Week Seven

Reading Two: "The Ruined Maid"

"O 'Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!

Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town?

And whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?" —

"O didn't you know I'd been ruined?" said she.

— "You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,

Tired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks;

And now you've gay bracelets and bright feathers three!" —

"Yes: that's how we dress when we're ruined," said she.

— "At home in the barton you said thee' and thou,'

And thik oon,' and theäs oon,' and t'other'; but now

Your talking quite fits 'ee for high compa-ny!" —

"Some polish is gained with one's ruin," said she.

— "Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak

But now I'm bewitched by your delicate cheek,

And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!" —

"We never do work when we're ruined," said she.

— "You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,

And you'd sigh, and you'd sock; but at present you seem

To know not of megrims or melancho-ly!" —

"True. One's pretty lively when ruined," said she.

— "I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,

And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!" —

"My dear — a raw country girl, such as you be,

Cannot quite expect that. You ain't ruined," said she.

The young lady in the poem that dreams of having nice things and riches, is from the country. She works nights and days in the fields of the country. The other woman that the young lady confides in claims that having riches ruins a persons life. The young lady wants a life of pleasure and leisure. When the lady that is confided in believes that having riches ruins a persons life . 

Week Seven

Reading One: "On Being Brought from Africa to America"

'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,

Taught my benighted soul to understand

That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:

Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,

"Their colour is a diabolic die."

Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,

May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

This poem struck my attention, because living in America means that we live on soil that is made of multiple heritages. America was built on multiple cultures, religions, etc. We live on soil that is created of whites, blacks, Asian's, etc. We live in neighborhoods with people from all over the world, to live one dream--Freedom!

Week Six

Reading Two: "Boys and Girls"

1. Since there is only one girl character and one boy character in "Boys and Girls," why do you think Alice Munro uses plural words in the title?

The story title is not in terms of the characters, but in terms of telling societies difference between a boy and a girl. Girls are known for doing housework and boys are known for doing the farm work.

2. Find the two occurrences of the phrase "only a girl." Why and how does the meaning of the phrase change in each case?

The narrators mother mentions that the narrator is only a girl and should be doing house work instead of the farm chores. The mom is trying to put the girl into her "rightful place" in the world. At the end of the story, the narrators father says she is only a girl when he finds out that she let the horse go. Girls are known more for the caring heart. Where as the boys are known for their manhood of killing animals while the girls nurture animals.

3. Why does the narrator choose not to shut the gate on Flora? What role does this act play in her initiation?

At the end of the story the narrator does not shut the gate on Flora, because she has strong emotions of nurturing animals. In reality she did not want Flora to die. This act suggest she has been initiated into womanhood of nurturing and caring for animals no matter the consequence.

This story may be sexist; however, I felt the story did a good job on expressing the differences between girls and boys emotionally and in a society role. This story brings out the difference between girls and boys yet does not down grade either sex.

Week Six

Reading One: "A & P"

1. The narrator of "A & P" announces the turning point or climax of the action, "the sad par of the story" , adding, "then everyone's luck begins to run out". Is the climax of the story as significant as this sounds? Does the tone of Sammy's telling of the story match the events?

Throughout the whole story I feel as if Sammy's tone of narrating does not match the story. The tone is dull and unmoving. In the end, Sammy is effected by the girls; however, he does not seem emotionally connected to the issue.

2. This brief incident at the grocery store involves both younger and older females and males, married or not. Compare the male employees and female customers of different ages and status. How does Sammy's view of these people suggest the theme of growing up, or predict the options in life of the various people.

The age difference between the woman gives the audience a sense of maturity and age. The younger girls are dressed in bathing suits claiming they are properly dressed for where ever they go, where as the older woman are truly dressed appropriately to be in a store with shirt and shoes on. Young girls run around doing what they want looking how they want; where as, woman are dressed for whatever situation they are put in.

3. How does the setting of the story shape the initiation and its meaning? How do details about the merchandise or space contribute to the story?

I feel like the setting and very detailed descriptions of the store are important to make the reader think--"ya, your in a store that you should be wearing appropriate clothes for". The details and descriptive language throughout the story keeps the readers mind in context with the fact that the girls are half naked with no shoes in a grocery store.

This story was very detailed and descriptive throughout on what the girls looked like to how the whole store was laid out in a pattern. Even though the narrator is not up front or announcing that he is going to make a life changing choice, the readers are still emotionally connected to agree with the narrators decision in the end of the story.

Week Five

Reading Two: "The Thing in the Forrest"

1. Historically, Byatt’s story relates to events surrounding WWII and the evacuation of English children to the countryside to protect them from city air raids. The “thing” in the forest becomes a symbol of the terror of war. Historians have noticed similar trends in other cultures: some have argued, for example, that the Salem witch hunts were really based on the people’s fear of Native American attacks, which were then translated as fear of local witches conjuring evil spirits. Think about your culture today—is there a tragic event that has been translated into stories?

Mayan came to the conclusion that the world was going to end in December 21, 2012. They had a calendar that was set for the end of the world on December 21, 2012. This ancient culture predicted that a fifth sun would appear and the world would end. As we can see this prediction did not happen; however, there is a movie that was made to dedicate the tribute too--"2012".

2. What other monsters does the “loathly worm” resemble? Do some digging and see what you can uncover in literature, art, or other media (movies, games). Offer a summary of your findings, including images or links to resources. 

Another monster that resembles the "loathly worm" is the snake in the Harry potter movie "The Chamber of Secrets". It was known that if you looked directly into the snakes eyes you would die from being in the petrified estate. The snake was a symbol of evil trying to take over and to find the snake the characters had to gain a curiosity to find out what was petrified everybody. Both books exhibit the characters curiosity to find out what the evil creature was and the creature for both stories was known as evil and life threatening. Both creatures actually seem to have some characteristics in common as well.

Week Five

Reading One: "The Birthmark"

1. Modern readers often complain that Hawthorne’s archaic writing style is too difficult. Take a passage (2-4 paragraphs) of “The Birthmark” and write a new, updated version. After your adaptation, write a paragraph explaining your choices and what you learned as a result of this activity.
Passage:

 "Such a union accordingly took place, and was attended with truly remarkable consequences and a deeply impressive moral. One day, very soon after their marriage, Aylmer sat gazing at his wife with a trouble in his countenance that grew stronger until he spoke.

"Georgiana," said he, "has it never occurred to you that the mark upon your cheek might be removed?"

"No, indeed," said she, smiling; but, perceiving the seriousness of his manner, she blushed deeply. "To tell you the truth, it has been so often called a charm, that I was simple enough to imagine it might be so."

"Ah, upon another face perhaps it might," replied her husband; "but never on yours. No, dearest Georgiana, you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature, that this slightest possible defect, which we hesitate whether to term a defect or a beauty, shocks me, as being the visible mark of earthly imperfection"."

"":"

"

Passage updated version:

"A traditional wedding was celebrated by the union of a a woman with a birth mark and a man of high intelligence. One day, shortly after their marriage, Aylmer sat gazing at his wife's birth mark that baffled him until he brought the birth mark up in a discussion with his wife.

Aylmer said to his wife, "Georgiana, have you ever thought of the possibility of removing your mark that lays on your cheek?"

Georgiana whom was smiling; but, recognized the seriousness in Almyer's question blushed deeply and responded, "No, all my life the birth mark has been called a charm, that i was special enough to encounter such a beauty mark."

Aylmer responded, "Such a mark does not belong on your face, but on another person's face. No, dearest Georgiana, you came so close to being the perfect human; however, you encountered a small defect, which we can not determine whether the meaning of the mark is of defect or beauty, I believe the mark is a visible mark of earth's imperfection."


My choice and learned:

I choice the part that Aylmer and Georgiana talk about her birth mark for the first time. This is where the story reveals what the audience will be reading about. I was star struck on how both Aylmer and Georgiana both had complete opposite views of how to interpret her birth mark. I learned there are many ways to express ones feelings and that we live in a word full of language, which we must dissect ever aspect of the form of language just to understand the meaning behind the words that are being spoken.

2. Modern readers often find Aylmer’s reaction to the birthmark and Georgiana’s acquiescence to its removal outrageous. But is it really? How do people today still succumb to outside pressures in regard to appearance? 

All the years that humans have been alive, image has been everything. Way back in the days heavy set woman were viewed as great children bearers. Now days woman have life threatening surgeries and eating disorders just to have the image that society portrays as "perfect". The fact that Georgiana was willing to let her husband put her under a life threatening surgery to change her appearance for her husbands sake is not outrageous for woman actions.

Week Four

Reading Two: "Interpreter of Maladies"

1. What is the general temporal and geographical setting of the story? How important does the setting seem to be to the story?

The temporal setting is June and the geographical setting of the story is in India. The setting is quite important to the story. The setting helps explain the difference of people for instance the Das family look Indian but they traveled from America. The Das family is going back to their roots and and becoming one again as a family.

2. What is Lahiri trying to teach us about effective communication and ways of relating with each other when we don’t share the same culture and values?

Communication is key in any type of relationship. We may not all live on the same soil, but we all live a human life. Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi can relate, because the struggles they have within their marriage of communication. The two are not living on the same soil but just opening up to each other they are able to connect their life struggles to each other.

3. Mr. Kapasi finds it hard to believe of Mr. and Mrs. Das that "they were regularly responsible for anything other than themselves." What instances of selfishness or self-centeredness do you find in these characters?

I agreed with Mr. Kapasi that Mr. and Mrs. Das are selfishness or self-centeredness. Mr. Das was more inclined by his tourist booklet and taking photo's and Mrs. Das was more inclined on grooming herself. Both parents avoided the children and fought on who's turn it was to take responsibility for the children. Neither of them wanted to do the parenting job, because they both live their life in regret and now that they have three kids together they feel inclined to live life in a suffering way then to enjoy what they have in front of them.

4. Visitors to Konarak find the Chandrabhaga River dried up, and they can no longer enter the Temple of the Sun, "for it had filled with rubble long ago..." What do these images suggest about changing cultural or spiritual values ?

This image shows us that each culture is driven by some kind of spiritual value. This shows us that India is more spiritual value driven on an every day bases then the life style in America. India is a religious based culture where as American culture is more focused on image.

5. Mr. Kapasi is given foreign tourists because he speaks English. The Das “family looked Indian but dressed as foreigners”(398). What other signs are we provided that the Das family is more foreign (American) than Indian?

Even though the Das family look Indian you can tell their custom life style is American. The way they talk, treat each other, responsibility, dress, necessities, etc. The Das family gave a legit image of an average American life style even though we are all different heritage we share the same values and life styles in America.

6. Mrs. Das sees Mr. Kapasi’s job as an interpreter of maladies as “so romantic” (402). Why do you think this is so? How does that differ from the way Mr. Kapasi sees this job?

When I think of other languages or other accents of a different area of the world the first thing that comes to every girls mind is how romantic! I feel this feeling expands in us because we are hearing a new tone of language then we are use to hearing in our average day lives. Whereas to Mr. Kapasi he views his interpreter skills as a job and not something to admire as a unique talent.

7. Compare the picture Mr. Das takes of Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi with the picture of the Das family Mr. Kapasi focuses on at the end of the story.

The picture that Mr. Das takes of Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi is when they are eating lunch outside. During the photo session Mr. Kapasi was in aw with Mrs. Das, because her interest in Mr. Kapasi. At the end of the story Mr. Kapasi watches the photo fly away in the air and does not say anything because he realized in the end that the Das family is just another screwed up family like the rest of the world and that he did not need anything to become of the two families for the negative aspects out weighted the positive aspects of Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi to keep a "relationship" going.

8. What role does communication play in the story? 

Communication is one of the major roles in the story. The interpretation is seen as romantic and looked highly on and the miss communication between Mr. and Mrs. Das of the affair and Bobby's real father has the whole reason behind the distance of the individuals in the Das family. Mrs. Das just stopped trying in life from guilt and Mr. Das just stopped trying because Mrs. Das gave up.

1. How does it matter--to Mr. Kapasi and this story--that the Das family both are and aren't "foreign"?

Mr. Kapasi feels a connection with the Das family because their heritage is one in the same; however, he feels unconnected to the Das family by the custom of life and way of living.

2. How might his encounter with the Das family alter Mr. Kapasi's sense of what it means to be Indian? Why is it important that this encounter has as its background a visit to ancient Indian religious shrines?

In India you do not hear many stories of "cheating" in relationships as much as you do in America. Mr. Kapasi was reminded of what he believed and looked for in life as a custom of life living of honesty and perseverance. Mr. Kapasi felt his true Indian culture the most when he was looking and connecting to the art of the religious shrines. He then was reminded of what he valued in life.

3. What is the thematic significance of the secret that Mrs. Das reveals to Mr. Kapasi? What is its relationship to the rest of the story and to aspects of human behavior that transcend culture and upbringing?

The secret that Mrs. Das reveals to Mr. Kapasi is the aspect part that Bobby (the middle child) is not Mr. Das child but is Mr. Das friends child. She reveals that nobody knows of her secret but her. In this story you can see that even though we may be the same heritage where you live is what your life style will more likely be at. In India you do not hear much about "cheating" where as in America "Cheating" is a custom aspect of relationships now in these day and ages. So, even though all six of the individuals in the story were Indian heritage they all have a different perspective of value and life style by where they live in the different types of culture.

Summary of my thoughts: I really actually enjoyed this story. The story opened my eyes to how as a human race we are all connected come way in heritage, but as humans we choose our own life destinies of life style, customs, living area, etc. As humans we all have struggles and we all have decisions we make. We are in charge of our own lives and yes our lives may be directed in a direction by the area of custom we grew up in or live. This story shows how big of an impact cultural areas have on a persons life, all we have to do as humans is discover what we truly believe in for the way of living. This story also shows how communication is key to every day life no matter your culture or heritage.

Week Four

Reading One: "A Pair of Tickets"

1. What is the general temporal and geographical setting of the story? How important does the setting seem to be to the story?
The temporal setting is 1980's and the geographical setting of the story is in China. The main character was just realizing her heritage was more then just an average American. 

2. The first five paragraphs in “A Pair of Tickets” describe three different settings (remember that setting is both temporal (time) and place (geographical) : what are these different settings? What do these three settings suggest about the story?
Setting One: temporal setting--1980's; geographical setting--America; the setting suggest June May's home land and birth place.

Setting Two: temporal setting--1980's; geographical setting--Guangzhou; the setting suggest June May's heritage and family background.

Setting Three: temporal setting--1980's; geographical setting--Shanghai; the setting suggest even though you are thousands of miles apart and have never spoke or known each other you are still family by acceptance.

3. When June May arrives in Guangzhou, what are some of the details that seem familiar to her, and what are some that seem exotic? Why is she so preoccupied with comparing China to America?
Some things that are familiar to her is the crowded area within the building. Some of the exotic things to June May was the aspect that she looked like everybody else but was taller then everybody else. June May compares China to America, because she is trying to depict the difference of her being an American or if she is Chinese person.

4. Why is June May reluctant to go to China? What are her fears? How are these fears resolved?
June May is reluctant to go to China, because she fears that her sisters will blame her for their mothers death. When she comes off the plane, her and her sisters see each other and feel an automatic connection and joy for seeing each other.



1. Why is the opening scene of "A Pair of Tickets"--the journey from Hong Kong to Guangzhou--an appropriate setting for June May's remark that she is "becoming Chinese"?
The opening scene of "A Pair of Tickets" is an appropriate setting for June May's remark of becoming Chinese, because the introduction grabs the audience attention. We are first starting out in the story as reading June May turning from American to Chinese in an instant second of the moving of a train from one city to the next.

2. When June May arrives in Guangzhou, what are some details that seem familiar o her, and what are some that seem exotic? Why is she so preoccupied with comparing China to America?
Some things that are familiar to her is the crowded area within the building. Some of the exotic things to June May was the aspect that she looked like everybody else but was taller then everybody else. June May compares China to America, because she believes that she is an every average day American and not Chinese.

3. June May says that she could never pass for true Chinese", yet by the end of the story she has discovered "what part of me is Chinese". How does the meaning of Chinese evolve throughout the story?
June May's story builds up her discovering of "what part of me is Chinese" evolved, because she is learning her heritage and where her family begins.



Summary of my thoughts: I enjoyed this story from reading June May discovering her heritage and her own family connection. She learned that they may live thousands of miles apart; however, she comes to terms that her heritage is what makes her foundation of being and not just where she grew up or what she knows makes her being. She discovered there is more to the story of life then just where a person grows up.