Reader's Response to The Flood

The Flood is probably the most descriptive piece of writing I have read this year. There are so many adverbs and adjectives that make me think of the mood and setting. I feel as though the story is opening a door and I can look into the lives and situations of the characters. There were times that the description got too much for me to bear, however the words made the mood and tone stand out. "Gray, blocked, sucked." Not very bright words to use. No need to use bright words when the point Steinbeck wants to get across isn't bright in itself. The feeling of "death" almost, creeps through the reader. I can picture the mud, the tents, the bodies. The shaking of the people and the starvation thinning their bodies is almost too real. If a writer can make the reader feel what he/she wants them to feel, then they are accomplished and have reached their goal of attracting an audience. The dialogue of the characters is disguised by the lack of using quotation marks. Surprisingly, the tone of the people themselves do not sound totally helpless and depressed. It seems as though they knew that something this cruel would happen, and that they were accustomed to be out of work for the rest of the year or rather 6 months. This "acceptance of circumstances" adds to the readers' depression while reading the story. We feel sympathetic towards them, and wish we could help them through the rough times of joblessness. Nature was the antagonist in the story and there is nothing anyone could have done. Whenever the situation gets out of civilization's hands, nature has won and humans must surrender. For the stealing and the begging part... I feel that the government absolutely must do something to get it's citizens out of the streets. The failure to do so will lead, and has lead, to the killings of innocent people. The social classes have clearly separated and not one fortunate worker has reached out to give a helping hand. I credit Mr. Steinbeck for being able to capture the images of the past, and make us realize that we are fortunate to not have to deal with nature. We now know that we do not need to be at peace with nature to keep our jobs.

The Breadwinner

The Breadwinner is a book suitable for anyone who loves to read a book. It's not complicated, but it's touching. The first time I read this book was when I was ten, and it was hard. I re-read the book on the internet and found a deeper meaning than just the words. The book is about a girl who disguises herself as a boy to help her family survive in hard times of war. She sees the cold world through a boy's eyes, and knows that there must be something done to stop the war. Her family is in hiding in a small apartment is a partially ruined building. They are scared to death that the soldiers might come to arrest them and possible send them to different jails. The book has a great story line, and it's a read-in-one-sit kind of novel. The characters are created for the reader to visualize, and every time the character says something, you sit and think... would I look at it this way. Deborah Ellis has made the story flow with amazing word choice, and keeps sentences flowing with little interruptions of digressed topics. If you want to read a heart-wrenching book, pick up The Breadwinner and discover what it's like to live in a war devastated area, but in the perspective of an innocent citizen. 

Attitude Towards Betrayal

Betrayal is a form of breaking a bond between two people. I think that the trust that has been established over the years is broken, and the two people usually aren't friends after one of them has been betrayed by the other. Whenever there are times that people don't tell the truth, or act in a way that affects the other friend, anger spreads through every vein in my body. I feel like punching something or someone. After that stage, I start to get angry at myself for confiding in that person, and start treating them hostile in a way that you couldn't imagine. I have had instances where long friends betrayed me and I was sad. Feeling used isn't the way I usually like to feel, and I am fairly sure that others do not like to be used as well. Don't expect me to forgive that person, because they are not to be trusted. If there is a punching bag around, I'll use it. If not, I won't inflict any pain on anybody. I'll bottle it up and the next person to betray me will get an earfull. Betrayal is something that shouldn't happen. Friends are there for a reason. They are people you can talk to when times get hard, and they are people you can hang around with and tell anything to. You play with them, and feel for them. Whenever all that is thrust to the side, and friends are made fun of or betrayed; for me the friendship goes out the window and a time of hostility has dawned....

Ralph and the Chivalric codes

Ralph is a character from "The Lord of the Flies." We read this novel about 3-4 months ago and it displayed many heroic qualities in each of its characters. I chose Ralph because he was the leader for most of the time the boys were on the island. The traits Ralph mostly displays are honour, and loyalty. Ralph has an interesting type of honor. He tries to stay true to where he came from (the modern world) and he tries to bring the human qualities to the island. Ralph is loyal to the group of kids on the island, trying to provide leadership and food. Even though Ralph is fairly honorable and loyal. He does is not that courageous and courteous. He's honest, but not all the time, and that deprives him of the quality. For Ralph to be a true hero in this story and in the literature world, I would say he needed at least two more qualities and possibly a third. It does not matter which other ones he possesses because they are all so close in definition. One reason why Ralph could be considered a hero is because he took charge of a group of boys of all different ages, and he immediately was liked by all except one. Jack. Even though Jack blackmailed him and taunted him, Ralph was still able to keep the island a peaceful place until several deaths occured. I still think Ralph deserves some heroic recognition.

Sir Launcelot Compare Contrast

The first story that we read was one that I could not take seriously. When I was reading "Sir Launcelot" I kept thinking about Monty Python and the holy grail. All the funny events that happened in the story were ironic, and overly dramatic. Poking a guy in the shoulder, carrying him off the horse, and throwing him in jail? Who thinks of that? The other tale that we read was a little more serious. It was more of a story of betrayal and something friends need to understand.  People were more serious, and the themes were more grown up. I enjoyed reading the story more, as it related to more modern stories I have read. Arthur pulling the sword out of the stone marked that he was the next ruler. Merlin was the wizard that brought the Queen together with the King, and the new son was destined to be the heir to the throne. there were all these occurrances that made the story fun to read. More so than Sir Launcelot. Overall, I liked reading the two stories, however I never felt that they would be something I could keep reading. The one I liked more was the second one we read. King Arthur.

Sir Launcelot Compare Contrast

Conscientious Objectors

Not burying Polyneices was just pure cruelty. Antigone thought so too. Just like me, she spoke her mind and demanded that her brother would be taken good care of even though he was dead. Doing something or persuading something to happen that is right is always a good thing to do. However it may not always be good for everyone involved. Antigone knew from the beginning that there would be restraining forces trying to prevent her from even touching her brother after the battle. BUT HE'S HER BROTHER! Even though he may have been pissed that Eteocles was unwilling to give up his throne, there was an agreement that needed to be kept. Polyneices had the right to be angry and force was the only thing he could apply to attempt gaining power of Thebes. Because Antigone thought highly of both of her brothers and loved them equally, she felt each one needed to be respected no matter what they may have done that was un-loyal to the kingdom. To show her undying love for her siblings she states: "There is no guilt in reverence for the dead." (Antigone 2. 106) This quote shows that she doesn't care about the rules Creon has made. It wasn't right to just let a loved one rot at the setting where he tried to gain respect and rule.