouth and tongue of astounding pinkness, ‘Cats don’t have names,’ it said. ‘No?’ said Coraline. ‘No,’ said the cat. ‘Now, you people have names. That’s because you don’t know who you are. We know who we are so we don’t need names.”
All in all, this introduction with the cat grew into a friendship between Coraline and the animal and ended with them both being saved and escaping the other family.
Analysis: Coraline
For the Analysis of Coraline I wanted to focus mainly on the button eyes that the other mother and other father have and what they portray in the book. Of course there can be many different meanings for the button eyes, but in my opinion I thought of rag dolls upon the mention of them. Because rag dolls have these button eyes and are only dolls they are controlled by the person who plays with them.
In the case of this story, the other mother was trying to turn Coraline into something that she could control and she was doing it by the button eyes. If Coraline was to accept the button eyes, and allow the other mother to put them on her, she would no longer be able to see the world around her and, in essence, would be controlled by the other mother like a rag doll.
Also, the button eyes take away your vision and no longer allow you to feel as free as you would if you had eyes. Finally, the button eyes of the mother are unique in the fact that she takes away others eyes to make up for her eyes being taken, and it is a way for her to steal souls.
Rhetorical Reflection: Coraline
Coraline, the last book of the semester is one that I have neither read, nor heard of. It is described as being the “book that tells a fascinating and disturbing story that frightened me nearly to death” by Lemony Snicket. This book, by Neil Gaiman, was a New York Times best seller, and it has also been made into a movie. From reading the back cover, the story line is about a girl who discovers a house that is almost exactly like her own and she must find a way to return to her own life and escape the family who wants to make her their own. Although dark gloomy books are not my favorite, I look forward to reading this book over thanksgiving break, and seeing how the story unfolds.
Notable Moment: Coraline
After finishing Coraline, I have to admit that it is not one of my favorite books. The plot line was very creepy and I don’t think that I would choose to read this book on my own. With that said, there were plenty of moments that caught my interest. Whether it was the two ladies Miss. Forcible or Miss. Spink, or Mr. Bobo the characters were very interesting and had their own stories about themselves. A notable moment that I enjoyed was closer to the beginning of the book in chapter four. This marked the beginning of Coraline’s journey in the other house with the other mother, and other father. Also, the animals can talk here and this is where Coraline meets the cat. After much discussion Coraline tries to be nice to the cat and asks its name.
“The cat yawned slowly, carefully, revealing a mouth and tongue of astounding pinkness, ‘Cats don’t have names,’ it said. ‘No?’ said Coraline. ‘No,’ said the cat. ‘Now, you people have names. That’s because you don’t know who you are. We know who we are so we don’t need names.”
All in all, this introduction with the cat grew into a friendship between Coraline and the animal and ended with them both being saved and escaping the other family.
Analysis: Coraline
For the Analysis of Coraline I wanted to focus mainly on the button eyes that the other mother and other father have and what they portray in the book. Of course there can be many different meanings for the button eyes, but in my opinion I thought of rag dolls upon the mention of them. Because rag dolls have these button eyes and are only dolls they are controlled by the person who plays with them.
In the case of this story, the other mother was trying to turn Coraline into something that she could control and she was doing it by the button eyes. If Coraline was to accept the button eyes, and allow the other mother to put them on her, she would no longer be able to see the world around her and, in essence, would be controlled by the other mother like a rag doll.
Also, the button eyes take away your vision and no longer allow you to feel as free as you would if you had eyes. Finally, the button eyes of the mother are unique in the fact that she takes away others eyes to make up for her eyes being taken, and it is a way for her to steal souls.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Blog 15-Retorical Reflection, Notable Moment and Analysis: Lemony Snicket
Blog 15-Retorical Reflection, Notable Moment and Analysis: Lemony Snicket
Rhetorical Reflection
The Bad Beginning is the first book of thirteen in the A Series of Unfortunate Events. They are written by Lemony Snicket, and although I know little about the book itself, I do know that a movie was made over the first book. After reading the back cover, I somewhat gave a little chuckle. The back cover explanation of the book goes on to say how horrible the story will be in the book and how the three characters will have bad luck, and then at the end goes on to say that you could put the book down and choose a happier one if you prefer. Judging from that review I don’t know if I am looking forward to reading the book or and we will have to see it I enjoy it.
Notable Moment
After finishing The Bad Beginning, it is hard to find a moment that is notable in this book. All of the scenes end in something bad happening to the children, and it is hard to find a moment that is enjoyable for me a reader. After much thought, I decided that the moment at the end of the book when it had become clear that the once legal marriage is now illegal because Violet signed her name on the official document with her left hand instead of her right hand which is her dominant hand.
“Finally, she smiled. ‘If Violet is indeed right-handed,’ she said carefully, ‘and she signed the document with her left hand, then it follow that the signature does not fulfill the requirements for the nuptial law. The law clearly states the document must be signed in the brides own hand.”
The quote above, stated by Justice Strauss, shows the reasoning behind the marriage not being legal. This part of the book was probably my favorite at the time because this is probably one of the few happy moments that occurs in the book. Although this is not the point of the book, because it is all about bad beginnings, I enjoyed that the book did have some happy moments.
Analysis
A series of unfortunate events is a unique book in the way that it is written. The author makes the book educational in that words are introduced to the reader, and they are then defined. The first word to be introduced to the reader in the book is rickety, and following that it is then defined as being unsteady, or likely to collapse.
The uniqueness of the way the author does this subtly to introduce new words to the reader is very interesting. I have never read a book like this is way the author has written it, and the style that it is written. Because of this, I enjoyed the book, and thought that the way these words are introduced to the reader make the book easier to read also. This style was a nice spin on the book, and I thought it was a great asset to the book.
Rhetorical Reflection
The Bad Beginning is the first book of thirteen in the A Series of Unfortunate Events. They are written by Lemony Snicket, and although I know little about the book itself, I do know that a movie was made over the first book. After reading the back cover, I somewhat gave a little chuckle. The back cover explanation of the book goes on to say how horrible the story will be in the book and how the three characters will have bad luck, and then at the end goes on to say that you could put the book down and choose a happier one if you prefer. Judging from that review I don’t know if I am looking forward to reading the book or and we will have to see it I enjoy it.
Notable Moment
After finishing The Bad Beginning, it is hard to find a moment that is notable in this book. All of the scenes end in something bad happening to the children, and it is hard to find a moment that is enjoyable for me a reader. After much thought, I decided that the moment at the end of the book when it had become clear that the once legal marriage is now illegal because Violet signed her name on the official document with her left hand instead of her right hand which is her dominant hand.
“Finally, she smiled. ‘If Violet is indeed right-handed,’ she said carefully, ‘and she signed the document with her left hand, then it follow that the signature does not fulfill the requirements for the nuptial law. The law clearly states the document must be signed in the brides own hand.”
The quote above, stated by Justice Strauss, shows the reasoning behind the marriage not being legal. This part of the book was probably my favorite at the time because this is probably one of the few happy moments that occurs in the book. Although this is not the point of the book, because it is all about bad beginnings, I enjoyed that the book did have some happy moments.
Analysis
A series of unfortunate events is a unique book in the way that it is written. The author makes the book educational in that words are introduced to the reader, and they are then defined. The first word to be introduced to the reader in the book is rickety, and following that it is then defined as being unsteady, or likely to collapse.
The uniqueness of the way the author does this subtly to introduce new words to the reader is very interesting. I have never read a book like this is way the author has written it, and the style that it is written. Because of this, I enjoyed the book, and thought that the way these words are introduced to the reader make the book easier to read also. This style was a nice spin on the book, and I thought it was a great asset to the book.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Blog 13 B/C-Notable Moment and Analysis: James and the Giant Peach
Blog 13 B/C-Notable Moment and Analysis: James and the Giant Peach
After reading James and the Giant Peach, it is hard for me to choose one notable moment. There are so many situations in the book where I’m drawn in. Whether it is the evil aunts getting crushed by the giant peach, or it is James catching seagulls to tie to the stem of the peach the book was enjoyable for me. My favorite part beyond all is when James introduces all of the insects to the city of New York.
He first introduces the centipede and makes up a poem about him.
“My friends, this is the Centipede, and let me make it known
He is so sweet and gentle that (although he’s overgrown)
The Queen of Spain, again and again, has summoned him by phone
To baby-sit and sing and knit and be a chaperone
When nurse is off and all the royal children are alone”
Once James is done introducing the Centipede he then goes on to introduce the earthworm, then the grass-hopper, glow-worm, miss spider, ladybug, and finally silkworm. Each poem was unique in its own way describing each insect. Upon finishing up the last poem about the silkworm, the insects and James are all saved from the Empire State Building. This is then pretty much the end of the story and then it is illustrated that James lives inside the giant peach pit in the middle of central park.
Analysis
For my analysis of James and the Giant Peach, I have decided to do it over whether or not James lived happily ever after or not. After finishing reading the book myself I was under the impression that he did live happily ever after. James was no longer trapped by his evil aunts in their house up on the hill. He now had friends that were other children, and he was not isolated away from society any longer. Also, he had a home where he lived inside the giant peach pit and had visitors every day. He was described as being famous and had more fame than most of the other insects that made their way over to the United States with him.
On the other hand, you can argue that James did not have a happy ending. First of all he lived in a peach pit in the middle of central park in one of the most crime ridden cities in the United States. He had not real family at all anymore. He only had a celebrity sort of fame and was never going to be able to live the life of a just a child. He had visitors come, but he did not have any friends. All in all, I feel that Roald Dahl intended for the book to have a happy ending for James, so I would have to argue with the first side of the story I argued.
After reading James and the Giant Peach, it is hard for me to choose one notable moment. There are so many situations in the book where I’m drawn in. Whether it is the evil aunts getting crushed by the giant peach, or it is James catching seagulls to tie to the stem of the peach the book was enjoyable for me. My favorite part beyond all is when James introduces all of the insects to the city of New York.
He first introduces the centipede and makes up a poem about him.
“My friends, this is the Centipede, and let me make it known
He is so sweet and gentle that (although he’s overgrown)
The Queen of Spain, again and again, has summoned him by phone
To baby-sit and sing and knit and be a chaperone
When nurse is off and all the royal children are alone”
Once James is done introducing the Centipede he then goes on to introduce the earthworm, then the grass-hopper, glow-worm, miss spider, ladybug, and finally silkworm. Each poem was unique in its own way describing each insect. Upon finishing up the last poem about the silkworm, the insects and James are all saved from the Empire State Building. This is then pretty much the end of the story and then it is illustrated that James lives inside the giant peach pit in the middle of central park.
Analysis
For my analysis of James and the Giant Peach, I have decided to do it over whether or not James lived happily ever after or not. After finishing reading the book myself I was under the impression that he did live happily ever after. James was no longer trapped by his evil aunts in their house up on the hill. He now had friends that were other children, and he was not isolated away from society any longer. Also, he had a home where he lived inside the giant peach pit and had visitors every day. He was described as being famous and had more fame than most of the other insects that made their way over to the United States with him.
On the other hand, you can argue that James did not have a happy ending. First of all he lived in a peach pit in the middle of central park in one of the most crime ridden cities in the United States. He had not real family at all anymore. He only had a celebrity sort of fame and was never going to be able to live the life of a just a child. He had visitors come, but he did not have any friends. All in all, I feel that Roald Dahl intended for the book to have a happy ending for James, so I would have to argue with the first side of the story I argued.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Blog 13A-Anticipating the Novel: James and the Giant Peach
Blog 13A-Anticipating the Novel: James and the Giant Peach
So I am aware that we do not have to do an anticipating the novel for James and the Giant Peach, but this is the one book that I had read on the whole list so I decided I would blog on it. First of all, James and the Giant Peach was a book that I read when I was little, and I remember getting to watch the movie after I had read the book. I don’t remember everything from the book, but I do remember enough that I know that I liked it. Overall, I look forward to reading the book again, and reliving the adventure.
So I am aware that we do not have to do an anticipating the novel for James and the Giant Peach, but this is the one book that I had read on the whole list so I decided I would blog on it. First of all, James and the Giant Peach was a book that I read when I was little, and I remember getting to watch the movie after I had read the book. I don’t remember everything from the book, but I do remember enough that I know that I liked it. Overall, I look forward to reading the book again, and reliving the adventure.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Blog 12C-Analysis: The City of Ember
Blog 12C-Analysis: The City of Ember
The city of ember, the last dystopia book that we will have read for the semester is one that is full of desire. From the view of Lina and Doon, they both have a growing desire in the book, which eventually turns into one. Which is to break out from the city of ember using the note in which Lina has discovered.
Lina’s desire is very clear from the beginning of the book; it is made obvious what she wants. She wants to have a good job, one that she likes, and one that she will enjoy. Lina’s desire then shifts once she starts discovering things out about the city of ember. She starts to realize that the note she has found in her house if important in some way, and she somehow needs to find out what it is talking about.
Doon on the other hand, has desire to bring good to the city and save it from perishing. He soon discovers that he will not be able to do this once he realizes the declining state of the city of ember and how much corruption there is from the mayor and higher authorities. This in turn results in collaboration between Lina and Doon to figure out the note and uncover all the clues and find out what they need to do to save the city of ember and help everyone escape. Finally, once the two are able to escape, along with Lina’s little sister Poppy, they are able to look back down on the city and give them instructions on how to find their way out, and hope that they have the same desire to find a better life not in fear of darkness.
The city of ember, the last dystopia book that we will have read for the semester is one that is full of desire. From the view of Lina and Doon, they both have a growing desire in the book, which eventually turns into one. Which is to break out from the city of ember using the note in which Lina has discovered.
Lina’s desire is very clear from the beginning of the book; it is made obvious what she wants. She wants to have a good job, one that she likes, and one that she will enjoy. Lina’s desire then shifts once she starts discovering things out about the city of ember. She starts to realize that the note she has found in her house if important in some way, and she somehow needs to find out what it is talking about.
Doon on the other hand, has desire to bring good to the city and save it from perishing. He soon discovers that he will not be able to do this once he realizes the declining state of the city of ember and how much corruption there is from the mayor and higher authorities. This in turn results in collaboration between Lina and Doon to figure out the note and uncover all the clues and find out what they need to do to save the city of ember and help everyone escape. Finally, once the two are able to escape, along with Lina’s little sister Poppy, they are able to look back down on the city and give them instructions on how to find their way out, and hope that they have the same desire to find a better life not in fear of darkness.
Blog 12B-Notable Moment: The City of Ember
Blog 12B-Notable Moment: The City of Ember
Among all the excitement in this book, the notable moment which stands out the most to me would have to be the scene where Lina and Doon are exploring the pipeworks, trying to find any clue as to what the note is about. In this specific scene, Lina and Doon find a door, which is at the end of a pathway. This door has a lock on it, and they are unable to get in, but they can see that there is a light inside. The noise of footsteps causes them to scatter quickly, but they soon see a person with a very familiar walk. The door opens, and closes and then noises from above are heard. The person who inhabits this room is found out to be the mayor of the town. Below is an excerpt from chapter 9, The door in the roped off tunnel.
“Lina felt a smooth, hard surface. There was a round metal knob, and below the knob, a keyhole. It seemed an ordinary door—not at all like the entrance to a new world. But that was what made things so exciting—nothing was every how you expected it to be.”
“‘Quick,’ Doon whispered. He made his way back toward the lighted tunnel, with Lina following. They ducked under the rope and rounded a turn, then stopped, stood still, and listened. A harsh scraping sound. A thud. A pause…and then a sound of an impact, a short, explosive breath, and a muttered word in a gruff, low voice.”
These two excerpts both show the intensity of this scene. Lina and Doon are starting to find out the truths about the city. The further explorations in the pipeworks eventually lead to their escape into the real world with grass, and birds, etc. All in all, I felt this scene was a notable moment because it was one of first moments in which the reader realizes that something is just not right with the way things work in the city of ember.
Among all the excitement in this book, the notable moment which stands out the most to me would have to be the scene where Lina and Doon are exploring the pipeworks, trying to find any clue as to what the note is about. In this specific scene, Lina and Doon find a door, which is at the end of a pathway. This door has a lock on it, and they are unable to get in, but they can see that there is a light inside. The noise of footsteps causes them to scatter quickly, but they soon see a person with a very familiar walk. The door opens, and closes and then noises from above are heard. The person who inhabits this room is found out to be the mayor of the town. Below is an excerpt from chapter 9, The door in the roped off tunnel.
“Lina felt a smooth, hard surface. There was a round metal knob, and below the knob, a keyhole. It seemed an ordinary door—not at all like the entrance to a new world. But that was what made things so exciting—nothing was every how you expected it to be.”
“‘Quick,’ Doon whispered. He made his way back toward the lighted tunnel, with Lina following. They ducked under the rope and rounded a turn, then stopped, stood still, and listened. A harsh scraping sound. A thud. A pause…and then a sound of an impact, a short, explosive breath, and a muttered word in a gruff, low voice.”
These two excerpts both show the intensity of this scene. Lina and Doon are starting to find out the truths about the city. The further explorations in the pipeworks eventually lead to their escape into the real world with grass, and birds, etc. All in all, I felt this scene was a notable moment because it was one of first moments in which the reader realizes that something is just not right with the way things work in the city of ember.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)